France Festivals & Special Events Tours & Trip Packages

France Festivals & Special Events Tours & Trips

1,328 France trips. Tours from 195 tour companies. 2,216 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

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Festivals & Special Events
Best of Europe in 14 Days Tour
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4.2/5 Great
23 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Paris, Rome, Venice

Highlights

  • Explore the art treasures of Paris, followed by a hearty taste of Burgundy, a hike in the majestic Swiss Alps
  • Enjoy festive Bavaria, the romantic canals of Venice, Renaissance Florence and a countryside stay in Tuscany

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

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Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Amsterdam, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle, Koblenz, Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Visit Kaysersberg
  • Visit the nearby commune of Riquewihr, a renowned "wine village" known for its Rieslings
  • Enjoy a sightseeing tour by boat along Strasbourg's canals
  • Discover romantic Heidelberg, a historic university town
  • Explore Koblenz and stroll among the stalls of its wonderful Christmas Market
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"I am a 12 time traveler with Grand Circle and OAT. But maybe no more. They are impossible to reach by phone without waiting for hours. I even tired their emergency phone number and was on hold for hours. What if I had been stranded in a foreign country? They cancelled my Eastern Europe to Black Sea Cruise in Sept 2021 and cited "covid" or "civil unrest" issues. Baloney. They cancelled because they did not sell out the cruise and lied about it to me. I know because I went with Viking during the same month with no excuses like Grand Circle gave me. Add to that they promised me a $1,000 credit on my next trip- which was to Antarctica in December. The invoice they sent me showed the credit- and 1 month later a new invoice arrived with the credit removed. Why? Another lie? Something is really wrong here with the company now and I would suggest be very careful with bookings as they are not the same company I traveled with for the past 12 years."

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Cannes Film Festival
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3/5 Average
2 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cannes

Highlights

  • Explore the world of film through screenings and special sessions with your Study Leader.
  • Hotel is located in the center of Cannes.
  • Starlets posing on sparkling beaches for eager paparazzi, veteran directors enjoying an espresso in a seaside café.

Themes

Education / Learning, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I were on the Smithsonian Journeys Splendors of Australia and New Zealand between April 13 and May 2, 2018. Smithsonian is rated by this site as Luxury travel. However, Smithsonian "farms out" the logistics for their trip to Odysseys Unlimited. Odysseys booked within country air travel with the lowest cost air carriers. Flights were cancelled from Ayers Rock to Sydney and from Queenstown New Zealand to Rotorua. Another flight was significantly delayed so that we did not arrive at our Christchurch destination until 2:00 am, making for a really tired next day. Odysseys Unlimited compensated us $400 per person for missing a day in Sydney and paid for an excursion in Auckland for missing Rotorua. This was wholly inadequate, given that these were highlights of the trip. In addition, our tour guide was rude to several people on the trip. If Smithsonian Journeys is truly a luxury travel outfit, as we had believed, then they would not be farming out travel logistics to such a chinch company as Odysseys Unlimited. We will think twice about traveling with Smithsonian again, and so should others."

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Europe Christmas Taster
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4/5 Great
21 reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Alps, Amsterdam, Arc de Triomphe, Bruges, Burgundy, Eiffel Tower, London, Paris

Highlights

  • Enjoy a white Christmas in the snowy Swiss AlpsExplore Paris with a full free dayVisit the Rhine Valley and Amsterdam

Themes

Cultural, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"It was a very eventful itinerary that allowed us to see 8 countries in two weeks. The tour was very fast paced in order to accomplish the advertised program and it felt rushed. In order to travel to 8 different European countries, you have to expect that there will be a lot of coach seat/drive time. Our tour guide Jemma and coach driver Gabriel were very professional and focused on meeting Expat Explore’s tour destination requirements. Jemma always provided interesting information and tips about the cities and sites that we were visiting. Our driver Gabriel always got us to our destinations on time and safely. The included and optional excursions were conducted at a moderate to swift walking speed, at some places there was no time to take pictures. Some of us found it difficult to keep up with the group, and once caught up to the group, who were at a stopping/rest point, it was time to resume the walking tour which did not allow some of us to catch our breath. You have to keep in mind that this tour is a “budget” tour. With that in mind, some hotels were sub-standard. The Paris hotel had mold in the shower. As expected, some hotels did not have air-conditioning, and other hotels which did have air conditioning were not adequately able to cool the room. The included tour dinners and lunches were very average. We had better dining experiences when we were left on our own when we used our free time. Overall, we were pleased to see all European countries/cities/sites included in the tour. This review was submitted to Expat Explore to be posted. I believe that Expat Explore only posts 4 and 5 stars reviews on their website which gives a misleading impression of the services they provide."

