France Travel Guide

France is the romantic center of Europe. Its long history, scenic spots and rural scenery with rich cultural connotations attract tourists from all over the world. Paris, the beautiful and charming flowers, the beautiful and charming Côte d'Azur, and the ski resorts in the Alps are all fascinating tourist attractions. There are more than 20 scenic spots in France that have been listed as World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites by the United Nations: Paris's Seine River waterfront centered on the Louvre and Notre Dame, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Strasbourg, Mont Saint-Michel, Chambord Castle, etc.

Best tourist season The best time to travel in France is between April and June. France is located at the western end of the European continent. The climate along the Atlantic coast is relatively mild and variable. Except in the mountainous areas and northeastern regions, winters can be said to be quite warm. The northeast has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters; the southern Mediterranean coast has a Mediterranean climate, with little rain in summer and little and short rainfall in spring and autumn. The unique "Mistral" in the south is a kind of dry and cold wind blowing towards the Rhone Valley in the Mediterranean region of France. It is said that this cold wind blows for 100 days a year.

Spring: Spring comes around April and Easter, and you still need to wear sweaters, coats and other clothing. Summer: There is no plum rainy season, and the air is relatively dry. There are cloudy clouds in June, and it can be a little chilly. It is advisable to bring a sweater for emergencies. In July and August, the daytime temperature is around 30 degrees. Autumn: Autumn begins in September, with more rain and lower temperatures, about 12 to 13 degrees. It is recommended to prepare simple warm clothing. Winter: Winter enters November, with short days and long nights and less sunshine during the day. Warm clothing such as thick coats and woolen clothes is a necessity.

visa instructions 1. When China citizens apply for visas to France, ordinary passport holders submit visa applications through the visa agency center set up in China by the French Embassy and Consulate in China.

2. Visas to France are mainly divided into two categories: short-term Schengen visas (stay for less than 3 months) and long-term visas (stay for more than 3 months). Short-term Schengen visas include visits, travel, family visits or personal visits, short-term studies, etc.; long-term visas (Category D) are national visas and are invalid to go to other Schengen countries.

3. The Law implements the principle of consular jurisdiction to accept visa applications, and visas cannot be applied across consular districts.

4. Visa applications must be made online and processed at the visa center according to the appointment time. If you are overdue, you need to make a new appointment.

5. You must purchase accidental injury medical insurance covering the entire travel period, including medical and medical rescue insurance coverage of at least 30,000 euros.

6. Applicants must submit their visa application in person.

7. If your visa is refused, your visa fee will not be refunded, but you can appeal.

8. The reception hours at the Visa Application Center are from 08:30 to 12:00 a.m. and from 13:15 to 16:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Visa fees 1. Short-term visa for Schengen countries: 60 euros.

Airport Transit Visa: € 60.

3. Short-term visa for French overseas provinces: French overseas territories, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia Short-term visa: 9 euros.

4. Long-term visa: 99 euros.

5. Long-term student visa (must have completed the relevant procedures of the French Higher Education Agency): 50 euros.

6. Adoption visa: 15 euros.

7. Short-term residence visa-French Overseas Territories/Overseas Territories Associations (within three months, Category C): 9 euros.

Entry

Exit Instructions People under the age of 17 are not allowed to bring tobacco products and alcoholic drinks, and people under the age of 15 are not allowed to bring coffee beans; Cigarettes: 200 cigarettes can be carried duty-free;100 cigars;50 cigars;250 grams of tobacco; Alcohol: 1 liter of alcohol with an alcohol content above 22;2 liters of wine, table wine, beer with an alcohol content below 22; 60 ml of perfume, 250 ml of toilet water; Adults are allowed to bring items worth up to 1200 euros.

Transportation The first choice for traveling from China to France is by plane. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong all have direct flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, with a flight time of about 11-14 hours. In addition, cities such as Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nice in France all have international airports, making it convenient no matter where you go in France. If you are traveling to France from a foreign country, you can depart from Moscow, Central Asia, East Asia or the UK. There are many direct flights to France. Most flights land at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, while some land at Orléans and Nice airports.

