Travel information

Paris, one of the world’s best loved and most romantic cities spreads out in a wondrerful symmetry of beautiful buildings, parks and long avenues. The Eiffel Tower provides an unsurpassable bird’s-eye view of an architectural triumph, not only unscathed by time, but growing more attractive, romantic and mysterious as the years go by.

As the old song goes, Paris is at its best in springtime, even if it is sometimes a little wet. In winter, Paris has all sorts of cultural events going on, while in summer the weather is warm and lazy - at times even sizzling! In August, when Parisians flee for the beaches to the west and south, many restaurateurs lock up and leave town too. However, this is rapidly changing and you'll find considerably more places open during summer compared to a decade ago.

Weather

The weather during summer is usually warm and dry. Springtime is a wonderful time to visit Paris, although it can be wet at times. The autumnal shades of trees lining the boulevards add a new dimension to the city's beauty. During winter, it can turn quite cold with December and January being the coldest months of the yaer with temperatures around 3ºC / 37ºF.

Language

French is the official language, though there are also regional languages including Breton, Catalan, Basque, and Provençal. Visitors to Paris may be wary of attempting French words and phrases, but Parisians appreciate any effort in trying to speak at least some French.

Time Difference

The time for the whole of France is GMT / UTC plus one hour during the winter months (October to March), and plus two hours during the summer months (April to September).

Visa

Short-stay visas are valid for a maximum of three months and may allow one or several entries into France. However this may vary, depending on your particular situation. Without a long-stay visa, you cannot apply for a temporary "carte de séjour". There are 4 categories of "carte de séjour": visitor, student, private/family life and employee. Long-stay visas are issued by the French Embassy in your own country before travelling to France. Long-stay visas are valid for between 3 and 6 months. If you visit France on a short-stay (tourist – up to 3 months) visa, you cannot change this to a long-stay visa whilst in France.

Currency

The unit of currency is Euro. Credit and debit cards are convenient and relatively secure. Visa and MasterCard (Access or Eurocard) are widely accepted; AmEx cards are useful at more upmarket establishments. In general, all three cards can be used in shops, supermarkets, for train travel, car rentals, autoroute tolls and cash advances.

Shopping

Paris is justifiably world famous for its endless shopping opportunities and especially renowned for perfume, cheese, wine, fashion, fine jewellery and antiques. There are also numerous second-hand shops, street markets and book stalls, as well as high-gloss department stores such as Au Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette.

The avenue Montaigne, Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, and along the Left Bank in St Germain-des-Prés (in the Marais district) are all leading areas for haute couture fashion. Famous boutiques include designers such as Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Valentino, Lanvin, Gian Franco Ferre, Hermes and many more, whilst some of the world's most elegant jewellers can be found on Place Vendôme and rue de la Paix.

VAT

VAT (Value Added Tax), known as TVA in France, is applied at a standard rate of 19.6% on most articles sold. Non-EU residents may claim a TVA refund back if the cost of the goods purchased is more than €175.00. It is necessary to retain the receipts to present to French customs on leaving the country.

Gratuity

In France, all prices shown include tax and service (the latter is around 15% of the total price). However, if the service has been particularly good, you may wish to leave a tip in order to show your appreciation. As a general rule, the amount is between 5 to 10% of the total bill.

Business Hours

:: Banks and Government offices:
In general, banks open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm either Monday to Friday or Tuesday to Saturday. Some branches may close during lunchtime, usually between 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm
:: Offices:
Most offices open from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm Monday to Friday, and 8.00 am to midday on Saturday. They are closed on public holidays.
:: Shops (Hours vary):
Shops generally open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm Monday to Saturday (until 9:00 pm on Thursday). Some smaller shops may close during lunchtime between midday and 2pm, or all day on Monday. Most shops are usually closed on Sunday and public holidays seasons, although there are some exceptions. During the sales season or in December just before the holidays, most stores, both large and small, may open on Sundays. It’s worth knowing that a number of smaller shops close for their annual holidays from mid-July to end-August.

Eating Out

Paris is renowned worldwide as the capital of gastronomy: a winning combination of talent, expertise and high-quality French produce. For example the delights of traditional French cuisine, the variery of restaurants and cafés is simply huge, each with its own particular atmosphere and style. Parisian restaurants, acting as ambassadors of good taste, serve up an endless range of flavours with tasty country dishes, Mediterranean specialities, recipes from all over the world,a galaxy of cold meats and cheeses,imaginative desserts… Restaurants, bars, brasseries, tea rooms, ice cream parlours, open-air cafés and pubs invite gourmet eaters from all over the world to a real culinary feast.

Moving Around

You can get around Paris either by Metro (underground), Train RER, bus and car.

Telephone Network

The international access code for France is +33. For dialling an international call, the outgoing code is dependent on the choice of network used for dialling (e.g. 00 for France Telecom), and followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 44 for the United Kingdom). The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. The operators are Cegetel (Le 7), 9 Télécom (Le 9), Télé 2 (Le 4) and Kertel,

Health

No vaccination injections are required for traveling to France. However, with regards to domestic pets, you must provide their health certificates and make sure that they have been vaccinated against rabies. Also check with the Embassy Consular if their particular breed is permitted on French territory.

Electricity

Plugs conform to the European standard of two round pins. The electric current is 220V, 50 HzAC. American and British appliances require an adaptor for use in power outlets.

Public holidays

New Year’s Day; Easter Monday; Labour Day; Victory 1945; Ascension Day; Whit Monday; Bastille Day; Assumption Day; All Saints’ Day; Armistice 1918; Christmas Day