Travel Information

Travellers from many countries — including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan — can enter France without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen Area, and issued within the previous ten years.

Everyone else needs a Schengen visa, applied for at the French embassy, consulate or visa centre in your country of residence — allow several weeks in peak season. A new European travel authorisation (ETIAS) is being phased in for visa-exempt visitors, so check the official French and EU portals for the current requirements before you book.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel with a national identity card instead of a passport.

May to June and September to early October are the sweet spots: warm days, long light, open terraces and far fewer crowds than midsummer. Lavender in Provence peaks from late June into July, and the wine harvest runs through September and October.

July and August are the hottest and busiest months, especially on the Mediterranean coast — book accommodation and popular restaurants well ahead. Note that many independent shops and family-run restaurants in the cities close for a few weeks in August, when the French take their own holidays. The Alpine ski season runs from December to April.

France spans several climates: mild and changeable on the Atlantic coast of Normandy and Brittany, continental and crisp in Alsace and Burgundy, hot and dry around the Mediterranean, and properly alpine in the Alps and Pyrenees. A single itinerary can cross two or three of them.

Layers and a light waterproof are the safest packing strategy anywhere north of Lyon. For the south in summer, bring sun protection, a hat and a refillable water bottle. Cathedrals, abbeys and some churches ask visitors to cover shoulders and knees, and cobbled village lanes reward comfortable shoes.

France uses the euro. Card and contactless payments are near-universal, including on public transport and in most restaurants, though some village bakeries, markets and small guesthouses still prefer cash or set a minimum card spend. ATMs are widespread.

Tipping is not expected — service is included in the bill by law (service compris). Leaving a euro or two for good service, or rounding up a café bill, is a normal courtesy rather than an obligation.

Visitors resident outside the EU can reclaim VAT on purchases over €100 in a single store on the same day — ask for the détaxe form at the till and have it validated before you leave the country.

The TGV network links the major cities at speed — Paris to Lyon in about two hours, Paris to Marseille in around three. Seat reservations are compulsory on TGV and Intercités services, so book ahead; regional TER trains are cheaper, slower and usually reservation-free.

Cities are easily covered on foot and by metro, tram or bus. Paris uses the Navigo pass and contactless ticketing; most other cities sell day passes.

For the countryside — the Dordogne, Provençal hill villages, Alsace wine route or Brittany's coast — a car opens up places the trains do not reach. Motorways are excellent but mostly tolled, and many town centres are low-emission zones requiring a Crit'Air sticker.

French is the national language. English is widely spoken in hotels, larger restaurants and tourist sites, and on our tours, but far less so in rural areas and small shops.

Etiquette matters more than fluency: always open with 'bonjour' (or 'bonsoir' in the evening) before asking anything, and close with 'merci, au revoir'. Skipping the greeting reads as abrupt — starting with it changes the whole exchange.

France is a safe country to travel in and has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. No vaccinations are required for entry, and tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.

The general emergency number is 112. You can also dial 15 for medical emergencies (SAMU), 17 for police and 18 for the fire service. Pharmacies, marked by a green cross, can treat minor problems and advise without an appointment.

EU citizens should carry a European Health Insurance Card, and UK visitors a GHIC — neither replaces travel insurance. Take the usual precautions against pickpocketing on the Paris metro and around busy landmarks, and never leave valuables visible in a parked car.

Power is 230 V / 50 Hz and sockets are Type E, which also accept the standard European two-pin Type C plug. Travellers from the UK, USA and elsewhere need an adapter.

France is in the EU roaming zone, so EU and EEA SIM cards work at domestic rates. Visitors from further afield should check their operator's charges or use a local eSIM. Mobile coverage is strong nationwide, thinning a little in mountain valleys, and free Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, cafés and on many trains.