The most charming villages… the most walkable towns… the most romantic city…
Its café culture is the envy of the world… while its fashion and arts have dominated it for centuries…
Life here is famously safe and pleasant, and it offers every type of living you could dream of.
Do you want a life of elegance in a stunning, cosmopolitan city like Paris?
Or do you want to slow down and savor every moment in a charming medieval village?
You could opt for sunny afternoons hiking among wildflowers in the Alps… and skiing down snowy trails come winter…
Or you can spend your days soaking up the sun and sipping mimosas on the glorious Riviera.
If you’re looking for the ultimate prize for a life of hard work, look no further than France, and this week’s video talks you through all of our top picks in the country…
Got a question? Want to see us cover a particular topic? Write to me here.
Happy trails,
Kat Kalashian,
Editor LIOS Confidential
Video Transcript
Intro
Hi, I’m Kat Kalashian for Live and Invest Overseas. Although Paris receives most of the attention, there is much more to France than its famous capital city. Today we’re taking a closer look at some of the best regions in France, especially if you’re considering moving there.
France is home to a growing expat community. Along with approximately 160,000 other American and Canadian expats, I live here myself. If you’re considering a move to France, there are many locations beyond Paris that offer fantastic lifestyles, beautiful scenery, and welcoming communities.
The Top 6 Cities of France
France’s largest cities—Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nice, and Marseille—offer vibrant urban lifestyles. These cities are filled with art, music, world-class cuisine, boutique shopping, and charming streets to explore.
Infrastructure in these cities is excellent. Public transportation systems are extensive and reliable, meaning many residents do not need a car. Metro systems, buses, trams, and trains connect neighborhoods and surrounding regions efficiently.
Living in these cities typically means apartment living, often in historic buildings that may be over a century old. While the architecture is charming, it also means that modern amenities such as elevators, central heating, or air conditioning are not always guaranteed. When searching for housing, it’s important to confirm whether these features are available.
Paris remains the easiest international hub for travel, with dozens of direct flights connecting to North America and destinations around the world. The other major cities are also easily reachable from Paris by train, plane, or car.
Cities like Montpellier and Marseille sit along the Mediterranean coast and enjoy mild weather year-round. From Montpellier, for example, Barcelona is just a three-hour train ride away. Marseille and Nice provide easy access to Italy and Monaco.
Toulouse—often called the “Pink City”—sits inland but offers convenient access to Spain, the Atlantic coast, and the Pyrenees mountains. Bordeaux, famous for its wine region, lies along the Atlantic coast where temperatures remain moderate but the climate can be windy.
Lyon, located in eastern France, benefits from close proximity to Switzerland, the Alps, and the rest of central Europe.
The Best Regions in the South of France
Southern France is famous for its dramatic scenery and beautiful coastal regions. The Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, is particularly well known for its stunning coastline, luxury lifestyle, and glamorous reputation.
The Riviera features bright blue Mediterranean waters, dramatic cliffs, picturesque villages, and luxury marinas filled with yachts. Monaco sits nearby, and the region hosts internationally famous events such as the Cannes Film Festival.
However, this area is also one of the most expensive places to live in France, with costs comparable to Paris in many cities.
On the western side of the Mediterranean coast, life becomes much more affordable. Regions such as Gascony and Occitanie offer lower living costs and a slower, more relaxed pace of life.
In these rural regions, daily life often revolves around local markets, fresh produce, and small village communities. Residents may spend their days exploring countryside landscapes, visiting historic castles and Roman ruins, gardening, or enjoying peaceful surroundings.
Housing options often include larger homes with land in rural areas or smaller townhouses in village centers. Living in small towns also means becoming part of a close-knit community where neighbors know each other well.
The Top Mountains and Islands for Expats in France
France’s geography is incredibly diverse. As the largest country in Western Europe, it offers mountains, coastlines, islands, countryside, and major cities.
Mountain regions such as the Alps and the Pyrenees provide year-round outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, climbing, and cycling. While the Alps are the most famous mountain range, the Pyrenees often offer more affordable skiing and outdoor sports.
France also has eleven national parks that attract hikers, climbers, campers, and wildlife enthusiasts.
The country has three distinct coastlines. The northern coast along the English Channel tends to be colder and windier. The Atlantic coast is popular for sailing and surfing, while the Mediterranean coast is known for its warm weather and scenic seaside towns.
In addition to mainland coastlines, France also has islands such as Corsica and several smaller islands that offer unique lifestyles and beautiful coastal scenery.
Paris
Paris is the most international city in France and a major global hub. The city attracts expats from around the world who move there for work, business opportunities, family life, or retirement.
It is also one of the most walkable cities in Europe. Public transportation options include the metro, buses, trams, and regional trains, making car ownership unnecessary for most residents.
Paris is famous for its cultural offerings, including world-class museums, fashion, food, and historic architecture. The city often feels like an open-air museum, with historic buildings, monuments, and landmarks throughout its neighborhoods.
Despite its size, Paris is relatively flat and easy to navigate by foot or bicycle, aside from a few cobblestone streets. Residents can spend years exploring the city and still discover new corners, hidden streets, and historical markers.
Paris is also a major travel hub. From here, it is easy to travel throughout Europe as well as to Africa, Asia, and North America.
However, Paris also has downsides. Housing costs are among the highest in France, and air pollution and density can be challenges. Winters tend to be gray and rainy, and the pace of life can feel faster than in other parts of the country.
Building close friendships with locals can also take time, although the city’s large international community makes it easier to connect with other expats.
Occitanie
Occitanie is a large region in southern France located along the Mediterranean coast. Major cities in this region include Montpellier and Toulouse, while historic towns like Carcassonne attract visitors from around the world.
The region offers diverse landscapes including coastline, vineyards, wetlands, forests, and mountains. Historic sites such as Roman arenas, Cathar castles, and the famous Canal du Midi add to the region’s cultural richness.
Occitanie also offers a relatively low cost of living compared to many other parts of France and provides easy access to Spain.
However, the region’s economy can be weaker than other parts of the country, with lower wages and higher unemployment in some areas. It is also a very large region, making it important to spend time exploring different towns before choosing where to live.
In many areas, daily life follows a slower pace, including traditional midday breaks when shops close for several hours.
Nouvelle Aquitaine / Gascony
Nouvelle Aquitaine, which overlaps with the historic region of Gascony, is one of the most rural parts of France. The region has low population density, quiet countryside, and a slower pace of life.
The Atlantic coast includes beautiful seaside towns such as La Rochelle, Biarritz, and the island of Île de Ré. These areas are popular for sailing, coastal living, and beach culture.
The region is also home to the world-famous Bordeaux wine country and sits close to the Spanish border and the Pyrenees mountains.
Daily life here often centers around local markets and village communities. Many towns feature traditional “bastide” layouts built around central market squares.
However, much of the region is rural and agricultural, meaning fewer large cities and limited international communities compared with Paris or the Riviera.
Savoie
Savoie lies in eastern France near the borders of Switzerland and Italy and is located in the heart of the Alps. The region offers spectacular mountain scenery, alpine villages, lakes, and some of the best skiing and hiking in Europe.
Its location makes it easy to travel into Switzerland or Italy for day trips, while cities such as Lyon and Geneva are nearby.
The local culture has influences from neighboring Alpine countries, and traditional cuisine often features hearty mountain dishes designed for colder climates.
Savoie offers clean air, peaceful villages, and easy access to outdoor adventure. However, winters can be harsh, and mountain towns may feel isolated during snowy months.
The region has a smaller international community, fewer universities, and limited nightlife compared with major French cities, making it better suited to those seeking a quieter lifestyle.
