Checked October 2026: The entry rules, prices and transport details below were checked against official and major news sources in October 2026. Prices are approximate and change, typically every January. Confirm entry rules on the official EU and French government sites before you book.

France Travel Guide 2026: Planning Your Perfect Trip

France received about 102 million international visitors in 2025, according to Economy Ministry figures, and it remains the world’s most visited country by international arrivals. It offers Roman ruins and contemporary architecture, a food culture with strong regional identities, and a fast rail network that links most major cities to Paris. Planning a trip still involves more moving parts than many travellers expect, and several of them changed in 2026: border checks, museum prices for non-European visitors and Paris transport fares. This guide covers what changed, along with seasons, budgeting, regions and etiquette.

Key Takeaways

For a first visit, 7 to 10 days is enough for Paris plus one or two regions.
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) usually offer the best balance of weather, crowds and prices.
Since 10 April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) registers non-EU visitors’ fingerprints and facial images at the border instead of stamping passports.
As of October 2026, ETIAS is not yet operating; the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance.
From 14 January 2026, the Louvre charges visitors from outside the European Economic Area €32, against €22 for EEA residents.
On the fastest TGV services, Paris to Lyon takes about two hours and Paris to Marseille a little over three.

What’s New for Travellers in 2026

Digital border checks (EES): fully operational across the Schengen area since 10 April 2026. On your first entry, expect to give fingerprints and a photo; children aged 11 or under are not fingerprinted. Allow extra time at the border, particularly when leaving France by air.
ETIAS still pending: the EU’s online travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors had been expected in the last quarter of 2026. As of October 2026, the official ETIAS website says the system is not in operation and that no applications are being collected.
Two-tier museum pricing: since 14 January 2026, visitors from outside the EEA pay more at several major sites, including the Louvre (€32 instead of €22) and the Sainte-Chapelle, and a few euros more at Versailles.
Paris transport fares: since 1 January 2026, a single Métro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 and a bus-tram ticket €2.05.

Entry Requirements (as of October 2026)

Passports and Schengen Rules

France is part of the Schengen area, which now has 29 member countries, including Bulgaria and Romania. Visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together, not per country. Your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years and must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Who Needs a Visa

Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most Latin American countries do not need a visa for short stays. Citizens of many African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries do need a Schengen short-stay visa. For France, the application is made through France-Visas, the government’s official visa portal (france-visas.gouv.fr), and is usually lodged at a visa application centre in your country of residence.

ETIAS

ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will apply to visa-exempt travellers once it starts. According to the official EU site, once it is running:

The application will cost €20; applicants under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the fee.
An authorisation will be valid for three years, or until the passport used to apply expires, whichever comes first.
Most applications should be processed within minutes. Some may take up to four days, extendable by up to 14 days if more information is requested, or up to 30 days if the applicant is invited to an interview.
The only official channels will be the EU’s ETIAS website and app. Unofficial sites already charge for “applications” that cannot yet be made.

The EU has said that a transitional period and a grace period will follow the launch, so ETIAS will not be strictly enforced from its first day.

When to Visit

Spring (April to June)

The most balanced season for first-time visitors: mild temperatures, cherry blossom in Paris parks in early spring, gardens at their best and manageable crowds. Lavender in Provence starts to flower in June and usually peaks in July.

Summer (July to August)

France’s busiest period for both international and domestic tourism. The south is often hot, and heatwaves can disrupt sightseeing. Many Parisians leave the city in August, while visitor numbers stay high. Beach towns on the Côte d’Azur are packed. Pros: long days, open-air festivals, swimming. Cons: the highest prices and the longest queues.

Autumn (September to October)

Well suited to food and wine travel, city breaks and slower multi-region trips. The grape harvest runs in most wine regions from late August into October. Expect warm days, cool evenings and thinning crowds.

Winter (November to March)

Off-season for most of France, with lower prices outside the ski resorts. Christmas markets in Strasbourg and the rest of Alsace are a major draw in December, and the ski season in the Alps runs roughly from December to April. Paris is cold and often grey but quiet. Some rural attractions close or shorten their hours between November and March, as do restaurants in seasonal resorts.

For timing by region, see best time to visit France.

Budgeting Your Trip

Rather than relying on daily totals that go out of date quickly, budget around the main drivers:

Accommodation is the largest cost, and Paris is the most expensive place to stay. Smaller cities and the countryside are generally cheaper, except in peak summer on the coast.
Food: a set lunch menu (formule) is usually the best-value restaurant meal. Bakeries and markets make cheap breakfasts and picnics easy.
Transport: TGV fares vary with demand, so booking early saves the most. Regional TER fares are lower and more stable.
Sights: since January 2026, non-EEA visitors pay higher prices at several major Paris sites. Many national museums are free for EU/EEA residents aged 18 to 25.
Tourist tax: hotels and rentals add a taxe de séjour per person per night, set by the commune. In Paris and the rest of Île-de-France, it is three times the base rate because of a regional surcharge.

For worked examples, see our France trip cost guide.

Getting Around France

TGV High-Speed Rail

The TGV is the backbone of inter-city travel, running at up to 320 km/h on the fastest lines. On the quickest services, Paris to Lyon takes about two hours and Paris to Marseille a little over three. SNCF sells tickets on SNCF Connect. Fares rise as trains fill, so book as soon as you know your dates. OUIGO, SNCF’s low-cost high-speed brand, has lower fares in exchange for fewer frills and stricter luggage rules.

TER Regional Trains

Regional trains run between towns and cities within each region, and on most of them you can travel without a seat reservation. They are good for day trips such as Nice to Cannes or Antibes. Around Paris, trips such as Paris to Versailles are made on RER and Transilien suburban trains, which use Île-de-France tickets.

