France Travel Guide

• Paris & Île-de-France: Museum-hopping at Paris’s Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, café people-watching, a Seine cruise and a day trip to Versailles.
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: Beach time on the Riviera, coastal promenades in Nice and Cannes, Provençal markets and lavender-season drives inland.
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine & Atlantic west: Wine tours around Bordeaux, seafood and harbour walks in La Rochelle, and surfing or long walks on Atlantic beaches.
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes & the Alps: Skiing and snow sports in winter, summer hiking around Chamonix, and dining in Lyon’s bouchons.
• Grand Est & eastern France: Champagne house visits around Reims, exploring Alsace’s villages and canals in Strasbourg, and regional food trails.

Most international travelers arrive by air into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Paris Orly (ORY); major secondary gateways include Lyon (LYS), Nice (NCE) and Marseille (MRS). High-speed rail (TGV) connects Paris with many regional cities and neighboring countries, while overland entry from Spain, Italy and Belgium is common by train or car.

From the UK and Ireland: Eurostar runs London to Paris in about 2 hours 20 minutes, and Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle carries cars from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes. Ferries link Dover with Calais and Dunkirk, Portsmouth with Caen, Le Havre and Saint-Malo, and Ireland (Rosslare, Cork) with Cherbourg and Roscoff. At Dover, Folkestone and London St Pancras you clear French border control before departure, including EES registration, so arrive early.

Typical daily spend runs roughly $100-$250, with Paris and the Riviera at the top end and rural or western Atlantic areas cheaper.

• Hostel dorm bed: €20-35
• Basic private room: €50-90
• Mid-range hotel: €100-200
• Upscale hotel: €220-350
• Market or street-stall meal: €6-12
• Bottle of local beer: €4-6
• Organised tour or activity: €30-80
• Bus or tram ride: €1.8-2.5

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s France cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use the train network: Book TGV and intercity trains in advance for lower fares and avoid last-minute high prices.
• Eat like a local: Choose bistrot lunch menus and market produce rather than tourist restaurants to save on food.
• City passes selectively: Buy museum or transit passes only if you plan heavy sightseeing on consecutive days.

Full trip budgets are in France Itineraries.

Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas but smaller cafés, markets and rural vendors may prefer cash. ATMs are easy to find in towns and cities; always carry some euros for small purchases and places that reject cards.

• Tipping: Service is included in restaurant and café prices by law (service compris), so tipping is optional. The French round up or leave €1-5 for good service; percentage tips are not expected.
• Cards & Cash: Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, Amex mainly in high-end places. French cards are chip-and-PIN, and unattended machines (motorway tolls, fuel pumps at night, some ticket machines) can reject foreign cards without a PIN, so know yours and carry some cash. Contactless and mobile wallets (Apple/Google Pay) are widely supported in larger retailers and restaurants.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: ATMs are widely available at banks and on high streets - your home bank and ATM operator may charge fees. Mobile payments and digital banks (Revolut, N26, etc.) work well in most urban locations.
• Tax refund: non-EU visitors can reclaim most of the 20% VAT on purchases over €100 in one shop on one day; ask for the détaxe form and scan it at the PABLO kiosks when leaving the EU.
• Banknotes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500
• Coins: €0.01, €0.02, €0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1, €2

A polite 'bonjour' at the start of any interaction is expected and appreciated, and speaking a little French opens doors. The French are generally forgiving of tourists who try to be courteous, but formal politeness and modest dress help in shops, restaurants and places of worship.

France has widespread mobile and fixed coverage, with strong city 4G/5G and extensive fiber in urban areas. Mobile speeds in cities are typically fast enough for streaming and remote work, and fixed broadband in towns often reaches 100 Mbps or higher. Connectivity is generally reliable across major centers.

• Calling: French numbers have 10 digits; from abroad dial +33 and drop the first 0. EU SIM cards roam at no extra cost.
• Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz; plug types C, E.

Yes, for most visitors; violent crime is uncommon but petty theft, heat-related hazards and occasional protests are the main risks.

Easy to stay healthy for most visitors; main issues are seasonal heat, tick bites in rural areas and routine infections.

France’s cultural identity mixes strong regional traditions with national institutions: celebrated cuisine, a prominent visual and literary arts history, and a political culture shaped by republican values. Travelers notice diverse local customs, architectural layers and an emphasis on food and shared public life.

Eating well in France is mostly about timing and knowing the rules of the table.

• Meal times: lunch is served from about 12:00 to 13:30 and dinner from 19:30 to 21:30. Outside those hours, and on Sundays and Mondays, many kitchens are closed, so look for a brasserie. In August many family restaurants and small shops close for the holidays.
• Book ahead: popular bistros turn walk-ins away even with empty tables. Reserve a day or two before, by phone or on TheFork.
• The menu: the fixed-price menu or formule (starter and main, or main and dessert) is the best value, especially at lunch, often €15-25. Drinks are extra.
• Water and bread: tap water (une carafe d’eau) and bread are free; you don’t have to buy bottled water.
• Service: greet staff with bonjour, wait to be seated, and call the waiter with s’il vous plaît (never garçon). Nobody will rush you, so ask for the bill (l’addition) when you’re ready.
• Coffee: comes black, as an espresso, after the meal, not with it. A coffee costs less standing at the bar than at a table or on the terrace.
• Vegetarians: traditional restaurants often have little beyond salads; ask for végétarien and check it doesn’t mean fish. Couscous restaurants, crêperies and city vegan spots are easier, and HappyCow lists thousands of options.
• Regional dishes to look for: cassoulet in the southwest, choucroute in Alsace, tartiflette and raclette in the Alps, bouillabaisse in Marseille (a real one costs €40 or more), crêpes and galettes in Brittany, and bouchon cooking in Lyon.
• Bakeries: a boulangerie breakfast of croissant and coffee, or a sandwich at lunch, is the cheapest good meal in France.

