I traveled to Paris twice – the first time I hated it and the second time, I had an absolute blast! Even though this blog post is not about how my experience flipped 180 degrees, this is enough proof to show you I tried all possible ways to enjoy Paris. That being said, I compiled a list of the top Paris travel tips that’ll help you enjoy the city of lights, whether you’re there for all things touristy or opting for an off-the-beaten-path trip.

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My Top Paris Travel Tips

I brought my solo travel expertise and Paris knowledge together and here’s what I came up with – 12+ great Paris travel tips perfect for first-time visitors and solo travelers.

#1 Plan your visits to major attractions

Paris is an incredibly popular travel destination, so it only makes sense that queues at major attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower would like that (see photo below).

So, if you know you’ll be visiting such attractions, it’s best if you plan your visits ahead of time to skip the line. Aside from going early, as this won’t be doable for everything on your itinerary, I found booking online to be the biggest time-saver. 

Here are some must-visit attractions you can book through Viator:

• Eiffel Tower Second Floor Tour and Summit Option by Elevator
• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Reserved Access
• Versailles Guided Tour and Priority Access with Hotel Pickup

#2 Visit museums on the first Sunday of the month

This is one of my favorite Paris travel tips and here’s why. A lot of museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month, so you better take advantage of that if it coincides with your trip dates. And, if you’re an EU resident under the age of 26, entry to most museums is free.

#3 Use local public transportation apps

In big cities like Paris, where the transportation system is quite extensive, downloading local public transport apps will come in handy and will introduce you to the best possible ways to get around. 

Bonjour RATP is the primary transport app in Paris that allows you to check routes and schedules. One of my favorite Paris travel tips is to take advantage of Google Maps’s ‘directions with transit options’ feature. It breaks down transportation options and often helps me figure out which routes or modes of transportation are best to get to my destination.

#4 Consider buying a Paris Visite pass or a Navigo card 

Speaking of getting around Paris, if you’ll be staying for a few days and you’ll be using public transportation extensively, consider buying the Paris Visite pass or the Navigo card.

Paris Visite Pass

The Paris Visite pass is a city pass created for tourists, allowing them access to all transport networks including the metro, bus, tram, RER, and SNCF trains. You may purchase a pass that covers zones 1-3, which cover everywhere in central Paris, or zones 1-5, which cover Paris and the rest of the Île-de-France region (Orly and CDG airports, as well as Versailles and Disneyland included).

As for the cost, a 1-day pass costs €13.95, and the 5-day pass costs €44.45 for zones 1-3. On the other hand, the pass covering zones 1-5 costs €29.25 for a 1-day pass and €76.25. The pass also offers discounts at partner attractions to its holders. 

P.S: Fares are always subject to change so make sure you double-check the most up-to-date prices on RATP’s official website.

Navigo Card 

This one’s a reusable transportation card created for Île-de-France residents and those going for a long-term stay. However, if you’re a traveler, staying for a week or so, you can still benefit from it. 

The card gives unlimited access to all transport networks within the zones from 1-5 – you can get a weekly or monthly card, depending on your length of stay in Paris. The weekly card costs €30 and the card itself costs €5 (a one-time fee as it’s reusable).

Paris Visite Pass vs. Navigo Card vs. Single Tickets

Figuring out the most cost-effective way to get around Paris goes down to the duration of your trip and your itinerary.

So, which option should you choose?

• Navigo Card: If you’re staying in Paris for a week or longer, and plan on using public transport extensively.
• Paris Visite Pass: If you’re visiting just for a few days, and you think you can use partner discounts.
• Single tickets/contactless payment options (like Navigo Easy Travel Card): If you’re staying for a short period and will only be commuting around central Paris.

#5 Learn basic French words and phrases

This one may seem a little too obvious, but learning a few French words and phrases is one of the most important Paris travel tips. You see, the French are very proud of their language, and throughout my multiple travels around France, in general, as well as my 4-month stay for Erasmus, I realized that the openness to speak a foreign language has a lot to do with the generation. For instance, younger people are more likely to practice a foreign language and get excited about it; however, some of them can also get too conscious about it if their English is not that good. 

That being said, I think it’s best if you learn a few basic words and phrases to get by like “parlez-vous anglais?”, which means “do you speak English?” In case you know a bit of French like me, it’s a great way to practice your forgotten 2nd or 3rd language in real life. But beware, it will sound nothing like the French you probably learned in class – local dialects and slang play a major role in that.

#6 Get ready to walk a lot 

Paris is a very walkable city – it’s so easy to find yourself wandering around for hours, marveling at the architecture, checking out local art galleries, window shopping, or stopping for un café au lait at one of their cute corner cafés. So, be prepared to up those steps of yours, and with that in mind, one of my top Paris travel tips is to pack comfortable walking shoes! You might find yourself walking on cobblestone streets or climbing lots of stairs, so you’ll thank me later. I’ve stumbled upon so many great places just by wandering around aimlessly.

#7 Pack for unpredictable weather

Speaking of packing, it’s also worth mentioning that the weather in Paris can sometimes have a mind of its own! Especially in the summer, you’d be struggling with the humidity all week, and then all of a sudden, you find yourself walking the streets of Paris in a hoodie with an umbrella in hand. 

DON’T FORGET TO GET INSURED

#8 Ask for “une carafe d’eau”

In Paris, it’s illegal to deny you free tap water. Ask for “une carafe d’eau”, or to refill your reusable water bottle in restaurants instead of paying for bottled water at kiosks or supermarkets. This way, you’ll save money and you’ll be slightly more sustainable.

