France Money Guide: Euro Currency & Travel Tips

France operates on the euro, adopted in 2002 as part of the European Union's monetary union. The euro replaced the French franc at a fixed conversion rate of 6.55957 francs to one euro. Coins are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cents, plus 1 and 2 euro pieces. Notes circulate in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euro denominations, though the 200 and 500 euro notes were discontinued from production in 2019 and are rarely encountered in standard transactions. The European Central Bank sets monetary policy for the euro area, while Banque de France, founded in 1800 by Napoleon Bonaparte, serves as the national central bank and part of the Eurosystem.

Automated teller machines operate throughout France with density highest in Paris, where machines can be found within a two-block radius in most commercial districts. The interbank network accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus cards. Withdrawal fees depend on the issuing bank's agreements, with many French banks charging between 2 and 5 euros per foreign withdrawal. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 300 to 1,000 euros depending on the bank and card type. ATMs display instructions in French and English as standard, with additional languages available at machines in major tourist zones. Machines inside bank branches operate during business hours, while street-level machines accessible 24 hours are common in cities with populations above 20,000.

Credit and debit cards are accepted at approximately 85 percent of retail establishments in urban areas, with acceptance rates dropping in villages with populations below 5,000. Contactless payment functions up to 50 euros without PIN entry, a limit raised from 30 euros in 2020. Chip-and-PIN remains the standard verification method, and signature-only cards issued by some non-European banks may face rejection at automated kiosks, toll booths, and unstaffed fuel stations. American Express acceptance is limited to hotels, department stores, and restaurants catering to international clientele, with smaller merchants declining it due to higher processing fees. Restaurants in Paris accept cards for bills above 15 euros as a general threshold, though no legal minimum exists. The practice of requiring minimum purchase amounts was common until payment processing costs decreased in the 2010s.

Cash remains necessary for purchases at weekly markets, bakeries in towns with populations below 10,000, and family-run establishments in rural areas of the Massif Central and parts of Corsica. Cafés in smaller cities often accept only cash for purchases below 10 euros. Public toilets that charge fees, typically 50 cents to 1 euro, require coins. The Paris Métro ticket machines accept cards, but some regional transit systems in cities such as Toulouse and Nantes have older machines that require coins. Parking meters in most municipalities accept cards, but coins remain the backup option when machines malfunction.

Banks in France typically open from 9:00 to 17:00 Tuesday through Friday, with some branches closing between 12:30 and 14:00. Saturday hours from 9:00 to 13:00 are common in commercial districts of cities above 50,000 population. Monday openings vary, with many branches closed or opening only from 14:00 onward. August closures affect smaller branches, particularly in towns with populations below 15,000, when staff reductions lead to limited service hours. Major banks include BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, and Banque Postale, the banking arm of La Poste that operates from post office locations. Account opening for non-residents requires proof of address, passport, and often a justification for needing an account, with the process taking between one and three weeks.

Currency exchange services operate at airports, major train stations, and dedicated bureaux de change in tourist districts. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport hosts multiple exchange counters in each terminal, open during flight operating hours. Exchange rates at airports typically carry margins of 5 to 8 percent above the interbank rate, with additional fixed fees of 3 to 7 euros per transaction. Bureaux de change on the Champs-Élysées and near the Louvre in Paris advertise no-commission exchanges but compensate through exchange rates that deviate 6 to 10 percent from market rates. Banks offer better rates but may restrict exchange services to account holders. Hotels provide emergency exchange services at rates approximately 10 to 15 percent less favorable than bureaux de change.

Tipping practices in France differ from structures in some other economic systems because service charges are included by law in restaurant bills. The phrase "service compris" indicates that the 15 percent service charge has been added to the bill total, a requirement under French labor law since 1987. Customers leave small amounts as a discretionary gesture for exceptional service—typically 5 to 10 percent of the bill at restaurants, rounded to the nearest euro. Cafés receive coins, usually 50 cents to 1 euro, left on the table or bar. Taxi drivers receive rounding up to the nearest euro or 5 to 10 percent for longer trips exceeding 30 euros. Hotel porters receive 1 to 2 euros per bag. Hairdressers receive 2 to 5 euros. Tour guides receive 5 to 10 euros per person for half-day tours, 10 to 20 euros for full-day tours, though these amounts represent custom rather than obligation.

Value-added tax in France is called TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) and applies at several rates depending on product category. The standard rate of 20 percent applies to most goods and services. A reduced rate of 10 percent covers restaurants, transportation, and hotel accommodation. A lower rate of 5.5 percent applies to food products, books, and certain cultural events. Essential goods including some foods and medications carry a 2.1 percent rate. The standard 20 percent rate is included in displayed prices by law, meaning shelf prices and menu prices represent the final amount charged. Visitors from outside the European Union can claim VAT refunds on goods purchased for export, with a minimum purchase threshold of 100.01 euros per store per day. The refund process requires presenting goods, receipts, and passport at a détaxe desk before departing the EU, with refunds processed to credit cards or as cash. Refund amounts typically represent 12 to 16 percent of the purchase price after processing fees are deducted.

