Planning an EV holiday in France
Planning an EV holiday in France is a great way to travel sustainably while enjoying the stunning sights of its different regions.
Whether you're hitting the slopes in Val Thorens, enjoying gourmet delights in the Loire Valley or soaking up the sun in Nice, IONITY makes your EV journeys a breeze with fast, reliable and convenient charging.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about planning an electric car holiday in France, including key considerations for driving in France, our top five destinations for an EV holiday, and what to expect at different times of the year.
Driving an EV in France
France is an ideal destination for EV drivers, with mild temperatures all through the year - and a perfect mix of landscapes for every type of holiday. However, it’s worth noting that approximately 20% of the land is hills or mountains, where significant elevation changes can contribute to higher energy usage when driving uphill.
Other key considerations for driving in France include:
- All drivers need to pay tolls based on distance and vehicle class for using long-distance motorways, known locally as autoroutes à péage.
- When driving in mountainous areas between 1st November and 31st March, Loi Montagne requires that you fit your EV with winter tyres or carry snow chains.
- Pure EVs can access Low-Emission Zones in cities like Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Marseille and Toulouse, where they qualify for Crit’Air “0” status.
- Parking can be especially tight in major or medieval city centres like Avignon and Annecy, so plan to use Park and Ride facilities with chargers when you visit.
- Approximately 70% of public chargers in France deliver AC power, so it’s advisable to pack your own charging cable or adapter if you have one.
Need Help Planning Your Journey?
Our Route Planner helps you quickly map your journey, including how many times you’ll need to stop to charge your EV and the best places to charge – plug in the type of EV you’re driving, expected state of charge and weather conditions and go!
Know Before You Go
Language spoken
French
Local currency
Euros
Local time zone
Central European Time (GMT +1)
Seasonal Weather and Traffic Conditions
Weather impacts EV holiday planning as cooler temperatures can reduce range, requiring more frequent charges. Additionally, consider the dates of key events and public holidays on the French calendar, as these may result in increased traffic and higher holiday costs.
Summer
Weather: Hot. Higher temperatures inland but cooler in the mountains or by the coast.
Traffic: High. Very busy from mid-July to the end of August. Especially around Lyon, the Rhône corridor (“Autoroute du Soleil”), and coastal routes.
Attractions: Coastal destinations like Biarritz and Arcachon, the French Riviera in Nice and Menton, and family trips to Normandy.
Autumn
Weather: Warm, with cooler nights.
Traffic: Low, except for late summer and during school holidays. A great time to visit France.
Attractions: Bordeaux vineyards, Dordogne’s prehistoric caves and charming villages, harvest festivals in Provence, and forests of Alsace.
Winter
Weather: Cold, with frost, and snow in the mountains. Rain and wind along the coasts.
Traffic: High during weeks around Christmas/New Year and school holidays in February.
Attractions: Skiing in Val Thorens or Chamonix, Christmas markets in in Alsace, winter sun in Côte d’Azur.
Spring
Weather: Cool temperatures, meaning optimal efficiency for EV drivers. ⚡
Traffic: Low, rising in May. Easter holidays and May long weekends are especially busy.
Attractions: Fairytale castles in the Loire Valley, prestigious vineyards in Burgundy, hilltop villages in Provence, coastal hikes in Brittany.
Top Five EV Destinations in France
Our top five destinations were selected to offer a range of experiences for every driver and budget, and there are IONITY Locations nearby for your electric car so you can benefit from fast charging and plug in to more good times.
1. Val Thorens & Les 3 Vallées
Hit the slopes at Europe’s highest ski resort and power the drive up with IONITY Locations in Ile Rose, Seyssins and Val Gelon.
Enjoy breathtaking views, world-class skifields and fine dining.
Highlights include family and expert-friendly ski schools, slopeside restaurants and stunning views of Mont Blanc from the Tarentaise valley.
Nice to know: Hotel and public AC charge points are plentiful, so you can leave your car to charge while you ski.
Budget rating: € € € €
2. Strasbourg & Colmar
Explore picturesque villages and top up at IONITY Locations in Brumath and Burnhaupt – or with charging speeds of up to 400kW at Bessencourt.
Enjoy compact and scenic medieval magic any time of year, with charming old towns, canals, and easy day trips to vineyards.
Highlights include the iconic Christmas markets, Michelin-starred restaurants and Alsace wine route.
Nice to know: Strasbourg’s Park and Ride car parks offer AC charging, so you can park up, plug in and catch the tram into the old town.
Budget rating: € € €
3. Nice & Menton
Enjoy a slower pace of life by the French Riviera and get there faster with the help of IONITY Locations in Bréguières Nord, Meyrargues and Rousset.
Take in the sights, sun and culture of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Highlights include the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, art museums, Belle Époque villas, and spectacular events in February and March.
Nice to know: Nice and Menton have municipal and private parking with AC and some DC chargers.
Budget rating: € € €
4. Mont-Saint-Michel
Step back in time at the historic Bay of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, and keep moving forward with IONITY Locations in Mayenne, Plouer sur Rance and Vallée de la Vire Gouvets.
Explore the rich local culture and timeless beauty of Brittany and Normandy.
Highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval abbey, historic towns of Saint-Malo and Dinan, and nearby Normandy beaches.
