Self-drive Gourmet Food Tours of France

If you’re interested in doing a food tour in France, as well as exploring some of France’s beautiful sites and fascinating heritage, one of our gourmet-focused tours may be just what you’re looking for!  

All our tours give you a taste of a bit of everything: the city, hidden villages, countryside, art, history and of course, wine and food.

French food is varied and will delight your senses! From the coq au vin in Burgundy to the poulet vallée d'Auge in Normandy… or how about a Parisian Ile Flottante for dessert?

On one of our food tours of France, you’ll enjoy French cuisine in different regions of our country that are famous for their traditional French recipes and fresh quality produce

We recommend restaurants that we have handpicked ourselves because they all have something special: from bistrot food to gastronomic restaurants. You can also get acquainted with French cuisine, taking an intimate cooking class with a local.

See below for a taste of some of the unique gourmet experiences you can enjoy on one of our food tours in France: 

The France Just For You team are real gourmets - you can rely on our recommendations.

Bon Appétit !

Emilie, Laura and Clelia, the trip planners at France Just For You, sitting at a table in a restaurant
Trip planners Emilie, Laura and Clelia enjoying a meal
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France Just For You

Table d'hôte: Enjoy a home-cooked meal at your French B&B with fellow guests

We arrange for our travelers to stay at premium B&B accommodations across France that we have tried ourselves, because we think this is the best way to get the chance to interact with French people who speak good English. We also know the B&B hosts personally, so we know they’ll extend the warmest of welcomes to all our travelers. 

On at least one evening during your trip, you will enjoy a ‘table d'hôte’ at your B&B. Your hosts will cook a delicious typical French meal for you and the fellow B&B guests, and you’ll experience one of our favorite French traditions: dining with friends and enjoying good food, wine and conversation!

Guests around the table with their B&B host
A Table d'Hote at a B&B
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France Just For You

Food market tours: Explore France's gourmet shops with an expert food guide

If you’re interested in doing a food tour in one of the places you visit on your tour of France, we know expert guides who give some of the best food tours in the world! (in our opinion!). 

Whether you visit a typical French food market or not will depend on the day of the week, as these are only open once a week. 

Normally the guide will take you to local stores where you can try different types of food that are popular in that region. And of course, you will learn about food traditions in that part of France and be able to ask the guide questions.

Browse our tours of Provence or Dordogne

Travelers Mita & Bip on a gourmet food tour with their guide in Provence
Travelers Mita & Bip on a gourmet food tour with their guide in Provence
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Mita & Bip from California, USA

Truffle-hunting in Provence & Dordogne

If you’re a gourmet, you’ll definitely know about French truffles (we don’t mean the chocolate!). If you’re doing one of our Provence tours or Dordogne tours with us, we can arrange for you to go on a truffle-hunting experience with local truffle-hunting experts (and their owners!). 

The English-speaking truffle experts will explain how to find and recognize truffles - the dogs will show you where they are and you’ll get to dig them up. After the hunt, you’ll try some French delicacies served with the truffles!

Browse our tours of Provence or Dordogne

Travelers Carol and Bruce on a truffle hunt with trained dogs and their owners
Travelers Carol and Bruce on a truffle hunt with the experts
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Carol & Bruce from the USA

Wine & food pairing experiences

Many of our travelers are interested in doing wine tasting in France. We work with excellent wine-tasting experts and guides who offer unique wine-tasting and wine and food pairing experiences. 

Imagine tasting wine on a traditional boat on the Loire river. Or in the cellar of an old castle. Or in an off-the-beaten-track vineyard that you’d never find on your own. We can arrange this for you as part of one of our gourmet food tours of France or part of our France wine tasting tours.

Browse our France Wine Tasting Tours

A couple at a wine and cheese tasting
Travelers Carol & Harry at a wine and cheese tasting
©

Carol & Harry from Australia

Your personal guidebook with a whole section about French food & wine (& tips about unusual food to try!)

All travelers who book tours with France Just For You receive a personalized guidebook crafted just for your specific trip. (If you book again, you’ll receive another guidebook for that trip!). 

In addition to your itinerary and recommended activities and places for each place you visit, your guidebook has a section about French food, restaurants, mealtimes and etiquette. This includes insiders’ tips, such as how to choose the perfect baguette, and suggestions for unusual food to try in France. 

