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10 Best Places for Families to Live in France

By Joshua Wood, LPC

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Summary: In this article, we highlight some of the best places for international families to live in France.

If you're dreaming about moving with your family to France and haven't decided where to live, here are some of the best places for international families to live in France.

Paris

Paris

Paris is a good city for international families to reside in due to its rich cultural offerings, numerous recreational areas, and family-friendly facilities. For children, the city is home to several museums that offer kid-friendly activities, such as the Louvre Museum, which hosts workshops and tours for children, and the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, a science museum with interactive exhibits. Paris is also known for its beautiful parks, including the Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc de la Villette, which provide ample space for outdoor activities and picnics. For families interested in sports and fitness, the city boasts several athletic facilities like Piscine Georges Vallerey, a public swimming pool, and Forest Hill Aquaboulevard, a fitness center with a water park. Additionally, there are numerous sports clubs that cater to children, such as Paris Saint-Germain Academy, which offers football training for kids. With its blend of culture, recreation, and family-oriented amenities, Paris provides a vibrant and enriching living environment for international families.

Lyon

Lyon

Lyon is an excellent destination for international families to settle down, thanks to its diverse cultural experiences, abundant recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are numerous museums with activities tailored for them, such as the Musée des Confluences, which offers interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Mini World Lyon, a miniature model park that sparks imagination and creativity. The city is also blessed with beautiful parks and recreational areas like Parc de la Tête d'Or, which includes a zoo and botanical garden, and Parc de Gerland, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who are sports enthusiasts, Lyon offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine du Rhône, a public swimming pool, and the Centre Nautique Tony Bertrand, a water sports center. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Olympique Lyonnais Academy, which provides football training for kids. With its mix of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Lyon offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

"J'adore Lyon! It's an amazing place! Not only because of the history and landscape, but I especially love it because of the people. They are very authentic French! They love their city, they love their food, they enjoy life and they appreciate good quality of life. What I noticed is that they are very family oriented, they spend time together and do many activities, they care about the city and they appreciate it. They are very welcoming and helpful....and they will help you learn French as English is not popular here as in Paris ;-)," commented an expat living in Lyon.

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Nice

Nice

Nice is a great place for international families to reside, offering a blend of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are several museums with activities designed for them, such as the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain, which hosts interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, a fine arts museum with educational programs for kids. Nice is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Parc Phoenix, which includes a zoo and botanical garden, and the Parc de la Colline du Château, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Nice offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Jean Bouin, a public swimming pool, and the Palais des Sports Jean Bouin, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the OGC Nice Academy, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Nice offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is an ideal location for international families to settle, offering a mix of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are several museums with activities designed for them, such as the Musée d'Aquitaine, which hosts interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Cap Sciences, a science museum with educational programs for kids. Bordeaux is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Jardin Public, which includes a botanical garden and playground, and the Parc Bordelais, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Bordeaux offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Judaïque, a public swimming pool, and the Stade Chaban-Delmas, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Girondins de Bordeaux Academy, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Bordeaux offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

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We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

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We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!
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Toulouse

Toulouse

Toulouse is a good destination for international families, offering a rich blend of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are numerous museums with activities tailored for them, such as the Cité de l'Espace, a space-themed amusement park with interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Musée des Augustins, a fine arts museum with educational programs for kids. Toulouse is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Jardin des Plantes, which includes a botanical garden and playground, and the Prairie des Filtres, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Toulouse offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Alex Jany, a public swimming pool, and the Complexe Sportif Léo Lagrange, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Toulouse Football Club Academy, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Toulouse offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

Nantes

Nantes is a great place for international families to live, offering a variety of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are several museums with activities designed specifically for them, such as the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, an artistic project with interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Natural History Museum of Nantes, which offers educational programs for kids. Nantes is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden with a playground, and the Île de Versailles, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Nantes offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Jules Verne, a public swimming pool, and the Stade de la Beaujoire, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the FC Nantes Academy, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Nantes offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

French Riviera House Hunting - FRH

We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!

Learn MoreConnect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

French Riviera House Hunting - FRH

We are the best possible negotiator to help our expatriate clients to safely, efficiently and effectively find the right property in the right place in the French Riviera. Whether buying or renting, French Riviera House Hunting's objective is to find the best place for you, making sure that there are no hidden problems in the acquisition or renting process!

Learn MoreConnect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is an excellent place for international families to live, offering a diverse range of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are numerous museums with activities tailored for them, such as the Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which hosts interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Le Vaisseau, a science and technology museum with educational programs for kids. Strasbourg is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Parc de l'Orangerie, which includes a zoo and playground, and the Parc de la Citadelle, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Strasbourg offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine du Wacken, a public swimming pool, and the Complexe Sportif de Hautepierre, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Strasbourg offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

Montpellier

Montpellier

Montpellier is a great choice for international families seeking a vibrant and enriching living environment. For children, there are several museums with activities specifically designed for them, such as the Fabre Museum, which offers interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Planet Ocean World, an aquarium and educational center with programs for kids. Montpellier is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Parc Zoologique Henri de Lunaret, a large zoo with a playground, and the Domaine de Méric, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Montpellier offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Olympique d'Antigone, a public swimming pool, and the Palais des Sports Pierre de Coubertin, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Montpellier offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Lille

Lille is an excellent destination for international families, offering a rich blend of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are numerous museums with activities tailored for them, such as the Natural History Museum of Lille, which hosts interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art, with educational programs for kids. Lille is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Parc de la Citadelle, which includes a zoo and playground, and the Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities. For families who enjoy sports, Lille offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Marx Dormoy, a public swimming pool, and the Stadium Lille Métropole, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Lille OSC, which provides football training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Lille offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence, France is a great place for international families to reside, offering a variety of cultural experiences, recreational spaces, and family-friendly amenities. For children, there are several museums with activities specifically designed for them, such as the Musée Granet, which offers interactive exhibits and workshops, and the Fondation Vasarely, a museum dedicated to optical and kinetic art with educational programs for kids. Aix-en-Provence is also home to beautiful parks and recreational areas like the Parc Jourdan, perfect for picnics and outdoor activities, and the Parc de la Torse, which includes a playground and walking trails. For families who enjoy sports, Aix-en-Provence offers several athletic facilities such as the Piscine Yves Blanc, a public swimming pool, and the Complexe Sportif du Val de l'Arc, a sports complex with various facilities. There are also various sports clubs that cater to children, including the Pays d'Aix Université Club, which provides various sports training for kids. With its combination of cultural, recreational, and family-oriented facilities, Aix-en-Provence offers a dynamic and enriching living environment for international families.

About the Author

Joshua Wood Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.


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