FranceFrance Travel Guide
France is Europe's most-visited country — and far more than just Paris. The lavender fields of Provence, the blue shoreline of the Côte d'Azur, the German-influenced villages of Alsace, the coastal towns of Normandy, the royal châteaux of the Loire Valley. Each region has its own wine and cuisine.
Currency
EUR €
Visa
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.
Language
French
Best Season
April–June and September–October
Where to go in France?
Ready city guides with day-by-day sample itineraries, plus more destinations from the France catalog.
What's the daily budget in France?
€55–85/day (hostels outside Paris, boulangerie, free parks)
€100–180/day (3★ hotel, bistro meals, 1–2 museums; ~30% higher in Paris)
€220–450/day (4–5★ hotel, fine dining, private tours; Paris and the palaces at the higher end)
Estimated daily spend (food, local transport, museums — excluding accommodation). Flights and hotels are calculated separately.
Do you need a visa?
France: A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements..
Visa and transit rules can change; confirm the official consulate information before you travel.
When to go?
April–June and September–October (mild weather, fewer crowds).
Regional identity runs deep: bouchons in Lyon (charcuterie boards, quenelle), ratatouille and bouillabaisse in Provence, cassoulet and duck in Bordeaux, Calvados and Camembert in Normandy. Dinner is 7:30–9:30pm, and small restaurants close between 2 and 7pm. Breakfast at the boulangerie (croissant + café) is standard, and apéritif culture starts around 6pm.
France with a Turkish passport: visa & transit status
Visa status
A Schengen visa is required for many non-EU nationalities (ETIAS planned). Check your passport's specific requirements.. Official source for the current visa regime applied to Turkish citizens: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transit / connection
An airport transit visa (ATV) may be needed via Schengen.
Some Schengen countries (Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain…) require Turkish citizens to hold an airport transit visa (type A / ATV) when connecting to a destination OUTSIDE Schengen.
Exemption: A valid Schengen visa (in some countries a valid US/Canada visa or residence permit) exempts you from the ATV. If your destination is itself in Schengen you will already hold a Schengen visa, so this connection is not a problem.
Official source: www.schengenvisainfo.com
Last updated: July 2026. Visa and transit rules can change — before you apply or buy a ticket, confirm on mfa.gov.tr and with the relevant consulate.
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How to get to France
International flights typically connect via IST; the nearest airport for each city is noted in its city guide.
The TGV (SNCF) is Europe's best high-speed rail network — Paris–Lyon 2h, Paris–Marseille 3h, Paris–Bordeaux 2h. Within cities, the Paris metro is extensive (zones 1–5, Navigo card). The Côte d'Azur coast is linked by train (Nice–Monaco–Cannes). Renting a car makes sense for the Loire and Provence. The Eurostar runs from London, the Thalys from Brussels/Amsterdam.
- 01
Book Louvre and Eiffel Tower tickets online at least a month ahead; in summer you'll otherwise queue for hours.
- 02
On the Paris metro use a Navigo Easy card (far cheaper than single tourist tickets).
- 03
Museums are usually closed on Monday or Tuesday (it varies by site).
- 04
If the bill says service compris (service included), tipping isn't required; small rounding is enough.
- 05
Versailles is very crowded in summer — go at the 09:00 opening or after 3pm.
- 06
Check the tide times for Mont Saint-Michel in advance (mont-saint-michel.com).
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