DAILY LIFE

The lunch break is usually between 12 and 12:30. In restaurants or brasseries, the kitchens often close around 2 or 2:30 and then no more food is served. Dinner is usually between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM. At night, if you want to go out for dinner, it will be difficult to find a restaurant that will feed you after 10:30 PM.

IN BARS
If you go to a bar or a cafeteria, you always have to start with the Bonjour, and if you don’t, the waiter may comment or be rude to you. In addition, to ask for something they usually use the conditional more than the imperative, with formulas such as Bonjour, je pourrais avoir un expresso, s’il vous plaît?

TIPS
As for the tip for the waiter, it is not mandatory since the taxes are included in the price of the drink, but you can leave one anyway.

RELIGION
Roman Catholic (41%)
No religion (40%)
Eastern Orthodoxy (2%)
Other Christians (2%)
Protestantism (2%)
Islam (5%)
Buddhism (1%)
Jewish (1%)
Other religions (5%)
Undeclared (1%)

HOLIDAYS
January 1, New Year
January 6, La Epifania
February 2, Candlelight Festival (La Chandeleur)
February 14, Valentine’s Day (La Fête des amoureux)
April, Easter week
May 1, Labor Day (Fête des Travailleurs)
May 8, Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
June 2, Feast of the Ascension (L ‘Ascension)
June 12, Pentecost Sunday (La Pentecôte)
June 13, Pentecost Monday (La Pentecôte)
June 21, Music Festival (La Fête de la Musique)
July 14, Bastille Festival (Fête nationale)
August 15, Feast of the Assumption (dormition)
November 1, All Saints Day (Toussaint)
November 11, Armistice Day (Armistice of 1918)
December 25, Christmas (Noël)

CLIMATE
France has a fairly varied climate that in itself is within a temperate climate , although on several occasions the Mediterranean influence is manifested in its hot summers and mild winters.

The gastronomy of France is one of the main distinctive features of the country, the great amount of history and tradition, as well as its peculiar and delicate dishes are its best letter of introduction in the eyes of the world, becoming an important reference for western gastronomy.

TYPICAL DISHES
Ratatouille – It consists of tomato, bell pepper, onion, aubergines and zucchini. It is flavored with thyme, rosemary, oregano, bay leaf and basil and garnished with garlic. It is usually prepared in summer.
Salade Landaise – It is a salad that contains various presentations of duck meat such as pate, gizzards, confit (confit meat), etc.
Quiche – It is a savory cake that is made with eggs, cream, vegetables and meats. You can add different ingredients such as celery, peppers, onion, cheese, etc.
Baeckeoffe – It is a traditional dish from Strasbourg (Alsace). It is based on lamb, beef, and pork marinated in wine along with boiled potatoes and onions.
Choucroute Alsaciano – It is a typical French dish that is made from sauerkraut (cabbage fermented in water with salt), sausages, salt, potatoes and pork.
Cassoulet – It is a stew made in clay pots with beans, sausages and various types of meat: goose, duck or lamb.

AIR TRANSPORT
France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, both for its art, culture, gastronomy and its people, but to get here and enjoy its most varied attractions it is advisable to use air transport; the airports in France are well distributed throughout the country, with the best and most optimal facilities, plus a good transport service.

Paris airports:

Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
This airport is located 23 kilometers northeast of Paris, which implies a journey of approximately 30 minutes from the center. To go to the city center, you can opt for the bus service that offers regular departures every 15 minutes; or take the train. In both, the route ends at the Parisian Gare du Nord or Châtelet stations. The airport also has a good taxi service. Inside the airport there is a bank, duty-free shops, a counter office, restaurants, a tourist office and shops.

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)
It is situated 14 kilometres south of the city. To go to the city center, you can opt for the coach and bus service, with departures every 12 minutes from Orly West. They also have a Metro (RER) service that leaves for the city every 15 minutes, departing from Denfert-Rocherau and whose journey lasts approximately 45 minutes. They also have a good taxi service.

Beauvais Tillé Airport (BVA)
This airport is located in Tillé, about 80 kilometers from Paris, making a 1:20 hour journey by train. It is a small airport served by several low-cost airlines.

Lyon airports:

Lyon Airport (LYS) (Lyon-Saint-Exupéry)
Located 25 km. to the east of the city, it offers regular bus and taxi service to the city.

Marseille airports:

Marseille (Marseille) Airport (MRS) (Marseille-Marignane)
There is good bus service to the city. Located 30 km. northwest of the city.

