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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Best small city in France for a solo trip

59 replies

squashyhat · 30/09/2023 08:43

I'm planning a short solo break in France for next spring and would like to go to a small historic city. I went to Marseille last year and loved it and have also been to Lille, Carcasonne, St Malo, Nice and Avignon. Any other ideas? I can fly from Gatwick or take the train.

OP posts:
MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 30/09/2023 08:47

Nîmes. I spent my year abroad there. Roman city, there's the arena, Maison Carrée, which has just been given Unesco World heritage status, beautiful gardens. You can get to Avignon and Montpellier too on the train in about 25mins. I used to fly from Stansted, but if you went by Eurostar you could get the TGV down from the Gare de Lyons.

Frenchfancy · 30/09/2023 08:49

La Rochelle. Beautiful city by the sea.

notparticularlycoping · 30/09/2023 08:50

We had a really good three days in Rennes earlier this year - food, historic centre, lovely museums

milkydress · 30/09/2023 08:52

Bordeaux is really lovely.

milkydress · 30/09/2023 08:53

How many days were you planning OP?
What about the champagne region?

MargotBamborough · 30/09/2023 08:56

It totally depends what you would like to do.

Beach? Wine? Architecture? Museums?

Strasbourg and Colmar are really pretty. Dijon is great, especially if you're into wine. I'd love to do a weekend away in Champagne country at some point.

PinkPondQueen · 30/09/2023 09:05

Annecy!

Snittler · 30/09/2023 09:06

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 30/09/2023 08:47

Nîmes. I spent my year abroad there. Roman city, there's the arena, Maison Carrée, which has just been given Unesco World heritage status, beautiful gardens. You can get to Avignon and Montpellier too on the train in about 25mins. I used to fly from Stansted, but if you went by Eurostar you could get the TGV down from the Gare de Lyons.

I came to say Nimes or Montpellier (also where I spent my YA).

TakingTheLowRoad · 30/09/2023 09:07

Toulouse

gotomomo · 30/09/2023 09:11

Bordeaux

gotomomo · 30/09/2023 09:12

Or Toulon was nice but only spent the day there so not sure if there's enough to do. Avignon is lovely and on the train line

LaChatte · 30/09/2023 09:24

Definitely not Nîmes, Montpellier is great though (lots of development work going on at the moment however so getting about can be a bit hit and miss at times).

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/09/2023 16:06

Bordeaux

hopeishere · 30/09/2023 16:06

Bordeaux. So pretty.

honeyfox · 30/09/2023 16:08

La Rochelle and Île de Ré are beautiful.

SabrinaThwaite · 30/09/2023 16:21

Bordeaux, and have a day or two in Arcachon if you want seaside too.

Waitingandwaitingg · 30/09/2023 16:29

LaChatte · 30/09/2023 09:24

Definitely not Nîmes, Montpellier is great though (lots of development work going on at the moment however so getting about can be a bit hit and miss at times).

Why not Nimes? It's beautiful. It does have a problem with gangs, but you're fine in the city centre.

Sirzy · 30/09/2023 16:31

Toulouse is beautiful

Original poster
squashyhat · 30/09/2023 16:37

Thanks for all the suggestions. I won't have a car so it will need to be walkable or have good public transport. Museums, galleries, a bit of shopping and plenty of bars for people watching are my criteria. I will definitely look at Bordeaux and La Rochelle.

OP posts:
Farfarfarfarfaraway · 30/09/2023 16:50

Agree with people saying Nîmes. It’s my favourite place in France!

Hmmph · 30/09/2023 16:54

Nantes. Has an airport so easy to get to. Lots of things to see and the amazing Les Machines de L'ile complete with a full size ride on mechanical elephant: www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/

DinaofCloud9 · 30/09/2023 16:55

Metz was lovely but it's a few years since I've been.

WrongSwanson · 30/09/2023 17:11

Also came to say Nimes & Montpellier.

(Although admittedly it is about 15 years since I went! But I was young and hard to impress and loved both cities and the contrasts between them)

BonjourCrisette · 30/09/2023 17:14

Rouen is fantastic. Very walkable and good train service to get there. There are buses to get about if you want to but there is tons of stuff to do and look at in the city centre. There's a beautiful square with lots of lovely restaurants (hit me up if you'd like any recommendations).

DD and I spent five days there in March and we did not run out of things to do! I also have an AirBnB recommendation if you would like it.

clearsommespace · 30/09/2023 17:22

I loved Nantes.

Would also recommend Amiens : cathedral, Jules Verne's house, museum, river, 'hortillonages' floating gardens.