Payment customs at restaurants in France follow specific sequences. Waiters do not bring the bill until requested, signaled by catching eye contact and making a writing gesture or saying "l'addition, s'il vous plaît." The bill arrives in a small folder or plate. Cash or card is placed in the folder, which the waiter retrieves. Card transactions may occur at the table using a portable terminal or at the register, depending on the establishment. Splitting bills item by item is uncommon and may be declined, though splitting equally among diners is generally accommodated when requested before the bill is printed. Fast-food establishments, cafeterias, and counter-service cafés require payment at the time of ordering.

Markets and street vendors in France operate primarily on cash, with card acceptance limited to vendors who have invested in mobile payment terminals, a practice that expanded after 2018 when processing costs decreased. Weekly markets in Provence, Normandy, and Brittany typically require cash for purchases of produce, cheese, and prepared foods. Some vendors selling textiles or crafts accept cards, but cheese sellers, bread vendors, and farmers selling direct from production rarely do. Antique markets and brocantes generally require cash, with some dealers accepting checks from known customers. Art galleries and established antique shops in Paris and Lyon accept cards for purchases above 50 euros.

Public transportation payment in France varies by system. The Paris Métro sells tickets through automated machines that accept cards and coins, with carnets of ten tickets offering lower per-ride costs than single tickets. A single ticket cost 1.90 euros as of 2019, with carnets priced at 16.90 euros. The Navigo pass, a rechargeable contactless card, provides unlimited travel within chosen zones for weekly or monthly fees, with a monthly all-zone pass costing 75.20 euros as of 2020. Regional trains operated by SNCF accept online booking with card payment, platform ticket machines that accept cards and cash, and staffed windows that accept cards, cash, and checks. High-speed TGV trains require advance booking, with tickets purchasable online, through mobile apps, at machines, or at ticket counters. Contactless payment for transport launched in Paris in 2021, allowing direct card taps for Métro and bus access.

Fuel stations in France include staffed service stations and unstaffed automated stations. Staffed stations accept cards and cash inside the shop, with payment after fueling. Automated stations common along highways and in supermarket parking lots require card payment before fuel is dispensed. These machines often reject cards without chip-and-PIN capability, a particular issue for magnetic-stripe cards. Diesel fuel is marked as "gazole" or "diesel" at pumps, unleaded gasoline as "sans plomb 95" or "sans plomb 98" with numbers indicating octane rating. Fuel prices are displayed per liter, with prices in 2022 ranging from 1.50 to 2.10 euros per liter depending on fuel type and location, with highway stations charging 10 to 20 cents more per liter than supermarket stations.

Accommodation payment practices differ by establishment type. Hotels request card details at booking for guarantee purposes and charge the card at checkout, with some properties pre-authorizing amounts that temporarily hold funds. Credit card pre-authorizations typically exceed the room cost by 10 to 30 percent to cover incidental charges. Budget hotel chains and large properties accept major cards. Small family-run hotels in rural areas may accept only cash or checks, though this practice has declined since 2015. Vacation rental payments through platforms follow the platform's policies, while direct-booked gîtes and chambres d'hôtes may require bank transfer deposits of 25 to 50 percent, with final payment in cash or check on arrival. Campgrounds generally accept cards for stays longer than one night but may require cash for single-night stays.

Museum and attraction entry fees in Paris range from free for permanent collections at city-operated museums to 15 euros for the Louvre and 14 euros for the Musée d'Orsay as of 2023. Ticket machines at major museums accept cards. The Paris Museum Pass, valid for consecutive days, costs 52 euros for two days, 66 euros for four days, or 78 euros for six days as of 2023, and grants entry to approximately 50 museums and monuments in the Paris region. Château de Versailles charges 19.50 euros for palace access, with estate-wide tickets including gardens and Trianon palaces costing 27 euros during fountain show days. Many national museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month, a policy established in 2000.

Mobile payment systems in France include contactless card tap, smartphone NFC payment through services compatible with French banking apps, and QR code systems at some markets and small vendors. Apple Pay and Google Pay function at terminals that accept contactless payment, which represent approximately 90 percent of card terminals in establishments with electronic payment capability. PayPal is accepted by online retailers and some service providers but rarely at physical stores. French banking apps often include integrated payment functions separate from international services, used primarily by residents with local accounts.

Regional economic variations affect payment infrastructure. Paris and Lyon have near-universal card acceptance at merchants. Cities such as Marseille, Toulouse, and Bordeaux maintain high card acceptance in commercial centers with reduced acceptance in residential neighborhoods. In villages of Provence, the Loire Valley, and Brittany with populations below 2,000, cash remains the primary medium for bakeries, small groceries, and single-proprietor businesses. Corsica maintains lower card acceptance rates than mainland France, with cash preferred outside Ajaccio and Bastia. Mountain regions of the Alps and Pyrenees see seasonal variation, with winter ski resorts equipped for card payments while summer hiking areas in the same locations may have limited electronic infrastructure.

Travelers' checks declined from common use in the 1990s to near-zero acceptance by 2015. Few banks exchange them, and those that do charge fees of 5 to 10 euros per check plus exchange rate margins. Hotels and shops do not accept travelers' checks.