Toulouse airports:

Toulouse Airport (TLS) (Blagnac)
The airport is 8 km away, northwest of the city and has a regular bus service to the city every 20 minutes. It also has a good taxi service.

Nice airports:

Nice Airport (NCE) (Nice-Côte d’Azur)
Located just 6 km. To the west of the city, this airport has regular bus service to the city every 20 minutes. There is also a good taxi service.

Strasbourg airports:

Strasbourg Airport (Strasbourg) (SXB)
There are taxi and bus services to the city center and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes. The airport is located 12 km away from the city.

Bordeaux airports:

Bordeaux Airport (Bordeaux) (BOD)
It is located 12 km. west of the city and has good service of buses, buses and taxis to get to the city center.

Lille airports:

Lille Airport (LIL) (Lesquin)
It is located 12 km. southeast of the city. They have a bus and taxi service to the city center.

Nantes airports:

Nantes Airport (NTE)
Nantes airport is located 20 km away. South of the city. There is a good bus and train service with regular departures to the city.

BUS TRANSPORT

Regional Buses

The regional buses provide service between cities of France.

Herault Transport
Route: Covers the Languedoc-Roussillon route
Location: 148 Avenue du Professeur Jean Louis Viala, 34000 Montpellier, France
Contact: 0434888999
Website: herault-transport.fr

Regional Express Lignes
Route: Covers the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur route
Website: info-ler.fr

Isilines
Isilines offers the long distance transport service in France.
Website: isilines.fr

Eurolines
Eurolines has destinations within France. The service also offers international routes.
Website: eurolines.com

Urban and interurban buses

Ciotabus
Route: La Ciotat and Ceyreste
Website: ciotabus.fr

Bus de l’Etang
Route: Covers the Communes of Berre l’Etang, Gignac-la-Nerthe, Marignane, Les Pennes Mirabeau, Rognac, Saint Victoret, Velaux et Vitrolles.
Website: bus-de-letang.fr

Bus du Soleil
Route: Covers the routes of the communes of Martigues, Port de Bouc and Saint-Miter-les-Remparts.

Bus de l’Aglo
Route: Covers the routes and communes of Aubagne, Auriol, Belcodène, Cadolive, Cuges les Pins, Gémenos, La Bouilladisse, La Destrousse, La Penne sur Huveaune, Peypin, Roquevaire, Saint Savournin, Saint Zacharie.

MPM
Route: les Trois Lucs – d’Allauch – Plan de Cuques – Cassis, Carnoux – Roquefort – Le Rove – Ensues la Redonne – Carry le Rouet – Sausset les Pins – Chateauneuf les Martigues – la Mede – Saint-Jean de Garguier – Collège de Gemenos.

Interbus
Route: Offers transfer to the communes of Gardanne and Gréasque.

METRO IN FRANCE
The Metro in France is one of the most practical and effective means of transport in the country; It is managed by the SNCF company and it is worth mentioning that it is present only in the cities of Paris, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Toulouse and Rouen.

To travel by metro in France, tickets must be purchased in advance. These tickets can be obtained in authorized stores, in vending machines and even in the same windows of the metro stations. There are different types of tickets, which vary in price according to their duration; There are those that last a single trip, one day, two days, a week and a month, among the most common.

RAILWAY TRANSPORT
Within the transport system in France , there is also the train service , which is administered by the National Society of French Railways (SNCF); It has a network of high-speed trains called TGV and a network of connecting trains with England that circulates through the Eurotunel.

Tickets for the railways can be purchased at the vending machines or at the ticket offices located in the stations. It is mandatory that the ticket be validated at the machines at the entrance of the platforms named ‘Composteur,’ which are orange, before boarding the train.

ROAD NETWORK
Another alternative to get around in France is to use the roads and highways, which are fairly well distributed throughout the country, allowing easy and quick access to the various cities, towns and areas of France.

DRIVING
Driving is on the right. Top speeds are 130 km/h. on the Autoroute and 50 in urban areas.

RENTAL CARS (We recommend reserving us in advance):
It is the most recommended way to move around the country.

RENT A CAR at Paris international airport >>>

TAXIS
The taxi in France fulfills the usual function, but it is one of the most expensive means of transport in the country. Taxis do not have a distinctive color, but they do have an illuminated sign that reads Taxi . They must also have a taximeter and their license plate number in a visible place.
Taxis fares in France have a meter to objectively establish fares in relation to the distance and travel time traveled. These rates may have a surcharge if the trip takes place at night, if extra luggage is carried, if they are holidays or if the destination includes areas outside the taxi driver’s area.