Five handy tips you should know ahead of your trip to Paris
By Jessica Chandra|
This year all eyes will be on Paris as the city plays host to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games from July.
If you have plans to travel to the French capital in the coming year, and have never been – or haven't been for a while – here are some handy things to know so you can spend more time planning all the fun and delicious things you'll do.
READ MORE: How to visit Paris without blowing your budget
Getting around
The Paris metro system is great and pretty straightforward to use once you've done a trip.
You can buy single-trip tickets in little cardboard stub form, or buy a Navigo Easy Travel Card that you can top up with credit at most train stations.
It's more cost-effective to buy multiple tickets – one ticket costs €2.10 while buying 10 costs €16.90.
Once you have a Navigo Easy Travel Card, you just tap at the gates to access the trains.
If your plan is to stay around central Paris you'll most likely stick to the Paris Metro, however there are also the RER (regional) trains, buses and taxis.
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Choosing which arrondissements to stay in
The City of Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements that offer different experiences of the city, and pros and cons depending on what you want from your local area.
For example:
The 6th arrondissement is ideal for foodies and those who want the best cafes, brasseries and restaurants on their doorstep. The streets are also incredibly pretty and charming – no wonder artists, writers and all kinds of creatives used to make this their base in Paris.
The 7th arrondissement is a little quieter and more family-friendly, and very close to the Eiffel Tower. However this means you will have to travel a little further to explore areas closer to the heart of Paris (which is very easy to do on the metro).
The 4th arrondissement, in particular Le Marais, is perfect for those who have shopping at the top of their Paris agenda, thanks to its mix of local, designer and vintage stores.
Some of the arrondissements are very close to each other so you don't need to get too fixated on the idea of staying in a particular one. We stayed in Republique (10th arrondissement) during our most recent visit and after a 10-minute walk, we were in the 4th.
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Money
If you're able to get some euros before travelling to Paris they're handy to have in the off chance you need cash, perhaps for shopping at a market or if places have minimum spend for cards.
But when we travelled to Paris in November 2023 we used cash once and paid for everything else on card.
Book your must-see attractions ASAP
If you have any bucket-list Paris items like going up the Eiffel Tower, visiting the Louvre (or any major museum or gallery) or seeing a particular show, try to book them as soon as you've worked out your Paris dates to avoid disappointment, and to get the best price.
If you plan on visiting several museums, buying a multi-day Paris Museum Pass would be a good idea.
The passes run for either two, four, or six days, and give you access to over 50 museums and monuments (some also allow you to skip the line). The more places you visit, the more you save.
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Also, if you happen to be in Paris on the first Sunday of the month, lots of the major museums offer free entry (if you're willing to face the lines!).
Be alert for pickpockets
Paris is generally a safe city but it's advised you stay alert. Pickpockets operate in certain parts of the city, with many of them working in teams to target their victims – one person might act as a distraction while another does the actual pickpocketing.
To ensure you don't look like an easy target, use a bag you can keep close to your body that zips all the way for full security.
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Be extra careful in busy areas like train stations, metro stations (a lot of people get robbed while buying tickets or topping up their travel cards) and tourist-filled areas, including around landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur Basilica. If you're travelling with at least one other person, have them act as a lookout and always have each other's backs.
Another place where people get targeted is on trains. It's easy for pickpockets to stealthily put their hand in someone's bag and then quickly jump off at the next stop.
