How to fall in love with French culture when traveling to France. Here are some of my top tips.
I Love France. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Right after I graduated high school, I turned 18, and a month later, I was living in France. I lived there for 2 years.
Recently, I went back and stayed in the south of France (my favorite) and visited Monaco. La vie on rose!
The wonderful thing about traveling when you are a little older is the places you can stay. Generally, it is a better budget with better accommodations.
Instead of the rougher areas with questionable hostels, I stayed at when I was young. It was like an episode from the Amazon series Jack Ryan. The reviews of the places would read “Adventure with a crappy bathroom.” And possibly fighting in the streets.
But I hope you will travel to France and have an incredible experience with great accommodations. A trip with great memories of the culture, museums, and people.
So here are my tips on how to fall in love with French Culture when traveling.
If you do this, I believe you will have a great experience and love the culture. One of the most beautiful things about France is its culture, followed by art, wine, and food.
So don’t let your culture stop you from experiencing the grandeur and wonder of France.
Most importantly, on how to fall in love with French culture, you need to.
Learn some basic French.
Yes, people in France like their language. The same is true in America; we like English.
Many French people speak English, but not to tourists. You might think this is rude, but to them, it is not. So go with the French and learn a little of their language. And who doesn’t want to learn the language of love?
When I asked my French friends why they don’t speak English? Their response was mostly the same. “Why are you in France if you don’t want to speak French?” Well, that’s right. It is not the French that are arrogant about this it’s the foreigners thinking they should speak in their language instead of their own.
They appreciate people who speak to them in their language. Learning a few basic French words will not take you long.
It’s also really accessible to learn new languages now. My favorite language app is Duolingo it’s an easy to use (no this is not an affiliate link) I really like the format.
Once, in the South of France, I heard a woman arguing in English with a customer (which happens in France). She said the sign says “Ne touche pas” (Don’t touch). The man replied, “I don’t speak French.” She abruptly replied, “Then why are you in France!” Then she looked at me and said you speak French. And asked if she could help me.
If you want to have a nice cultural experience in France, then learn the basics of French.
Next for our French culture is conversations.
Don’t be easily insulted.
In France, no one has to agree to stay friends.
They might ask you blunt questions or even spit a little with their mouths if you tell them you’re American. Or spit at the President, or whoever it might be, or whatever it might be. Don’t get offended; let it go, and you will enjoy France.
Discuss candidly with a French person, and don’t try to change their minds. If they think France is the best place in the world, let them list why they also believe that. Refrain from trying to teach them what is wrong with their opinion or talk about how rude someone was to you while you were in Paris. French value discussions and conversations; they don’t feel the need to always agree, but they do like manners.
Next in our fall in love with French culture is
Stay in a home or villa.
This will give you a more in-depth experience in France. If you are staying in the South of France or the Alsace area, villas and homes will make it so special. Life is always good when you have your coffee on the terrace in the South of France. It’s stunning. And your experience will be a little different from the traditional Parisian experience.
Now, here is a kicker for many tourists and foreigners who live in France.
Be flexible about strikes.
Don’t get worked up about a strike, which can mess with your travel plans.
The French love a good strike; I mean, there are so many reasons to go on strike. But this can be a bit of a pain if you are planning on traveling and buses or trains are not working.
Just roll with it and enjoy the spontaneity of the French strike. If you can’t catch your bus or train to go somewhere, go to a cafe and enjoy the view. It will probably start running again soon.
Have a strike plan of action. Check the French news before you go to see if it will be during your trip, and make alternative plans.
The next is the epitome of French culture: the Cafe.
Go to the same Cafe when possible.
Visit the same Cafe or boulangerie where you are staying. This can make a big difference when traveling to France. Find a cafe that you love and go there daily on your trip. When I do this, I start to make friends with the locals.
Going to the same cafe or boulangerie everyday has become a habit for me when I travel. I have met so many amazing people this way.
Remember the small museums.
I lived in France and since have traveled back several times, but I still haven’t gone to the Louvre.
Full disclosure: I have a little superstition about going to the Louvre. I think if I see the Mona Lisa, I will never go back to France. It’s wacky but so are most superstitions.
Ask a local what museum to go to; some of the smaller ones are the best experiences. For instance, the Rodin Museum is wonderful and my favorite in Paris. When you ask a local try to find the Unicorn (the actually French person and not the expat.) If you can’t find a Unicorn then ask the Expat who has lived there for many years.
I understand some of you might want a very detailed itinerary so here is an article from someone who lives in France in particular Paris. She has a great list of small museums to visit.
Quick recap for my speed readers.
- Learn some French
- Don’t get offended easily
- Stay in a home or villa
- Go to the same cafe on your trip
- Remember the small museums
This quick tips should take your next trip to a new level.
Here are some other articles to check out before you go “How to make international travel easier” and “Unlocking a new world: 5 ways to immerse yourself in culture when you travel”
Let me know your tips for traveling to France in the comments.