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Quick Summary
Beyond the Europe Essentials Master List, France needs the SNCF Connect app for TGV and regional trains, TheFork for restaurant bookings, and a Crit’Air sticker ordered in advance before driving into any of the 40-plus low-emission city centers, Paris included. Book Louvre tickets only through ticket.louvre.fr, since third-party resellers no longer sell standalone entry. Budget the nightly taxe de sejour on top of your room rate, and greet every shop or cafe with a simple bonjour before asking a question.
France runs on its own systems, and most of them are not the ones you used in Italy or Spain. The rail booking site is different, the low-emission driving rules are stricter and more widely enforced, and the tipping habits catch first-time visitors off guard at every meal. This list gathers the apps, products, and services that make a France trip run smoothly, organized by category so you can jump straight to what you need before you fly.
Getting Around France
France’s rail network is the backbone of most itineraries, and it has its own booking ecosystem separate from the rest of Europe.
- SNCF Connect – the official app for booking TGV, Intercités, and regional TER trains across France. Fares open around 3-4 months ahead, and the app is where you’ll get platform numbers and real-time delay alerts.
- OUIGO – SNCF’s low-cost high-speed service, booked through its own app rather than SNCF Connect. Fares can run a third of the standard TGV price, but luggage allowance is limited and stations are sometimes further from the center (Marne-la-Vallée instead of central Paris, for example).
- Île-de-France Mobilités – the official app for Paris Metro, RER, bus, and tram tickets. It replaced most of the old paper ticket system, and a Navigo Easy card loaded through the app is the simplest way to move around the city.
- Trainline – useful as a backup for cross-checking fares and for trips that combine SNCF with other European rail operators in one booking.
A quick note before you scroll: some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. I only list things I’d genuinely put in my own suitcase.
Amazon picks for getting around:
- Compact packing cubes, 6-piece set – built for grabbing one bag off a train luggage rack instead of digging through everything. BAGSMART 6 Set /4 Set/2 Set Compression Packing Cubes for Travel
- RFID-blocking crossbody travel bag – slim enough for platform transfers, sized for a passport, phone, and train tickets. Sling Travel Bag for Women, Anti-Theft RFID, Crossbody
- Digital luggage scale – checked-bag limits get enforced at TGV stations more often than people expect. Digital Suitcase Weight Scale for Travel
- Portable phone charger, 10,000mAh – train wifi drains a phone fast, and outlets on regional trains are inconsistent. Anker Nano Power Bank, 10,000mAh Portable Charger with Built-in USB-C Cable
Where to Eat in France
Meal times are fixed here in a way that surprises visitors used to eating on demand. Kitchens typically close between lunch and dinner service, so plan around roughly 12-2pm and 7:30-10pm.
- TheFork (La Fourchette) – France’s dominant restaurant reservation app, with discounts of up to 50% for booking off-peak slots. Widely used by locals, not just a tourist tool.
- Michelin Guide app – free access to the full Michelin selection, including the more affordable Bib Gourmand tier, with an interactive map for planning a route by neighborhood.
- Google Translate (camera mode) – menus in smaller towns rarely have English translations, and camera mode handles handwritten chalkboard menus better than typing.
Amazon picks for eating out:
- French phrasebook with a dining and market section – covers ordering, allergies, and the phrases for asking what’s in a dish. The Snackable French Phrasebook for Savvy Travelers
- Collapsible reusable water bottle – tap water is safe throughout France, and asking for une carafe d’eau (free tap water) at restaurants saves money. TakeToday Collapsible Water Bottles, Foldable for Travel
- Compact reusable utensil and straw set – handy for market lunches and picnics from a boulangerie. Travel Utensils with Case, Quatish Portable Silverware Set
- Insulated collapsible tote bag – markets sell in bulk and a foldable bag beats a plastic sack for cheese and produce. SCOUT Nooner Insulated Bag for the beach, picnics, and travel.
Money, SIM & Connectivity
Cash still matters more in small French towns and markets than in Paris, and there is now an added cost most first-time visitors don’t budget for.
