, 4 = 
, 7 = 
.This list includes selected festivals in the Provence and French Riviera region, plus national holidays observed throughout France. Many sights and banks close on national holidays—keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. Before planning a trip around a festival, verify its dates by checking the festival’s website, France’s tourist office (http://us.france.fr), or my “Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in France” web page (www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/festivals). Hotels get booked up on Easter weekend, Labor Day, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Bastille Day, and the winter holidays.
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Jan 6 | Epiphany |
| Feb | Carnival-Mardi Gras, parades and fireworks, Nice (www.nicecarnaval.com) |
| April | Easter weekend (Good Friday-Easter Monday): April 19-22 in 2019, April 10-13 in 2020 |
| April | Feria de Pâques, bullfights, coincides with Easter weekend, Arles |
| May 1 | Labor Day |
| May 8 | V-E (Victory in Europe) Day |
| Mid-May | Cannes Film Festival (www.festival-cannes.com) |
| Late May | Ascension: May 30 in 2019, May 21 in 2020 |
| Late May | Monaco Grand Prix, auto race (www.acm.mc) |
| May/June | Pentecost: June 9 in 2019, May 31 in 2020 |
| June 21 | Fête de la Musique, free concerts and dancing in the streets throughout France |
| Mid-June-early Aug | Chorégies d’Orange, music and opera performed in a Roman theater (www.choregies.fr) |
| July | Aix Festival, classical music and opera (www.festival-aix.com) |
| July | Avignon Festival, theater, dance, and music (www.festival-avignon.com) |
| July | Tour de France, national bicycle race culminating in Paris (www.letour.fr) |
| July | Jazz à Juan, international jazz festival, Antibes/Juan-les-Pins (www.jazzajuan.com) |
| July 14 | Bastille Day, fireworks, dancing, and revelry |
| Mid-July | Nice Jazz Festival (www.nicejazzfestival.fr) |
| July-Aug | Cannes Festival of Pyrotechnic Art, fireworks (www.festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com) |
| Aug 15 | Assumption of Mary |
| Mid-Sept | Féria du Riz, bullfights, Arles |
| Nov 1 | All Saints’ Day |
| Nov 11 | Armistice Day |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
| Dec 31 | New Year’s Eve |
To learn more about France past and present, and specifically Provence and the French Riviera, check out a few of these books and films. To learn what’s making news in France, you’ll find France 24 News online at www.France24.com/en. See the Traveling with Children chapter for recommendations for kids.
A to Z of French Food, a French to English Dictionary of Culinary Terms (G. de Temmerman, 1995). The most complete (and priciest) menu reader around—and it’s beloved by foodies.
At Home in France (Ann Barry, 1996). An American author describes her visits to her country house.
The Course of French History (Pierre Goubert, 1988). Goubert provides a basic summary of French history.
A Distant Mirror (Barbara Tuchman, 1987). Respected historian Barbara Tuchman paints a portrait of 14th-century France.
French or Foe? (Polly Platt, 1994). This best seller, along with its follow-up, Savoir-Flair! is an essential aid for interacting with the French and navigating the intricacies of their culture.
A Goose in Toulouse and Other Culinary Adventures in France (Mort Rosenblum, 2000). This series of essays provides keen insights on rural France through its focus on cuisine.
La Seduction: How the French Play the Game of Life (Elaine Sciolino, 2011). Sciolino, former Paris bureau chief of the New York Times, gives travelers a fun, insightful, and tantalizing peek into how seduction is used in all aspects of French life—from small villages to the halls of national government.
Portraits of France (Robert Daley, 1991). Part memoir, part travelogue, this is a charming reminiscence of the writer’s lifelong relationship with France, including marrying a French girl on his first trip there.
Postcards from France (Megan McNeill Libby, 1997). This perceptive account tells the adventures of an American exchange student adjusting to life in France.
The Road from the Past: Traveling Through History in France (Ina Caro, 1994). Caro’s enjoyable travel essays take you on a chronological journey through France’s historical sights.
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong (Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow, 2003). This is a must-read for anyone serious about understanding French culture, contemporary politics, and what makes the French tick.
