Our guide covers everything you need to know before taking a trip across the English Channel.
France uses the euro, like most countries in the European Union. Each euro is made up of 100 cents, like British pounds and pence.
The currency code for the euro is EUR, so look out for this if you’re buying travel money. If you have a Global Money Account, the euro is one of the 18 currencies you can hold in your account.
Global Money is only available in the latest version of the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. You’ll need to have an eligible HSBC current account. This excludes our Basic Bank Account, Appointee and MyAccount.
You can visit France for up to 90 days without a visa. Border guards will stamp your passport when you arrive, and this marks your entry. If you have a British passport, you’ll need to make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months after your trip.
Border guards may also ask you to show:
Credit cards and debit cards are the most popular ways to pay in France, but having some euros can be handy.
Euros are useful for small purchases, like souvenirs, cups of coffee and bus tickets. You may also want to have some euros with you for tipping.
It’s usually better to exchange money while you’re still in the UK. Exchanging money at home gives you the chance to shop around and find the best exchange rates. Plus, you won’t have to worry about finding a currency exchange bureau once you arrive.
If you do choose to exchange money in France, keep in mind that there might be extra fees and charges. For example, you may be charged for withdrawing money from a cash machine. These fees are usually 2% for debit cards and 2.99% for credit cards.
If you hold a Global Money Account, you can either:
You can withdraw up to £500 a day with no HSBC fees using your Global Money Card. However, some cash machines may have independent charges.
You can visit your local travel money bureau to buy euros in advance. You can also order euros online using HSBC Travel Money and choose to have them delivered to your home or one of our branches. This can be helpful if you’ve got other things to tick off your holiday checklist.
Be sure to check the exchange rate before ordering your currency. If the exchange rate is low, you may be able to get more euros if you wait a little before ordering.
Card payments are accepted all over France, whether you’re paying by credit card or debit card.
If you’re planning on using your cards outside the UK, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, you’ll usually need to pay a fee for card payments.
You can choose to convert your payment into British pounds at the point of sale or pay in euros.
You’ll need to be at least 18 and hold a full driving licence to drive in France. If you’re bringing your own car, you’ll also need to bring:
You may need to bring other items too, like a UK sticker, reflective jacket and warning triangle.
In most businesses, tipping is appreciated but not essential. Restaurants may add a service charge of about 15%, which will cover your tip.
Tipping is more common for services like porters, tour guides and valets. Here, you may want to tip them 5% to 10% of the service charge or a couple of euros.