France’s dense cultural heritage and varied landscapes are vulnerable to overcrowding and habitat pressure; responsible choices help protect monuments, wetlands and rural communities.

• Respecting local culture: Dress and behave appropriately at churches, markets and historic sites-cover shoulders and knees in places like Mont‑Saint‑Michel or Sainte‑Chapelle, and follow signage and ropes at monuments to avoid damage.
• Protect natural areas: Stick to marked trails in places such as Parc national des Calanques and the Camargue; avoid disturbing nesting birds and use binoculars rather than approaching wildlife.
• Coastal & marine care: Choose beaches and operators with Blue Flag accreditation, take all litter and single‑use plastics home, and avoid anchoring on seagrass beds.
• Support local producers: Buy from weekly marchés and certified rural lodging like [Gîtes de France] or properties with the Clef Verte eco‑label to keep tourism income local.
• Birds & protected species: When visiting wetlands such as the Camargue, follow guidance from local conservation groups like the LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) and avoid disturbing breeding areas.

Long-term living in France attracts professionals, families, retirees, and creatives drawn to quality healthcare, culture, and infrastructure. Expats from the EU move easily; non-EU arrivals typically use long-stay visas or talent routes. Expect more bureaucracy than some destinations, balanced by strong public services and regional variety.

Long-Term Visas: Long-stay visas include the visa de long séjour and residence permits; Passeport Talent for skilled workers.

Working There: EU/EEA citizens can work freely; non-EU nationals usually need a work permit or Passeport Talent.

Cost of Living: Expect €1,000-2,500+/month depending on city; Paris significantly more expensive than provincial areas.

Health & Wellness: Universal public healthcare via Assurance Maladie (PUMA) after establishing residency, supplemented by mutuelle plans.

Banking & Finance: French banks issue IBANs, most require ID and proof of address; online banks and fintechs widely used.

Taxes: Tax residents taxed on worldwide income; progressive rates up to 45% plus social contributions.

Popular Places to Live in France

Choosing where to live in France comes down to whether you want a big-city cultural hub, a coastal lifestyle, or quieter provincial life. For city amenities and networking choose Paris or Lyon; for milder climate and beaches head to the Mediterranean, accepting seasonal crowds; for affordability consider Toulouse or Bordeaux.

• Paris - Global cultural and professional center, unmatched amenities and transport, tradeoff: very high cost and crowds.
• Lyon - Food and commerce hub, excellent transport links and quality of life, tradeoff: smaller international scene than Paris.
• Bordeaux - Riverfront and wine culture, relaxed pace and good rail links, tradeoff: fewer international flights.
• Nice - Mediterranean lifestyle, easy access to beaches and Italy, tradeoff: tourist peaks and higher summer prices.
• Toulouse - Aerospace industry and lively student culture, affordable living and warm climate, tradeoff: quieter tourism scene.

France attracts remote workers with strong infrastructure, cultural amenities, and reliable public services; most nomads base in major cities for coworking and connectivity. There is no single nomad visa, so many use self-employed or talent routes or long-stay visitor visas.

Nomad Visa: No dedicated digital-nomad visa; common workarounds include long-stay self-employed visas or the Passeport Talent.

Long Term Rentals: Long-term rentals: one-bed €600-1,100/month in regional cities, €1,200-2,000+ in central Paris.

Internet: Internet widely available in cities with fiber; expect 100-1,000 Mbps plans priced €20-40/month.

Monthly Cost: Monthly cost for a single remote worker typically €1,200-2,500 depending on city and lifestyle.

Coworking: Coworking options plentiful in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and other cities, day passes and monthly plans common.

Fitness & Wellness: Gyms, yoga studios and wellness centers common; monthly gym memberships commonly €25-60.

Community: Active expat and professional communities in major cities; nomad-specific groups smaller but growing.

Time Zone: Central European Time (CET/CEST), UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 during summer DST.

Popular Nomad Hubs in France

Nomads in France split between global cities for connectivity and smaller cities for lower costs and lifestyle. Coastal towns and university cities appeal to those wanting milder climates and a quieter pace.

• Paris - Cultural and professional hub, excellent connectivity and coworking, tradeoff: high living and rental costs.
• Lyon - Gastronomy and good transport, solid startup scene, tradeoff: smaller international nomad community than Paris.
• Bordeaux - Wine country, relaxed pace and good quality of life, tradeoff: fewer nonstop international flights.
• Nice - Mediterranean climate and seaside lifestyle, tradeoff: seasonal crowds and higher summer prices.
• Toulouse - Aerospace industry hub, affordable living and lively student scene, tradeoff: quieter international nomad scene.