Your Complete Guide to Cheap Flights to France

France is one of Europe's most connected destinations, with 12 international airports, a dense rail network, and fierce competition between low-cost and full-service carriers. Finding an affordable flight is more achievable than you might think. Whether you're landing in Paris for the first time or heading straight to Nice for a Riviera escape, this guide covers everything you need to know to book smart.

Best Time to Fly to France

Timing is the single biggest lever you have over your airfare. Here's how the year breaks down:

  • January–February (cheapest): Off-peak tourism means rock-bottom fares. Expect cold weather, but Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux are far less crowded. Ideal for city trips.
  • March–May (sweet spot): Prices start rising but remain reasonable. Spring blooms in Provence make this one of the most rewarding times to visit. Book 6–8 weeks ahead.
  • June–August (peak, expensive): Summer is France's busiest season. Fares to Paris CDG can spike 40–70% above annual averages. If you must travel in summer, book at least 3 months in advance.
  • September–October (second sweet spot): Often the best combination of good weather, reasonable prices and thinner crowds. Harvest season in wine regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy is a bonus.
  • November–December (varies): Cheap for most of November, then Christmas drives prices back up from mid-December.

Pro tip: Flying mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday) to or from France typically saves 10–20% versus Friday or Sunday departures.

France's Main International Airports

Most travellers default to Paris, but France's regional airports can unlock serious savings.

  • Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): The main hub. Air France, Delta, United, Lufthansa, Emirates. TGV rail station in Terminal 2.
  • Paris Orly (ORY): Smaller, often cheaper. Transavia, easyJet, Vueling.
  • Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE): Gateway to the French Riviera. easyJet and Ryanair.
  • Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS): Central hub for Rhone-Alpes and Burgundy. Train to Lyon Part-Dieu in 30 min.
  • Marseille Provence (MRS): For Provence and the Camargue.
  • Bordeaux-Merignac (BOD): Wine country gateway. Direct from London, Dublin, Amsterdam.
  • Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS): Southwest France and Occitanie.
  • Nantes Atlantique (NTE): Loire Valley. Growing Ryanair base.

Best Flight Search Strategies

  1. Flexible-date search: use Google Flights or Skyscanner calendar views to find the cheapest days across a full month.
  2. Check low-cost carriers directly. Ryanair, easyJet, Transavia and Volotea sometimes show inflated prices in aggregators, so visit their sites after your initial search.
  3. Set price alerts: Google Flights, Kayak and Hopper all send notifications when fares drop on your route.
  4. Try nearby departure airports. Flying from Luton instead of Heathrow, or from Brussels instead of Amsterdam, can cut costs significantly.
  5. Open-jaw tickets: fly into one French city and out of another to avoid backtracking and sometimes save money overall.

Airlines Flying to France

Full-Service Carriers

Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Iberia and US carriers (Delta, United, American) serve CDG. Best transatlantic fares when booked 2–4 months out.

Low-Cost Carriers

  • Ryanair serves CDG, Beauvais, Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseille, Montpellier, Biarritz and Perpignan.
  • easyJet flies from CDG, Orly, Nice and Lyon, with fewer ancillary fees than Ryanair.
  • Transavia, Air France's low-cost arm, has strong coverage from the Netherlands and Portugal.
  • Vueling is excellent from Spain, with services into Paris and Nice.
  • Volotea specialises in smaller French airports, including Brest, Pau and Toulon.

Getting from the Airport

  • CDG to Paris: RER B (11.80 EUR, ~35 min). Taxi fixed fare 50–55 EUR (Right Bank), 60–65 EUR (Left Bank).
  • Orly to Paris: Orlyval + RER B (~35 min, 12.10 EUR). Taxi 35–41 EUR.
  • CDG to French regions: TGV direct from Terminal 2: Lyon (2h), Marseille (3h10), Bordeaux (3h15), Rennes (2h10).
  • Regional airports: Shuttle buses, trams or car hire to city centres.

Flight + Train Combinations

Fly into Paris, use the TGV for everything else. Paris to:

  • Lyon: 2h by TGV
  • Bordeaux: 2h05 by TGV
  • Marseille: 3h10 by TGV
  • Strasbourg: 1h47 by TGV
  • Nice: 5h30 by TGV (or fly direct to NCE)

Book on SNCF Connect or Raileurope. Prices work like dynamic pricing, so book early.

Entry Requirements for France

France is in the Schengen Area. EU/EEA citizens travel freely with national ID. Non-EU visitors:

  • Visa-free countries include the US, UK, Canada and Australia, with stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
  • ETIAS: the EU's new travel authorisation system, expected to launch in 2025. Check its current status before booking.
  • Passport validity: must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen zone.

Always verify requirements at your government's official travel advisory.

Ready to search? Use the flight search tool above to compare live prices. For accommodation, see our Hotels in France guide or browse destinations to plan your itinerary.