France's healthcare system is among the best in the world (WHO ranking: 1st place — yes, really). For EU citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, on the back of the German health card), the same conditions apply as for the French. Doctor's visit Médecin généraliste (General Practiti

France is a Euro country — no currency exchange is needed for travelers from the Eurozone. Card payment is widespread and works almost everywhere. Card Payment Carte Bancaire (CB) is the French debit card system — Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere CB is accepted (so almost everywhere) Co

France offers everything from hypermarkets to boutiques — and the shopping culture differs significantly from Germany. Supermarkets & Groceries Hypermarchés (Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan, Intermarché) — huge shopping centers on the outskirts with an enormous selection, including non-food. Opening ho

France has 11 public holidays (jours fériés). On holidays, banks, authorities, many shops, and some restaurants are closed. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many French people take a bridge (faire le pont) — Monday or Friday becomes a long weekend. DateHolidayNote January 1Jour de l'A

Since June 15, 2017, "Roam like at home" applies in the EU — German, Austrian, and Swiss mobile customers (Switzerland: depending on the tariff) use their data volume in France without surcharge as at home. Mobile Network Coverage — excellent in cities and along the coast (4G/5G). In rural areas,

Climate & Best Travel Time

Thanks to its geographical diversity, France has several climate zones — the best travel time strongly depends on where you want to go. Climate Zones Oceanic (Brittany, Normandy, Northern France) — mild winters, cool summers, frequent rain. Temperatures: 5–8 °C in winter, 18–22 °C in summer. Best

France is one of the world's most liberal countries for LGBTQ+ travelers. Same-sex marriage (mariage pour tous) has been legal since 2013, discrimination based on sexual orientation is legally prohibited, and French society — especially in major cities — is largely tolerant and open. Paris — LGBTQ+

In an emergency, stay calm and dial the correct number. Emergency Numbers NumberServiceWhen to Call? 112European Emergency NumberAlways, if you are unsure — will be forwarded to the correct service 15SAMU (Emergency Medical Service)Medical emergency, poisoning, heart attack 17PoliceTheft, assault

Basics & Pronunciation

French sounds fluent and melodic — but the pronunciation differs greatly from the written form. A few basic rules help enormously: Pronunciation Rules Final letters are usually not pronounced: "Paris" = Pa-ri (not "Paris"), "petit" = pö-ti, "beaucoup" = bo-ku. Exception: c, r, f, l (mnemonic: "CaR

Greetings & Politeness

"Bonjour" is the most important word in France. It's not just a greeting — it's a social contract. Forgetting it means you've already lost. Basic Greeting GermanFrenchPronunciation Good dayBonjourbõ-schur Good eveningBonsoirbõ-swar GoodbyeAu revoiro-rö-wwar Bye (informal)Salutsa-lü Good nightBonn

Seating & Ordering GermanFrenchPronunciation A table for two, pleaseUne table pour deux, s'il vous plaîtün tabl pur dö, ssil-wu-plä The menu, pleaseLa carte, s'il vous plaîtla kart, ssil-wu-plä What do you recommend?Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?käss-kö-wu-kõ-ssä-je The daily menu, pleaseLe menu

In the Shop GermanFrenchPronunciation I'm just lookingJe regarde, mercischö rö-gard, mär-ssi How much does this cost?C'est combien ? / Quel est le prix ?sse kõ-bjä̃ / käl-ä lö pri Do you have this in another size?Vous l'avez en une autre taille ?wu la-we ã-ün-otr taj Can I try this on?Je peux l'es

Orientation GermanFrenchPronunciation Where is...?Où est... ?u-ä How do I get to...?Comment aller à... ?ko-mã-ta-le a Left / Right / Straight aheadÀ gauche / À droite / Tout droita gosch / a drwat / tu drwa Near / FarPrès / Loinprä / lwä̃ Train stationLa garela gar Subway stationLa station de métr

GermanFrenchPronunciation Help!Au secours !o sö-kur Call the police!Appelez la police !a-pö-le la po-liss Call an ambulance!Appelez une ambulance !a-pö-le ün ã-bü-lãss I need a doctorJ'ai besoin d'un médecinsche bö-swä̃ dä̃ med-ssä̃ I'm sickJe suis maladeschö süi ma-lad I'm in painJ'ai malsche mal

Communication GermanFrench Do you speak German/English?Parlez-vous allemand / anglais ? I don't speak FrenchJe ne parle pas français I speak a little FrenchJe parle un peu français Can you repeat that, please?Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? Slower, pleasePlus lentement, s'il vous plaît I do

Home Travel GuidesFrance

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Travel Guide France

Your complete travel guide to the land of lifestyle

Capital:Paris

Language:French

Currency:Euro (€)

Entry:EU ID card

Best Travel Time:May – October

Flight Time:1 – 2 hours

Last updated: 10 March 2026 · 16 Chapters · 119 Sections

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Provence & Côte d'Azur

10 Days

Sun, lavender, and glamour — the perfect combination of Mediterranean coast and Provençal hinterland.