If you’re an adventurous eater, you may like to try cuisses de grenouille (frogs’ legs), cervelle (brains) or pied de cochon (pig’s foot). This section of the guidebook will also help you to avoid ordering anything you definitely don’t want to try!

France Just For You Travel Guidebook
France Just For You Travel Guidebook
©

France Just For You

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the most popular food in France?

This is difficult to say, as each French region has its own specialties. However, a couple of delicious, common dishes in France worth trying include boeuf bourguignon (beef stew, a typical dish from Burgundy) or blanquette de veau (veal stew in a creamy sauce) or coq au vin (chicken in red wine sauce, typical in the Loire Valley and Burgundy). 

For dessert, try a tarte aux pommes or tarte tatin (two different types of apple tart).

What is typical French food?

Just a few typical French dishes include soupe à l’oignon (French onion soup), soupe au pistou (vegetable soup served with a basil and egg sauce), boeuf bourguignon (beef stew), blanquette de veaucoq au vin (chicken in red wine sauce), bouillabaisse (fish stew), cassoulet (meat and bean casserole), croque monsieur and croque madame (ham and cheese toasted sandwich, with or without a fried egg on top), tarte aux pommes or tarte tatin (apple tart), crême brûlée (custard with a burnt sugar top) and crêpe (a very thin pancake). Each French region will have its own culinary specialties, so be sure to find out what these are and try them!

Why is France famous for food?

The cuisine of France is famous both for its world-renowned dishes (see the ones we mentioned above), and its wide variety of culinary techniques that give the dishes their incredible flavor.

The French have developed techniques such as braising, poaching, sautéing and flambéing, which give irresistible textures and flavors to meat, vegetables, soups and desserts.

What food must you try in France?

In our opinion, some must try food in France includes boeuf bourguignon (beef stew) or coq au vin (chicken in red wine sauce). For dessert, an apple tart rarely disappoints! Look for tarte aux pommes or tarte tatin on the menu. See the questions above for more suggestions!

What are good foods to try in Paris?

Crêpe suzette (a type of thin pancake covered in orangey, buttery juice), Ile Flottante (meringue floating on vanilla custard (crème anglaise), any "à la parisienne" dish, meat in the auvergnat restaurants in Paris have the best meat.

Browse our Paris tours

What is the food etiquette in France?

We have several pages in our guidebook about food etiquette and eating out in France, which will be helpful if you book a tour with us. 

Some common points of French food etiquette:

  • Eating lunch between noon and 1pm and dinner between 7.30 and 8.30pm if you’re eating out.
  • Eating bread with your meal - it won’t normally be served with olive oil or butter.
  • Eating the dishes you order as they come, and not asking to substitute any of the ingredients.
  • Bringing you the bill only when you ask for it. This is because restaurants don’t want you to feel rushed - eating well in France means taking your time.
  • The service/tip is included in the price you pay for the food. If you’ve had an excellent experience, you may leave a 5-10% tip, but it is not frowned upon if you don’t leave a tip.

What not to do when eating in France?

Unless you have a food allergy, it is best not to ask to substitute anything that’s in the dish you order from the menu. It is also not common practice to eat as you are walking along, or to ask for a ‘doggy-bag’ to take leftovers with you. In France, we like to take our time to sit down and enjoy our meals.

Our Self Guided Food Tours for Gourmets

Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 4860
Region
in Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Dordogne & Provence

France Just For You has organized its own very special Tour de France. No need for a bike but be ready for a great deal of adventure! This itinerary will take you off the beaten path to all the must sees & dos in four of the most enthralling regions of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4720
Region
in Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Burgundy & Champagne

This itinerary is designed for gourmet travelers who aim at discovering and learning more about French wines. Our tours also mix heritage, culture, nice walks, gardens, etc. In this tour, you will stay in wineries, by vineyards & in wine towns. An absolute must for wine lovers !

Wine Tasting
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 7320
Region
in Bordeaux, Dordogne, Basque Country, Carcassonne & Provence

When the South of France is mentionned, many travelers think of Provence. But there is so much more to discover between the South-West and the South-East of France. This 26 day itinerary is designed to give you a very complete tour of the southern part of France, enjoying the gastronomy, heritage, wine, villages, and scenic roads . . . the best that France has to offer.

