25 dos and don'ts in Paris France for first-time tourists

Paris is a city that you definitely need to visit at least once in your life. But, as a first-time tourist, you’ll want to do your research so you don’t make some mistakes that could ruin your trip. Here’s 25 dos and don’ts in Paris that you need to know. Check it out!

So, I lived in France for a year and a half and I have visited Paris many, many times. In the process, I learned a thing or two about visiting this beautiful city. I’m passing this wealth of knowledge on to you.

Things you should DO when in Paris

Book your must-see attractions in advance. There are so many people who visit Paris every year. If you don’t book the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Catacombs, Palais Garnier, Chateau de Versailles, Seine Dinner Cruises or Disneyland (to name a few) BEFORE you trip, tickets might not be available when you arrive.
Carry some Euros for bathrooms. Unfortunately, bathrooms aren’t free in Paris. Every time you use the bathroom, you’ll have to pay one or two Euros unless you are a customer at a restaurant. You can download the Toilets in Paris app to find a bathroom nearest you.
Take an Uber from the airport to your hotel. I have dragged my luggage all around the metro and train stations of Paris almost every time I’ve visited and it’s not worth it. It is so much easier to be spend an extra $30 euros and be dropped off directly at your hotel. Plus, dragging luggage around an unknown city makes you more of a target for pick pockets.
Bring an umbrella everywhere you go. It rains in Paris a lot. So, don’t get stuck wandering the streets sopping wet. If you happen to forget your umbrella, don’t worry. Every single tourist shop has umbrellas for sale.
Say “Bonjour” when approaching anyone. The French find it incredibly rude to start talking to someone without first saying “hello”.
Go on a bike ride. There are TONS of rental bikes in Paris and riding a bike through the streets of this beautiful city is one of my most favorite things to do. I like to use the Lime App. It may not be the most affordable option but it is super user-friendly.
Use Google Maps and Apple Maps to get around. Just search your destination and the app will tell you step-by-step which metro or train line to take. It’s invaluable.
Visit the must-sees first. You can’t go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Plus, there’s a whole bunch of other amazing sites in Paris that you don’t want to miss.
Buy zipper locks for your purse or backpack. Pick pockets are common in Paris so attaching zipper locks to your purse can help deter thieves.
Book your hotel close to downtown. The hotels closer to the Eiffel Tower are more expensive, however, it’s saves so much time when you’re staying right downtown.
Walk at least 20,000 steps per day. Paris is an urban vacation. You are walking literally all day long. So, prepare accordingly.
Visit Trocadero at night. For the most spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower, go to Trocadero when the sun has just set. It’s absolutely magic to watch this beautiful landmark light up the night sky.
Eat a different patisserie every day. The bakeries in Paris are unlike any bakery you’ll encounter in the United States and they are literally on every street corner.
Bring medicine and hand sanitizer. My sister-in-law and I caught a cold towards the end of our trip and I was so glad I brought some Sudafed. They don’t sell an equivalent to Sudafed in France so I would have been miserable. Sometimes you can’t avoid the germs in Paris, but hand sanitizer will help.

*Sign pointing to the bathroom in Paris. Most places charge to use their bathroom.*

Things you should NOT do when in Paris

Stress about not speaking French fluently. This city caters to tourists and almost everyone in the service industry speaks English.
Tip at restaurants. Gratuity is included in the cost of your meal at all restaurants in Paris. Although, some waiters may ask if you would like to include a tip, you are not obligated.
Pay for over-priced water. By law, every restaurant in Paris has to provide a pitcher of water to every customer free of charge. But if you ask for water, they will bring you an $11 bottle. Instead, ask for a “carafe d’eau” which means “pitcher of water”.
Rent a car. Paris has one of the best transportation systems in the world. It’s super easy to navigate and then you avoid all of the traffic on the streets. Plus, the drivers in Paris are very aggressive and you don’t want the stress of getting in an accident.
Buy the tourist travel card. Instead, purchase the Weekly Navigo Travel Cards. For only 30 Euros, you’ll pay a fraction of the cost. If will give you access to all the zones on train, metro and the bus. Even if you’ll only be in Paris for a couple of days, it’s worth it. The only caveat, is that you need to attach a small photo of yourself to the card. So, just print one before you leave for your trip.
Forget to bring a portable charger. You are using your phone constantly in Paris and your battery will inevitably die before the end of the day. I used my portable charger every single day when I was in Paris and it was a life saver.
Carry your passport with you. I always leave my passport in the safe in the hotel because if your purse (with your passport in it) gets stolen, good luck getting back home. There is no reason why you would need your passport while traveling around Paris.
Overbook each day. You can’t see all of Paris in a week. It’s just not possible. And too often, tourists try to cram too many activities into their itinerary and it ends up being an exhausting and overwhelming trip. Instead, plan on visiting one main tourist attraction each day.
Fall for the bracelet scam. Near the cathedral Sacre Coeur, there are scammers that will tie a bracelet to your wrist and then demand that you pay for it. Just don’t let them near you.
Worry about getting lost. If you find yourself turned around in Paris and can’t figure out how to get to your destination, just catch an Uber. We didn’t take Ubers every single day because it gets expensive, but the occasional ride was totally worth it.
Afraid of the metro. Part of the experience of visiting Paris is riding the metro. That’s when you see all of the Parisians in their element heading to work and other activities. You can download the RATP app for a map, arrival times and other very helpful information. Here’s a helpful video on how to navigate the Paris transportation system.

I hope this blog post was helpful for you as you’re preparing to visit this beautiful city. Let me know if you have any additional questions in the comments below.

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