How to travel to France and get around once there
Since the land of liberty, equality and fraternity is our nearest neighbour, methods of travel to France from the UK are well established, easy and often very affordable. Take your pick from ferry, plane or train. Once in the country, getting around is a breeze. Indeed, the modern railway system and first-class road network are two of the many joys of living in France and can whizz you quickly to your destination – even if that is a holiday home in France’s most far-flung corners.
Travel to France, and within France – by air
No matter where you buy your permanent or holiday home in France, or even where you want to explore as a visitor, you are likely to have an international airport within striking distance. Airport facilities are continually being extended so air travel to France and within France is nearly always an option. Paris Orly and Paris Charles de Gaulle are the largest airports. Others include Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Marseille but there are also several smaller airports mostly serving low-cost carriers from the UK and domestic flights.
The national flag airline is Air France which covers both international and domestic flights. The other airline offering travel in France is Air Littoral.
Return fares on scheduled flights to France have fallen in recent years due to increased competition and the introduction of no-frills airlines. Expats living in France find it worthwhile to shop around for flights. Among those offering air travel to France are British Airways, BMI , Flybe , Easy Jet and Ryanair.
Travel to France – by sea
There is a good choice of options for travel to France by sea. Ferries sail from the UK to eight ports in northern France: Caen, Cherbourge, Calais, Dieppe, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Roscoff and St Malo. The main operators are: Brittany Ferries, P&O, Condor Ferries, Hoverspeed, NorfolkLine, SeaFrance and Transmanche . In addition, Irish Ferries (Sails from Ireland).
Travel to France – under the channel
Two rail choices are available for travel to France. Eurostar carries foot passengers from Waterloo (and Ashford in Kent) to Lille and Paris where they can connect with the French rail network. For those who prefer to drive on either side of the channel, Eurotunnel links Folkestone and Calais in just over 30 minutes. Eurotunnel now offers a frequent traveller scheme which is ideal for Brits living in France or who own a holiday home in France.
Getting around. Road travel in France.
Get behind a wheel in France and you cannot help be a tad jealous of the French for their excellent road infrastructure. While those living in France on a permanent basis may soon start economising on their autoroute toll charges, anyone making less regular visits to a holiday home in France soon appreciates the convenient and uncongested French motorways. To plan your routes, and find out the toll charges, visit www.mappy.fr
Driving is on the right hand side of the road. Fair weather speed limits are 130km/h on motorway, 110km/h on dual carriageways, 90km/h on roads outside built-up areas and 50km/h in town. Wet weather speed limits (which also apply in all weathers to drivers with less than two year’s driving experience) are 110km/h, 100km/h, 80km/h and 50km/h respectively. The Paris Ring Road (the Peripherique) has a permanent top speed of 80km/h.
Unless you are living in France as a resident, you have to pay fines on the spot. Seat belts, in both front and back seats, are compulsory, and you should familiarise yourself with other driving laws in France.
If you can avoid driving fines and autoroute toll charges (which can mount up on long journeys), road travel in France is a fairly cheap option (see Cost of living in France page) . Car rental is similarly priced to the UK, but watch out for hefty deposits.
UK driving licences are valid in France but after six months residence in your French home, you need to apply for a French driving licence.
Getting around. Bus travel in France.Because the French rail network is so comprehensive, bus and coach travel in France is generally confined to short trips within cities. In most urban areas, buses tend to run from 05.00 hrs until 22.00 hrs or midnight when a limited night bus system kicks in on some routes.
Getting around. Tram and metro travel in France. The cities of Paris, Lille, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon and Rennes have their own metro networks while others have tram systems. Like SNCF, they are reliable and popular forms of travel in France. While hours of operation vary, most of the networks run between 05:00hrs and midnight.
Getting around. Rail travel in FranceRail travel in France is both comfortable and efficient. The network operator, SNCF also runs many high speed train (TGV) lines that make it easy for anyone visiting France or living in France to get from city to city in the shortest possible time ie if your holiday home in France is in the far south, you can make the 1,032km journey from Lille to Marseille in just four hours by TGV.
