Checked October 2026: Entry rules (including the EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS), tourist-tax rules and transport details in this guide were checked against official sources in October 2026. Border rules in particular are changing, so check the official EU and French government sites shortly before you travel.

Complete Travel Guide to France: First-Timer’s Planning Kit

France received about 102 million international visitors in 2025, according to Economy Ministry figures released in February 2026, and it remains the world’s most visited country by international arrivals. Whether you are drawn by the museums of Paris, the villages of Provence or the vineyards of Bordeaux, this guide covers what a first-time visitor needs to plan: when to go, entry rules, budgeting, transport, and the everyday customs that make a trip go smoothly.

Key Takeaways

Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) usually offer the best balance of weather, prices and crowds.
Visitors from visa-exempt countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and the UK can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Since April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo at the border instead of stamping your passport.
As of October 2026, ETIAS, the EU’s planned travel authorisation, is not yet in operation, and no applications are being accepted. Ignore any website that offers to sell you one.
High-speed TGV trains plus regional rail are the most efficient way to see France beyond Paris; a car is useful in rural areas.
Paris is the most expensive place to stay; smaller cities and the countryside generally cost less.
Arrange travel insurance. EU and UK visitors should also carry their EHIC or GHIC.

Why Visit France?

France combines Alpine and Pyrenean mountains, Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, major art cities and some of the world’s best-known wine regions in one country with a dense rail network. It has more than 40,000 buildings protected as historic monuments, more than 1,200 museums holding the official “Musée de France” status (1,223 in 2024, according to the Ministry of Culture), and more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage properties.

When to Go

Spring (April–June)

Mild temperatures, gardens in bloom and fewer crowds than in summer. Paris and the Loire Valley are at their best. Expect some rain, so pack layers.

Summer (July–August)

Peak season. Beaches on the Côte d’Azur and the Atlantic coast are busy, and accommodation prices peak, especially in August, when many French families take their holidays. The upside: long days, festivals and warm evenings.

Autumn (September–October)

Harvest season in the wine regions, typically from late August to October depending on the region and the year. Temperatures stay pleasant in September, and crowds thin after the summer holidays end.

Winter (November–March)

Ski season in the Alps and Pyrenees, and Christmas markets in Alsace, notably in Strasbourg and Colmar; see our French Christmas traditions guide. Paris is quieter, though grey skies are common.

For a month-by-month breakdown, see Best Time to Visit France.

Entry Requirements and Visas (as of October 2026)

EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens

No visa needed. Travel with a valid passport or national ID card.

US, Canadian, Australian, UK and Other Visa-Exempt Travellers

You can visit France and the rest of the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days spent anywhere in the Schengen area count towards that limit.
Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive and must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Entry/Exit System (EES): fully operational across the Schengen area since 10 April 2026. On your first entry, border officers take your fingerprints and a facial photo, and your passport is no longer stamped. Children aged 11 or under are not fingerprinted. EES registration is free, but border checks can take longer than before, so allow extra time, especially when leaving by air.
ETIAS: the EU’s travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors is not in operation yet. The official ETIAS website says no applications are being collected and that the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. Once it starts, it is due to cost €20 (free for applicants under 18 or over 70) and to be valid for three years or until your passport expires. The EU has also announced transition and grace periods after launch. The only official application channels will be the EU’s ETIAS website and app.

Longer Stays

To work, study or live in France for more than 90 days, non-EU nationals need a long-stay visa, applied for through France-Visas, the French government’s official visa portal (france-visas.gouv.fr). See French Visa Types for an overview.

Budgeting Your Trip

Costs depend mostly on where you sleep and how often you eat out:

Budget: hostels or simple hotels, bakery breakfasts, picnic lunches from markets and supermarkets, free sights and regional trains booked in advance.
Mid-range: two- or three-star hotels or chambres d’hôtes, a set-menu lunch most days, paid museums and some TGV journeys.
Luxury: four- and five-star hotels or château hotels, gastronomic restaurants, private guides and first-class rail.

Paris is the most expensive city for accommodation; prices in smaller cities and rural areas are generally lower. For worked examples, see our France trip cost guide and the France trip budget calculator.

Tourist tax (taxe de séjour). Most communes add a tourist tax to hotel and rental bills, charged per person per night. Each commune sets its own rate within a national scale that depends on the type and star rating of the accommodation. For 2026, the scale runs from €0.20 to €4.90 per person per night before surcharges. In Île-de-France, which includes Paris, an additional 200% is added, so the tax is three times the base rate. Some other départements and regions add smaller surcharges.

Getting There

By Air

The main international airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE), Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS) and Marseille Provence (MRS). Low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Transavia also serve many regional airports.

By Train

Eurostar runs from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord, with the fastest trains taking about 2 hours 15 minutes, and to Lille. For most other French cities, you change trains in Lille or Paris. Eurostar also operates the former Thalys services linking Paris with Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.

By Car

From the UK, ferries and the Channel Tunnel car shuttle (Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, Folkestone–Calais) connect to northern France. See Driving in France for rules and tolls.

Getting Around France

TGV High-Speed Rail

On the fastest services, the TGV takes you from Paris to Lyon in about 2 hours, to Bordeaux in a little over 2 hours, to Strasbourg in under 2 hours and to Marseille in a little over 3 hours. SNCF sells tickets on SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com). Fares vary with demand, so booking early usually pays. OUIGO is SNCF’s low-cost high-speed brand, with fewer frills and stricter luggage rules.

Regional Trains (TER)

Regional TER trains reach smaller towns. They are slower but often scenic, and several regions sell discount cards or passes for frequent travel.

