Bastia (Corsica)

From the airport

Bus: catch the airport bus next to the Prefecture. The journey takes about 35 minutes.

Shop

Searching for a new decorative piece for your home or a throughout token for your mum? Jour et Nuit has a great selection of homely gifts at reasonable prices.

Corsica has several locally made beers. Pietra, a unusual amber brew made from chestnuts, is the most popular with locals and most cafes will have it on tap.

Toga is home to the Nouveau port and Geant Casino, the largest shopping centre in the area. The nameless square across the street from Geant Casino has the best boules action in town. 

Dsy trip

Castagniccia. Pronounced Casta-neech, this mountainous area is covered by huge chestnut groves and dotted with little villages. The area is traversed by paths perfect for hikig and exploring. Head south from Bastia on the N193 for about an hour then turn right onto the D506 or D330.

Ajaccio (Corsica)

From the airport

Bus: Line 8 takes 20 minutes to get to the city. It runs seven days a week from 5.55am-11.15pm.

Shop

A winery joust outside Ajaccio, in Pisciatella, Clos Capitoro is open every day except Sunday. It is anchored in a familial hamlet charged with history.

Bicycle rental by the hour or day is available at very reasonable prices from Locacycle, right in the middle of town.

The each town of Porticcio is 15 minutes south of Ajaccio. Boasting the Genoan Tower of Capitello, it has a long stretch of beautiful beach with affordable and relaxed restaurants and shops.

Day trip

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage village of Girolata in the Gulf of Porto. Surrounded by rock pinnacles, the town is not accessible by road. You will have to walk seven kilometres, follow the trail from the car park near Osani, or go by boat. Book a day trip with Promenades en Mer, picnic included.

Bordeaux

From the airport

Bus: A bus goes to Gare St Jean station every 45 minutes from 7.45am-10.45pm.

Shop

RKR is full of quirky contemporary interior design shops in the heart of the antiques district of Chartrons. Great for everything from sofas and lighting to cool coffee cups and cushions.
L'Epicerie, by Place des Grands Hommes shopping centre, is perfect for stocking up on delicious goodies from all over the world. Beautifully laid out, choose from sweets to herbal teas.
There is decent fashion on the pedestrianised Rue Sainte Catherine including a Galeries Lafayette, cute back streets full of antiques and galleries in the Chartrons District. There is a market on Sunday on Marche des Quais where locals eat fresh oysters on the spot. 

The first Sunday of every month is Dimanche Sans Voitures, when the city centre is entirely pedestrianised. There are always plenty of things going on to encourage people into the centre, from art exhibition to street music.

The Ecole du Vin offers two-hur wine tasting classes throughout the summer. A great way to get acquainted with what's on offer before heading out to the vineyards.

Jardin Botanique is an urban park located on the Right bank of the Garonne River. It contains some excellent water features, zen-like gardens and unusual walking courses, with plenty of cafes nearby.

The Jardin Public is one of the most romantic walks in the city. Around this pretty park are a number of shops and restaurants along Cours du Verdun and Rue Fondaudege.

Visit the Marche des Capucins on a Saturday morning, the city's most famous food market. This is where the chef's shop and the quality of the ingredients is excellent. Don't miss the seafood stand!

The best time to go in April to October. Try to avoid July and August as this is peak tourist season, temperatures are high and there is less available accommodation.

Day trip

Arcachon. In February, the crowds stay away from this seaside resort so it is the perfect time to visit. Spring always seems to arrive a little earlier here, heralded by the bright yellow blooms of mimosa flowers. Arrive by train from Gare St Jean or it is 40 minutes by car.
Soulac-sur-mer. Right at the northern tip of the Medoc peninsula, this colonial village is a real find. Apart from the artistic village, with its preserved houses and pretty harbour, there are plenty of  beaches, horse-riding and walking trails.
St Emilion. It is a beautiful and romantic small town full of cobbled streets, wine bars and art galleries.

Corsica

Discover ancient chestnut forests, whitewashed villages, stunning landscapes and some of the Med's finest beaches on this idyllic French island. 

Corsica's craggy coastline hides some of the Med's finest beaches. Heavenly Plage de Salleccia near Saint-Florent is a remote, white-sand beach best reached by boat. More accessible are the beaches along the Gulf of Ajaccio and the flour-fine sand of Pinarello beach in the south.

The ancient Greeks called Corsica 'Kalliste' meaning 'the most beautiful' and the island has been fought over ever since. It is the Genoese legacy that is most striking in the beautiful pastel-hued old town of Bastia and the citadels of Ajaccio and Bonifacio. How they must regret selling Corsica to France in 1768.

The island bewitching landscape of herb-scented hills, wild mountains, ancient chestnut forests and whitewashed villages makes it stunning for walkers. The GR20 trail traverses the island but, at 110 miles long, it is not for everyone. The rickety Micheline train from Bastia to Ajaccio offers scenery without the strain.

Corsican cuisine is simple and hearty. Meat dishes like wild boar or smoked prizzutu ham sometimes have a distinctive chestnut flavour. Cheeses such as Brocciu and Fromage Corse are strong and pungent while the island's Italian influences mean delicious pasta and pizza.

The Mistral, Tramontane and Sirocco winds sometimes buffet the island creating ideal conditions for sailing and windsurfing. The warm waters are perfect for diving. Inland there is excellent canyoning and rafting on the Tavignano and Golo rivers.

