Wherever you go, you won't be far from the local supermarket. There are a number of major chains in France, and you'll find one of them represented in any town and even some villages - the main ones are Carrefour, Intermarché, E.Leclerc, SuperU and Auchan.

Also operating are discount retailers Netto and Norma, as well as the familiar chains Aldi and Lidl.

Supermarkets come in various formats, their size representing the locale in which they are situated. However, they will still stock pretty much eveything you need. One thing they are renowned for is showcasing local produce.

At the edge of larger towns and cities, you'll usually find a larger hypermarket, selling a bigger range of produce as well as books, toys and electrical goods.

Selling a mixture of clothing, homewares and food items, the most common of these chains is Monoprix, with smaller food outlets using the brand Monop'.

If you're looking for a bit of brand familiarity, the British discount chain B&M also has an expanding network of stores across France, and Swedish chain IKEA has a large number of outlets.

If you're in need of some extra clothing, there are a wide variety of retailers catering for whatever budget you have. You'll find familiar favourites like H&M and Primark, and for those who remember their British stores, C&A!

And if you like a good old department store, many cities have a branch of the famous Galeries Lafayette.

The staple of French life is getting your freshly baked bread from the local boulangerie.

You'll find one in pretty much any town, regardless of size, and even many larger villages will have an outlet to hand. They will stock an array of freshly baked baguettes and loaves, as well as those essential breakfast pastries.

If you fancy a cake for after dinner, then you'll need to head to the patisserie instead, where a vast array of sweet treats will seriously tempt you! Most boulangeries only open during the morning (or until they sell out), although larger chains remain open all day - these often additionally sell sandwiches too.

Make sure you check opening hours locally, as opening days can vary (some may close one day in the week, but open on Sunday instead).

Many towns are home to an array of independent grocery stores. Whether it is a butcher, a fishmonger or a greengrocer, you'll find somewhere selling what you need.

As France is famous for being a country of foodies, you'll know that these specialists will sell quality produce.

If you really want to jump in at the deep end, find out when the local market takes place. Most larger towns have multiple markets which run on different days, sometimes there's at least one every day! If there isn't an outdoor market, then there will probably be a covered hall somewhere.

Typical markets will feature a mixture of traders, selling everything from fruit and veg, to flowers, to clothes. You might even find a rotisserie truck serving an array of hot food.

City markets are usually more specialist, so there will probably be several taking place, or a different one on each day. Some markets may run several days a week, if not daily. It does mean you'll find a larger array of traders, but also means they have a great atmosphere! Many cities also offer a flea/antiques market if you're looking for something different to take home.

Make sure you take a look at when markets take place, most local councils will provide this information online or at the local tourist information office. These are also a great way to find out about local foires, big events that are often centuries old, such as the Garlic and Basil Fair that takes place every July in Tours.

If you're in need of a cashpoint, you'll usually find at least one bank in any town. The principal banks that you'll find in France are BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, Crédit Mutuel, La Banque Postale (Post Office Bank), and the very familiar HSBC.

Banks usually have a cash mashine that is available for at least most of the day. Sometimes they are located on the outside wall, other times they are found in the entrance foyer (so may only be available during daytime hours). Cash machines can often be found at post offices.

Banks are usually only open during normal business hours, and may be open during Saturday morning. They are typically closed all day on Mondays, as well as for the two hours over lunch.

If you need any medical supplies, just look for the illumiated green plus symbol.

In France, medicines are strictly regulated; even basics like paracetamol have to be bought from a pharmacy - you cannot even buy them in the supermarket unlike in the UK.

If you need a pharmacy at night, on Sunday or during a public holiday, look for the on-call pharmacie de garde at 3237.fr; some cities will have at least one 24/7 pharmacy available, so it is worth searching for one on your preferred mapping website. Calendar listings are also usually displayed in the front window.

La Poste is the national postal service, providing the universal mail service in France. They have postal offices in most towns and large villages, and are easily identifiable with their yellow signage; post boxes are also the same shade of yellow.

In France, the standard service aims for delivery within three days. For those wanting to send an old-school postcard back to Blighty, then this will cost €2.10 (as of June 2025).

You'll generally find stores are open from around 9am until 7pm, with some stores and supermarkets opening until 8 or 9pm. Late night or even 24 hour opening is not generally a thing in France, so bear this in mind especially after a long trip.

At smaller independent retailers, it is the norm for businesses to close for lunch. Breaks usually start some time between 12:30 and 1pm, and run for up to two hours.

Sunday shopping isn't a thing either as it is considered a day of rest, although larger supermarkets and hardware stores usually open for the morning. You'll often find shops in touristy areas open all day. Likewise, it is common for shops to close on Mondays too, or just open for the afternoon.

One for those visiting from the USA: in France, as with the rest of the EU and the UK, prices displayed on goods and on store shelves include VAT (sales tax) at the applicable rate.

This means the price you see is the price you pay - there's no sneaky surprises at the checkout.

You might be able to claim a VAT refund on any eligible goods you're taking back home. Look out for stores displaying a tax-free shopping sign in the window. The cashier will hand you a refund form when you pay, on production of proof of non-EU residency. You can then apply for a refund at a customs kiosk at the airport, ferry port or Le Shuttle terminal. In France, there's a minimum qualifying spend, and if you pay by card then it will be refunded straight back on to the one you've used.

There's no such thing as a free carrier bag, so make sure you bring them with you! If you forget (or buy too much), then you can always buy one instore for a small charge. (Americans - you'll also have to pack your own bags).

Also, shopping trolleys always have one of those locks on the handlebar, so you'll need to make sure you have a €1 coin or trolley token in order to release one.