How to find cheap flights to France
Score a better price on a flight to France by leaving from Melbourne Tullamarine, often the most affordable departure option.
You'll get even more value by flying into Paris Orly.
The cheapest time to visit France is generally during October.
For a return ticket, the lowest price right now is $1,066. One-way fares are available from $582.
Flexible on where you land if it saves you money? Find the cheapest places to fly into by adding your departure airport, then entering 'France' in the 'To' field.
If you know where you're headed, select 'Add nearby airports' at the start of your search. This will compare flight prices for all nearby arrival airports and could help you save.
Take the guesswork out of timing by creating a Price Alert. You'll get an automatic notification whenever the price changes on your route.
The general recommendation is to book roughly one month before you plan to depart. You're more likely to get the best price on tickets then.
The best time to go to France
Take advantage of the 'Whole month' tool if you have flexible travel dates. Browse fares for the entire month and find a flight that suits your schedule and budget.
Plan your trip for July if you want to go when it's busy. This is the most popular month for flights, but also when fares are usually more expensive.
January is the quietest time of year to visit if you want a more relaxed pace. You'll typically find cheaper prices on plane tickets to France then.
Think about your travel preferences and let the weather guide your choice. August is one of the warmest months in France, with average highs of 25ºC (77ºF).
January brings cooler conditions, with average lows of 0ºC (32ºF).
January is usually the wettest month, while July is the driest.
Depending on exactly where you go and when, also factor in weather risks like winter storm season and periods of extreme heat.
Getting to France
You can choose from plenty of arrival airports when you book flights to France, including the following:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris
Paris Orly Airport (ORY) in Paris
Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) in Nice
These airlines are the key players landing at this destination, based on rough monthly flight numbers:
Air France — 9,000
Transavia France — 5,200
EasyJet — 4,900
Global hubs including London, Dublin and Frankfurt are common stopover points on flights to France. Your connection (if any) will depend on your departure city and airline, which you can check as you search.
Places to visit in France
Paris
With a population of roughly 2.1 million and located in Île-de-France, this city headlines the list of places to visit.
Make time for key stops like Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Musee d'Orsay, among other landmarks.
You'll find plenty of flight deals to France landing at Paris's main airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris Orly Airport (ORY) and Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA) give you even more flexibility.
When you're ready to find somewhere comfortable to stay, explore the range of hotels in Paris.
Nice
Add variety to your travels by spending time in this Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur city of around 340,000 people.
Vieux-Nice, Promenade Des Anglais and Plage de Nice are some of the first things you'll want to make time for.
Land at Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) and go straight from arrivals to discovering the sights.
That same magic that powers our flight search can also help you find the most competitive room rates around. Use it to compare prices and availability across hotels in Nice.
Lyon
Home to about 1.8 million people in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, this city comfortably sits among the best places to visit in France.
Fête Des Lumières, Lyon Old Town and Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon are major attractions to tick off while you're here.
Lyon Saint Exupery Airport (LYS) is the main airport for flights into the city.
Grab a deal on where you'll stay by checking out the list of hotels in Lyon.
Good to know
Entry rules can vary depending on your passport, length of stay and travel plans, so double-check before you travel. Airlines and official embassy sites will have the most up-to-date advice on visas or any other documents you may need.
The language most widely spoken in France is French.
The local currency is the euro (EUR). You can get by comfortably using credit and debit cards in most situations.
Finding an ATM (automatic teller machine) is unlikely to be an issue. They are common in cities of all sizes and places popular with travellers.
Expect to tip in France. Tipping is customary when paying for service-based experiences like private transport, dining out, and guided tours.
Wi-Fi coverage is high throughout hotels, cafes and other major areas, so you'll have no problem staying connected while on the move.
The population of France is estimated at about 67 million. Paris is the capital.
The same time is used throughout this destination, with one standard time zone based on UTC+1.
France is located in Europe within the Western Europe subregion.
Bastille Day, the Tour de France cycling race and Nice Carnival are some of the well-known events here. Consider booking your flight to France around moments like these for a travel experience beyond the ordinary.
Complete your trip with hotels and a car hire
Booked that cheap ticket to France? Now decide where you'll rest your head and how you'll travel around. Check out the range of hotels in France and filter your search by location, price range and more. Also browse car hire options in France and choose from pickup locations at airports or in cities.
