For visitors...

For visitors, France it's one of those rare countries where every region offers something worthwhile and distinctive. Paris represents the height of fashion, art and food -- its sense of style is so strong it intimidates some visitors, yet the city can also be remarkably comfortable and intimate. The provinces offer their own landscapes and cultures: the glittering crowds of the Cote d'Azur, the elegant chateaus of the Loire Valley, the hospitable vineyards of Bordeaux, the rocky coasts of Brittany, the dramatic slopes of the Alps and the Pyrenees, the charming farms and villages of Provence. The country can satisfy just about any traveler's taste.

This country has been synonymous with romance for longer than your grandmother cares to remember, so whether you visit Paris or the Pyrenees, the Côte d'Azur or the auberge de jeunesse, be sure to keep your fantasies in check, your expectations in line and your joie in your vivre.

France has an amazing diversity of landscape and climate – from the snow capped Alps and Pyrénées to the scorching shoreline of the Côte d’Azur.

Verdant valleys in Normandy and Brittany contrast sharply with the arid olive groves in Provence, but whatever the countryside, it is always France.

Some of the earliest traces of human habitation in Europe have been found in l’Hexagone and while much of the country seems rural with historic architecture, there is also some of the most progressive city development anywhere on the continent.

Basics

Full country name: French Republic
Area: 547,030 sq km
Population: 60.18 million
Capital City: Paris (pop 13 million)
People: 92% French, 3% North African, 2% German, 1% Breton, 2% other (including Provençal, Catalan & Basque) Language: Breton, Catalan, Basque, French, Corsican
Language Description: French.
Religion: 90% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant, 1% Muslim, 1% Jewish, 6% unaffiliated
Government: republic
Head of State: President
Head of Government: Prime Minister

GDP: US$1.58 trillion
GDP per capita: US$26,000
Annual Growth: 4%
Inflation: 2%
Major Industries: Oil refining, steel, cement, aluminium, agricultural products & foodstuffs (wheat, barley, maize, cheese), luxury goods, chemicals, motor manufacturing, energy products
Major Trading Partners: EU (especially Germany, Italy, UK), USA
Member of EU: Yes

Passport/Visa U.S.: Passports and proof of onward passage are needed by Canadian and US citizens for stays of up to three months. Reconfirm travel document information with your carrier before departure.
Telephone Codes: 33, country code; 01, Paris city code; 04, Marseille city code
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed March-October
Tipping Overview: Expect a 10%-15% gratuity to be added to restaurant bills (hotel staff members also expect a small gratuity). Taxi drivers are generally not tipped, but they appreciate it if you round up the fare to an even amount. If you have bags that you can keep with you in the taxi, you can avoid the extra fee for bags put into the trunk.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts

When To Go

The best time to visit France is April-October, though August can be a bit hot and cities tend to empty out and close down as everyone heads to the coast. Day temperatures range from the mid-70s to the 90s F/23-37 C, with nights in the 50s-70s F/10-27 C. Temperatures generally increase as you go south; the extreme south is 10 F/6 C warmer on average. August can be very hot and humid and is a more crowded time to travel because all of France is on vacation, too; service suffers during this period. The months of May and October are probably nicest for touring, but it's often too cool to lie on the beach, even on the Riviera. The winters are cold, wet and sometimes snowy, especially in the mountains, and can be downright miserable (lows below freezing and highs in the 50s F/10-15 C), though there is excellent skiing in the winter in the Alpine region. The Riviera is moderate during the winter, much like Southern California, but it's really too cold for swimming. In any case, take a sweater -- the nights can be cool any time of the year.