France
Officially known as the French Republic, France is mostly known for its busy yet romantic capital with the iconic Eiffel Tower and Disneyland. Despite that, France offers a lot more than just Paris: from breathtaking mountain views in the French Alps, a beautiful coastline (Étretat being one of the most popular sites), picturesque villages like Eguisheim, historic, medieval cities and towns like Colmar and Kaysersberg, clear water beaches in Corsica, French Polynesia, other French islands and the mainland, vibrant lavender fields in Provence, the fairy-tale like island of Mont Saint-Michel and even the glamorous French Riviera, known to attract the wealthy to its seaside resort towns. Oh and of course, pain au chocolat and croissant.
Below you can find out more about the country and how to travel it.
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Located in Western Europe (UTC+1), mainland France is bordered by 9 other countries: United Kingdom to the northwest (separated by the English Channel), Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the southeast and finally Spain and Andorra to the south. Despite being the third largest country in Europe, with an area of 551,695 km², its total area is actually larger than that (643,801 km²), since France has a large number of overseas regions and territories across the world including Corsica, the popular French Polynesia, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Réunion and more.
With a population of about 68 million (2023 estimate), 65 million of those belonging to mainland France, the country is mostly Christian, despite its declining numbers over the years, with now about half of the population considering themselves of no religion and about 11% Muslim. The official language is French.
French people are often viewed as rude and impolite due to their straightforward attitude, where one speaks their mind with no filters, but they are actually quite courteous and good manners are extremely important to them – greeting people regularly and holding the door are just a few examples. They are also known for being romantic, valuing being present and living a slow-paced life, as well as being very critical and pessimist but extremely patriotic, especially when it comes to their food and language.
The majority of mainland France has a temperate climate (not too hot nor too cold), with very distinct seasons and some climate variations across different regions: from oceanic in the west, continental in the east and Mediterranean in the southeast. Some overseas regions and territories have a tropical climate.
The landscape in mainland France is mostly low terrain in the north and west, with mountains in the south and east.
The currency used in mainland France is Euro (€ – EUR). The French overseas territories in the South Pacific (Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia and New Caledonia) use CFP franc (F – XPF). CFP stands for “CollectivitĂ©s françaises du Pacifique”.
The capital of France, Paris, is a major European centre and a worldwide known city, popular for its iconic landmarks such as Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dam Cathedral, high-end designer boutiques and lovely cafes, as well as for Disneyland. It is also a global fashion, commerce, culture, gastronomy and art centre, featuring famous museums such as the Louvre. Nearby you can find the popular Palace of Versailles, which is a must-visit when in the area.
Despite being considered a romantic city by many, it is also quite populated, touristy and dirty, with many homeless and pickpockets.
Complete France Map
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What to see and do in France
France is a country with a lot to offer: mountains, plains, beaches, historic villages and towns, busy cities, castles, museums and so much more. It is especially popular amongst culture and nature lovers and is often a place of choice for a European city break.
Whether you want to travel around mainland France or explore its tropical overseas regions and territories, there is something for you. Below you can find some guides on what to see and do in the country.
Where to Stay
Below you can find a map that will help you search for accommodation in France. Change the dates, number of people, and budget accordingly, and if you’re looking for a place to stay outside of Paris, simply change the location. Alternatively, you can zoom out of the city and zoom in on the area that you’re looking for.
Know before you go
Best time to Visit
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Spring (March to May)
Spring is considered by many the best time to visit mainland France due to lack of tourists and moderate temperatures all around. March can be a quite cold month and since many of the trees and flowers won't start blossoming until the following month, most recommend visiting from April onwards.
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Autumn (September to November)
Just like Spring, Autumn in France is another low season, with fewer crowds and moderate temperatures, with the bonus of the beatiful autumn folliage.
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Summer (June to August)
While Summer in France can offer an excellent holiday due to all of its incredible beaches and seaside resort towns, the crowds and higher temperatures can make exploring a lot less pleasant.
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Winter (December to February)
While Winter in France might not be the best season to explore due to low temperatures and naked trees, it is a popular time for those wanting to visit Christmas Markets and polish their skiing skills.
Other things to consider
Despite being a considerably safe country, petty crimes are extremely common in France: there are organised groups that act together to scam tourists, snatch or discretely steal belongings such as phones and bags, commit thefts, burglary, robbery, etc. In over 10 years of traveling, I only fell victim to theft and pickpocketing twice, and they were both in France (Nice and Paris, respectively). Out of 3 trips I took to France, 2 of them started or ended with some sort of theft.
