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Travel Essentials › France

Travel Essentials

France: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and E, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 112, Police 17, Ambulance 15, Fire 18. Tipping: Service is included by law; leaving a euro or two or rounding up for good service is customary. Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water.

Open The France Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and E, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: gov.uk

Tipping

Service is included by law; leaving a euro or two or rounding up for good service is customary.

Water And Health

Tap water

Generally safe to drink tap water

Vaccines

Routine vaccines; hepatitis A for most travelers; hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60; rabies for some travelers

Malaria

None in mainland France

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• SNCF Connect: Buy TGV, regional and Eurostar tickets and check live train times.
• Bonjour RATP: Paris metro, bus and RER routes, live times and Navigo tickets.
• Citymapper: The easiest way to plan public transport trips in Paris and Lyon.
• Uber: The main ride-hailing app in Paris and large cities; G7 books official taxis.
• WhatsApp: The most used messaging app in France.
• Lydia: The app French people use to split bills and send money between friends.
• BlaBlaCar: Long-distance ride-sharing and cheap intercity buses, very popular in France.
• Deliveroo: Together with Uber Eats, the leading food delivery service in French cities.
• TheFork: Book restaurant tables, often with discounts.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Always say "Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame" (or "Bonsoir") when entering a shop or starting a conversation. Shake hands in formal settings; friends kiss on the cheek (la bise), often twice, but the number varies by region.

Dress. The French dress smart-casual in cities; avoid athletic wear, flip-flops and branded sportswear outside sport contexts.

Tipping. Service is included by law; rounding up the bill is appreciated but large tips aren't expected.

Safety And Scams

France is generally safe; the main risk for tourists is pickpocketing and petty theft in crowded tourist areas and on public transport.

Petition/clipboard scam. A distraction while an accomplice picks pockets or bags — common near major monuments.

Friendship bracelet scam. Common around Sacré-Cœur; someone ties a bracelet on you then demands payment.

Pickpocketing on transit. The RER B to/from the airport and crowded lines near the Louvre and Eiffel Tower are known hotspots; keep bags zipped and in view.

Women travelers. Generally safe; occasional catcalling occurs, and standard urban caution at night is advisable.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Safe

Legal and well-protected — same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, and Paris (especially Le Marais) is a major LGBTQ+ hub in one of the world's more accepting countries.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

April–June and September–October are best, with mild weather and smaller crowds; July–August is hot and busy, though many locals leave the cities on holiday.

Do You Need A Visa?

France visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic French phrases

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