France: know before you go

France sits in the Schengen Area, so one border check covers onward travel through much of western Europe. Citizens of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries enter visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Two changes are rolling out at the border. The Entry/Exit System now logs entries and exits electronically instead of stamping passports, and from the last quarter of 2026 visa-free travellers will also need an ETIAS travel authorization before flying.

Most long-haul flights land at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the country's main international gateway, with Orly and Nice handling a large share of European and Mediterranean traffic. The Eurostar from London pulls into Paris Gare du Nord, and high-speed trains from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy cross the border without changing trains. At passport control, have your documents ready; the new EES kiosks take your fingerprints and a photo on entry.

The TGV is the fast way between cities. SNCF runs TGV INOUI high-speed trains and low-cost OUIGO on the main corridors, Intercités on routes the TGV skips, and TER regional trains for short hops. Buy point-to-point tickets on SNCF Connect as early as you can, because fares climb as seats fill. A rail pass only earns its keep if you are stringing together several long journeys.

Between cities the train usually beats the car, but a car is how you reach the countryside, the coast, and small towns. France drives on the right, and most autoroutes (motorways) are tolled: take a ticket at the entry barrier and pay by card at the exit. Park outside city centers and switch to local transit, which each city's own page covers.

France runs on the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere; contactless and phone payments are standard in shops, cafés, and transport. Some small bars and market stalls set a card minimum, so carry a little cash for the morning bakery run. A per-person, per-night tourist tax (taxe de séjour) is added to paid accommodation, and the rate is set by each commune, so it varies with the property's rating and location. Service is included in restaurant prices, so tipping is a small thank you rather than a percentage.

France is broadly safe, but pickpocketing is a real risk in busy tourist areas, on metros, and around major stations and attractions. Keep your phone and wallet zipped, do not leave bags on café chairs, and ignore petition clipboards and distraction scams. Expect bag checks at museums, stations, and department stores, and know that visible police and army patrols are a normal part of the national security plan.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout France, and cafés will bring a free carafe d'eau if you ask. No specific vaccinations are required for France for most travellers. Pharmacies, marked by a green cross, are common and can advise on minor illnesses. Carry a GHIC or EHIC if you are a UK resident, and buy travel insurance that covers medical care and repatriation for everyone.

Visitors from the EU roam in France at their home tariff under EU rules. After Brexit, UK plans vary by provider, so check your allowance or buy a local eSIM. Wi-Fi is widespread in hotels, cafés, and stations, and mobile coverage is strong in cities with gaps in remote mountain and rural areas.

Open every interaction with bonjour, or bonsoir after dark, and add s'il vous plaît and merci. You will get better service for it. A 15% service charge is already included in café and restaurant prices, so leave the coins or a euro or two rather than a percentage. Dress neatly for dinner, keep your voice down on public transport, and stay quiet inside churches and museums.

French is the official language and the one that opens doors. In Paris, Nice, and the big tourist zones you will find plenty of English, but in a bakery or a small town a few words of French go a long way. Learn bonjour, merci, s'il vous plaît, and l'addition (the bill), and try a little French before switching to English.

France has 11 national public holidays (jours fériés), and on the big ones banks, post offices, and many shops close while museums often keep Sunday hours. The dates are 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May (Labour Day), 8 May (VE Day), Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, 14 July (Bastille Day), 15 August (Assumption), 1 November (All Saints), 11 November (Armistice), and 25 December. Alsace and Moselle also observe Good Friday and 26 December. When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many workers make the bridge (faire le pont) and turn it into a long weekend.

Book the TGV early because fares rise as seats fill, and the summer and Christmas peaks sell out. Most headline museums and sights now run timed entry, so reserve the big names before you travel. For July, August, and school-holiday weeks, lock in accommodation and dinner reservations well ahead.