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Europe Christmas Taster
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4/5 Great
21 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Alps, Amsterdam, Arc de Triomphe, Bruges, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Paris

Highlights

  • Enjoy views of the city from the white stone steps of the Sacre Coeur explore the nightlife on the nearby Boulevard de Clichy, home to the world-famous Moulin Rouge!
  • Visit L’Opéra Garnier, the Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Hotel de Ville, the River Seine, l’Ile de la Cite or the Louvre Museum.
  • Enjoy the year-round snow and breath-taking views of the surrounding glaciers and craggy mountaintops of Alps
  • Experience the city of Amsterdam

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"It was a very eventful itinerary that allowed us to see 8 countries in two weeks. The tour was very fast paced in order to accomplish the advertised program and it felt rushed. In order to travel to 8 different European countries, you have to expect that there will be a lot of coach seat/drive time. Our tour guide Jemma and coach driver Gabriel were very professional and focused on meeting Expat Explore’s tour destination requirements. Jemma always provided interesting information and tips about the cities and sites that we were visiting. Our driver Gabriel always got us to our destinations on time and safely. The included and optional excursions were conducted at a moderate to swift walking speed, at some places there was no time to take pictures. Some of us found it difficult to keep up with the group, and once caught up to the group, who were at a stopping/rest point, it was time to resume the walking tour which did not allow some of us to catch our breath. You have to keep in mind that this tour is a “budget” tour. With that in mind, some hotels were sub-standard. The Paris hotel had mold in the shower. As expected, some hotels did not have air-conditioning, and other hotels which did have air conditioning were not adequately able to cool the room. The included tour dinners and lunches were very average. We had better dining experiences when we were left on our own when we used our free time. Overall, we were pleased to see all European countries/cities/sites included in the tour. This review was submitted to Expat Explore to be posted. I believe that Expat Explore only posts 4 and 5 stars reviews on their website which gives a misleading impression of the services they provide."

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Europe New Year Taster
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4/5 Great
21 reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Alps, Amsterdam, Arc de Triomphe, Bruges, Burgundy, Eiffel Tower, London, Paris

Themes

Cultural, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"It was a very eventful itinerary that allowed us to see 8 countries in two weeks. The tour was very fast paced in order to accomplish the advertised program and it felt rushed. In order to travel to 8 different European countries, you have to expect that there will be a lot of coach seat/drive time. Our tour guide Jemma and coach driver Gabriel were very professional and focused on meeting Expat Explore’s tour destination requirements. Jemma always provided interesting information and tips about the cities and sites that we were visiting. Our driver Gabriel always got us to our destinations on time and safely. The included and optional excursions were conducted at a moderate to swift walking speed, at some places there was no time to take pictures. Some of us found it difficult to keep up with the group, and once caught up to the group, who were at a stopping/rest point, it was time to resume the walking tour which did not allow some of us to catch our breath. You have to keep in mind that this tour is a “budget” tour. With that in mind, some hotels were sub-standard. The Paris hotel had mold in the shower. As expected, some hotels did not have air-conditioning, and other hotels which did have air conditioning were not adequately able to cool the room. The included tour dinners and lunches were very average. We had better dining experiences when we were left on our own when we used our free time. Overall, we were pleased to see all European countries/cities/sites included in the tour. This review was submitted to Expat Explore to be posted. I believe that Expat Explore only posts 4 and 5 stars reviews on their website which gives a misleading impression of the services they provide."

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Castles & Christmas Markets of Alsace
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5/5 Excellent
13 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Strasbourg

Highlights

  • Visiting a huge medieval castle all decorated up for Christmas
  • Sipping on vin chaud (hot mulled wine) in the Christmas markets
  • Shopping for authentic artisanal stocking stuffers
  • Pampering in a gorgeous design spa
  • Having a traditional swiss fondue
Show more

Themes

Women Only, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"Still can’t believe the trip of a lifetime is over. How did we get so lucky? I miss you all."

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Health Safety

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Christmas in the Austrian Tyrol
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5/5 Excellent
2 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Innsbruck

Highlights

  • Visit Calais by Ferry
  • Explore Tyrol, a beautiful Alpine city with breathtaking scenery and snow-capped mountains.
  • Visit Rattenberg and experience horse-drawn sleigh ride
  • Visit Salzburg and explore Hohensalzburg Castle

Themes

Cultural, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"Justgo, a name to remember, excellent coordination,well planned tour package to Andaman.Just returned from Andaman trip, good accomodation, food arrangements were good, cab facilities excellent and the drivers were very cordial and more than that a very good coordinator Mr.Ashish Just go has placed in port blair . Hats off to Ashish being more human."

