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What to Pack for France

Country-wide essentials, plus region-specific packing for Paris, the Cote d'Azur and Provence, and the Alps and rural countryside.

Updated May 2026
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  1. Quick answer
  2. Overview
  3. Country essentials
  4. Cultural notes
  5. Paris and Ile-de-France
  6. Provence and the Cote d'Azur
  7. Alps, Loire Valley, and French Countryside
  8. Seasonal guide
  9. Packing Tips
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

Regions

3 regions covered

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Plug type

Type E, Type C / 230V

Language

French

Pack dark neutrals (black, navy, camel, white) in natural fabrics. Add comfortable walking shoes. Bring a Type E plug adapter for 230V outlets, a light raincoat even in summer, and a layer warm enough for cool Paris evenings. For Provence or the Cote d'Azur, add linen and swimwear, plus a sun hat.

France rewards packing with a little more thought than most of Europe. Parisians wear dark neutrals, natural fabrics, and clean lines. Athleisure and a bright head-to-toe tourist kit reads as out-of-towner on sight. You don't need a Breton-stripe costume to fix that. A trench coat and leather sneakers will just carry you further than a hoodie and a ball cap.

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The climate zones don't act alike. Paris and the north are cool and oceanic, with gray rainy days possible in any season. The Cote d'Azur and Provence get 2,500-plus hours of sun a year and reach Mediterranean summer heat. The Alps run from glaciers to ski towns above 1,500 meters. A July trip through Paris, Nice, and Chamonix needs three different wardrobes in one bag.

The grid is 230V at 50 Hz on Type E sockets, the round outlet with a male grounding pin sticking out of the wall. A standard Type C Europlug fits fine. Anything grounded needs the Type E shape. ETIAS authorization for US citizens is scheduled for late 2026 and will cost around 20 EUR.

Country essentials

Plug type

Type E, Type C · 230V, 50 Hz

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Language

French

Visa

US citizens don't need a visa for stays under 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period. ETIAS authorization launches in late 2026 (around 20 EUR, valid 3 years). Passport must be valid 3+ months past your planned departure.

SIM / data

Airalo and Holafly eSIMs activate instantly. Orange, SFR, and Free Mobile sell prepaid tourist SIMs at Paris CDG and Orly for 15 to 40 EUR. Most cafes and Metro stations have free WiFi.

Tipping

Service is always included by law (service compris). Rounding up or leaving a euro or two on the table for good service is appreciated but not expected. American-style 15 to 20 percent tips confuse rather than flatter French staff.

Driving side

right

Tap water

Safe to drink

Emergency #

112

Cultural notes and dress codes

  • Parisian style leans dark and neutral. Black and navy lead; gray, camel and white round it out. A trench coat is a genuine local uniform, not a stereotype.
  • Leave athleisure, college sweatshirts, bright sneakers, and baseball caps at home if you want to blend in. Locals read these as tourist markers instantly.
  • Always say bonjour before asking a question in a shop, and merci, au revoir when you leave. Skipping this feels rude to French staff and often gets you worse service.
  • Go to a pharmacie (green cross sign) for anything medical: allergy meds, painkillers, sunscreen, even rash creams. France doesn't have American-style drugstores. Pharmacists are trained to triage and recommend products.
  • Dinner is later than most US cities. Kitchens often do not open until 7:30 or 8 pm and hit full capacity by 9.
  • Tap water is safe nationwide. Ask for une carafe d'eau at restaurants to avoid paying for bottled.
  • Cote d'Azur beaches run from sandy (Nice promenade imports sand, but most is pebble) to rocky coves. Water shoes help.
  • The Alps rise from 1,000 to 3,800 m. Weather and UV behave nothing like the valley floor. Snow is possible year-round above 2,500 m.
  • Strikes (greves) are part of French daily life. Check SNCF and RATP status before train days, and keep a plan B.
  • Smoking is still more common in outdoor cafe zones than in most US cities. Terrace seating in Paris often means secondhand smoke.

