France
France35 guides across 6 destinations — where to go, when, what it costs and what to eat.
Destinations in France
Practical essentials for France
Euro (EUR)
French; English is spoken in tourist settings in Paris, Nice and the larger cities.
Type C/E, 230V 50Hz
SNCF's TGV connects the cities, and each has its own local network — in Paris that is the Navigo Easy card and the Ile-de-France Mobilites app for metro, RER and bus.
Service is included by law, so tipping is optional - round up or leave a couple of euros for good service.
Tap water is safe to drink.
Right-hand side; an EU licence is enough, and other visitors should carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence.
112; also 15 ambulance, 17 police, 18 fire
Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.
Recent stories from France
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Paris in Three Days: The Complete Route
The Louvre to Montmartre, the Latin Quarter to the Marais — a three-day route through Paris that balances the icons with time to simply live like the city does.
A Market-to-Table Food Day in Paris
One perfect eating day in Paris, from a warm morning croissant through market stalls, cheese and bistro lunch to a golden-hour apéritif — no reservations at temples required.
Marseille for Culture Lovers: Eight Places That Hold the City's Memory
A concrete lattice on the water, a gilded Madonna over the rooftops, a Le Corbusier housing block on a boulevard. The cultural Marseille worth building a trip around.
Chickpeas, Anchovies and Chard: A Table in Every Corner of Nice
Nice eats differently in every district, from the wood-fired socca ovens near the port to the market brasseries of Liberation, and this is what to order in each one.
Nice for First-Timers: The Complete Riviera Primer
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First Light to Last Call: A Full Day in Marseille
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Lyon, Ranked: 8 Experiences You Should Not Miss
From secret Renaissance passageways to the temple of French gastronomy — the essential Lyon experiences, in order of urgency.
Is Bordeaux Worth the Trip? A First-Timer’s Briefing
France’s wine capital is also one of its handsomest cities — a limestone riverfront showpiece two hours from Paris. Here is the honest case for going, and how to get it right.
What to Eat in Bordeaux: A Dish-by-Dish Guide
Caneles at dawn, oysters before noon, entrecote at night — eating your way through the world's wine capital, one dish at a time.
Marseille: The Districts to Book, and the Ones to Skip
The Vieux-Port is the easy answer, Le Panier the romantic one, and the streets behind the station the mistake. An honest map of where to sleep in Marseille.