Things to Know Before You Arrive in Paris Archives

The best travel tips on your trip to Paris will make you find everything you need in this charming city if you're planning a visit or becoming a resident of Paris. The city, the world's fashion capital, has a long art history and a rich culture. The city offers countless opportunities to explore French culture, from museums to bars, cafes, and parks. Why is the city a dream destination for many? For many people, France is a dream destination. Whether you've been seduced by Paris ' romantic caprices, the South of France's sun-soaked coast, or Provence's fairy-tale-like villages, you're not going to regret booking a vacation in France. But while the vision becomes a reality for many, if they arrive unaware, certain tourists will be found out. The travel tips to this enchanting nation would give you the chance to make the most of your time on music, hospitality, dining out and moving around in France. The Paris ' City of Lights' attracts travelers all the time. The travel tips to Paris appeal to backpackers, family members, leisure passengers, and lone travelers. While Paris is as touristy as it gets, it is also home to over 2 million Parisians across all economic strata, meaning that there is always a way to explore Paris that matches your style and budget. Best time to visit the city You can visit from April to June and from October to early November. This period epitomizes the best of Paris, and the weather is pleasant where there are enough coats and scarves to keep you comfortable, and there are enough events to keep you busy, while the crowds are thin enough to enjoy it all! Paris is a year-round destination, though, and summer is a great time to be outdoors and attend summer festivals from June to September. Winters are rough in Paris, but Christmas fun and cheap prices on everything from flights to hotels will help you enjoy Paris. Credit cards Paris establishments require that you use a chip and pin with credit cards or debit cards, the magnetic strip cards won't work. Often, Visa is favored over MasterCard and easily accepted, but if you can, bring one of them. Get your credit card customer care toll-free number and make sure you have activated your international use before your trip. Currency Exchange ATMs are the easiest and most convenient way to withdraw money from Paris. The best place to withdraw money is at the airport and there are more than 20 ATMs throughout the terminals. Check your bank's ATM withdrawal rates; they are often cheaper than currency exchange counters which charged commissions. Get travel insurance Medical emergencies in Europe can be costly, so travel insurance is the best way to deal with any emergencies. If you are in any situation, if it's a medical emergency, you should dial 112 or 15. Paris has an on-call doctor system called SOS Medecins where you can book a consultation in an hour. Be cash – ready Many Parisian restaurants allow credit cards for more than € 10, but for smaller transactions and other items such as tipping and street shopping, you will need cash. Do not bring too much cash on you because it is not free, particularly around tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, which is full of pickpockets. Have meals at the Eiffel tower The Eiffel Tower is a must-see tourist attraction on the bucket list of every traveler. Go beyond just visiting the tower's top; instead, have lunch or dinner at one of the Eiffel Tower's restaurants–Le 58 Tour Eiffel and Le Jules Verne. Not only do you get keys to the top of the tower, you even miss the queue and enjoy the restaurants ' special elevator. The best views of Paris There is no doubt that the views from the Eiffel Tower are amazing. The Arc De Triomphe is one of the best places from where you can see Paris with the Eiffel Tower. Catch the sight of the city roads from the monument and the Eiffel standing proudly in the distance from the Arc de Triomphe's rooftop! Eiffel tower must be impressive Nearly everybody dreams of reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower. But as soon as you approach the tower, you may realize it's not very romantic because it's enclosed by a ton of visitors and vendors. The place is crowded, no matter when you visit, the lines take you forever. Book a hotel outside the city It sounds tempting to see the most inexpensive hotels near Disney Paris. But unless you're visiting Disney World every day, it's not a good idea. It's expensive to travel to the city every day and as well as, it consumes a lot of your valuable sightseeing time. If you're planning a short stay, choosing a central location that allows easy access to your must-see attractions is essential. You might want to consider booking your accommodation through Airbnb in order to save money. In general, Airbnb is cheaper than staying in a hotel. You can save money on transportation Paris has one of Europe's best public transportation systems. An extensive network of Metro, Tram, Bus, Night Bus and Taxis provides access to you. A bus is the cheapest way to get to and from the airport. The airport has two train stations on the RER's B3 line and you can get to the airport for less than € 12. It's a fun way to explore Europe by driving or renting a car. In Paris, the bike-sharing network is suitable for short distances. There are in circulation more than 1,000 charging stations and more than 20,000 motorcycles. You can choose between mechanical and electric bikes and buy a 1-day or 7-day pass with rides starting at € 5. No trip to Paris is complete with a cruise on the Seine River. A package pass that includes the river cruise on a discount is the perfect way to save money on the cruise. Leave some space in your itinerary In Paris there's so much to do that you'll need months to see, learn and do everything in town! Which is why, no matter how long you have, spend time in the city just sitting in a cafe, drinking a coffee