The information shared below is up to date as of March 16, 2022.
Life around the world has been far from normal for well over two years. From lockdowns and quarantines to now the war in Ukraine, life in Europe as we know it has been more like a dystopian novel than reality. But the reality right now is that coronavirus is not yet a thing of the past and the war in Ukraine has travelers concerned. Is it safe to travel to France now or other areas of Europe? Is Paris safe for tourists? I’m weighing in with my thoughts.
Is it safe to travel to France now? Is Paris safe for tourists?
Dinard, view from above.
Readers emailed me pandemic-related travel questions near daily at the height of it wanting to know if it’s safe to travel to Europe. Now in March 2022, the question is the same but the reason behind the question is different. The war in Ukraine is a major concern for travelers right now.
Let me start out by saying I don’t have all the answers. My opinion is my opinion and while I can share what life is like right now along with some questions for you to think about, the decision to travel to France or anywhere in Europe right now is yours and you have to make the best choice for your personal circumstances.
I think the decision to travel to Europe or not right now should be based on facts not fear. But even with the facts, it’s also not a one-size-fits-all answer for everyone. There’s always nuance so I want to be sensitive to that.
Let’s begin with some facts:
—Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and France’s position as written on their official France Diplomacy website updated March 8 is: “France stands united with Ukraine in this humanitarian emergency.” You can read more about what led up to the current crisis linked here. It’s important to understand the background. The continue, “France has had a policy of firmness, dialogue and solidarity with Ukraine to move towards a political settlement of the conflict and to help de-escalation since the increase in tensions with Russia on the Ukrainian border at the end of 2021.”–As you’d expect, travel to Ukraine is not advised.
–France is not at war with Russia. As reported by France 24 and others, they affirm that
“EU countries and NATO have excluded the option of a direct military intervention in Ukraine.”
–2.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country as of March 11, according to the United Nations. And
-Russian flights have been cut off from US, Canadian, and much of the EU airspace.
-Keep in mind that Paris is about 1500 miles (2382 km) from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
-The French government has NOT advised people to stay home and not travel to France. No EU country has at this time.
What advice does the U.S. State Department have for travelers?
I pulled up France on the France International Travel section of the U.S. State Department website and France remains at level 4 Do not travel due to COVID, and that was last updated December 6, 2021. There is zero mention of the war in Ukraine or Russia.
It reads, “Do not travel to France due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest.” That status has remained unchanged for several months.
That said, the advice noted is solid, given the current crisis as well, most notably:
-Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and large crowded public venues.
-Avoid demonstrations.
-Follow the instructions of local authorities including movement restrictions related to any ongoing police action.
-Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
I would also encourage you to sign up for the state department’s STEP Program (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), so you are sent email/text alerts if the situation changes.
Current COVID situation in France
Now let’s turn to COVID in France. There’s a bit of a bright side, as restrictions have been lifted as of March 2022.
While France’s infection numbers have come way down, COVID-19 has not been completely eradicated. There has been a downward trend in the number of cases over time. It’s not a thing of the past but it seems to be going in that direction. Then as of April 2022, cases seem to be on the rise again.
As of March 14, 2022, rules have changed and you no longer have to wear a mask in places we’ve been wearing them for over two years now. Masks are no longer needed indoors in places like supermarkets and restaurants and for kids at school, exceptions being on public transport and in medical establishments. We no longer need to show our health pass to enter places we previously needed to show it.
But as I mentioned, cases are now on the rise in France so Covid is still circulating.
In terms of travel to France as far as the virus is concerned, the U.S. State department noted this Embassy Health Advisory alert this week: “France reclassified the United States as a “green” country under the French color-coded travel rules scheme. Under the new rules for travel to France: Fully vaccinated travelers: Must show proof of vaccination prior to boarding” but the vaccine pass has been suspended and mask rules have changed as I just mentioned. And no COVID test is required for entry if you’re vaccinated.
Stay alert not anxious
It’s important to stay alert but not anxious. Be cautious. Stay on top of the current news coming out about the war in Ukraine — we can’t bury our heads in the sand if we want to travel to France right now.
Do check official government sites for their recommendations. I’d also suggest that you buy travel insurance even if it’s not something you’d normally purchase. Or at the very least a refundable or changeable flight, just to be on the safe side.
Something else to be aware of is that gas prices are extremely high. It’s over 2 euros/liter in my area and with today’s exchange rate that is the equivalent of over US$8/gallon. If this continues, there may be protests stemming from the gas prices. There have also been protests against the war in Ukraine that might attract large crowds but are generally peaceful.
So again, stay alert. Pickpockets take even more advantage of people in these situations.
