Surface area: with a surface area of 547,030 km², or 211,209 sq. miles, metropolitan France is twice the size of the UK, and slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It is the biggest nation in Western Europe. France has land borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra. It is also bordered by the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
Major cities:
The capital and the nation's largest city is Paris. Apart from Paris by far the largest urban area in France, other major cities are Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Toulouse.
France Information: fast facts
Population 60,742,000
Languages spoken French
Currency Name: Euro
Code: EUR
Symbol: €
Electricity The electric current in Italy is 230V and the cycle is 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used.
Time zones GMT + 1 (Central Europe time)
Daylight savings means the clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and go back one hour on the last Sunday of the following October.
Country dialling code +33
Weights & measures Metric
CULTURE
Language
The official language is French, though regional languages such as Breton and Alsacian are making a comeback.
National heritage
One of the oldest nations in Europe, France - which the Romans called Gaul - is also a country with a very rich cultural and environmental and cultural heritage.
Religion
There is no official religion in France; France is a secular republic. However about about two thirds of French people say they are Catholics, and 2% Protestants. Less than 10% of French Catholics are regular church-goers. There is a sizeable Islamic minority. There are churches in all French towns and most villages.
Money
Currency:
France's currency is the Euro, and most garages, hotels and shops in France accept credit cards, though may not always accept swipe cards without a microchip. Click here for advice about currency exchange.
Cost of living
The cost of living in France is fairly similar to neighbouring countries, though some things (like supermarket food) may be more expensive. Staying in Paris can be expensive - as can staying on the Riviera, particularly during the peak tourist periods.
On the other hand, fruit, wine, travel, hotels and restaurants tend to be cheaper than they are in the United Kingdom, particularly in rural areas, and there are plenty of ways of avoiding tourist traps.
Climate:
The climate in France is quite varied, but generally west European - on the whole a bit warmer than the UK, a bit cooler than Spain . Don't expect to find summer in winter in the South of France!
France is a large country, extending to around 1,000 km from north to south and from east to west. The climate varies from region to region:
Northern coastal regions experience a temperate climate much like England. The winters are mild with temperatures averaging around 5oC, while the warm summer temperatures are in the 20s and 30s. The weather can be unpredictable and rain can occur at any time of year.
Southwest France also experiences mild winters but the summers are much warmer. There is less rainfall in this region than in the northern part of France, however thunderstorms are common in the summer.
Central and inland France have more extreme weather and a greater variation between the seasons. The winter is harsher with snow and frost likely, whereas the summers are warmer. Rain fall is low but tends to fall in summer when the region can often experience thunderstorms.
The Mediterranean coast and Corsica have a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summer days and short mild winters. This region of France has the most sunshine hours each year – eleven or twelve during the summer. Rain is scarce during the summer but when it does rain it pours, often with thunder. Periods of cold windy weather can occur in late spring, brought about by the famous northerly ‘mistral’ wind.
Mountain regions especially the Alps, but also the Massif Central and the Pyrenees at high altitudes experience long and cold winters with substantial snowfall.
When to go
France weather is the nicest during the spring months of May and June or at the beginning of autumn in September and October. There are also less people during this time. The hoards pour in for summer vacation during July and August, making it the worst time to visit if you’re not keen on crowds (and higher prices).
Food and drink - Bread and wine
In spite of the great variety of food and cuisine to be found in France, some things like the "baguette" the famous French bread stick, change little from one region to another; you'll find baguettes of all qualities in all regions, varying from the absolutely delicious, to the hard and tasteless. Yet a fresh baguette, coming warm from a traditional bakery, is surely one of the most delicious forms of bread to be found anywhere in the world! There are many different types of French bread, but tasty baguettes can be bought all over France, and a trip to the local "boulangerie" is often one of the daily highlights of a holiday in France. But do not confuse the "boulangerie" with the bread-counter in a supermarket! Indeed, the pre-frozen "fresh-baked" bread counters in supermarkets are not even allowed, by law, to call themselves "boulangeries".
