France

France Travel Guide

This France travel guide is all about one of the most popular travel destinations in the entire world. It’s the land of berets and baguettes, the Eiffel tower and sparkling wine. It’s sexy accents, war history, grand cathedrals, and everything sugar-coated and creme-filled in between.

France is one of the largest countries in all of Europe and is full of amazing travel destinations for just about every single traveler. There’s so much more to France than Paris!

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France travel basics

What currency is used in France?

France uses euros as its currency (Check out xe.com for the most up-to-date currency conversion–they have a mobile app too!)

What are France’s visa/passport requirements?

If you’re planning to spend less than 90 days in France/the Schengen area, you can get by using just your U.S. passport–no Visa required. (Except for all those macarons you’re planning on buying, ba-dum-tshh!)

However, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you leave the Schengen area.

What language do they speak in France?

The official language of France is French.

What are the most popular destinations in France?

Paris: The country’s capital city and one of the world’s great cultural hubs. Paris is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (and the Mona Lisa), and so much more.

Normandy: The region of Normandy, France is home to some of history’s most important sites–those involving D-Day and World War II. Not the cheeriest of destinations, but worth a visit nonetheless.

The Loire Valley: The Loire Valley is France’s destination for wonderful wines, charming chateaux, and beautiful countryside.

The French Alps: Along the border with Italy and Switzerland is the Alps region of France. This area is one of the most beautiful parts of France (in my opinion) and offers some of the best food and outdoor adventures you could imagine!

Where to stay in France

Regardless of where in France you’ll be visiting, there will be hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and Alpine chalets ready and willing to put you up.

For booking accommodation in France, I recommend reading hotel reviews on Tripadvisor, then booking your room through Booking.com (my favorite booking site).

And don’t forget, there’s always vacation rentals. Check out vacation rentals in France here!

My personal recommendations:

– In Paris: Le Hotel Notre Dame Saint Michel
– In Chamonix: La Croix Blanche and Hotel du Louvre

France packing essentials

For your trip to France, you’ll want to pack the following:

– European outlet adapter

– Packing cubes

– France guidebook: I prefer Rough Guides and Fodor’s, but you can also find one from Lonely Planet and Rick Steves. I also really like these culture-centered guidebooks from Culture Smart!.

– French phrase book

– Anti-theft purse

– Travel insurance. Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

My blog posts on France

Below you’ll find my posts that focus on the awesome country of France — all the way from what to pack, helpful tips for planning day trips, castles, wine, war, and so much more.