France · MARKETS
The good market tours fill weeks ahead and the best go first. Below: which to book early, what each includes and how they differ once you are there.
Small-group bike tour from Paris to Versailles with market picnic, Marie-Antoinette hamlet, Trianons, and timed Palace entry.
“Perfect day at Versailles ! Thibaud was an excellent host. We all loved seeing the gardens by bike. It’s a long day.. we didn’t get back on the train to Paris until 6:30pm”
Versailles by bike from Paris: small-group market picnic, royal gardens, and a licensed guided Palace tour, with round-trip train tickets.
“Maggie was wonderful. She was so knowledgeable and had everything we needed. An amazing tour of the chateau, bike riding through the gardens, and a picnic! Highly recommend this tour!”
Cook a classic 3-course French lunch with wine pairing, plus optional Latin Quarter market shopping for ingredients and cheese.
“This was a great way to connect with other travelers. We loved everything about it and would recommend the class”
Small-group Victor Hugo Market tasting in Toulouse with an English-speaking guide, included wine and food tastings, and a big end platter.
“I had such a great time on this food tour. It started with Alejandro, our guide, giving us facts about the market, its history, and walking us though the different stalls, informing us about the vendors and the foods that they sold, all while picking up things for our meal. He then prepared a feast for us and what a feast it was! Delicious local cheeses, wine that paired perfectly, local meats, fresh baguettes, foie-gras and more. By the end of the tour we were all full and content. Overall it was a great experience. We learned a lot of interesting facts and had a great introduction to the market,…”
Luberon markets and medieval villages from Aix, with a small-group driver, market-time stops by day, and lavender-season photo stops.
“Bring a shopping bag for market day, not just water. Had seven total on the trip, plus guide. Nice sized group. Guide was wonderful.”
E-bike ride from Paris to Versailles with Notre Dame market picnic, Marie Antoinette sights, and Versailles palace entry, plus train back.
“Probably the best e bike trip I’ve done. Great route, very informative, nice equipment and awesome guide.”
Small-group Luberon villages tour from Aix, with market days in Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, Apt and Ansouis plus big photo stops.
“Our guide was terrific. The tour of the different villages were amazing. Wonderful day!”
Shop a Latin Quarter market for French ingredients, cook classic dishes in a small group, then enjoy wine, cheese, and stories.
“This was by far one of the best cooking classes that I have ever attended. Shopping for fresh produce at the local market was exceptional topped off with an amazing cheese tasting. Our guide and chef for the day, Luke was extremely knowledgeable and approachable. Upon our return to the kitchen it was clean, spacious and very well equipped. Luke took us through various techniques and explained everything in a very clear way. Luke had a great sense of humour and the day flew by and was finally topped off by a wonderful meal that we had prepared.”
Full-day minibus tour from Marseille through Luberon markets, with Gordes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, lavender options, and hilltop views.
“Our guide Carolina was very friendly and kind. I didn’t feel rushed at any point and she waited patiently for everyone to return, even if anyone was late. We visited 4 places and felt that we had enough time to explore each place with the time given by the guide. The trip is well worth the money, the views are amazing and locals very friendly - the setting is very fairly-take like. I would recommend trying local produce whilst on the trip - at the markets or local shops as the produce is very high quality and locally made. Would 100% recommend.”
Paris Saint-Ouen flea market insider tour, 90 minutes with an expert guide to spot quality and negotiate Paris-style bargains.
“The Paris flea market would have been so overwhelming if we tried to manage it on our own for the first time. This tour was the perfect introduction. Just enough time to get acquainted with the overall layout and pointed in the right direction. Definitely worth it.”
Walk Sarlat with an English guide, hit the market on a tasting day, and sample Dordogne specialties plus local wine in 2 hours.
“The tastings were good. 4 types of cheese at our first stop. 3 types of wine (including walnut wine) at the second stop. The wine was accompanied by fois gras, pork tenderloin cooked in duck fat and garlic, and a cheese that had a walnut wine soaked rind. The third stop was walnut cake, walnut crocante (cookies) and walnut/caramel tart. The serving sizes could be best described as morsels or bite-sized. Benoît, our guide, was pleasant but pretty low key and soft spoken. He shared adequate historical information about Sarlat and the food produced in the Périgord region. He also took the time to point out recommended restaurants. He just…”
Shop Paris markets with a chef, cook a full 3-course meal in a small group, and get emailed recipes to remake at home.
“we absolutely enjoyed the chef and the class. delicious!!!!!!”
90-minute Aix market walk with tastings led by Ted Aix Tours, sampling honey, olive oil and more at Place Richelme and Prêcheurs.
“Edouard is a really good guide and he showed us the best things in the markets and nearby. We also wanted a French speaking guide so he was speaking half/half English/French. We had a really nice 1.5 hours with him. Thank you”
A full-day trip from Nice to Sanremo and Menton markets, plus a photo stop at La Turbie for panoramic views over Monaco.
“We did like our guide, van and drive to/from Nice was very comfortable, however I think 2 hours in San Remo and 1,5 hour in Menton ended up as an expensive trip for the family of three and not worse it almost $400.”
Taste Bordeaux on a historic market walk with pastries, charcuterie, cheese, oysters from Arcachon Bay, and Bordeaux wine tastings.
“Joshua was an excellent guide. Knowledgeable, witty and entertaining we learned so much about French culture, Bordeaux wine and food traditions. And the food and wine choices were excellent. We’d wholeheartedly recommend this tour and Joshua’s excellent company. Thanks very much.”
Pick a kind of day and see what France does best.
