Transportation:
Plane: There are multiple international airports in France, Paris (x2), Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, Toulouse & Beauvais.
Train and Bus: France has an extensive in-country and international train and bus system.
Car: You can rent a car to drive yourself around France. France does not require an international driver’s license, however, I always recommend having one just in case.
Apps and Websites:
Rideshare: FREENOW is available in seven major French cities. You can book a licensed taxi through the app.
Navigation: CityMapper
Paris Metro: Bonjour RAPT & Paris Metro Map and Routes
Food: The Fork for quick and easy restaurant reservations.
Restrooms: Flush Finder
News: Stay up to date on strikes and other news while in France.
COUNTRY SNAPSHOT
France
Good Things To Know
Currency: Euros
Tipping: Tipping is not expected. By French law, there is a 15 percent service fee in all restaurants. This will be indicated on the bill or the menu as “service compris”. If you’d like to leave a small tip, it is common to round up or leave one to two euros.
Voltage: Plug sockets C/E, 230V-50Hz
Official language(s): French is the official language. English is spoken to some degree in most major cities. In the countryside, English may be less spoken by some (especially older people) but prepare yourself to utilize a translation app just in case.
Weather: Because of its geography, France has multiple climates, including the Mediterranean, The Alps, and inland. The temperatures and weather very greatly depending on what region you are in.
Geography: France has multiple coastal regions and mountainous regions, and the rest of the country consists of rolling hills and plains.
Borders: Spain, Andorra, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco, English Channel, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
UNSECO: France has 56 UNESCO sites across the country. You can find the list here.