Travelers’ Tales: Paris and Travelers’ Tales: France (edited by James O’Reilly, Larry Habegger, and Sean O’Reilly, 2002). Notable writers explore Parisian and French culture.
Two Towns in Provence (M. F. K. Fisher, 1964). Aix-en-Provence and Marseille are the subjects of these two stories by the celebrated American food writer. She also writes about her life in France in Long Ago in France: The Years in Dijon (1929).
A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence (Peter Mayle, 1989/1991). Mayle’s memoirs include humorous anecdotes about restoring and living in a 200-year-old farmhouse in a remote area of the Luberon.
The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles (Martin Gayford, 2006). This historical account vividly chronicles Van Gogh and Gauguin’s tumultuous stay in Arles.
The Fly-Truffler (Gustaf Sobin, 1999). After the death of his young wife, a Provençal man stays in touch with her spirit through intimate dream visions.
Hotel Pastis (Peter Mayle, 1993). Mayle, whose nonfiction books are recommended earlier, also wrote fiction set in Provence, including this book and A Good Year.
Joy of Man’s Desiring (Jean Giono, 1935). Giano captures the charm of rural France. (The author also wrote the Johnny Appleseed eco-fable set in Provence, The Man Who Planted Trees.)
The Chorus (2004). Filled with angelic choir music, this touching film tells the story of a schoolteacher and the boys he brings together.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1990). A homely, romantic poet woos his love with the help of another, better-looking man (look for scenes filmed at the Abbaye de Fontenay).
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988). Steve Martin and Michael Caine star in this comedy filmed in and around Villefranche-sur-Mer.
French Kiss (1995). This romantic comedy includes scenes in the French countryside and Cannes, as well as Paris.
A Good Year (2006). This British-American romantic comedy, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, is loosely based on the novel by Peter Mayle and filmed at a Luberon winery recommended in this book.
The Horseman on the Roof (1995). The beautiful Juliette Binoche seeks her missing husband in this romance-drama set in 1830s southern France.
Jean de Florette (1986). This marvelous tale of greed and intolerance follows a hunchback as he fights for the property he inherited in rural France. Its sequel, Manon of the Spring (1986), continues with his daughter’s story.
My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle (1991). These companion films, based on the memoirs of writer/filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, depict his early life in Provence.
The Return of Martin Guerre (1982). A man returns to his village in southwestern France from the Hundred Years’ War—but is he really who he claims to be?
Ronin (1998). Robert De Niro stars in this crime caper, which includes a car chase through Paris and scenes filmed in Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Arles.
To Catch a Thief (1955). Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller showcases the French Riviera and crackling performances by Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.
• Europeans write a few of their numbers differently than we do. 1 = , 4 = , 7 = .
• In Europe, dates appear as day/month/year, so Christmas 2020 is 25/12/20.
• Commas are decimal points and decimals are commas. A dollar and a half is $1,50, one thousand is 1.000, and there are 5.280 feet in a mile.
• When counting with fingers, start with your thumb. If you hold up your first finger to request one item, you’ll probably get two.
• What Americans call the second floor of a building is the first floor in Europe.
• On escalators and moving sidewalks, Europeans keep the left “lane” open for passing. Keep to the right.
A kilogram equals 1,000 grams (about 2.2 pounds). One hundred grams (a common unit at markets) is about a quarter-pound. One liter is about a quart, or almost four to a gallon.
A kilometer is six-tenths of a mile. To convert kilometers to miles, cut the kilometers in half and add back 10 percent of the original (120 km: 60 + 12 = 72 miles). One meter is 39 inches—just over a yard.
| 1 foot = 0.3 meter | 1 square yard = 0.8 square meter |
| 1 yard = 0.9 meter | 1 square mile = 2.6 square kilometers |
| 1 mile = 1.6 kilometers | 1 hectare = 2.47 acres |
| 1 centimeter = 0.4 inch | 1 ounce = 28 grams |
| 1 meter = 39.4 inches | 1 quart = 0.95 liter |
| 1 kilometer = 0.62 mile | 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds |
| 32°F = 0°C |
When shopping for clothing, use these US-to-European comparisons as general guidelines (but note that no conversion is perfect).
