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France - what to expect

France is a country of northwestern Europe. It shares its borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. France also shares maritime borders with the United Kingdom. France encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. It is Europe’s most important agricultural producer and one of the world’s leading industrial powers.

Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre, medieval cathedral like Notre Dame, and monuments like the Eiffel Tower.

Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Louvre Museum, Paris
Seine River, Paris, France
Seine River, Paris

Fast Facts

  • Official Name: French Republic
  • Capital: Paris
  • Population: 67.1M in 2021
  • Currency: Euro, CFP Franc
  • Official Language: French
  • Visa Requirements: As France is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area. So, anyone can visit it with a valid Schengen visa.
  • Best Time to Visit: From late Spring(April-May) to early Autumn(September-October) is the best time to visit France.

Top Experiences

  • Admire the antiques at the Louver
  • Take a Seine River Cruise
  • Watch the Sunset from the Eiffel Tower
  • Make a day trip to Mont Saint-Michel
  • See the Mystery of Notre Dame
Grand Palace, Paris, France
Grand Palace, Paris

Safety

Paris is generally a safe destination for tourists, students, business travelers, and others. Violent crime is relatively uncommon; however, street crime is a concern, most notably in areas tourists frequent. In addition to wallets and passports, smartphones and small electronic devices are targeted. Be wary of where you use and store your laptop or smartphone.

Pickpockets

It can be of any gender, race, or age. However, it is common for pickpockets in Paris to be under the age of 16, as they are less likely to face arrest/prosecution. There is a common method of thieves to distract a tourist with questions or a disturbance while an accomplice picks the victim’s pockets, backpack, or purse. So, remain aware and attentive to your surroundings. Particularly in congested areas at train stations, airports, and subways. Tourist sites and the public transportation system are locations where criminals routinely operate. Pickpockets are active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to the city center. Pickpockets often target passengers on Metro line 1, which traverses the city center from east to west and services many major tourist sites. Thieves time their pickpocket attempts to coincide with the closing of the automatic doors on the Metro, leaving the victim on the departing train while the thief makes his/her escape through the Metro.

A  Recent Report is beneficial before a visit to France.

The Last Note

First and foremost, no need to panic. These are the types of things travelers should be aware of before traveling to France especially Paris. In addition, a few safety tips to help you out of trouble if you land in it.

Budgeting Plan

Transportation -The Paris Metro is generally reliable and safe. However, it is in wide use and can become very crowded in the morning/evening. The Paris public transport system is run by RATP and consists of the Métro (underground), Tram, RER suburban express train (which interconnects with the Métro inside Paris), bus, and Noctilien (night bus).

Paris and its suburbs divide into 6 zones. Zones 1 and 2 cover the city center and ALL Métro lines. RATP tickets and passes are valid on the Métro, tram, buses, and RER. The Métro alone is very efficient and will take you anywhere you need to go within Paris city limits. You can see the City Map Here or book the ticket of RATP here

Metro tickets cost € 1.90 each (€14.50 for 10 trips)

Accommodation

A hostel dormitory bed starts around €20~25. Budget hotels start at around €50 per night for a single room with basic amenities.

Other sites to plan and choose your accommodation might be Booking.com,  Air BnB(25€), Agoda, or Hostelworld(20€). However, when you’re looking for a hostel, do your research, read reviews to get a feel for the place. and book somewhere that suits you

Food and local Dishes

In Paris, you can find any type of international restaurant which can provide you your local dishes. However, from Spanish cuisines, a few must-try will be

  • Try delicious gourmet chocolates in Paris.
  • Baguettes are long loaf of bread that has been made in France for centuries
  • Macarons is a type of French pastry
  • Éclair, The eclair is another pastry that takes its name from the French.
  • A few common eatables with typical French taste are French Cheese, Falafel, and Croissants.

Suggested daily budget –  For Backpacking a suggested budget about 60~80€. It includes a bed in a dorm, a portion of basic food, and public transport within the city with a couple of site seeing.

TIPS, DOs, DON'Ts

  • Take a Paris visit pass for unlimited travel or select a suitable one at your convenience.
  • Avoid some scams such as offered by random people to sign a petition or take a survey, then soliciting money to support the cause.
Notre Dame and Seine River, Paris, France

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Hey, This is Rashid and I am here to share my Wide Angle Dreams with you, with the aim to provide you a Wide Angle to catch your bucket list dreams of travelling and trekking. If you love to travel but feel that you are bound in tough daily routines and find very little time to catch your travelling dreams, then you are at a right place.

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