- Airalo (eSIM) – a France-specific eSIM you can activate before landing, useful if your phone supports eSIM and you want data the moment you land at CDG.
- Free Mobile or Orange prepaid SIM – physical SIM options if your phone doesn’t take eSIM; Orange has wider rural coverage, Free is usually cheaper.
- Revolut or Wise – for a fee-free way to pay in euros and check the real exchange rate against what a card statement later shows.
- Zappy Refund (VAT refund app) – for non-EU visitors spending over the VAT refund threshold in one store, this tracks the paperwork and refund status digitally instead of a paper stamp at the airport.
A city tourist tax (taxe de séjour) is charged per person, per night, on top of your accommodation cost almost everywhere in France, and Paris raised its rate again for 2026. Most hotels and Airbnb listings now show it as a separate line item at checkout rather than folding it into the room rate, so it is worth checking before you book if you’re working to a tight budget.
Amazon picks for money and connectivity:
- RFID-blocking travel wallet with SIM card slot – a dedicated slot keeps a swapped-out home SIM from getting lost. Zero Grid RFID Passport Holder for Passports & Cards, Zippered
- Universal travel adaptor with USB-C ports – France uses the Europlug/Type E socket, and multi-port adaptors save fighting over one outlet. VYLEE European Travel Plug Adapter, USB C Ports
- Slim currency and card organizer – keeps euros separate from home currency for faster market and café transactions. Chums Surfshorts Lightweight Slim Wallet with RFID Blocking
Sightseeing in France: Reservations & Fees
The Louvre now sells its own tickets exclusively through its official site, and reservations at major sites fill up further in advance each year.
- Paris Museum Pass – covers 50+ museums and monuments including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Versailles, sold in 2, 4, or 6 consecutive-day versions. It does not include timed-entry booking at flagship sites, so pair it with a separate reservation.
- ticket.louvre.fr – the only place to book official Louvre entry as of 2026; third-party resellers no longer sell standalone entry tickets.
- Château de Versailles official site – for the palace’s own timed-entry slots, which sell out well ahead in summer.
- Since January 2026, several French national monuments have introduced two-tier pricing, with non-EEA visitors paying a higher standard rate than EEA residents. It’s worth checking current pricing on each site’s own page before you budget, since the gap has widened for popular sites.
Amazon picks for sightseeing:
- Compact binoculars – useful at Versailles’ gardens and for architectural detail high on cathedral facades. Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars for Adults and Kids | Bird Watching, Cruise Ship, Outdoor Hunting, Travel, Sightseeing
- Foldable daypack, 15L – many museums require bags under a certain size or check them at the entrance. [Amazon affiliate link placeholder]
- Portable phone tripod with remote shutter – for getting a full-body shot in front of a landmark without asking a stranger. SENSYNE 62″ Phone Tripod, Extendable Selfie Stick Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
- Museum-friendly crossbody camera bag – padded, front-facing, and small enough to pass bag checks at most sites. MOSISO Camera Sling Bag, DSLR/SLR/Mirrorless Camera bag
Driving in France
Renting a car for the countryside, wine regions, or Alps is worth it, but driving into almost any French city center now comes with a rule that trips up visitors every year.
- Crit’Air sticker (certificat-air.gouv.fr) – France’s low-emission zone (Zone à Faibles Émissions, or ZFE) sticker, required to legally drive into more than 40 French cities as of 2026, Paris included. It’s ordered directly from the official government site for a small fee and mailed to your address, so order it well before your trip; rental cars generally qualify but you still need the physical sticker displayed.
- Google Maps or Waze – both flag ZFE boundaries and toll roads on French routes, and Waze tends to catch traffic reroutes faster in cities.
- Vinci Autoroutes or Ulys badge – for the télépéage lane at toll booths on France’s extensive autoroute network, skipping the cash or card queue at each toll gate.
A note on the ZFE: the rules vary city by city and by vehicle emissions class, and enforcement has been tightening year over year. Confirm your rental car’s Crit’Air classification with the rental company before you drive into any city center, since a missing or wrong sticker carries a real fine.
