In this page:
Accommodation |
Eating Out |
Getting Around |
Time and Time Difference |
Climate |
Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems |
Paying |
Speaking |
Emergency Numbers |
Communications
Eating Out
- Categories of Restaurant
-
-
- Sandwiches, salads and cooked dishes.
-
- More elaborate dishes. For further information consult the Michelin Guide to gastronomic restaurants in France.
-
- Traditional regional cuisine
- Based on the specialties of a region (Brittany, Dordogne, Corsica, Alsace, etc.)
-
- Self-service restaurants for basic catering. Cafeterias for traditional cooking.
-
- Wine is at the heart of the meal.
-
- Foreign cuisine restaurants
- Many Indian restaurants, also Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Moroccan, etc.
- Rules For Eating Out
- The prices displayed in restaurants and cafés are shown with taxes and service included. A tip is not compulsory, but people often leave change on the table after paying the bill (about 5% of the bill).
Price Indications
Economy Meal |
from 10 EUR |
Medium Price Meal |
from 15 to 30 EUR |
Good Quality Meal |
more than 30 EUR |
- Food Specialties
-
France has a rich culinary culture, and its cuisine is diverse. With dishes such as: tournedos; rib steak with béarnaise sauce served with green kidney beans or pommes dauphines; meat on skewers; blanquette of veal; etc. Near the sea, fish and seafood, such as mussels, cockles and shrimp are abundant. Alsace and Lorraine are the regions where you find sauerkraut, kugelhof, quiche Lorraine and tarte flambée. Lyon, the biggest city in the Rhône valley, is the heart of French cuisine. One of the region's specialties is pike quenelles. France produces 365 types of cheeses; for example, Camembert, Brie, Roquefort, Reblochon and the blues of Auvergne and Bresse.
- Drinks
-
In France, wine is the most common alcoholic beverage: Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Côtes de Provence, Côtes du Rhône and wines from the Loire Valley region, etc. Aperitifs and liqueurs are also common: Pastis, Pineau, Muscat, Chartreuse, fruit liqueurs, brandies, etc.
- Dietary Restrictions
-
There are no dietary restrictions in the country.
- Table Manners
-
Table manners are Continental. Before starting, you wish everyone "bon appétit" ("enjoy your meal"). If you are invited to dinner with a French family, wait to be shown your place before sitting down.
Getting Around
Means of Transport Recommended in Town
- Recommendation
-
Almost all French cities have a public transport network, which is safe and high in quality (in regards to frequency, comfort, safety/security, limited risk of accidents, etc.). Where there are only buses in the smallest towns, the biggest cities have trams, metros, buses and self-service bicycles. Using taxis is also very practical. However, they are very difficult to find during rush hours except for people who have a season ticket. The Paris metro is one of the most extensive in the world. In the ranking of the world's ten best metro systems, it is in second position. As in many large cities worldwide, one should be alert to the dangers of pickpockets while in public places.
- Maps of Urban Networks
-
The Paris RATP network (Paris city transport authority)
The Ile de France Transilien train network
The Lyon transport network
The Marseille transport network
- Urban Transport Agencies
-
The RATP (Paris city transport authority)
- Taxi Companies
-
French taxis (Fares, taxi stands, etc.)
Transportation From Airport to City Centre:
Travelling By Yourself
- Recommendation
-
Travelling by your own means in France poses few problems; it is easy to rent a vehicle, the road network is very good and the road sign system is very clear (in French).
The French authorities have set up a large number of speed cameras on the roads to encourage drivers to keep to speed limits. For further information, consult the driving regulations and penalties enforced (in French).
There is a high risk of traffic jams in and around the big cities.
- Driver's License
-
The EU driver's license is recognized in France. Other driver's licenses are also recognized on condition that they are accompanied by an official translation. After living in France for a year, the foreign resident must exchange his license for a French one.
For further information, consult the conditions for recognizing and exchanging foreign driver's licenses.
- Conditions For Renting a Vehicle
-
Being at least 21 years of age, and having had one's driver's license for more than two years.
- Rental Agencies
-
Hertz
Avis
Europcar
- Tolls or Taxes
-
You have to pay on motorways. Payment is made at the entrance or exit of the motorway, at the tollbooth. Keep your ticket carefully until you come to pay.
