The Ultimate Paris Travel Guide

Overview

---

Culture

Parisians are well-known for quiet, effortless elegance, being well-dressed for any occasion, and a certain je ne sais quoi. There is a high value placed on the arts and music, as well as enjoying life in the moment.

A leisurely pace is integral to Parisian culture. You’ll find that meals are savored and enjoyed over hours, and walks are enjoyed as an unrushed promenade. The café is also a central part of Parisian life, as both a hub for socializing and relaxing on your own. Go for the fabulous espresso, stay for the people-watching.

Politeness and respect are also highly valued in France. The French have a reputation, in Paris especially, for being rude and closed-off, but I’ve found that this is often not true. When you enter any store, always say ‘bonjour’ — you’ll find courtesy tends to go a long way in Paris.

---

Language

French is the official language of France and the primary language spoken throughout the country. English is also widely spoken in the city. In tourist areas, many locals will switch to English when speaking with non-native French speakers.

There are also communities of Arabic speakers (especially the Moroccan dialect), Asian languages such as Vietnamese and Mandarin, as well as Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese spoken by student and immigrant populations.

Food + Drink

French cuisine is world-renowned and is often considered the basis for many Western fine dining traditions. I know it for its emphasis on high-quality ingredients, as well as a liberal use of butter, meats, and cheeses. It can also vary greatly by region, but wherever you are in the country, you’re likely to find a great meal.

I would say my favorite ‘meal’ in Paris was a simple picnic of local meats, cheeses, fruits, and a fresh baguette, usually paired with wine. While French cuisine can have complex flavor profiles and intricate recipes for delicious meals, there is also a simplicity to some recipes that is comforting, too.

---

Must‑Try Dishes

Escargot

Personally, I still prefer the Moroccan style of cooking snails, but French escargot is a staple. It’s a delicacy, and if you’re unfamiliar with the dish and willing to be a bit adventurous, you’re certain to be well-rewarded.

Crêpes/Galettes

As I understand it, crepes are traditionally sweet and made with wheat flour, and galettes are often savory and made with buckwheat flour. Galettes have a heartier flavor that suits savory toppings like the classic ham and Emmental cheese. My favorite crepe toppings are the simple butter and sugar combo, and I also have a friend who swears by sugar and lemon.

---

Safety Info

Paris is generally considered a very safe city, with a low violent crime rate, though pickpocketing and scams are somewhat common. Emergency numbers are 112 for all emergencies and 17 for police. Exercise normal city precautions, and be aware of your surroundings and belongings, especially in crowded areas like the metro or Sacré-Cœur, for example.

Also, I found it very comfortable as a solo female traveler. I often walked around late at night (in the 2nd, where I lived) and found it lively, safe, and well-lit.

Common Scams

Some common tactics I’ve seen in action are people approaching with clipboards either demanding money for fake charities or getting your signature as a distraction for pickpocketing.

I’ve also heard many locals warn about having your phone or bag loose on the metro. I was told to make sure I had my phone in my hand or otherwise secure, especially when the doors close, because someone could grab something quickly as the doors closed and you wouldn’t be able to chase after them.

I personally had my phone stolen while having a picnic at the Jardin du Carrousel. A man distracted us by reaching for our food and when he walked away, we realized my phone had been his actual target. You can read the full story here.

That said, I really don’t think there’s a huge need to worry about being scammed in Paris. Yes, it happens, and yes, foreign tourists are a common target, but practice normal precautions and you’ll likely be okay.

---

Attractions

There’s so much to do and see in Paris. I’ve included a list of my favorite things I did during my time in Paris. Of course, there is no shortage of things to do and see in the city, and if you need recommendations for budget or solo travel, I made a list of my favorites here.

---

---

Restaurant les yeux bandés

51 R. Quincampoix, 75004 Paris, France

Dining in the Dark is an experience-based restaurant with locations all over the world, including Paris. It’s a surreal experience: you and your fellow diners are led into a completely dark room and are served a set meal by a waitstaff who are all visually impaired. (Note: you will need a reservation as diners are seated as a large group at one time.)

