French Culture
French Culture &
Etiquette Guide
Understanding French culture makes everything easier — from ordering in a restaurant to making friends. This guide covers the customs, norms and unwritten rules that every visitor and learner should know.
Greetings & Social Norms
The bisou, handshake rules, when to say tu vs vous, and why bonjour is non-negotiable.
Read guide →French Dining Etiquette
Course order, table manners, what not to do in a French restaurant, and the art of the long lunch.
Read guide →Tipping in France
Do you tip in France? How much, when, and what's considered rude. The truth about service charge.
Read guide →Business in France
Meetings, punctuality, hierarchy, small talk and everything you need for French professional culture.
Read guide →Shopping Customs
Opening hours, French market etiquette, haggling (or not), and why you always greet the shopkeeper.
Read guide →Arts & Intellectual Life
Why culture and ideas matter so much in France, and how to talk about them with French people.
Read guide →The One Rule That Changes Everything
If there's one thing that will transform your experience in France, it's this: always say bonjour. Before asking for anything in a shop, café, or hotel — before you even ask a question on the street — say bonjour. Not doing so is considered rude in a way that's hard to overstate. The French don't see this as a formality; they see it as basic human acknowledgement.
This single habit — greeting before transacting — will get you better service, warmer responses, and genuine goodwill. It costs nothing and changes everything.
The Bisou — French Greeting Kisses
The bisou (cheek kiss) is the standard greeting between people who know each other — friends, family, and colleagues you're on good terms with. The number varies by region: two in most of France (one on each cheek), three or four in parts of the south and west. When in doubt, follow the lead of the French person you're greeting.
For first meetings in professional contexts, a handshake is more appropriate. The bisou is for people you already have a relationship with. Men typically shake hands with other men they don't know well, and bisous with male friends they do know.
French Dining Culture
Eating in France is a social ritual, not a transaction. Meals are long, leisurely and structured. Lunch can last two hours — especially on weekends or in the south. Dinner starts late by Australian standards: rarely before 7:30pm, often 8 or 9pm.
The classic structure is: apéritif (drinks and nibbles), entrée (starter), plat principal (main course), fromage (cheese), dessert, café. You won't be expected to have all courses, but rushing through a meal is considered poor form.
Key dining phrases
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please — never click your fingers or shout
- C'est délicieux — It's delicious — complimenting food is always appreciated
- Je suis allergique à… — I'm allergic to… — always worth knowing
- Un carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît — A jug of tap water please — free and perfectly acceptable to ask for
Tipping in France
France includes a 15% service charge (service compris) in all restaurant bills by law — it's not optional and it goes to staff. You are not obligated to tip anything on top. That said, leaving a small amount — €1–2 in a café, rounding up to the nearest €5 in a restaurant — is appreciated and becoming more common.
For taxis, rounding up to the nearest euro is the norm. Hotel porters and housekeeping: €1–2 per service is appropriate. Tour guides: €5–10 for a good tour.
Never feel pressured to tip more because you're a tourist. The service compris law means staff are paid properly regardless.
Business Culture in France
French business culture is formal, hierarchical and intellectual. First meetings are typically formal — use Monsieur and Madame with surnames until invited to use first names. Business cards are exchanged at the start of a meeting, not the end.
The French love debate and intellectual rigour — don't be surprised if your ideas are challenged vigorously. This isn't aggression; it's how good ideas are tested. Back your position with logic and evidence, and you'll earn respect.
Punctuality for meetings is expected but not slavishly so — 5–10 minutes late is normal in Paris, less so in other regions. Lunch meetings are common and can be excellent opportunities to build relationships.