Family holidays in France 2026

France suits a family holiday. It’s not a long trip from the United Kingdom, and within a single country you can find beaches, mountains, the countryside, and cities. Children can eat comfortably in restaurants, and most towns have parks, markets, and swimming pools. Because it’s easy to get around by car here, travelling with young children and a packed trunk is perfectly doable.

It depends on the ages of the children travelling with you. The coasts of Vendée and Brittany have shallow beaches and short drives from the ferry ports. Provence and the French Riviera attract visitors with their reliably warm weather and warm seas. In the summer, the Alps are ideal for active holidays on the lakes and hiking, while the Dordogne is perfect for older children who want to explore caves and castles and go canoeing.

Beaches, amusement parks, and castles are popular with families of all ages. For young children, try a boat ride on the Canal du Midi, the aquarium on the Atlantic coast, and the Puy du Fou park in the Vendée department. Older children can admire the cave paintings in the Dordogne department, ride a cable car in the Alps, and go on bike rides to the castles in the Loire Valley.

Late June and early September bring warm weather while avoiding the August crowds. French schools have their summer holidays in July and August, so the coast gets crowded, and accommodation prices rise sharply. During the mid-year break in May, the weather in the south is mild, and it’s quieter in most places. Ski resorts host family weeks from December through April, and February usually offers the best snow.

Family rooms and cots are widely available, and larger hotels also offer rooms with connecting doors. In France, breakfast is often charged separately rather than included in the room rate; usually it is a continental breakfast with bread, pastries, and fruit. Hotels with a pool, a kids’ club, and half-board (including breakfast and dinner) are most common on the coast and in the mountains.

7 nights is enough for one region; over 10–14 nights, you can enjoy a trip that covers both the coast and the country’s inland areas. If you’re driving south from Calais at a moderate pace, allow 2 days, so factor this time into your plans if you’re travelling in your own car. For a short stay of 3 or 4 nights, Paris, Lille, or the Normandy coast are good options.