7 Best Places to Live in France

Fed up of only being able to indulge in delicious French delicacies whilst on holiday? There’s only one way to overcome this problem – it’s time to start packing!

France is a beautiful country, renowned for its picturesque vineyards and mouth-watering food. It’s a place of history, art, and culture – everything you ask for from a new home.

Being spoilt for choice may not sound like the worst position to be in, but it can often leave you feeling a bit intimidated about moving.

If you’re thinking about moving to France, but are finding yourself stuck about where to actually live, read on –  in this guide, we’ll share with you the seven best places to live in France.

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1. Paris

Best for: The Nightlife

2. Brittany

Best for: Affordability

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3. Lyon

Best for: Food and Drink

Let’s be honest – wherever you end up in France, you’ll be able to enjoy fantastic food and drink. It’s a nation renowned for its beautiful delicacies, and for us, this was a close call between so many different regions – but if we had to choose a place to live in France based on its food and drink, we would choose Lyon. 

What makes Lyon’s food stand out from the rest of France is its cosy and quaint ‘bouchons’. Bouchons are traditional, family-run restaurants that dish up lovely Lyonnais meals, which go back centuries. This French tradition is so valued in Lyon that each year, L’Association de defense des Bouchons Lyonnais certifies those bouchons that meet its standards of authenticity – so you know you’re getting the real deal.

What kind of food can you expect to see on your plate at a bouchon? Well, some dishes may surprise you:

• Grattons (pork scratchings) – This is usually served as a starter, and is seasoned with salt, pepper, and vinegar.
• Lyonnais saveloy (cooked cured sausage) – Although nowadays this is made with pork meat, originally, the primary ingredient for this delicacy was pork brains. Bon appetit!
• Quenelle –  This is said to be the epitome of Lyonnaise cuisine. These are dumplings that consist of poultry or fish, which are minced, coated in breadcrumbs, and arranged in the form of a sausage.

You can expect to pass roughly 70 of these cosy eateries around Lyon, but it’s not just bouchons that help Lyon steal the culinary show. There is a huge collection of well-established restaurants and bars throughout Lyon – in fact, as of 2019, Lyon officially has 20 Michelin Star restaurants! You may be thinking about your waistline right about now, but fear not: real traditional Lyonnais food is cooked with fresh ingredients, which are all locally sourced.

4. Montpellier

Best for: Families

Choosing where to live is always a daunting prospect, let alone when you have little ones to think of too. If you’re moving to Montpellier, however, this will be the last of your worries. 

One of the biggest fears that parents face when moving to a non-English speaking country is their children not being able to pick up the language easily. For Brits, Montpellier’s variety of bilingual schools is one of its more attractive features, as they make it much easier for children to settle in. The most popular schools for English speakers in Montpellier are the International Eridan School, Ecole Privée Bilingue Internationale, and Montpellier Business School. 

As well as schooling, Montpellier has grabbed a lot of attention in recent years because of its ever-growing size. This city has so much to offer for families: with museums, art exhibitions, playgrounds, beaches, and botanical gardens. You won’t know where to start.

This rapidly growing city has actually been dubbed as ‘The city of youth’ – roughly 43% of its residents are aged 30 or younger, including around 70,000 students. The main reason young people are drawn to Montpellier is not just because of the wide variety of clubs, pubs, and beaches – it’s also because of the number of universities and educational institutes it’s home to. 

Above all, when moving to a new place, the safety of your children is your priority. Like every city across the world, Montpellier is never 100% safe, and it’s good to have a cautious mind – but overall, it is a very safe area of France. The tramway system is also an efficient method of transportation for any late night adventures you or your children go on, so you can put your mind at rest. 

5. Luberon

Best for: The Countryside

This fairytale-esque area of France is very much in the sticks, but if you find yourself craving a life of tranquility and nature, Luberon is perfect. In fact, as of 2018, it was revealed that France’s rural population only reached 19.5%. Meaning you can look forward to endless peace and quite, with no frustrating over-crowding in your new home.

Not only does this wonderful area have so much history to explore (which dates back to the 10th century), but it has endless trail walks, glistening gorges, and undeniably breathtaking views. If you’ve always dreamt of a simpler life, take the leap and find some peace here. 