Then there's wine. France is one of the world's great wine producing countries, and a country with a vast range of wines, from heavy Mediterranean reds to light fruity sparkling whites, via less well known varieties including "grey wine" (vin gris) and "yellow wine" (vin jaune). The About-France.com French wines pages are there to help you learn about the wines of
France; Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne are just the tip of the iceberg; our wine guide takes you through these and all the other wine regions of France.
Planning a trip to France: France is one of the world's leading tourist destinations. If you have all the time in the world, you may not need to plan your holiday in France, you can just wander along at your own leisurely pace, and it will be a wonderful and varied experience. Whether you plan to drive or fly to France, you may find it useful to check out our words of warning tips on booking your travel to France.
We provides information to help you choose a destination, or travel through France, check your route through France, discover the things to visit in France and its regions, hire a car, find a place to stay, for example a holiday cottage, or a place to study French, and much more. There's even a page on medical cover for your stay in France, and what to do if you get taken ill or have an accident, as well as some advice and information for people interested in buying property in France.
City-breaks and short trips: Paris
Paris is Paris ... Staying in Paris for a couple of nights is a great way to discover France for the first time... or the second, or the third... Paris is a city that people easily fall in love with, and with city-centre to city-centre transport from Brussels or London, thanks to Eurostar, Paris is just a short train ride away, and a real break; it has masses of opportunities for cultural tourism, with some of the world's finest museums and monuments; it is one of the world's great shopping cities, and also arguably the finest city in Europe, a place where you can easily spend days just walking around, savoring the atmosphere, enjoying the life. But don't be caught out by France's closing hours and public holidays.
We provide information on Paris tourist attractions including things to do for free, Paris visitor passes and tips on how to save money during your stay. And staying in a hotel in Paris for a couple of nights won't break the bank But, as they say in the rest of France, Paris is Paris, it is not the whole of France. So what about the rest of France?
The rest of France - summer or winter - a wealth of experiences to choose from
The largest country in Western Europe, France is also the most varied in terms of scenery and climate. From Brittany to Provence, the Auvergne , the Loire Valley, the Dordogne or the Alps, Burgundy to the Languedoc , Poitou-Charentes or Aquitaine and the Pyrenees, each region is special, each is a holiday in itself. It is also a country with over 2000 miles of beaches and seashores, plenty of space for even the most demanding of holidaymakers! So what are you waiting for?
CLOSED TODAY ......... Foreign visitors in France are sometimes surprised to find themselves faced with closed doors, on reaching a museum or a famous monument. So it is not a bad idea, before visiting France, to learn what is closed in France, and when? On Sundays, public holidays and holiday periods in general, shops, museums, businesses and public services may be closed. Museums are often closed on Tuesdays. See the About-France.com guide to Public holidays, Sundays and other holidays for more information.
Hotel accommodation
The world's number one tourist destination, France is extremely well equipped in accommodation facilities; it has the largest number of hotels of any western country outside the USA, and a range of hotels varying from the exclusive and expensive to the cheap and friendly.... even sometimes the cheap and unfriendly!
France's Accor group is the largest hotel chain in Europe, and one of the largest in the world.
But hotels are by no means the only option for finding accommodation in France. France also has plenty of backpacker hostels and youth hostels, as well as a good network of holiday villages - though these usually cater essentially to French tourists.
In rural France, and to a lesser extent in French towns and cities, many local residents, including plenty of English-speaking expats, run friendly and attractive bed and breakfasts. And throughout the French countryside, there are thousands of "gites", the French word used to describe holiday rental cottages. For hikers and cyclists in particular, there are also "gites d'étape", cheap and simple accommodation often fairly similar to the youth hostels of bygone years.
France is also a camper's paradise, with thousands of campsites. These vary from luxury five-star campgrounds offering ready-equipped tents, chalets and even yurts, as well space for campers to pitch their own tent, RV or caravan, down to simple small "campings à la ferme" or farm camping, with no facilities beyond a friendly welcome and awash room.
