From new flight routes and motorway tolls to the growth of border management methods, this is all of the modifications it’s best to learn about if you’re travelling to or from France in 2026.
Border controls
Travel out and in of France is more likely to change as varied new border management methods are expanded.
The EU’s long-awaited, oft-delayed EES / ETIAS methods have began to be rolled out.
EES started in October however is having a phased introduction over a six-month interval earlier than changing into totally operational by April 2026 (or that is the plan, anyway).
Meanwhile ETIAS is because of be rolled out in the second half of 2026.
If you’re crossing the Channel, the UK authorities has warned European travellers that they are going to be refused entry from February 2026, if they don’t have the required ETA visa waiver.
We have an entire rundown of the timeline for EES and ETA border management methods right here.
Air journeyÂ
The union representing French airports says that 1000’s of flights have been cancelled as airways minimize providers to France because the enhance within the ‘eco tax’ on aircraft tickets.
But, on the similar time, dozens of airways are launching new flights to and from France in 2026. In December, price range airline easyJet unveiled plans to extend operations out and in of Bordeaux, whereas new flights to and from France in 2026 are listed right here.
Rail journey
Belgian-Dutch operator European Sleeper plans to open reservations for a brand new evening practice from Paris to Berlin, on December sixteenth and start working the road on March twenty sixth, 2026.
The service is ready to function thrice every week with departures from Gare du Nord on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, whereas the return service from Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof might be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.Â
And French practice operator SNCF has introduced it’ll launch a brand new, ultra-premium class of tickets on its InOui trains beginning in January 2026. The new ‘Optimum’ tickets will substitute the present enterprise class providing.
Driving
Pending a ruling by the Cour administrative d’appel de Toulouse, the controversial A69 motorway in south-west France, connecting the Pink City and Castres, stays on observe to open within the October 2026, although development work would proceed by to at the least the tip of the yr. Â
And plans to introduce a price for foreigners wishing to trade their non-French driving licence for a French one stay solely a risk, as they’re rooted within the price range invoice dragging its method by Parliament.
Tolls charged on French autoroutes are reviewed in February, and it’s anticipated that costs on most highways will rise, albeit the rise is often capped by the federal government at two p.c.
The péages (tollbooths) are additionally altering, with an ongoing growth of ‘free-flow’ tollbooths, the place drivers go straight by after which pay later, both on-line or on the tabac.
It’s price being conscious of the French public vacation calendar, as roads might be very busy round vacation weekends.
READ ALSO France’s 2026 public holidays
Tourist tax
France’s taxe de séjour (vacationer tax) has been in place since 1910, however in 2026 a number of native authorities are contemplating growing the quantity charged to vacationers for lodging — to the dismay of tourism bosses.
The precise charge is determined by native authorities – Paris has a barely costlier charge, going from 65 centimes for one-star lodging as much as €15.93 per particular person per evening for these staying in a ‘palace’ resort.
The tax is often charged to guests on arrival at a resort, whereas Airbnb provides the value of the tax to the overall value when reserving. It is then as much as vacationer companies to go the tax on to native authorities, who spend it on native providers.
Cruises
It nonetheless has to go, however a measure added to France’s 2026 draft Budget would introduce a price per cruise ship passenger at every French port of name.
