Tipping in France

Cafe in Paris
Paris Cafe

The rules for tipping in France are not set in stone, but these guidelines will give you an idea of common practice.

Tipping at Cafes in France

– 0.20 euros is common practice for small things like coffee and tea.

Tipping for Restaurants in France

– No tip is necessary, but it is common practice to round to the nearest 5 or 10 euros.

– Many restaurant menus in France say “service compris” on the menu. This means service included, so they are not expecting a tip.

– For a nice meal of 100 euros or more, you can leave 5 euros if the service was exceptional.

Tipping for Taxis in France

– 10% is common practice for taxi tips.

Tipping for Limos or Private Cars in France

– 15% is common practice for limos and private cars.

Tipping for Hotel Staff in France

– 1 to 2 euros is sufficient for bags brought to your room or car.

Tour de France

The Tour de France takes place every summer in France and the surrounding region.

It consists of around 20 to 25 stages and covers a distance of approximately 3,500 kilometers. Each year it varies slightly. Every year the Tour de France features flat stages, mountain stages, medium mountain stages, individual time trials, and team time trials.

The Tour de France begins in a different place every year, and ends, as always, on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The tour goes throughout France and often through the surrounding countries at the beginning of the cycling event.

The Tour de France’s official website has details on all the stages, as well as news and updates on the tour: http://www.letour.fr.

Bastille Day in Paris

History of Bastille Day in Paris
Bastille Day, which takes place on July 14th, marks the anniversary of the beginning of the French Revolution of 1789.

Bastille Day is a celebration of the French revolutionaries’ storming of the Bastille prison in Paris, a powerful symbol of the King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s absolute power and misrule.

The storming of the Bastille and the celebration of Bastille Day in Paris do not commemorate an outright victory; rather, they represent a symbolic act of defiance and unity of the French people against the crown.

Bastille Day in Paris
Today Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14th as a national holiday in France.

The day is commemorated by a military parade along the Champs Elysees and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower at night.

Bastille Day balls, traditionally held by firefighters (and called bals des pompiers in French), are held the night of Bastille Day throughout Paris.