À = To/in and De = From/of with cities in French (French Prepositions of Location)

In French, you can use the preposition "à" or "de" with cities. However, there is a difference. 

How to use 'à' or 'de' with cities in French

Look at these sentences using à and de:

Je vais à ParisI'm going to Paris

Il va au Havre.He's going to Le Havre

Elle est à New York.She is in New York.

Note that you use à when describing going to or being in a city.  
And you use de to indicate being, coming or returning from a city. 


ATTENTION: 
With city names containing a definite article (e.g. La Rochelle / Le Havre), you will use à La or de La for feminine nouns, and the contracted forms au or du for masculine nouns:

Il revient de LondresHe's coming back from London.

Je suis de La RochelleI'm from La Rochelle

On va à La Nouvelle-Orléans la semaine prochaine.We're going to New Orleans next week.

Mon oncle vient du Havre.My uncle comes from Le Havre.

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Examples and resources

Il va au Havre.He's going to Le Havre
Elle est à New York.She is in New York.
Je suis de La RochelleI'm from La Rochelle
On va à La Nouvelle-Orléans la semaine prochaine.We're going to New Orleans next week.
Mon oncle vient du Havre.My uncle comes from Le Havre.
Je vais à ParisI'm going to Paris
Il revient de LondresHe's coming back from London.
Je viens de ParisI'm coming from Paris
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