Hostels in France

About France

The world's most popular tourist destination, France boasts world-class museums, art, food, wine, beaches, fashion and sports. Yeah, it's no wonder it's so popular. The thing is, it's not a small country, so unless you've got unlimited time you'll be better off focusing on one or two regions in order to do them justice. You could spend weeks in Paris alone, or lazing on the glorious Mediterranean beaches of the Cote d'Azur, so don't try to do too much and miss the charm that is France.

Paris is one of the world's great cities, with the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum at its heart, but it's so great that it can overshadow the rest of the country. To get a sense of the authentic French life, get outside its busy capital city. Sample champgagne in the region that gave the bubbly beverage its name. Pay your respects on the D-Day beaches in Normandy. See what happens with French and Celtic cultures mix in Brittany. Get a look at how the other half lives (or at least lived) in the chateaux of central France. Breathe in the perfumed lavender air of Provence. Go from a day of skiing in the Alps or Pyrenees to basking in the light of the Mediterranean in the south of the country. And in every corner, don't forget to sample the local wine and food.

France isn't the cheapest country to visit, so it's good to plan ahead and save money with its many budget accommodations. In addition to the France hostels you'll find in the town listings on this page, also look for the words "B&B" and "Gite" in the names you'll find. These will sometimes offer great value, especially for the charm and personality you'll get along with them. Gites are typically only available on a weekly basis, but if you're staying for more than a few nights they can be affordable options - especially if you're in a group. Be sure to check the Paris hostels page for more information about staying in the capital city, and if you don't want to hunt through each town's list of hostels, you can plug your travel information into the search box on this page and let the computer sort out only what's available during your stay.

France's train system is top-notch, so getting from city to city is no problem. To save time and money, get your France Eurail Pass before you go. Should you need anything else, you can also search for international airfare to France and read up on what there is to see and do in the country in the France Travel Guide.

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