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Highlights of France and Barcelona (Barcelona)
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By Trafalgar
preferred
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their travelers enjoy 24/7 travel expertise and dedicated service throughout the trips - everything is taken care of.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"we enjoyed it very much. So much fun"

Trip dates & details
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Ultimate Southern France (Bordeaux, 2024)
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They understand that true luxury lies not only in lavish hotels and gourmet dining but also in the immersive experiences that leave a lasting memory.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Like the two days at each stop. gave time to set everything. The Tree walk, zip lining and the glow worm caves were a highlight"

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France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their unique emphasis on immersive cultural experiences combined with active exploration with personalized cycling experiences.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Arles, Avignon, Lyon, Nice, Paris

Highlights

  • Admire the magnificent vistas of France’s most renowned wine regions by river and by bicycle.
  • Enjoy the best of both worlds: an all-inclusive river ship cruise and VBT Bicycling Vacation.
  • Ride among the lush, fertile vineyards of Burgundy and Provence, pausing at your leisure for wine tastings and tours.
  • Learn the history of the magnificent Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site’s museum, and savor a delicious picnic lunch.
  • Walk the cobbled and historic streets of Lyon and Avignon as a local guide brings them alive with history and lore.

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Nature & Wildlife, Sailing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"This tour was one of our favorites. The tour leaders (Claudio and Tiziana) were great. The Dolomites and Italian Alps were breathtaking and the bike paths and towns were well chosen to give us a great appreciation of this Alpine countryside. Once out of Venice you really feel like you are in the country with beautiful mountains, alpine chalets and in some areas mostly German speaking residents. The biking was mostly flat with some crazy fun downhill rides. Almost all of the cycling was on bike paths, so very safe and quiet riding. As expected, VBT delivered a great tour with very good accommodations, good food and a really great group of travellers."

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Walks & Gardens of the French Riviera
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Stay in the heart of the Côte d’Azur
  • Enjoy coastal paths and mountain trails
  • Discover beautiful gardens and picturesque mountain villages

Themes

Hiking & Walking, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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Cycling on the wine roads of Provence
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By Intura Travel
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
94 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They are true experts in walking & cycling trips in France & Portugal, exploring places and routes few other operators offer.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Avignon

Highlights

  • The wine-making villages of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Châteauneuf du Pape
  • Cycling along country roads surrounded by vineyards at the foot of the Mont Ventoux
  • The perched villages of Venasque and Crillon le Brave
  • 1 dinner included
  • 1 half day wine tour in Chateauneuf du pape with a wine specialist
Show more

Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cycling & Biking, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"The variation in the scenery from La Brigue to Menton was spectacular, especially as we took it day by day and could see the gradual difference as we descended through the Maritime Alps. Our favorite towns were St. Agnes and Menton. We did our one-week tour in June, with super weather both in the Alps and down on the coast. This was the perfect way to get away for one week, but feel like we had been on a two-week holiday - fresh air, exercise, good food and nothing to arrange or worry about. Thank you"

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9 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Festivals & Special Events

France Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
2,216  Reviews
See all France tour reviews
Excellent
1,039
Great
349
Average
60
Disappointing
19
Terrible
17
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking the French Riviera

Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently challenging. Views and visiting Eze which was optional at lunch stop...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Menton

This was another delightful walking trip with a good group. The leader Jessica was born locally and is passionate about the history of her region, so that we now ...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking French riverra

Excellent guide, Sandrine. Exodus must retain her!! Routes, excellent variety, interest and length. Good hotel. Below average breakfast. I had a very good room, b...

A

Anonymous

Nov 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Walking The French Riviera 2017

Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We had a good week and walked to some super places. We enjoyed great ...

A

Anonymous

Jul 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

Wonderful hiking trip, great guide Stephanie

The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfyi...

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France Tour Selection Trips

  • France is so rich in cultural opportunities and activities of all sorts that you can’t expect to see it all in one trip. Pick a tour that visits a region or two and get to know that area well, then return to other regions you want to visit on subsequent tours.
  • On a tour of France, you can choose anything from luxury on down to basic accommodations, dining, and transportation -- something to fit every budget.
  • Specialty tours are a good way to experience France: culinary, wine, art and architecture, walking, biking, World War II history, even religious pilgrimages are all available.
  • Don’t overlook river and barge cruises, which offer a convenient, leisurely way to see the country, stopping both at important ports such as Rouen and Lyon and small villages as well.
  • Don’t be put off from visiting France by the reputation of French people -- especially Parisians -- as rude to visitors. A simple greeting such as “bonjour, madame,” and a smile will almost always win you good service and a return
  • When planning your tour, keep in mind that almost all of France goes on vacation during the entire month of August, so for the full French experience you may want to pick a different month.

