Everything you need to know before your France tour: Alpine passes, entry requirements, mandatory gear, and toll roads, from a rider's perspective.
Visa, entry, season or route – in the live chat we usually reply within 3 minutes.
Updated: August 2026
Entry
France is an EU and Schengen member: for most European travellers, entry is a mere formality.
National ID card (EU/EEA/Switzerland)
Visa-free (non-EU, e.g. USA, UK, Canada)
Schengen visa (countries requiring a visa)
Long-term stay over 90 days (non-EU)
| Type | Stay | Cost | Where | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National ID card (EU/EEA/Switzerland) | Unlimited (freedom of movement) | none | No application needed | For the validity period of the ID card |
| Visa-free (non-EU, e.g. USA, UK, Canada) | Up to 90 days within 180 days | none | No application, passport check on entry | Maximum 90 of 180 days per stay |
| Schengen visa (countries requiring a visa) | As per visa, usually up to 90 days | Fee on application | French consulate in the home country, before travel | As stated on the visa |
| Long-term stay over 90 days (non-EU) | Over 90 days | Fee | Visa long séjour, French consulate in advance | As per visa type |
Your own bike
No carnet, no customs forms, but a few equipment rules that can get expensive at a checkpoint.
Checklist for the border
The reflective clothing and glove requirements apply regardless of the vehicle's country of origin, including for riders just passing through. Checks are rare, but the fine is around 68 euros per missing item and is collected on the spot.
Documents
The EU card licence is sufficient. Non-EU citizens should check in advance what else is required.
Season
France's lowlands can be ridden almost year-round; what matters is the high passes of the Alps and Pyrenees.
Best season: June to September
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alps (High Passes) | Jan: Not rideable | Feb: Not rideable | Mar: Not rideable | Apr: Not rideable | May: Not rideable | Jun: Rideable, with limits | Jul: Best riding window | Aug: Best riding window | Sep: Best riding window | Oct: Rideable, with limits | Nov: Not rideable | Dec: Not rideable |
| Pyrenees (High Passes) | Jan: Not rideable | Feb: Not rideable | Mar: Not rideable | Apr: Not rideable | May: Not rideable | Jun: Rideable, with limits | Jul: Best riding window | Aug: Best riding window | Sep: Best riding window | Oct: Rideable, with limits | Nov: Rideable, with limits | Dec: Not rideable |
| Rest of France (Coast, Lowlands, Low Mountains) | Jan: Rideable, with limits | Feb: Rideable, with limits | Mar: Rideable, with limits | Apr: Rideable, with limits | May: Best riding window | Jun: Best riding window | Jul: Best riding window | Aug: Best riding window | Sep: Best riding window | Oct: Rideable, with limits | Nov: Rideable, with limits | Dec: Rideable, with limits |
Roads & tracks
Well maintained, but tolled, and weather-dependent by season on the big mountain passes.
100 % Paved
100 % Paved
100 % Paved
100 % Paved
| Section | km | Surface | Condition | After rain | Daily distance | Fuel | Passes & altitude | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route des Grandes Alpes: Col du Galibier | – | 100 % Paved | Paved, very winding, heavily used by road cyclists in July/August | Fog and cold possible even in summer, road surface can ice over | 100 to 150km realistic on a pass day | Fuel stations in the valleys, none on the pass itself | Col du Galibier 2,642m, seasonally closed (winter closure roughly early Nov to end of May) | none |
| Route des Grandes Alpes: Col de l'Iseran | – | 100 % Paved | Paved, the highest road pass in the Alps, wide hairpins | Fog and reduced visibility at the summit | 100 to 150km realistic on a pass day | Val d'Isère and Bonneval-sur-Arc, none on the pass | Col de l'Iseran 2,764m, seasonally closed (winter closure roughly early Nov to mid-June) | none |
| Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Col de la Bonette | – | 100 % Paved | Paved, loop road around the Cime de la Bonette | Strong wind on the exposed summit | 100 to 150km realistic on a pass day | Barcelonnette and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, none on the pass | Col de la Bonette 2,715m, Cime de la Bonette 2,802m, seasonally closed (winter closure roughly 1 Oct to mid-June) | none |
| Pyrenees: Col du Tourmalet | – | 100 % Paved | Paved, the highest road pass in the French Pyrenees | Slippery surface in the tight hairpins | 100 to 150km realistic on a pass day | Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, none on the pass | Col du Tourmalet 2,115m, seasonally closed (winter closure roughly December to May) | none |
Fuel
Fuel stations are plentiful; paying at unmanned night pumps is the only real hurdle.
SP95 (also as E10)
SP98
Gazole (diesel)
Night pumps
| Fuel | Availability | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SP95 (also as E10) | Nationwide | Check E10 compatibility on older machines beforehand |
| SP98 | Nationwide in towns, rarer in rural areas | Safest choice for older fuel-injection systems |
| Gazole (diesel) | Nationwide | Relevant for support vehicles |
| Night pumps | On motorways and outside opening hours | Chip-and-PIN credit card only, no cash |
Health
EU citizens are well covered through the European Health Insurance Card, but supplementary insurance is still important.
Many travel and health insurance policies exclude motorcycling above 125cc or ambitious pass riding. Check your policy before the tour and, if in doubt, take out supplementary cover that explicitly includes motorcycling.
Packing list
Only what France additionally requires. The general motorcycle packing list is assumed.
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Motourismo
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