The Perfect Planning Guide for your 1st Visit to France
France is one of the most popular European destinations and is probably at the top of everyone’s bucket list. With world class attractions, history, cuisine, and a stylish culture, it’s easy to see why. Traveling restrictions have finally begun to ease a bit, but France remains one of the stricter countries for tourists. In this guide, we’ll share our experiences and everything you need to know before visiting this magnificent country. Allez!
France Entry Requirements
- Passport – Like always, make sure it’s up to date and does not expire within 6 months of your travels.
- Passenger Locator Form – The EU Passenger Locator Form must be filled out prior to your departure. Fill it out online and save the QR code to present before you board. Find the form here.
- Vaccination Card – Be sure to have proof of vaccination card with you. As long as you are fully vaccinated, there’s no need to present a negative covid test prior to boarding. Keep in mind that to be considered fully vaccinated, a booster shot is required.
- Negative Covid Test – Unvaccinated travelers are still allowed to enter along with a negative RT-PCR test taken 72hrs or an Antigen test taken 48hrs before departure.
- Surgical Face Mask – While most mask restrictions have been lifted, it is still mandatory to wear face masks on public transportation like buses, trains, and planes. Make sure to keep a spare blue surgical mask since they asked me to change from my cloth mask a couple of times.
- Return USA Negative Covid Test – Regardless of vaccination status, anyone returning to the US will require a negative Antigen quick test taken 24hours before departure. You can find covid tests at almost any pharmacy located throughout Paris. We stopped by a pharmacy without scheduling a reservation and got the test done in about 5 minutes for $16 Euros. Results were then emailed to us in 20mins.
Essential France Tips & What to Expect
- Best Season to Visit – France is a great destination during the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall. The high season is Summer, when the crowds and prices are at their peak. I would recommend the spring time since there’s much cheaper prices (especially for airline tickets), pretty good weather, and the surge of tourists hasn’t begun.
- Weather – Typical weather in France is pretty mild, not too hot or cold. However, rain is quite common. We arrived in Paris at the end of April and it was still a bit chilly so I was glad I brought a thick jacket. As we traveled toward the south of France, the temperature was much warmer. Bring a swimsuit if you’re planning to visit Marseille or Nice.
- Operating Hours – Stores and restaurants in France operate on a very different schedule. Even in Paris, I was surprised how late businesses were opening up. Most places weren’t open until 9 or 10am which made early traveling and breakfast a pain. In smaller towns like Lyon, many shops and monuments were closed on Monday so be sure to plan your sightseeing accordingly.
- Restaurant Hours – While many restaurants open later than usual, some also closed again between 2:30pm and 7pm. Fortunately a lot of kitchens are open late so if you need to find a meal at night it shouldn’t be an issue. We often ordered a full dinner around 10 or 11pm. If there’s a particular place you want to try, I suggest making a reservation in advance or checking their hours online before you go.
- Café Culture – Another unique aspect to France is the high percentage of streets lined with coffee shops and small restaurants. Even ordering a single cup of coffee will grant you an unlimited amount of undisturbed lounging at the table. It is customary to spend 2 or 3 hours enjoying conversations even after the meal is finished. Everyone is encouraged to take their time instead of the usual rushing in the US.
- Restaurant Tips – A typical dining experience in France is always accompanied by a glass (or two) of wine. Contrary to popular misconceptions, each main dish is not a tiny portion and I was usually full by the end of each meal. Always save room for dessert to embrace where French cuisine truly shines. Tipping is not expected so don’t worry about leaving any extra money. After the food is served, don’t expect the waiter to bring the check or come around often. Pay for the bill at the register when you’re ready or by flagging down the waiter.
- Exchanging Currency – I didn’t find it necessary to exchange to Euros since credit card machines are ubiquitous around the country, even with small vendors. For the few cash required instances, I recommend withdrawing cash at an ATM to avoid the terrible exchange rates in the airports.
- Transportation – Getting around France via the public transportation is very easy and cheap. Trains are the best mode of transport whether it be subways in cities like Paris, or traveling between huge cities on a high speed rail. Find the best inter-city tickets on OUIGO. Most buses and trains use the same ticketing system so be sure to purchase tickets at the station terminals. Uber works in big cities too.
- Learning French – As the national language, French is predominantly spoken throughout the country. It’s possible to get by with English, but it is slightly harder than other countries. You don’t have to be fluent, but knowing a few phrases will go a long way. Attempting to speak in French will make others more receptive to helping you. In bigger cities like Paris, most people understand English but are willing to let you struggle a bit before switching to it. Signs around the city and train stations are mostly in French, so here’s a few of the most useful survival phrases that will help you navigate around France:
Essential French Survival Phrases:
- Bonjour – Good Morning/Afternoon
- Bonsoir – Good Evening
- Oui – Yes
- Non – No
- Merci – Thank you
- Au revoir – goodbye
- Excusez-moi – Excuse me
- Je ne parle pas français – I don’t speak French
- Parlez-vous anglais? – Do you speak English
- L’addition s’il vous plait – The check please
Here’s just a few of the most useful things to prepare for your first trip to France. I hope this list has inspired you to plan your own adventure to this magnificent country! It has become one of my favorite countries in Europe and a must for every traveler! Of course we’ll have tons more France content on the way detailing the best cities to visit, the best food to eat, the best art museums in the world, and more so stay tuned! Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Check out our travel vlog for a deep dive into everything you’ll need to prepare for the perfect trip to France!
