France as a country is unique in so many ways, the cities are diverse, the countryside is pristine and the French Culture is proud. When planning your trip to France don’t just get caught up in the main sights, take a step outside the cities and see the country’s true beauty. This is your complete guide to France.
A complete guide to exploring France
The diverse Landscape throughout from the mountains too, to the beautiful wine regions; the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean lapping the shores of southern France in Nice; the glorious lakes and of course Paris, one of the most loved and visited cities in the world.
Things to See and Do in France
Pairs
Lyon
Wine Regions Of France
French Riviera
Try Snails & Frogs
Go to a French Perfumery
See the Cabaret In Paris
Wine Regions of France
France is renowned for its wine; the texture, the taste, and the pride that goes into producing is award-winning. There are 7 main wine regions of France each with its own special variety of wines. Some of the most popular are Beaujolais in southern France; Cot D’Or in the South East, Bordeaux, and of course the Champagne region. Only the French have the right to produce true Champagne. French Law states that if it has not been produced in the champagne region of France; it must be called sparkling wine.
Completely useless information about Champagne
Legend has it that champagne was actually created by accident, a monk was experimenting with different flavours; the cold weather halted the formation process and he put the mix into a jar that he didn’t usually use. It exploded and created bubbles; the monk tried it and went screaming and yelling to his friends; “come quick come quick I have tasted the stars.”
Apparently, there are 49 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne(don’t ask me how they count that number)
French Wines can reach insane prices; in 2014 a bottle of DCR Romanee-Conti sold for more than a 1.45million euros to an anonymous buyer. That works out to be around EUR1619 per standard glass
Helpful Hints when Travelling France
Accommodation
The cost and quality of accommodation in France can vary significantly from place to place. If you want to stay close to the main attractions in the bigger cities be prepared to pay big money for a “Questionable room”. My advice is to stay a little further out of the main attraction and pick somewhere that is close to a metro or public transport.
Food
France is defiantly not a place for a diet; the French are such proud people with everything they do in their lives including their food. Food is to be enjoyed and savoured not rushed it is an experience, not a chore!
Find yourself a lovely French café, order yourself a coffee; a pastry, and sit back to enjoy the fact you have made it to France. The café culture is HUGE in France, it is a favourite activity for all locals. You will find that all French Cafes will have an outdoor seating arrangement, and ALL of the seats will be facing the street; this is strategic. This started centuries ago when people were a lot more judgmental, and would sit and comment on the people passing by. These days it is simply just to be social and people watch.
If you’re a hot chocolate fan; In Paris, there is a Café name Angelina’s which is located on Ru De Rivoli across from the Jardin Des Tuileries. This hot chocolate is world-famous; your taste buds will be on a wild adventure the texture is thick, rich yet smooth. To describe it, it is basically a combination between dark melted chocolate and a smooth cake batter. Word of warning just get a small or one to share it is super-rich.
Bakeries
Looking into the window of a French Bakery is seeing a mouth-watering array of deserts; chocolates, pastries, crepes, cakes, and sweets.
Famous Macaroon – Delicious Light and crunchy on the outside with a layer of gooey filling that melts in your mouth.
Croissants – crescent moon-shaped pastry, traditionally sweet but you will see them savoury as well.
Baguette- the iconic French Baguette became popular in France around 1920. It holds its shape all thanks to an old French Law which banned bakers from working before 4 AM. They had to come up with a solution to have bread ready before the doors opened for their customers; so they started making the loaves long and tin so they would cook quicker. Ten Billion Baguettes are made each year and by Law, they have to be traditional with only 3 ingredients flour, yeast, and salt.
Main Meals
Escargots (Snails) imagine you sitting in a restaurant looking out using those small tongs and gripping the escargot snails. The explosion of flavours Basil, Pesto, and garlic bouncing around on your taste buds, oh it is delicious! The French eat around 30,000 tones of snails in a year, but only 1,000 tones of the delicacy actually come from France
Duck La’Orange – Succulent roasted duck in a homemade orange sauce/glaze oh it is divine
Boeuf Bourguignon or Beef bourguignon is a delicious red wine beef stew
Cheese
France produces nearly a billion tons of cheese in a year with over 1200 different types, Cheese comes in every shape and form.
