Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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International Airports in France
Are you planning a French vacation? Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY) are the biggest airports in France, the main entrance for visitors flying to France. However, if you are not interested in visiting Paris this time, there other international airports in France worth considering. Flying to an airport in France closer to the area you want to visit can save you money and time as you will skip the transportation between Paris and your final destination.
Another advantage of flying to other international French airports is their size, definitely smaller than Charles de Gaulle or Orly. This means that the distances inside the airport are shorter, and the navigation easier.
This article gives information and our best tips on the main international airports in France (other than Paris) and the main French airports per region in France. After reading this French airport quick guide, you will see that it is not all about Paris in France!
TIP: Between parentheses, you have the airport’s IATA code. An IATA airport code is a three-letter geocode defined by the International Air Transport Association designating many airports and metropolitan areas around the world.
International French Airports Guide – Content
- Main International Airports in France (by number of Passengers)
- Major French Airports Map
- Flights from Canada to France
- Flights from USA to France
- Main French Airports by Region (France Mainland)
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Main International Airports in France (by Number of Passengers)
These international French airports cover Paris and most of France’s main destinations, like the French Riviera, Provence, or Alsace.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – Paris, Ile-de-France
Paris Orly (ORY) – Paris, Ile-de-France
Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) – Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) – Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Marseille-Provence (MRS) – Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) – Toulouse, Occitanie
Bâle-Mulhouse-Fribourg (BSL) (MLH) (EAP) – close to Mulhouse, Grand Est
Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) – Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nantes-Atlantique (NTE) – Nantes, Pays de la Loire
Paris-Beauvais-Tillé (BVA) – Beauvais, Hauts-de-France
Major French Airports Map
Click here to see the major French Airports map on Google
Flights from Canada to France
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – many cities in Canada
Paris Orly (ORY) – Montréal
Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) – Montréal (seasonal flights)
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) – Montréal
Marseille-Provence (MRS) – Montréal (seasonal flights)
Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) – Montréal
Bâle-Mulhouse-Fribourg (BSL) (MLH) (EAP) – Montréal (seasonal flights)
Bodeaux-Mérignac (BOD) – Montréal (seasonal flights)
Flights from USA to France
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – many cities in the USA
Paris Orly (ORY) – Miami, New York
Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) – New York (seasonal flights)
Main French Airports by Region (France Mainland)
Here’s the list of airports in France mainland covering international destinations with regular or seasonal flights.
Normandie (Northern France)
Deauville (DOL) – Deauville, Calvados department.
This airport offers regular international flights to Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain).
Hauts-de-France (Northern France)
Paris-Beauville-Tillé (BVA) – Beauville, Oise department.
This airport has regular international flights to many European destinations and Morocco. Most of the international flights are operated by Ryan Air.
Lille-Lesquin (LIL) – Lille, Nord department.
This airport in Northern France has regular international flights to many European destinations, Algeria and Tunisia.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Southern France)
Nice-Côte d’Azur (NCE) – Nice, Alpes-Maritimes department
Nice Airport is the third busiest airport in France, and it covers many international destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle-East, and America via regular or seasonal flights. Nice airport is the ideal place to land for a weekend in Nice or a longer holiday in the French Riviera.
Outside Europe, it is possible to find direct flights to Nice from Algeria (Constantine, Alger), Montréal in Canada (seasonal flights), Beijing in China (seasonal flights), New York in the US (seasonal flights), Tel-Aviv in Israel, Dubai in the Emirates, Beyrouth in Lebanon (seasonal flights), Tunisia (Monastir, Tunis, Djerba), Doha in Qatar, and Casablanca in Morocco.
Marseille-Provence (MRS) – Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône department
Marseille is also on the list of the top 5 busiest airports in France. It covers many international destinations in Europe, Africa, and Middle-East Asia via regular or seasonal flights. Marseille airport is ideal for a weekend in Marseille, or to visit other places in Provence.