La Rochelle

From the airport

Bus: buses leave every 15 minutes from 7am-7pm to Place de Verdun bus station

Shop

Try Cosmen for a superb selection of men's cosmetics and toileteries. You can also indulge yourself with skincare treatments and massages.

Wnat to explore the Ile de Re? Buy a combined ticket and take your rented bicycle on the bus. It is available for return journeys from the Place de Verdun.

The three towers of La Rochelle-St Nicolas, La Chaine and La Lanterne are right at the heart of the city and symbolise its historic importance. Take a guided tour or simply stroll through the are and soak up the history.

Day trip

Futuroscope. France's second-largest theme part is just north of Poitiers, about 90 minutes away by car.

Grenoble

From the airport
Bus. A shuttle bus goes to the central bus station next to the train station.

Shop

Fashion-conscious snowboarders should head to ConceptBoardShop for an unusual selection of kit and boards. The extreme-sports outlet is conveniently located in the heart of the city.

If the weather turns wet and grey, then head to the Musee de Grenoble to brighten your day. It boasts one of the best collections of paintings and artefacts in France.

Day trip

Col de Porte. This charming ski station is less than 30 minutes away from Grenoble. You can go skiing or snowshoeing in the forest, or simply relax and take in the spectacular scenery.

Montpellier

From the airport

Bus: take the shuttle bus to Place de l'Europe, from there you can take a tram into the town. The tram runs every few minutes.

Shop

Perlolita is a haven for busy-fingered beady-eyed creative squirrels. Choose your beads and make your own bijoux in the chatty workshop.

Weekly rag La Gazette Montpellier (on sale in news kiosks every Friday) costs  1 euro and contains gossip, news, sports and complte listings for all kinds of events throughout the city. It is a great way to get some local knowledge.

Villeneuve-les-Maguelone beach is a short bus ride from the centre and offers nine kilometres of unspoilt sand and clean water. Closer to the village, the Fete de la Mer offers fun and sporting activities on the sands all month of August.

Day trip

Beziers. This is normally a bustling market town, about 40 minutes away from Montpellier, but from 14-17 of August, the world-famous feria arrives in town. More than a million visitors are expected to throng the town for Spanish music, food and wine.

Nantes

From the airport

Bus: the Tan Air shuttle bus picks up from outside Hall 2 and runs to Nantes south SNCF, Cite des Congres and the town centre.

Shop

A great spectacle, Marche de Talensac is a traditional market selling fresh produce from local farmers. Open daily except Monday.
Place Viarme is where artits and craftspeople have their workshops. The Nantes Flea Market is held every Saturday morning.

Take advantage of a Nantes Pass, available from the tourist office. A one-day pass gives entry to many attractions, plus free access to the public transport network.

Have a great day out at Les Machines de l'ile, a museum in the former shipyard at Boulevard Leon Bureau, with fabulous machines on display.

Rue Crebilon is the city's smartest street and this is where you will find all the big names and boutiques. Right in the centre, it links the Place Royal with Place Graslin.

February is not the warmest month of the year. so you may prefer to stay indoors. The Chateau des ducs de Bretagne is a large fortified castle and includes the new Nantes History Museum. Take a morning tour then settle in for a long lunch somewhere warm. 

Place Fernand Soil is a quiet, secluded square just a few metres from the main shopping streets. Shaded by a massive central tree and with a selection of cafes, this is a great place to relax.

Nantes has been a Tour de France stage town 30 times, including the very first race back in 1903. 

Day trip

Le Croisic. Pretty seaside pot with plenty of attractive beaches and fish restaurants, a great seafood market, not to mention the fantastic Ocearium, with sharks, turtles, penguins and many more sea creatures from around the world. Just an hour away from Nantes.
Angers. Take a voyage of discovery and learn the secrets of distilling oranges to make liqueur and how to mix great cocktails at the Cointreau Distellery. Angers is 90 kilometres from Nantes by car.

Toulouse

From the airport

Bus: the Toulouse-Blagnac Navette connects the airport to the city station, leaving every 20 minutes from 5am-12.15am

For unique literary gifts, Ombres Blanches is a spacious bookshop that hosts live contemporary writers and posthumous dossiers on writers.

La Maison de la Violette is on a barge in the Canal du Midi, moored opposite Gare Matabiau. It sells everything and anything made from violets, from sweets to tea and candles.

Want to rub elbows with the students, artists and intellectuals of Toulouse? Cafe des Artistes is funky, brainy and easygoing.

In February it is the International Violet Festival: unique gifts are for the taking at this celebration of the delicate purple blossom, an official emblem of the city.

Located between the Boulevards and the Garonne River, Toulouse's historic nucleus is the Capitole. I houses popular daytime eateries and breathtaking architecture. It is equally animated by night with popular pubs and discos.

Day trip

Montauban. Founded in 1144 by Count Jourdain, Montauban (Willow Trees from Alba in Occitan) was a Hugenot stronghold during the 16th-century religious war. Today, arcaded brick buildings overlook semi-pedestrianised lanes and trendy shops.
Auch. On the Gers River, about 65 kilometres west of Toulouse, the historic market town of Auch has impressive outsdoor stairways and breathtaking views of the Pyrenees. Climb the 232-step Escalier Monumental then visit the handsome gothic Cathedrale Sainte-Marie. BTy car, take the N124 west or go by SNCF trains and buses.