Know before you go: France

For most short-term visitors from the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, and many other countries, no visa is needed for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period throughout all Schengen countries combined. As of August 2026, the Schengen 90/180-day rule limits visa-free visitors to a maximum of 90 days inside the Schengen Area within any rolling 180-day window, applied across all 29 Schengen countries combined, and the Entry/Exit System (EES) now records every entry and exit digitally.

If your nationality is not on the visa-waiver list, you will need a Schengen short-stay Type C visa. Most visitors needing this visa pay an official government fee of 90 EUR for an adult and 45 EUR for a child aged 6 to 11, with children under 6 free. Processing usually takes about 15 calendar days, though it can extend to 45 days in some cases, so apply up to six months before travel but at least 15 days ahead.

A major change is coming for currently visa-exempt travellers: the EU’s ETIAS travel authorization. As of this writing, as of September 2026 ETIAS is NOT yet in operation or mandatory, and no launch date has been set. Once it launches, some 1.4 billion people from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories will be required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay, and the EU will announce the start date months in advance. Once it does launch, the fee will be EUR 20 for applicants aged 18 to 70, with travellers under 18 and over 70 exempt, and an approved ETIAS will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, allowing multiple short-stay entries. There will also be transition time: after launch, a transitional period of at least six months and a grace period of at least six months apply before ETIAS is fully mandatory.

Because these rules can and do shift with little notice, always confirm your personal entry requirements on the official France-Visas and EU Travel-Europe/ETIAS websites shortly before you book and again before you fly. Bring a passport valid well beyond your stay, proof of onward or return travel, evidence of sufficient funds, and valid travel insurance, since these can be checked at the border.

Paris and the Île-de-France region use a unified digital ticketing system as of 2026. In 2026, Paris continues with a simplified ticket system for its public transportation network, and for visitors, tariff zones are no longer relevant; metro/RER/train tickets and bus/tram tickets are separate and you can’t transfer between them on the same ticket. Single tickets cost €2.55 for Metro/RER/Train or €2.05 for Bus/Tram. A flat €14 fare gets you to the airport (special ticket required), and a day pass costs €12.30, good value for five or more trips in one day.

Paper tickets are essentially gone: paper tickets are no longer sold, and any remaining ones work only on the metro, RER and trains until 14 December 2026, so you now need either a Navigo Easy card or a smartphone app. The Navigo Easy is a rechargeable physical transport card designed for occasional travellers, and the card itself costs €2 and can be loaded with different types of tickets. Alternatively, many Paris transport tickets can be purchased and stored digitally on a compatible smartphone via the Île-de-France Mobilités app, which supports Metro-Train-RER tickets, Bus-Tram tickets, airport tickets, Paris Visite and several Navigo passes.

For longer stays, a weekly pass (€30.75) covers all zones Monday to Sunday with unlimited Métro, RER, bus, tram, and suburban trains. Note that classic airport shuttle buses have been discontinued: RoissyBus is permanently discontinued, with the direct bus between Opéra and CDG Airport stopping on March 1, 2026, so use the RER B, express bus 9517 from Saint-Denis Pleyel (change there from Metro Line 14, which does not reach CDG), or buses 350/351 instead.

Outside Paris, France’s high-speed TGV network and regional TER trains connect major cities and towns efficiently; book train tickets via SNCF Connect. Renting a car is worthwhile for rural regions like the Dordogne, Provence, or the Loire Valley, but city driving and parking can be difficult, so most travellers combine trains for intercity travel with local transit or walking in town centres.

France uses EUR as its official currency. Most places accept cards, with Visa and Mastercard your best bet. However, smaller shops, street markets, or rural bakeries may be cash-only, so always carry a bit, and you shouldn’t count on Amex or Diners outside big hotels or luxury shops. Contactless is common and reliable, you can tap-to-pay for metros, coffee, or even market stalls in cities, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work widely, especially in urban areas.

For cash, ATMs are everywhere, but choose ones attached to a major French bank like BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, or Société Générale, and avoid Euronet and standalone machines in tourist zones, which often come with high fees and poor exchange rates.

Tipping is not a major concern in France: tipping is modest and not mandatory since service is included in the bill; round up at cafés or leave 5 to 10 percent for great service at restaurants, and no tip is needed for taxis beyond a euro or two.

Budget-wise, expect Paris and major tourist hubs (Nice, Lyon, the Riviera in summer) to be noticeably pricier for hotels and dining than rural regions; booking trains and popular museum tickets in advance can also save money and avoid queues.

There is no single “best” season, but shoulder seasons generally offer the best balance for most travellers. Spring and autumn (April to June, September to October) offer the best balance, with fewer tourists, mild weather, and more room to breathe, making them ideal for exploring châteaux in the Loire, hiking in the Alps, or wandering wine regions.

Summer is the busiest and priciest period: summer (June to August) is the headline act, with full trains, packed beaches, and cities like Paris and Lyon running hot and slow; the south is buzzing with festivals, seafood, and sardines by the sea, but you’ll pay for it in crowds and prices.

September specifically is a favourite for many travellers wanting summer-like conditions without peak crowds: temperatures ease to a comfortable territory in the 60s (Fahrenheit) in September, and days usually feel summery, with warm weather allowing you to swim in the sea, hike, and pause at sidewalk cafés. If you prefer winter travel, the French Alps offer skiing, while Provence, the Riviera, and Paris are much quieter (and cheaper) outside summer, aside from the Christmas and New Year period.

SAMU (medical emergencies) is 15, police emergency is 17, fire brigade is 18, and the European emergency number is 112; the emergency number for the deaf and hard of hearing is 114. The main emergency number in France is 112, the single European emergency number, which is free, works from any phone (even locked or out of credit), and operators are trained to answer in English before routing you to SAMU, police, or fire brigade.

As a visitor, 112 is your simplest option in a crisis: the 112 number is primarily intended for foreigners visiting France, while within France it is generally recommended that residents dial 15, 17, or 18 depending on the situation. Calls to 112 are completely free from any phone in France, including payphones and mobiles that are locked or out of credit, and the same applies to 15, 17, 18, and 114.

In rural areas, firefighters often respond fastest to medical calls too: in rural areas, the pompiers (18) often arrive faster than SAMU and are equally trained for medical first response. If you’re unsure which service you need, if you cannot tell whether the situation is medical or fire-related, the 112 dispatcher will pick the right team for you.

General safety in France is good for most tourists, though petty theft (pickpocketing, phone snatching) is a real risk in crowded tourist areas, on public transit, and around major attractions in Paris, Nice, and other big cities; stay alert with bags and phones, use hotel safes, and keep copies of your passport and travel documents separately from the originals. If you lose your passport, contact your embassy or consulate immediately, and report lost items to the local police station.