Paris, Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Giverny. Style-conscious city travel: museums, food, day trips to chateaux.

Climate: Oceanic. Mild wet winters (35 to 45 F), mild-to-warm summers (60 to 80 F, occasional 90+ heat waves in July-Aug). Rain possible in every month, averaging 10 to 12 days per month.

  • Neutrals and basics
  • Trench coat
  • Leather sneakers
  • Scarf
  • Compact umbrella

🧥Clothing

Essentials

  • Trench coat or tailored overcoat (Works from March through November and genuinely helps you blend in)
  • Dark jeans or trousers x2
  • Blouses or fitted tees (neutral colors) x4

Nice to Have

  • Sweater or fine-knit cardigan x2
  • Blazer
  • Little black dress or tailored shirt (For dinners and concerts)
  • Silk or cotton scarf (Functional and stylistic in equal measure)

👞Footwear

Essentials

  • Clean leather sneakers or loafers

Nice to Have

  • Ankle boots (fall, winter, spring)
  • Dressier shoe for evenings
  • Cushioned socks x4

👜Bags and Extras

Essentials

  • Zippered crossbody bag (Metro Line 1, Sacre-Coeur, and Eiffel Tower are pickpocket hotspots)
  • Refillable water bottle

Nice to Have

  • Packable umbrella
  • Small notebook or museum pass wallet

🔌Electronics and Documents

Essentials

  • Type E plug adapter x2
  • Passport (valid 3+ months past departure)
  • ETIAS confirmation (from late 2026)
  • Pre-booked Louvre and Versailles tickets (Walk-up Louvre tickets have disappeared; timed entry is required)

Nice to Have

  • Power bank (10,000 mAh)

When to visit and what changes by season

Spring (Mar-May)

March to May · 45-68°F

Unpredictable. Paris starts rainy and cool, then turns mild by May. Provence wakes up around April. The Alps stay snowbound through March, and ski resorts run into mid-April.

  • Trench coat
  • Layers
  • Waterproof shoes
  • Light scarf

Summer (Jun-Aug)

June to August · 65-95°F

Hot and sunny in the south, warm and variable in Paris. Heat waves (canicules) can push Paris past 100 F, and most apartments have no AC. The Alps hit prime hiking season, with storms most afternoons.

  • Linen
  • Sun hat
  • Swimwear
  • Light layer for AC trains

Fall (Sep-Nov)

September to November · 45-72°F

September in Paris is often gorgeous. By November it's cool and wet. Provence holds its summer warmth into October, and the Burgundy and Bordeaux harvest peaks from late September to mid October.

  • Trench
  • Knitwear
  • Waterproof shoes
  • Umbrella

Winter (Dec-Feb)

December to February · 30-50°F

Cold and gray in Paris and the north, with steady rain. The Riviera stays mild (50 to 60 F). In the Alps it's peak ski season, with dependable snow from December through March.

  • Warm coat
  • Waterproof boots
  • Knitwear
  • Gloves and hat

Packing tips for France

  1. 1Build a capsule wardrobe: one trench or blazer, two bottoms, four tops, one dress or button-down, one scarf. You will re-wear and layer constantly.
  2. 2Pack leather or clean white sneakers plus one dressier shoe. Bright running shoes mark you as a tourist and punish cobblestones.
  3. 3Bring a light rain jacket or packable umbrella in every season. Paris rain is frequent and brief but unpredictable.
  4. 4Use a Type E-compatible adapter. A round Europlug works for ungrounded devices; anything with a grounding pin (laptop bricks, some power strips) needs the Type E shape.
  5. 5Download the SNCF Connect app for trains and the RATP app for Paris Metro. Maps offline in Google Maps too, because tunnel coverage is spotty.
  6. 6Pack a compact day bag with a zipper. Paris pickpocketing is real on Line 1, around Sacre-Coeur, and at the Eiffel Tower.
  7. 7If heading to the Alps, buy or rent technical gear locally rather than trying to pack skis and poles. Chamonix and Annecy have excellent rental networks.
  8. 8Cote d'Azur and Provence in summer are hot (85 to 95 F). Pack linen, a sun hat, and swimwear you can rotate.

