The most visited country, UNESCO meals and baguettes, bakery rituals, the TGV, regions and climates, lunch and tipping etiquette and summer closures: what first-time visitors to France notice.
France is a country of very different landscapes, from Atlantic beaches to Alpine valleys and Mediterranean coves, held together by a strong everyday culture of food and manners. This is an editorial guide for people arriving for the first time, on a holiday or a viewing trip. We list what visitors tend to notice and, where we could check it, the source behind the fact.
1. The most visited country in the world
According to reports of UN Tourism figures, France received about 100 million international visitors in 2024 and about 102 million in 2025, ahead of Spain in second place (the press reports agree; check the UN Tourism barometer for the current ranking). For a first-time visitor this means that the best-known sights are busy in summer, while a lot of the country is quiet in spring and autumn.
2. A very large country with many faces
Metropolitan France covers roughly 550,000 square kilometres and is divided into 13 regions on the continent; five more regions lie overseas (encyclopedic figures). A short trip rarely covers more than one or two regions, so it helps to pick them deliberately: Paris and Ile-de-France, the Loire, Normandy and Brittany in the north and west, the Alps in the east, Provence and the Cote d'Azur in the south-east, and the Basque coast in the south-west.
3. A meal that is on the UNESCO list
The "gastronomic meal of the French" was inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010. The listing describes a social custom of celebrating important moments with a structured meal, from the aperitif to the digestif, with well-matched food and wine. You will notice that many French lunches and dinners take time and are not rushed.
4. The baguette is UNESCO heritage too
In 2022 UNESCO also inscribed the "artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread". Traditional bread in France is regulated by a 1993 decree: the traditional baguette may contain only wheat flour, water, yeast or leaven and salt. A baguette typically weighs around 250 grams and is bought fresh, often twice a day.
5. Bakery culture
The boulangerie is part of the daily routine. Greeting the shop with "bonjour" and saying "merci, bonne journee" on leaving is customary and is noticed. Pastries such as croissants are usually eaten at breakfast, not as an afternoon snack, and many bakeries sell sandwiches and a lunch formula as well.
6. Trains that make the regions close
The TGV set the world speed record for conventional trains on 3 April 2007, at 574.8 km/h in a test run (the commercial speed is lower). In everyday service, the fast Paris to Lyon trains take about two hours and Paris to Marseille a little over three hours (guide figures; check the timetable). This makes it realistic to combine Paris with a second region on the same trip.
7. UNESCO heritage everywhere
France has well over fifty properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List (sources differ slightly on the exact number, so check the official list). Mont-Saint-Michel has been inscribed since 1979, and the Palace of Versailles is also listed. Many smaller towns have protected centres, so you often meet heritage without looking for it.
8. Different climates in one country
Meteo-France describes several climate types in metropolitan France: oceanic on the Atlantic side, altered oceanic and semi-continental inland, mountain climates around the massifs and a Mediterranean climate in the south-east with hot, dry summers and mild winters. In practice this means that the same week can be mild and rainy in Brittany, snowy in the Alps and sunny on the Riviera. Check the regional forecast of Meteo-France for the dates and place you choose.
9. Lunch and meal timing
Many restaurants serve lunch roughly between noon and two o'clock and dinner from evening, and some kitchens close in the afternoon, so a late lunch can be hard to find outside tourist areas (a general pattern; hours vary). Booking dinner in smaller towns is a good idea.
10. Service and tipping
By French rules the price on the menu normally includes service ("service compris"), and a tip is optional and left to the customer, according to the consumer authority DGCCRF. Many visitors leave a few extra euros for good service, but nobody can demand it. The DGCCRF explains the rule on its tipping page.
11. Summer closures
Since a 2014 law, municipalities can no longer set the holiday dates of bakeries, so owners choose themselves. In practice many small bakeries and shops close for a few weeks in summer, often in August, and some city neighbourhoods become quiet (reported). If you travel in August, check opening hours and keep a plan B for bread.
12. Honest note: crowds, strikes and heat
Peak season (July and August) is crowded and hot in the south. Transport strikes happen from time to time; check the news and the operator's pages before long journeys.
Practical tips for your first visit
- Choose one or two regions instead of trying to see the whole country.
- Book high-speed trains early for the best fares and check strike notices.
- Greet shop and restaurant staff with a short "bonjour".
- Reserve popular restaurants and museums in advance in high season.
- Cards are widely accepted; keep a few euros for markets and small cafes.
- Check opening hours: many museums close one day a week and many shops close on Sundays.
- European emergency number: 112.
FAQ
Is France really the most visited country? Reports of UN Tourism data put France first, with Spain second, in 2024 and 2025. Rankings can change from year to year.
Do I have to leave a tip? No. Service is normally included in the price; a small extra amount is a courtesy, not an obligation.
When is the best time to visit? Many visitors prefer May to June and September to October, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller than in summer. Skiing regions have their own winter season.
Do I need to speak French? You do not need to, but a few words help a lot. In tourist areas English is common, less so in small towns.
Can I combine a holiday with looking at property? Yes. Read how to plan a viewing trip, our overview of why expats love France and the guide to Paris apartments.
How we help
This article is editorial and is not legal, tax or investment advice. D.H. Realting is a trilingual platform (Russian, Polish, English). If your trip to France includes looking at homes, you can browse listings in France and read the country page. We coordinate independent local lawyers and tax advisers for those who decide to buy. Please check current rules, opening times and prices on official sources before you travel.