Nice to know: Mont-Saint-Michel is ready to welcome more EV drivers, with over 200 charging points added in 2025 across official parking (P2, P7bis, P9).
Budget rating: € € €
5. Loire Valley
Unwind in Châteaux Country and power up with IONITY Locations in Jardin des Arbres and Orléans Nord - or with charging speeds of up to 400kW at Artenay.
Fall in love with fairytale castles, romantic villages and local vineyards.
Highlights include the castles of Chambord, Chenonceau, and Villandry, local Sauvignon and sparkling Vouvray wine, and flat terrain for cycling.
Nice to know: Castles are around a 15–45-minute drive apart, making for easy exploration in an EV.
Budget rating: € €
Recommendations from IONITY Employees
We asked our colleagues for their top tips for road trips around France and here’s what they had to say:
“If you can only visit one Christmas market, Colmar is less crowded than Strasbourg but just as special.”
Damla, Product & Sales
“Lyon is the capital of French gastronomy and is well worth a visit - especially if you can find a good bouchon."
Hugo, Network Operations
"Avignon is a great spot for family holidays, and there is an Augmented Reality tour at the Pope's Palace that the kids will love.”
Benjamin, Communications
Charge faster, enjoy more
IONITY offers fast charging at affordable rates – whether you choose to pay on demand, via one of our partners or sign up for one of our subscriptions.
IONITY Power 365
The perfect choice for most EV drivers. This subscription saves you money after only two charging sessions per month and you benefit from the cheapest charging prices per kWh.
- Monthly subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pays off after the 2nd charging session
- Benefit from low price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Motion possible
- Cancel anytime to next billing date
Best for drivers who regularly travel long distances. Making one upfront payment means you lock in our lowest charging prices per kWh across Europe for an entire year.
- Annual subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pay once, valid for 12 months
- Benefit from low price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Fair and transparent - with no auto-renewal
- Like for all products: EU-wide high-power charging for borderless mobility in 23 markets
IONITY Motion 365
Ideal subscription for drivers that only occasionally use their electric vehicle and want to benefit from a cheaper charging price per kWh. It pays off after the first charging session.
- Monthly subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pays off after the 1st charging session
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Upgrade to IONITY Power available
- Cancel anytime to next billing date
Best for drivers who make a few long journeys each month. Making one upfront payment means you benefit from cheaper charging prices per kWh across Europe for an entire year.
- Annual subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pay once, valid for 12 months
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Upgrade to IONITY Power 365 available
- Fair and transparent - with no auto-renewal
- Like for all products: EU-wide high-power charging for borderless mobility in 23 markets
IONITY Go
Ready. Set. Go! You automatically benefit from a slightly lower charging price per kWh using the IONITY App. No subscription and no monthly fees. Upgrade to our subscriptions to save even more.
- No subscription or monthly fees
- Sign up and save with the IONITY App
- Benefit from a slightly lower price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Subscriptions anytime
IONITY Direct
Charge your vehicle without prior registration. Scan the QR code on the charger or use the IONITY app, add your payment details, and start charging fast. Our convenient option for spontaneous charging needs.
- No registration required
- No subscription or monthly fees
- Standard rate per kWh charged
- Payment via IONITY App or QR code
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Subscriptions anytime
All prices include local VAT and other price components.
All prices include local VAT and other price components.
Ready. Set. Go! You automatically benefit from a slightly lower charging price per kWh using the IONITY App. No subscription and no monthly fees. Upgrade to our subscriptions to save even more.
- No registration required
- No subscription or monthly fees
- Standard rate per kWh charged
- Payment via IONITY App or QR code
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Subscriptions anytime
Charge your vehicle without prior registration. Scan the QR code on the charger or use the IONITY app, add your payment details, and start charging fast. Our convenient option for spontaneous charging needs.
- No subscription or monthly fees
- Sign up and save with the IONITY App
- Benefit from a slightly lower price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Subscriptions anytime
Best for drivers who make a few long journeys each month. Making one upfront payment means you benefit from cheaper charging prices per kWh across Europe for an entire year.
- Annual subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pay once, valid for 12 months
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Upgrade to IONITY Power 365 available
- Fair and transparent - with no auto-renewal
- Like for all products: EU-wide high-power charging for borderless mobility in 23 markets
Ideal subscription for drivers that only occasionally use their electric vehicle and want to benefit from a cheaper charging price per kWh. It pays off after the first charging session.
- Monthly subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pays off after the 1st charging session
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Upgrade to IONITY Power available
- Cancel anytime to next billing date
Best for drivers who regularly travel long distances. Making one upfront payment means you lock in our lowest charging prices per kWh across Europe for an entire year.
- Annual subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pay once, valid for 12 months
- Benefit from low price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Fair and transparent - with no auto-renewal
- Like for all products: EU-wide high-power charging for borderless mobility in 23 markets
The perfect choice for most EV drivers. This subscription saves you money after only two charging sessions per month and you benefit from the cheapest charging prices per kWh.
- Monthly subscription
- Subscribe within the IONITY App
- Pays off after the 2nd charging session
- Benefit from low price per kWh
- No seasonal or peak charges
- Switch to IONITY Motion possible
- Cancel anytime to next billing date