What You Need to Know Before You Visit Paris

What To Know Before You Go: Paris

Greetings from Paris! Today I want to share with you some things you should know before you come to Paris. Especially if this is your first or second visit, this will give you a good background of what you should know when you vacation in Paris.

What is the Best Time to Visit Paris?

It’s always high season in Paris, there’s not really a low season. Just realize that Paris will always be busy. I recommend visiting Paris in the early Fall, or late Spring. Paris in March is the low end of high season, as is Paris in September. If you come in July or August, Paris is swarmed with tourists. Expect long lines, crowded attractions and higher prices. Paris at Christmas-time is beautiful, but also a very popular time to visit.

What to See in Paris

Whether you’re coming for a long weekend, or a week or longer, you’ll have many places to visit in Paris. It’s important to plan out what you want to see in Paris ahead of time, so you aren’t overwhelmed by all of your options. Some of the museums include the Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, and the Rodin Museum. Then there are the churches in Paris. Saint-Jean-de-Montmatre, Saint Denis and of course, Notre Dame are some of the beautiful churches in Paris.

Of course, you will most likely want to visit the Eiffel Tower. You have to pay to go up the Eiffel Tower, and the lines and elevator ride are extremely crowded. If you are at all claustrophobic, be prepared for this. Jocelyn only made it to the first level on our first visit because the elevators were so packed. You can go to different levels of the Eiffel Tower, and price varies based on how high you go.

Tip: Many Paris museums are closed on Mondays, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. If you are visiting Paris with kids, many Paris attractions offer free admission to children under 12, sometimes 18.

There are Many Free Things to do in Paris

Paris can be expensive, but you can have a great time without spending a lot of money. If you are visiting Paris on a budget, you can still have a great time. It’s free to wander around, take in the architecture and admire the neighborhoods of Paris. Grab a baguette and some cheese for a picnic lunch in the park behind the Eiffel Tower. After hitting the highlights like the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees, find some more unusual things to do in Paris.

Tip: Paris is a living city, be sure to explore the neighborhoods beyond the tourist zones.

Day Trips From Paris

If you have a longer time in Paris, I recommend taking some day trips out of the city. One of the best day trips from Paris is the Palace of Versailles, which you can reach via RER train. Monet fans can visit Giverny. Paris is well-connected to the rest of France via train. The TGV’s, or high speed trains, make a long journey feasible in a day trip from Paris. The Loire Valley is just 90 minutes from Paris by train. There are Paris day tours for visiting the D-Day beaches. If you’re visiting Paris with kids, you might want to see Disneyland Paris.

Where to Stay in Paris

Hotels in Paris are more expensive than the average Europe hotel. However, the rooms are pretty small. A double room will be two single beds. If you have two adults and some kids, you will need two rooms, or at least a triple room. Renting an apartment in Paris is a much better alternative for families. A Paris apartment gives you the freedom to come and go, but you can also save money by eating a few meals at home. One of the best things about Paris is shopping at the fruit stands, the boulangerie, patisserie, and the markets.

Tip: Remember Paris is meant for exploring, your hotel room is just for sleeping. You’ll be so happy to be in Paris, you won’t care how small your room is!

Electrical Outlets in Paris

Plugs in France are the same as mainland Europe, with two round plugs. You will need an adapter for charging any electronics from the U.S. Your laptop or phone will have a converter built in, so you just need the adapter part.

Currency in Paris

The currency in France is the Euro, just like other EU countries. Sometimes you’ll see two totals on your bill, as some places will show the amount in francs. You can use credit cards at most places in Paris, but make sure your card has a chip. Some vendors prefer cash, but most will accept cards.

Tip: You’ll get the best exchange rate if you use your debit card at an ATM machine.

Service in Paris

First-time visitors to Paris often worry about the people being rude, or that nobody will speak English. Paris has a reputation for rude people, but the people here are actually very nice, aside from a few servers here and there who deal with tourists every day. Sometimes restaurant service can be a little slow, and make sure you ask for your check as they won’t automatically bring it to you. (L’addition, s’il vous plait) I’ve found that just knowing a few words or French phrases really softens people up and makes for a better experience.

Tip: Taxes and service charges are already included in your restaurant bill, so tipping in Paris is not required.

Eating In Paris

Visiting Paris is a gastronomical experience; there are so many great foods, and wines, throughout Paris. For the best value, and to experience multiple courses, I recommend the “menu” a prix fixe that includes a starter, a main plate and a dessert. This is a great way to get a three-course meal for 15-30 Euros. Ask the restaurant for the plat du jour, or plat du maison. If you are visiting Paris with kids, a lot of places will have a kid’s menu or kid’s version that is cheaper, so be sure to ask for that as well.

Some traditional French foods you should try in Paris:

Start at the patisserie or boulangerie for baked goods! Try a baguette, croissant, pain chocolat or macarons. You can find tarts with different fruit flavors, too.
Some popular starters at mealtime include French Onion Soup, Escargot, cheeses, and oysters. Frog legs are also great, but are becoming less common at French restaurants. Check out our Five-Year-Old’s Advice for Eating Frog Legs!
For your main course, steak is always an option. Entrecote, or steak frites, is very common. If you like duck, try the confit de canard.

Many restaurants close between 3 and 7 pm. If you get hungry in the afternoon when restaurants are closed, you can grab a jambon-beurre, a ham and butter sandwich. Quiche is also a popular snack, make sure to order it “chaud” or hot, or just grab a croissant. There’s always fast food; Quick is the French version of McDonald’s.

The beauty of Paris is that is has amazing French food, but it’s an international city, so you can enjoy many cuisines in Paris. You can find Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, American, whatever you have a taste for.

Tip: Make dinner reservations, especially on a Friday or Saturday night!

Getting Around Paris

Public transportation in Paris is fantastic. You can get almost anywhere using the metro, city buses, or the RER/city train. You’re never more than 500 meters from a Metro stop anywhere in the city. Make sure you get the best Paris Metro ticket for your visit. You can buy 1-day, 3-day, 7-day passes. Metro passes are not that expensive, about 1.70 Euro each. You insert the card upon entry, but make sure you keep it as you might also need it to exit the station.

When arriving or departing Paris, it’s easy to reach both major airports on the the local train, the RER. The RER goes to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly. There are two stops at CDG, so know which one you need ahead of time. You can also take taxis, or Uber, anywhere you need to go in Paris.

If you are leaving Paris by train, keep in mind that there are several train stations in Paris. If you are going elsewhere in Europe after your stay in Paris, be sure you know the correct Paris train station. If you are transiting through Paris, you may need to take the Metro to transfer between stations. All the train stations are connected by Metro, so it’s not difficult, just pay attention to your tickets, and allow enough time.

Tip: On the Metro, lift the handle to open the doors!

Is Paris Safe?

A lot of people wonder if Paris is safe. There is police and security presence, but we travel here with our kids and parents, without worry. The only thing to be alert about are the beggars and pickpockets, especially at the busier metro stations and tourist attractions. Pickpockets don’t always look like pickpockets, so just be wise.

Tip: People approaching you to sign a petition may be scoping you out to rob you.

Additional Resources for Planning Your Paris Vacation

Don’t miss our other videos on France and Paris!