As of January 1, 2002, the official currency of France is the Euro. One Euro is divided into 100 cents or centimes. Coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes; as well as 1 and 2 Euro coins. Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. It is often difficult to get change for 500 Euro. This currency is valid throughout other EU (European Union) countries.

The cheapest and most convenient way to change money is via ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), known in France as DABs. Money is drawn from your home account at a better exchange rate than offered at banks and moneychangers. Most ATMs will also give you a cash advance on your Visa or MasterCard (though this is a more expensive option). There are plenty of ATMs throughout the city with international links to Cirrus, Plus and Maestro networks.

Standard banking hours are 9 am to 4:30pm. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Many banks exchange foreign currency in the morning only.

Banks and moneychangers often give a better rate for travellers cheques than for cash. Post offices also give a good rate for travellers cheques. Major train stations and upscale hotels also have exchange facilities that are open when the banks are closed, but tend to offer poor rates.

The most flexible travellers cheques are those issued by AmEx (in US dollars or Euros) and Visa (in Euros) because they can be exchanged at many post offices as well as banks and moneychangers. Note that you will not be able to pay most merchants with travellers cheques directly, even if denominated in Euros.

The usual allowances apply to duty-free goods purchased at airports or on ferries outside the EU: tobacco (200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250g of loose tobacco), alcohol (1L of strong liquor or 2L of less than 22% alcohol by volume and 2L of wine), coffee (500g or 200g of extracts), tea (100g or 40g extracts), and perfume (50g of perfume and 0.25L of eau de toilette).

220 V, 60 Hz with 2-pin round plugs.

France is basically a healthy place. Your main risks are likely to be blisters on your feet, insect bites, sunburn and mild stomach problems if you’re not accustom to copious amounts of heavy cream and oil-based sauces, but you’ll get used to it after a while.

Tap water is safe to drink all over France and generally of excellent quality. However, the water in most fountains is not drinkable nor the taps in public restrooms. There will be a sign reading eau non potable (undrinkable water).

No immunizations are required to enter France. However, if you are coming from a yellow-fever infected country, then a yellow fever vaccine is required. It’s always best to consult with your local physician if you have any specific health concerns.

France has an extensive and excellent public health care system. The World Health Organization recently rated France’s health care system as the best in the world, delivering high quality medical care at a relatively low cost. Anyone, including foreigners, who are sick can receive treatment in the service de urgencies (emergency room or casualty ward) of any public hospital.

Hopital St Roch (Emergency facilities and hospital)
5 rue Pierre Devoluy
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 03 33 33

Hopital Lenval Paediatric Hospital
57 ave de la Californie
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 03 03 92

Pharmacies operate on an after-hours rota. In case of an emergency, the details of the nearest after-hours pharmacy are usually posted on the door. There is a night pharmacy located at 7 Rue Masséna. Telephone: 04 9387 7894.

French is the official language and English is not widely spoken. Nonetheless, some people speak some English and a crash course in French or a French phrase book will certainly come in handy.

Nice is generally safe, yet like in most tourist destinations and big cities, theft can be a problem. It's quite easy to let your guard down when you're enjoying yourself and feeling relaxed and this is when the pick-pockets tend to move in. Beware of pickpockets in the busy tourist parts of the city, such as in Cours Saleya. Take good notice of police instructions. Police Emergency telephone: 17

Be very careful when crossing streets, local drivers do not normally yield to pedestrians.

Hotel / Restaurant / Bar: Hotel, Bar and restaurant bills by law must include taxes and service charges (about 10%-15%), but it is customary to leave some small change unless you're dissatisfied. In upscale restaurants, it's common to leave an additional 5% on the table.

If you take a guided tour, it’s customary to tip the guide a Euro or two depending on the length of the tour. Taxi drivers expect a tip of 0.50 Euro, no matter the fare, with the maximum tip being 1 Euro. Tip hairdressers about 10% of the bill. Give theatre and cinema ushers a 1-2 Euro.

Sales: All taxes must be included in affixed prices in France.

VAT (Value Added Tax): France’s VAT is 19.6% on most goods except for food, medicine and books, for which it’s 5.5%. It is as high as 33% on items such as watches, cameras and video cassettes. Prices that include VAT are often marked TTC (toutes taxes comprises, ‘all taxes included’). If you’re not an EU resident, you can get a refund of most of the VAT (TVA, or détaxe in French).

To qualify for a refund, you must be spending no more than six months in France, and you must purchase the equivalent of 175 Euro (including tax) of goods in the same shop on the same day (no more than 10 of the same item) and the shop offers vente en détaxe (duty-free sales). Present your passport at the time of purchase and ask for a bordereau de détaxe (export sales invoice).

Détaxe forms must be shown and stamped by a customs official before leaving the country; without this stamp, you will not be refunded. If the refund is substantial, they might want to see the purchases, so be prepared to show them. After you're through passport control, you can seal the form in the envelope provided and post it at an airport mailbox or mail it after you arrive home. The refund can be sent as a check or directly wired to your credit card (the faster of the two options). Note that there is no refund for food, alcohol, or tobacco products

Office du tourisme de La Promenade des Anglais, located on the Promenade des Anglais, has a considerable wealth of documentation (maps, leaflets on places to visit) at your disposal. All of the information you need is provided in a friendly and professional manner. For information call: +33 (0)4 9214 4800 

Nice Central Police has a tourist department where interpreters are available 8:00-12:00, and 14:00-16:30 daily: 04 9217 2031.