10 Towns in France to Visit Without a Car

Sometimes when you’re on holiday, the last thing you want to do is get in a car and drive for miles and miles, or worse still, be stuck in traffic. That’s not a vacation. Luckily, here in France, not only is public transport really good, but there are plenty of towns and villages that are almost completely pedestrianized, where you don’t need a car at all.

In fact, in many of these places, cars are discouraged, and they have all sorts of great initiatives to help you ditch the car and immerse yourself in your surroundings. Some have bike hire schemes, others offer park-and-ride style options, while others have a great train network that allows you to easily explore the area without the need for driving.

Èze (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Èze sits high above the Côte d’Azur, carved into the rock with views that stretch from the cliffs to the Mediterranean. It overlooks one of the most photographed stretches of coastline in France. The village has long drawn artists, writers, and other creatives because of the amazing light. 

Nietzsche walked here often and wrote part of Thus Spoke Zarathustra while climbing the steep trail now named after him. Walt Disney came for the views and returned multiple times. It’s not hard to see why. The medieval streets wind past galleries and stone façades, leading up to the Jardin Exotique, where giant succulents overlook the sea and sculptures mark the site of the old castle. At the top, the view is the real showstopper.

Once you’re here, it’s all on foot, and from the station it’s a quick bus or taxi to the village. The centre is fully pedestrianized and easy to explore in a few hours. If you want to stretch your legs, you can follow the Nietzsche Path down to the sea or take a local bus to nearby Nice, Monaco, or Menton. It’s the perfect place to escape to, but try going out of season to avoid the crowds.

🚆 Train station: Èze-sur-Mer (then bus or taxi to the village)
📍Perfect for: Riviera views, walking trails, art, and literary history
💡Top tip: Èze is steep, with lots of uneven steps and narrow walkways. Wear flat shoes and be prepared for some uphill walking.

Chamonix (Alps)

Chamonix sits at the base of Mont Blanc, surrounded by jagged peaks, glaciers, and some of the highest cable cars in Europe. The town is compact, with chalet-style buildings, mountain views in every direction, and a centre packed with cafés, bakeries, and gear shops. In summer, the lifts take you straight to alpine trails, and hikers head out early to reach turquoise lakes, wildflower meadows, and mountain refuges that serve hot chocolate and tartiflette. 

The air is cool and crisp even in July, and the sound of meltwater rushing down the valley follows you wherever you go. If you do want to explore, there are small local trains and buses that connect you to nearby villages, such as Argentière or Les Houches. The Aiguille du Midi cable car is one of the main reasons people visit; it departs from town and ascends to 3,842 meters, offering breathtaking views across the Alps and a glass skywalk for the brave. There’s also a scenic train ride to the Mer de Glace glacier, or easy walking trails along the river for slower days. It’s a place that suits both outdoor adventures and long lunches with mountain views. In winter, the town fills with skiers and snowboarders heading out to one of the surrounding resorts.

🚆 Train station: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
📍Perfect for: Mountain scenery, cable cars, alpine hiking, glacier views
💡Top tip: Summer weather can feel cool at altitude even when it’s hot in town. Pack layers and book your cable car tickets ahead of time during peak months.

Narbonne (Occitanie)

Narbonne is so underrated, and I was pleasantly surprised when I visited. It sits in the Aude department in southern France, roughly halfway between Montpellier and the Spanish border. It was the first Roman colony in Gaul. Its history is everywhere, from the exposed stretch of Via Domitia in the main square to the underground galleries of the old Roman horreum, once used to store grain. 

The Gothic cathedral, though never finished, dominates the centre of town, and a climb up the Donjon Gilles Aycelin is a must, although there are a lot of steps to get to the top, but the views are worth it. Along the canal, you’ll find bakeries, wine shops, and shaded spots to sit and watch the world go by.

Summer mornings begin at Les Halles, one of the most lively covered markets in the region. Inside, stalls are piled high with fresh seafood, local cheeses, spit-roasted meats, and pastries still warm from the oven. Regulars gather at zinc counters for lunch and a glass of rosé before the heat sets in. If you feel like heading to the coast, it’s an easy ride to Gruissan, a fishing village with a wide beach, salt flats, and a circular old centre built around a ruined tower. Whether you stay in Narbonne or head out for the day, everything’s close and easy to reach.

