France enters a second weekend of nationwide unrest, and for ordinary citizens and travellers the questions now go to the heart of public safety: where will the next flashpoint be, whether transport and public services will hold, and how curfews will reshape daily life in some of the country’s largest cities.
The current wave of discontent, which has already produced riots and thousands of arrests, is driven by three loosely connected movements: the gilets jaunes demanding cost of living reform, trade unionists seeking to overturn the government’s draft 2027 budget proposal, and student unions protesting against the education system. The French government says the discontent has been stoked by the far-left party La France Insoumise and exploited by anarchist groups, organised crime groups and opportunistic looters, who are blamed for destruction in Les Halles and Le Marais in Paris, the Presqu’ile in Lyon and the Rue Faidherbe in Lille.
For members of the public, the most immediate question is where gatherings might turn dangerous. The governments of nine EU nations, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden, have warned travellers to avoid public gatherings at locations such as the Place de la République, Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation in Paris, the Vieux-Port in Marseille, the Place Bellecour in Lyon and the Place de la République in Bordeaux. In other towns and cities, flashpoints are likely to be easily identifiable by the crowds and the large police presence.
The scale of what is planned gives some measure of the challenge facing authorities. An interactive map posted by the gilets jaunes shows that nearly 30,000 people have signed up to join more than 500 events on Saturday, October 24, which the movement calls “Act II”. These include 360 marches across France plus blockades of the ports of Brest, Belle-Île and Marseilles, 25 railway stations including the Gare du Nord and Austerlitz in Paris, Bayonne and Toulon, as well as bridges, roundabouts and petrol stations. Because gilets jaunes protests are spontaneous, the number of demonstrations is likely to grow through the week; those planning a visit can check 17octobregiletjaune.net/carte for an idea of areas to avoid.
The state’s response has been firm. Formal requests to march through Paris have received no response from the Paris police headquarters, authorities in Lyon, Nice and Toulon have forbidden demonstrations, and President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday, October 22, that non-Union protests will be banned “wherever possible”. A day earlier, on Wednesday, October 21, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told the National Assembly that the police operation would be massive, with troops from the anti-terrorism operation Senti nelle deployed to guard locations expected to be targeted by demonstrators. Businesses, too, are braced for further protests over the next three weeks.
Curfews now affect public life in several cities. As of Thursday, October 22, they run from 11pm to 6am in Paris around the Place de la République, Les Halles and the Champs Élysées; from 9pm to 6am in central Lyon; and from midnight to 5am in Toulouse until Sunday, October 25. Minors are barred from the centres of Nice, Lille, Douai, Denain, Wattignies and Fort-de-France in Martinique from 8pm to 6am, while Bordeaux has barred minors from the Rue Sainte-Catherine, the Rue de la Porte-Dijeaux and the Cours de L’intendance from 10pm to 7am until Monday, October 26. Fireworks, flammable substances and protective equipment that could be used in a riot, such as ski goggles, have been banned during most curfews, and local authorities retain the power to impose new curfews at short notice.
Meanwhile, public services face their biggest test on Thursday, November 5, when a long-planned general strike backed by France’s biggest trade unions, totalling around 1.9 million members, will disrupt railways, public transport, schools and hospitals. Travellers should expect airline cancellations, service reductions or delays, with knock-on effects for departures outside France. Act III of the protest movement is scheduled for Saturday, October 31.
As of October 24, flights, ferries and trains to France, including Eurostar and Le Shuttle services, are operating as normal. Eurostar has said “services are expected to operate as normal. We will keep customers informed of any changes.” Travellers heading to affected cities are advised to contact their hotel ahead of travel, and to bear in mind that new curfews could curb nightlife. Road users should expect delays and cancellations on railways and public transport, long queues at motorway toll booths, blockades of petrol stations and possible road closures, which can be tracked on the live traffic map at bison-fute.gouv.fr. Those travelling by train or flying to or from Paris over the next two weekends and from November 5 to 6 are advised to download the relevant apps to stay abreast of disruption. Tourist attractions in Paris, including the Louvre, the Orsay, the Picasso museum and the Grand Palais, will be closed. Further practical guidance for visitors is available via https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-paris-france-latest-advice-20332w88s.
On the question of whether France is safe to visit, the answer remains generally yes, but the Foreign Office has updated its advice to mention curfews, saying they may be introduced at short notice and advising travellers to check local media and follow the instructions of local authorities. The Foreign Office has not warned British nationals against travelling to France. It advises visitors to monitor local media closely, follow instructions from security authorities, avoid all public protests and political gatherings, prepare for unexpected transport and road delays and remain vigilant in built-up areas, warning that demonstrations, strikes and school blockades can emerge quickly and escalate into violent clashes without prior warning.
That position has financial consequences for the public. Because the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel, cancelling a trip would be considered a disinclination to travel and would likely not be covered under standard travel insurance policies, and no refund is due under the Package Travel Regulations, although travellers could try asking their tour operator for flexibility. Those who booked travel, accommodation, car hire or excursions independently, with contracts unaffected by the disruption, will not be able to recover their money, and because civil unrest is a core exclusion in most policies, a claim on travel insurance is unlikely to succeed.
What happens next depends largely on how the coming weekends unfold, and on whether the November 5 strike passes without further escalation. This explainer will continue to be updated with the latest advice as the situation develops.