Women: For pants and dresses, add 32 in France (US 10 = French 42). For blouses and sweaters, add 8 for most of Europe (US 32 = European 40). For shoes, add 30-31 (US 7 = European 37/38).
Men: For shirts, multiply by 2 and add about 8 (US 15 = European 38). For jackets and suits, add 10. For shoes, add 32-34.
Children: Clothing is sized by height—in centimeters (2.5 inches = 1 cm), so a US size 8 roughly equates to 132-140. For shoes up to size 13, add 16-18, and for sizes 1 and up, add 30-32.
Europe takes its temperature using the Celsius scale, while we opt for Fahrenheit. For a rough conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit, double the number and add 30. For weather, remember that 28°C is 82°F—perfect. For health, 37°C is just right. At a launderette, 30°C is cold, 40°C is warm (usually the default setting), 60°C is hot, and 95°C is boiling. Your air-conditioner should be set at about 20°C.
First line, average daily high; second line, average daily low; third line, average days without rain. For more detailed weather statistics for destinations in this book (as well as the rest of the world), check www.wunderground.com.
Whether you’re traveling for five days or five weeks, you won’t need more than this. Pack light to enjoy the sweet freedom of true mobility.
5 shirts: long- & short-sleeve
2 pairs pants (or skirts/capris)
1 pair shorts
5 pairs underwear & socks
1 pair walking shoes
Sweater or warm layer
Rainproof jacket with hood
Tie, scarf, belt, and/or hat
Swimsuit
Sleepwear/loungewear
Debit card(s)
Credit card(s)
Hard cash (US $100-200)
Money belt
Passport
Tickets & confirmations: flights, hotels, trains, rail pass, car rental, sight entries
Driver’s license
Student ID, hostel card, etc.
Photocopies of important documents
Insurance details
Guidebooks & maps
Basics: soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, sunscreen, brush/comb, etc.
Medicines & vitamins
First-aid kit
Glasses/contacts/sunglasses
Sewing kit
Packet of tissues (for WC)
Earplugs
Mobile phone
Camera & related gear
Tablet/ebook reader/laptop
Headphones/earbuds
Chargers & batteries
Phone car charger & mount (or GPS device)
Plug adapters
Daypack
Sealable plastic baggies
Laundry supplies: soap, laundry bag, clothesline, spot remover
Small umbrella
Travel alarm/watch
Notepad & pen
Journal
Second pair of shoes (flip-flops, sandals, tennis shoes, boots)
Travel hairdryer
Picnic supplies
Water bottle
Fold-up tote bag
Small flashlight
Mini binoculars
Small towel or washcloth
Inflatable pillow/neck rest
Tiny lock
Address list (to mail postcards)
Extra passport photos
When using the phonetics, try to nasalize the n sound.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
| Good day. | Bonjour. | bohn-zhoor |
| Mrs. / Mr. | Madame / Monsieur | mah-dahm / muhs-yuh |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? | par-lay-voo ahn-glay |
| Yes. / No. | Oui. / Non. | wee / nohn |
| I understand. | Je comprends. | zhuh kohn-prahn |
| I don’t understand. | Je ne comprends pas. | zhuh nuh kohn-prahn pah |
| Please. | S’il vous plaît. | see voo play |
| Thank you. | Merci. | mehr-see |
| I’m sorry. | Désolé. | day-zoh-lay |
| Excuse me. | Pardon. | par-dohn |
| (No) problem. | (Pas de) problème. | (pah duh) proh-blehm |
| It’s good. | C’est bon. | say bohn |
| Goodbye. | Au revoir. | oh ruh-vwahr |
| one / two / three | un / deux / trois | uhn / duh / trwah |
| four / five / six | quatre / cinq / six | kah-truh / sank / sees |
| seven / eight | sept / huit | seht / weet |
| nine / ten | neuf / dix | nuhf / dees |
| How much is it? | Combien? | kohn-bee-an |
