Hiking and Adventure Travel in France

Where is France: France is located in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Andorra. Italy and Spain. France has several coastlines including the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel, and the North Sea.

Size: 643 801 km²

Population: approximately 66 99 million

Capital: Paris

What is France Known For: France is known for many things and landmarks including The Louvre, one of the world’s most beautiful art museums and home to the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of Versailles and the Moulin Rouge are all the landmarks that are symbols of France. The French Riviera and Mont Blanc are some of the natural landmarks that are popular. France is also well-known for its tasty cheese and wine as well as Champagne and pastries. France is well known for its art, culture, cuisine, and fashion among other things.

Places of Interest: France offers many places of interest including, Mont Blanc where you can do a self-guided hike, Paris, Strasbourg, Mayenne, Grenoble,https://monkeysandmountains.com/product/tour-du-mont-blanc-self-guided-tour/ Lyon, Poitou Charentes, and Nice. There is much more to be discovered off the beaten path.

Accommodation: Accommodation is easy to find and the standards are quite good. 

What Is There To Do In France: There is plenty to do for everyone including viewing some of the best art in the world, indulging in exquisite cuisine and wines as well as champagne. There is excellent cycling, hiking and mountaineering to be found in many regions. France is home to some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world and the beaches are well-known throughout the world.

Getting Around: Public Transport is widely available and reliable. The train and bus systems in France are safe and easy to use. 

Safety: France is a safe country to travel to. You can easily travel from place to place on your own. Of course, in any place, you should always be vigilant of petty crime and ensure that you keep personal items safe.

Best Time to Visit: The most popular time to visit is during summer from mid-June to August. The cheapest and least crowded times to visit are during spring, April to June and Fall, September to November. The weather is still temperate in many regions. 

Winter is wet cold and grey but during mid-December to early January cities like Paris are popular. 

Time Zone: GMT +1

Official Language: French. English is widely spoken in major cities.

Drinking-Water:  The tap water in France is safe to drink. 

Vaccinations: No vaccines are required but general vaccines such as hepatitis A & B as well as Rabies. 

Entry: US & Canadian citizens do not require a visa for entry if they intend to stay 90 days or less. Citizens of the European Union have free entry in France. Many countries require a Schengen visa. 

Eat & Drink: France is well-known for its excellent, rich cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes are Beef Bourguignon which is a rich braised beef stew in red wine and vegetables. You should most definitely try Ratatouille while in France. It is a dish of stewed vegetables used as a side dish, meal, and stuffing. Chocolate Souffle is a wonderful dessert which is like a cake with a hard crust and soft chocolate center. France is well-known for its cheese and wine which should not be missed.

Currency, Cash & Card: The currency in France is the Euro. It is easy to exchange money if you need to at several establishments. You will also find ATMs wherever you go. 

Tipping: Most establishments include a 15% service fee to your bill. There is no real tipping etiquette for restaurants and cafes but it is usually acceptable to leave a small tip for good service. For hotel concierges and porters it is usually a norm to tip them a small amount. 

Wifi: Cities such as Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Nice offer free wifi in most public areas. In Lyon wifi is available in public areas but requires payment. Most restaurants and coffee shops offer wifi in major areas.