France Travel Guide

Language

French is the official language.

Currency

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travelers checks, particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not accepted.

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Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for France is +33. The outgoing code depends on what network is used to dial out on (e.g. 00 for France Telecom), which is followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Other codes are used if using different networks. The area code for Paris is (0)1. Most public telephones accept phone cards, which are available in newsagents. Most hotels add a surcharge to calls, which can be very expensive; the cheapest way to call abroad is often with a phone card from a public telephone or at a post office. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Internet cafes are available in towns throughout France.

Duty-Free

Travelers from non-EU countries over 17 years entering France can bring in the following items duty-free: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with alcohol content 22% and over, or 2 liters of dessert wine or sparkling wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume, and 2 liters of table wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette and other goods to the value of EUR175 per adult or EUR90 for children under 15 years.

Tourist Office

Maison de la France (Tourist Information Agency), Paris: +33 (0)1 4296 7000 or www.franceguide.com

Embassies in France

• US Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4312 2222.
• British Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4443 2900.
• Australian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4059 3300.
• South African Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 5359 2323.
• Irish Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4417 6700.
• New Zealand Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4501 4343.

France Embassies Abroad

• French Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• French Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• French Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• French Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• French Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• French Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• French Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112.

Language

French is the official language.

Currency

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travelers checks, particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not accepted.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for France is +33. The outgoing code depends on what network is used to dial out on (e.g. 00 for France Telecom), which is followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Other codes are used if using different networks. The area code for Paris is (0)1. Most public telephones accept phone cards, which are available in newsagents. Most hotels add a surcharge to calls, which can be very expensive; the cheapest way to call abroad is often with a phone card from a public telephone or at a post office. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Internet cafes are available in towns throughout France.

Duty-Free

Travelers from non-EU countries over 17 years entering France can bring in the following items duty-free: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with alcohol content 22% and over, or 2 liters of dessert wine or sparkling wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume, and 2 liters of table wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette and other goods to the value of EUR175 per adult or EUR90 for children under 15 years.

Tourist Office

Maison de la France (Tourist Information Agency), Paris: +33 (0)1 4296 7000 or www.franceguide.com

Embassies in France

• US Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4312 2222.
• British Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4443 2900.
• Australian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4059 3300.
• South African Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 5359 2323.
• Irish Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4417 6700.
• New Zealand Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4501 4343.

France Embassies Abroad

• French Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• French Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• French Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• French Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• French Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• French Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• French Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112.

Language

French is the official language.

Currency

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travelers checks, particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not accepted.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for France is +33. The outgoing code depends on what network is used to dial out on (e.g. 00 for France Telecom), which is followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Other codes are used if using different networks. The area code for Paris is (0)1. Most public telephones accept phone cards, which are available in newsagents. Most hotels add a surcharge to calls, which can be very expensive; the cheapest way to call abroad is often with a phone card from a public telephone or at a post office. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Internet cafes are available in towns throughout France.

Duty-Free

Travelers from non-EU countries over 17 years entering France can bring in the following items duty-free: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with alcohol content 22% and over, or 2 liters of dessert wine or sparkling wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume, and 2 liters of table wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette and other goods to the value of EUR175 per adult or EUR90 for children under 15 years.

Tourist Office

Maison de la France (Tourist Information Agency), Paris: +33 (0)1 4296 7000 or www.franceguide.com

Embassies in France

• US Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4312 2222.
• British Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4443 2900.
• Australian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4059 3300.
• South African Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 5359 2323.
• Irish Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4417 6700.
• New Zealand Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4501 4343.

France Embassies Abroad

• French Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• French Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• French Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• French Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• French Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• French Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• French Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112.

Language

French is the official language.

Currency

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travelers checks, particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not accepted.

0.6887

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and last Sunday in October).

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.

Communications

The international access code for France is +33. The outgoing code depends on what network is used to dial out on (e.g. 00 for France Telecom), which is followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Other codes are used if using different networks. The area code for Paris is (0)1. Most public telephones accept phone cards, which are available in newsagents. Most hotels add a surcharge to calls, which can be very expensive; the cheapest way to call abroad is often with a phone card from a public telephone or at a post office. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Internet cafes are available in towns throughout France.

Duty-Free

Travelers from non-EU countries over 17 years entering France can bring in the following items duty-free: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with alcohol content 22% and over, or 2 liters of dessert wine or sparkling wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume, and 2 liters of table wine; 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette and other goods to the value of EUR175 per adult or EUR90 for children under 15 years.

Tourist Office

Maison de la France (Tourist Information Agency), Paris: +33 (0)1 4296 7000 or www.franceguide.com

Embassies in France

• US Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4312 2222.
• British Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4451 3100.
• Canadian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4443 2900.
• Australian Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4059 3300.
• South African Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 5359 2323.
• Irish Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4417 6700.
• New Zealand Embassy, Paris: +33 (0)1 4501 4343.

France Embassies Abroad

• French Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 944 6000.
• French Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7073 1000.
• French Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1795.
• French Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6216 0100.
• French Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 425 1600.
• French Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 277 5000.
• French Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 384 2555.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112.