Travel Insurance for France
France has enticed British travellers for centuries with its charm and history. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump across the English Channel which makes it ideal for weekend trips and longer vacations. Whether you intend to sit at an outdoor table at Parisian café or to visit a countryside vineyard in Bordeaux, it’s important that you travel safely by following French laws and knowing how to contact emergency services. To help you prepare for your trip, here’s everything you need to know about travelling to France.
Emergency Contact Information
If you’re travelling in France, you should know all the emergency numbers. 112 is the general European emergency number that will put you through to all emergency services. Call 17 to reach the police and 18 to get in touch with the fire department. If you have a medical emergency and need an ambulance, call 15. You should make sure you have your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you so that you’ll have access to state-provided medical care while you’re in France.
If your passport is lost, damaged, or stolen, or if you have been injured or arrested, you should contact the British Embassy in Paris. Before you go on your trip, you should check out the FCDO travel advice for France for more information on safety and security, health, and entry requirements.
Travel Safety Tips
Keep your money safe by carrying your money and debit card separately. If you have your money in a purse in your bag, keep your debit card in a zippered pocket in your coat. If you do not need to carry all your money, leave it in the hotel safe with your other valuables.
Thieves often work in groups, so be alert when in crowded areas, such as popular tourist venues, shopping centres, airports, and on public transport. Most thieves will try to distract tourists by offering them bracelets or asking them to sign a petition. If something of yours has been stolen, you should report it to the police as soon as possible.
When travelling to France, you should always abide by the local laws. It is illegal to cover your face in public, and doing so could land you with a large fine. You should also carry your photo ID with you in case the police ask you to prove your identity.
Wherever you visit in France, make sure you’re covered by travel insurance which will offer you financial protection should anything go wrong during your trip.
Places to Visit in France
France is the third largest country in Europe, so there are many things to see and do here. If you’re not sure where to go or what to do on your next holiday, take a look at this list of our top places to visit in France.
Paris
The City of Light sees millions of tourists every year. People travel to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre-Dame. The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are popular with visitors who want to see Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Other popular tourist attractions are tours of the catacombs and boat rides on the Seine. You can also take a one-hour train ride from Paris to see the Palace of Versailles.
Chamonix
Chamonix is a scenic resort town that is popular with skiing enthusiasts and mountaineers due to its proximity to Mont Blanc. Before booking your trip to Chamonix, make sure you’re covered by winter sports and ski insurance. If skiing and snowboarding doesn’t interest you, you may enjoy wandering along the hiking trails on Glacier des Bossons. You can get a cable car to the summit of Aiguille du Midi where you can visit the Espace Vertical mountaineering museum or have a meal at Restaurant Le 3842. In Chamonix, there is an amusement park, the Merlet Animal Park, and the Museum of Alpine History. You can also hop onto the train for a scenic trip to Mer de Glace and explore the manmade ice cave.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is in eastern France on the France–Germany border. This city is full of gothic architecture. A great example of the medieval houses in the area is the Kammerzell House which now houses a restaurant. A little further up the road is Strasbourg Cathedral, where tourists often flock each day at noon to see the show put on by the 19th century astronomical clock inside. You may also want to hop on the carousel at Place Gutenberg or visit Alsatian Museum for a unique view into Alsatian life. Strasbourg is probably best known for the La Petite France region, which is well-known for its half-timber houses and the Vauban Dam.
Nice
Nice is located on the French Riviera. Tourists flock to the Promenade des Anglais in the summer to spend time at the beach and do some water sports. From there, you can head to Castle Hill Park and then wander down to the old town to eat a classic niçoise salad at a local restaurant. Those who want a closer look at Nice’s culture can stop by the Archaeological Museum of Cimiez, the Renoir Museum, the Matisse Museum, and go on the Nice Observatory tour.
Lyon
Lyon is another popular tourist destination in France due to its food and culture. A trip to Lyon is incomplete without a trip to one of its many restaurants or to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, its famous indoor market, to try some Lyonnaise delicacies.
Visiting Old Lyon is a must, and people can traverse the traboules (secret passageways), photograph the Renaissance architecture, and head to the Lyon Historical Museum. Film buffs can go to the Musée Lumière and the Cinema & Miniature Museum to learn about the beginnings of cinema and look at the large collections of film props. Other places of interest are the Amphitheatre in Fourvière and the Parc de la Tête d'or, which features a botanical garden and rose gardens, several greenhouses, a zoo, and a boating lake.