Do I feel unsafe in France?
On a personal note, do I feel unsafe in France due to COVID and the war in Ukraine? No. Could that change? Absolutely. I am concerned about the war in Ukraine. I also don’t live in a big city and I’m in western France.
Turning to French people for a minute, according to poll conducted by BFMTV on March 1, 88% of French people were shocked by Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. Only 8% of the French people surveyed wanted French troops to intervene.
Anyway, I think it’s only natural to be keeping an eye on the unrest and questioning your upcoming travel plans. It would be completely reasonable to travel to a non-Europe destination instead right now or wait to book your trip until later in the year.
Questions to ask yourself before traveling to France
Before traveling to France if you’re wondering, “is it safe to travel to France now?” here are some questions I’d ask myself:
–Are you traveling in the next week or is your trip for later in the season? Will you be visiting countries that border Ukraine as well or just France?
–Are you traveling around France by rental car or public transport? Will gas prices be an issue for your personal budget?
–Do you live with someone who is immunocompromised or elderly? (or are you?)
–How comfortable are you with an unfolding situation and with uncertainty and risk in general? If it makes you very nervous, could you easily postpone your trip until next year instead or is it now or never? Would you be just as happy traveling to another area of the world instead?
–Do you handle the stress of travel delays, cancellations, and rerouting well or will that ruin your trip?
–Are you able to buy travel insurance? Will losing money on a cancelled trip for a few months out be a major hardship?
–If you have to be hospitalized in France, will your insurance cover the cost?
–IMPORTANT: Do you speak enough French to understand warnings about protests and civil unrest if a situation arises?
Final thoughts… is it safe to travel to France now?
Let’s get into my final thoughts: If you have travel planned and you decide to come, make sure you are up to date on the current set of rules and the latest out of Ukraine. I can’t stress that enough. Have a plan for you and your family if the situation continues to escalate.
It comes down to your personal comfort level with an uncertain, changing situation. Can you travel to France now with the current status of Covid? Legally yes. You can travel to France, but it comes down to your comfort level.
I can’t tell you whether or not you should come to France on vacation. As it stands now it’s legal and possible to fly to France. France is not a war zone and life is relatively normal here.
If it were me, given everything I wrote about just now, I would not cancel upcoming travel plans. I’d continue on with my travel plans to France as the situation stands now. But only you can make that decision for yourself.
Alright, that’s all I have for you. Thank you for listening and on a personal note, war is man’s worst invention. I stand with Ukraine. I want peace. Starting a war is never the answer.
***
What’s your take — is it safe to travel to France now and Europe in general? Do you have any upcoming France travel plans?
PIN my is it safe to travel to France now post:
Very timely topic Diane. Just checked the US Embassy.fr and the US State Dept has a “Do Not Travel” recommendation for France, since 6 Aug 21. The recommendation is because of Terrorism and Covid. I was surprised by the ‘Terrorism’ aspect, because it doesn’t seem there’s much at all here. However, they mention the 2 attacks in the last year, including the beheading and a woman stabbed to death near Marseilles (?). Since France classified them as ‘terrorist attacks’, the US counts them apparently. By their logic, seems many US states would be on the Do Not Travel list also.
Hi Terry, yes and I know that “do not travel” recommendation will deter people. Will add to post.
It really comes down to people’s personal circumstances and their comfort level at this time. More and more French people are getting vaccinated every day and while I do think there are ways to lower one’s risk, the risk is still there.
Thanks for a well-balanced article, Diane!
My response to “Should you come to France” (or any other country!) for a vacation / non-essential travel right now is a definitive NO.
From reports that I have read in recent weeks, speaking of rising cases and strange decisions on masks, etc in some states / counties of the US, I don’t understand why ALL of the US is classified as ‘green’ when some states are actually redder than France right now.
From the point of view of France’s vaccination programme finally picking up, there are still far too many who have still only had one dose or none at all.
From another medical viewpoint, the vaccine does NOT prevent us from getting / transmitting Covid. It only reduces the risk. Transmission happens, people are still getting Covid, even when twice vaccinated, and we are seeing more ‘Long Covid in these ‘milder’ cases, especially among the younger adults. Transmission can be to someone who for medical reasons has not been able to be vaccinated. You could come and pick up Covid here just as easily as we could in the US – even from someone on you flight.
It’s acknowledged science, too, that the vaccine protection wanes after about 6 months to around 60% – hence the necessity for the ‘booster dose’ – but this is only available to a very specific small group at the moment, and those who were among the earliest to be vaccinated and who are not in this group are going to be more and more at risk as time goes on, in our ‘new state of ‘freedom’ – especially from variants of the Delta strain.