If you are on the continent of Europe, another convenient way to get to France is by rail. The French railway system not only can travel to most parts of the country, but also connects with the railway systems of Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and other countries. It is very convenient to travel to and from European countries by international trains.

The currency is Euro), the symbol €, and the banknotes have face values of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. Coins are available in 1 euro, 2 euro, and Centime), with currency values of 10, 20, and 50;1 euro =100 Centime.

It should be noted that many supermarkets and shops do not accept banknotes above 50 euros. If you carry large banknotes, it is best to go to the bank to exchange them for change. 1 euro coins are very useful, so you might as well keep some. Many supermarket trolleys need to be stuffed into one before they can be used, and you can take them back when you use them and return the car. There are also parking fees, beverage machines, etc. that only accept coins. Foreign currency exchange can generally be carried out at airports, railway stations, foreign currency exchange offices, and main branch offices of banks. It is best to consult and confirm the exchange rate and handling fee before trading.

Currently, there are 30,000 ATMs in France that can use UnionPay cards to withdraw euro cash, all over France. UnionPay cards can be accepted by ATMs with the UnionPay logo or by ATM machines of the following four banks: Crédit Agricole (CAF), Groupe Caisse dt'epargne (Société Générale (SG), and Le Crédit Lyonnais (LCL). Credit Agricole's ATMs in Paris provide a Chinese interface, but other ATMs do not have a Chinese interface. If you use a UnionPay card overseas to withdraw money from an ATM, according to the regulations of the national competent authority: the cumulative daily withdrawal of a single card of a UnionPay debit card shall not exceed the equivalent of RMB 10,000 yuan in foreign currency.​

Telephone networks can purchase a local SIM card online before going to France, so that they can enjoy cheap international long calls in France. You can also use Dial-around cheap services provided by some operators, such as appellemonde, allo2556, etc. Dial-around service can be used on any landline in France without signing up or registering. Most Dial-around services can save money for international long distance calls to the United States, Canada, Western Europe and other countries at local French rates.

Free WIFI signal can be used in airports, train stations, Quick and McDonald's fast food restaurants. Moreover, a certain treasure can purchase a universal telephone card for many countries in Europe for 10 days (1-2g traffic) for less than 100 yuan, and the local price is even lower, while the daily rent for mobile wifi is more than 30 yuan, and more than 300 yuan for 10 days. You can calculate for yourself. If multiple people use it and the per capita cost of renting mobile wifi (which can generally support 5 devices) is lower than the cost of a phone card, rent wifi, otherwise buy a card.

Postal France's Post Office (La Poste) logo is a blue letterhead on a yellow round. The usual business hours of the post office are 9:30-12:30, 13:30-17:00 from Monday to Friday, and 9:30-12:00 on Saturday. For details, please also refer to the opening time of the post office entrance.

The latest postage for ordinary letters within 20 grams is 0.98 euros, and postage for postcards to other European countries is 0.83 euros. Commemorative stamps with various themes are sold at the post office. Those with the themes of French scenery and specialties of various regions are good souvenirs and small gifts. The price of a series of 10 stamps is around 8.6 euros.

Power supply: The French power supply is 27V/220V, 50Hz, and the socket is two-phase round leg.

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Food French food ranks among the top three delicacies in the world. There are countless famous domestic dishes and the pursuit of food art is extremely high. Each dish has its own unique cooking method. The use of fresh seasonal ingredients, coupled with the chef's personal unique conditioning, can create unique artistic dishes that will make you salivate.

To taste juicy and delicious French dishes, you must have exquisite tableware and picturesque dishes to satisfy the vision, the aroma of wine to satisfy the smell, and the delicious taste to satisfy the taste. Wine glasses and knives and forks intersect in the peaceful and peaceful space, constituting the dual highest enjoyment of touch and taste.

