Culture, Customs and Etiquette in France: A Traveller's Guide

First impressions matter

In France, politeness is not optional, it is the social currency. The single most important rule: always say bonjour when entering a shop, boarding a bus, or approaching anyone for help. Skipping it can come across as rude. After 6 pm, switch to bonsoir. When you leave, au revoir and a smile go a long way.

Greetings: the kiss and the handshake

The famous bise (cheek kiss) is for friends and family, usually two light pecks starting on the right, though Provence often does three and parts of the north do four. With strangers or in business, a firm handshake is standard. Address people as Monsieur or Madame until invited to use first names, and use vous rather than the informal tu with anyone you do not know well.

Dining etiquette

French meals are unhurried rituals. Keep both hands visible on the table, not in your lap. Bread goes directly on the tablecloth, not on your plate, and you tear it rather than bite it. Wait for the host to say bon appetit before eating. Saying you are full is fine, but leaving food is more accepted than over-piling your plate.

• Do not ask for a doggy bag at a fine restaurant, though it is slowly becoming acceptable
• Wine is poured for others before yourself
• Coffee comes after dessert, never with the meal

Tipping norms

Service is legally included (service compris), so tipping is not expected the way it is in North America. For good service, rounding up or leaving one to two euros at a cafe is generous; in a nicer restaurant, five to ten percent is appreciated but never obligatory. Taxi drivers and hotel staff appreciate a euro or two.

Dos and donts

• Do lower your voice in restaurants and on public transport; loudness reads as impolite
• Do dress neatly, the French value presentation over flashy logos
• Do not switch straight to English; even a clumsy attempt at French is warmly received
• Do not discuss money or salaries; it is considered crude
• Do queue and respect personal space in markets and bakeries

Traditions worth knowing

Lunch is sacred, with many shops closing between noon and 2 pm, especially outside Paris. Sundays are quiet, family days. The apero (pre-dinner drinks) is a beloved social ritual. National pride runs deep around food, wine, and the language, so praising a regional specialty earns instant goodwill.

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