and watching the world go past. Drive along the Seine or sit down on the lawns of the city's many gardens to take up the charm of Paris. Your kids might love Paris Paris is known as a romantic city, but it is also a favorite destination for families, and you can do a lot with children. Here are just a few of the options to keep your children entertained–Disneyland Paris, Jardin d'Acclimation, Paris Wax Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Jardin Des Plantes Menagerie, Paris Plages beach, Bubble de Paris, L'Aquarium de Paris, and the Paris Police Museum. The cobbled streets Paris, especially in spring and summer, is a beautiful city to walk. Whether you're walking along the Seine or the Champs-Elysees, you're going to enjoy dousing in the views. A walking tour is the best way to explore the city as it provides an interesting narrative of the sights and a unique perspective. If you're on a tight budget, there are several hostels in the city that offer free walking tours. Save time and money with a pass If you've been in Paris for more than a day, a pass is the best way to save sightseeing costs by 30 percent -50 percent. The city has three passes, Paris Pass, Paris Museum Pass, and Paris Fast Pass, offering a combination of skipping the line access to attractions, museums, and free transportation. The arrondissements Paris is divided into 20 districts which are known as arrondissements and they all have a unique atmosphere. While many tourists prefer to live close to tourist attractions in order to avoid long journeys, you don't have to think about it because of the public transport system in Paris. By staying in Airbnb or hotels outside the upscale areas, you can save money and still travel from anywhere in Paris within 30 minutes! Save on the designer wears Paris is the world's luxury hub and you may want to keep up with the latest types in fashion. You may want to think shopping smartly unless you have a bottomless credit card. Choose to go shopping in Paris ' consignment or discount stores. Say Bonjour to people Good manners are important everywhere, particularly in French, they like nice things. You need not be well versed in French. It's nice to give a Bonjour (Hello) to shopkeepers, restaurateurs, and any business people. The good rule of thumb in Paris is not familiarity but formality and good manners too. Some of the other phrases that you can use are Merci (Thank You), S'il Vous plait (Please), Excusez-Moi (Sorry and Excuse Me) and Monsieur or madame. Tipping is desirable Restaurants add a service charge to your bill, but that's not going to the servers, so if you're happy with your bill, you can give the server 10 percent of your bill. You will leave the difference for the service in cafes and bars or € 1-€2. Yet remember that quick service is not good service; the French enjoy eating meals at leisure. Don’t be early for dinner The Parisian restaurants ' dinner service begins late, only around 7:30 p.m. Moreover, most restaurants close between lunch and dinner service, which means you will need to plan your meals well if you rely solely on restaurants. Don't forget to book tables in top restaurants, many famous restaurants are booked weeks in advance in summer! The Paris pass for free transport The Paris Metro is one of the world's best transport systems. The average distance between any two subway stations is about 560 m, meaning you're never far from one! Buying a 10-pack fare or using the Paris Pass for free transportation is the best way to use the subway. If you use a physical ticket, keep it on you until you leave the station. Make use of your student ID If you're lucky enough to still be a student, don't forget your ID as it gives you free or reduced access to most attractions. The same applies if you are under 26 and have a different form of identification. Otherwise, the best time to visit the most prestigious museums, including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Center Pompidou, is on the first Sunday of the month between October and March when the doors are open. Alternatively, go to one of the museums of the City of Paris that is just as good and always free. Louvre Museum The Louvre in Paris is the world's largest art museum with over 35,000 artworks, including the famous Mona Lisa. Even whizzing past all the artworks would take you weeks and just taking a look at the Mona Lisa for more than an hour! Do not become over-ambitious and plan to see all the must-see works of art at the Louvre. Go beyond the city Paris is spectacular, but the neighboring districts have a wealth of natural and architectural beauty. On day trips from Paris, Mont St. Michel, Versailles, Giverny, Normandy, Reims, Loire Valley and Disneyland Paris are great options. To visit these destinations, a guided tour is less time-consuming and cost-effective. 30 Most Important Festivals of India Friendship bracelets and other scams The travel tips to Paris make you understand the scams around the country. French are nice, but the occasional scamsters are not completely deprived of Paris! The Sacre Coeur bracelet scam continues, despite being well-known online. You can meet people, who are going to attach a bracelet and ask for money, just don't engage with them. Certain things to look out for are the Tuileries Garden petitioners, the Champs-de-Mars cup and ball games, and the Seine River quest for the Gold Ring. Get to know about catacombs Under the city of Paris, the dark, skeleton-filled catacombs attract tourists from around the world. The catacombs are often marketed as an offbeat tourist attraction, but you'll know that one look at the long lines outside! The only way to visit them is to take advantage of book-the-line tickets. The Helicopter tour You can see the City of Light from above. The travel tips to Paris make you fly in the sky on a helicopter.On this tour to Versailles, you’ll soar over the Seine, the Bois de Boulogne, and the royal