From tips for being a good tourist and the best hiking spots in France during the springtime to what and where you should eat in France, according to French people, this week’s La Belle Vie newsletter offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like a local.
La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.
In a few weeks, my best friend will visit France for the first time. Admittedly, I’m a bit Type A and I love building a full itinerary weeks (even months) before a trip. We don’t have to follow it line by line, but it’s nice to have it as a back-up.
Every time I add a possible restaurant to the list, I ask her what type of French food she is interested in trying, which might seem like a simple question but the options are almost limitless. Thankfully, the French research organisation, Ipsos, is here to help.
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They surveyed over 1,000 French people to ask them which dishes they feel best represent French cuisine. I am somewhat sceptical of their list (number five is not my favourite), but overall it’s a nice, authentic roadmap to offer someone visiting France for the first time.
Which French foods do French people love the most?
When it comes to French gastronomy, it is not one-size fits all. While it’s true that Parisian bistros often offer a little bit of everything, French food is so diverse and regional.
I think if you’d asked me before moving to France about the parts of the country with the best cuisine, I probably would’ve guessed Lyon and maybe Paris. Interestingly enough, French people did not put either of those cities in first place in their recommended regions for gastronomy.
The best French regions for experiencing top-notch gastronomy
As French cuisine is world-renowned, it’s common for tourists to have high expectations for basically every French restaurant, even the tourist traps next to the Eiffel Tower. Nothing is more frustrating than walking for hours to find a good place to eat, sitting down, and being disappointed.
If you are under a certain age, you might have saved a restaurant on TikTok or Instagram Reels that looked delicious when the stylish influencer was raving about it. Sadly, these types of reviews can be hit-or-miss too.
It’s easy to assume that French people have some sort of innate radar for the tasty, authentic eateries, but according to that Ipsos study, they’re just like the rest of us.
Google reviews (and similar resources) ranked in first place for how French people choose a restaurant. After that, people said they used TripAdvisor, and ‘word of mouth’ came in third place. I can’t pretend to have all the answers, but I have thought about a few tips that generally steer you in the right direction on a restaurant search.
8 tips for finding a good restaurant in France
I still think one of the most satisfying meals France has to offer is a baguette sandwich while sitting on a mountain after a few hours of hiking. When my friends and I hike in France, we make a point of visiting the boulangerie first thing in the morning before setting off.
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We order some ready-made sandwiches, and maybe a croissant and coffee. This is a great option if you arrived late the night before with no time to visit the grocery store.
Spring hiking can be unpredictable – in higher elevation areas, there is usually too much snow and the hiking season does not really start until late June (even early July). The issue with summer hiking is that you have to plan pretty far in advance, as train tickets fill up and so do spots in refuges (which I highly recommend).
Spring hiking can be more spontaneous, and depending on where you go, you can enjoy perfect, sunny weather and mild temperatures.
Nine French hiking destinations that are perfect for spring
If you want to have a good time in France, then you’ll want to get along with the locals. It’s an unfair stereotype to call French people rude and stand-offish, but you might get a not-so-nice reaction if you break one of the unspoken cultural rules.
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For example, if you’re riding on the Paris Metro, don’t listen to your podcast, music, or watch social media videos without headphones. This might sound intuitive, but I had this experience just last night while coming home from a touristy part of the city.
Essential advice for how to be a good tourist in France
I’m very happy that my friend decided to visit in May. In my opinion, this is the best month in France by several metrics – weather, crowds, sunlight, etc. May also means plenty of public holidays, so there are tons of opportunities for weekend getaways without having to take off work.
If this gives you any inspiration, then you might want to check out our updated ‘new flights’ list – whether that is for planning a quick trip outside of France, or for inviting friends and family to come visit.
LISTED: All the new flights to and from France in Spring 2025