Flights from Cairo to France from 99EUR*

Flights to France from Cairo

From Cairo, Vueling flies direct to 3 French cities: Paris, Marseille and Nice. The flight takes around 5 hours, and each of the three opens up a very different part of the country.

Paris is the obvious way in, and also the gateway to the north and the Loire Valley. Marseille and Nice put you straight on the Mediterranean without going through the capital, which saves you the train journey most people assume they will have to make.

What documents you need to travel to France

France is part of the Schengen Area, and for Egyptian citizens that means an application before the trip, one that is best started several weeks in advance.

This is what usually applies to Egyptian nationals:

• A Schengen visa, applied for before the trip at the French consulate or embassy in Egypt. Processing times vary, and they are what decides when you need to start planning the trip.
• A valid passport, valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and issued within the previous 10 years.
• Proof of accommodation: a booking, a letter of invitation or a tenancy agreement.
• Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
• Travel insurance with medical cover, required in order to apply for the visa.

Requirements change and depend on individual circumstances. Check the current information on the travel documents page and with the relevant consulate before you book.

What to know when you land in France

From the airport to the city centre. Paris is the one that needs planning: its airports are a long way from the city and the journey by train or bus takes around 1 hour, so look into it before you book accommodation. Nice is the opposite, with the airport right next to the Promenade and the tram reaching the centre in a few minutes. In Marseille, a direct shuttle runs to Saint-Charles, the main station.

The TGV. This is what turns 3 arrival points into a whole country. Paris and Marseille are linked in just over 3 hours, and from any of the three cities you can reach the rest of France without a car. Arriving in one and leaving from another works better than going in and out the same way.

Climate by region. Paris is grey and rainy for much of the autumn and winter, with mild summers. The Mediterranean south, from Marseille to Nice, gets sunshine almost all year round and a steady wind, the mistral, that catches out anyone who is not expecting it. The Alps change completely from one season to the next.

Plug sockets. France uses types C and E, at 230V. Both take round two-pin plugs, and type E sockets add a protruding earth pin.

The currency is the euro. French is the official language, and English gets you by in tourist areas.

What to do in France

Paris and the north

Paris packs the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower into an area you can cover on foot, with Le Marais, Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés as neighbourhoods to get lost in. The Palace of Versailles is 30 minutes away by commuter train, and the Loire châteaux a couple of hours.

Marseille and Provence

Marseille is the oldest port city in France, with the Vieux-Port, the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde and Calanques National Park right on its doorstep. Behind it lies Provence: Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and its Palais des Papes, and the lavender fields of the Luberon in summer.

Nice and the Côte d’Azur

In Nice you land beside the sea. From there, the coastal train reaches Cannes, Antibes and Monaco in under an hour, so you can see the whole Riviera without a car. The Matisse Museum and the Marc Chagall Museum are in the city itself, and the old town blends Italian and Provençal influences.

The Alps

Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, is reached via Geneva or Lyon, with TGV connections from Paris. Winter means high-mountain skiing and summer means hiking, with Annecy and its lake as a gentler base. It is a trip to plan on its own, not a day out.

Luggage for your flight to France

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

On a long stay, or if your plans include the Alps in winter, warm clothes and gear take up far more room than you might expect. Sorting out your luggage while you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.