Plan Your Trip
Need to Know
When to Go
High Season Jul & Aug
oQueues at big sights and on the road, especially August
oChristmas, New Year and Easter equally busy
oLate December to March is high season in Alpine ski resorts
oBook accommodation and tables in the best restaurants well in advance
Shoulder Apr–Jun & Sep
oAccommodation rates drop in southern France and other hotspots
oSpring brings warm weather, flowers, local produce
oThe vendange (grape harvest) is reason to visit in autumn
Low Season Oct–Mar
oPrices up to 50% less than high season
oSights, attractions and restaurants open fewer days and shorter hours
oHotels and restaurants in quieter rural regions (such as the Dordogne) are closed
Daily Costs
Budget: less than €130
oDorm bed: €18–30
oDouble room in a budget hotel: €90
oAdmission to many attractions first Sunday of month: free
oLunch menus (set meals): less than €20
Midrange: €130–220
oDouble room in a midrange hotel: €90–190
oLunch menus in gourmet restaurants: €20–40
Top End: over €220
oDouble room in a top-end hotel: €190–350
oTop restaurant dinner: menu €65, à la carte €100–150
Useful Websites
France.fr (www.france.fr) Official country website.
France 24 (www.france24.com/en/france) French news in English.
Paris by Mouth (www.parisbymouth.com) Dining and drinking; one-stop site for where and how to eat in the capital with plenty of the latest openings.
David Lebovitz (www.davidlebovitz.com) American pastry chef in Paris and author of several French cook books; insightful postings and great France-related articles shared on his Facebook page.
French Word-a-Day (http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com) Fun language learning.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/france) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
Opening Hours
Opening hours vary throughout the year. We list high-season opening hours, but remember that longer summer hours often decrease in shoulder and low seasons.
Banks 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday or Tuesday to Saturday
Restaurants Noon to 2.30pm and 7pm to 11pm six days a week
Cafes 7am to 11pm
Bars 7pm to 1am
Clubs 10pm to 3am, 4am or 5am Thursday to Saturday
Shops 10am to noon and 2pm to 7pm Monday to Saturday
Arriving in France
Aéroport de Charles de Gaulle (Paris) Trains, buses and RER suburban trains run to Paris' city centre every 15 to 30 minutes between 5am and 11pm, after which night buses kick in (12.30am to 5.30am). Fares are €9.75/6-17.50/8 by RER/bus/night bus or a flat fare of €50/55 for the 30-minute taxi journey to right-/left-bank central Paris (15% higher between 5pm and 10am, and Sundays).
Aéroport d'Orly (Paris) Linked to central Paris by Orlyval rail then RER (€12.05) or bus (€7.50 to €12.50) every 15 minutes between 5am and 11pm. Or T7 tram to Villejuif-Louis Aragon then metro to the centre (€3.60). The 25-minute journey by taxi costs €35/30 to right-/left-bank central Paris (15% higher between 5pm and 10am, and Sundays).
Getting Around
Transport in France is comfortable, quick, usually reliable and reasonably priced.
Train Run by the state-owned SNCF, France's rail network is truly first-class, with extensive coverage of the country and frequent departures.
Car Meander away from cities and large towns (where a car is hard to park) and a car comes into its own. Cars can be hired at airports and train stations. Drive on the right. Be aware of France's potentially hazardous 'priority to the right' rule.
Bus Cheaper and slower than trains. Useful for more remote villages that aren’t serviced by trains.
Bicycle Certain regions – the Loire Valley, Brittany, the Lubéron in Provence – beg to be explored by two wheels and have dedicated cycling paths, some along canal towpaths or between fruit orchards and vineyards.