- Road Maps
-
Map of the motorway network
- Find an Itinerary
-
ViaMichelin
Mappy
- Traffic Conditions Online
-
Real-time traffic conditions on French motorways
- Parking Facilities
-
Parking in town is regulated and you generally have to pay. Payment is made at a ticket machine located in the street, with coins or parking cards which you can buy at a tobacco shop. Authorized parking places are shown by white markings on the ground.
All cities have parking lots (most often underground), in the center or on the outskirts, with connections with means of public transport.
Rules of the Road
- Minimum Driving Age
-
18
- Side of the Road For Driving
-
Right
- Speed Limits
-
50km/h in town, 90 on main roads, 130 on motorways
- Safety Belts
-
Obligatory
- Permitted Amount of Alcohol in the Blood
-
0.5 g/liter of blood, i.e. 0.25 mg of alcohol per liter of air breathed out
- National Roads Organizations
-
Road safety department
Time and Time Difference
- Current Local Time
-
It is %T:%M %A In Paris
- Summer Time
-
Summer time from March to October.
Map of the Time Zone

Climate
- Type of Climate
-
In France, the climate varies according to the region: temperate, oceanic, with mild winters and summers in the West and North West; continental in the East; Mediterranean, with hot, very dry summers, and mild, wet winters and sometimes very windy in the South East.
- For Further Information
-
Météo France
Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Electrical Standards and Measurement Systems
- System of Measurement Used
-
Metric system
- Unit of Measurement of Temperature
-
Degree Celsius (°C)
Use our service Measurement converter.
- Electricity
-
-
-
230V
-
-
50Hz
- Type of Electric Socket
-
Type E, Type C, Type F
- Type of Telephone Socket
-
French
- DVD Zoning
-
Zone 2
Paying
- Domestic Currency
-
Euro
- ISO Code
-
EUR
- To Obtain Domestic Currency
-
The most practical way is to withdraw money directly from ATMs. They are numerous and easily accessible in airports, city centres and all over the country.
- Possible Means of Payment
-
Places where you can pay with foreign currency are rare.
In stores, restaurants, hotels and cafés payment is made in cash or by credit card, depending on the sum. American Express cards are rarely accepted.
To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator
Speaking
- Official Language
-
French
- Other Languages Spoken
-
The regional languages (Breton, Occitan, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Alsation, Picard, etc.) are only spoken locally and by a minority of French people.
- Business Language
-
Although French is the official language in France, many businesspeople speak English. However, depending on the type, geographical location and sector of activity of the company, it may be difficult to find someone who speaks English. Being able to communicate and negotiate in French provides a distinct advantage.
- Getting Some Knowledge
-
Use the travlang website. You can also use the DeepL website for translation services.
- Free Translation Tools
-
Larousse : Translator and dictionary
Educnet : Portal for free translation tools
Google : Translator of words, text and web pages
Reverso : Translator and dictionary
Linguee : Translator of words and expressions
IATE : The European Union Dictionary (12 languages avalaible)
Emergency Numbers
Police |
17 |
Firemen |
18 |
SAMU (emergency medical services) |
15 |
Emergency assistance in all European languages |
112 |
Communications
- Quality of Communications
-
The means of communication in France are extensive and cover the whole country. They form a sophisticated network of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, a domestic satellite system. Cell phone service is widely available, and has roaming service to foreign countries. However, the use of mobile phones or Internet may be difficult in rural areas.
- Telephone Codes
-
To Make a Call From France, Dial 00
To Make a Call to in France, Dial +33
- Number of Digits of National Telephone Numbers
-
10
0 + number of the region + 8 other figures
- Mobile Telephone Standards
-
GSM, EDGE, GPRS, Radiocom 2000, UMTS, WCDMA.
- National Mobile Phone Operators
-
Free, Orange, SFR Altice, Bouygues Télécom
Availability of Internet
- Internet Suffix
-
.fr
- National Internet Access Providers
-
Free, Orange, SFR Altice, Bouygues Télécom
- Access in Public Places
-
Cybercafés are found in towns. More and more bars are offering Wifi access.
- Access in Hotels
-
Apart from some exceptions, only hotels in big cities have an Internet connection.
© eexpand, All Rights Reserved.
Latest Update: June 2023