From a national point of view, I’d offer this question: “How well do you know your own country?”. Why not spend this year and next year’s vacations exploring the parts of the US with a different climate, geography and culture from where you live? You’ll be surprised at how varied that is – for example, some parts being ‘European’, and ‘British’ in their climate, architecture and heritage, and others are strongly French in theirs.
You have a wonderfully diverse country, architecturally, geographically, culturally. Why not travel and find out more about that, and have just as fabulous a holiday as you would here in Europe. Have you been to the Rockies? New England? Florida? Massachusetts? I could mention every state in the US, each with its attractions, cultural, geographical, culinary, etc and my guess is that you haven’t yet seen the best of everything your country has to offer, any more than I have seen it in my home country (tI’m British), where I lived for 64 of my 70 years, or here in France.
Please note: I have offered the same thoughts to folks in the UK and the French, via my C-19 and other FB group connections with both countries because we, too, know very little about many parts of our own islands.
Anyway, this is probably longer than Diane’s initial blog, and I hand it over with this comment: this is my point of view only, and having said it, in the end, it’s your choice. I actually do hope that you stay at home and have a superb holiday somewhere you have never been before, because you’ll find that really magical, too!
Whichever choice you make, have a wonderful holiday!
I definitely respect that viewpoint, Barney. Totally get where you’re coming from. Thank you.
Phew! Thanks, Diane!
France may be safe for tourists – more than 60% of the nation has at least one Covid-shot. But that is not the point.
There is this thing called a “Pass”, which is necessary to get into any restaurant. If you don’t have one forget about going to a restaurant.
Now, what visitor would want to come to France and not eat at a restaurant. And where would they get a Pass because they can indeed apply for one. But is the bother worth it? And, if not, where would they eat … ?
I linked to the website that will easily convert foreign visitors’ vaccine cards to a health pass. It’s actually quite simple these days to get one.
Hi, Diane. I am enjoying your blogs and videos. As far as the Pass Sanitaire goes, it isn’t as easy to get the pass as one would hope, especially with all of the downloading of information is concerned. I realize, though, that it is necessary. I applied for my husband’s and my pass on August 28, and received them on September 8. I had applied with the old system, but was informed that it wasn’t used any more. People are having some trouble with some of the language issues and date differences, but there is lots of help out there, especially with Rick Steve’s France forum. People need to apply early enough so that they can have the pass in hand when leaving for France. I’m leaving Oct.5.
There is also the factoid that far too many French residents have refused vaccination. There is every weekend nowadays marches in a good number of cities of people who are against vaccination. Their numbers are significant, but France is for the most part pro-vaccination.
I think they are damn-fools. There are even those who work in hospitals treating Covid-victims who are not yet vaccinated. Though they’ve just been told to either vaccinate or start looking for another job.
I live in the boonies where inter-personal contact is minimal. If you live in a large city and need to take a bus, train or tube to work then your risk is considerably higher. I’ve not been in any large city in a donkey’s age and am very unlikely to do so tomorrow.
Patience, people. Patience! All this is coming to a long and dreary ending. Can it happen again? Oh, yes! And more than likely will as well. But, next time, I suspect we shall also be prepared quicker and better to defend ourselves.
Ty so much Diane for a great article and your always balanced approach.
I’m going to Paris next week for my yearly trip (missed last year of course)
I feel fine about it. Im totally vaxxed and I live in NYC so I almost see it as being basically the same as where I am now as far as exposure and laws.
My only concern is that I did apply for the pass QR code a few weeks ago. I got an immediate email of receipt of my application and was told not to email back, that they would email me.
I only have 6 days till I leave and still haven’t heard anything… hmmm
I figure that if I don’t hear anything I’ll deal with it when I get there!!
Thanks again Diane!
You’re very welcome! I hope you have a great trip, Max. Re: the health pass, I’ve heard that they prioritize them in order of people’s arrival dates so it’s possible yours is in a queue to be processed a day before you arrive, as they deal with more urgent requests for people arriving today. Hang in there…
Thanks again Diane. My wife and I are planning on visiting France next year and pray that things will be better for everyone. I always enjoy your posts and videos.
