Five things every visitor needs to know about France

If you learn just one French word, make it bonjour

The French say “good day” a lot. It’s polite, it’s an essential cultural norm and it shows respect. Say it before you order a coffee, when you buy anything, when you enter a shop. Even said with a terrible accent, it’s the gesture that counts.

Graduate to s’il vous plait (please), merci (thanks) and au revoir (goodbye) and you’re sailing.

Fields of lavender in Provence.Credit: iStock

Eat when they eat

The French have lots of protocols around food, including the proper time to eat main meals. Lunch is midday to 2pm, dinner 7pm to 9.30pm. Try to dine in a restaurant outside these hours and you’re out of luck. Fast food joints are an exception but you didn’t come to France to eat a Big Mac.

Paris is not France

It’s gorgeous, packed full of marvels and soul-stealing treats, but there’s a lot more to France than just the capital and believe me, it’s all wonderful. The lavender fields of Provence, the vineyards of the Loire Valley, the tree-lined canals of Burgundy, the villages of the Dordogne, the half-timbered houses of Alsace – there’s nowhere else like these. Leave some time to explore, but unless you’ve a month or two pick just a couple, and don’t rush it.

Dress right

Want to fit in? Sneakers, great, the French wear them but leave the athleisure gear behind. The French don’t even have a word for it. Unless you’re headed for the gym, trackies, bike shorts and sports bras make you stand out, and not in a good way.

Leggings say you’re probably American, and who wants that? Streetwear doesn’t have to be chic and certainly not expensive but smart casual is the thing. If you want to go the extra kilometre tone down the wardrobe. Black, white, beige, navy and olive green are perfect.

Dine quietly

French restaurants are not noisy places. Throbbing doof-doof music, raucous laughter and loud conversation are unknown. Restaurant tables are often much closer together than we’re used to, and conversations are muted. If you’re on a phone call, keep it quiet. The microphone hears very well.