Metro and Urban Transit

Paris has a dense Métro network, complemented by RER suburban lines and trams. Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille and Rennes also have metro systems, and Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Nice, Montpellier and many other cities run trams. In Paris, a single Métro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 in 2026; if you are staying a week and arrive early in the week, a weekly Navigo pass, valid Monday to Sunday, is often better value.

For the complete transportation guide, see our French train system guide.

Driving

A car is very useful in rural areas such as the Dordogne, the villages of Provence and parts of the Loire Valley. Many autoroutes charge tolls, and these add up on long journeys. France drives on the right. Visitors with a non-EU licence can drive on it during a short stay, but under French rules the licence must be valid and either be written in French or be accompanied by an international driving permit or an official translation. UK licences are exempt from this. For US, Canadian and Australian drivers, that means carrying an international driving permit or an official translation.

Paris: The Starting Point

Most first-time visitors begin in Paris. The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower are all within a compact, walkable centre. Notre-Dame cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, and some exterior restoration work continues around it.

Beyond the landmarks, the Marais has medieval streets and courtyard mansions, Canal Saint-Martin has cafés and neo-bistros, and Belleville has street art and a wide free view over the city from the Parc de Belleville. See our Paris neighborhood guide for the full breakdown.

Essential Paris tips:

Pre-book timed tickets for the busiest sights (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles).
Use a zipped crossbody bag: pickpocketing is common in crowded tourist areas and on the Métro.
The Paris Museum Pass covers dozens of museums and monuments in and around Paris. It pays off only if you plan several paid visits a day.
Many museums and monuments refuse large suitcases and bulky bags, and security checks are routine, so travel light on sightseeing days.

For the full city guide, see our Paris travel guide.

Beyond Paris: Regional Highlights

Metropolitan France is divided into 13 regions, each with a distinct character. Here are the highlights.

Provence and the Côte d’Azur

Lavender fields, Mediterranean beaches, the Roman monuments of Arles and Nîmes, and the resorts of Nice and Cannes, with Monaco next door. Best from May through October. See our comparison of Paris vs Provence vs Côte d’Azur.

Bordeaux and Wine Country

A largely 18th-century city centre listed by UNESCO as “Bordeaux, Port of the Moon”, and access to the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and the other Bordeaux vineyards. See our Bordeaux travel guide and best French wine regions.

Loire Valley

Renaissance châteaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise, cycle routes along the river (the Loire à Vélo) and celebrated gardens such as Villandry. A good 3- to 4-day trip from Paris.

Normandy and Brittany

The D-Day beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel, dramatic coastlines, crêpes and cider. Rouen, Caen and Rennes are roughly one to two hours from Paris by train, but the D-Day beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel are easiest to reach by car, on a tour or by connecting bus.

The French Alps

Skiing in winter, hiking and mountain biking in summer. Chamonix, Annecy and Grenoble are the main bases. See our Annecy restaurant guide if you are basing yourself by the lake.

For a fuller regional comparison, see our best regions in France guide.

French Cultural Etiquette

Greetings

Always say “Bonjour” (or “Bonsoir” in the evening) when you enter a shop or restaurant, or before you ask anyone a question. Skipping the greeting is considered rude and is noticed.

Dining

Lunch is typically served from about 12:00 to 2:00 or 2:30 pm, and dinner from about 7:00 or 7:30 pm. Outside big cities, many kitchens close in between. Service is included in menu prices by law (service compris), so tipping is optional; leaving a little extra for good service is appreciated. For more, see our French dining etiquette guide.

Language

A few words of French help. “Bonjour”, “s’il vous plaît”, “merci”, “pardon” and “parlez-vous anglais ?” cover most situations. English is widely understood in tourist areas; in rural areas, the effort matters more.

Dress

France is less formal than its reputation suggests, but city dress tends to be neat. Athletic wear outside sport and flip-flops in restaurants stand out. Cover your shoulders in churches.

Packing Essentials

Whatever the season, pack:

Comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets
A plug adapter for Type C/E sockets (230 V)
A light scarf or layer for air-conditioned trains, cool evenings and church visits
A waterproof outer layer

For the season-by-season list, see our France packing checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak French to visit France? In Paris and major tourist areas, English and a few basic phrases will get you by. Elsewhere, some French is very useful. See our French phrases for travelers.

Is France safe for tourists? Generally, yes. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing in crowded places and break-ins at rental cars. The US State Department rates France at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution”, citing terrorism and civil unrest. The UK Foreign Office publishes similar advice; check the current version of both before you travel.

How many days do I need in France? Four to five days for Paris alone, 7 to 10 for Paris plus one region, and two weeks or more for a multi-region tour.

Should I get travel insurance? Yes, especially if you are not covered by an EHIC or GHIC. Treatment in France is of a high standard, but visitors from outside Europe pay for care and may need to pay up front.

Is tap water safe to drink in France? Yes. Tap water is drinkable throughout France unless a local notice says otherwise, and restaurants serve a carafe of tap water (une carafe d’eau) free with a meal.

For more quick answers, see our France travel FAQ or the first-timer’s complete France travel guide.

Sources

European Union: What is ETIAS? (not yet in operation; fee, validity and processing times; updated August 2026)
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs: Main differences between the EES and ETIAS (28 April 2026)
UK Foreign Office: France entry requirements (passport validity, 90/180-day rule, EES)
Service-Public.gouv.fr: Driving in France with a foreign licence during a short stay (verified 1 June 2026)
Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr: Taxe de séjour, 2026 rates
Le Temps: Louvre raises prices for non-European visitors from 14 January 2026
Génération NT: Paris transport fares from 1 January 2026
Connexion France: 102 million international visitors in 2025
France.fr: Official France tourism website