🚆 Train station: Narbonne
📍Perfect for: Food markets, canal walks, Roman history, day trips to the coast
💡Top tip: Head to Les Halles before 11 am for the best selection, then grab a stool at one of the market counters for a low-key lunch with a local glass of rosé.

Antibes (French Riviera)

Antibes is slightly off the beaten path and slightly quieter than its flashy neighbors, Nice and Cannes. The old town is surrounded by 16th-century ramparts and backed by the Alps in the distance. It’s compact and walkable, with stone lanes that lead to shaded squares, a covered market, and the sea. 

Port Vauban, just outside the walls, is home to some of the biggest yachts in Europe. Above it all is the Picasso Museum, housed in a former castle where Picasso lived and worked in 1946. His studio overlooked the water, and many of the works he created here are still on display.

France is renowned for its markets, and Antibes is no exception; therefore, a trip to the Marché Provençal is a must. You’ll pick up olives, fruit, cheese, and fresh bread for a picnic on the beach at Plage de la Gravette. The beach is tucked just beneath the ramparts and a few minutes’ walk from the market. 

For longer walks, the Sentier du Littoral starts nearby and follows the coastline around Cap d’Antibes. The path is rough in places, but the views are worth it. If you stay in the old town, everything you need is close: galleries, bakeries, beaches, and cafés that stay open late.

🚆 Train station: Antibes
📍Perfect for: Coastal walks, markets, art, beach days with minimal effort
💡Top tip: Skip the main beach in the afternoon and head to the ramparts for a swim at the small public jetty. It’s quieter, and the water’s clearer.

Blois (Loire Valley)

Blois sits on the banks of the Loire, with steep streets that rise from the river to the foot of its château. Once home to French kings, the château dominates the skyline and offers a mix of architectural styles that reflect the shifting tastes of those who lived there, from Gothic to Renaissance. 

The old town spreads out around it, with half-timbered buildings and small squares with cafés and crêperies. The Maison de la Magie, right opposite the château, is dedicated to local illusionist Robert-Houdin and features mechanical dragons that appear in the windows every half hour.

Everything in Blois is easy to reach on foot, including the historic bridge that crosses to the other side of the river, where you’ll find quieter streets and good views back toward the château. The town makes a great base for exploring other nearby châteaux, such as Chambord and Cheverny. In the evenings, the château hosts a sound and light show projected directly onto the walls, telling the story of the kings, plots, and betrayals that shaped it.

🚆 Train station: Blois-Chambord
📍Perfect for: Châteaux, river views, day trips into the Loire Valley
💡Top tip: Don’t just visit the château, walk around the back to the gardens and the panoramic terrace. It’s one of the best free views over the rooftops of Blois.

Honfleur (Normandy)

Honfleur sits where the Seine meets the sea, on the Normandy coast just across from Le Havre. Its old port, the Vieux Bassin, is lined with tall, narrow buildings of soft greys, faded reds, and slate-blue rooftops. The harbor has inspired generations of painters, including Monet, Boudin, and the early Impressionists. You’ll find plenty of galleries tucked between restaurants and boutiques in the backstreets just behind the water. The town also has the largest wooden church in France, built by shipwrights and shaped like an upturned boat.

The Musée Eugène Boudin is worth a stop for anyone curious about the artists who lived and worked along this coast. If you want a better view of the town, take the short walk up to the chapel at Côte de Grâce, or follow the quayside to the old salt warehouses near the estuary. Buses run regularly from Deauville and Le Havre, and the drop-off point is just a few minutes from the centre.

🚆 Train station: Deauville (then 30-minute bus to Honfleur)
📍Perfect for: Art history, seafood, harbor walks, Normandy light
💡Top tip: If you’re heading to the Boudin Museum, buy a combined ticket that includes entry to the nearby Musée de la Marine. It gives a better sense of Honfleur’s past as a fishing and trading port.

Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne)

Sarlat sits in the heart of the Dordogne and is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in France, with over a thousand years of history in its sandstone walls. It grew around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 9th century and later became a wealthy stronghold during the Hundred Years’ War. The town fell into decline after the 17th century, which is why there are so many beautifully preserved half-timbered medieval buildings everywhere that make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. 

It’s also the heart of black truffle country. Every winter, chefs and buyers come for the truffle markets, and the town even has its own truffle academy. In summer, the focus shifts to foie gras, walnut cake, and open-air concerts in the squares. The Saturday market on Place de la Liberté draws producers from all over Périgord. 

