Hello fellow travelers. This may seem like a strange question but I figured I'd ask. My wife and I have been to Europe multiple times and we have learned the restroom etiquette over the years. This time however, will be the first time we will be driving in France. My question is, when stopping at a gas station, are there restrooms you can use like here in the US or will we have to pay to use them. Thank you for any helpful information.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7639 posts
Most likely will have toilets. Most will require payment. Modern stations and "aires" may accept contactless payment, but it's a good idea to have a few euro and 50 cent coins.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
12013 posts
The toilets are free at the autoroute plazas. The large plazas can have multiple restaurants, sets of restrooms. There are also small reststops with free toilets, picnic tables. But often there aren’t toilet seats.
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
4160 posts
I’d really like to know which "aires" Cjean is talking about. The restrooms at autoroute rest areas (aires) and gas stations are all free, it is actually a contractual obligation for the highway operator.
In all my life, I have never seen a single pay toilet at a gas station in France, even off the autoroutes (and I’ve seen hundreds of them). The service that might come with a fee (around €2 if you aren't a professional truck driver) is the showers at service if they are equipped with them.
Posted by
Maryland, USA
144 posts
“ But often there aren’t toilet seats.”
I was sorry to learn this when I was in France for a month! Very common at even the nicest auto plazas. Do let your wife know so she can be emotionally prepared. 😉
And I don’t recall pay toilets, at least not on the autoroutes.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7639 posts
Dang it, im sorry for the misinformation. I got mixed up with our experience driving in Germany, not France. Of course the rest stops in France were free.
Posted by
OP
Victorville, California, U.S.
180 posts
Thank you for all of the information. This is a huge help.
Posted by
Arctophilia (was 26, now x-27), Northamptonshire, England
37155 posts
but it does bring up an interesting variation between neighbouring countries.
on the Motorways (different terms in different countries)
France is as above.
Germany it varies - many are free behind the pas station but a basket is there for coins, some are pay behind a turnstile and pop out a ticket for a portion of the cost as a coupon for that chain
Netherlands and Belgium - rare to be free, many have the pay at the turnstile (usually tap and pay, some coins) get a voucher
Switzerland - pay with a voucher but some are free
Luxembourg - free
Now this is just my recent experience, and reaching back into memories too. I haven't been on every motorway, and haven't tried every facility.
And, yes, in France expect no seat. In the small aires it can be even more exciting, with the hole in the floor
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
12013 posts
Very good idea to add squats to your daily routine before heading out on our autoroutes and trains. And remember that the train sways, so this is balance practice, too.