Entry Requirements: 

US citizens with a valid passport traveling for tourism or business can enter France without a visa for 90 days within a six month period.  The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure.

France is a EU country and is part of the Schengen Zone.  Sometime during 2026 the Schengen Area will be implementing the European Travel Information Authorization System, ETIAS.  The ETIAS will require citizens of visa exempt countries to the Schengen Area, like the US, to apply online before traveling. Keep in mind like most countries they may ask for return flight information and hotel reservation information and they might require proof of adequate funds, although I’ve never been asked for proof of funds myself (it is apparently a profile type situation where you may be judged on appearance) I always think it’s best to be prepared.  As I’ve never encountered this myself I can only relate what I’ve read… apparently a copy of an atm transaction will suffice and some travelers have even stated showing their credit cards was enough.  Also most of the people who encountered this did not have return flights or hotel reservations.

Currency: 

The currency in France is the euro €.  Conversion rates change minute by minute. Banks usually update their exchange rates daily.  Conversion between the US dollar and the euro over the last five years appears to have fluctuated somewhere between .81 euros to 1 dollar and 1.03 euros to 1 dollar.

Getting Around: 

France has a well developed rail network.  High speed TGV trains radiate outward from the capital connecting Paris with many major cities but not often with one another.  For many other areas of France a car is the only realistic means of transportation.

Barges cruise along rivers and canals.  Popular cruise boats ply along the Seine, Rhône, and Garonne rivers.  Or you can rent your own smaller ‘self drive’ river boats on some canals. Perhaps the best known canal, The Canal du Midi is a Unesco world heritage site and runs from Toulouse to the Mediterranean.

CDC Recommendations: 

The official CDC Travelers Health website for France: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Average Weather:

Paris

Things of Note:

Strikes are a regular part of life in France, everything from train strikes which are fairly common to airport strikes to Doctors and Farmers.  My first time in France, it was taxi drivers.  Strikes aren’t generally dangerous, the main issue for tourists will be transportation delays or cancellations.  The best advice is to familiarize yourself with different transportation options so you’re prepared to pivot from say taxis to trains or vice versa if need be.