Amazon picks for driving:
- Dash-mounted phone holder with wireless charging – for hands-free navigation on unfamiliar roundabouts and toll lanes. Wireless Car Charger 15W Auto Clamping Phone Holder Dash Windshield Vent
- Reflective safety vest and warning triangle kit – legally required to be carried in every vehicle in France, checked in roadside stops. XOOL Emergency Warning Triangle Kit – Roadside Safety Kit for Car Breakdowns & Emergencies
- Portable car charger with dual USB-C – for keeping a navigation phone alive on longer countryside drives. BERTHALESS Retractable Car Charger, 4 in 1 Fast Charging Car Charger with USB-C
Gear Notes
- Compression packing cubes – a repeat pick across every category above for a reason: France’s mix of train travel and cobblestone old towns rewards a bag you can compress fast.
- Comfortable walking shoes with a low profile – cobblestones in old-town Provence and the Marais are hard on running-shoe soles. Skechers Women’s Hands Free Slip-ins Go Walk Flex
- Lightweight rain shell – weather shifts fast in Normandy, Brittany, and the Alps regardless of season. 33,000ft Packable Rain Jacket Women Lightweight Waterproof Raincoat with Hood
- Packable tote for market and bakery runs – doubles as a day bag once you’ve eaten your way through the morning’s croissants. Stelle Lightweight Reusable Grocery Bag with Handles Ripstop Nylon Foldable Tote Shopping Bags for Travel
Good to Know: French Etiquette
- Always greet with bonjour (or bonsoir in the evening) before asking a question in a shop, café, or hotel. Skipping it reads as rude, even to staff who speak English.
- Tipping is not expected the way it is in the US. A service charge is built into the bill by law (service compris); rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is a kind gesture, not an obligation.
- Small shops and some restaurants close for a few hours at lunch, and many businesses close entirely on Sundays and Mondays outside major cities.
- Keep your voice down on public transit and in restaurants. Loud conversation across a train car draws attention in France in a way it might not elsewhere.
- Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches and cathedrals, even smaller ones outside Paris.
For products and services that apply across every European destination, not just France, see the Europe Travel Essentials Master List. If you’re building out an Italy leg of the same trip, the Italy Travel Essentials post covers the ZTL, transit, and dining equivalents for that country.
For rail, driving, and tourist tax rules straight from the source, the official France tourism site at france.fr is worth bookmarking before you finalize a route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, France uses Type E outlets, which differ slightly from the more common Type C or Type F plugs used elsewhere in Europe. A universal EU adapter covers France reliably, but double-check it explicitly lists France or Type E compatibility before you travel.
The SNCF Connect app handles booking and tickets for TGV, regional TER trains, and most rail travel across France. Download tickets for offline access before boarding, and check for strike notices during peak travel season; French rail strikes happen more often than in most countries.
A crossbody bag with a zippered, body-facing compartment matters most around major Paris landmarks and on the metro, where pickpocketing targets distracted tourists. A slim RFID-blocking wallet and a doorstop alarm for hotel rooms round out the basics for most trips.
Yes, tap water is safe across France, and asking for “une carafe d’eau” gets you free tap water at restaurants instead of paying for bottled. A reusable water bottle saves money throughout the trip, especially useful during summer sightseeing days.
Cards work almost everywhere in French cities, including small cafés and markets, more consistently than in some other European countries. Carry a small amount of cash for rural areas, public restrooms, or the rare vendor that’s card-only above a minimum purchase.
Service is included by law in French restaurant prices, so tipping isn’t expected the way it is elsewhere. Rounding up or leaving a small amount for exceptional service is appreciated but not required. Skip calculating a percentage; it isn’t the local norm.
A basic first-aid kit, any regular medications in original packaging, and sunscreen cover most needs. French pharmacies (identifiable by the green cross sign) are widely available and staffed by pharmacists who can advise on minor issues without needing a doctor visit.
Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on purchases over a set minimum from participating stores. Ask for the tax-free form at checkout, keep your receipts and passport handy, and process the refund at the airport before departure; the process takes extra time, so build in a buffer.