{"id":467,"date":"2025-07-29T13:34:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T05:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/11-things-only-the-locals-know-in-france-and-now-you-do-too\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:06","slug":"11-things-only-the-locals-know-in-france-and-now-you-do-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=467","title":{"rendered":"11 things only the locals know in France (and now you do too)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

One kiss or two? Anna Richards, one of the authors of the new Lonely Planet France guidebook, shares her tips to avoid some common French faux pas.<\/em><\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019ve never been to France before, it\u2019s easy to think you know it \u2014 Parisian rom-com scenes are six to a dozen. On screen and real life are very different, though. There\u2019s an unflattering reputation that the French are unfriendly, but in my experience, you\u2019re probably just making a cultural faux pas. I\u2019ve lived here for three years: here\u2019s what you need to know before visiting France, and how not to get shouted at on the Metro.<\/p>\n

1. Pay attention to tourist laws in France<\/h2>\n

EU residents can come and go as they please, but non-EU nationals (including those holding British and American passports) have the right to stay in France for up to 90 days within the period of 180 days, visa free (your passport is stamped upon arrival and exit). You\u2019ll need three months of validity left on your passport from your intended departure date. The full list of visa requirements according to country can be found here.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

Be aware of import and export rules. That stinky, unpasteurized cheese might seem like the perfect way to cover up the stench of your week-old socks, but if you\u2019re leaving the EU, it\u2019s not allowed.<\/p>\n

2. Keep ID on hand<\/h2>\n

You don\u2019t have to always have your passport, but you should carry photo ID as the police have the right to demand it (although it\u2019s rare). You\u2019ll need your passport for international border arrivals, and your hotel or hostel will often ask for it at check-in too. If you don\u2019t have it on your person, it\u2019s a good idea to have a scan to hand.<\/p>\n

3. France isn’t paperless \u2013 yet<\/h2>\n

France has not embraced contactless card payments with the same zealousness as the UK, and it\u2019s not possible to pay with contactless in some pretty surprising places, including Paris Metro. The Metro in other cities in the country (including Lyon) does accept contactless card payments, but Paris still resolutely uses paper tickets or a rechargeable Navigo card. In rural France, I recommend still carrying some cash. Even if you can pay by card in most places, there\u2019s often a minimum spend, which I\u2019ve known to be as high as \u20ac40.<\/p>\n

\"A
Driving in France yields some incredible views \u2013 but watch out for the toll roads \u00a9 Daniele Schneider \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Driving can be pricey<\/h2>\n

Driving can be eye-wateringly expensive, particularly on the motorways, where p\u00e9ages<\/em> (tolls) often cost the same or more than your fuel. Calculate the cost of your journey on ViaMichelin to see whether it makes sense to avoid toll roads and consider sharing your ride on BlablaCar (a bus and carpooling platform) to mitigate the cost of your journey.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAdvertisement\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

5. You’ll need to navigate varying opening hours<\/h2>\n

Get wise to the opening hours, particularly in rural areas. From Sunday\u2013Tuesday, a lot of shops, restaurants and attractions are closed. Smaller shops and the post office often close over lunch, regardless of the day of the week. Watch out for seasonality, too, as the French holiday en masse. At the start and end of the school holidays, roads (particularly those to the south) grind to a standstill. Outside of travel season, you may find a lot of accommodation, restaurants and attractions to be closed, regardless of the day of the week.<\/p>\n

\"Woman
The number of bisous<\/em> (kisses) offered as a greeting varies by region in France \u00a9 Jupiterimages \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Say your hellos and goodbyes<\/h2>\n

La bise <\/em>(kiss) was threatened during Covid-19, but it’s firmly back. How many kisses to give depends on the area of the country. In most of France, two kisses are the norm, but in parts of the south and south west it\u2019s three, and in certain departments, like the Yonne and Aube, four. People who still prefer to socially distance may offer you a fist bump or an air kiss instead.<\/p>\n

Say bonjour<\/em> or bonsoir<\/em> (hello or good evening) to everyone, and bonne journ\u00e9e<\/em> or bonne soir\u00e9e<\/em> (have a good day\/evening) as you leave. Don\u2019t think you can slip away at a party either. It\u2019s generally expected to greet, and say goodbye to, everyone at a gathering. Yes, this can be time-consuming.<\/p>\n

7. Skip the athleisure wear<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t wander around in your gym kit. The French tend to dress chic, and spending the day in sportswear isn\u2019t a thing. Many French people won\u2019t even bother with sports clothes for a cycle commute, unless they\u2019re hardcore cyclists in head-to-toe Lycra and clip shoes.<\/p>\n

\"A
Brush up on essential restaurant etiquette before you eat out in France \u00a9 Javier Garc\u00eda Blanco \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Learn French table etiquette<\/h2>\n

Plates have no place at breakfast, but bowls do. Most people eat their viennoiseries<\/em> and tartines<\/em> (bread and jam) directly over the table, and simply clear up the crumbs when they\u2019re finished. A waste if you ask me, because it\u2019s difficult to clean up all the delicious little flakes of croissant that fall, but that\u2019s the way it goes. There\u2019s no crockery for the food, but for drinks, coffee or tea is more often served in a trough-like bowl than a mug.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/astro-ad><\/p>\n

France has a long list of table rules, and while deviating from them isn\u2019t always frowned upon, it can quickly mark you out as a tourist. It\u2019s rare to see the French eating or having a coffee on the go; they prefer to stop and enjoy what they\u2019re consuming. Lunch is a sit-down affair and never eaten at your desk at work (it\u2019s even explicitly written in the French labour code that employees should leave their desk for lunch). France is officially a secular country, but mealtimes are a religion. Outside of set hours (12-2pm for lunch and 7:30pm-9:30pm for dinner), your chances of being served are slimmer than a ficelle<\/em> (skinny French baguette).<\/p>\n

Drinks come with rules, too. When you “cheers” someone, clink glasses and look them in the eyes as you say sant\u00e9<\/em> (health). Don\u2019t cross your arm with anyone else at the table as you clink. Failure to make eye contact, or accidental crossing of arms, is said to result in seven years of bad sex.<\/p>\n

9. Pick up a bit of French…<\/h2>\n

Learn to speak some French \u2013 a little effort goes a long way.<\/p>\n

10. …and pay attention to pronouns<\/h2>\n

Pay attention to your tu<\/em> and your vous<\/em>. Both mean “you,” but tu<\/em> is the informal version, reserved for friends, children and casual situations. In professional situations, and if addressing anyone older than you (friends\u2019 grandparents or parents, for example), always use vous<\/em>, unless they give you permission to do otherwise. You\u2019re less likely to cause offense, and the older generation in particular can be old school about the extra respect attached to vous<\/em>.<\/p>\n

11. Be chill \u2013 it’s good manners<\/h2>\n

Lower your voice. One thing that makes visitors stick out like sore thumbs is shouting your conversation, particularly in restaurants. You\u2019ll be thanked for keeping volume to a minimum in a restaurant more than you would be for a generous tip (which is not customary in France, although always appreciated). Have patience in shops and restaurants; service can often seem painfully slow and unhurried, but it\u2019s nothing personal.<\/p>\n

Keep planning your trip to France:<\/h3>\n

See all the heavy hitters with 13 of the best places to visit in France
\nTake to the highways with 7 top road trips to see the best of France
\nSave some dough with 20 ways to see France on a budget
\nEnjoy the views from a train car with The 8 most spectacular train journeys in France<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One kiss or two? Anna Ric<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-france-travel-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=467"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1163,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions\/1163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}