| Write it? | Ecrivez? | ay-kree-vay |
| Is it free? | C’est gratuit? | say grah-twee |
| Included? | Inclus? | an-klew |
| Where can I buy / find...? | Où puis-je acheter / trouver...? | oo pwee-zhuh ah-shuh-tay / troo-vay |
| I’d like / We’d like... | Je voudrais / Nous voudrions... | zhuh voo-dray / noo voo-dree-ohn |
| ...a room. | ...une chambre. | ewn shahn-bruh |
| ...a ticket to ___. | ...un billet pour ___. | uhn bee-yay poor ___ |
| Is it possible? | C’est possible? | say poh-see-bluh |
| Where is...? | Où est...? | oo ay |
| ...the train station | ...la gare | lah gar |
| ...the bus station | ...la gare routière | lah gar root-yehr |
| ...tourist information | ...l’office du tourisme | loh-fees dew too-reez-muh |
| Where are the toilets? | Où sont les toilettes? | oo sohn lay twah-leht |
| men | hommes | ohm |
| women | dames | dahm |
| left / right | à gauche / à droite | ah gohsh / ah drwaht |
| straight | tout droit | too drwah |
| pull / push | tirez / poussez | tee-ray / poo-say |
| When does this open / close? | Ça ouvre / ferme à quelle heure? | sah oo-vruh / fehrm ah kehl ur |
| At what time? | À quelle heure? | ah kehl ur |
| Just a moment. | Un moment. | uhn moh-mahn |
| now / soon / later | maintenant / bientôt / plus tard | man-tuh-nahn / bee-an-toh / plew tar |
| today / tomorrow | aujourd’hui / demain | oh-zhoor-dwee / duh-man |
| English | French | Pronunciation |
| I’d like / We’d like... | Je voudrais / Nous voudrions... | zhuh voo-dray / noo voo-dree-ohn |
| ...to reserve... | ...réserver... | ray-zehr-vay |
| ...a table for one / two. | ...une table pour un / deux. | ewn tah-bluh poor uhn / duh |
| Is this seat free? | C’est libre? | say lee-bruh |
| The menu (in English), please. | La carte (en anglais), s’il vous plaît. | lah kart (ahn ahn-glay) see voo play |
| service (not) included | service (non) compris | sehr-vees (nohn) kohn-pree |
| to go | à emporter | ah ahn-por-tay |
| with / without | avec / sans | ah-vehk / sahn |
| and / or | et / ou | ay / oo |
| special of the day | plat du jour | plah dew zhoor |
| specialty of the house | spécialité de la maison | spay-see-ah-lee-tay duh lah may-zohn |
| appetizers | hors d’oeuvre | or duh-vruh |
| first course (soup, salad) | entrée | ahn-tray |
| main course (meat, fish) | plat principal | plah pran-see-pahl |
| bread | pain | pan |
| cheese | fromage | froh-mahzh |
| sandwich | sandwich | sahnd-weech |
| soup | soupe | soop |
| salad | salade | sah-lahd |
| meat | viande | vee-ahnd |
| chicken | poulet | poo-lay |
| fish | poisson | pwah-sohn |
| seafood | fruits de mer | frwee duh mehr |
| fruit | fruit | frwee |
| vegetables | légumes | lay-gewm |
| dessert | dessert | day-sehr |
| mineral water | eau minérale | oh mee-nay-rahl |
| tap water | l’eau du robinet | loh dew roh-bee-nay |
| milk | lait | lay |
| (orange) juice | jus (d’orange) | zhew (doh-rahnzh) |
| coffee / tea | café / thé | kah-fay / tay |
| wine | vin | van |
| red / white | rouge / blanc | roozh / blahn |
| glass / bottle | verre / bouteille | vehr / boo-tay |
| beer | bière | bee-ehr |
| Cheers! | Santé! | sahn-tay |
| More. / Another. | Plus. / Un autre. | plew / uhn oh-truh |
| The same. | La même chose. | lah mehm shohz |
| The bill, please. | L’addition, s’il vous plaît. | lah-dee-see-ohn see voo play |
| Do you accept credit cards? | Vous prenez les cartes? | voo pruh-nay lay kart |
| tip | pourboire | poor-bwahr |
| Delicious! | Délicieux! | day-lees-yuh |
For more user-friendly French phrases, check out Rick Steves’ French Phrase Book and Dictionary or Rick Steves’ French, Italian & German Phrase Book.