Rail Passes

Interrail (for European residents) and Eurail (for non-European residents) sell France-only and multi-country passes. Most high-speed and night trains require a seat reservation at extra cost on top of the pass, so compare the total with point-to-point fares booked early. See Train Travel in France and our French train system guide.

Car Rental

Very useful in Provence, the Dordogne and other rural areas with limited rail service. Many motorways (autoroutes) charge tolls by section, and these add up over a long drive, so check the cost of your route before you set off.

Domestic Flights

Useful for long distances such as Paris–Nice, but for many city pairs the train is as fast once you add airport time.

Suggested Itineraries

One Week: Classic France

Days 1–3: Paris, including the Louvre, Montmartre and the Marais; see our local’s guide to Paris
Day 4: Day trip to Versailles or Giverny
Days 5–6: Loire Valley châteaux such as Chambord and Chenonceau; see the Loire Valley travel guide
Day 7: Return to Paris or travel on

Two Weeks: North to South

Days 1–4: Paris and surroundings
Days 5–6: Lyon: the old town, its traboules (covered passageways) and food markets; see the Lyon travel guide
Days 7–8: Provence: Avignon and the hill villages; see the Provence travel guide. Lavender usually blooms between late June and early August, depending on altitude.
Days 9–10: The Riviera: Nice, Èze and Antibes; see the Nice travel guide
Days 11–12: Bordeaux and its vineyards, plus the Cité du Vin; see the Bordeaux travel guide
Days 13–14: Return via Paris or fly home from Bordeaux

Three Weeks: The Grand Tour

Add Strasbourg, Normandy (the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel), Toulouse and the Pyrenees to the two-week route.

Accommodation Options

Hotels: officially classified from one to five stars, with a separate “Palace” distinction for a small number of top hotels. Breakfast is often charged separately, so check before booking.
Gîtes and chambres d’hôtes: self-catering cottages and B&Bs, ideal for countryside stays.
Apartments: short-term rentals are widely available, but many cities regulate them, and the tourist tax applies.
Hostels: found in major cities; private rooms are a budget-friendly middle ground.
Château hotels: a splurge option in the Loire Valley, Burgundy and the Dordogne.

Food and Drink Essentials

French cooking is strongly regional. Normandy is known for butter, cream, cider and Camembert; Provence for olive oil, herbs and rosé; Burgundy and Bordeaux for their wines. See our French wine regions guide.

Dining Tips

Lunch is usually the best-value meal: look for the formule or menu du jour, a set two- or three-course menu.
Many restaurants serve lunch from about noon to 2 pm and start dinner service around 7–7:30 pm; outside big cities, few kitchens serve in between.
Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so tipping is optional; leaving small change for good service is common.
A carafe of tap water (une carafe d’eau) is free with a meal.

For more, see our French cuisine guide and French dining etiquette guide.

Language Tips

French is the official language. English is widely understood in Paris and major tourist areas, but an attempt at French, however imperfect, is appreciated. Always start with Bonjour.

Essential phrases: Bonjour (hello), Merci (thank you), Excusez-moi (excuse me), L’addition, s’il vous plaît (the bill, please). For more, see French phrases for travelers.

Safety and Health

France is generally safe for visitors. The usual precautions apply: watch for pickpockets at major sights and on the Paris Métro, keep copies of your documents, and stay aware of your surroundings.

Pharmacies, marked by a green cross, can advise on minor ailments. Emergency numbers are 15 (medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire) and 112 (the European emergency number, which works from any phone).

Residents of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and UK residents the GHIC (or a valid UK EHIC), for state healthcare in France. Neither covers everything, and neither replaces travel insurance. Compare options in our France travel insurance guide.

Money and Currency

France uses the euro (€). Contactless card payments are widespread, and chip-and-PIN cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants, though some small businesses set a minimum. ATMs (distributeurs) are easy to find. Tell your bank before you travel to avoid blocked transactions. For exchange rates, see our currency converter.

Packing Essentials

Comfortable walking shoes, for cobbled streets
Layers for changeable weather, plus a light rain jacket
A plug adapter for Type C/E sockets (230 V)
A reusable water bottle and a small daypack

Our packing checklist by season covers each season in detail.

Cultural Etiquette

Greet shopkeepers with Bonjour when you enter and Au revoir when you leave.
Dress neatly; understated clothing is the norm in cities.
Keep your voice down in restaurants and on public transport.
Be punctual for formal appointments; social gatherings are more relaxed.

For the full rundown, see the French cultural etiquette guide, and for quick answers to common questions, our France travel FAQ.

Next Steps

Set your dates with Best Time to Visit France.
Check entry rules on the EU’s official ETIAS and EES pages (linked below) shortly before you travel.
Build your budget with the France trip budget calculator.
Book trains early for the best fares; see Train Travel in France.
Learn a few phrases with French phrases for travelers.
Get insured before you go.

Sources

European Union: What is ETIAS? (states ETIAS is not yet in operation; fee and validity; page updated August 2026)
European Union: Entry/Exit System (EES)
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs: Main differences between the EES and ETIAS (28 April 2026, confirms EES fully operational since 10 April 2026)
UK Foreign Office: France entry requirements (passport validity, 90/180-day rule, EES)
Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr: Taxe de séjour touristique, quels sont les tarifs ? (2026 scale and Île-de-France surcharge)
Ministère de la Culture: Patrimoines et architecture dans les territoires (number of museums with Musée de France status)
Connexion France: France sets new tourism record with 102 million visitors in 2025
Interrail: France Pass (seat reservations on high-speed trains)
France.fr: Official France tourism website