Incredible French Destinations To Add To Your Winter Bucket List, According To Travelers

Grenoble is equally perfect for the French Alps newcomers and hardcore fans. Surrounded by the high mountains from all sides, it boasts a picturesque museum-filled Old Town, a romantic Isère river promenade, and plenty of winter fun attractions in the immediate vicinity. The first thing to do here is take a cable car ride to the 19th-century Fort de La Bastille, a breathtaking vantage point for the Alps and the town beneath. Bastille is also an entertaining way to discover the history of Grenoble, with a series of defensive structures and dungeons to explore.

The city has not one but three mountain ranges around, so you have access to a whole playground of snow-filled activities. Chamrousse Ski Resort of Olympic fame is great for sledding, Col de Porte is a perfect place to start your skiing or snowboarding journey, and Chartreuse plateaux trails are ideal for snowshoeing adventures. As for the urban side of Grenoble, be sure to check out the Museum of Grenoble, which is packed with world-class art from Monet to Warhol.

France is lucky to have Nice. This seaside gem of a town is among the most beautiful destinations in Europe, no matter the season. Winter sees the French Riviera's capital at its most contemplative and atmospheric. But don't worry, the Meditteranean sun still shines bright, the Old Town streets are at their most charming, and the culture-infused things to do are plenty. Accommodation prices drop in notoriously expensive Riviera in colder months, so you're guaranteed to score some good deals, too.

The 4-mile-long Promenade des Anglais is where the sublime sea vistas are and where you find the most stunning palaces, Art Nouveau hotels, and lush gardens. Be sure to hike or take a tourist train to the top of the Colline du Château for an iconic panorama of the city and the beaches. Winter is a perfect time to embrace the rich museum heritage of Nice. Tour local superstars like Villa Masséna, which houses Napoleon's death mask, Musée des Beaux-Arts, filled with impressionist masterpieces, and the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, famous for its avant-garde collection. Fancy a budget-friendly day trip to Monaco? A €2.50 public bus, number 100, takes you to the millionaire-loved micro country in under an hour.

It's hard to resist the charms of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. On the one hand, it's a postcard-perfect French alpine village with an ancient stone church, a series of wooden chalets, and breathtaking Savoyard mountains. But there's a catch here. The village is also one of the best smaller ski resorts in the country, thanks to its access to Les 3 Vallées ski area, which is officially the biggest in the world. 

Les 3 Vallées' stats are nothing short of impressive. With more than 372 miles of runs, 158 lifts, 70 walking routes, 40 mountain bike trails, and 74 cross-skiing pistes, it's a gift that keeps on giving. All of it set to the unparalleled beauty of the French Alps. Price-wise, a one-day ski pass in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville starts from €48, but there are family discounts and reduced rates for Saturday skiing if you book in advance online. For a gourmet dining experience, head to 3-Michelin-starred La Bouitte outside the village, serving Alps-inspired French cuisine.

How can you not fall in love with Colmar? The boats slowly glide through the narrow canals, half-timbered houses grace the cobblestone streets, and Gothic churches impress with their intricate façades. If you were to shoot a fantasy movie, no decorations would be needed; being here feels like medieval times never ended. No wonder it's perfect for a magical couples getaway. 

Snowy winter months just make the allure of Colmar's Old Town more enticing. The town is known to be the Alsatian wine capital, with 38,300 acres of vineyards, a legally protected bottle (flute of Alsace), and an impressive variety of local wines. Numerous bars à vin are scattered around the historic core, and you should check them out to savor the locally-produced Sylvaner, Muscat d'Alsace, and Pinot Blanc. Winter is also a perfect time to indulge in Alsatian gastronomy by trying local star dishes such as coq au Riesling (chicken braised in Riesling wine), tarte flambée (traditional bacon onion flatbread), and fromage blanc tart (a local variety of a cheesecake).

Seeing the vista of white chalk arches rising from the waters of the English Channel for the first time is a special moment. The scene has a subtle sublimity: the moment of unfiltered beauty. Welcome to Étretat, one of the most inspirational places to visit in France. A seaside town on the Alabaster Coast, it has long been a beacon for painters, writers, and cinematographers. 

The famed impressionist master Monet was so fascinated by the view that he created not one but 90 oeuvres depicting the place, trying to capture its splendor in different lights and seasons. Other French artistic giants like Courbet, Boudin, and Matisse were captivated, too, and produced many Étretat paintings of their own. You could have seen the town in Luc Besson's "Lucy" and Netflix Omar Sy-led show "Lupin." This destination is as cinematic as they get.

Naturally, such a spectacular spot is very popular with visitors. Winter is the best time to come to beat the crowds and have the stunning panorama (almost) to yourself. It will be colder, the English Channel waves will be higher, and windy weather will abound. But it is also among the most enchanting seasons to visit when mists and a game of light create an aetherial show combined with the majestic profile of the arches. Be sure to check the Jardins d'Etretat for a nice vantage point and try the delights of Normandy's cuisine in cozy traditional restaurants.

Capricious waves of the Bay of Biscay hug Biarritz, which is among the most stunning Atlantic destinations in the country. Central California comes to mind when you're here. Think surfing culture, larger-than-life white-sand beaches, scenic walking trails, and abundant luxury coastal hotels. All of it with a tasteful French flair, Belle Epoque architecture of numerous villas, and a strong Basque identity. In Biarritz, the oceanic nature is at its raw; the winds tend to be stronger than in gentle Cote d'Azur resort towns like Cannes or Antibes, and the grandeur of the Atlantic is felt more vividly. If you're a surfer, the town is among Europe's top spots to hit the swells; just be sure to wear the all-body suit in winter as the water will be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Colder months bring melancholy to local landscapes, keep the crowds away, and lower the prices at the local accommodations (ocean-view room is the one to book). It's a great time for long contemplative walks along the coast, warming up in atmospheric cafeterias and exploring the mouthwatering local cuisine. Basque, French, and Spanish influences amalgamate on the plate here, with seafood like mussels, tuna, oysters, and cod taking the central stage.

A vibrant icon of the French South, Montpellier is an exciting year-round destination filled with life. Closer in spirit and looks to Spanish Barcelona and Valencia than Paris or Lyon, it enchants you with energetic café culture, labyrinthine Old Town, unparalleled nightlife driven by the vast student population, and the proximity to amazing Mediterranean beaches. Winter is sunny, and the temperature rarely goes below 53 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can leisurely inhabit the many outdoor terraces around the city center and soak in the simple pleasures of southern life.

The tour would usually start next to Montpellier Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece representing everything grandiose French church-building is famous for. Nearby is a free Jardin des plantes de Montpellier, the country's oldest botanical garden, and a perfect spot for slow walks. Like Paris, the city boasts its own Arc de Triomphe and a splendid square that goes with it, a stately Promenade du Peyrou with an 18th-century Aqueduct. Be prepared to lose yourself inside the maze of narrow alleys and shaded squares of the Old Town, filled with bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Finally, no visit to Montpellier is complete without hitting the Meditteranean coast, the beach town of Palavas-les-Flots, which is well-connected to the center by bus and tram.

The entries are chosen based on the travelers' opinions on Tripadvisor and Google, with an emphasis on visiting France during winter. Also, we combined these reviews with an extensive personal knowledge of the country that stems from traveling to the places mentioned in the article and trying them first-hand. 

Finally, the official tourist boards' seasonal recommendations are also considered for practical suggestions on the best attractions, restaurants, and activities. The collection is not only limited to the classic French mountain winter destinations but includes a diverse set of places for a variety of budgets.