Guides & tips from real French experts

Voila Notes

Voila Notes

Voila Notes

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Practical guidance for travelers and expats in Paris: useful phrases, local etiquette, urgent situations, and small decisions that make France easier.

Practical guidance for travelers and expats in Paris: useful phrases, local etiquette, urgent situations, and small decisions that make France easier.

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Photography exhibition in Paris
Photography exhibition in Paris

Culture

The Best Photography Exhibitions in Paris Right Now (August 2026)

The Best Photography Exhibitions in Paris Right Now (August 2026)

Eight photography exhibitions worth your time in Paris this August and September. With addresses, hours, and prices.

Wellness image for the French healthcare guide
Wellness image for the French healthcare guide

Practical Info

フランスで病気になったら?日本人旅行者のための医療ガイド

フランスで病気になったら?日本人旅行者のための医療ガイド

旅行先で体調を崩すのは不安なもの。フランスの医療システムの使い方を、日本人向けにわかりやすくまとめました。

Paris city scene
Paris city scene

Culture

中国游客在巴黎最常踩的5个坑

中国游客在巴黎最常踩的5个坑

巴黎很美,但也有一些让中国游客头疼的“坑”。作为本地人,分享5个最常见的问题和应对方法。

Paris summer street scene
Paris summer street scene

Culture

Why Everything Closes in August in France (and How to Survive It)

Why Everything Closes in August in France (and How to Survive It)

Arriving in France in August can feel like the country has quietly shut down. Here’s what’s really happening, and how to plan around it.

Paris lifestyle portrait
Paris lifestyle portrait

Etiquette

The Unwritten Rules of French Greetings: Bonjour, La Bise, and When to Use “Vous”

The Unwritten Rules of French Greetings: Bonjour, La Bise, and When to Use “Vous”

Nothing marks you as a visitor faster than getting greetings wrong, and nothing wins French people over faster than getting them right.

French road travel scene
French road travel scene

Transport

Renting a Car in France as a Foreign Visitor: License, Insurance, and Tolls

Renting a Car in France as a Foreign Visitor: License, Insurance, and Tolls

Driving in France is easy once you know the rules, the license requirements, the tolls, and the low-emission zones that can catch you out.

Paris city lifestyle scene
Paris city lifestyle scene

Practical Info

Getting a French Phone Number and SIM Card as a Foreigner

Getting a French Phone Number and SIM Card as a Foreigner

One of the first things you’ll need in France, and one of the most confusing. Here’s how to get a French number without a French bank account or address.

Healthcare scene in France
Healthcare scene in France

Practical Info

How to See a Doctor in France When You Don’t Speak French

How to See a Doctor in France When You Don’t Speak French

Falling ill abroad is stressful enough without a language barrier. Here’s how the French medical system works, and how to get seen quickly.

Hands reviewing payroll documents on a desk
Hands reviewing payroll documents on a desk

Practical Info

Understanding Your French Payslip, Line by Line

Understanding Your French Payslip, Line by Line

The French payslip is famously dense. Here’s what each part actually means, and why your take-home pay is so different from your gross salary.

French train travel scene
French train travel scene

Transport

Taking the Train in France: SNCF, TGV, and How Not to Get It Wrong

Taking the Train in France: SNCF, TGV, and How Not to Get It Wrong

France has one of the best rail networks in the world, but a few unwritten rules trip up visitors. Here’s how to book, board, and travel without stress.

Paris café table
Paris café table

Etiquette

Tipping in France: What's Expected, What Isn't

Tipping in France: What's Expected, What Isn't

Service is already included — but that’s not the whole story. The actual rules of tipping in France, from cafés to taxis to hotel staff.

Rencontres d’Arles exhibition image
Rencontres d’Arles exhibition image

Culture

Rencontres d'Arles 2026: The 5 Exhibitions Worth the Trip From Paris

Rencontres d'Arles 2026: The 5 Exhibitions Worth the Trip From Paris

Europe’s biggest photography festival runs in Provence until October 4. Here are the five shows to prioritize — and how to plan the day trip from Paris.

Paris café terrace
Paris café terrace

Etiquette

Restaurant Etiquette Mistakes Tourists Make in France (Without Knowing It)

Restaurant Etiquette Mistakes Tourists Make in France (Without Knowing It)

Nobody explains these rules — you’re just expected to know them. Here’s what actually matters at a French restaurant table.

Paris lifestyle scene
Paris lifestyle scene

Etiquette

파리 여행 자주 하는 실수 5가지: 한국인 여행자를 위한 가이드

파리 여행 자주 하는 실수 5가지: 한국인 여행자를 위한 가이드

한국인 여행자가 파리에서 특히 자주 하는 실수 5가지 — 미리 알아두면 훨씬 여유로운 여행이 됩니다.

Paris transport and taxi scene
Paris transport and taxi scene

Transport

CDG to Central Paris: Taxi vs. Train vs. Private Transfer: Real Costs Compared

CDG to Central Paris: Taxi vs. Train vs. Private Transfer: Real Costs Compared

Flat-rate taxis, the RER B, buses, and private transfers — what each really costs, how long it takes, and which one fits your situation.

Signing documents
Signing documents

Practical Info

Opening a French Bank Account as a Foreigner: What You Actually Need

Opening a French Bank Account as a Foreigner: What You Actually Need

The documents, the timeline, the traps — a realistic guide to getting a French bank account, whether you’re an expat or a newcomer.

Paris pharmacy at night
Paris pharmacy at night

Emergency

Finding a Pharmacy at Night or on Sunday in Paris

Finding a Pharmacy at Night or on Sunday in Paris

It’s 11pm, you need medicine, and every pharmacy looks closed. Paris always has one open — here’s how to find it.

Luggage at the airport
Luggage at the airport

Emergency

Lost Luggage at CDG or Orly: What to Do in the First Hour

Lost Luggage at CDG or Orly: What to Do in the First Hour

Your bag didn’t show up on the carousel. Here’s exactly what to do before leaving the airport — and why that first hour matters more than you think.

Busy Paris restaurant interior
Busy Paris restaurant interior

Etiquette

パリのレストラン予約マナー: 知っておきたい6つのポイント

パリのレストラン予約マナー: 知っておきたい6つのポイント

パリでレストランを予約するときに知っておきたい、電話予約、時間帯、キャンセル、会計などの基本マナーを6つに整理しました。

Woman looking at paintings in a museum
Woman looking at paintings in a museum

Culture

The Best Art Exhibitions to See in Paris This Summer

The Best Art Exhibitions to See in Paris This Summer

A curated guide to the best Paris exhibitions this summer, from classic masters to contemporary art, fashion, photography, and ancient history.

The Seine in Paris on a sunny summer day
The Seine in Paris on a sunny summer day

Practical Info

Where to Cool Off in Paris During a Heatwave: Pools, Rivers, and Free Swimming Spots

Where to Cool Off in Paris During a Heatwave: Pools, Rivers, and Free Swimming Spots

A practical guide to swimming in and around Paris during a heatwave, from free river zones to municipal pools and nearby lake beaches.