✈️ Heading to France? We've gathered some tips from the bunq community to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. 😎
Check them out below! 🌈 👇
Using your card
💳 Do I need cash in France, or can I use my card everywhere?
You can pay nearly everywhere by card in France. Mastercard generally has better acceptance than Maestro.
It's worth having taking some cash for smaller businesses that may not accept card.
Sometimes small businesses only accept card for payments over €10.
💰 What currency do they use here?
The currency here is Euros! The symbol is € or EUR.
🏧 Which ATM’s can I use for free?
The bunq community has reported free withdrawals at these ATMs.
💵 If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?
€30 should be enough for a few days, since you can use your card for nearly everything.
Staying connected
📱 Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?
All EU mobile plans should let you roam for free.
If you don't have an EU plan, you can learn about your local SIM card options here.
Useful things to know
💁♀️ How does tipping work?
A service charge will be automatically added to your bill in France. This is included in the advertised price, and by law it must be passed on to the service staff.
If you would like to tip you can leave around €1 for every €20 spent. This is not expected, but is appreciated for good service.
🍺 How much does a 0.5L beer cost?
€6,00
🍽 How much does an average meal cost?
€13,00
🚨 What’s the emergency number?
112
🔌 What type of plug do they use?
France is slowly transitioning to the standard European plug.
This is the standard for the European plug.
They also still use the following two in older buildings.
🚗 What side of the road do they drive on?
They drive on the right side of the road here.
🗺 How do I navigate my way around?
Google and Apple Maps both work well in France.
Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option. 🙌
👀 Any other good tips?
- French toll booths often require a credit card so make sure to bring a bunq Travel Card or Metal Card. They likely won't accept a Maestro.
- Look for the toll booths that have the CB logo. These are the ones that you can pay with card.
- If you're driving, you can calculate the tolls in advance here. Make sure you also have a yellow vest and at least 2 alcohol testers in the car, French law requires it!
Travel Perks
🎢 Visit famous attractions with 10% off
We've partnered with Tiqets to bring you discounts on attraction tickets in France 🇫🇷. To get your discount, simply follow the link here and use our coupon code BUNQTIQETS10 at checkout. That's it! 🎊
Travel hands-free with a 20% discount on Stasher
Our partnership with Stasher will allow you to enjoy your destination to the fullest without having to worry about your luggage. You’ll be able to drop off your bags at trusted shops and hotels in France with a 20% discount through this link 👌🏻.
If you've been to France 🇫🇷 share your experience! The following would be really useful for other bunqers to know:
- Which ATMs are free to use?
- What card should I use and where?
- Any other info you think may be useful.
Share your experience with us in the comments below! 🌈 👇
