Go, but pay attention.
France’s sketch score climbed seven points to 75 today, and the US and Canada maintain a level 2 travel advisory while the UK stays at level 1. Watch for the global measles notice currently in effect.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about France
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Mandatory Identification
Foreigners must carry an official identity document. Failure to provide identification when requested, such as during a public transportation ticket check, results in being taken to a police station.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Crimes: Crime-related emergencies can be reported to the toll-free number 17 or 112 (European emergency telephone number).
- •Though France remains among the safest countries in the world, crime and insecurity have become a lot more common in the last few decades.
- •City centres and some (mostly wealthy) suburbs are usually safe at all hours.
- •While it is not compulsory for French citizens to carry identification, they usually do so.
Staying healthy
- •Tap water: Tap water (eau du robinet) is drinkable, except in rare cases such as in rural rest areas and sinks in railway carriage toilets, in which case it will be clearly signposted as eau non potable.
- •Tap water is generally acceptable in taste, but mineral water (eau minérale) is generally considered to taste better, except in areas that use mountain water from the Alps for their municipal supply.
- •Medical help: Health care in France is of a very high standard.
- •Pharmacies are denoted by a green cross, usually in flashing neon (or LED).
- •Since drug brand names vary across countries even though the effective ingredients stay the same, it is better to carry prescriptions using the international nomenclature in addition to the commercial brand name.
- •In addition, supermarkets sell condoms (préservatifs) and also often personal lubricant, bandages, disinfectant and other minor medical items.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report that France is generally safe for visitors, even in major cities like Marseille and Paris. While media reports often focus on social unrest and crime, those who have visited or lived in these cities describe a reality that does not match the headlines. Specifically, one traveler familiar with New York City found Marseille comfortable enough to walk around at 3:00 AM. There is a visible police and military presence in areas like Paris, but this does not necessarily impact the overall safety experience for tourists. No specific scams or dangerous areas were identified in the provided accounts.
“I’d heard mixed things about the safety and cleanliness here, but coming from New York City, I never felt uncomfortable at any time - even wandering around at 3am.
— r/travel
“I understand that news can sometimes exaggerate or focus on extremes, but these reports still raise questions in my mind.
— r/travel
“I understand there's a bit more of a police/military presence lately, wondering if that bothered anyone.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 or 17 / ambulance: 112 or 15 / fire: 112 or 18
Zoom in
11 France cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12