VISIT FRANCE
Cultural savoir-faire, cities with stunning history, an amazing coastline and unique gastronomy; France has many prompts to seduce travellers.
Currency
€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)
POPULATION
68 millions
MAIN LANGUAGE
French
AREA
643,801 km²
TIME ZONE
UTC+1 / UTC+2
FLAG
🇫🇷
France is the world's top touristic destination for good reasons. With its wealth of stunning landscapes, museums and galleries and rich history, it attracts dozens of millions of visitors every year. It is a multifaceted country, that encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches, only to mention a few features. No matter what type of traveller you are, France will have unique experiences to offer you!
There are a couple of things to know before travelling to France:
Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in France and is free in restaurants (ask for 'une carafe deal).
Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 80 kph / 50 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, 110 kph / 70 mph on dual carriageways, and 130 kph / 80 mph on motorways. During adverse weather (rain, fog, etc.), the speed limits are lowered. Note that all motorways ('autoroutes') in France are toll roads ('péage').
Plugs: Two plug types are used in France: C and E. Plug type C has two round pins; plug type E has two round pins and a grounding hole. France operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.
Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not required in restaurants and cafés in France.
Payment: Bank cards ('Cartes Bancaires') - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across France, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases.
Basic language: Bonjour = Hello, Good morning; Au revoir = Goodbye; Oui = Yes; Non = No; Merci = Thank you; Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much; S'il-vous-plaît = Please; De rien = You're welcome; Pardon = Excuse me; Jour = Day; Nuit = Night; Bonsoir = Good evening; Bonne nuit = Goodnight; Monsieur = Mister; Madame = Ma'am
Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for most stores. There are 11 official public holidays in France: New Year's Day (January 01), Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 01), Victory in Europe Day (May 08), Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 01), Armistice Day (November 11), Christmas Day (December 25). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to France, or if you are planning to come to France for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the French government website: https://france-visas.gouv.fr.
✅ No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland
⏳ Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay: Vatican; Venezuela
🛂 Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
December – February: Winter in France is when you will have the fewest tourists. December is great to enjoy Christmas markets (especially in Alsace) or marvel at the elaborate decorations in Paris. If you are into winter sports, the beginning of the year is the perfect time for mountain and snow activities in the Alps. During winter, the temperatures in Paris usually range from 2°C (36F) to 8°C (46F); the South of France is warmer and dryer but doesn't usually exceed 15°C (59F).
March – May: Springtime in France is ideal, with more pleasant weather than during winter and fewer crowds than during summer. It is also the moment to appreciate blossoms and the life pouring back into the towns and countryside. If you can, avoid the holidays (check the 'Travel tips' tab above), in Easter and May, during which many French people travel.
June – August: Summertime in France brings gorgeous weather, longer hours, and countless outdoor activities, which makes it the peak season in terms of tourism. June is the month when you can witness the amazing lavender fields in the South of France. Bear in mind that summers in the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), although being one of the best places to enjoy the Mediterranean sea, can get very hot. If hiking is more your thing, the Alps and the Pyrenees mountains offer thousands of trails for you to explore. Bastille Day - on July 14th - is a significant occasion in France and is celebrated with fireworks, music, and festivities. During summer, the temperatures in Paris usually range from 14°C (57F) to 26°C (79F); while the temperatures in the South of France are usually between 20°C (68F) and 30°C (86F).
September – November: During autumn, temperatures in France are getting cooler but remain warm, and the summer crowds are back to school and work. Accommodation costs tend to drop in popular locations. That makes this season a strategic moment to explore the country and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking when the vegetation's colour is turning into vibrant reds and golds.
Pick a (French) destination
Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of France.
PARIS
Capital of France, city of Light and Love, and a major cultural hub
FRENCH RIVIERA
Idyllic beaches, fabulous weather and colourful towns
FRANCE HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS
CASTLE-BINGE IN LOIRE VALLEY
Explore centuries worth of aristocratic history in this region home to dozens of chateaux and vineyards.
EXPLORE PARIS
Paris has it all: world-known museums, charming neighbourhoods, gorgeous parks and stunning architecture.
VISIT THE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL
Dodging tides, strolling moonlit sand and immersing yourself in this mysterious island abbey.
WALK THE PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS
The most famous stretch of seafront in Nice – if not France.
HIKE IN CHAMONIX
As the adventure capital of the Alps, Chamonix is the ideal place to visit for an epic hiking adventure.
ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN FRANCE
Did you know?
France’s national emblematic animal is the gallic rooster.
ALL FRANCE BLOG ARTICLES
PARIS
Coming soon
LYON
Coming soon
NORMANDY
Coming soon