palace before landing near Versailles where you can enjoy a complimentary drink and take photos in front of your helicopter. On your way back to Paris by flight, you can enjoy bird’s-eye views of Trocadero, Montparnasse, La Defense, and the Eiffel Tower. Explore the wine cellars The travel tips to Paris enable you to explore new places . This is 90-minute tour takes you to Bercy in the 12th district, where you will visit the wine cellars of the district and learn more about its wine-making heritage. After all, a trip to France will not be consummated without sampling a few glasses of high-quality wine. Photography class If you follow the travel tips to Paris, you would know how to hone your photography skills.These days, most people are pretty snap-happy, but if you're really trying to improve your photography skills, then book a spot on this three-hour course and tour around Montmartre. This quaint former village in the outskirts of the city will show you the ideal subject matter as a photography professional guides you on making your pictures almost great. Film locations Paris film locations tour Paris has been committed to celluloid on countless occasions –and on this walking tour you will visit places that have appeared in classics such as 'The Three Musketeers,' 'Marie Antoinette,' 'The Devil Wears Prada' and, 'Safe House,' starring Ryan Reynolds. Beware of ruthless drivers The travel tips to Paris let you be careful what's going on the roads. The rules may be different for French motorists and other road users than you are used to being allowed to turn right at red traffic lights or cycle straight through them or they may not be respected at all. Zebra crossings are particularly treacherous, with drivers slamming on the brakes at the last second or speeding straight through them. Beware of pickpockets Hold your bag in your hands or concealed in your body not lying on your arm's crook or on your back and close tourist attractions, be vigilant on the subway. A common' scam' to be mindful of is when someone is normally asked to sign a petition by a young person and then demands money. Homelessness and begging are also commonplace in Paris, and while people are mostly harmless, without breaking, you won't be able to help everyone. Bring shoes You'll still want to walk around and see the city as well as public transport, especially during the warmer months. Learn the lesson of millions of tourists arriving, walk miles farther than they're used to, and end up treating their blisters in the fountains of the public: pack convenient shoes and keep your movements in mind. Beware of protests When expressing their political dissatisfaction, the French do not hold back. Taxi drivers, trade unionists, and anti-police protesters have demonstrated on a large scale in the past two years alone. None of these compare with the intensity of the riots in 2005, but it often feels like a burning vehicle is just around the corner. With the presidential elections imminent, there are expected to be more protests on the agenda. Following major sporting events and during the celebrations of Bastille Day and Fête de la Musique, the streets could also become a little overwhelming. Restaurants If you stick to the tourist areas, the travel tips to Paris help the travelers to know the time duration of restaurants. they follow two specific services a day, one between midday and 2 pm for lunch, and between 7:30 pm and midnight for dinner. There are some variations on these times, of course, so first check online. Shops also close regularly for part of the day, usually during the lunch break, and irregular opening and closing times may operate depending on the day of the week. Check the weather The travel tips to Paris also focuses on the country's mild, wet winters and autumns and dry, warm springs and summers, the seasons in Paris are reasonably stable and distinct, but this is Western Europe and a sudden downpour is never out of the question. Although extremely cold temperatures are rare, it can get extremely hot, with the thermostat going beyond 40 degrees Celsius for days to end. The easiest thing to do is to keep a local weather forecast up-to-date. Related Questions 1. What is the best time to visit Paris? From April to June and October to early November, the best time to visit Paris is when the weather is mild and pleasant and tourist crowds are smaller than summer. Early December, January, and February are the cheapest time to visit Paris. 2. How should you dress up in Paris? It is important to remember that for everyday activities, the French tend to dress more professionally than others. Khakis, button-down tops, sundresses, shorts, skirts, and sweaters are popular throughout the day on the streets of Paris. Skip tennis shoes for comfortable sandals or loafers. 3. Do you need to speak French in Paris? Know at least a bit of the language. No, you don't need to be fluent in French to interact with Parisians, but learning the fundamentals would make a big difference. They'll switch to English; speak to a French person in Spanish. That's how it works. 4. How many days do you need to go to Paris? For about three days, many travelers are visiting Paris and trying to see the highlights of this beautiful city in a short time. More time is needed than that. To see the bare minimum of what the City of Lights has to offer, you should plan to spend at least five days in Paris. 5. What is the cheapest month to travel to Paris? Between April to June and October to early November, the best time to visit Paris is when the weather is warm and nice, and tourist numbers are fewer than summer. 6. How much does the trip to Paris cost? From the United States, airfare to Paris is easier than ever with direct flights coming from nearly every major city. The best-estimated trip to Paris will cost about $1.305 per person with additional travelers costing $915 each. You Need To Know Important Paris Travel Tips