In addition, the French also attach great importance to wine. They produce red wine, white wine, champagne, etc. every year to match different dishes, and are very particular about the use of wine in catering. For example: drink lighter starter wine before meals; drink white wine or rose wine when eating salads, soups and seafood; drink red wine when eating meat; and drink a little brandy or sweet wine after meals. In addition, champagne is often used during celebrations, such as weddings, giving birth to children, celebrating celebrations, etc.

French cheeses are also very famous and have a wide variety. Cheese is usually eaten with bread, dried fruits, grapes, etc.

French restaurants are generally open from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm, and from 7:00 to 11:00 in the evening. At other times, if you want to eat, you can go to coffee cafes such as Cafe or Brasserie, or you can go to Creperie's Pancake Shop. Most restaurants post the day's menu and prices at the door. At lunch, most of them have Plat de jour (Today's Recommended Menu), which is more affordable. The menu is generally written in the formal order of serving the meal: Entree's first dish before dinner, usually soup or salad;Poissons fish;Viandes meat;Legumes vegetables;Dessert dessert. You can flexibly master it according to the situation, and you don't have to order everything. Bread is provided for free, just like rice in some restaurants in China. If there is not enough, you can ask for more.​

Shopping France has a wide range of goods, making it a truly shopping paradise. It has everything from art to ashtrays, gems to crystal pearls, dresses to casual clothes. France is most famous for its Paris fashion, and the world's most famous fashion designers have stores in France. There are also Grasse perfumes, antiques, Baccarat crystals, gloves, glass, oil paintings, red wines from Bordeaux, Champagne from Connac, Burgundy and porcelain from Limoges. In addition to famous brands of fashion and perfumes, there are also many handicrafts here. There are many villages in France that still maintain pottery, glass craftsmanship, lace weaving and papermaking handmade with traditional techniques. These handicrafts with local colors are excellent gifts as souvenirs.

In addition to famous brands of fashion and perfumes, France also has many commendable handicrafts. There are many villages in France that still maintain exquisite handmade pottery, glass craftsmanship, lace weaving and papermaking made with traditional techniques. These handicrafts with local colors are all excellent gifts as souvenirs or souvenirs.

France is very famous for some objects, such as: Limo porcelain, Brittany lace, Quimper porcelain, antiques; perfumes from Paris and Grasse, the "capital of perfumes"; Paris scarves, art, shoes and other leather goods, silverware, sleigh; Gian pottery, Sèvre porcelain, Chantilly lace, Perigor's handicrafts, painted silk, Bactan crystals, and Behug art.

France is very famous for these objects, such as: Limo porcelain; Brittany lace; Quimper porcelain, antiques; perfumes from Paris and Grasse, the "capital of perfumes"; Paris scarves, art, shoes and other leather goods, silverware, sleigh; Gian pottery; Sèvre porcelain; Chantilly lace; Perigor's handicrafts, painted silk; Bactan crystals; and Behug art. Visiting France will definitely allow tourists to enjoy the fun of shopping.

At present, nearly a thousand merchants in France that are frequently visited by China tourists can accept UnionPay cards, including world-renowned large department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Department Store, duty-free stores such as Paris Look, Haitian, and Benlux, brand stores such as LV, Cartier, Montblanc, VanCleef, Omega, Armani, and Lancel, and Sephora Perfume Chain stores. Visa and Master cards are generally available. American Express and Diners are not accepted in many places. And if you buy a certain amount in France, you can enjoy a 13% TVA (additional price tax) tax refund. The tax refund process is very convenient. For details, please check the French Tourism Office or the shop where you shop. You can generally receive the refund of the tax exemption within 3 months after returning home.

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Perfume and cosmetics purchase tips The places to buy cosmetics and perfumes in Paris can be divided into four main categories: general shopping stores, drug stores, duty-free shops and airport duty-free shops.

