France FAQ for Americans

No. US citizens can visit France for tourism or business for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The 90 days count across the whole Schengen area, not per country. Longer stays need a long-stay visa from a French consulate in the US before you leave. See passports and entry and staying longer.

At least three months beyond the day you leave the Schengen area, and it must have been issued within the last 10 years. The State Department recommends six months of validity to be safe, and airlines sometimes apply that stricter rule at check-in. Children's passports last only five years, so check every passport in the family. See entry rules.

The EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully running since April 10, 2026. The first time you enter the Schengen area under it, border officers or kiosks take your photo and fingerprints instead of stamping your passport. There's nothing to apply for in advance; just allow extra time at passport control. See entry rules.

Not yet. As of October 2026, ETIAS has no launch date. When it starts, it will be an online travel authorization costing €20 and valid for three years, applied for only on the official EU website. Any site charging you for ETIAS today is a scam. See entry rules.

Mid-May through June and September through mid-October offer the best mix of weather, prices and crowds. July and August are hot and busy; November through March is cheapest outside ski resorts and Christmas markets. See when to go.

Three to four days for Paris, a week for Paris plus one region, and 10 to 14 days to add two or three regions without rushing. Try the trip builder for a day-by-day route.

Yes. Most US health plans, and Medicare, give little or no coverage abroad. A policy with medical coverage and evacuation, plus trip cancellation if you've paid big deposits, is worth the cost. See safety and health.

Yes. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, Amex less often, and tap-to-pay and Apple or Google Pay are standard. Unattended machines such as gas pumps, toll booths and some ticket machines may ask for a PIN, so know yours. Use a card with no foreign transaction fees. See money and cards.

Always euros. Choosing dollars triggers dynamic currency conversion, which adds a markup of several percent. The same goes for ATMs that offer to convert for you.

Very little. €50–100 per person covers markets, small cafés, tips and the occasional cash-only spot. Withdraw from a bank-owned ATM (distributeur) rather than standalone cash machines in tourist areas.

Service is included by law in restaurant and café prices. Round up or leave 5–10% for good service at a sit-down meal, a euro or two for a coffee, and round up taxi fares. Nobody expects the 18–20% Americans leave at home. See tipping.

Per person per day, sharing a room and before flights: roughly €100–140 on a budget in Paris, €220–350 mid-range, and €700 or more for luxury. The countryside costs about a quarter less. Price your own trip with the budget calculator.

The RER B train costs €14 and takes about 35–40 minutes to Châtelet in central Paris. Taxis charge a flat €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Take taxis only from the official rank, and ignore drivers who approach you inside the terminal. See getting around Paris.

Paper tickets are no longer sold, and leftover ones stop working in the Métro on December 15, 2026. You load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card or your phone. A Métro/RER ticket costs €2.55 for any trip in the region, a bus/tram ticket €2.05, and the Navigo weekly pass €32.40 (Monday to Sunday). Tapping a bank card works on buses and the Montmartre funicular but not yet in the Métro (line 1 is due in July 2027). See Paris transport.

Not for Paris or the big cities, which are easier by train and transit. A car helps in Provence, the Dordogne, rural Normandy and Burgundy's vineyards. Your US license is valid for visits; carry an International Driving Permit from AAA as well. See driving in France.

Use the SNCF Connect app or website, which accepts US cards and issues e-tickets. Book fast TGV trains early: second-class fares typically range from €30 to €120 depending on how far ahead you buy. Arrive 20 minutes before a TGV and 30 before a Ouigo; doors close two minutes before departure. See trains.

Usually not for a typical trip of a few long journeys. TGV seats still need paid reservations with a pass, and advance tickets are often cheaper. The math is in our train guide.

The Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements), Saint-Germain (6th) or the Latin Quarter (5th). All are central, walkable and close to several Métro lines. See Paris neighborhoods and where to stay.

Yes. Both sell timed tickets that sell out in busy seasons, and since late September 2026 even the Eiffel Tower stairs need a reservation. The Louvre costs €32 (about $36) for visitors from outside the European Economic Area, Americans included, and closes on Tuesdays. See Paris sights.

It costs €85, €105 or €125 for two, four or six days and pays off if you visit three or four paid sites a day. It doesn't cover the Eiffel Tower. Our sights guide works through the math.

Orsay, Rodin, Picasso, Marmottan, Cluny, Carnavalet and the Petit Palais close on Mondays. The Louvre, the Orangerie and the Bourse de Commerce close on Tuesdays. Versailles closes on Mondays. Under-18s get in free at national museums and monuments.

It's smaller than the Florida and California parks and has its own European touches, and it's 40 minutes from central Paris by RER A. Families with young kids usually love a day there; teens who've been to Orlando may prefer Paris itself. See day trips and Paris with kids.

No, especially in Paris and tourist areas, where many people speak some English. But always start with “Bonjour, Madame” or “Bonjour, Monsieur.” A few words of French change how you're treated. See the phrasebook and etiquette.

Rarely, once you know the rules. Most “rude” encounters start when a visitor skips the greeting, speaks loudly or expects American-style fast service. Greet people, use “vous,” keep your voice down, and let meals take their time. See culture and etiquette.

Rushing you out would be rude in France. Your table is yours for the evening. Catch the server's eye and ask “L'addition, s'il vous plaît.” See the food guide.

Yes. Ask for “une carafe d'eau” and you'll get tap water at no charge with a meal. Tap water is safe to drink throughout France.

Lunch runs from about noon to 2 pm, and many kitchens stop seating by 1:30. Dinner starts around 7:30 pm and is busiest from 8 to 9:30. Between meals, look for cafés, bakeries and brasseries that serve all day.

Generally, yes. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon. The real risk is pickpocketing and scams around major sights and on the Métro and RER B. Keep phones off café tables and bags zipped and in front of you. See safety, health and emergencies.

112 works from any phone, including US cell phones. You can also call 15 for medical emergencies, 17 for police and 18 for the fire brigade, or text 114 if you can't speak. See emergencies.

Yes, for personal use. Keep medicines in their original labeled containers and carry a copy of each prescription with the generic name. Some medicines that are common in the US, including certain ADHD drugs and strong painkillers, are tightly controlled in France and may need extra paperwork. See entry rules and health.

Visitors from outside the EU can claim back part of the VAT on goods bought in one store on one day above the minimum spend. Ask for the tax-free form when you pay, and validate it at the airport's PABLO kiosk before you check your bags. See shopping and coming home.

Solid cheese, hard or soft, is allowed, and so are chocolate, meat-free baked goods and sealed condiments. Saucisson and cured ham aren't allowed, even vacuum-packed; canned, shelf-stable foie gras usually is. Each adult can bring 1 liter of alcohol duty-free, and more if you pay duty and follow your state's rules. Declare all food on your customs declaration. See coming home and wine.