Dreaming of your next holidays? Practice your French in any of these French-speaking cities to visit once in a lifetime. I’ll never forget my first time in Paris. Paris is a feeling. I get chills thinking about it. You can’t NOT be romantic about Paris. I think it fits the bill for almost any kind of traveler. Whether you want to relax, explore, learn, feast… it’s all there, waiting for you.
Another amazing and exotic place to practice French is Tahiti, French Polynesia is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Jump on a plane and travel to Vaitape in Bora Bora where the blue is so blue that it hurts your eyes! There are so many beautiful places to practice French in Europe and all around the world. I gathered 10 of my favorite places.
Alors, quelle est votre prochaine destination?
Tahiti: just the word conjures up centuries’ worth of images: Hibiscus flowers; bronzed dancers in grass skirts; a humid breeze over the turquoise sea. The islands of French Polynesia became legends the minute the first European explorers reached their home shores with tales of a heaven on earth where the soil was fertile, life was simple and lust was guilt-free. While the lingering hype is outdated, French Polynesia is still about as dreamy as reality gets.
Marseille is the second largest and oldest city in France. It is also the country’s largest port for cruise ships, which is very convenient if you are interested in a cruise on the Mediterranean sea. In 2013, Marseille was crowned as the European Capital of Culture. The event featured more than 900 cultural events throughout the city and its surroundings. Marseille’s contemporary architecture stands side by side with seaside roads where pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy an almost cinematic experience of sunshine covered sandy beaches and narrow, steep-walled inlets.
If you’re dying to get a taste of North American and European styles combined into one, then Montreal is the place to go. The city’s rich culture blends seamlessly into Montreal’s modern New World atmosphere. In warmer months, the city springs into a joyful tourist destination filled with relentless attractions from beautiful parks, museums, tree-lined streets, cathedrals, and of course dining and shopping. There is always a buffet of things to do. In the colder winter months, you can explore Montreal’s Underground City, which is the world’s largest underground network. It is filled with shopping centers, restaurants, movie theaters, and cafés to keep you busy.
Europe is full of places worth visiting and Brussels should be on everyone’s list. Located in the heart of Europe, it is easily accessible from neighboring countries by high speed rail. Brussels is a hub of languages, traditions, and cultures. The city offers a myriad of attractions, including numerous museums and impressive architectures, but nothing compares to the Grand Place, often considered Europe’s most beautiful medieval square. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The beautiful city of Nice can be family-friendly, adventurous, and romantic at the same time. Sunshine beams down on Nice most days of the year and makes sunset an almost everyday event on its stunning pebble beach. The streets are often stages for artistic performances, and the night life is busy. It is a working combination between a modern city and an old world feel. The old town of Nice hasn’t changed much in the last three centuries. You can visit flower markets, food markets, flea markets, and an overwhelming number of bars and restaurants. Castle Hill offers the best view in the city, and is often considered the top tourist attraction in Nice.
Corsica is a true paradise for hikers and nature lovers. The island is located in the Mediterranean Sea about 300 kilometers from Nice and can be accessed with a ferry. At a whopping 180 kilometers long, Corsica’s GR 20 trail is considered by many to be the toughest long distance trail in Europe. Corsica has it all, and is lauded for its deep forests, valleys, beaches, coastal cities, hilltop villages, and a lot more. Corsica has been part of France for about 250 years, but still has a totally different atmosphere from the mainland.
Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland after Zurich. It is located in the French-speaking part of the country bordering France. Language is not the only thing influenced by its neighbor; the cuisine, architecture, and the majestic view of Mont Blanc makes the city absolutely charming. Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Western Europe, sits at the foot of the surrounding mountains. The city’s popular ski resorts attract thousands of visitors throughout the winter. When summertime rolls around, nearby beaches begin to burst with activity. Regardless of the season, everyone can enjoy the city’s strong café culture, specialty shops, beautiful gardens, restaurants and gorgeous views.
Lyon is the third largest city in France. For the past 500 years or so, Lyon has been an economic powerhouse where business, industry, commercialization, and banking thrive. Lifestyle is busy with prominent universities and an irresistible shopping scene. Clubbing and drinking are major features of the city, and the cuisine will take you through wild culinary adventures. Old Lyon, the historical part of the city, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the largest intact Renaissance area in Europe.
Quebec city is an old settlement in North America, and is regarded by many as the crown jewel of French Canada. Quebec City is a living museum, sprinkled with sceneries to remind you of old photographs from the 17th and 18th centuries. With a strong sense of Old Europe, classic bistros and sidewalk cafés linger on every cobblestone street and the compact size of the old city makes it ideal for walking. The Château Frontenac dominates the city’s skyline and is the most photographed hotel in the world. Quebec city is one of the snowiest cities in Canada and there are plenty of things to do in the winter. If you are feeling adventurous and are not too cold sensitive, you can stay in the city’s true Ice Hotel, built every winter out of 30 000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice. Quebec’s Winter Carnival also features numerous ice and snow sculptures.
Paris is instantly recognizable even for first-time visitors, the city’s numerous landmarks are a real treat to the eye. The local shops, cafés, and markets ooze with culture and class. The city of lights is considered by many to be the most romantic city in the world. It features some of the world’s best museums, including the Louvre and the Orsay. Paris is also a world-class culinary destination with 70 Michelin starred restaurants, 10 of them being 3-starred. Paris is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, absorbing different cultures and traditions from every corner of the globe, but locals remain true Parisians nonetheless.
Your French Transformation program is designed for students with none or little French knowledge who would like to reach an intermediate level of French.
This course has been designed by a passionate French teacher Lea who wishes to have had access to a similar course when she was learning other languages. The classes are taught by Coralie who is a bilingual French Canadian teacher loved by her current students with over 80 five-star Google reviews.
Your “French Transformation” is a mini Bootcamp to learn French. It is a very practical course including real-life situations.
You can significantly improve your French in 3 months starting from scratch if you follow all the steps and submit all homework through our private group on Facebook (Members only).
We are sharing with you extra resources including list of movies, books, youtube channels, podcasts to immerse yourself in the French language and culture.
