16 days in France, Madrid & San Sebastian - Donostia Itinerary

France has been the world's most popular tourist destination for decades, and geographically, it is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Its cities are holiday hot spots and contain some of the greatest treasures in Europe, its countryside is prosperous and well tended, and it boasts dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, the French Riviera, the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the French Alps, as well as the castles of the Loire Valley, Brittany, and Normandy. The country is renowned for its gastronomy, particularly wines and cheeses, as well as its history, culture, and fashion industry.

You'll find that the French people are very polite and may react coldly to you if you forget this. You might be surprised as you're greeted by other customers and the proprieter when you walk into a restaurant or a shop. Be sure to take your sightseeing off the beaten path in France. Besides the famous Eiffel Tower and the chic resorts of the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) you'll find many places to visit in the form of museums filled with fine art, crafts, and archaeological relics, wonderful medieval villages and castles, diverse national parks, and local shopping direct from artisans themselves.

Whether you're touring the Christmas Markets or going skiing during winter, viewing the springtime influx of color in Provence, sunbathing on the Mediterranean coast in the summer, or watching the fall foliage against the backdrop of the châteaux in the Loire Valley, you're sure to find just the right place to be. Spring is a time when the tourist attractions are just starting to expand their hours, but it may still be cold in the mountainous regions and the north. Summer is the busiest time in France with the longest hours for many museums and attractions, but it's often when you will experience the most crowds. Winter in France is filled with winter carnivals, Christmas Markets, and of course, skiing. Fall is a time to celebrate the release of Beaujolais nouveau wine in November, as well as experience Nuit Blanche, a day in October when major attractions, museums, galleries, parks, and swimming pools remain open all night.

On the Mediterranean Sea coast, the French Riviera-Côte d'Azur has the glitz and glamour rivaled by few places on earth. It is a modern resort area with luxury shopping, seaside cafés for people watching, and several marinas for yachts and super-yachts along its coast. Although the Riviera is famous for the glamour of St. Tropez, Monaco, and the Cannes Film Festival, there are many other lesser known attractions and places to visit, such as the perched villages of Gourdon and Eze, the perfumeries in Grasse, the potters of Vallauris, and the glassblowers of Biot.The Riviera has been the inspiration for many works by artists, such as Picasso and Renoir, which are on display in local museums. Sea-front hotels and holiday resorts are the most expensive options, with smaller, modest, more affordable accommodations available as you move away from major cities or further inland. Cafés, bars, and restaurants are diverse enough to respect your vacation budget and tastes, with the vast majority of eateries serving food local to the area--Provençal cuisine with Italian influences, and Cassis and Bandol regional wines.The small independent state of Monaco is surrounded on three sides by France, and the fourth by the Mediterranean. It has been ruled by the Grimaldi family since the 13th century and is a major center for tourism on the Mediterranean. The glamor of Monaco has been replaced by Monte Carlo for its opulence, designer and luxury shopping, and its casino.The busiest travel season is in July and August, when crowds and prices both skyrocket. But, with 300 days of sunshine per year, 115 km (71 mi) of warm blue coastline and beaches, 18 golf courses, 14 ski resorts, and 3,000 restaurants, you're sure to have a wonderful time and find plenty of things to do whenever you plan to stay.