Blue cheese has an interesting story; According to the legend a young shepherd was at the top of a mountain in front of his favourite cave; as he was eating his lunch he spied a beautiful shepherdess in the distance. Determined to catch her attention he hurried down to greet her; but not before placing his lunch of ewe’s milk curds in a nearby cave, damp and cool. Days later the young man returned to the cave; to his surprise, his “Lunch” was still sitting there on the rock. I mean it looked a little different to the lunch he has left days ago; the curd had these blue veins marbling through it. It is said that he was so hungry that day and decided to takes the mouldy cheese; to this day we still enjoy that smelly mouldy cheese.
Transport
There are a few options for transportation around France, you could be really brave and hire a car, ensure you have the guts to keep up with the French and their extreme driving.
France has the second-largest rail network in Europe and the 09th biggest in the world.
Personally, I have taken a Flexi Bus around France, I chose to do a night bus which saves on a night’s accommodation and you don’t have to waste a day traveling from place to place.
Paris has a fantastic Metro system; that will carry you where ever you want to go at a very low cost, the Metro through the city is an incredible network and a great experience. For an easy guide to using the Paris Metro check out our Post.
Suggested daily budget – 40-70 EUR / (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming have booked your accommodation prior to leaving, eating out a little, making your breakfast and lunch yourself, and using the local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
What can I expect from France?
When traveling to any country; you need to go in with an open mind and respect their customs, cultures, and etiquette. Check out our 9 things not to do when traveling in France.
Currency
Euro (EUR) in the major cities credit cards are widely accepted; however, if you’re in a smaller town; the boutique shops do prefer cash. Cash is king, like anywhere it is best to carry small amounts of cash with you for those smaller purchases. Please do not carry large lump sums; what we usually do is take a Cash Passport check out Traveling with your money for some helpful tips. Every 2 days go and withdraw 2-4 days’ worth of money; and stash it in different pockets of your backpack, handbag, and suitcase.
Electricity
230v AC electricity, the power outlets have two-prong round sockets. Gone are the days you have to have 10 different adaptors; it is much easier to have a universal adaptor that covers all or most of the countries you are traveling to.
Tip # 1 Learn Some French
Learn some French and try to use it; I can guarantee you that you will get a better response from the French; if you at least attempt to communicate even a few words in French. The most insulting thing you can do to a French person; is walk up to them and the first thing you say is; “Do you speak English” the response will be “Noun” NO even if they do. So some simple French words that may come in handy
- HELLO BONJOUR
- GOODBYE AU REVIOR
- DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH PARLEZ VOUSANGLAIS?
- YES WEE
- NO NOH
- PLEASE SILEE VO PLAY
- THANK YOU MERCI
- CHEERS SANTE – Make sure you make eye contact as you click your glass
Visa
France is a part of the European Union and works under the Schengen Agreement. EU nationals can travel visa-free. There are a number of countries that have been given permission for 90 days of visa-free travel. Some of those include Australia and Canada. Visa’s Change so regularly that we strongly recommend you check the current situation at your local countries French Embassy.
Safety
You have to be careful where ever you are in the world, especially in big cities. This is usually where you could become the target of “tourist” crimes such as scams, pickpocketing, or mugging. France is relatively safe as long as your street smart; don’t go down dark allies by yourself, have someone who knows where you are, all of the usual stuff. You will see in Paris and the bigger cities; that there is an increase in Military and Police presence this is because of the terror threats. They are there to show strength and order within the city. Don’t be afraid of them they are there for public protection.
Public Toilets
Finding a bathroom in France is NOT always easy, trust me I have had some close calls. So where do you find a toilet…big shopping malls will have toilets you can use they will usually be marked with WC or toilettes. You can go into a café or restaurant; order yourself a coffee and use their facilities, if you’re really bold you can pick a busy café…locate the toilet sign and make a break for it and hope no one notice. McDonald’s and fast food chains usually have a bathroom you can use. Although they have started putting codes on the doors; still buy yourself an ice cream and get that code for the bathroom…..or wait outside the bathroom door until the person comes out.
