Paris and France: The Basics

Before your Paris trip really begins, here's a quick rundown of the basics on France and Paris.

France takes up a sizable chunk of western Europe. It's the largest country in the EU, second in Europe overall after Russia, and 42nd in the world. It covers about one-fifth of the EU's area. Its neighbors, from north to south, are Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain, with the United Kingdom across the Channel.

Paris sits in northern France, with the Seine running through the middle of the city. It is France's biggest city and one of Europe's centers of history, culture and business. Yet it makes up just 0.02% of the country's land area. At only about 105 square kilometers, it can be covered on foot if you group your stops sensibly.

Paris runs on Central European Time (UTC+1). Europe uses daylight saving time from the last weekend of March to the last weekend of October, moving clocks forward an hour to UTC+2. Check the time difference from home before you go. Summer evenings in Paris stay faintly bright until around 10 p.m. Some people call this "white nights," but it's simply the long hours of daylight; Paris lies well south of the Arctic Circle, so true white nights can't happen. In late June the sun rises around 5 a.m. and sets around 10 p.m.

Here's what to expect season by season: - Spring: Daytime highs go from 11°C in March to 18°C in May, a big swing. You'll see everything from short sleeves to light parkas on the same day. - Summer: Days are long and nights very short. The sun is strong and it's hot, so sunglasses and sunscreen are a must. - Autumn: Temperatures swing widely from day to night, and evenings can feel very cold. Pack both a light parka and short sleeves. - Winter: It's rainy, damp and cold. Bring an umbrella or a rain jacket.

Summers in Paris are reportedly getting hotter, and winters bring heavier snow and more frequent cold snaps. Paris is lovely year-round, but in July and August many places lack air conditioning, and with the long summer holidays, many businesses outside the tourist areas close. From November to the end of February, buildings with thin walls and windows are heated only by radiators, so indoors can feel dry and chilly.

Three more things worth knowing:

Language. The language is French. Unlike in the past, English works well in Paris, especially at tourist sights. Still, French people appreciate a clumsy "thank you" just as much as we do, so learn two greetings: Bonjour (bon-ZHOOR) for hello and Merci (mehr-SEE) for thank you. Also handy are S'il vous plaît (seel voo PLEH, please), Oui (wee, yes), Non (noh, no) and, essential anywhere in Europe, Les toilettes (lay twah-LET, the restrooms). Just as travelers to Southeast Asia memorize "no cilantro, please," in Europe "less salt, please" matters just as much: Mettez moins de sel, s'il vous plaît (meh-TAY mwan duh sel, seel voo PLEH). Leave the pronunciation practice to a translation app.

Currency. The euro, the EU's official currency, is used. Any euros left over from Paris can be spent in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere, so there's no need to worry about exchanging them back. Euro coins and notes work across the EU, though each issuing country puts its own design on them.

Visas. Passport holders from many countries, including the US, Japan and South Korea, don't need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Requirements vary by nationality, so check before you go.