Chateau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley – Image courtesy of Ra Smit/CC

France Honeymoon Guide

Plan the perfect honeymoon in France. Uncover the best of France’s beaches, nightlife, hotels and attractions – as well as a choice of outdoor activities for adventurous couples – with our comprehensive guide to the best honeymoon destinations in France.

Find the perfect location for your honeymoon in France, today! Or combine your honeymoon with a destination wedding in France.

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Paris

Few cities can match the magical atmosphere of Paris: its ability to awe, charm and enchant lovers is endless. For centuries, ‘The City of Light’ has claimed the hearts of lovers with its cosy, intimate and romantically renowned location – it is arguably the perfect honeymoon destination in Europe!

Stroll hand-in-hand along grand tree-lined avenues or on the cobblestone riverside quay beside the Seine. Enjoy a passionate moment on the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, and admire the stunningly beautiful cathedral of Notre Dame.

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French Riviera

For a classy honeymoon in France, try the French Riviera – a glamorous and unrivalled coastline that is home to a string of chic resorts and mainly golden beaches that lie nestled between lush green hills, stark mountains and the pristine blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Known in France as the Côte d'Azur, the French Riviera is world-renowned for its glamorous nightlife, exposed beaches and the chic resorts of Cannes, St Tropez, Cap d'Antibes and St-Jean-Cap-Ferra – the perfect destination for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

Along with neighbouring Monaco, the French Riviera offers all the ingredients to create a memorable honeymoon.

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St Tropez

Discover one of the French Riviera’s liveliest towns where the twisting, narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter open on to tiny squares, and a quay lined with tall pastel-hued houses overlooks a port filled with millionaires’ yachts.

This former sleepy fishing village became increasingly popular with honeymoon couples after the 1950s success of Roger Vadim’s film Et Dieu Créa la Femme (And God Created Woman), starring Brigitte Bardot.

Climb up to the 17th century Citadel for great sea views, then join the locals on one of St Tropez’ beaches, easily reached by taxi, bicycle and scooter or on foot. (Photo: Plage de Pampellone.)

Situated on the western edge of the French Riviera, St Tropez lies around 133km (82mi) east of Marseille and about 78km (48mi) west of Cannes.

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Cannes

Rub shoulders with the rich and famous in sun-kissed Cannes on a romantic honeymoon holiday on the French Riviera.

Join an international cast strolling the famed Promenade de la Croisette, lined on one side with 5-star hotels, chic boutiques and apartments houses, and on the other side with a long golden-sand beach crammed with sun-worshippers preening, cruising the beach and wading in the blue Mediterranean Sea. (Photo: Plage de la Croisette.)

Explore the narrow streets of Vieux Cannes (Le Suquet) to see the 14th century Tour du Suquet, the Musée de la Castre and the 16th century Notre Dame de l'Espérance, as well as views overlooking the harbour.

Visit in July during the Cannes International Film Festival to see your favourite movie stars, directors and producers.

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Nice

While less glamorous (and less expensive) than Cannes, the capital of the French Riviera offers a lively honeymoon destination within easy reach of all the major resort towns.

Blessed with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, a picturesque beachfront setting, a quaint old town, numerous art galleries, museums, restaurants, bars and cafés, Nice has attracted visitors for centuries, including numerous artists and writers such as Dumas, Nietzsche, Apollinaire, Flaubert and Victor Hugo.

Stroll through the atmospheric narrow streets of Vieux Nice (Old Nice), crowded with baroque churches and charming cafés then wander along the famous beachfront promenade des Anglais. (Photo: Promenade des Anglais.)

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Biarritz

The glamorous resort of Biarritz has been attracting holidaymakers and aristocracy to its golden-sand beaches since the 1850s, when Napoleon III and his Spanish-born wife Eugénie first built a holiday villa on La Grande Plage.

Biarritz offers a choice of five golden-sand beaches, set amid great natural beauty and stretching south of the town centre. Unlike the French Riviera, the beaches here are totally free to enjoy. (Photo: La Grande Plage.)

Renowned for some of Europe’s best surfing conditions, its impressive fin de siècle (end of the century) architecture, a choice of golf courses, luxurious spas, fine dining restaurants, al fresco cafés and hotels – including Napoleon’s former holiday villa – Biarritz is still one of Europe’s most stylish beach resorts and is the perfect destination for a classy honeymoon in France.

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Corsica

The dramatic island of Corsica boasts the most idyllic and (arguably) best beaches in France – the perfect spot for a romantic getaway or honeymoon in France.

Blessed with a mountainous interior that descends to a 1000km-long coastline edged with secluded coves and more than 200 gorgeous white-sand beaches, Corsica offers a wonderful choice of experiences. (Photo: Plage de Saleccia.)

Go scuba diving in crystal clear waters or try rock climbing, rafting, horseback riding and hiking through the unspoiled interior of lush green pastures and rugged mountain ranges that soar to more than 2000m.

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St Malo

St Malo enjoys a magnificent location atop a granite rock that juts out into the English Channel (or La Manche in French) and is regarded as one of Brittany's premier holiday resorts.

Explore a maze of narrow cobblestone streets in the medieval old town, enjoy panoramic views overlooking the town, bay and offshore islets from the top of the 1.8km-long ramparts that consist of 6m-thick walls and date from the 14th century.

With its picture-perfect quaint old town, golden-sand beaches and good choice of bars, restaurants and hotels, St Malo offers all the ingredients you need for a memorable honeymoon in France. (Photo: Plage de l'Ecluse.)

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Monte Carlo

Explore the fairytale kingdom of Monte Carlo on a honeymoon or romantic getaway in Monaco.

The city-state of Monaco is the second smallest country in the world (after the Vatican City) at 4.8km long by 2.4km wide (about the size of New York’s Central Park).

Glittering with opulence and jet-set glamour, the action of Monte Carlo often centres around the ornate Belle Epoque Casino de Monte Carlo.

Elsewhere in Monte Carlo, explore the 13th century Palais du Prince where the Grimaldi dynasty has ruled from since 1297 AD, the cathedral where Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier and the Rock of Monaco, where colourful gardens cascade to the sea.

Stroll through the narrow winding streets of the Old Town, with its vaulted passageways and bronze cannons or go clubbing and dance the night away. (Photo: Monte Carlo Beach Club.)

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