France
France for first-time visitors: what to know before you go
First trip: 4–5 nights in Paris, then one TGV spoke — Provence, the Riviera, the Loire or the Alps — for 3–5 nights. Book trains early, keep a card that works in machines, and greet staff with "bonjour" before any request. Change the plan if you are visiting in August, when many small shops close.
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GuideFrance
Key facts
- Minimum viable trip
- 4–5 nights Paris plus 3–5 nights at one second base
- How you move
- TGV between regions; metro and walking inside cities
- Book trains
- Early: TGV seats are released months ahead and cheap fares sell out
- Money
- Euro (EUR); cards accepted widely, some small places cash-only
- Tipping
- Service is included by law; round up or leave small change
- Language
- French; English is common in hotels and big cities, less so in small towns
- August
- Many independent shops and restaurants in cities close for holidays
- Emergency number
- 112 (EU-wide)
Details
France rewards a slow trip. The country is roughly the size of Texas, but the fast trains make it feel smaller: Paris to Lyon is about 2 hours, Paris to Avignon about 2 hours 40, Paris to Bordeaux about 2 hours. That is why the standard first trip is a city block plus one region, not a loop of the whole country.
Start with Paris. Four or five nights covers the Louvre, Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Marais and Montmartre, with Versailles or Giverny as a day out. Then pick one spoke: Provence for Roman towns and markets, Nice for the Riviera coast, the Loire for châteaux and flat cycling, or Chamonix and Annecy for mountains and lakes. Three to five nights at the second base is enough to stop moving.
Book long-distance trains as soon as your dates are fixed. TGV seats open months ahead and the cheapest fares disappear first; walk-up prices on the same route can be several times higher. Regional TER trains are cheaper and need no reservation. Inside cities, buy a carnet or day pass rather than single metro tickets.
Expect a language gap outside hotels and big-city restaurants. A greeting is the entry ticket: say "bonjour" when you enter a shop, café or waiting room, and "au revoir" when you leave. Starting in French, even badly, changes how the rest of the exchange goes. English is widely spoken in Paris, Lyon, Nice and Strasbourg; in villages and small-town bakeries, less so.
Opening hours follow local habits. Many shops close on Sunday and some on Monday, lunch runs from about noon to 2pm, and dinner starts late — 7:30pm is early, 9pm is normal. Pharmacies display a green cross and post a rota for night and Sunday duty. Museums often close one weekday; check the specific site before you build a day around it.
August is the trap. Paris empties, and independent restaurants, bakeries and shops in city neighbourhoods shut for two to four weeks while their owners holiday. Coastal and mountain areas are at their busiest and most expensive at the same time. If you travel in August, book accommodation and any popular museum slot well ahead, and expect some closures even in the centre.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR); cards widely accepted, carry some cash for small vendors |
| Tipping | Service included by law; round up or leave small change |
| Language | French; English common in hotels and large cities |
| Emergency | 112 for police, fire and ambulance |
| Tap water | Safe to drink; ask for a carafe d'eau in restaurants |
| Power | 230 V, type C and E plugs; bring an adapter for US, UK and AU plugs |
| August | Many independent shops and restaurants close for holidays |
| Sunday | Many shops shut; some museums and bakeries open |
Summary table
Use this as the one-screen version of the page. Costs are 2026 estimates and vary by city and season.
| Item | Typical 2026 estimate |
|---|---|
| Paris hotel, mid-range double | €150–300 per night |
| Hostel dorm bed | €35–60 per night |
| Metro single ticket | About €2.50 |
| Museum entry, major national museum | €12–22 |
| Coffee at the bar | €1.50–3 |
| Lunch menu du jour | €15–25 |
| Dinner, mid-range | €25–45 per person |
| TGV Paris–Lyon, booked early | From about €25 |
| TGV Paris–Avignon, booked early | From about €35 |
| SIM or eSIM data plan | €10–30 |
Estimates only; check current prices when booking.
Tips
Keep a card that works in ticket machines. Some French machines and small terminals only take chip-and-PIN cards, and US magnetic-stripe cards can fail. Carry a second card and a little cash as backup.
Validate your ticket. On many regional trains and buses you must stamp or tap a ticket before boarding; an unvalidated ticket can count as travelling without one.
Watch your bag in tourist areas. Pickpocketing is the main risk on the metro, at major stations and around the big sights, not violent crime.
Learn the greeting. "Bonjour" on entry and "merci, au revoir" on exit covers most daily interactions.
Eat where the menu is short. A small menu usually means the kitchen cooks fresh; a long laminated one in a tourist zone usually does not.
Plan around strikes. Rail and air strikes happen; keep a buffer day before an international flight and check your operator's site the day before.
- Say bonjour before any request
- Validate train and bus tickets
- Carry a chip-and-PIN card plus cash
- Book TGV seats early
- Keep a buffer day before flying home
FAQ
Questions people ask
What should first-time visitors know about France?
Plan 4–5 nights in Paris plus one region for 3–5 nights, and travel between them by TGV booked early. Greet people with "bonjour", expect some shops to close on Sunday and in August, and keep a chip-and-PIN card plus a little cash.
How many days do I need in France?
Seven days works for Paris and the Loire. Ten days covers Paris, Provence and the Riviera. Two weeks allows Paris, Normandy, the Loire, Lyon, Provence and Nice. Fewer than five days is best spent in one city only.
What are the biggest mistakes tourists make in France?
Trying to see three regions in a week by car, skipping the "bonjour" greeting, buying TGV tickets late at full price, relying on a magnetic-stripe card in machines, and visiting in August without checking which restaurants and shops close.
Is English enough in France?
In Paris, Lyon, Nice, Strasbourg and most hotels and major museums, yes. In villages, small bakeries and rural stations, less so. A few French phrases and a translation app cover the gap.
Do I need cash in France?
Not much. Cards work almost everywhere, including most markets. Carry €30–50 for small vendors, rural cafés and anywhere with a minimum card spend.
Is tap water safe to drink in France?
Yes, tap water is safe to drink across France. In restaurants you can ask for a free carafe d'eau instead of buying bottled water.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check