Home to world famous sites such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, along with the annual Tour de France, France is one of the most visited countries in the world. France is home to over 3,400 miles of coastline, making France known for some great coastal regions, such as Nice, Normandy, Marseille, and St Tropez. Read below to learn more about the country.

The Basics:

• Languages: French is the official language, although approximately 40% can also speak some level of English

• Currency: Euro, Click here to see the current exchange rate

• Timezone: Central European Summer Time (summer months, UTC+2), Central European Time (winter months, UTC+1)

• Visas: France is a part of the Schengen Area. Tourists from other Schengen Area countries, along with many North American, South American, and Eastern Asian countries can also visit France visa free for up to 90 days. Starting in 2022, tourists outside of the Schengen Area will need to obtain an ETIAS waiver to enter the Schengen Area for up to 90 days

• Driving side: Right

• Tipping: 5%-10%

Places to Visit and Things to Do:

• Paris: The capital of France, Paris is home to plenty of world-famous sites, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Paris Catacombs. Inside of Rome is the small country of Vatican City, which is home to the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, and a collection of Vatican museums

• Nice: Located on the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is known for their beaches and art museums. Nice is only a 30 minute drive away from the microstate of Monaco, which is home to the famous Monte Carlo casino and Monaco Grand Prix

• Normandy: This region of France is well known for the D-Day beaches invasion, along with Mont Saint-Michel, a small city on the cost of France surrounded by water during high tide, and surrounded by sand during low tide

• Chamonix Valley: This area of France is home to Mount Blanc, a nearly 15,000 foot tall mountain part of the French Alps. The mountain is part of a popular hike, but can also be accessed via a tramway or gondola. The Chamonix Valley is also a popular skiing area

Travel Tips:

• Explore more of France than just Paris! While Paris is the main attraction to most, there are plenty of other great places to explore in France, such as Nice, Bordeaux, Lyon, Normandy, and the Chamonix Valley

• France has a great high speed rail network, the TGV, and is a great way to travel across the country. Connections extend into many neighboring countries, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, and Belgium

• Always carry cash with you. While France is a modern country, cash is the only accepted form of payment at many restaurants and stores, especially for smaller purchases