1. General shopping store characteristics: complete brand, many new products, many samples, guaranteed quality, and little price advantage.

Representative shops and locations: sephora, nocibe, marionnaud.

These are specialty stores for perfumes and cosmetics, which can be seen in various shopping centers and on some street corners; other shopping malls such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Department Store also have cosmetics counters.

2. Characteristics of drugstore: It only sells drugstore, and the price is generally cheaper than that in China.

Representative store and location: Generally, there are special cosmetics areas in supermarkets such as Auchan Carrefour, Monoprix, etc., and they are also sold in general pharmacies pharmacie (with a green cross sign).

But in pharmacies, choices are not as wide as in drugstores.

3. Characteristics of duty-free shops: Communication can be used in Chinese, and the range of choices is limited.

However, the price of perfumes and cosmetics is slightly higher than that of ordinary stores, but there is a discount of about 60%. After discount, the price is relatively low.​

Tax refund France's value-added tax is 19.60%, but generally only 12% can be refunded in France. When you get the tax refund form, please carefully check your name, passport number, item details and amount to be careful to avoid being unable to refund the tax due to filling in incorrectly. Some stores will post TAX Free at the door, but some stores do not, so when you enter a store to shop, it is best to confirm with the clerk whether you can refund the tax and what the minimum consumption amount is before you can apply for the tax refund. If you can refund the tax, please present your passport to apply.

1. Tax refund sales TAX Free If the buyer has a long-term residence in a non-EU member state and holds a short-term visa of less than 6 months) and the purchase is of a tourist retail nature rather than a commercial nature; if the tax-inclusive price of the product is purchased at the same tax refundable store on the same day, the value-added tax (TVA) can be deducted from the price of the product purchased).

Tax refund conditions: The purchaser is a long-term resident of a non-EU country, spends 175 euros at a time in the same store, and the purchased items will be taken out of the EU country within three months after purchase.

Notes: When purchasing items, ask for a tax refund form and purchase invoice from the store; when leaving EU countries, the customs will stamp the tax refund form; when leaving EU countries, you will finally leave France. Credit card tax refund: Generally 12%, returned to the account after about 2 months. Cash tax refund: Deducting the handling fee is generally 10%-10.8%. Goods consignment: When applying for tax refunds at the airport, please do not consignment goods until customs inspection.

2. Self-service tax refund machine PABLO Self-service tax refund machine, or PABLO for short, allows travelers to quickly process tax refund forms at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and collect the refunded tax before leaving France. PABLO self-service tax refund machines are divided into blue and red, and can choose from a Chinese operating system. The machine is the first step in tax refund, while the red machine is the second step in tax refund. Blue machines are generally set up in the check-in area next to the manual tax refund window.

There are two steps in operation: first, select the language (Chinese) on the screen, and place the barcode on the top right of the tax refund form printed with the PABLO pattern in the barcode scanning place for scanning. After the scanning is successful, you will be prompted to continue processing at the red tax refund machine. The red tax refund machine is located in the terminal hall after leaving customs. It is set up here to confirm that passengers have left the country.

The operation method of the red tax refund machine is the same as that of the blue tax refund machine: first select the language (Chinese), and then scan the barcode on the PABLO tax refund form. After successful entry, the display will show that the tax refund information has been confirmed. The tax refund can be either collected in cash on site or refunded to a credit card. Whether it is important to keep the green copy of the tax refund form and place the pink copy receipt in the tax refund envelope to mail it, any yellow mailbox with the words "La Poste Post Office" in the airport will do.

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entertainment park green space is an important leisure place in France. People walk, date, read, play chess, and play traditional rolling games. Here you can see the most leisurely life of the French. You can see concerts, plays and other performances, as well as festivals, exhibitions and other entertainment projects throughout France. Cafes and bars are also an indispensable part of French life, and visitors can feel the strong cultural atmosphere.