Frequently asked questions

Do US citizens need a visa for France?
Not for tourist stays under 90 days within any rolling 180-day Schengen period. That changes in late 2026. US citizens will then need an ETIAS authorization before boarding a flight to France. It costs around 20 EUR, is valid for 3 years, and links electronically to your passport. One catch: your passport has to stay valid for at least 3 months past the day you leave the Schengen area.
What plug adapter do I need in France?
France uses Type E sockets, a round outlet with a small male grounding pin sticking out of the wall. A standard two-round-pin Europlug (Type C) fits and works for ungrounded devices like phone chargers. For grounded gear, laptop power bricks and hair tools, you need a Type E adapter. And mind the voltage. France runs on 230V at 50 Hz, so a single-voltage US appliance rated 110V only will burn out even with an adapter.
How should I dress to blend in in Paris?
Keep it dark, neutral, understated. Think black, navy, gray, camel and white, in natural fabrics like wool, cotton, linen. A trench coat, dark jeans or tailored trousers, a fitted knit, leather sneakers or loafers, and a silk scarf will read local. What gives you away: bright athleisure, college sweatshirts, shorts in the city, ball caps, white running shoes. Simple beats bright.
How much should I tip in France?
By law, service is always included in restaurant prices (service compris). Tipping isn't expected. If you enjoyed the meal, rounding up or leaving a euro or two in cash is a polite gesture. At cafes, leaving small change is common. Taxi drivers get a euro or two, not a percentage. American-style 15 to 20 percent tips are unusual and sometimes politely refused.
Is the tap water safe to drink in France?
Yes, tap water is safe across France. Ask for une carafe d'eau at any restaurant to get free tap water. Public water fountains (Wallace fountains in Paris) flow drinkable water. Bottled water is available everywhere but unnecessary for health reasons.
What is a pharmacie and how is it different from a US drugstore?
Look for the flashing green cross. A French pharmacie is staffed entirely by licensed pharmacists who triage minor issues, dispense prescriptions, recommend over-the-counter medications, and stock good skincare. They don't sell snacks, magazines, or toiletries the way a CVS or Walgreens does. For shampoo and household items, go to a supermarket or parapharmacie. The pharmacist can often hand you something for a problem that would need a doctor visit back home.
Do I need to learn French before traveling?
No, but learning a few phrases goes a long way. Always lead with bonjour or bonsoir before asking a question, and close with merci, au revoir. Starting in English without greeting first is considered rude and often gets worse service. In Paris and tourist areas most service staff speak usable English once the opener is out of the way.
Is pickpocketing a real problem in Paris?
Yes. The hotspots are Metro Line 1 between Charles de Gaulle-Etoile and the Marais, the area around the Eiffel Tower and Sacre-Coeur, and the RER B train in from the airport. Wear a zippered crossbody in front, keep your phone off the restaurant table, and watch for groups of teens with clipboards asking you to sign a petition (a classic distraction). It's almost never violent, just expensive if you're careless.
How do I get around France between cities?
SNCF high-speed TGV trains connect Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg in 2 to 6 hours. Book on SNCF Connect or Trainline. TGV tickets are cheaper 1 to 3 months out. For rural areas and the Loire Valley, renting a car is often the only practical option. Check for strikes before travel days since SNCF and RATP strikes are frequent.
What should I pack for the French Alps in summer?
Pack for rain, cold wind, and hard mountain sun, even in July. A waterproof shell, a light puffy jacket, merino base layers, hiking pants, broken-in waterproof hiking boots, a warm hat, and high-SPF sunscreen will cover most Alpine conditions you'll meet. Above 2,000 m, glacier-grade sunglasses aren't optional. On the loose scree of the Chamonix and Mont Blanc trails, trekking poles earn their weight fast.

City packing lists in France

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