NizzaMonacoCannesSaint-TropezAix-en-ProvenceAvignonGordesPont du Gard

Paris & Surroundings

5 Days

Experience the capital intensively with day trips to the most beautiful castles and gardens of Île-de-France.

ParisVersaillesGivernyFontainebleau

Brittany & Normandy

7 Days

Medieval history, dramatic coasts, and the best seafood cuisine in France.

ParisRouenD-Day-SträndeMont-Saint-MichelSaint-MaloCarnacQuimper

Family France

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France with children: from Disneyland to knight's castles and cave paintings to the most beautiful beaches.

ParisDisneylandLoire-SchlösserAtlantikküsteDordogneProvenceCôte d'Azur

All Chapters

Planning· 2 Chapters

Chapter 1

Welcome to France

5 Sections

Chapter 2

Arrival & Transport

4 Sections

Regions· 7 Chapters

Chapter 3

Paris

10 Sections · 1 Walking Tour

Chapter 4

Provence

8 Sections

Chapter 5

Côte d'Azur

9 Sections

Chapter 6

Brittany & Normandy

9 Sections

Chapter 7

Loire Valley

7 Sections

Chapter 8

Alsace & Lorraine

7 Sections

Chapter 9

Normandie & Mont-Saint-Michel

7 Sections

Understanding· 5 Chapters

Chapter 10

History of France

6 Sections

Chapter 11

Society & Savoir-vivre

5 Sections

Chapter 12

French Cuisine

7 Sections

Chapter 13

Nature & Landscape

5 Sections

Chapter 14

Art & Architecture

5 Sections

Practical· 2 Chapters

Chapter 15

Practical Info A–Z

18 Sections

Chapter 16

French Phrasebook

7 Sections

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Regions at a Glance

Paris

The City of Lights — world capital of art, fashion, gastronomy, and lifestyle with iconic monuments on the Seine.

Eiffel TowerLouvreMontmartreNotre-Dame+1

Paris

Provence

Lavender fields, medieval villages, Roman ruins, and the incomparable cuisine of southern France.

AvignonAix-en-ProvenceGordesRoussillon+1

Provence Avignon Aix En Provence

Côte d'Azur

The glamorous Mediterranean between Nice and Saint-Tropez — turquoise waters, Belle Époque villas, and jet-set flair.

NiceCannesMonacoSaint-Tropez+1

Nizza Cannes Monaco+1 mehr

Brittany & Normandy

Rugged Atlantic coasts, mystical megaliths, D-Day beaches, and the fairytale Mont-Saint-Michel.

Mont-Saint-MichelSaint-MaloD-Day beachesCarnac+1

Bretagne Normandie Mont Saint Michel

Loire Valley

The garden of France with over 300 Renaissance castles, top wine regions, and gentle river landscapes.

Château de ChambordChenonceauAmboiseTours+1

Loire Tal

Alsace & Lorraine

Franco-German cultural mix: half-timbered houses, tarte flambée, Riesling, and the most charming Christmas market region in Europe.

StrasbourgColmarAlsace Wine RouteRiquewihr+1

Strassburg Colmar Elsass

Normandie & Mont-Saint-Michel

D-Day-Strände, das UNESCO-Kloster Mont-Saint-Michel, Étretats Kreidefelsen, Camembert, Cidre und Calvados — Geschichte und Kulinarik in einer Region.

Mont-Saint-Michel (UNESCO)D-Day-Strände & FriedhöfeÉtretat & AlabasterküsteBayeux-Teppich+1

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Schlüsseldaten

Daten: Wikidata

Einwohner: 68.605.616(2025)
Fläche: 643.801 km²
Hauptstadt: Paris
Währung: Euro, CFP-Franc, französischer Franc
Amtssprache: Französisch
Vorwahl: +33
Zeitzone: UTC+1
Gegründet: 1958-10-04

Klima & Reisewetter

Berechnet aus 10 Jahren · Open-Meteo

Beste Reisezeit: Jun–Sep — basierend auf Tagestemperaturen 20–30 °C und trockenen Monaten (aus den 10-Jahres-Mittelwerten unten abgeleitet).

Monat	Jan	Feb	Mär	Apr	Mai	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dez
Ø °C	5	6	8	11	15	19	21	21	18	14	8	6
Tag (max)	8°	10°	13°	16°	20°	24°	26°	27°	23°	18°	12°	9°
Nacht (min)	2°	3°	4°	6°	10°	14°	16°	16°	13°	10°	5°	3°
Regen mm	70	52	73	53	81	73	44	33	55	80	69	73