May 1 Holiday in France

This is about the most observed holiday in France. The majority of restaurants and shops will be closed. Some food shops might be open in the morning. Some restaurants run by members of immigrant communities may be open Don't count on buses. Just enjoy the town you are in. Watch the parade and take it easy. You may be able to find a private guide or tour for the day.

Bets forgot to mention that on this day you will find amateur vendors everywhere in the streets who set up tables and traditionally sell lily of the valley.
Since lily of the valley is not very nutritious, I suggest that you buy food supplies the day before so as not to starve because 99% of stores and supermarkets will be closed. That being said in the cities and tourist areas you will certainly find some bar / restaurants open

If the strikes and protests against pension reform are still happening by May 1, this year's Labour Day might be a little more "charged" than usual. No one knows for sure how it is all going to play out, and the next round of strikes is January 31 -- a long way from May 1. So it may have no effect at all, or it could be the opposite and May Day is a huge celebration this year if the reforms fail! Who knows?! But I just put it out there as something to be generally aware of, and to keep abreast of in the news, especially if you are in a city like Paris or Marseille.

Will buses still run so I can do a daytrip to a nearby town?

If a French public transport system closes for even just one day in a year, that day is almost certain to be 1 May.

The system in Paris and a couple of other places will be open (link to a list of 2022 closures, but the 2023 ones will be similar), but the majority of French transit systems will close. Even in Lyon (the second largest metropolitan area of the country) public transport does not function on this date.

As Bet says it's best to stay put -- I don't mean literally not to leave your lodging of course, but it's not a day to have ambitious plans that involve lots of travel, unless you're absolutely certain the bus will run.

What are the chances hotel restaurants will be open?

I have to admit that for the last 10 years or so I have found it increasingly difficult to tell the difference between May 1 and a Sunday. Shops are open in the morning, and because a lot of French people manage to turn it into a long weekend and it's the school holidays in much of France, most tourist sites (barring those owned by the state) and restaurants are open.

Nice was pretty dead on May 1, 2017. There was no transportation available from the airport into town except for 1 or 2 taxis.

On our first trip to Europe together 40 years ago my husband and I arrived by train to Venice at about 5 pm on May 1 completely oblivious to the holiday. No boats running. Shops closed. We walked a mile over little bridges hauling our giant bags (before rollies and of course first trip so we overpacked). but it was 70F and sunny and beautiful and I still remember it well.

Transport in big cities like Paris will be running but I would assume everything else is closed and in smaller towns especially don't assume anything. Make transfer arrangements if needed ahead. and have a plan B and C for food etc. If you are staying in a hotel ask them about local dining arrangements. If an apartment, see if the landlord will stock the kitchen with basics for a fee.

We have enjoyed the labor demonstrations in Paris on May 1 for many years and there are food trucks there. But the tone has really changed. For years it was jolly labor songs including Woody Guthrie music and families pushing strollers as well as unions with their flags. This past year few kids and lots more black block goons. We got caught in the tear gas last year. It is a handful of thugs who spoil it and it is easy to steer clear as they are garbed in black and masks. We were stupid to not have gotten further away but the black block marchers were just marching when we were taking pictures and observing -- things changed fast. One year when the black block started their mischief, the cops deftly shifted the thousands of marchers down the river to the next bridge and circumvented the violent group while not disrupting the parade.

Don't worry, if you're stuck in a mid-sized town in Provence you won't have a chance of seeing a parade of over 300 people. And you won't see any black blocks described by janet either.

In these small provincial towns it is rather the lack of animation that predominates on May 1st.

And they are always at the end of the parade, so locals know when to start leaving. They are the same everywhere.

A few years ago when we walked from the 13th down the blvd towards the parade coming from Republic, the Black Block was at the head of the parade and the police just diverted the thousands behind them quite adroitly. We had just gotten a block or so past them when the destruction started. This last year, I think they were at the back as Bets suggests. We were stupidly alongside on the sidewalk when the conflict began and got caught in the cloud. We actually thought the BB had released the tear gas as many of them were wearing as masks, but I think it was probably the police as they were trashing places on a side street. We just got the edges and it was truly no fun for a couple of geezers stumbling around not able to see. Luckily I had a disposable tube of eye drops in the purse and this year we will be more careful.