Language
Currency
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Electrical outlet: 230V AC electricity. Sockets are usually round two-pin plugs. To avoid having to buy new adapters everywhere you go, we recommend that you buy a universal travel adapter before you leave.
France is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. This allows all EU nationals unlimited visa-free travel and nationals of authorised countries such as The United Kingdom,,Australia and Canada 90 days visa-free travel within the Schengen zone.
Nationals of countries such as Russia, China and other non-EU countries may need to apply for a Schengen visa. If nationals of countries with 90-day visa-free travel wish to travel for longer, they also need a Schengen visa. EU nationals can travel for an unlimited period of time, but if they exceed 90 days, they must register with the local town hall to apply for a long-term residence permit. Other requirements such as a return ticket and a 6-month validity on your passport may also be required.
The main language spoken is French with some regional languages in local communities such as Occitan, Catalan and Breton. English is widely spoken in the major cities and tourist sites, but it should not be relied upon. The French are proud of their language and will appreciate your efforts to use it but are willing to help if they speak English.
Most cities are connected by high-speed trains. Car hire in France is also very accessible and cheaper than you might expect. If you want the freedom to travel and explore freely, this is also a great option.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORY) are the main international airports for travelling to France.
Late spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel in France, with generally good weather and fewer crowds. Summer is the season for festivals, bustling villages, longer days and later opening times.
The French and Europeans usually go in July and August, with a preference for the Côte d'Azur, the Atlantic coast, the Breton coast, the Dordogne and the Alps. Many French businesses close in August. Weekends in May can be busy as many French public holidays fall in May.
Winter weather is grey, noticeably milder in the south (unless the wind is blowing), and colder and wetter in the north. Snow rarely falls, except in the mountains. Sites and tourist information offices have shorter opening hours and some activities (such as castle tours in English) are not scheduled.
Blooms
Thanks to France's relatively mild climate, fields of flowers greet the traveller for much of the year:
Mid-April-May: bright yellow rape crops bloom, mainly in the north (in Burgundy). Wild red poppies start to bud in the south.
June: red poppies appear all over the country. At the end of June, lavender flowers start to spread over the hills of Provence.
July: Lavender blankets Provence, and the sunflower wakes up. Towns and villages everywhere are full of carefully tended flowers.
August-September: Sunflowers bloom in the north and south.
October: In the second half of the month, the countryside is ablaze with autumn colours, as most trees are deciduous. The vineyards turn golden.
