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Exclusive film festivals, major sporting events, Fashion Week, extravagant venues, immaculate beaches, and luxury brand flagship stores, ooh la la.
France has historically been home to the finer things in life, so you never know who you may catch a glimpse of on your own glam getaway. From the Lost Generation of famous artists like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Pablo Picasso living their best lives in Paris in the 1920s (see: Midnight in Paris), to the Hollywood starlets of the 1950s like Audrey Hepburn and Marlon Brando vacationing on the Riviera, and the Real Housewives scoping out Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, “France” and “VIP” have been synonymous through the ages. Here are some spots in France you may consider visiting if you’re hoping to feel like a celebrity and tread where the stars take their holidays:
Nice
Sir Elton John has had a stunning Belle Epoque villa in Nice since the 90s, if you needed a celebrity stamp of approval for this seaside paradise. Legendary opulence and balmy beaches are reason enough to add Nice to your bucket list, but the lively Promenade des Anglais and vibrant Old Town (Vieux Nice) are must-sees, too. Beaches, lovely cafés, and world-class art galleries? And the chance to look up and see Elton John’s mansion? Can’t beat it.
Cannes
Every may, celebrities flock here for the annual Cannes Film Festival. The 76 th Festival de Cannes is slated to take place from May 16-27 and will feature films across genres, including documentaries. Christina Aguilera, Javier Bardem, Eva Longoria, Tilda Swinton, and Julia Roberts, among others, attended the festival last year, and the sky is the limit for famous attendees. Beyond the film festival, though, celebrity sightings are not unusual in Cannes year-round. This glamorous town hosts the social elite at the Film Festival Palace, the cobbled lanes of Le Suquet neighbourhood, the bustling Forville farmer’s market, and beyond.
Monaco
Bono, Naomi Campbell, Ringo Starr, and Leonardo DiCaprio are all regulars in Monaco, as well as a number of Formula 1 racers who have fallen in love with the principality after participating in the Monaco Grand Prix. Within Monaco is Monte-Carlo, the most famous district of the principality. During your time here, you can explore on a train ride and get a look at the most iconic sights, including the Grand Casino and crystal blue waters, dotted with luxury yachts drifting along. For a more active journey in Monaco, you’ll scope out the Oceanographic Museum, a world-renowned museum with 6,000 specimens on display that was led by famed oceanographer Jacuqes Cousteau for 30 years.
Paris
Ernest Hemingway once said, “There are only two places in the world where we can live happy — at home and in Paris.” This has remained true for everyone: celebs and the rest of us. From Fashion Week sightings (Sigourney Weaver and Naomi Watts were in attendance this year) to visits to the must-see sights (J.Lo at the Louvre or Robin Thicke at the Eiffel Tower) and stops at high end stores (Justin Bieber has been seen at the Louis Vuitton flagship store), Paris is a playground for the rich and famous.
