France Life here moves to the rhythm of markets, sunlit vineyards and lingering lunches

The Euro (EUR) is the currency, and ATMs are widely available throughout the country, so there’s little need to arrange currency before you travel. Contactless card payment is the standard method for almost every transaction, including small purchases at a boulangerie or café.

French is the national language, and while English is widely understood in Paris and major tourist areas, it becomes noticeably less common in smaller towns and rural regions. A simple “Bonjour” before switching to English, rather than opening a conversation in English directly, changes how warmly an interaction unfolds far more than the language itself.

Greeting someone with “Bonjour” before making any request, whether entering a shop or approaching a market stall, is considered basic courtesy in France, and skipping straight to a question or “Excuse me” can come across as genuinely abrupt regardless of how politely it’s meant. This small habit, formed before anything else is said, noticeably changes the tone of service you receive throughout the trip.

France operates on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer, aligning with most of mainland Europe. This is worth checking against a UK departure specifically, since the clocks don’t always match through the changeover periods each spring and autumn.

Yes, tap water throughout France is safe to drink, though restaurants will serve bottled water by default and charge for it unless you specifically ask for “une carafe d’eau,” which is free tap water they’re legally required to provide if requested. Knowing this simple phrase avoids an unnecessary bill for something that’s otherwise free.

Cards, particularly contactless, are accepted almost everywhere in France, including small cafés and market stalls in most regions. A small amount of cash is still useful in rural areas or very small family- run businesses, but this is broadly a card-friendly destination throughout.

Not in the way many visitors assume, since French law requires a service charge to already be included in restaurant and café bills, described as “service compris.” Rounding up or leaving small change for particularly good service is a genuine, appreciated gesture, but it’s a bonus on top of an already-covered service charge rather than the primary form of thanks.

France uses Type E sockets, a French-specific design with a grounding pin that differs slightly from the standard European Type C plug used elsewhere on the continent, running at 230V. Most modern universal adapters cover this, but it’s worth double-checking yours specifically includes Type E rather than assuming a generic “European” adapter will fit.

Much of France, family-run restaurants and small shops in particular, closes for an extended summer holiday at some point in August, a long-standing national custom rather than a scattered inconvenience. Paris itself takes on a genuinely different, quieter character during this period, and confirming specific restaurant or shop opening hours with your specialist if travelling in August avoids arriving to find a favourite spot shuttered.

Smart-casual is the general baseline even at restaurants that don’t formally require it, and sportswear or beachwear at dinner, even in a coastal town, tends to stand out as noticeably underdressed by local standards. Packing at least a few smarter outfit options for evenings, rather than assuming daytime casual wear transfers directly to dinner, matches local expectations more comfortably.

Meals, particularly dinner, are treated as an unhurried social occasion rather than something to move through quickly, and asking for the bill before it’s offered is entirely normal, since a waiter bringing it unprompted would be considered rushing you. Keeping voices measured in public spaces, including on trains and in restaurants, is also more consistently expected here than in some other destinations.