10 Things to Know When Visiting Paris for the First Time
Bonjour, les amis! I’ve had the best time reminiscing on our time spent in Paris. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve collected our fair share of memories and life-lessons even from this short time abroad, so of course I’d be remiss not to share! Even if you’re fairly well-traveled, the first time in a new country altogether can still provide a healthy dose of culture shock. We did about as much reading up online as we could do to prepare ourselves for getting around in Paris, and even still emerged with a list of things we wish people had told us (or, perhaps, drilled in a little harder!) After all, Paris is a big city. However, I think we succeeded in finding the “best of both worlds” between seeing all of the sights and stepping back to let Paris open itself up to us, especially once we got accustomed to the city after a few days. (More on our exact itinerary here!)
Below are a few bits of wisdom that were either passed along to us, or that we picked up along the way that helped make our time in Paris even better than we could’ve planned!
1) Book reservations ahead of time…but just to be on the safe side for those hard-to-get-into restaurants & museums. We called to cancel a few dinner reservations due to schedule changes and were surprised to learn how little the restaurants cared if we showed up at all! In our experience, we were even able to squeeze in last-minute to popular restaurants without reservations, assuming because people (ahem, Americans) do have a habit of being no-shows. However, my inherent Southern manners tell me to always over-communicate my presence or lack-thereof. So, my best advice to avoid a social faux-pas is to do what you’d normally do, and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised if last-minute space should be made for you.
However, always, always stick to your museum reservations. There is often a separate line for those who have purchased museum tickets in advance, which will help you speed through the process. Otherwise, you could literally be standing in line all day waiting to purchase, when you could be seeing Paris!
One caveat that I won’t dwell on too long is making museum reservations, specifically through a third-party provider. We had a terrible experience with Viator that prevented us from getting to the Louvre at all (don’t ask me what happened unless it’s over a stiff martini), so I would highly recommend booking directly through the museum itself whenever possible!
2) You will not receive water unless you ask for it. And even then, who knows if it will show up! We had a funny little tally going on of how many times we requested “une carafe d’eau” from our servers vs. how many times we actually received it. Spoiler alert: the French do not hydrate and are not inclined to assist you in doing so. So, be (politely) assertive in reminding your server to bring & refill your carafe of water to your table. You’re going to need it!
3) Parisians will take. their. time. And you will exhaust yourself in your mental fight against it. Let it be known that there is no such thing as a “quick drink” in Paris, and you should account for at least an hour per sitting. That being said, we can attest from personal experience that the best thing to do is just go with the flow. Our trip became significantly less stressful when we slowed down and embraced the pace of the environment around us. We really hit a wall about three days into our trip, and only started to feel relaxed when we cancelled some dinner reservations, stayed in our own neighborhood for the evening and sipped on some champagne in our hotel’s courtyard.
On that note, if you’re in search of an experience that feels more local and less touristy, be very mindful to book a hotel in an area that you’d really like to explore! We lived in the 5th Arr. during our stay, which is definitely considered “central Paris” on the map, but felt just off-the-beaten-path enough to really unwind and appreciate at night. Get to know your neighborhood and make your own local discoveries! (Oh, and P.S., talking to strangers is very much a thing and will pay off much to your delight!)
4) When you are in a hurry (or simply ready to leave your lunch spot), ask for “l’addition s’il vous plait” (the check). Your waiter will not bring it to you unless you specifically ask! Although it took some getting used to, I grew to love this custom as dining in the US typically feels rushed for turning over the table as quickly as possible. When we were in a rush, we even asked for the check immediately upon receiving our plates as our waiters could very well disappear for the next hour or so. However, I’d say this is only acceptable (sparingly) during the daytime, as we received a cheeky, “What, do you have somewhere to be?” when we tried this at dinner one night. Dining in Paris is an experience to be savored, so be prepared to respect the Parisian way!
5) Taking the Metro will save you a TON of money—a necessity when indulging in all of the food & drink Paris has to offer! Just prepare to spend a couple of days getting to know the system if you’re not too familiar with public transportation. Eventually, we found that the Metro system felt so much easier, cleaner, and safer than the NYC Subway system, which is the one we’ve spent the most time getting to know. Before you even attempt to get on the Metro, download the Bonjour RATP app and a copy of the Metro map—trust me, these resources are life-savers, and I wish we had relied on the app specifically sooner!
6) Always start conversations in French and with a healthy dose of humility. “Bonjour,” “Merci,” and “S’il vous plaît” will get you a long way. The French were so kind to us, to the point where we felt “adopted” by several of them, and I think we have our manners (and attempts to speak French) to thank! Americans in particular have a reputation of entering loudly into new places, ready to be waited on, so just don’t be one of those people. We encountered very few locals who didn’t speak any English, but it’s best not to assume and come with a little French in your back pocket, just in case. As helpful as a service like Duolingo is, some of the most useful phrases I came ready with were learned via TikTok, once I got on the right side of the algorithm! I’d highly suggest giving @americanfille a follow, as she has a ton of relevant insight to offer.
Also, for when your French knowledge runs dry, carry the Google Translate app with you wherever you go! I’m convinced that the camera translation feature is technology’s greatest accomplishment yet.
7) Don’t pack high heels. You won’t wear them and if you do, you’ll regret it. The Metro stairs and cobblestone streets will already give you thighs of steel. I packed one pair of sneakers, one pair of sandals, and one pair of kitten heels, and those were more than sufficient!
See more of my packing list here!
8) Be prepared for August in Paris. It’s très Parisien to take off the month of August for “les vacances,” and many business don’t bother to announce their closures via Instagram. My advice is to simply be open to a Plan B wherever you go, and don’t cross town to visit a single establishment without triple checking that it’s open, if you’re visiting in August!
Another seemingly obvious thing worth mentioning is the heat. We had hopes (endorsed by the weather app!) for more moderate weather during our stay, but it turned out to just be hot, hot, hot. (Plus, a few museums didn’t have A/C inside). It is summer, after all—so pack accordingly and prepare for sweat.
9) Pickpockets & scams. We spent a lot of time researching popular scams to watch out for via TikTok, but only saw a few IRL. It’s definitely a good thing to be aware of your surroundings (and definitely say no to any “petitions” around the Louvre), but overall, we felt very safe. If you’re aware enough to not leave your phone or wallet in your back pocket, you should be fine. Just use your best judgment, and be smart in crowded areas!
10) On dressing like a local: It’s not terribly difficult to tell the tourists from the locals according to their fashion choices. One thing you’ll immediately notice about locals is that they look a but “undone,” in the most effortlessly chic way. Tourists typically are “done up” from head to toe, sporting the best items in their wardrobe all at once. However, it’s totally up to you which way you prefer to present. After all, most of us are in fact tourists (which isn’t an inherently bad thing), and Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for some! You won’t find many bold colors or styles on your average street in Paris (you’ll see quite a bit of mismatched, casual street style), but don’t let that stop you from wearing that outfit you purchased specifically with that one Instagram post in mind. I think the best outfits are the ones that combine your personal style with a bit of local influence, with a little bit of classic and a little bit of risk! That being said, wearing sneakers with just about anything is très chic.
See all of the outfits I wore in Paris here!
I hope this helps you feel more confident in making your way through your own Parisian adventures. As always, feel free to reach out via Instagram DM or email with any specific questions, or just to say hello! À bientôt! Xx, Wes
