Guide · Holiday homes

Holiday home in France: which region suits you?

As of November 2026 · about 7 minutes' read

France is almost too big for a holiday home. Between a fisherman's cottage in Brittany and a villa above Nice lie a thousand kilometres, a different climate and a price many times higher. The region decides how often you go there, what you get for your money and whether letting is worth it. This overview helps you narrow down the choice.

Three questions before you choose a region

• How will you get there? By car from the Rhineland you can be in Normandy or Alsace in a few hours. Provence is a long day's drive. For weekends, every hour counts.
• When do you want to be there? On the Mediterranean it is pleasant from spring to autumn. On the Atlantic coast and in the north the summer is mild and the winter damp. Many coastal towns are almost empty out of season.
• Do you want to let it? Then demand, the length of the season and the local rules matter. A house inland often only lets for a few weeks a year.

The regions at a glance

The figures are rough guide values. Prices vary widely within each region: right by the sea or in well-known places you pay many times what you would pay inland.

Brittany and Normandy

Normandy: If you want to be by the sea, this is the region closest to Germany. The coast is marked by cliffs, sandy beaches and seaside resorts such as Deauville or Étretat. Inland you will find half-timbered houses and old farmhouses at prices well below those in German cities. The weather is similar to the North Sea. If you are looking for sun, you will not be happy here. If you are looking for peace, greenery and short journeys, you will.

Brittany: Further away, but with one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe. Granite rocks, small harbours, lots of islands. Prices are low inland and much higher on the coast and around the Gulf of Morbihan. Many houses are made of stone, old and need care against damp. With country houses, look closely at the sewage system and the heating. The season is short, but there are fewer crowds than in the south.

Provence and the Côte d'Azur

Provence: Lavender, olive trees, hill villages in the Luberon. Provence is the classic choice and priced accordingly, especially in the Luberon and around Aix-en-Provence. There are cheaper areas in the Var hinterland or in Haute-Provence. Summers are hot and dry. For houses with a lot of greenery, check the obligation to keep land clear of vegetation as protection against forest fires (“débroussaillement”). It applies in many municipalities in the south and is the owner's responsibility.

Côte d'Azur: Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez. Prices here are among the highest in France, even for small flats. In return you have the coast's largest international airport, mild winters and a season that lasts almost all year. In many places letting to holidaymakers is heavily regulated, and second homes often pay a higher taxe d'habitation.

Occitania, the Atlantic coast and the Dordogne

Occitania and Languedoc: The Mediterranean coast west of the Rhône is much cheaper than Provence and the Côte d'Azur. Wine regions, lagoons, the Pyrenees within reach. Some of the coastal towns are dominated by large holiday complexes. You are more likely to find beautiful old villages inland, for example in the Hérault or the Aude. Summers are hot, and in some municipalities water runs short.

Atlantic coast and Landes: Long sandy beaches, pine forests, surf spots. Between Bordeaux and Biarritz the season is long and demand for holiday homes is high. In the Basque Country around Biarritz prices are high and the rules for second homes are strict. In the Landes and further north you will find cheaper offers. For houses by the sea, look out for coastal erosion and for the rating in the risk report.

Dordogne: The Périgord has been popular with the British and the Dutch for decades. River valleys, castles, stone houses with pools. There is plenty on offer and prices are moderate. The region is very rural: you cannot do anything without a car, and outside the summer many restaurants are closed. Often a good choice for families who use the house themselves; for landlords, the season is more like June to September.

Alsace

Alsace is the region for spontaneous trips. From Karlsruhe, Freiburg or Stuttgart you get there quickly and can go for a weekend too. Half-timbered villages, the wine route, the Vosges for hiking and skiing. Many locals speak German or Alsatian. There is no sea, and the winters are cold. But the house is usable in November and March as well. If you want to let it, you can count on visitors to the Christmas markets and in summer.

Letting to holidaymakers: the rules

In France a furnished holiday let is called a “meublé de tourisme”. Since a law passed in November 2024, often called the “loi Le Meur” after the MP who initiated it, the rules have become much stricter:

• Registration: You must register every holiday let. In many cities and tourist towns you get a registration number for it, which must appear in every listing. The platforms delete listings without a valid number. A nationwide online registration procedure has been approved and is being introduced step by step. Until then, registration goes through the mairie (town hall).
• Permit in large cities: In Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux and many other cities you need a change-of-use permit to let a second home. Some cities require you to provide compensating residential space in return, which makes letting practically impossible.
• Municipalities may set limits: Municipalities can cap the number of holiday lets or exclude certain districts. If you let your main home, there is usually a limit of 120 days a year, which the municipality can lower to 90.
• Energy performance certificate: Minimum requirements for the energy class increasingly apply to holiday lets too. A poorly insulated house can become a problem for letting.
• Taxes: The flat-rate allowances for rental income from holiday lets have been cut. For unclassified accommodation the benefit is much smaller than for classified accommodation. Have the numbers worked out before you buy.

Before you buy, ask at the mairie which rules apply locally. They can vary widely from one municipality to the next. You can find official information on service-public.fr. How the purchase itself works is explained in the article Buying a house in France.

This article gives a general overview and is not a substitute for legal or tax advice. Prices, taxes and letting rules change and differ from one municipality to the next. Check them locally before you buy.