Currency:

Euro (€)

When to go:

April/May or Sept/Oct

Known for:

Art, nightlife, museums, culture

Languages:

French

France is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. It offers every conceivable attraction imaginable, from world-class art collections, exotic cuisine, to picturesque villages and vistas. You'll find unsurpassed shopping and enough history to exhaust your brain. From the Atlantic to the Riviera, from the Massif Central to the Alps, from Paris to the Pyrenees, France is packed with hidden and easy-to-spot treasures.

France is a member of the Eurozone, the group of countries that uses the Euro currency (€). Although English is common, in Paris you should always attempt French. It's a very smooth language, and if you learn a little, your hosts will be very appreciative that you've taken the time to do so. Attempting just a few French words will get a great response and you'll see just how warm and friendly the French can be. In Provence, Italian may get you somewhere, and English is not as common, though you still shouldn't have too much trouble communicating. In out-of-the-way places or remote towns, keep your phrase book with you. Spanish or Catalan is spoken in the extreme south near the border with Spain and some towns along the German border are, effectively, bi-lingual French and German.

Public transportation throughout France is generally modern, punctual, and comparatively inexpensive. Larger cities, such as Nice, Marseille, Lyon, and Paris, have an advanced network of buses, trams, and/or subways that can easily whisk you from place to place. For smaller places, or for exploring lots of places in one region, a rental car or a railpass is a popular way to move around.

Driving in France is a little tricky till you get the hang of it. In larger cities, expect lots of tiny, fast-moving objects whizzing by here and there. Sometimes they're scooters, other times they're little bitty Smartcars. Driving in Paris can be a challenge, especially around the massive intersection that circumnavigates the famous L'Arc de Triomphe, which is the nucleus and origin of the main avenues. Be careful. Out on the open road, the highway system is broken down into autoroutes (major highways), national thoroughfares, and regional roads. Obey the speed limits, as fines can be stiff, and look out for fast-approaching traffic circles and (sometimes) expensive tolls.

Using the extensive rail network of France is easy, efficient, and economical. Speedy, modern trains can whisk you between London and Paris, Paris and Nice, or other cities in no time. Other trains serve just about every city, town, and village in France, most of which have a tourist office right inside the station, which makes making last-minute decisions a worry-free exercise. Railpasses offer either a set or flexible amount of travel days. There are also different classes of service at varying rates.