Toilets in Europe
Throughout Europe and France, you will come across something that you may not be used to. You actually have to pay to use a public toilet or service stop toilet. It ranges from about 0.35c – 0.75c please make sure you have some small change with you. You don’t want to be close to exploding; find a bathroom and then not be allowed in because you haven’t paid. It is the worst!! Some of the restrooms are manned by an attendant and some are automatic machines with a turnstile. Check out our mini-guide to Paying for Public Toilets In Europe!
Money Saving Tips
1
Book the right Accommodation
When looking for accommodation, save money by booking a place a little further out of the city. Ensure it is next to a public transport stop and make sure it has a kitchenette.
2
Hit Up the Local Supermarket
Local Supermarkets are a wonderland of exotic goodies, to save some money and have it to spend elsewhere grab yourself some breakfast items as well as things to pack a picnic lunch. Bread, Salad, Ham fruit, etc not only is this a much healthier alternative you will free up some cash to treat yourself to a nice evening meal and of course plenty of French Coffee, Desserts, and Wine.
3
Use Public Transport
Position yourself close to a public transport stop, familiarise yourself with the stop number/name, grab yourself a map, and set off on an adventure.
4
Set a Daily Budget
Set yourself a daily budget and stick to it, withdraw a certain amount of cash from an ATM divide it into sections and that is your daily spend limit. One day you might not spend it all then you have a bonus for the next day to splash out on that extra activity.
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How to use the Paris Metro
The Romantic city of Paris can be overwhelming to navigate, use our detailed guide on how to use the Paris Metro to get around.
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9 Important things Not to do when in France
Every country practices different social etiquette's. Be in the know before you visit. 9 important things NOT to do in France
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Tourist scams in Paris to be on the lookout for
Don't become a victim of tourist scams in Paris, the trick is not to be afraid just be aware of your surroundings.
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The Palais Garnier home to The Phantom of the Opera
From the outside to the inside of the prestigious Palais Garnier in Paris is a symbol of sophistication and wealth.
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Take a trip to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris
The Musee D'Orsay a grand, architectural marvel standing strong on along the River Seine. A beautiful art gallery that should be on your list when visiting Paris.
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Hot tips you need to know about the Louvre Paris
Louvre Paris, once a fortress, transformed into a palace, now the home to the priceless Mona Lisa. Planning your trip? here are some hot tips!
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Discover The Remarkable Arc De Triomphe In Paris
Standing in the middle of the most chaotic roundabout in the world, the Arc De Triomphe is a symbol of strength and pride.
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Experience the Cabaret in Paris with a secrete dinner location
Sparkles, sequins, high pitched singing, this is your guide to the Cabaret in Paris with a unique experience for a traditional French dinner.
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The Notre Dame Cathedral A 700 Year Old Storybook
Notre Dame Cathedral the most spectacular Gothic French Architecture.700 years of history destroyed not forgotten. The story goes like this
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Journey beneath the city to the unbelievable Catacombs of Paris
If you have been to Paris before and are looking for something a little darker. Visit the Catacombs of Paris and Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
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The Majestic Yet Terrifying Story of the River Seine Paris
River Seine Paris, home to the love lock bridge, century-old Bouquinistes, and stories of the dark past murder, suicides & body disposals.
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Marvel At Napoleon’s Tomb Under The Shimmering Golden Dome
Bring French Military to life and explore the Shimmering Eglise Du Dome, Napoleon Bonaparte's stuffed horse, and his incredible 6 layer tomb.
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20,000 Mesmerizing Lights Of The Eiffel Tower Paris
A trip to Paris is not complete without stargazing up at the iconic Eiffel Tower. before you go check out these weird facts and hot tips.
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Bastille Day one of the biggest celebrations in Paris
Bastille Day celebrations on 14th July every year brings Paris to life, Check out the biggest celebrations and best experiences in the city.
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Walk the Champs Elysees the most famous boulevard in Paris
The most elegant boulevard in Paris from the Arc De Triomphe, through the glitz of the Champs Elysees and blood-soaked Place De La Concorde.