#9 Adjust your itinerary to French mealtime

French dining hours often follow a fixed schedule that’s a little stricter than other cultures. For instance, breakfast, which is usually light, is typically had between 7 AM and 10 AM; lunchtime is usually between 12 PM and 2 PM; and dinner is typically between 7:30 PM and 10:30 PM.

In the French culture, many restaurants will close after lunchtime and reopen around 7 PM for dinner. However, that’s not necessarily the case in areas popular amongst tourists, especially since Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. Restaurants in such areas tend to be more flexible, but it’s worth noting that most of them won’t be the traditional, authentic Parisian experience you may be looking for. 

#10 Avoid restaurants near tourist attractions

Aside from the authenticity, restaurants near tourist attractions are often tourist traps. This may seem like one of the obvious Paris travel tips, but that’s not all! Take the following as a rule of thumb: if they have an English-only menu, walk away! Instead, wander a few blocks away from the main attractions and you’ll probably find a hidden gem that’s more authentic and less expensive.

#11 Don’t be afraid to go off-the-beaten-path

Remember when I told you about how I hated Paris but then made amends with it? Well, it was because I went with the flow and opted for off-the-beaten-path experiences. In fact, my most memorable experiences on both trips were those that were off-the-beaten-path. Sure, I loved going all the way up the Eiffel Tower and I enjoyed my trip to the Louvre. But stumbling upon local art collectives; enjoying Montmartre on Fête de la Musique; exploring the speakeasy scene; and attending a dance class with one of my all-time favorite choreographers, Jerky Jessy, were some of my top core memories in Paris.

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Paris Solo Travel Safety Tips

Moving on to some Paris travel tips dedicated to solo travelers’ safety, especially the solo female travelers out there. Aside from the solo travel safety tips I’d recommend you bear in mind anywhere, the following tips are Paris-focused.

#1 Stay alert for pickpockets and bag snatchers

Petty theft, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, are a very common downside to travel in Europe, especially in big cities like Paris. So, you’ve got to stay alert for pickpockets and bag snatchers at all times. Keep your valuables close, especially around busy spots like the metro, the Eiffel Tower, and other major tourist attractions. A fanny pack or messenger bag can be a good idea – or even better, Curls en Route’s pickpocket-proof Travel Hoodie.

#2 Watch out for common scams

Besides staying alert for petty theft, one of the most important Paris travel tips is to watch out for scams and tourist traps as they’re very common there:

The friendship bracelet scam

A so-called friendly stranger will approach you and try to tie a “friendship bracelet” around your wrist. It’s not free and it’s not a friendly gesture – it’s a scam! They’ll demand payment as soon as its hooked on your wrist and may even become aggressive. This scam is common in touristic spots like Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur. 

The petition signing scam

Someone will approach you, pretending to be part of a charity or cause and will ask you to sign a petition in support. All of course is to distract you with signing while an accomplice pickpockets you. They might even demand a donation after you sign. This actually happened to me twice before (but I didn’t fall for it); once in Paris in front of the Notre Dame and another time in Pisa, Italy. I don’t have to tell you that you should always decline engaging if this ever happens to you, right? 

The fake charity collectors

These scammers will try to guilt-trip you into donating to their fake charities. If you feel like supporting the cause, do your own research on the side and donate to credible and trusted organizations instead. 

Agressive selling by street vendors

Street vendors may use aggressive selling tactics to force you buy from them like blocking your way or forcefully placing items in your hand. Politely decline engaging and keep walking. If they insist, you have to be assertive. 

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#3 Add these phrases to your French dictionary

Remember how my main Paris travel tips included learning a few French words and phrases? Well, don’t forget to add phrases that’ll come in handy if you’re ever in trouble to that list. Phrases like “aidez-moi”, French for “help me”, can save you in case someone snatches your purse, for instance.

#4 Save those emergency contacts

If you ever feel the need to contact French emergency services, the hotline is 112 – for police specificall, call 17, and for an ambulance, call 15.

Generally speaking, I wouldn’t limit this to Paris travel tips, and I would do the same wherever I’m traveling. 

#5 Plan your route before you head out

Before heading out of your hostel, make sure you plan your route ahead so you wouldn’t look lost. This way, you wouldn’t have to check your online maps the whole time that your eyes would be glued to your phone, making you look less of an easy prey. 

#6 Avoid/be cautious in these areas after-dark

Unfortunately, Paris is known for its high rates of petty theft and tourist scams. Also, verbal harassment and drug-related crime can be prevalent in some parts of the city. And even though one can travel to Paris safely, it’s best to stay vigilant. One of the ways to do so, and one of the most important Paris travel tips, is to avoid or at least be cautious in certain areas after-dark, especially if you’re up for some nightlife. 

• Some parts of the 18th and 19th Arrondissements: Such as La Chapelle, as lower foot traffic in the evening attracts more petty thieves, or Pigalle, which is basically the red light district of Paris. 
• Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est (10th arrondissement): I personally stayed there before and they’re usually pretty busy and well-lit for the train stations, so I never really felt unsafe. But in late hours, such areas may attract opportunistic petty thieves, so you’ve got to stay alert.
• Châtelet-Les Halles Area: The super busy shopping hub during the day isn’t the same at night – it often attracts groups of loiterers that might make you feel uncomfortable.
• Barbès-Rochechouart: Drug trade can be common there at night.
• Some suburbs like Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers: Known for street crime – generally, I’d avoid staying in the suburbs and opt for staying in central Paris instead.

Generally, Paris is considered a safe destination to travel to, so don’t let these pointers discourage you. Just like everywhere else in the world, there’s the good and the bad, and with the previous Paris travel tips, you can surely explore the city safely and even on your own. 

Bon voyage!

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