First things first: preparing your journey
Passport or ID card? Citizens of the European Union can travel to France on a national identity card, if they have one. EU citizens who do not have an ID card, and citizens of other countries, must be in possession of a valid passport. Visitors from non-EU countries may need a visa, depending on the length of stay and their country of origin. Visas are not required for citizens holding residence status in any other "Schengen" country, whatever their nationality. For the purposes of a short trip (less than 90 days), visas are not required for visitors from the United States, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Venezuela and several other countries. For a full list of visa requirements for short or longer stays, visit the official French foreign ministry website in English.
Before you travel - health insurance & the EHIC card:
Health: Visitors from European Union countries (i.e. the United Kingdom, Ireland, etc.) are strongly advised to make sure that they have health insurance cover before travelling to France or any other foreign country. For France, UK visitors should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the old E 111 form.
The EHIC, which is usually issued for up to five years, covers any medical treatment you may need during your visit to France, as a result of accident or sickness. The card gives access to treatment by doctors, dentists, and in public hospitals, or private clinics operating within the French "sécurité sociale" (health service) framework. Note that the EHIC does not normally cover the full cost of medical treatment in France or other countries; the NHS recommends that all travellers also take out private health insurance, to cover the difference.
Visitors who do not come from EU countries must take out private health insurance cover in order to benefit from France's excellent state health service.
Medical Services
France health care and hospitals are of a very high international standard. Citizens of EU countries are covered for emergency medical treatment in France on presentation of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Full travel insurance is advised for all travellers. Treatment in private hospitals or clinics is not covered. In an emergency call 15 for assistance.
France vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for entering France.
Safety & security
Below are a few hints and tips to ensure you have a hassle-free holiday in France:
Take the usual precautions to protect yourself, your passport, and other valuables when out and about. Try to utilize hotel safe facilities and if driving, do not leave valuables in the vehicle.
Be especially wary while in Paris at Charles de Gaulle airport, at the Gare du Nord railway station or while on the metro and suburban trains as pickpockets and bag snatchers operate in these areas.
If travelling in a caravan or rental car be wary of stopping at isolated rest areas in case of mugging. If you are planning to stop overnight to sleep seek local advice on where to park to avoid burglary. Try to avoid parking in isolated or dark areas of camping grounds or car parks, and consider installing an alarm if you are travelling in a caravan.
Keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed in the South of France. It is common for passing motorbike riders to snatch handbags from the passenger seat while vehicles are stopped at traffic lights.
France travel insurance
Don’t leave home without it! Accidents happen – and they can happen in the strangest places at the strangest times, like on the side of a mountain in the French Alps or in an alley in Paris at 3 am. Travel insurance can cover you for all sorts of mishaps during your travel, and even before you leave. Did you know up to 25% of all insurance claims are due to cancellation of travel?
Summary of the regions of France
The most popular regions with visitors include Brittany, the Dordogne and the Cote d'Azur (along with the rest of Provence) - and many tourists like to visit Paris.
But almost all regions of France have something interesting to discover - quiet villages, stunning scenery, historical buildings lost in the countryside...so before rushing to visit these popular regions why not think about somewhere else for a change? You can avoid the crowds and still have a great time discovering the 'real' France!
Our France Travel website has a simple goal - to introduce the most picturesque, the most scenic, and the most interesting places to visit in France.
To start to explore simply choose a French region or place above or on the map of France further down, then visit the travel guide for that region. Each regional travel guide has its own detailed map to help you see locate and learn more about the places in France that interest you.
The regional information includes the best towns in France, favorite and famous places to visit in France, the most beautiful villages, the French heritage sites and historic monuments in France, the bestride towns of the south-west....and much more
Visit Paris
Everyone loves Paris, as much for its shady boulevards, cafe life and general romantic atmosphere as for the more famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral.
The 'famous' places shown below only start to scratch the surface of the 'real' Paris - shopping and restaurants, museums and public gardens, tree-lined boulevards and monuments, architecture and music, everywhere you go in Paris there is something new to discover, and you will discover many of these 'smaller' pleasures as you travel around Paris visiting the more 'famous' sights.