Wine Tasting
Gourmet Food
Duration
26 days
Price
US$ 6980
Region
in Burgundy, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Loire Valley & Normandy

This itinerary is for independent travelers who may already know the southern coast of France and who are looking for discovering the “inside” of the country. Five regions that are totally different from each other, showing you the diversity of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4350
Region
in Carcassonne, Basque Country & Dordogne

Explore the South West of France: fortresses clinging to the cliffs in the Cathar Country and Dordogne, many “most beautiful villages of France”, and a very rich and unique gastronomy. This is where to experience the authentic France.

Heritage & History
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 5240
Region
in Basque Country, Dordogne & Bordeaux

This self-drive itinerary will take you to the South West of France, from the Basque coastline to authentic Dordogne, ending in the bustling city of Bordeaux.

Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
1 day
Price
US$ 500
Region
in Provence

This day is crafted for gourmet travelers only. Get acquainted with Provence gastronomy and gorgeous landscapes. How to Get There This day tour starts in Avignon, Provence and requires for travelers to have car. From Paris, you can take a high-speed train to Avignon (about 3hrs).

Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3350
Region
in French Riviera & Provence

Provence & the French Riviera are famous the world over, but they still have a lot of secrets, ready to be discovered if you are willing to get away from the beaten paths.

Towns & Villages
Gourmet Food
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 6250
Region
in Paris, Provence & French Riviera

This itinerary will take you from Paris, the city of lights, to Provence in two different locations, and end in the French Riviera. Perfect to relax & get some sun !

Heritage & History
Gourmet Food
Art & Museums in France
Duration
20 days
Price
US$ 6130
Region
in Paris, Burgundy, Provence & French Riviera

For independent travelers who want to thoroughly explore la belle France - from Paris, through the vineyards of Burgundy, the charming landscapes of Provence, and on to the sunny Riviera!

Gourmet Food
Countryside
Art & Museums in France
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 5480
Region
in Paris, Loire Valley & Normandy

This itinerary gives you the perfect tour of Northern France, including Paris, the Loire Valley castles and gastronomy, and ending in Normandy with the landing sites, the hinterland and beautiful Giverny.

Heritage & History
Gourmet Food
Countryside
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4730
Region
in Provence & French Riviera

Enjoy the sweet scents, vivid colors, flavorful tastes, sunshine and warm wind of Provence & the Riviera. To save time and energy, we recommend you fly in and out of Marseille (or Nice) International Airport. Otherwise, we can also help with TGV train tickets.

Gourmet Food
Countryside
Art & Museums in France

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Martha
Emilie did a fantastic job of planning our 13 day trip from Avignon to Bordeaux, with time spent in Provence, Cathar Country, Basque Country, and Bordeaux. Emilie is an excellent & responsive communicator. Emilie tailored our trip from reserving the rental car and the bed & breakfasts (wonderful places with wonderful hosts), setting up private …
Susan & Nancy from the US
3 perfect weeks in Paris, Brittany and Normandy Our 3 week journey to Paris, Normandy, and Brittany was the most stress free travel in Europe we have ever experienced. It was also the first time we drove a car in France. France Just For You had done all the deeply significant leg work required for us to enjoy all of our time traveling. We will …
Kristina
I can't say enough good things about Emilie and France Just For You! From start to finish, Emilie was responsive, listened to our requests (and changes) and planned a wonderful trip for our 20th Anniversary. Her attention to detail did not go unnoticed and everything was perfect. We will definitely use them again our our next adventure.

Our Travelers’ Photos

Teri, Kennedy & Chris from the US
in Paris !
Peter
from Canada
Truffle Hunting in Dordogne
Patty
from the US
In Villeneuve les Avignon, Provence
Leslie & Family
from the US
A la Tour Eiffel, Paris
Kate & Jake
from the US
On their honeymoon in front of Chenonceau castle
Fred
from Canada
Truffle hunting in Burgundy with Thierry
Stéphanie & Vania
from the US
on the Aiguille du Midi peak in the French Alps (Chamonix)
..& the Oyster Guy !
in Biarritz Food Market with Maureen & Roy
Greg, Laurie, Laura & Jeff
From the US
With their B&B host near Mont Saint Michel
Amy & Louise
Wine tasting....
Patty & Tim
from the US
In front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Carol from the US
Biking in the Luberon