Paris

Paris runs on a very specific social contract, and once you understand it, the city becomes dramatically more pleasant. The core rule: acknowledge people before you ask anything of them. Walk into a bakery without saying bonjour and you've already started the interaction badly.

It's not about being formal, it's about recognizing that the person behind the counter is a human being, not a vending machine. Parisians are not rude. But they do notice when you treat public space like it belongs exclusively to you.

Volume matters more than you'd expect. Speaking loudly on the metro, in restaurants, or in hotel lobbies marks you immediately as someone who didn't bother to adapt. A meal at a French brasserie is never rushed.

The server will not bring the bill until you ask for it — that's intentional. The table is yours. Don't fight the rhythm; lean into it.

Dining is genuinely one of the better parts of being in this city. The dress code is relaxed but considered. Parisians tend toward understated, put-together clothing rather than logos or athletic gear in non-sporting contexts.

This isn't snobbery; it's how the city reads people. And it affects service.

Always say 'Bonjour' when entering any shop, bakery, café, or business — even if you don't plan to buy anything. This is non-negotiable. Skipping it sets a negative tone before you've spoken a single other word..

Lower your volume in public. On the metro, in restaurants, and in hotel lobbies, Parisians speak at a level where only their conversation partner can hear them. Loud English-language conversations mark you immediately as someone who hasn't adapted..

Tipping is not required. Service charges are already included in the bill at almost all restaurants. Leaving a euro or two for genuinely good service is appreciated, but dumping all your loose change is considered odd.

Nothing is perfectly fine too.. Don't touch produce at outdoor markets. Let the vendor select items for you.

At most stalls, picking up fruit or vegetables yourself is considered rude. A polite 'Deux pommes, s'il vous plaît' does the job.. Many small shops and some cafés close between 12pm and 2pm for lunch.

Plan around it. Fighting this schedule produces only frustration.. Use 'vous' (formal 'you') with strangers, shopkeepers, and service staff — not 'tu' (informal).

Only switch to 'tu' if the other person explicitly invites it.. At restaurants, wait to be seated rather than choosing your own table. Even at casual terrace spots, make eye contact with staff first..

Sunday shopping is limited. Many smaller shops stay closed or keep reduced hours. Major department stores and tourist-area shops are exceptions, but don't assume everything will be open.

Paris is safe. Violent crime against tourists is genuinely rare. The real risk is pickpocketing, and it's concentrated in very specific places.

Know where those places are and you'll avoid most of it. The highest-density pickpocket zones are: the Eiffel Tower and its queues (especially the lift lines, which can stretch 30–90 minutes and leave you standing still); the RER B train between Charles de Gaulle airport and Gare du Nord; Metro Lines 1 and 6 (the main tourist lines); the Louvre entrance queues; and the steps up to Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. The friendship bracelet scam on the Montmartre steps has operated for over 20 years.

A man ties a bracelet to your wrist before you can react, then demands payment. Don't shake hands with or extend your wrist to anyone who approaches you near those steps. The petition clipboard scam targets people near the Eiffel Tower, Tuileries, and the Louvre.

Someone approaches with a clipboard 'for a charity,' and while you read, an accomplice goes through your bag. Say a firm 'non' and keep walking. The gold ring scam works by someone 'finding' a ring near you and then pressuring you to pay a finder's fee while their partner searches your pockets.

Walk away without engaging. The 'fixed' taxi fare from CDG airport is €53 (Left Bank) or €60 (Right Bank). If a driver tries to charge more, refuse.

For Montmartre, the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Bastille, and Canal Saint-Martin: all are safe after dark. Apply extra awareness around Gare du Nord late at night. Use a cross-body bag worn in front.

Never put your phone or wallet in a back pocket. Emergency: 17 for police, 15 for ambulance, 112 general emergency.

The metro is the backbone of getting around Paris and it's genuinely good. 16 lines, frequent service, and it covers nearly everywhere you'll want to go. Line 1 (east-west through the center) hits the Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and Le Marais.

Line 4 runs north-south and connects Montmartre to the Left Bank. The metro runs roughly 5:30am to 1:15am Monday–Thursday and Sunday, extended to 2:15am Friday and Saturday. Paper tickets are gone.

Buy a Navigo Easy card (€2, reusable) at any station machine and load single rides (€2.55 each) or day passes. The machines have English menus and take contactless card payment.

American Express is not accepted. Better option: download the Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités app, buy tickets on your phone, and tap your phone directly at the turnstile. No card needed.

For airport transport, the RER B from Charles de Gaulle runs directly into central Paris (Gare du Nord in 25 minutes, Châtelet in 28 minutes) for a flat €14. It runs every 10–15 minutes from 5am to 11:30pm. Note: CDG airport no longer sells Navigo physical cards at the station.

Buy your airport ticket at the machines and have the app ready for city travel. The Navigo weekly pass (€32.40, valid Monday to Sunday only) covers unlimited metro, RER, bus, and tram travel including airport access.

It's the best value for stays of 5 days or more, but the Monday-Sunday restriction is firm — it won't activate mid-week. Night buses (Noctilien, marked with N prefix on stop signs) run 34 routes after the metro closes. Standard fare applies.

Avoid driving in central Paris. The city actively discourages cars, roundabouts are aggressive, and parking is a genuine ordeal.