In the summer, the town comes alive with street performers, late-night concerts, and pop-up food vendors. Many of the surrounding sites, from the caves at Lascaux to the cliffside village of La Roque-Gageac, can be reached on half-day tours or by local bus. For the best view of the town, climb the bell tower above the old Sainte-Marie church for a panoramic view over the rooftops.

🚆 Train station: Sarlat
📍Perfect for: Medieval architecture, food markets, outdoor events in summer
💡Top tip: Book the panoramic lift inside the old Sainte-Marie church in advance. Spaces are limited, and it’s the best way to get above the rooftops without hiking into the hills.

Dinan (Brittany)

Dinan is one of Brittany’s best-preserved medieval towns, set high above the River Rance with fortified walls, cobbled streets, and a 13th-century château that once defended the duchy from rival powers. The town thrived in the Middle Ages as a center for linen and leather, and many of its half-timbered houses date back to that period. Today, it still feels rooted in its past, with creaky staircases, old merchants’ houses, and workshops where artists and craftspeople keep traditional trades alive. 

The view from the town walls stretches across the valley, with the port and river winding far below. The most famous street is Rue du Jerzual, a steep, curved lane that links the town to the port. Once used by traders hauling goods uphill by handcart, it’s now home to potters, weavers, and galleries set into the old stone. 

Down at the port, the atmosphere changes. Café terraces line the quay, and boat hire shops offer short trips along the Rance. From here, you can walk or cycle all the way to Léhon, a smaller riverside village with an abbey, an old stone bridge, and a towpath. Everything is connected by footpaths and small local buses, so it’s easy to explore without going far.

🚆 Train station: Dinan
📍Perfect for: Medieval history, craft shops, riverside walks, fortified views
💡Top tip: Walk to the port in the morning when Rue du Jerzual is quieter, then take the towpath to Léhon. It’s a flat 25-minute walk and rarely busy, even in peak season.

La Rochelle (Atlantic Coast)

La Rochelle is only a 90-minute drive from where I live in the Charente and has been a major Atlantic port since the 12th century, with a long maritime history tied to trade, shipbuilding, and religious conflict. It was a stronghold of the Knights Templar and then the Huguenots in the 16th century, and later endured a brutal siege by Cardinal Richelieu during the Wars of Religion. 

The fortified Vieux Port remains the heart of the city, flanked by three medieval towers that once controlled sea entry. You can climb the Tour de la Lanterne and the Tour Saint-Nicolas for views over the harbor, and walk the same ramparts that once defended the city during Richelieu’s siege in 1627. Behind the port, the old town is made up of arcaded streets, faded stone façades, and one of the best-preserved town halls in western France.

The Marché Central is open every day except Monday, with the biggest market on Wednesdays and Saturdays when producers fill the square outside. You can also walk along the coastal path to the Plage de la Concurrence or head further to Les Minimes for a quieter spot to swim. Boats leave regularly from the Vieux Port to the Île de Ré, and you can hire bikes from the station or use the city’s Yélo system to hop on electric buses or the sea shuttle.

🚆 Train station: La Rochelle Ville
📍Perfect for: Maritime history, boat trips, seafood, architecture
💡 Top tip: Buy a combined ticket to the three towers if you plan to visit more than one, as it saves money and allows you to skip the queue during peak hours.

Colmar (Alsace)

Colmar sits in the Alsace region, not far from the German border, and is best known for its half-timbered houses, canals, and brightly painted facades. It escaped major damage during both World Wars, which is why the historic centre remains so intact. The town grew rich on wine and trade, and you can still see signs of its merchant past in the carved stonework and guild buildings around the Place de l’Ancienne Douane. 

It’s also the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. His former home is now a small museum dedicated to his work. The old town is easy to explore on foot. You’ll pass Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains, and narrow canals known as Petite Venise, where flower boxes spill over the bridges in spring and summer. In winter, it has a lovely Christmas market that is well worth visiting.

Colmar also has several good museums, including the Unterlinden Museum, housed in a former convent and home to the Isenheim Altarpiece. If you want to explore further, local buses and trains connect to nearby wine villages like Eguisheim, or you can hire a bike for the day and follow the Alsace wine route.

🚆 Train station: Colmar
📍Perfect for: Canals, painted houses, museums, wine villages
💡Top tip: The most photographed spot in Petite Venise gets crowded fast — go early or late in the day and walk a few streets over for equally beautiful views without the queues.