The South of France is home to some of the most picturesque cities in France to visit. Apart from the well-known cities such as Nice, Cannes and Marseille, you will find a wealth of beautiful French cities to visit. Outside of the summer, a visit to the South of France in May or September is always pleasant. The climate is still warm, the restaurants are still open and the throngs of tourists have died down. If you are looking for inspiration about which Southern France cities to visit, then follow our guide to the Best South France cities to visit during 2026.

I was recently asked by a client to provide a list of the best places to visit in France during his month long tour in May 2026. He was already pretty familiar with Paris, but he wanted to explore the rest of the country. This was the list of 20 places in France to visit that I came up with. 

Here is a list of the 5 best beaches near Montpellier, France, to visit in 2026 and a guide of how best to reach them, including if you don't have a car. A lot of the Mediterranean beaches near Montpellier can be accessed simply by taking a tram from Montpellier city centre (Line 3 to Perols Etang de l'Or). The nearest Montpellier beach is just 13kms from the city (at Carnon Plage beach). 

Perpignan is situated 8kms inland from the Mediterranean coast in South France and close to the Spanish border and Pyrenees mountains. If you are looking for the best beaches to visit in 2026 near Perpignan, France, then there are many to choose from, but they are of varying quality. In my opinion, the best beaches Perpignan has to offer are on the Cote Vermeille. Here is our selection of the 8 beaches that are worth visiting near Perpignan.

From my perspective, there are two standout restaurants in the South of France: the Mirazur in Menton and the Auberge de Vieux Puits in the Corbieres. These two restaurants stand as bookends - both physically and figuratively - to the other restaurants in South France.

We have picked out the 15 amazing French villas with private pools on Go Languedoc to rent during 2026. At Go Languedoc, we personally visit all of the advertised French villas to check that the details are as accurate as possible. We also have a good understanding of the local area and attractions.

Find the best large holiday rentals properties with private pools to rent in 2026 in Dordogne, South West France. This collection of 10 Chateau & large holiday rentals in and around Dordogne, France, provide the perfect base for a family vacation, a get-together with friends or a special celebration.

If you are planning your summer holidays for 2026 and you are looking for inside information on the best South France holiday destinations, then just follow our handy guide to the 10 best places to stay in South of France. We have grouped these South France tourist attractions into distinct regions of the South of France, but to be honest getting around is quite simple. 

2024 promises to be a great year for festivals in the South of France. This is the calendar of festivals & events taking place in France during 2026. The South of France has some excellent festivals that perfectly sum up the relaxed way of life in Southern France.