France
France rewards travellers who look beyond Paris: Renaissance châteaux along the Loire, Mont-Saint-Michel rising from its tidal bay, Alpine trails beneath Mont Blanc, lavender and hill villages in Provence, and vineyards from Champagne to Bordeaux. Eurostar puts Paris less than two and a half hours from London, and TGV trains reach most regions within a morning.
Overview
The world's most visited country is also one of Europe's most varied, with Atlantic surf beaches, Alpine and Pyrenean peaks, Mediterranean coves and a patchwork of wine regions, each with its own cooking. Most first trips pair Paris with one region rather than attempting a grand tour. The Loire, Normandy and Champagne are easy from the capital, while Lyon, Provence and the Côte d'Azur are a morning's TGV ride south. Drivers from Britain often loop through Normandy and Brittany from the Channel ports, or head for the Dordogne's castles and prehistoric caves.
Costs are close to the UK's. Paris hotels are expensive, but a weekday lunch menu, the formule, is good value, and rural chambres d'hôtes undercut hotels. July and August are when the French take their holidays, so the coast, campsites and motorways are packed, while Paris is quieter and some small restaurants close. Spring and early autumn bring mild weather and the grape harvest. Service can feel brisk, but a 'bonjour' before any request makes a real difference. Strikes occasionally disrupt trains and many museums close one day a week, so build some slack into an itinerary.
Map of France
Top 5 highlights
- 1Sacred site
Mont-Saint-Michel
A Benedictine abbey crowns this tidal island off the Normandy coast, its lanes climbing past ramparts to the Gothic cloister of La Merveille. Stay overnight or arrive late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds, and check the tide times.
- 2History
Palace of Versailles
Louis XIV's palace, with the Hall of Mirrors, the State Apartments and around 800 hectares of formal gardens and fountains, is 40 minutes from central Paris on the RER C. Book a timed ticket; the palace closes on Mondays.
- 3Architecture
Loire Valley châteaux
The Loire's Renaissance châteaux include Chambord, with its double-helix staircase, and Chenonceau, built on arches across the River Cher. Base yourself in Amboise or Tours and cycle sections of the Loire à Vélo route between them.
- 4Adventure
Chamonix and Mont Blanc
Western Europe's highest mountain towers over Chamonix. Ride the Aiguille du Midi cable car to 3,842 m for close-up views of the summit, walk the Grand Balcon trails in summer, or ski and snowboard in winter.
- 5Nature
Provence's lavender and Luberon villages
From late June to late July, lavender blooms around Sénanque Abbey and across the Valensole plateau. Combine the fields with the Luberon's hilltop villages, such as Gordes and ochre-red Roussillon, and Apt's Saturday market.
Biggest cities
Paris
Allow at least four days: the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, Montmartre's lanes, the Marais and an evening walk along the Seine, with day trips to Versailles or Monet's garden at Giverny.
Lyon
France's gastronomic capital has bouchons serving quenelles and andouillette, Renaissance Vieux Lyon with its hidden traboule passageways, and Roman theatres on Fourvière hill, two hours from Paris by TGV.
Marseille
France's oldest city, founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC, centres on the Vieux-Port; eat bouillabaisse, visit MuCEM, then hike or take a boat to the limestone Calanques.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to France
Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Average climate in Paris
Festivals & events
- JunFête de la Musique
On 21 June, the longest day, free concerts take over streets, squares and bars in every city and village, from brass bands and choirs to DJs playing until dawn.
- JulFestival d'Avignon
For three weeks in July, Avignon hosts one of the world's great theatre festivals, with productions in the Palais des Papes courtyard and more than a thousand shows in the fringe Off festival.
- Nov–DecStrasbourg Christmas Market
The Christkindelsmärik, dating from 1570, fills Strasbourg's squares around the cathedral from late November with stalls of mulled wine, bredele biscuits and Alsatian crafts.
How much does France cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Coq au vin
Chicken braised slowly in red wine with lardons, mushrooms and small onions, a Burgundian classic best eaten in a traditional bistro in the colder months.
Bouillabaisse
Marseille's fishermen's stew of rockfish in a saffron-scented broth, served in two courses with croutons and rouille; proper versions are pricey and often need ordering ahead.
Galette complète
Brittany's buckwheat crêpe folded around ham, egg and grated cheese, eaten in a crêperie with a bowl of dry cider.
Getting around
SNCF's high-speed TGV inOui and budget Ouigo trains link Paris with Lyon in about two hours and Marseille in just over three; book early on SNCF Connect for the cheapest fares. TER regional trains and coaches fill the gaps, and FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus run long-distance routes. Hire a car for Provence, the Dordogne and Brittany, bearing in mind that motorways are tolled. Uber works in the larger cities.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CE230V — bring a UK-to-C/E adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone 112 (ambulance, fire, police)
- Ambulance: 15
- Fire: 18
- Police: 17
- Deaf and hard of hearing emergency number (SMS, chat, video and fax): 114
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +33
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Service is included in French bills by law (service compris). Leave small change or 5–10% for good service, and round up taxi fares.
- Etiquette
- Always say 'bonjour, madame' or 'bonjour, monsieur' when entering a shop or starting any conversation, and 'au revoir' when leaving. Lunch usually runs from noon to 2pm, and voices stay low in restaurants.
- Main airports
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris; Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), Nice; Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), Lyon
Visas & entry for France
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: as a tourist; to visit family or friends; to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events; for short-term studies or training.
The requirements for working in France are different.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Tetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Bat LyssavirusTick-borne encephalitis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in France
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Wed 11 Nov 2026 | Armistice Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Sat 8 May 2027 | Victory Day |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Pentecost Monday |
| Wed 14 Jul 2027 | National Day |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in French
| English | French | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLAY |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi | ex-KOO-zay MWAH |
| How much is this? | C'est combien ? | say kom-BYAN |
Know before you go
- Eurostar from London St Pancras reaches Paris Gare du Nord in about two hours twenty minutes. Fares rise steeply closer to departure, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Many big museums close one day a week: the Louvre on Tuesdays, the Musée d'Orsay and Versailles on Mondays. Book timed tickets online, especially for the Louvre.
- Driving a UK car into Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg and other low-emission zones requires a Crit'Air sticker; order it only from the official certificat-air.gouv.fr site, as copycat sites charge more.
France travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit France?
The best time to visit France is generally Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Peak months are April, May, June, September and October. Average highs in Paris range from 8°C to 26°C across the year.
How much does a trip to France cost per day?
Roughly £65 a day on a tight budget, £150 mid-range and £320+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in France?
Euro (EUR).
What plug type does France use?
Type C and E sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in France?
Traffic drives on the right in France, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in France?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for France?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for France before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for France?
TravelHealthPro recommends Tetanus for most travellers, with Bat Lyssavirus and Tick-borne encephalitis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
