The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Church, museums and galleries, walks along the canals, houseboat cruises, beach sports, water sports, island tours, winter sports in the Alps and Pyrenees, a game of boules on the street, walks through the Paris streets are just some of the attractions that draw people to France. The rolling slopes and vineyards of Champagne, the farmlands of Normandy, the historic sites at Lorraine and Strasbourg, the Celtic heritage of Brittany (a coastal town), the Gothic Cathedrals and green pastures in the medieval town of Burgundy, the châteaux and churches in the volcanic city of Auvergne, the French Alps of Rhone and the grand palaces and gorge in the Loire Valley are some other places that you may visit.

Paris has many varied markets including the flower market on the Ile de la Cité and bird, organic and food markets in every quarter. Another Parisian specialty is book markets. Travelers will find booksellers’ stalls along the banks of the Seine around the Saint Michel quarter, crammed with all kinds of books plus comics and postcards. In the regions, the town center often has a number of clothes shops which are just as good as those in Paris. Some have good second hand shops. Amongst the larger department stores in Paris are the Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette near the Opéra; the Bazar Hôtel de Ville (BHV) and the Samaritaine on the Right Bank; and the Bon Marché on the Left Bank. There are several antique centers (Louvre des Antiquaires, Village Suisse, etc) where genuine antique furniture and other objects are on sale.

France has a more varied and developed cuisine than any other country. Each region in France has its food specialties, based on the produce available. In general, the cuisine of the north uses butter and dairy products, while southern dishes contain olive oil, tomatoes, and herbs. Along the coast, seafood is plentiful. Oysters are a favorite on the Atlantic coast. The traditional seafood platter includes oysters, clams, mussels, crawfish, crabs, shrimps, and periwinkles. They are boiled and eaten with lemons and a shallot and vinegar sauce.The Truffles called "black diamonds," black truffls are one of the most famous and expensive luxury foods in France

The south of France has a warm Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Strong winds, known as la Mistral, can occur in the Cote d'Azur, Provence and in the Rhone valley particularly over the winter and spring. Northern France, including Paris, has a temperate climate similar to southern England with warm summers, cold winters and rainfall throughout the year. The western coast, from the Loire valley to the Pyrenees, is milder and summer days are generally very hot.

The currency of France is Euro. Euro, the official currency of the European Union. The Euro is divided into 100 cents. Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.and Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Traveller’s cheques are accepted nearly everywhere..