How to plan a trip to France?

When planning a trip to France it is important to consider some practical aspects such as the most convenient means of transportation, the ideal season to travel, the necessary documentation to enter the country and other details that will make the trip easier and more satisfying. Beyond the practical advice, each country has a unique culture and tradition that may be very different from our day-to-day life. That is why it is advisable to learn about it before traveling to be respectful and live an enriching experience.

At Passporter we know that small details make the difference, so we have prepared this post where we answer all the questions that you might have before or during your trip. We also tell you how to plan your trip with the Passporter App, where you can save your travel itineraries, documentation, manage your reservations and share your own experience.

1. Have your travel documents for France at hand in the Passporter App

If you are European Union citizen, your valid ID card or passport will suffice for traveling to France. If you are traveling from another country outside the EU, you should check with the embassy whether or not a visa is required to enter the country.

In case you need a visa to travel to France, you will be able to save it in the Passporter App so you will always have it at hand and will not run the risk of losing it.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Try gastronomy in France and find the best restaurants with Passporter

French cuisine has a reputation for being one of the most sophisticated and delicious gastronomies in the world. But what is surprising is not only the flavor and quality of its dishes, but the relationship of great respect that the country’s inhabitants have with their products.

The dishes vary greatly depending on the region you’re in, and in the more touristy places the prices increase considerably. But wherever you go, we’re sure you’ll eat deliciously. And if you can’t decide between so many restaurants, we recommend that you look in the Passporter App. There you will find reviews and images of numerous restaurants and bars where other travelers want to share their experience.

Here are some of the country’s most famous dishes:

1. Croissant: iconic and delicious flaky pastry, ideal for breakfast
2. Escargots de Bourgogne: snails cooked in garlic and parsley butter. It is a popular dish in the Burgundy region.
3. Bouillabaisse: it is a tasty fish soup originating in the Provence region, made with a variety of fresh fish and shellfish.
4. Ratatouille: Vegetarian Provençal dish consisting of a mixture of vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes, all slow-cooked in olive oil.
5. Cassoulet: is a traditional stew from southwestern France, prepared with white beans, pork, sausage and occasionally lamb or duck.
6. Quiche Lorraine: is a savory tart made with a shortcrust pastry base and filled with a mixture of eggs, cream and bacon.
7. Confit de Canard: duck legs slowly confit in their own fat, which gives them a tender and flavorful texture.
8. Crêpes and galettes: crêpes are sweet and galettes are savory. You’ll find them in all flavors, but crêpes with sugar are very common.
9. Tarte Tatin: this is a classic dessert consisting of an upside-down caramelized apple tart, with the crust on top and caramelized apples underneath.

In addition to the most famous dishes, France is also well known for its cheeses such as brie, camembert, Roquefort or Tomme de Savoie among many others. And we cannot forget the wine and champagne of the best quality and worldwide prestige.

3. The best time to plan a trip to France

The weather in France varies greatly depending on the area where you travel. In general the country has mild winters and mild summers, especially along the Mediterranean coast. Temperatures drop as you get closer to the north or mountainous areas such as the Pyrenees or the Alps. Depending on the weather, the best time to travel to France will depend on the type of tourism you are looking for.

For a sun and beach vacation there’s nothing like the summer months of June, July and August. But expect the coast and tourist hotspots such as Paris to be crowded, you’ll need to book in advance and prices will be higher. If on the other hand you want to practice snow sports in the mountains we recommend you to go between December and March.

Our recommendation is to travel to France in spring and autumn, when the temperature is pleasant and there are not so many tourists.

