France is one of the world’s most popular destinations, with around 82 million travelers visiting each year.
Paris, in particular, is the centrepiece of French travel and is the most visited city in the world. Paris is home to landmarks like the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre Hill, but it’s also a city where travelers can enjoy fashion trends, world history, and culture.
1. France Quick Facts
Language French
Religion Christianity
Currency EURO (€, EUR)
Visa Free 90 day visa-free stay upon visit. Schengen Agreement member country
Power Plugs 230 V 50 Hz (E, Type)
Capital Paris
ATM ATMs are also readily available, allowing you to withdraw local currency using your credit or debit card.
Use card
Credit cards are seamlessly accepted in supermarkets, museums, and shops. However, small restaurants and shops may only accept cards over a certain amount of money
APP
Google Maps
TravelWallet
Bolt, Taxi Bleu, G7
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Paris
Bolt, Taxi Bleu and G7 are popular taxi apps in Paris, offering travellers a convenient and safe way to get around.
Navigo transport card
The Navigo card allows you to travel on most modes of Île-de-France transport for an unlimited number of trips within a certain period of time. In particular, it can also be used to travel by airport bus from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris city centre.
Navigo card types & prices (€5 to get a Navigo card)
Navigo Liberté + (single ticket): €1.69 -€14.15 (fare varies depending on the route)
Navigo Day Ticket: €8.45 – €20.10 (prices vary depending on zone)
Navigo Weekly Ticket weekly ticket: €26.1 – €30 (fare varies by zone).
What travelers should bring when buying a Navigo card: money (credit card accepted) / photos
The most common purchase for travelers is the Navigo Weekly Ticket. For €30, you get unlimited travel on all routes with no restrictions, and with airport buses costing around €14 each way, you can travel from Monday to Sunday for almost the same price.
Related articles: parking in Paris
4. Safety
For a romantic trip, It has a reputation for poor public security. You should always be on the lookout for pickpockets in crowded areas (especially in front of metro stations and shopping centers) and around tourist attractions, and you may encounter people who prey on travelers. People who approach you first and offer favours are usually scammers. Keep in mind that no one will approach you out of the kindness of their heart. Avoid walking around late at night in the north of Paris. Even in the south of France, security is not as good as in other Western European countries.
Be wary of people pretending to be bank employees in front of cash machines, telling you that your credit card isn’t working and pretending to help you and stealing your card details, including credit card passwords.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Ambulance numbers 15
Call the police 17
5. Climate
Paris has a west coast oceanic climate. The west coastal maritime climate is influenced by prevailing westerly winds, with small annual differences, mild winters and cool summers.
6. price
Prices are generally high compared to Eastern and Southern Europe.
McDonald’s Combo Meal: €8.25
Water (1.5 liters): €1
Starbucks Americano full size €3.45
Louvre ticket €17
7. Travel precautions
Paris is a city where pickpockets are very common. Keep your valuables in your hotel safe.
Be aware that being too focused on your smartphone in public can make you a target for muggers.
Walking alone in unpopulated areas late at night can be dangerous. Use taxis whenever possible and avoid going out late at night.
Only smoke in designated areas.
The water in most European countries contains high levels of lime. Travelers who are not used to lime water are advised to buy bottled water. In restaurants, it is also advisable to ask for “mineral water” rather than plain water.
Free toilets are hard to find in the city centre, and there are many pay toilets. Expect to pay around 2 euros.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
Etiquette is a word that comes from the French verb “Estiquer” (to attach), which first meant “off-limits” on wooden signs in palaces.
Your arms should always be on the table, both when waiting for your order and during the meal. Fish dishes should not be eaten upside down, but cut to one side.
Chicken should not be eaten with your hands, and it is bad table manners to pick up bread before the table is set.
The French have the “BISOU” greeting.
It is polite to be punctual when invited to France, and it is recommended that you bring a gift to show your appreciation.
Other.
Hold the door for the person behind you. Saying “Excusez-moi” when passing by.
Don’t ride next to the driver in a taxi.
Avoid signing the American O.K. finger as it is a gesture that means “unrelenting”.
Make eye contact with the waiter in a restaurant.
Tip
Most restaurants and bars already include a 15 per cent tax and service charge in their menu prices. In addition, you can usually expect to pay between 1 and 2 euros in hotels and taxis.
9. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday *
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday
1 May Wed Labour Day
8 May Wed Victory Day
9 May Thu Ascension Day
19 May Sun Whit Sunday
20 May Mon Whit Monday
14 Jul Sun Bastille Day
15 Aug Thu Assumption Day
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
11 Nov Mon Armistice Day
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
26 Dec Thu St Stephen’s Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Sunday, 20 April : Easter Sunday
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Thursday, 8 May : Victory Day
Thursday, 29 May : Ascension Day
Sunday, 8 June : Whit Sunday
Monday, 9 June : Whit Monday
Monday, 14 July: Bastille Day
Friday, 15 August : Assumption Day
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Tuesday, 11 November : Armistice Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: St Stephen’s Day