Although this location is quite isolated from big name brands and high streets, the local markets that run throughout the towns will provide you with all the essentials on your shopping list – wine and cheese being at the top of that list, naturally. 

So what can you expect to see at these markets? Well, all of the food is locally sourced, so you can expect a selection of seasonal fruit and vegetables, along with a variety of meat and cheeses, a wide range of wines from the local vineyards, and clothes handmade by people in the different towns and villages. 

Unlimited nature also means unlimited sport. You can forget about needing a gym membership – throughout the summer, you’ll have endless sports opportunities, including hiking, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, horse riding, rock climbing, and even a spot of natural swimming. 

But what about during the winter? Well, the lucky people of Luberon are less than a two hour drive away from the ski resort, Mont Ventoux. This is a rather small ski resort, but it definitely beats flying across the globe for your next snow fix.

And if all this nature business gets a little too much and you miss the hustle and bustle of city life, then you are just a 40 minute drive away from Avignon, 40 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, and 60 minutes from Marseille. 

6. Dordogne

Best for: Retirement

Beautiful countryside, historical architecture, low property prices, and an endless supply of wine – what more could you ask for? These are just a handful of reasons why so many Brits are choosing Dordogne as their place to retire. Situated in a region of beautiful greenery, this historical region of France provides a slower pace of life that fits perfectly with retirement. 

If you’re longing for more than just an abundance of British expats to make you less homesick, many of Dordogne’s architectural features are also quintessentially British. This is why British buyers make up 59% of the population in this region of France. 

Like anywhere else in the world, property prices can vary, depending on how much money you have to indulge in. Properties range from simplistic flats to homely cottages, and traditional old farm houses. 

Many expats buy an old shell of a farm house for a few thousand pounds, and then renovate it. Although, you’ll need more than just a few grand for this, as most renovations can set you back hundreds of thousands of pounds. On the smaller end of the scale, you can invest in one of the more simple and quaint properties in Dordogne for a miniscule £100,000! 

If you find yourself missing the buzz of city life, France’s third largest city, Bordeaux, is just an hour and a half away. Take a day trip from the countryside to the bustling streets of Bordeaux, and you’ll be immersed in everything you could want, from retail shops to historical museums.

7. Provence

Best for: Beaches

Craving a breath of fresh air, and dreaming of salty sea hair? Aren’t we all. 

When you think of France, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the historical architecture, art, culture, and endless tasty treats – not the multitude of white sandy beaches that it has to offer. The French coast is scattered with beautiful sandy coves. In particular, you can find some hidden gems, tucked away in the region of Provence. Brits have recently picked up on this and, as of 2018, there are 1200 Brits soaking in the sun there.

When you’re not leaping over countless sunbathing tourists in the peak of summer, beaches are the perfect place for tranquility and relaxation. 

See our favourite picturesque Provence beaches below:

• Calanques de Cassis – Famous for its crystal clear waters and surrounding limestone cliffs, Calanques de Cassis is great for either relaxing and floating around in the sea, or hiking around the surrounding cliffs and forests.
• Plage de Notre Dame – One of the more isolated beaches of Provence, this beach is accessible only via a 30-40 minute trail walk. This area of Provence is protected, so you can be sure that the beach will remain pristine during your move.
• Plage l’Escalet Beach – Another one that’s off the beaten track. This beach is very family friendly for tourists, as well as being popular with the locals.  
• Plage Paloma – This beautiful beach is tucked away in a little cove in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. You can expect an array of water sports on the beach, as well as a handful of restaurants, and bars in surrounding areas.
• Plage Mala, Cap d’Ail – Another gorgeous gem hidden away from the world, where you can experience euphoria as you float on a sea of blue and green (until the tourists come, of course). 

The Best Place To Live In France: The Verdict

As you can see, France has something to offer everyone – whether you’re thinking of moving to enjoy a more affordable retirement, soak up the sun with some wine, or search for an upbeat life full of clubs and nightlife. Hopefully, this article has given you a bit of guidance about which area of the country would suit you best. 

The top seven places to live for expats are:

• Paris: Best for nightlife
• Brittany: Best for its affordability
• Lyon: Best for food and drink
• Montpellier: Best for families
• Luberon: Best for countryside
• Dordogne: Best for retirement
• Provence: Best for beaches

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