Local culture in France

Despite the familiar feeling of France and its iconic capital city, you’re still likely to experience some culture shock in France. Making a home in this European country comes with the challenges of learning the language and fitting into a culture steeped in unique social conventions.

The first and most critical step for overcoming culture shock and avoiding any misunderstandings about French culture is to learn the local language. You should also mind your manners, keep an open mind and maintain an eagerness to learn about French customs and etiquette.

Language barrier in France

The language barrier in France can be significant, as French is the official language. When living in the south of France, you may encounter regional dialects like Occitan (including Gascon, Languedoc, and Provençal) that sound surprisingly different to what is spoken in Paris and Lyon. In many tourist areas and larger cities, locals are likely to speak some level of English, with around 25 million French citizens having English skills.

This fact should not detract from your attempts to initiate a conversation or request in French with a ‘Bonjour’ (good day) or ‘Parlez-vous Anglais?’ (Do you speak English?). French people genuinely appreciate when you make an effort to speak their language, even if it’s just basic phrases.

There are plenty of language schools that offer French classes to foreign-language speakers. They all cater to various levels of proficiency and needs. Even for the more fluent speaker, there are conversation classes and language exchanges that offer an opportunity to practice with native French speakers outside traditional classroom settings.

Etiquette in France

Etiquette in France is extremely important to local people, and it is not unusual to see people being subtly disregarded by salespeople, waiters or others in the service industry for not minding their manners. At any service counter, even if in a rush, the most observed form of etiquette is greeting. Rushing in to make demands or a request without a brief ‘Bonjour’ can elicit a frosty response.

The bisous (kissing on both cheeks) is reserved for people you’re familiar with, and even then, locals will always be first to initiate. This greeting practice remains common despite slight post-pandemic adjustments. Women typically greet other women with cheek kisses, while men usually only greet other men like this when they’re close friends. It might seem overly familiar to expats at first, but it’s a deeply embedded greeting in the French social fabric.

Time in France

The issue of time in France, particularly in social situations, perplexes many newcomers who are used to the notion of punctuality. In French society, being invited for a meal at someone’s house prescribes that you do not arrive exactly on time. It is best to err on the side of being fashionably late and arrive 15 to 20 minutes after the set time. This social timing rule remains widely observed throughout the country.

That said, if invited to a restaurant or a business function, it’s acceptable to arrive at the specified time. Professional settings generally expect punctuality, especially for client meetings, while the clear separation between work and personal time is legally protected in France, with employees entitled to disconnect from work communications after hours.

Dining etiquette in France

Dining etiquette in France follows specific rules, and as a general principle, the French don’t have much tolerance for picky eaters. While it’s fairly common to customise an order of food according to your preferences in restaurants abroad, this behaviour isn’t acceptable in most French establishments or at someone’s home, although attitudes in metropolitan areas are slowly evolving.

Once the usual questions around food allergies have been addressed, the host/hostess expects you to finish what you’re served. It is frowned upon to leave food on your plate, especially as servings aren’t typically large, and food preparation, particularly in someone’s home, is a labour of love. It can only be reciprocated through your thorough appreciation and enjoyment of the meal.

When invited to a French home, never arrive with empty hands ('les mains vides', as the French say). Appropriate gifts include quality wine, chocolates, or flowers.

Cultural nuances in France

Cultural nuances in France can be subtle yet important. The French aren’t known for being gregarious and open. Restraint and reserve play a big role in most interactions, and overt friendliness is not something you’ll encounter overnight. You should be prepared to be patient when it comes to fostering connections with locals, as building meaningful relationships takes time.

The mixing of professional and private lives, such as socialising with colleagues outside of working hours, is seldom done in French companies. This separation applies to labour law, with French employees legally protected from after-hours work communications. The standard 35-hour work week and a minimum of five weeks of annual leave highlight the French emphasis on work-life balance.

The French can be very direct, which can be misconstrued as rude, especially if you’re not used to such forthrightness. Try not to take this personally; it’s simply a cultural difference in communication style that values clarity and precision. Making an effort to speak even basic French will significantly improve your chances of connecting with locals.

Shopping hours in France

Shopping hours in France might catch you off guard if you’re from the UK or US. On Sundays, nearly everything is closed, except for cafés, restaurants, and shops in designated tourist zones. While this may be annoying at first, try to follow the lead of the locals and take advantage of Sundays to relax and unwind.

Many shops will also close for two to three hours over lunch throughout the week, but this practice is more common outside metropolitan centres. This midday pause is part of the French lifestyle that values taking time to enjoy a proper meal. The southern regions typically have a more casual approach to these timings.

Tourist areas offer more flexibility with extended shopping hours, especially during the peak season. For shopping during closure times, many expats turn to online platforms like Showroomprive.com or larger supermarkets in urban areas that maintain longer hours. During special events like the 2024 Olympics, more businesses in Paris were permitted to open on Sundays.

Women in France

As a woman in France, you’ll find a society with strong constitutional protections for gender equality, although practical implementation varies. French workplaces show a mixed picture – companies scored an average of 88 out of 100 on the gender equality index in 2024, yet women hold only 35 percent of senior management positions. This represents better representation than Germany but lags behind the United States.

French maternity benefits are generous by international standards, with strong legal protection against pregnancy-related job loss. However, France has seen birth rates drop to post-war lows, prompting government reforms to parental leave policies in an effort to reverse this trend.

Safety considerations vary significantly by location. Major cities like Paris offer extensive amenities but come with typical urban safety concerns. Cities such as Marseille, Montpellier, and Lille have higher reported crime rates, primarily involving petty theft rather than violent incidents.

Gender Equality and Women in Leadership in France

LGBTQ+ in France

LGBTQ+ people in France experience one of Western Europe’s more progressive environments, with the country ranking 13th out of 49 European nations on the 2024 Rainbow Europe LGBTI rights index. Since legalising same-sex marriage in 2013, France has continued to strengthen legal protections, including a 2024 constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights.

Urban-rural divides remain significant when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance. Paris stands out as exceptionally welcoming, while other cities like Montpellier, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, and Marseille also host established LGBTQ+ communities and Pride events. Rural areas tend to be more conservative, with surveys showing nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals in small towns reporting their communities as somewhat or very unaccepting.

Despite strong legal frameworks, challenges persist. Reported anti-LGBTQ+ offences rose 13 percent in 2023, with over 4,500 incidents reported nationwide. For support, newcomers can connect with organisations like ILGA-Europe and local community groups. Transgender rights in France remain relatively strong compared to many countries, although recent political debates reflect ongoing tensions regarding gender-affirming care access.

LGBTQ+, Diversity and Inclusion in France