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In addition to restaurants, France offers many fine options for night life. For a quiet drink or a cup of coffee with a friend, there are the cafés. For young people, dance clubs offer any amount of techno, house and world music for dancing. They serve only beverages – no food. There are also clubs, for instance jazz clubs, where one might go only to listen to music and have a drink – there is no food or dancing. “Bars musicales” offer a cross between a bar and a club where one can drink and listen to music played either live or by a DJ. One can sit down at these clubs, but they tend to be loud. It is considered appropriate to ask strangers in the street or in a café for a good place to eat or listen to music.

There is no drinking age in France, and no time of the day when alcohol is not served. Therefore a typical "night on the town" in a French city might begin with dinner at a restaurant any time after 7:00. Then, one might spend the hours from 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. listening to music in a “bar musicale.” At 1:00 a.m., one might go to a dance club until 4:00 a.m. at which point the after hours club would be open until 7:00 a.m. or so.

Film is a popular form of entertainment It is possible to see both French and American commercial films in the larger theatres. Foreign art films that have been subtitled are shown in smaller art cinemas. Renting videos is also a popular way to get together with friends and relax.

Theatre and musical concerts of all kinds are offered throughout the cities. In addition, there is a wide variety of international and national modern dance and ballet. Sports that are favored by the French include soccer, rugby and tennis. Many residents of France also participate in cycle tours of France.