▲

The French are infamous for being grumpy, Parisians for always being in a hurry, constantly air-kissing cheeks, and, of course, the whole population can be seen with a beret and/or having frogs for dinner...

Stereotypes about France are numerous, but obviously not all true. With that in mind, we combined a few tips for travelers intending not to offend a French person, or the whole country, on your next trip to the other side of the pond!

▲The French always have a good reason for being in a constant bad mood: terrible weather, undercooked meat, or better yet, lack of crustiness of their baguette.

▲They are all over the place! Parisians are always in a hurry and get upset when they miss the metro, even though the next one is only two minutes away. Those two minutes are crucial!

▲When visiting Paris, you spend a lot of time in the metro. It's a handy way to travel swiftly through the city. That being said, be careful: many pickpockets are roaming, on the lookout for their next target, whether it be an open bag or a wallet left in a back pocket. Stay alert and always carry your belongings in sight.

▲

A total cliché! Parisians don't walk around with a baguette or wearing a beret. You'd be hard-pressed to find one!

▲The French croissant is not to be eaten on a daily basis, but rather enjoyed once in a while. Keep in mind that this little gem is made out of puff pastry—certainly not brioche, as it is sometimes (too often) seen outside of France.

▲Watch out! In Paris and most of France, ask for a "pain au chocolat." But if you visit Bordeaux or the southwest, you should request a "chocolatine."

▲France is the most famous destination in terms of good wine, good cheese, and good charcuterie. French people actually enjoy sharing all of these with their friends. If you want to have a great time with your hosts, simply bring a nice bottle of red wine and you'll surely be invited back!

▲France and cheese make for a great love story. There are many ways to eat cheese, but raclette, despite being Swiss, is one of the most popular winter dishes. Melted cheese, potatoes, and charcuterie—what's not to love?

▲Fondue also hails from Switzerland, but is highly appreciated in France. This recipe calls for several mountain cheeses to be melted in a pot standing over a portable stove. Careful though, tradition dictates that if you lose your piece of bread in the cheese pot, your friends will play tricks on you!

▲"Oh oui," cheese again! Tartiflette is made of cheese from Savoie called Reblochon. Add potatoes, bacon bits and crème fraîche, then pour yourself a huge glass of red wine!

▲These savory crêpes are made of buckwheat flour. You can add all sorts of toppings inside, from meat to cheese and honey. In Brittany, however, they are called "galettes," and "crêpe" usually refers to their sweet version.

▲These are the crêpes one likes to eat with melted chocolate, ice cream, or whipped cream. They are made out of wheat flour, eggs, butter, and milk.

▲Revolution and anti-conformism are two essential concepts for many French people. Whenever they can't have their way, they either complain or push back. In the metro, you will often see turnstile jumpers—a way of life for Parisians, but don't try it yourself!

▲French people basically invented the art of striking. Whenever they disagree with a governmental or social decision, they will leave work, fill the streets, and scream out their discontent through well-worded slogans.

▲When the French strike, they usually gather by thousands in city centers. Demonstrations are not always a consequence of a strike though—they just like to show support for each other when defending a cause.

▲In Paris, you will come across several types of Parisians. Some are "bourgeois," meaning they belong to the wealthy born-and-raised-in-Paris type of people. Coexisting along these are the "bobos." This term stands for "bourgeois-bohème" and describes left-wingers who ride bicycles because they are green, and who live in the north and/or east of Paris, in neighborhoods once inhabited by popular classes.

▲People from inner Paris call the ones living outside the walls of the city "banlieusards." They live on the outskirts of the city and take the RER (regional train) to get to the capital. Coincidentally, for the rest of France, a "banlieusard" is specifically Parisian!

▲On a strictly Parisian level, "province" refers to anything outside of Paris and its region—meaning anyone living beyond Île-de-France is "provincial." Don't get it confused with Provence, a region of the south of France.

▲

Lille is located in the north of France and, for Parisians, anything above Paris is "the North." Lille is a gorgeous historical city that is known for a warm and generous culture. A piece of advice? Watch the French film 'Welcome to the Sticks' to get a good sense of life in Lille.

▲Never-ending fields of lavender lulled by the soothing songs of crickets: that's the very definition of Provence. Visit cities like Orange or Aix-en-Provence for a taste of the south. Don't forget to stop by Avignon to discover its famous film and theater festival!

▲Located in the south of France, this high-end and chic city is where people sing French rather than speak it. One of the "Nicest" things to do in this beautiful city is to take a walk along the Promenade des Anglais.

▲Get ready for an even stronger southern accent in Marseille! In this authentic city, it's all about attitude, speaking loudly, and drinking tomato or "perroquet" (parrot) cocktails. These alcoholic beverages are made with Pastis or Ricard. You definitely don't want to miss out on "apéro time."

▲Corsica is nicknamed "Island of Beauty," and rightly so. If you are lucky enough to visit the island, you will notice that "coarse" is an adjective that fits the attitude of Corsicans. Oh, and just so you know, they are Corsican before they are French!

▲

Play some Celtic music and head to Brittany to try out delicious cider, crêpes, and buttery shortbread biscuits. On a rainy day, make your way along the coastline and become fascinated by the sea in all its angry glory.

▲In France, sport fans are usually into soccer or rugby. If you are among the latter, you will support a city located in the southwest part of the country. Regarding soccer, aficionados are either rooting for Paris Saint-Germain or...

▲... Olympique de Marseille! These two clubs have been at war for decades. Remember, if you are visiting Paris but supporting Marseille: don't mention it! And it goes the same way in Marseille. Just say you are more of a tennis fan and everything will be fine.

▲In France, "la bise" is almost mandatory between friends and family. Hugging, on the other hand, is not customary and you might draw a few weird looks. Feel free to kiss away! Bear in mind that the amount of kisses depends on the region, and sometimes even on the town—it ranges from one to four!

▲

Men usually shake hands, and that also goes for people in higher positions in a working environment. But if you are in doubt and hesitating between a kiss and a shake, go for the shake. This gesture is not unusual, especially if you don't know someone very well.

▲

The formal way of speaking, called "vouvoiement," is often used when referring to people who are older, who you don't know, who you just met, or are above you in the "social hierarchy." You can also use it to put distance between you and the person you're interacting with in a not-so-subtle way!

▲Unlike the persistent cliché, French people do not eat frogs for dinner every week. First of all, it's not that easy to find. Then, there's not much to eat on such a tiny thigh. And finally, it tastes a bit like chicken—so don't go to all that trouble and just buy boneless chicken breast instead.

▲

The same goes for snails, or "escargots," although it's easier to find them on a menu or in the frozen section of a supermarket. Snails are quite nice when served with butter and parsley.

You're now fully equipped to fit in with the French! Get packing and planning for your next trip!