Drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties including prison and heavy fines.
Local Rules for Travellers
🇫🇷 Local Rules in France for Travellers
France has a few rules that surprise visitors: you must be able to prove your identity to the police, covering your face in public is banned, and since June 2025 smoking is banned on beaches, in parks and at bus stops across the country. These are the rules worth knowing, checked against French customs, the City of Paris and the UK government's official travel advice for France.
🚫 Drugs & cannabis
🚬 Smoking & vaping
No smoking on beaches, in parks or at bus stops
Since 27 June 2025 the smoking ban covers many outdoor spaces, including beaches next to bathing water, parks and gardens, and public transport waiting areas. The fixed fine is €135. The ban covers tobacco, not vaping.
Source: City of Paris ↗
🏛️ Public places & behaviour
Covering your face in public is illegal
It is illegal to cover your face in public places in France, and the law applies to tourists. You can be fined up to €150.
Riptides on the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux
There is a risk of riptides (baïnes) on parts of the coast, especially in Gironde and Landes near Bordeaux. Follow the beach flag system.
🪪 ID, fees & documents
Be able to prove your identity
You must be able to prove your identity when the police ask, or within 4 hours at a police station. A passport, ID card or driving licence are accepted.
🚗 Driving
Strict drink-driving limits and frequent checks
France's drink-driving limit is a third lower than England's, and police regularly carry out roadside checks for alcohol and drugs. Penalties include fines, losing your licence and prison.
Pollution sticker needed in central Paris and Lyon
All vehicles driving in central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble must display a pollution sticker from 8am to 8pm, and older vehicles may not be allowed in.
🌿 Nature, beaches & wildfires
Starting a wildfire is a crime, even by accident
Causing a wildfire is illegal in France even if it starts by accident, and can lead to a fine or prison. Be careful with cigarettes and barbecues in summer.
🛃 Customs & what you can bring
From outside the EU: 200 cigarettes duty-free
Arriving from outside the EU you can bring 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco (not combined). Under-17s get no tobacco or alcohol allowance.
From outside the EU: 4 L wine, 16 L beer, 1 L spirits
Arriving from outside the EU you can bring 4 litres of still wine, 16 litres of beer, and 1 litre of drinks over 22% (or 2 litres of drinks of 22% or less). Other goods are duty-free up to €430 per traveller arriving by air or sea.
Declare €10,000 or more in cash
Cash of €10,000 or more carried into or out of France from or to a non-EU country must be declared to customs.
Law, venue rule, custom or advice?
Every rule on this page is labelled, so you can tell what is enforced by law from what is simply polite.
- Law
- Set by national, regional or city law. Breaking it can mean a fine or worse.
- Venue rule
- A rule set by a venue or operator, such as a bath, museum, hotel or transport company.
- Local custom
- Not a law, but expected behaviour. Ignoring it can cause offence.
- Safety advice
- Practical advice from an official source to keep you out of trouble.
Sources checked for this page
- City of Paris
- UK government travel advice (FCDO) for France
- French Customs (douane.gouv.fr)
- French Customs (douane.gouv.fr)
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