Outside Europe, it is possible to find direct flights to Marseille from Algeria (many cities), Canada (Montréal, seasonal flights), Madagascar (Antananarivo), Senegal (Dakar), Israel (Tel-Aviv), Ethiopia (Addis-Abeba), and Morocco (many cities). From Marseille, it is also possible to fly to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
Toulon-Hyères (TLN) – Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Toulon-Hyères is the best place to land for exploring the French Riviera or the beautiful French islands of Hyères during the high season. Toulon has some seasonal international flights to Europe (from April to October). From Toulon airport, it is possible to fly to Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium.
Occitanie (Southern France)
Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) – Toulouse, Haute-Garonne department
One of the major airports in France, Toulouse-Blagnac airport has a dual function, commercial, and testing ground for ATR and Airbus manufacturers.
Toulouse airport has regular and seasonal international flights to Europe, Africa, and America. From Toulouse, it is possible to fly to Algeria (many regular and seasonal destinations), Morocco (many destinations), Antalya and Istanbul in Turkey, and Montréal in Canada.
Montpéllier-Méditerranée (MPL) – Montpéllier, Hérault department
This French airport in Southern France is ideal for exploring the coastal towns and cities in Occitanie. Montpéllier airport has regular international flights to Europe and Morocco.
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénnées (LDE) – Tarbes and Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénnés.
This small airport in the Pyrénnées is one of the busiest airports in Occitanie, thanks to religious tourism. Tarbes-Lourdes airport has regular international flights to European countries like Malta, UK, Ireland, Portugal, Poland, and Belgium (seasonal flights).
Grand-Est (Eastern France)
Bâle-Mulhouse-Fribourg (BSL) (MLH) (EAP) – close to Mulhouse , Haut-Rhin department.
The EuroAiport, as it is commonly known, is a Franco-Swiss airport located in French territory. This is a good option to explore southern Alsace.
The EuroAirport has regular and seasonal international flights to Europe, Turkey, Israel, and Morocco.
Strasbourg-Entzheim (SXB) – Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin department.
This is a civil and military airport and a good option for a weekend in Strasbourg or to visit some of the Christmas Markets in Alsace. It is also a popular airport for people working in the European Parliament.
The Strasbourg airport has regular international flights to Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, and Israel (seasonal flights).
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Eastern France)
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (LYS) – Lyon, Rhône department
Lyon airport is one of the top five biggest airports in France, one of the most popular French airports for the French traveling from southern France. Lyon is a good option for a weekend in Lyon or for exploring other places nearby. In wintertime, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry is also the main gate to the ski resorts in the French Alps. There’s also Grénoble airport, but it has lesser international connections).
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport has many international flights to Europe, Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia), Asia (Turkey, Armenia), Middle-East (Emirates, Qatar), and America (Montréal in Canada).
Bretagne (Western France)
Rennes-Saint-Jacques (RNS) – Rennes, Ile-et-Villaine department
This airport connects Brittany’s capital with many international destinations in Ireland (seasonal flights), Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium (seasonal flights), Germany, and Spain. An international connection with Southampton in the UK will be launched sometime in 2021.
Rennes airport the perfect airport for a weekend getaway to Rennes or a fun Brittany road trip.
Pays de la Loire (Western France)
Nantes-Atlantique (NTE) – Nantes, Loire Atlantique department
Although Nantes is well connected to Charles de Gaulle Airport by TGV trains, you can save time and money by flying directly to Nantes Airport. Nantes-Atlantique airport is perfect for a weekend in Nantes and other beautiful places on France’s western coast.
Nantes has regular and seasonal international flights to many European countries, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Turkey (seasonal flights), and Montréal Canada (seasonal flights).
Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Western France)
Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) – Bordeaux, Gironde department
This is the perfect airport for a weekend getaway to Bordeaux or a more extended vacation in Dordogne or the French Atlantic coast.
Bordeaux airport is one of the 10 busiest airports in France. Bordeaux-Mérignac airport has regular and seasonal international flights to many European countries, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Turkey, and Montréal Canada (seasonal flights).
Biarritz-Pays-Basque (BIQ) – Biarritz, Pyrénnées Atlantiques department
This is the perfect airport for a weekend getaway to Biarritz or a fun road trip in the French Basque Country.
Most of Biarritz airport’s international flights are seasonal to Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Belgium. It has regular international flights to Brussels and London.