Know before you go: France

Quick answer: Most Western visitors (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) can still enter France visa-free for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but from 2026 border crossings involve mandatory biometric registration (EES) and — from Q4 2026 — a paid online travel authorization (ETIAS); always verify your specific requirement on the official France-Visas and EU ETIAS portals before you fly.

Visa & entry

Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and many other countries can still travel to France and the rest of the Schengen Area visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, two major EU-wide systems have changed the entry process in 2026:

• EES (Entry/Exit System): The EES replaces the current system of manually stamping passports and enables electronic monitoring of each entry and exit for non-EU and non-Schengen nationals visiting the Schengen Area for a short stay of a maximum 90 days within a 180-day period. It reached full operational status on April 10, 2026, and in France is active at eight external-border airports: Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes. First-time crossers must submit a facial photo and fingerprints; expect this to add time at the border, and note that French airports have seen 60–120 minute waits at peak periods as biometric kiosks struggle with volumes.
• ETIAS (European Travel Information & Authorisation System): ETIAS is the online travel authorization that visa-exempt nationals will need before visiting 30 European countries, launching in Q4 2026. It is not a visa but an online authorization, costs a fee per application, is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, and allows multiple entries during that period. ETIAS will not be mandatory for entry until roughly six months after launch, giving a transitional grace period. The only official site is the EU’s own ETIAS portal — there is only one official ETIAS website (travel-europe.europa.eu/etias); many unofficial websites charge inflated “service fees.”

Important: Rules, fees, and launch dates for ETIAS have shifted multiple times in the past. Before booking or traveling, confirm the current status, fee, and exemptions directly on the France-Visas site and the official EU ETIAS portal (both linked below). If you need to work, study, or stay longer than 90 days, you need an actual national visa, not ETIAS.

Getting around

Paris and the wider Île-de-France region use a simplified, zone-free ticketing system as of January 2026:

• Single tickets: A single Paris metro ticket costs €2.55 for one ride on the metro, RER, or suburban trains anywhere within zones 1–5 (airports excluded), while bus and tram rides are a separate €2.05 ticket.
• Paper tickets are gone: Paper tickets are officially dead — magnetic paper tickets stopped working on buses in May 2026 and on the entire rail network in June 2026, so you now need either a Navigo Easy card or the RATP/Île-de-France Mobilités smartphone app.
• Navigo Easy card: The Navigo Easy Pass costs just €2 when first purchased, and this reusable card can then hold up to 20 metro/RER tickets and up to 20 bus/tram tickets. It’s ideal for short visits — machines have English-language options and accept Visa and Mastercard, including contactless tap-to-pay (American Express is not accepted at most machines).
• Day/multi-day passes: The unlimited Navigo Jour day pass costs €12.30, while the tourist-oriented Paris Visite pass (which also covers airport travel) is available for 1–5 days. For longer stays, the monthly Navigo pass is €90.80 for unlimited access to the metro, RER, bus, and trams.
• Airport transfers: The RER B is the recommended option from CDG to central Paris, stopping at Gare du Nord (25 min), Châtelet–Les Halles (28 min) and Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame (30 min) for a flat €14 fare, with trains running roughly every 10-15 minutes from 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM. Note that Orlybus ceased operations in March 2025 and Roissybus stopped running after February 2026, so check current airport-transfer options before you travel.
• Outside Paris: France’s high-speed TGV network and regional TER trains connect most cities efficiently; book via SNCF Connect for the best fares, especially in advance for TGVs.

Money & costs

France uses the Euro (€). Contactless debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere, from metro machines to small cafés and markets; American Express is accepted less widely. Carrying some cash is still wise for small vendors, tips, or rural areas. ATMs (“distributeurs”) are widely available in cities and at airports. As a general guide to daily costs: budget travelers can manage on roughly €70–100/day (hostel, self-catering, public transport), mid-range travelers €150–250/day (hotel, restaurant meals, some paid attractions), and those wanting more comfort should budget €300+/day, especially in Paris where accommodation is priciest. Tipping is not obligatory since a service charge is included by law in restaurant and café bills, but rounding up or leaving a small tip for good service is appreciated.

Best time to visit

• Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) offer the best balance of mild weather, blooming or golden scenery, and comparatively smaller crowds than peak summer.
• Summer (July–August) is peak tourist season with the warmest weather, long daylight hours, and major festivals, but also the highest prices, biggest crowds at attractions, and — as noted above — the longest airport border queues due to EES rollout congestion.
• Winter (November–March) is low season with fewer crowds and lower prices in most of the country (except ski resorts in the Alps/Pyrenees, which peak in this period), plus festive Christmas markets in Alsace and elsewhere.
• Note that many French businesses, especially in smaller towns, close for August holidays, and some Paris restaurants shut for a few weeks in late summer.

Emergencies & safety

The pan-European emergency number 112 connects callers to police, fire, or ambulance services from anywhere in the country at no charge, and individual dedicated lines also exist: 15 (medical emergencies/SAMU), 17 (police), and 18 (fire brigade).