Additional details

Weather in France

The geographic diversity of the French regions, as you might imagine, lends itself to diverse weather patterns. In general, it will be temperate with summer averages ranging 61-75°F and winter averages ranging 32-46°F. 

Winter weather is gray although milder in the south uness the wind is blowing; colder and wetter in the north. Snow could be an issue during the winter months if you are in higher elevations. 

As for the summer, recall the record heat France sweated out during the summer of 2019 when temperatures reached 115°F in Verargues, Southern France while even further north in Paris, thermometers hit 108°F! 

There are four climate zones in France:

  1. Oceanic (Atlantic) climate of western France - Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley, Western Loire - average rainfall spread over many days and modest average temperature variations

  2. Continential, or transitional, climate of central and eastern France - Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Ile de France (Paris) - cold winters, hot summers 

  3. Mediterranean climate of southeastern France - Provence, Cote d’Azur, Corsica - hot, dry summers and while damp but mild, rainfall between October and April 

  4. Mountain climates above 2,000’ see heavy rainfall with snow falling 3-6 months a year  

Best Time to Visit France

Late Spring and Fall

Late Spring and Fall is the time to avoid crowds while still being relatively assured of good weather. You will miss the summer festivals but for those that are crowd averse, this may not be a factor. 

Note that a few National Holidays fall in May: Labor Day and WWII Victory Day are May 1st and 8th respectively; Ascension Day falls 39 days after Easter Sunday. 

July or August 

Traveling in July and August? Be prepared for hoards of crowds in the Riviera, coast of Brittany, Dordogne and Alps as these are hot spots for vacationing Europeans. In August, businesses often close although not to the degree noticed by tourists. If you enjoy festivals, there are plenty to choose from!

Winter 

Winter has its own beauty but during the winter months, some tourist sites and information offices might not be open or they might have limited hours. Smaller towns and villages might also be hunkered down with closed restaurants and shops. 

Is France Expensive?

If you’re wondering how much it costs to vacation in France, like anywhere you may travel, it depends on how you plan your trip. France is one of the top destinations in the world and Paris, in particular, does have a reputation for being expensive. 

But so does New York and just like France, traveling there for the budget minded can be accomplished. 

Some things to consider when traveling to France on a budget

  1. Factor in the time of year you’re traveling - shoulder seasons are less costly for air and hotel; regardless, book flights well in advance

  2. Factor in your mode of travel: barge, river ship, self-guided, cycling, train, etc.

  3. Exchange rates

  4. To avoid inflated tourist rates while dining out, first look at the menu posted outside then take note: if locals are eating there, it’s most likely a good choice

  5. Sit at the bar, where prices are cheaper, not at a table

  6. Most expensive French cities: Nice, Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon 

  7. Most expensive French regions: the Dordogne, Meditteranean and the Loire Valley

  8. Less costly: central France 

  9. Shop at local open air markets and second hand flea markets (brocantes)

France tours on Stride features per day costs. Using the price filter from lowest to highest you’ll find 4 day trips for as low as $71/day and on the higher end, ultra luxury 7 day trips costing over $7,000/day. 

Who Will Enjoy Traveling to France

Perhaps the question is, who wouldn’t enjoy traveling to France?! There is so much for the French traveler to experience, it’s no wonder that France is a top worldwide destination. 

Beaches, mountains, valleys of grapes and lavender, rivers to cruise, 45 natural and cultural world heritage sites, Disneyland Paris, gastronomy, wine and shopping...there’s something for just about everyone.

If mobility and / or walking on uneven ground is a concern, speak with your tour operator as many of the smaller towns and villages have uneven cobblestone which may not be suitable, depending on your situation. If traveling through subways, they involve quite a bit of stair climbing and while many of the accommodations are historically charming, they might not be fully accessible for those using a walking aid.   

While it’s hard to go wrong with a trip to France, if you’re not curious about the language, people and its customs you might have a harder time making meaningful connections. Of course, this isn’t unique to France. Be respectful and courteous. Say “hello” and even better, “Bonjour” (“hello” in French) to start a conversation. 

Make an effort to speak the most basic of phrases - this can go a long way. Just as Americans don’t expect a foreigner visiting America to speak English, we shouldn’t expect the French to speak to us in English. Many do speak English by the way, especially in Paris, so be mindful - if you are complaining about something, a local might be listening. And do keep in mind that Americans have their own reputation, one that isn’t always positive. 

Learn some French etiquette, a word derived from French after all. Doing so will give you a much deeper appreciation - and connection to - the country and its people, as will learning some common phrases.

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