Life in France is tense but also full of vitality. There are countless places for people to have fun and entertainment, such as the city's gardens, numerous museums, art galleries, opera houses on the streets, and costumed nightclubs-Red Mill and Lido. The famous "Cancan Dance" comes from the Moulin Rouge. The performance is dynamic, stunning, luxurious and passionate. It is a song and dance performance that must be enjoyed when you come to France for entertainment.

Moreover, on the streets of Paris, street performers can be seen everywhere. Some dress up as ballet dancers on music boxes, some improvise musical instruments and play on the spot, and some artists perform mimes or ironic dances on the streets. Almost the entire Paris city is immersed in the cells and atmosphere of art. Even in the subway carriage, you may have the opportunity to meet an artist performing an accordion and slowly tell you the magic of your encounter.

Movies, concerts, plays and other performances, as well as festivals, exhibitions and other entertainment items are listed in detail in classified guides or local newspapers, especially weekend editions, which can be purchased at general newsstands. There are a large number of theaters in large cities, with a wide variety of dramas performed, such as entire traditional popular comedies, solo shows in nightclubs, etc. But be sure to book in advance, as people will be very enthusiastic.

Cafes and bars mainly sell coffee and alcohol, but also sell food, cigarettes, lottery tickets, tax tickets, horse betting tickets, subway tickets or telephone cards. They usually open early, you can have breakfast inside, and don't close until 2 a.m., making it a place for people to relax.

In other provinces, these places are great places to relax, and friends come here to gather on weekends and on weekdays. In those small towns, pubs are also grain stores, newsstands, and gas stations. The "Twin Monkey" coffee bar on Rue Saint-Germain in Paris became famous because the existentialist philosopher Paul Sutter and his lifelong lover Beauvoir wrote here.

safe. French tourists are stolen and robbed. China tourists often occur. In view of the fact that some tourist attractions, shops, subways, and train stations in France are areas with high incidence of theft and robbery cases, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the China Embassy in France once again reminded China citizens traveling to France to strengthen safety precautions and properly respond when encountering danger: 1. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you or show off your wealth.

2. Please do not let your luggage and backpack out of sight; when shopping and making payments, pay attention to whether there are suspicious people around you. When riding a car, it is best to put handbags and other items in the trunk or under your feet, not on your seat or on your legs, so as not to become the target of robbery by speeding criminals.

3. Try to travel together and avoid going out alone at night or walking in remote places.

4. In case of robbery, please keep calm, do not argue with the robber or have physical conflicts, try to write down the characteristics of the robber while ensuring your own safety, and call the police immediately after confirming that there is no security threat. If you are robbed, you should call the police promptly (17) and seek help from the embassy.

Medical treatment in European hospitals basically requires doctors to issue prescriptions, and patients go to city drug stores to buy medicines according to the prescriptions. The waiting time for registration services in the hospital is long, including emergency cases). If you need emergency medical services, it is recommended to call SOS doctor's emergency telephone number: 36,240.12 euros/minute). A doctor will provide emergency door-to-door services at that time, but the charge is higher. Please keep the receipt at the same time for future insurance claims.

Emergency telephone alarm 17 First aid 15 Fire alarm 18 Embassy 0033-149521950

Tip 1. Never use US dollars to exchange euros with local people. It is illegal.

2. A well-educated French person can understand English, but he will definitely answer your questions in French. If you don't understand French, it's best to choose young people to ask for directions. They are more willing to communicate with others in English.

3. There are many thieves at stations in various scenic spots in France, and they especially like to steal foreign tourists.

4. Water and food are not allowed in many museums, and they are not sold in them, such as the Louvre, so please prepare in advance and don't want to get away with it. There is security check when entering the Louvre, which is similar to security check when boarding a plane.

5. Almost all restaurants have included tax and a 15% service charge in the price. If the food or service in a restaurant is particularly good, the average customer will pay an extra 10 francs. At the hotel, the bellman and waitress are paid 10 francs for each piece of luggage. Passengers should also tip the tour guide and driver after the tour.