France Practical Guide: Official Websites, Booking Platforms, Transport, SIM, Money, Emergency Numbers

Every link, app, and number for France — save to your phone before departure. For visa process, see our France Visa Guide. For budget, see our France Cost Guide.

Official websites: Visa/immigration: france-visas.gouv.fr. Indian Embassy: search mea.gov.in/indian-missions-abroad or call +33-1-40507070. MEA 24/7: +91-11-23012964. MADAD app (Google Play / App Store) — register before travel. House of Visas: houseofvisas.com/visa/france

Booking platforms:

FLIGHTS: Google Flights, Skyscanner,

MakeMyTrip. HOTELS: Booking.com (free cancellation), Agoda, Hostelworld, Airbnb. EXPERIENCES: GetYourGuide, Klook, Viator.

INSURANCE: Bajaj Allianz (₹500/week), ICICI Lombard, Tata AIG. See our Cost Calculator for exact pricing.

Transport: Metro/tram/bus in every city — buy day passes. Flixbus (€5-20 intercity). Google Maps for transit.

SIM/Internet: eSIM: Airalo (₹800-2,500, widest coverage), Holafly (₹1,500-3,000, unlimited). Keep Indian SIM for bank OTPs. Dual SIM: Indian SIM + eSIM. See our eSIM vs SIM Guide.

Money: Forex card (Niyo Global, BookMyForex — zero markup). Cash 15-20% of budget. Never exchange at Indian airports. Always pay in local currency (not INR when asked). See our Forex Guide. For cultural tips and scam warnings, see our France Tips blog.

Emergency: Police: 112. Indian Embassy: +33-1-40507070. MEA: +91-11-23012964. 112 = universal EU emergency. Lost passport: police report → Indian Embassy → Emergency Certificate (1-3 days). See Embassy Directory.

Practical guides for nearby destinations: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia.

Apply with House of Visas — end-to-end France visa support. houseofvisas.com/visa/france