It’s an unnerving, unique experience to eat without knowing exactly what you’re eating. Afterwards, the staff will walk you through the menu, and you can find out if you guessed right.

---

---

Restaurants

Throw a stone and you’ll hit a fantastic restaurant in Paris. It’s a hub of fine dining and international cuisine. You’ll find nearly every type of cuisine at every price point. With the huge number of restaurant choices, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for you.

Below are my favorite restaurants from my time in Paris. If you’re looking for fine dining suggestions, I recommend Michelin’s Paris guide.

---

Fast‑Food / Takeout Options

• ichi ramen: If you’re looking for some good comfort food, I highly recommend one of the udon bowls from ichi. Their broth is delicious and the udon was just top-notch. They also have a weekday lunch deal if you want more bang for your buck.
• Le Petit Vendôme: Known for having the best baguettes in the city, a restaurant reminiscent of a NYC deli, you can either sit down and enjoy their full-service menu (the French onion soup is very nice) or get one of their famous sandwiches to go. If you get a to-go sandwich, get the jamon beurre with Cantal cheese and pickles, trust me.
• O’Tacos: For all of France’s renown in the culinary world, their cursed version of ‘tacos’ doesn’t get enough attention. I actually find them to be a strange comfort food: a burrito stuffed with fries and cheese sauce and your choice of protein, O’Tacos is the fast food chain across Paris that makes for a very good meal at the end of a late-night.

How To Reach Paris

In general, I recommend using the metro as much as possible when traveling into Paris. Because the traffic in Paris can be intense at any time, taxis and ride-shares can often be slower than the trains, and buses are often the least convenient way to travel. I’ve included an overview of how to reach the city center from the most common arrival destinations.

By Air

Charles De Gaulle (CDG)

Paris’s largest and busiest airport, CDG is about 16 miles/25km northeast of the city. To get to the city center you can either hire a taxi/rideshare or take the RER B train into central Paris stations like Gare du Nord, or whichever is closest to your accommodations (30-40 minutes). There are also airport buses like Roissybus available, though they are usually slower than the RER train and can often be delayed by traffic.

Paris-Orly (ORY)

This is the second-largest airport serving Paris, mostly for domestic or some EU flights. It’s about 8 miles south of the city center, and you can reach the city center either by the Orlyval shuttle to the RER B train or line 14 of the Metro (25-35 minutes).

Beauvais-Tillé (BVA)

A small airport for budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air, BVA is 85 km/53 miles north of Paris. There are dedicated buses to and from BVA and Porte Maillot that take about 75-90 minutes depending on traffic. You can buy tickets for the buses online or in-person at the airport.

---

By Train

Gare du Nord

This is the busiest railway station in Europe, servicing most trains from Belgium, the Netherlands, etc., and is where the Eurostar from London arrives. Depending on where you’re staying in Paris, you can possibly walk from the station (my place was 30 minutes by foot, though I don’t fully recommend doing it with a ton of luggage). There are also direct connections to the RER B, the Metro 4 and 5 lines, and buses.

Gare de l’Est and Gare de Lyon

These are smaller train stations that are also connected to metro lines. You can generally reach the city center from either in about 10-15 minutes via the metro or RER lines.

---

By Bus

Gare de Bercy Seine (Bercy Bus Station)

This is the main bus terminal in Paris. It’s connected to metro lines 6 and 14, and you can reach most places in the city center within 15-25 minutes.

Paris Gallieni International Bus Station (Porte de Bagnolet)

This bus terminal mostly services routes between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Eastern Europe. It’s connected to Line 3 of the metro and takes about 20-30 minutes to reach central Paris using the trains.

Porte Maillot

Porte Maillot is well connected to the Paris transit network via Metro Line 1 and the RER C. You can reach most parts of the city within 10-25 minutes using public transport.