4. How to get to and around France

Although the easiest way to get to France is by plane, the truth is that there are several ways to get there from nearby European cities, such as the train or bus. You can also arrive by boat to the main cities of the Côte d’Azur on a Mediterranean cruise or by Ferry from the UK and Italy. Some of the best-connected international airports are:

• Paris: Charles de Gaulle International Airport
• Nice: Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport
• Lyon: Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
• Marseille: Marseille Provence Airport
• Touluse: Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
• Bordeaux: Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport
• Strasbourg: Strasbourg Airport

During your trip you will be able to move around France with ease. Here are all the alternatives for getting there and getting around:

• Car: it’s definitely the easiest way to get around the country, but it only makes sense if you’re going to do route, don’t even think about renting a car if you’re staying in Paris.
• Motorhome: France is a very well prepared country for motorhome travel. On the outskirts of all cities you will find areas enabled to spend the night, as it is not allowed to enter the cities with the caravan.
• Train: France’s rail network is very efficient and connects much of the country. The TGV (high-speed train) connects the main cities of the territory with each other and with other European capitals. The regional train network is also very complete.
• Bus: There are bus lines that circulate on national territory and connect the main destinations with the surrounding countries. We recommend to book in advance as in high season they fill up fast.
• Ferry: There are ferries linking the UK, Italy and Corsica with France. The advantage is that you will be able to take your own car, the disadvantage is that the price is usually high.

One of the advantages of Passporter is that it allows you to compare and buy airline tickets through Skyscanner from the App itself, where you can also save them to have all your travel documents collected in the same place. From the Passporter App you can also book a car for transfers with MyTransfer.

5. Most popular festivities of the country

When you plan a trip to France it is interesting to learn about the festivities, either to attend or to avoid them as they lead to higher prices and make the destination more crowded. That’s why we’ve put together this list of some key dates in France:

• Tour de France (July): It is one of the most famous cycling races in Europe. It lasts for three weeks during which fans congregate along the route to cheer on the cyclists and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
• Bastille Day (July 14): is France’s national holiday and is celebrated throughout the country. It includes military parades, fireworks, and festive events to commemorate the French Revolution.
• Nice Carnival (February): it is one of the most famous carnivals in France. It is held in the city of Nice and for two weeks the streets are filled with parades, floats and colorful costumes.
• Cannes Film Festival (May): The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the film industry. Celebrities and filmmakers from around the world gather to present and view the films of the year.
• Fête de la Musique (June 21): This holiday is a celebration of music in all its forms. Free open-air concerts and musical events are held throughout France in the streets and squares.

If you want to discover more about France’s traditions you can search the Passporter App, which has a culture-specific section for each destination.

6. Check Passporter for plans to do as a family in France

If you are planning a trip with children, you should know that France is an ideal destination with beach and mountain scenery, amusement parks and much more. On the Passporter App you can read about the experience of other families and get inspired to organize your trip. Here are some of the best destinations to go to with kids

1. Beaches of the Côte d’Azur: here you will find wonderful beaches where the little ones can swim and build sand castles. In addition, they will be able to practice water sports.
2. Châteaux of the Loire Valley: the Loire Valley is famous for its impressive châteaux where children can imagine stories of knights. Many of them feature interactive activities for the whole family.
3. Natural Parks: France has beautiful natural parks, such as the Calanques National Park in Marseille or the Vanoise National Park in the Alps. Here you can enjoy family hikes for all levels, bike rides and outdoor activities in a breathtaking natural environment.
4. Amusement parks and zoos: In France there are a wide variety of amusement parks and zoos that are ideal to visit with the family, such as the Futuroscope Park in Poitiers, the Beauval Zoological Park in Saint-Aignan, the La Palmyre Zoological Park in Royan.

7. Plan a trip with friends to France

Are you one of those who prefer to travel with friends, with family or alone? If you have tried all modalities, you surely know that the option of traveling with friends can be the most exciting and wonderful experience, but it is also usually the most problematic. That is why it is important to know well the person you are traveling with and talk about your preferences before embarking on the trip. In this post we leave you some useful tips for traveling with friends: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

With the Passporter App you can also plan your travel itineraries from start to finish and discover the experiences of other travelers. You can read about the best places to visit in France, but also about transportation, necessary documentation and many other details. Add your friends and create together your travel itinerary with the stops you are going to make and the points of interest you are most interested in. Later you will be able to share your experience through the pictures you take during the trip.

8. Use Passporter to organize your itinerary and keep documents up to date

register for or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Organize your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or typology (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information of the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
• Add the stops that most interest you, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodations, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app to always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documentation…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travelers with your experience. In addition, you can share your own tips for planning a trip to France.
• Enjoy your trip in France!

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

9. Frequently asked questions for planning a trip to France