France Overview

France is often distilled down to a pretty picture: the Eiffel Tower illuminated against the night sky, a field of lavender in Provence, or an extravagant château reflected in the still waters of the Loire. While these postcard images may be beautiful, to truly appreciate France you have to go beyond tourist icons and explore the diversity of people, cultures, and foods that make up this ever-changing nation. France’s long and storied past is filled with tales of revolutions, conquests, intrigues, and, well, more revolutions, but it is present-day France that brings people back again and again. Cities bustling with expats, immigrants, businessmen, and students are surrounded by tiny towns that don’t bustle at all. While tourist hordes can be overwhelming, it’s not impossible to find a slice of solitude. A serene lake in Poitou-Charentes or the humbling WWI monuments in Pas de Calais are only a train ride and a world apart from Paris’s crowded—though beautiful—attractions.

France lives up to its stereotypes, providing the best in fine wine, strong cheese, and that certain romantic je ne sais quoi, but it also goes beyond the clichés. Maybe you’ll first experience the French spirit as you watch a fierce game of pétanque in a Provençal village. Maybe you’ll taste it in a warm, buttery croissant at dawn after a night of clubbing in Lille or hear it at an open-air concert on the Breton coast. France does not fit within the confines of; it offers something for everyone. Whether it’s a nine-course meal in Lyon, a hike to a hidden waterfall in the Pyrenees, or a stroll through one of Paris’s less frequented parks, something in France will leave you breathless. Look beyond the postcard images, and France will never fail to surprise you.

Official Name: République française.
Population: 64,057,790.
Capital: Paris.
Gdp Per Capita: US$33,200.
President: Nicolas Sarkozy.
Major Religions: 85% Catholic, 6% Muslim, 4% unaffiliated, 3% Protestant, 1% Jewish.
Average Life Expectancy: 80.87 years.
Wine Produced Per Year: Approximately 9 billion bottles.
Frogs Consumed Per Year: 60-80 million frogs, or 120-160 million legs.
Estimated Number Of Romantic Encounters Per Day: 4,959,476 in Paris alone. Ah, l’amour!

Essentials

Passport Required: Yes.
Visa Required for Stay Less than Three Months: No.
Tourism Office: www.franceguide.com.
Phone Numbers: 17 for emergencies, 12 for national directory assistance, 003312 for international operator assistance.
Currency: Euro (EUR€).
Sales Tax: 5.5% food tax, up to 19.6% for goods and services.
Driving: Right-hand side of the road; drivers must be over 18; International Driving. Permit is suggested, but not required.
Drinking Age: Restaurants may serve alcohol to anyone 16 years or older.
Measurement System: Metric.
Public Toilets: 15 minutes on the throne costs €0.40.

When To Go

In July, Paris’s population starts to thin out; by August, residents have positively vanished, leaving only tourists and pickpockets. During this month of national vacation, the French hop over to ...more

Planning Your Trip

Entrance Requirements Passport . Required for non-EU citizens as well as citizens of the UK and Ireland. Visa . France does not require visas for EU citizens and residents of Australia, Canada ...more

Cultural Essentials

France’s geography is as varied as its wine and cheese selections. A roughly hexagonal territory about 80% the size of Texas, France’s 547,030 sq. km are marked by breathtaking coastlines, idyllic ...more

Basics

The French climate varies by region. Though the center of the country generally experiences fairly moderate weather, Corsica and the Côte d’Azur —like their Mediterranean neighbors—are warmer and ...more