Where to Stay in Paris

Getting Around Paris

Public Transport

Public transport in Paris is generally affordable and has become much more convenient for foreign visitors in recent years. For most people, you can buy tickets for the bus, tram, or train via the app IDF Mobilités, and iPhone users can add them to their Apple wallet.

One of the best parts of the Paris public transport system is that there’s a flat rate for most metro rides, so you can take the RER train the whole way to Versailles for the same price as a trip to Champs-de-Mars.

If you’re in Paris long-term, I highly recommend taking advantage of the affordable public transport that lets you explore so many areas just outside of the city.

Buses

I actually did not use the bus system in Paris during my stay as it was always easier to take the metro or walk. That said, you can buy bus tickets and multi-day passes via the IDF app.

---

Private Transport

I cannot speak to this personally, but I’ve heard renting a car in Paris can be very frustrating. I imagine that as in most major cities, parking in Paris is a costly nightmare.

Uber and Bolt are widely-used rideshare apps in the city. They can be relatively affordable, though there’s surge pricing.

Traffic in Paris can sometimes be a horror show, so make sure if you plan to use either a private car or a rideshare that you factor in extra time for any reservations so you aren’t late.

---

Cycling

I shall set aside my personal gripes with cyclists to say that, for better or worse, biking is a very popular mode of transport in Paris. Most major streets have dedicated bike lanes, and you’ll find bike rental spots scattered throughout the city. They are a very convenient and affordable way to get around the city if you’re willing to sacrifice your dignity and moral character.

Survival Language

Below are some basic greetings and useful phrases in French. France, and Paris in particular, has a reputation for switching to English when speaking with non-fluent French speakers, which is fair and, in my experience, generally true. That said, the initial attempt to use French, “s’il vous plaît” and “merci,” is still generally polite and well-received.

English Phrase	French Translation
Hello	Bonjour
Goodbye	Au revoir
Yes	Oui
No	Non
Thanks	Merci
Please	S’il vous plaît
Excuse me (to get someone’s attention)	Excusez-moi
Excuse me (to apologize)	Pardon
I would like	Je voudrais…
Can I have…?	Est-ce que je peux avoir… ?
The bill	L’addition
Where is the bathroom?	Où sont les toilettes?
How much is it?	Combien ça coûte?

FAQs

---

How much cash should I carry, and can I use cards?

To my memory, I did not use a single euro in my entire time in Paris. I had exactly 2 euro in my wallet, and I never had to pull it out once. That said, I’m sure there are a few cash-only shops, and there are places that have a minimum card spending requirement (for example, Le Petit Vendôme) where having cash to pay for a smaller purchase is generally useful.

But if you’re like me and hate carrying physical cash if you don’t need to, it’s entirely possible to get through a stay in Paris without it.

---

What’s the best way to get around Paris?

Walking. You could not pay me to drive a car in Paris, nor to cycle in it. When forced by circumstance (even I don’t like walking 2 hours one-way when there’s a 15-minute train option), I will take the metro, though I generally find it to be unnecessarily complicated and annoying.

For people with mobility issues or for whom walking so much just isn’t a option, there are accessible metro stations. Accessibility varies considerably by station and line, though newer lines and many RER stations offer better accessibility features. Ride-share is also an option, though often during peak travel hours, the traffic is so bad that it is often faster to walk/use other methods.

---

---

Can I drink tap water in Paris?

Yes, tap water is safe to drink throughout the country. Make sure if you are ordering it from a café/restaurant that you specify you want tap water (une carafe d’eau), as some places will bring you bottled water by default.

---

---

Is tipping expected in restaurants or Cafés?

Generally, no, tipping isn’t mandatory. However, it is polite and even customary to round up your bill for good service, as well as to tip 1-2 euros for help with bags, etc. That said, it is not uncommon to be prompted to tip 10, 15, even 20% in certain restaurants, often those that cater to international crowds.