Paris is the city I keep returning to on a whim; a long weekend here, a layover stretched into two days there. Turns out you don’t need a month to fall for France, just a good itinerary and a willingness to walk until your feet hurt (with pitstops at cafes found on every corner).
France is one of the most visited countries on earth for a reason; it delivers on every front, whether you’re there for art, food, wine, coastlines, or medieval history. And yet somehow, entire regions here go mostly undiscovered by visitors. Once you get outside the tourist bubble, you realize the real France — the boulangeries, the coastal villages, and Sunday markets — is even better than the postcard version. Come for Paris if you must, but let France actually surprise you beyond it.
France is not a budget destination, but it’s also far more manageable than people assume — especially once you get out of Paris. Budget travelers can manage around $100 a day, while mid-range runs $150–$200 per day depending on the city. Regional destinations like Provence can be 20% cheaper than the capital. You can also save by eating at boulangeries for lunch instead of sit-down restaurants, and buying wine from a local tabac rather than at restaurant markup.
If you’re a U.S. passport holder, you don’t need a visa to visit France for stays up to 90 days. As of April 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is active, meaning your passport and biometrics are now scanned digitally at the border every time you enter or exit the EU. One new requirement is coming down the line: ETIAS, the EU’s pre-travel authorization (similar to the U.S. ESTA), is confirmed for late 2026 at a fee of €20, with mandatory enforcement expected in 2027 — so if you’re traveling soon, check the official ETIAS website for updates before your flight.
France uses the euro (€), the standard currency across most of the European Union. ATMs (distributeurs automatiques de billets, or DABs as they’re often labeled) are available in cities and most towns, and card payments are broadly accepted everywhere from brasseries to markets — though you’ll appreciate having some cash on hand for some smaller vendors and villages. Avoid airport kiosks and hotel exchange counters, which charge steep fees. I always recommend getting a Charles Schwab or Wise debit card before you go to save on transaction fees; with Schwab, your ATM fees will be automatically reimbursed every month.
French is the sole official language, and virtually the entire population speaks it. Beyond French, the country is home to several recognized regional languages: Alsatian (a Germanic dialect spoken in the northeast), Breton (a Celtic language in Brittany with ties to Welsh), Occitan (spoken across the south, with dialects including Provençal and Gascon), Basque (a complete linguistic isolate with no known relatives), Corsican (close to Italian), and Catalan near the Spanish border.
As for English: about 1 in 3 French people speak English as a second language, with fluency concentrated in major cities, tourist areas, hotels, and museums. The further you go from regional capitals, the less English you’ll encounter. Learning a few words of French — bonjour, s’il vous plaît, merci — can never hurt!
France is very manageable for solo female travelers. Public transit is excellent, street harassment is low, and the concept of a woman exploring and dining out alone is pretty unremarkable culturally. The main thing to watch for is petty theft, especially on the Paris metro and around tourist landmarks, where pickpockets work crowded situations.
Some classic scams to know: the string bracelet trick near Sacré-Cœur, where someone forcefully ties a bracelet on your wrist and then demands payment, or petitioners asking for signatures near monuments, who are actually covering for pickpockets working the crowd — all easy to avoid once you know what to look for.
Tap water in France is completely safe to drink. The quality is governed by strict national and EU standards, and water in major cities meets or exceeds WHO guidelines. Paris also has more than 1,200 public drinking fountains throughout the city (including some that dispense free sparkling water, eau gazeuse), so bring a reusable bottle and you’ll stay hydrated for free all day.
France uses Type C and Type E plugs at 230V. Travelers from the U.S. will need both a plug adapter and to check their devices for voltage compatibility. For phones, laptops, and cameras, see if your charger is labeled for “100–240V” input; if it says that, you only need a simple plug adapter. I travel with this universal multi-plug adapter that works for most countries, including France.
Hair tools may need some extra prep. Most U.S. hair dryers and straighteners are built for 120V — plug one into a French outlet and it will likely fry instantly. Voltage converters exist for this, but they have still been known to trip circuit breakers and damage devices over time. My honest recommendation is to invest in a dedicated dual-voltage travel hair dryer or straightener before you leave, and you’ll never have to worry about this step again.
France has incredible infrastructure for remote work: fast fiber-optic internet in cities, a thriving coworking scene in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and beyond, and an undeniable quality of life. That said, visa options got complicated for digital nomads in 2025. France officially banned remote work on its long-stay visitor visa, and that restriction is still enforced today, so longer-term nomads need a legitimate visa pathway. The most workable route for business owners and freelancers is the Profession Libérale visa, which requires showing consistent income above France’s monthly minimum wage (roughly €1,823/month in 2026). For short stays under 90 days, working quietly as a tourist has long been the gray-area practice… but know that rules have tightened.
Detailed guides to Paris’ major cities (and lesser-known counterparts) are on the way! I’m sharing all the practical tips, hidden spots, and budget advice you’ll need. Want first access when they go live?
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