You’re very welcome, Michael. So happy you enjoy my content. 🙂
I have visited France each year for the last 7 years. I always go in January and stay from 5 weeks up to 4 months. Of course, I had to cancel my trip in 2020 and 2021. I have rebooked in Jan 22 but I just don’t see it happening. I have concerns about how things are progressing with Covid in the US and because of the time of year I travel (winter) there really isn’t an option of eating outside. I am totally bummed…
Thank you Diane. I enjoy your posts so much I was in France a few weeks ago for exactly the reasons you described to see family like friends that are much older . I was in Rambouillet and Paris . I did not do many tourist type activities yet felt safer there then Oregon. They did not ask for my pass sanitaire to take the train to Rambouillet or back to Paris which really surprised me. I really felt safer having the pass. It was required for all restaurants that I ate in even outside and at the 2 hotels I stayed at , one in Paris and one in Rambouillet. To also state it was august so Paris was very quiet due to so many people on vacation and of course , many shops were closed .it was very easy to get a test for the return in my small town of Rambouillet. There were many pharmacies that offered testing . I was planning on coming back in October yet am more hesitant now with the Afghanistan issue .
Thanks, Diane, for your balanced, undramatic view. Our trip for 4 weeks in France (to find our future retirement city) is scheduled for Sept. 24. I have been agonizing over the decision of whether to go. I appreciate your view point and those of all who commented here.
Theresa, I guess you read my comment?
It depends how near you are to needing that new place for your retirement – eg if you have already / are in the process of selling your current home?
It’s also not clear that you know where in France you want to be. If you don’t have a clear idea, or have reduced it to just a couple of clear options, even leaving aside Covid, I’d suggest spending a lot more time on research, because 4 weeks is really not enough time to travel between locations and get the ‘feel’ of it. Travelling around France is not exactly a geographical straight line.
For example, to travel from somewhere in the Lot (South East) to (eg) Strasbourg, I have to go all the way down to the Med, along and back up – there’s no direct route. That’s eight hours of travel, when t is so close as the crow flies! (Google maps is an essential for this sort of information on time needed).
From here (an hour and a half / 120 kms / 80 miles north of Toulouse) to Paris looks straightforward and easy, but will take a minimum of six hours to cover 600kms or 400 miles. By train, costs mega-bucks!
The internet is a great tool – it gives maps, pictures, all sorts of information about whether somewhere is near a hospital, and so on.
One point I’ll offer advice on: as you are retiring, make sure that wherever you are isn’t in the middle of a very rural area, where facilities could be an hour or more away. An hour on the French roads is not like an hour on a US highway. Even the ‘major’ roads can be tortuous, mountainous, and black as pitch on a dark winter night, and many small villages have 30km / 20 mph speed limits That’s when the rural idyll becomes the rural terror….
Another is don’t buy the house that pulls at your heartstrings before doing all the checks you’d do ‘back home’. Selling houses here can be a long and tortuous process!
The third is to *** make absolutely sure*** that you have read and fully understood French inheritance law before making this move, especially if you have family back in the US who would otherwise inherit.
Best wishes for your search – but in summary, take more time to research (especially the inheritance law!!!) before you come and you’ll save lots of time, energy and frustration.
Theresa, we continue to make our decisions, non? [we chatted on Vero’s La Bande]. We are going. I need to know if Pau is, in reality, what I believe her to be – our new home. Otherwise, it looks like I’ll refocus on Spain because it’s tugging at me again. But all of this time studying French? I want to use it, not lose it
Over a year ago we decided to move to Pau, France based on all of my research, it being close to my beloved Spain, the Pyrenees are RIGHT THERE, and I’ve met a ton of people through virtual groups with whom I look forward to building friendships. We have remained ultra careful, got vaccinated as soon as possible, and remain pretty lowkey in life since there is nowhere we want to go except move. And this has really impacted our mental health as well as our ‘getting things done to move’. We made the decision to come over in September, me for a month to fact-find, research in person the villages around Pau and the city itself. We need to find what feels like home. Our 26 yo daughter is accompanying me for the first 2.5 weeks, then she returns to the states when hubby comes over. We had a great rate that included a wasteful flight within California – but it meant the different of a flight to Paris of $1,100 or $500. But then we realized that our biggest risk factor will be the in-state flight. So I cancelled our trip and was able to find a direct flight for the same price a month later! We still waffled – do we? should we? We will be in a rental car, take meals to go, meet outside, eat outside. We will be safe because that’s who we are. We will probably double-mask the entire time. that said, I feel that France right now is safer than the US (which is why I stay home). I want to ensure our move is the right move and thus, our ‘show-me’ trip. Even though it’s not required, we all intend to test before we leave to ensure we also keep others safe.
Karen, it sounds as though you’ve done a really thorough job!!! 🙂
Hope you find Pau all you expect and that find your ‘forever home’ close to Spain.
PS: Have you read the French inheritance laws and how it will impact your family? Are you prepared for the bureaucratic hoops you’ll be facing while setting up your new adventure here?