It is also important to consider the possibility of terrorist attacks, especially in Paris.
Driving in France is quite easy as most of the roads are in good condition, with clear road indications and speed limit signs. Just like anywhere else, going off the beaten path can bring some surprises, such as dirt roads and narrow, steep streets in old villages, but you shouldn’t have a problem driving in general. That being said, driving and parking in big cities, especially Paris, can be an absolute nightmare. While public transportation is quite good in France, renting a car can be a great option for those looking to do a road trip around the country!
What to pack for France
What to pack for France will depend on where exactly you’re traveling to (the Alps, the beach, a city etc.) and what sort of trip you’re doing (road trip, hiking, sunbathing, backpacking, skiing, etc.)
Below you can find all of my travel essentials (pretty much everything I use for my trips), suggested outfits and even a packing checklist to help you remember everything you need.
Clothing
â–‡ T-shirts / Shirts / Blouses / Tops
â–‡ Sweaters
â–‡ Light jackets / Coat / Rain Coat
â–‡ Workout gear
â–‡ Nightwear (Pajamas / Robe)
â–‡ Swimwear (Bikini / Swimming suits / Swimwear cover / Shorts)
â–‡ Underwear
â–‡ Accessories (Jewelry / Ties / Suspenders / Glasses / Hats / Belts / Gloves / Scarves)
â–‡ Footwear (Shoes / Trainers / Boots / Waterproof hiking shoes / Sandals / Flip flops / Slippers)
Electronics
â–‡ Watch
â–‡ Mobile Phone
â–‡ Cameras (mirrorless, DSLR, action camera, 360, Polaroid…)Â
â–‡ Camera lens (portrait, wide lens, zoom…)
â–‡ Camera accessories (cleaning kit, batteries, extra lens caps, memory cards, filters, dome for underwater photos…)
â–‡ Drone
â–‡ Drone accessories (extra propellers, lipo bag, batteries, filters…)
â–‡ Earphones / Headphones
Toiletries
â–‡ Toiletry bag
â–‡ Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
â–‡ Hairdryer / Hairstraightner / Curling iron
â–‡ Nail clipper and Tweezer
â–‡ Headbands / Hair ties / Hair clips
â–‡ Shaving utensils (razors, brush, epilator/electric shaver…)
â–‡ Travel-sized shower products (shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask…)
â–‡ Travel-sized hygiene, self-care and beauty products (travel bottles set, cotton buds, hand sanitizer, deodorant, perfume, sunscreen, lip balm, makeup and makeup remover, hair styling products, hair oil, shaving cream and aftershave, nail polish, nail polish remover and pads, moisturizer…)
â–‡ Contact lenses (Case / Solution)
â–‡ Feminine hygiene products (panty liners, pads, tampons, menstrual cup, intimate wipes…)
â–‡ Body wipes / Pocket Tissues
â–‡ Mirror
â–‡ Towels (beach towel, microfiber towel…)Â
Documentation
â–‡ Wallet (Debit and Credit Cards / Cash)
â–‡ Passport / Visa / ID Card / Driver’s Licence
â–‡ Boarding Pass / Tickets and Reservation Confirmations
â–‡ Vaccination Documentation
â–‡ Medical Prescriptions
â–‡ Travel Insurance / Medical Card
â–‡ Drone Documentation
Miscellaneous
â–‡ Umbrella
â–‡ Keys / Luggage lock
â–‡ Earplugs / Travel pillow / Sleep mask
â–‡ Book / Kindle / Travel games
â–‡ Guidebook / Itinerary / Map / Agenda / NotepadÂ
â–‡ Workout equipment (resistance bands, suspension trainer…)
â–‡ Vitamins, Medication and Contraception
â–‡ First aid kit (regular and blister pads, wound spray, pain killers, bandages…)
â–‡ Snacks
â–‡ Hiking / Camping gear (hydration pack, tent, sleeping bag, mattress, cooking utensils, flashlight, binoculars, insect repellent…)
Plan your trip to France
A page with everything you need to plan a smooth and safe trip
France Series on YouTube
I’ve posted some videos from my trips to France on YouTube so if you’re interested, check the playlist below – just bear in mind that these were made many years ago, but I hope that despite not being my proudest videos in terms of production, you can still get value out of them. You can find all of them by clicking on the list symbol on the top right corner of the video below (next to “share”)
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