France

France is (deservedly) the most visited country in the world. It’s home to medieval hill towns, alpine villages, Mediterranean resorts, Roman ruins, castles, and modern cities, and it’s renowned for its fashion, museums, monuments, wines, and food. There’s something for everyone, and this France travel guide has everything you need for planning a trip!

If you don’t have a car in France, choose your “home bases” carefully. Make sure you have access to public transportation for any day trips you want to take.

Avignon is the best home base for seeing the Provence region, Nice for the Riviera, Lyon for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Dijon for Burgundy, Amboise for the Loire Valley, Bayeaux for Normandy, Reims for Champagne, and Saint-Malo for Brittany.

Ready to plan your trip? Here’s your ultimate France travel guide!

Top Places to Visit

Typical Costs When Traveling

Exchange Rate

The currency in France is the Euro. Exchange rates are subject to fluctuations, so be sure to check this as your trip approaches. On average, €1 is equal to about £.87 British Pounds, $1.10 U.S. and 7.8 Chinese Yuan.

Accommodation

A hostel room is in the €20-40 range (£17.50-35, $22-$44, 156-313 Yuan). A budget hotel is in the €80–100 a night range (£70-87, $88-$110, 626-783 Yuan). A mid-range hotel will likely be around €100–200 a night (£87-174, $110-$221, 783-1565 Yuan). More luxury accommodations start at €300 a night (£260, $332, 2349 Yuan) up to thousands of dollars a night.

Airbnb prices average around €71 (£62, $79, 556 Yuan).

Food

Street food from a crepe stand, boulangeries (bakeries), and markets is relatively cheap around €7 (£6.10, $7.50, 55 Yuan). A menu du jour (pre-selected items) at a casual restaurant will be about €15 (£13, $16.50, 118 Yuan). A meal at a gourmet restaurant will be between €20-40 (£17.50-35, $22-$44, 157-314 Yuan). A meal in an elegant restaurant would start around €65 (£56, $72, 510 Yuan) and can go up to hundreds of dollars per dish.

For alcohol, budget around €5 (£4.35, $5.50, 39 Yuan) for a beer or glass of wine. If you’re dining with a group, bottles of wine are often cheaper than individual drinks.

Here are the Best Foods To Try In France!

Transportation

Public transportation within a city’s limits is around €1,50 for a single trip (£1.30, $1.60, 12 Yuan), and you can buy sets of 10 tickets for €11 (£9.50, $3, 18 Yuan).

Transportation between cities can range from €20-250 (£17.50-217, $22-$277, 157-1960) depending on how far you’re traveling, whether you’re going via rail or bus, and what class and amenities you want when traveling. Renting a car will be around €40 per day (£35, $44, 314 Yuan), and then you’ll need to pay for parking, tolls, and gas.

I recommend buying your city-to-city train tickets in advance. This can save you up to 50% on your ticket. Plus, purchasing online means you won’t have to find a ticket office or use ticket machines when you’re at a station.

Uber is an option in the larger cities, but Lyft doesn’t operate in France.

Other Expenses

I’d budget around €60 a day (£52, $26, 182 Yuan) for entrance fees, tours, guides, snacks, tips, and souvenirs.

ATMs are at every airport, most train stations, and on (what seems like) every second street corner in all but the smallest towns. Visa, MasterCard, and Amex are widely accepted throughout the country.

Tipping

A 10% tip is standard in restaurants, don’t tip for drinks served at the bar, and round to the nearest euro for drinks served at a table. At hotels, you should tip €1 per bag for porters and per room for cleaning staff ($1.10, 7.8 Yuan). It’s customary to tip 10% for a taxi, around €5 (£4.35, $5.50, 39 Yuan) for tour guides, and €2 (£1.75, $2.20, 15.50 Yuan) for museum guides.

Suggested Daily Costs

These budget estimates include eating and drinking out at least once a day and a couple of intercity train or bus rides.

Lower End: €165 a day (£145, $183, 1294 Yuan). Midrange: €250 a day (£217, $277, 1960 Yuan). Higher End: €550 a day and up (£478, $610, 4312 Yuan).

When To Go

The best time to visit France is the shoulder season from April – June or Fall September – October. There are fewer tourists, lower prices, and moderate temperatures during these months.

France is one of the Best Destinations To Visit In June!

The summer months are more crowded and more expensive, and the winter months will be grey, wet, and cold. But France does have excellent skiing and other snow sports during the Winter.

What To Pack

France has a mostly temperate climate with cool winters and mild summers. The regions along the Mediterranean have mild winters and hot summers.

A raincoat is always a good idea, no matter where or when you’re in France. In the Fall and Spring, you’ll want a layer for the mornings and evenings. In the winter, you’ll want warm clothes, even along the Mediterranean.

If you’re planning on venturing up into the Alps, you’ll need warmer clothes regardless of what season it is. International Living has a detailed list of France’s seasonal climate by region.

Electrical outlets in France are Types C and E. So if you’re from the EU, you won’t need an outlet adaptor. But British, U.S., and other travelers will need an adaptor.

What To Wear

Fashion and personal appearance are important in France. So, to dress like the locals, pack practical business-casual clothes. Long or capri pants, skirts, and dresses for women and long pants for men. You won’t see locals wearing shorts unless they’re on the beach.

It’s smart to have a layer on hand when you’re visiting churches or other religious sites to cover your shoulders out of respect. Bring your most comfortable shoes! You’ll be walking A LOT, and you’ll continuously be on cobblestone sidewalks or streets.

Have you been to France? Comment below with anything you’d add to this France travel guide!

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This France travel guide is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this France travel guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this France travel guide are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.