France Travel Guide
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Planning a Trip to France
France is home to some of the best vacation destinations in the world, from dreamy Paris, to the luxurious South of France, to the stunning vineyards of Burgundy to small, charming Disney inspiring towns – you could spend weeks in France and still not see everything there is to see!
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Safety for Solo Female Travelers
4.5 out of 5
I’ve traveled in France alone and have felt very safe, even in a big city like Paris. As long as you do your research and make sure you’re staying in a safe area you shouldn’t have a problem traveling alone! I also spent a week in Alsace + Strasbourg alone and felt safe in both the smaller towns and a larger city like Strasbourg.
Cost & Currency
France is mid-range in terms of cost for Euroean countries, although not as cheap as some other European destinations like Portugal or Greece, it’s cheaper than more expensive destinations, like Switzerland. The most expensive thing is accomodations. Hotels/Rentals in Paris are expensive, and even not great hotels can be pricy, same for visitng Alsace at Christmas.
The currency in France is the Euro and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere!
Tipping/Restaurants
Tipping is not expected in French restaurants as gratuity is included in your bill (at both small cafes and fancy restaurants) If you really enjoyed your service you can leave 5-10% Credit card slips do not have a line for tips, so these need to be left in cash.
Having a coffee or drink at sidewalk café is a quintessential French experience. You’ll find many of these cafes in Paris. It is customary to seat yourself at these cafes, and a waiter will let you know if you need to wait to be seated. At an actual restaurant, you will need to wait to be seated.
When you have finished your meal you will need to ask for the bill (this is true in many European countries where it is considered rude to give a table the check before they ask) To ask for the check in France you can say ““l’addition, s’il vous plait”“
In France, it is customary to round up in taxis to tip drivers and to tip bellhops a euro or two per bag.
When to Visit France
Spring and Fall are great times to visit France. The weather is fairly mild (although not warm, especially at night when it can get down into the forties) Spring and Fall also tend to be less crowded than the peak summer season. Also, spring in Paris with the flowers is magic
Summer is warmer in France, although not as hot as places like Greece and Italy (as it’s not as far south,) This makes summer a great time to visit, as the weather is warm, but not so hot you’re uninspired to explore the cities of France. Since summer is peak tourist season expect to see the most crowds and the highest prices for hotels during this time.
The South of France is hotter than Paris, which is in Northern France. Wine regions like Alsacde and Burgundy have more mild summer temperatures.
Winter is a great option if you’re looking to explore the French Alps and do some skiing or if you’re looking to take advantage of visiting Paris when the crowds have dissipated and the prices for hotels have dropped. Winter is not a great time to visit the French countryside, as many restaurants and hotels close for the winter.
Christmas in Alsace (November/December) Alsace, particularly Strasbourg & Colmar is one of the most popular areas for Christmas Markets in all of Europe. It’s absolutely stunning, and not as cold as other popular Christmas destinations like Germany and Austria, in my experience.
Getting Around France
France has a great rail system that makes traveling between French cities (or to neighboring countries) very convenient. High speed trains run regularly between all major cities multiple times a day
- Paris –> Strasbourg: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Paris –> Burgundy (Dijon): 2 hours
- Paris –> Provence: 3 hours
To get to the South of France (Nice, French Riviera, etc) I’d recommend considering flying as trains can take 6 hours plus!
France – Top Blog Posts
- 10 Best Restaurants in Colmar, France: Cozy Eats & Storybook Vibes
- 12 Best Restaurants in Strasbourg – Alsatian Eats, Views & All the French Onion Soup
- Ultimate Guide to Alsace’s Christmas Markets: A Magic Holday in Strasbourg, Colmar & Fairytale Towns
- Strasbourg’s Christmas Markets 2025: The Ultimate Guide to France’s Capitol of Christmas
- Ultimate Guide to Colmar’s Christmas Markets 2025: A Fairytale Noel in Alsace
- 10 Best Christmas Markets in Europe for 2025: From Someone Obsessed with Visiting Every Single One
- 2 Days In Paris Itinerary: Classic Paris Sights, Dreamy Rooftops & All the Best Eats