It can be really frustrating, but a smile, and as Diane has said in a previous post, “Bonjour’ plus (in French), “My French isn’t great, but if you speak slowly I should be ok” will get you a very long way.
I’m obviously biased because I love traveling and I’m in the “COVID ain’t going to disappear, get vaccinated, be careful and enjoy life” camp.
I’d say France won’t look much different if you have some pre-pandemic travel experience in France or Europe. News make it sound like Americans are idiot who don’t take the pandemic seriously (cf. European news) or Europeans are idiot who don’t take the pandemic seriously (cf. North American news). In fact, issues are the same around the world and measures tend to be similar as well, depending on the current wave/case level. So make smart choices, follow the news or get the latest updates from trusted people (i.e. not random Facebook people) and you’ll be fine–or at least, chances are risks will be same as at home.
I have travelled from the US to Bordeaux since the beginning of August. Touring southern and the Atlantic coast by bicycle. Unfortunately I cannot get a QR pass since I don’t have a return ticket as of yet, which is one of the requirements. Fortunately the French have been understanding when I show them my vaccination card and I have not been refused entry anywhere as of yet. I have enjoyed my trip here for the past month, don’t mind the mask requirements and have actually learned a little french. I do not regret coming at this time. I love how bicycle friendly this country is, so unlike the US.
Thanks you, postss like this help me know what it is like in other places
Thank you. One thing to note is that the French government put up a new process at the end of last week to issue a Passé Sanitaire to non-EU residents https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/passe-sanitaire-etrangers?locale=en . I just saw a notice that they have over 3 million submittals so the time line has been lengthened. We have been on the Côte d’Azur for almost 3 weeks – we have a little home here that we have not been able to visit for almost two yrs and you can only ask others to monitor it for so long. I have felt very safe here compared to the US, in fact I dread going home to that chaos. While some people here may disagree with the requirements, they are uniformly masking and I’ve not seen anyone making a scene where a pass was required. We’ve spent a lot of time on our own walking about or with friends on terraces. We submitted applications on Aug 11th for our Passé Sanitaire and never received them. We resubmitted under the new format on the 27th, so we will see. Fortunately our US vax cards have been accepted almost everywhere. It’s been wonderful to be here again.
Just a note to acknowledge that Covid cases are rising—not still going do —in France due to BA.2. I am here for 6 weeks and continuing to mask up and eat only outdoors.
My (French) husband and I were actually in Reims this March when Russia invaded Ukraine. A lot of the conversations among people in restaurants as well as conversations we had with chefs, store owners, pharmacists, bank staff, etc., centered around Covid and the Ukraine crisis, and everyone we spoke with was concerned and watching the French news, but also still having to go about their daily lives. Health issues, money issues, and supply chain issues were still in the front of many minds that we spoke to, and it seemed like (much like my husband and I felt ourselves), there was a bit of “oh boy, what next?” worry (or unease?). We are returning to Reims in July (geopolitics and new Covid strains notwithstanding), as we are apartment hunting, bank hunting, and trying to get a footing re-established in le Grand Est.
Hi, I’m French, I live in Paris and I would have never thought it could a real worry for stangers… 🙂
I may say that, for the biiiig number of tourists we already have here in Paris, youwon’t be alone visiting us. 😉 Welcome if you come. But I would understand if you don’t (and that’s better for the Earth’s health). 😉
Covid : that’s not a problem, really. We still use masks in public transportation but there is no pass anymore. You could enjoy restaurants as you want…) 🙂 And our hospitals and so on are great. 🙂
And, big change for US people : here we save you first and then we check if you can pay… 😉
Ukraine : the truth is, at the end of February 2022, my lover was very anxious that Poutine would send us a nuclear bomb… 😀 But you know what ? If it happens : “C’est la vie” and that would have meant it was our time… The moment we had to die… A month later, we don’t think to receive a nuclear bomb… 😉
So the decision is yours : if you come we would, us, French People, be happy to welcome you. But if you stay at home, you could discover too magnificent places, I’m sure. 🙂
Take care, everyone ! 🙂
Joy from the blog 100% happiness
I’m looking to travel to France in June but I am very confused about whether or not the government (both US and France) are permitting it. The website states (red) DO NOT TRAVEL TO FRANCE, but restrictions are lifted, etc. So I don’t know if that means it’s ok or not.
Hi LK, legally (as of right now) you can 100% travel to France. Buying a ticket, taking a flight and entering France are all legal. Whether or not you are comfortable with the uncertainty of COVID being on the rise is a personal decision, though.