According to countryvv, France (English/French: France) is a country in Europe bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Monaco. The territory of France also includes the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of France is Paris. A number of major cities in France are: Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse.
France is a country where there is something for everyone to do. In terms of culture, France has many old towns with narrow alleys, countless churches and cathedrals and traces of the wars that the country has known can be found everywhere (museums, remnants, ruins, etc.). In terms of nature, there are many National Parks, large rivers and beautiful mountain areas such as the Alps, Pyrenees and the Massif Central (especially known for its excellent winter sports conditions). In addition, most of France is surrounded by water. The coastline is largely rocky interspersed with large, wide sandy beaches. The waters around France are ideal for water sports. Other things why France is known worldwide is the annual cycling spectacle “Tour de France”, Disneyland Paris, the Eiffel Tower and of course the vast sunflower fields and vineyards. Every year many tourists go to France to enjoy all this splendor.
Regions of France:
Alsace (Alsace), Aquitaine (Aquitaine), Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne (Burgundy), Brittany, Center (Central France), Champagne-Ardenne (Champagne-Ardennes), Corse (Corsica), Franche-Comté, Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), Île-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Lorraine (Lorraine), Midi-Pyrénées (Southern France-Pyrenees), Nord-Pas-de-Calais (Pas-de-Calais), Pays de la Loire (Countries of the Loire), Picardy (Picardie), Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) and Rhône-Alpes (Rhône-Alps).
Overview of the overseas regions and territories of France:
Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Martin, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Barthélemy, New Caledonia and Clipperton.
Where is France?
Travel information of France
Official name: French Republic
Continent: Europe
Area: 551,500 km²
Capital: Paris (Paris)
Country code: FR, FRA
Population: 62,814,233 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Semi-Presidential Republic
Highest point: 4,810 m (Mont Blanc)
Distance (Amsterdam – Paris): 428 km
Flight time: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Travel advice
Current status: No special security risks.
Current color code: Green.
Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), (temporary) measures may apply in France that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs in France, please visit Countryaah.
Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete trips and holidays to France. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, walking map, cycling map, book or DVD about France?
Excursions, activities and day trips
With the help of Countryaah you can reserve an excursion, activity, guided tour, entrance ticket and/or day trip for your stay in France at a discount. This way you are assured of a place, in some cases you can skip the queue and you can already plan your travel program.
Weather and climate
France can be divided into three different climates.
Most of France has a temperate maritime climate. In addition, the extreme south and east have a Mediterranean climate and the French Alps have a high mountain climate. The winters are mild with a lot of snowfall in the mountain areas. The summers are warm with the highest temperatures in the southeast.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for France can be found on our extensive weather page.
Extensive information about the climate of France can be found at Climate info.
Current snow depths in France can be found at Winter sports enthusiasts.
Best time
May, June and September are the best months to travel to France. In these months the temperatures are the most pleasant and you also avoid mass tourism.
Language
French is the official language in France. In addition, there are a number of dialects (including Breton).
Would you like to translate from or into French for free? Use the Google translator for this.
Travel documents
You must have a valid identity card or passport.
A visa is not necessary.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in France: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Dutch consulates in France: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
French Embassy in the Netherlands: ambafrance-nl.org.
French consulates in the Netherlands: ambafrance-nl.org.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
You do not need any vaccinations for a visit to France.
Money and Currency
In France, payments are made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in France can be found on our ATMs page.
Price level
Prices in France are slightly higher than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is +4% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (12% cheaper), food (26% more expensive), imported beer in catering (28% more expensive), cigarettes (11% more expensive) and public transport (44% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.
Tipping
In France it is not customary to tip. Service costs are already included in the price.
Time difference
There is no time difference with the Netherlands.
Summer time in France is the same as in the Netherlands.
The local time, date and time zone for France can be found on our time difference page.
Traffic and route
In France you must drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in France.
There are toll roads in France. An overview of all toll roads in France can be found on Autoroutes.fr and ANWB.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within France.
From 1 July 2012 it is mandatory to have an alcohol test in your vehicle. This is for sale at the larger French petrol stations and supermarkets or at a Dutch ANWB shop.
Electricity
In France you can use a Dutch flat plug.
A round plug must have a recess for the grounding pin present in the socket. You need a travel plug if your plug does not have such a recess.
More information about electricity in France can be found on our electricity page.
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 112 or 17
– Fire: 112 or 18
– Ambulance: 112 or 15
Tap water
The water from the tap has a slight chlorine content and can therefore cause stomach and intestinal complaints.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to France can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from France can be found on Abyznewslinks.
Internet
Websites from France end in.fr.
Official websites of France: gouvernement.fr and nl.franceguide.com.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in France is 0033 or +33.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from France? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Telephone numbers can be found in the France Telephone Directory.
Company details can be found in the Yellow Pages of France.
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of France.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from France.
Holidays and school holidays
France’s national holiday falls on July 14 (Quatorze Juillet).
An overview of all other public holidays in France can be found on Beleven.org.
You will find an overview of all school holidays in France in the Eurydice school guide.
Places of interest
When you think of France, people quickly think of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, but France has much more to offer. On our places of interest page you will find an extensive overview of the most beautiful and famous places of interest in France. Here you will find general information, opening times and entrance fees.
Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in France, supplemented with photos, videos and points of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about France?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited France. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in France can be found on Protected Planet.
An overview of the world heritage sites in France can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to France? On the IATA website you will find an overview of the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, medicines and money, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.
Entrepreneurship and doing business
If you intend to do business in or do business with France, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about France, including: opportunities, import and export rules, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, product requirements, business partners and subsidies.
Studying and internship
Are you considering a study, internship or gap year in France? You are by no means the only one and certainly not the first. To help you on your way, Nuffic (the Dutch organization for internationalization in education) has set up the WilWeg.nl website. On this website you will find all the information that can help you on your way, such as admission requirements, forms of education, accommodation, scholarships, internships, health insurance, study costs and of course experiences.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to France.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.5.
– Tobacco: Buy from the age of 18, smoking at all ages.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Allowed
Did you know that…
…More than 500 million snails are eaten in France every year?
… One can marry a dead person in France?
…The kilo and the chef’s hat are French inventions?
…There are 75 million people worldwide who speak French?
…It is not allowed to kiss in French trains?
… France is the most visited country in the world (83 million tourists per year)?
Our verdict on France as a travel destination
France has been the most visited holiday destination by the Dutch for decades, and for good reason. The biggest advantage of France is the relatively short distance from the Netherlands, which makes it easy to travel by car, camper, train or bus. Many families with children in particular travel to France every year by caravan. France has something to offer for everyone because of its location, size and pleasant climate. France has a long history which can be found in many buildings and museums spread across the country. In addition, the country has several coastal areas with beautiful beaches, there are beautiful nature reserves and you can visit one of the winter sports areas in the winter months.
