France

Most trips to France are flight and hotel packages: you choose the dates and the hotel, and the flight comes with it. Paris and Disneyland Paris suit any season, the Côte d'Azur is at its best from late spring to early autumn, and Lyon is France's food capital and a gateway to the Alps.

When to go

Paris is good all year; it is most pleasant in spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October), and in December the city has Christmas markets and lights. On the Côte d'Azur the swimming season runs from June to September, when the sea warms to about 22–25 °C; May and October are mild and quieter. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months everywhere.

Where to go

• Paris — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and the Seine; allow at least three or four days.

• Disneyland Paris — two theme parks at Marne-la-Vallée, about 40 minutes from central Paris; the hotels in Serris and Val d'Europe are the easy choice for families.

• Nice — the Promenade des Anglais, the old town and pebble beaches, with Monaco, Èze and Antibes a short bus or train ride away.

• Cannes — sandy beaches along La Croisette, the film festival town, and boat trips to the Lérins Islands.

• Lyon — an old town on the UNESCO list, traditional bouchon restaurants, and the nearest big airport for the French Alps.

Food

Start the day with a croissant and coffee; at lunchtime many restaurants offer a good-value set menu (formule). Try the cheese and wine everywhere, salade niçoise and socca in Nice, and the dishes of Lyon's bouchons. Service is included in the bill; a little extra for good service is welcome but not expected.

Good to know

• Documents: France is in the EU and the Schengen area: EU citizens travel with a valid ID card or passport. Citizens of other countries should check the entry rules before booking.

• Flight: about 3 hours to Paris and about 3.5 hours to Nice on a direct flight.

• Time: France is one hour behind Estonia and Latvia.

• Money: the euro; cards are accepted almost everywhere.

• Plugs: European sockets (type E), 230 V: our plugs fit, no adapter needed.

• Health: take your European Health Insurance Card, and travel insurance as well.

• Tourist tax: hotels charge a small tourist tax (taxe de séjour) per person per night, often paid on the spot.