Trip readiness checklist for France
Paris, the Riviera, or a châteaux-and-wine road trip — France runs on a little effort and a lot of bonjour. Get trip-ready first.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
Visa-free up to 90 days
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across every Schengen country together, not per country.
- US passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months beyond the day you leave the Schengen Area
- Proof of onward or return travel — a booking on your phone is enough
- Where you're staying — a hotel confirmation or your host's address; officers can ask
- ETIAS (the EU's online pre-travel authorization) once it's live for your dates: tied to your passport, expected to start in late 2026. Check the official ETIAS site before you fly
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
France rewards looking like you tried. Pack a notch smarter than your usual travel uniform — and shoes that survive both cobbles and a long museum day.
Comfortable shoes that still look decent
You'll walk miles on cobblestones and stand for hours in galleries. City sneakers are fine; flip-flops mark you as a tourist instantly.
One smarter outfit
Nicer restaurants, wine bars, and evenings out lean dressy. A single put-together outfit covers it.
A light scarf
Warmth on breezy evenings and shoulder cover for cathedrals like Notre-Dame.
A reusable water bottle
Paris has free public Wallace fountains — fill up rather than buy.
When to go
Summer (Jul–Aug) is hot, busy, and the month Parisians flee — many small shops shut in August. Late spring (May–Jun) and September are the sweet spot: warm, open, and a little less elbowing at the Louvre.
Money & getting around
France runs on the euro (€), and cards work almost everywhere — even the boulangerie. Service is included by law ('service compris'), so tipping is optional; rounding up or a euro or two for good service is plenty. The TGV covers city-to-city faster than driving, and it's the better view.
Local quirks worth knowing
France runs on small courtesies. Master one word — bonjour — and the whole country softens.
Say bonjour before anything else
Walking into a shop or café without it reads as rude. It's the password; service genuinely improves.
Meal times are real
Lunch roughly 12–2, dinner from 7:30pm. Kitchens actually close in between — plan or go hungry.
Keep your voice down
Restaurants and the métro run quiet; the loud table is always the tourist table.
Sundays shut
Many shops and restaurants close Sunday (some Mondays too). Sort your food plan on Saturday.
A week in France, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in France, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week in Paris. Three gaps.
- 1.
ETIAS status for your dates
The entry guide says ETIAS is expected to start in late 2026, which is when you travel. Check the official ETIAS site before you fly, and while you're at it confirm your passport was issued within the last 10 years and stays valid at least 3 months past October 27.
- 2.
Rain layer and real shoes
A late-October week in Paris is not the September sweet spot the notes describe, and nothing is packed yet. Pack a waterproof outer layer and one pair of shoes that survives wet cobbles and a long museum day.
- 3.
Arrival buffer and proof on hand
The EU's Entry/Exit System photographs and fingerprints non-EU visitors at the first crossing, so allow extra time landing. Have your return booking and your hotel address saved on your phone — officers can ask for both.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for France with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for France — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for France — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full France checklist
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