Taking your first trip to Paris? With these useful Paris Travel Tips, we’ve got you covered!
Many people want to go to Paris, and for good reason. It is home to cutting-edge fashion and art, gourmet food, and buildings with a lot of history and style. This year, you can now go to the City of Lights.
But Paris is more than just a place for love, good wine, and art. And people who have never been to Europe before might find it hard to get around, especially if they don’t speak the language. So, we made a list of the best tips for traveling to Paris, like when to go and how to avoid scams. Enjoy your books!
1. Paris isn’t just a romantic city
Most first-time visitors to Paris have a romanticized idea of what it’s like to be there, with dinners by candlelight in art nouveau cafes, the sun setting behind the Eiffel Tower, and French people waxing poetic about life and love. That doesn’t mean that none of these are true about Paris! But if you’re a foodie, plan your trip around Michelin-starred restaurants and popular local cafes. If you’re interested in history, you’ll find plenty to do in. So, no matter what you’re into, you can be sure you’ll find.
eiffel tower in blue sky. Anthony Delanoix took the picture.
2. Go when it’s not busy.
The best time to go to Paris is definitely in April or October, when it’s not as busy. Less people, cheaper prices for tourists, and a beautiful show of nature in the city. People who like spring will love the pink color of cherry blossoms, while people who like pumpkin spice lattes will enjoy walks through parks and streets with lots of leaves. Both are great places for weddings, family portraits, and engagements to be photographed professionally.
3. Book a hotel close to the city center
You can choose a hotel in one of Paris’s 20 arrondissements, or districts. There are museums and other things to do in each of these neighborhoods that may help you decide. Montmartre is in the 18th, Le Marais is in the 3rd and 4th, and the 5th is the city’s Latin Quarter. There may be more expensive places to stay here, so plan ahead!
4. Use mapquest driving directions
woman using the Paris Travel Pass to see the city
Now that you know when to go and where to stay, you have to decide what to do. It’s a good thing that exists, because it’s a cost-effective multipass that’s perfect for first-timers. You can go to more than 75 attractions and museums all over the city for up to 4 days and skip the lines for the whole time. You’ll also get a free metro pass and a guidebook to help you get around Paris a little better.
Aside from walking, you can also get around Paris by taking the metro or renting a Velib. But how do you really use them? You only need to buy a Paris Pass or a Paris Metro Pass to use the metro.
5. Wear comfortable shoes
Even while Paris’ cobblestone streets are attractive to look upon, first-time tourists find them to be quite dangerous. Wear your most comfortable pair of shoes or sandals for the time being because it’s ideal to tour the city on foot rather than in high heels. You should also consider the fact that some sights are rather far apart, like as the Eiffel Tower, which is located on the opposite side of Notre Dame. Even days after the trip, traveling back and forth will probably leave you with body aches.
6. Use public transportation
Along with walking, the subway and renting a Velib are other excellent ways to see Paris. But how specifically do you employ them? For the metro, all you need to do is buy either a Paris Pass or a Paris Metro Pass. Both cards provide unlimited access to the Paris Metro system, making it easier for visitors to explore every inch of the city. In the meanwhile, there are more than 1,800 stations for the public bike-sharing program Velib around the city. Either a normal bike or an e-bike can be rented for a set period of time, and then it can be returned to a station nearby before its validity expires. For a hassle-free and comfortable method to travel throughout France, you may also ride the train!
7. Watch out for pickpockets and scams
Since you’ll be using the subway, it’s critical to be on the lookout for scam artists and pickpockets. Keep in mind that tourists are walking targets and to leave valuables like your passport and big sums of cash at your hotel. Many of these individuals can be found in tourist destinations, where some clumsily solicit visitors to join environmental petitions or don friendship bracelets. As much as possible, stay away from these situations, and if you ever find yourself in one, get out immediately.
8. Practice basic French phrases
French is a lovely language, but it’s also quite challenging to master. Before ordering or making a purchase, it’s normal to say “Bonjour” to store employees and service providers, so you might as well pick up a few extra words. Here are a few that you might find useful: Merci, Pardon, and Comment vas-tu? (What’s your name? ), “D’accord,” “Okay,” “Excuse me,” and “Where is the closest metro station?” (Which metro station is nearby?)
9. Don’t forget to bring a travel adaptor
Although it may seem obvious, few people are aware that power plugs in Paris are different from those found everywhere in the world. The sockets are spherical and deep in Europe, whereas the power plugs have two prongs. Budget accommodations and bed-and-breakfasts certainly won’t be able to provide this luxury, but upscale hotels may have additional power outlets in their rooms. Before you forget it again, put a travel adaptor on your shopping list for your trip.
10. Make restaurant reservations in advance
Anywhere in France, you must experience fine dining. However, given that Paris has so many restaurants with Michelin stars, the situation there can be a little difficult. If you don’t want to wait in line for food, make sure to make a reservation once you’ve decided where you want to dine. The chef’s table at Marsan par Hélène Darroze, the Comté cheese soufflé at PavYllon, and the choux pastry Paris Brest at Le Serva are a few of our faves that you just must taste.
11. Always check opening times
The Parisians, like the residents of most other European cities, appreciate their relaxation and take their time. There is a pause in service during the afternoons, dinner does not begin until 7:30 p.m., the majority of shops and restaurants are closed on Sundays, and businesses take their vacations during the month of August. The opening times of businesses may alter throughout the year, primarily as a result of shifts in the timing of daytime and nighttime lighting. These timetable adjustments might not make sense to busybodies like you, but while you’re in Paris, you should behave in the same manner that the locals do. Make it a routine to call ahead at least two days in advance to verify that the locations you plan to visit are open.
Source: driving directions