Things To Know About France

Essential Travel Tips for France

Knowing a few key facts before arriving in France makes the difference between a trip full of small frustrations and one that runs smoothly from day one. Every country has its own practical rhythms — its approach to money, transport, greetings, tipping, and the unwritten rules that guidebooks sometimes skip. The tips below address what actually matters on the ground, fact-checked for accuracy.

Some of these tips are practical (entry requirements, currency, transport); some are cultural (greetings, dining times, hospitality customs); some are safety-related. All of them apply regardless of where you are travelling from. None of them are difficult once you know them — but they are easy to get wrong if you arrive with assumptions drawn from home.

Entry requirements and political situations can change. Always verify visa rules through your own government's official travel advisory before departure. Travel insurance is non-negotiable for any international trip — ensure yours covers your planned activities. With the basics in hand, you are free to direct your attention towards what makes France genuinely worth visiting.

Key Takeaways:

• Always verify current entry requirements through your government's official travel advisory
• Understand the local currency and whether cards or cash are expected before you arrive
• Even a single word in the local language changes how you are received
• Cultural norms around dining, tipping, and social behaviour are worth knowing in advance
• Safety-specific tips for France are included — read them before you go

10 Things to Know Before Visiting France

1. Visa and Entry

France is a Schengen member. EU citizens enter freely. US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within the Schengen 180-day period. Note: ETIAS electronic travel authorisation is planned for Schengen entry in 2025 — check current requirements before travel. Check ETIAS requirements closer to travel — implementation dates have changed several times.

2. Always Say Bonjour

Greeting everyone you encounter with 'Bonjour Madame/Monsieur' upon entering a shop, cafe, or any space with people is essential French social protocol. Failing to say Bonjour is considered rude in France in a way that has no equivalent in most other countries. This single habit changes how you are received. The Bonjour is not optional — it opens every successful interaction in France.

3. Attempt the Language

Attempting to speak French, however poorly, before switching to English is considered basic good manners. Start with 'Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?' The stereotype of Parisian rudeness is largely a response to visitors who make no attempt at the language. Even terrible French with a genuine effort is better received than good English without trying.

4. Dining Times

Lunch is served noon to 2pm; dinner from 7:30pm (many restaurants don't seat before 7pm and prefer 8pm). Turning up at 6pm for dinner will result in closed restaurants or tourist-only menus. The prix fixe lunch is consistently the best value — often half the price of the same dishes at dinner. Arriving for dinner before 7:30pm in France means you are eating with other tourists only.

5. Tipping

A service charge (service compris) is legally included in French restaurant bills. Adding a few euros in cash for particularly good service is appreciated but entirely optional. Never tip on top of an already service-included bill as if it were an American tipping situation. Service is already included — additional tipping is genuinely optional.

6. The Bill

In French restaurants, the bill is never brought until you ask for it. This is considered politeness — the table is yours for as long as you wish. Ask for 'l'addition, s'il vous plaît' when ready. You will not be hurried. Ask for 'l'addition' — it will not come until you do, and that is intentional.

7. Lavender Season

Lavender in the Valensole plateau and the Haute-Provence blooms from mid-June to mid-August, peaking in early-to-mid July. The fields are on working farms, not tourist attractions — behave accordingly. Some fields now charge entry fees. Visit early morning for the finest light and smallest crowds. Lavender peaks early-to-mid July in Haute-Provence; visit at dawn for the best experience.

8. TGV Rail Network

France has one of the world's finest high-speed rail networks. TGV trains connect Paris with Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, and Strasbourg in 2–3 hours. Book at least two weeks in advance on the SNCF app or website for significantly reduced prices. The Ouigo low-cost service offers TGV travel at budget prices. Book SNCF tickets 2+ weeks ahead — prices increase substantially closer to departure.

9. Public Holidays

France has 11 public holidays on which many restaurants, shops, and museums close or operate reduced hours. Key dates: 1 January, 1 May (Fête du Travail — most significant closures), 8 May, 14 July (Bastille Day), 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December. In August, many Parisian neighbourhood restaurants close for the entire month. 1 May is a genuine national shutdown — plan around it.

10. Regional Diversity

France outside Paris is a completely different country. Each region has its own food, wine, dialect, and culture. A visitor who spends their entire trip in Paris has seen one face of a country with many. The Alsace, Provence, Brittany, and Basque Country are each more different from Paris than most visitors expect. France outside Paris is worth at least as much time as the capital.

Final Thoughts on Travelling in France

The most important thing you can bring to France is genuine curiosity and a willingness to engage with the country on its own terms. The practical tips above handle the logistics — entry, money, transport, customs. The quality of the experience beyond that depends on the attitude you bring: openness to the differences, patience with the unfamiliar, and respect for a culture that has its own valid way of doing things.

Where something seems inconvenient — later meal times, different tipping conventions, shops closed on certain days — it is worth remembering that these are features of a living culture, not failures to meet external expectations. Adapting to them, rather than working around them, consistently produces a richer experience.

Go with a flexible itinerary, the right practical foundation, and an appetite for what makes France genuinely itself. That combination serves well in any country and particularly well here.