France - Prepare

Bring casually chic clothes for the cities, a sunhat and cool fabrics for summer in the south, and excited taste-buds ready for the French culinary experience.

See the stars at May's Cannes film festival, street parties at June's Fête de la Musique, 14 July parades on Bastille Day and the Tour de France in July. Visit museums for free at September's Journées du Poitrimoine (heritage days), gorge on French food at October's Gastronomic Week (La Semaine du Goût) and drink Glühwein at Christmas markets in Alsace.

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Good Friday (Mar/Apr), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Labour Day (1 May), 1945 Victory Day (8 May), Ascension (40 days after Easter), Bastille Day (14 Jul), Assumption (15 Aug), All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Remembrance Day (11 Nov), Christmas Day (25 Dec).

Northern France and Paris has similar weather to the south of England. The western Atlantic coast can get windy – perfect for windsurfers. South of the Loire things hot up, especially along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica where summers are long and dry (21-30°C). The Mistral wind cools the heat of Provence in winter. Skiers can rely on snowy slopes and temps hovering between 0-5°C in the Alps and Pyrenees from November to April.

220V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.

+33 (national).

Euro (€) is the currency.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Maison de la France website

Friends of all ages greet each other with a peck – or pecks – on the cheek ( la bise). Each city has its own rules. Paris and the North kiss twice, Southerners kiss four times (it's still common for men to kiss in greeting). But there are unexpected exceptions. Don't worry – the French find it confusing as well.