11 Things Not to Do In Paris

I recently accompanied my husband across the ocean to the beautiful country of France. I knew we would be stopping in Paris, and I was determined to fit in and live like a Parisian for the 48 hours we were there. I read all the blogs, watched videos, and talked to people that had been. While I did get some good advice, I also gathered a lot of bad advice, too. So for you future Paris-bound travelers, I present to you: 11 things NOT to do in Paris (based on experience!).

1) DON’T feel like you need to dress up

I try my best to blend in with the locals on my trips around the world. I feel as though I can experience “everyday life” better when I don’t stick out. I especially wanted to blend in in Paris, and spent lots of time researching local fashion. The blogs (and even fellow travelers) had me convinced that everyone was a fashion expert in Paris. High-end business casual was the status-quo. So, I spent hours trying to plan my outfits. I bought new shoes, dresses, and blazers.

I brought my lovely Easter dress and wore it on the first day. I was so sure that I would fit in with the classy crowd. Wow, was I WRONG. My bright yellow dress made the opposite of what I wanted to happen— everyone was looking at me. Not to mention, my legs were so chaffed from our miles of walking that I was a bit of a mess for days to come (see also: wear comfortable shoes).

The fashion I saw around Paris was mostly jeans and a nice blouse or shirt, pretty conservative and muted. I went business casual for the rest of the trip, which worked much better for me. I was more comfortable and did not feel like I stood out. If you want to blend in, my fashion tips for Paris are- comfortable clothing, muted colors, jeans (lots of Parisians were wearing dark skinny jeans), no brand logos, comfortable dress pants or dressier pants, and if you want to wear an actual dress, wear something longer. However, you can still wear whatever you want and standing out isn’t a bad thing!

2) DON’T wear uncomfortable shoes

Speaking of my terrible fashion choices, I had also convinced myself that sneakers were not allowed in Paris. So, I spent $60 on some “walking flats” that left me with painful blisters after the first few hours. I had read that sneakers were reserved for the gym only, and wearing them in Paris made you a walking American flag. I honestly thought that if I wore my regular sneakers, I would once again be the most prominent American in Paris. After my shoe disaster, I was forced to wear sneakers for the entirety of my trip, and not one person batted an eye. I got more greetings and questions in French wearing sneakers than my fancy flats.

My advice on footwear would be to just wear something comfortable. Most people don’t look at your feet anyway, especially on the busy streets of Paris.

3) DON’T eat near tourist attractions

This tip is pretty well known- avoid eating near known tourist destinations. The price of food tends to be higher, the service bad, and the food not great. One thing I wish I had done before my trip was research some dinner places. It did feel like there was a crazy amount of options and it was overwhelming. We had a wonderful dinner at Le Bistrot de la Place on our last night, right near our hotel.

4) DON’T feel you have to walk everywhere

This was a mistake that I had made on the first day. Everything I read told me to avoid taxis and just walk everywhere because “Paris is so walkable!” While I mostly agree with that sentiment, Paris is also huge. We avoided taxis the first day, which got me into a bit of trouble with my shoe situation. I have heard that the metro is very easy and cheap, but with our limited time, we didn’t want to spend it figuring out the train situation. We used taxis frequently and had no issues with them. Yes, they weren’t as cheap as the metro, but they also won’t completely break your bank either. They might be worth it in a pinch and save your feet!

5) DON’T put off learning basic French phrases

Nobody in Paris expects you to be fluent in the language as a visitor! However, it is considered rude if you do not greet people in French. Greeting in English is better than not at all, but it also gives off the impression that you expect them to know English, in their own city. In my experience, most people in Paris were fluent in English, but knowing some basic phrases will help you along the way. I’d also recommend doing a few weeks of Duolingo before the trip. It will help you learn how things are pronounced and get you in the right headspace! Here’s a quick introduction to some basic phrases from Duolingo’s Blog.

6) DON’T feel like you need to tip

This might feel a bit odd to my fellow American travelers, but tipping is not customary in much of Europe in general. Servers do not rely on tips for their wage as they do in the States. However, leaving 

a few euros behind is not considered rude if you were impressed by the service you received. During my stay in the city, I still tipped almost everywhere. There was one place though where we experienced something unusual. Our waiter at a cafe could tell we were American and asked if we were going to tip! That only happened once, and we never had any issues. (But yes, we still tipped him!)

7) DON’T book anything last minute

Now that Covid is mostly out of the way, tourism is once again on the rise. One of my biggest regrets was not booking certain excursions ahead of time. I wanted to see the Catacombs and the beautiful Sainte Chappelle. But, I did not book in advance, and by the time we wanted to go, there was no availability. Check websites before your trip or even the first day to ensure you see everything you want!

8) DON’T ignore tourist attractions because they are “cliché”.

Listen- I was convinced that the Eiffel tour was going to be overrated. That the Louvre would be boring and the Seine uninspiring. I could not have been more wrong. Everything we saw and did, even if it was maybe a little touristy, was incredible. I was incredibly impressed with the Eiffel tower and seeing it was one of my favorite sights during our trip!

One tip I have for you regarding tourist attractions:  be aware of tourist scams near these places. Check out this blog by the Américaine in France for some common scams and things to avoid.

9) DON’T stay outside the city

You might think you’ll save a few euros staying outside Paris, but it probably won’t be worth it. If downtown Paris is your main destination, you’ll be quite far from the attractions. That means you will spend a lot of money and time commuting daily. You might also miss out on the awesome nightlife and experiences if you need to travel back and forth. Paris has plenty of affordable and unique hotels, boutique stays, and well-kept Airbnbs. We stayed at Hotel Caron, a great spot in the 4th quarter, near many of the attractions!

10) DON’T eat and walk at the same time

In Paris, food is an experience. Even the morning coffee and croissant is a sacred experience not to be rushed. Take your time and enjoy your food at one of the thousands of pretty cafes in the city. The Arc de Triumph will still be there by the time you’re done with your meal! Take-out places and to-go coffee are not at all commonplace in the big city.

11) DON’T ignore current events

Before and during your trip, I suggest you read the news! During our trip, we found out there was an election going on. Dozens of emergency vehicles lined the street, and peaceful demonstrations took place. Parts of the garden around the Eiffel tower were blocked off for media trucks and political coverage. While nothing bad happened, we were still confused as to what was going on! Check out the news ahead of time to see what current events might affect your desired attractions or trip overall.

And those are my tips for traveling to Paris! There is no right or wrong way to enjoy the city. Just be respectful of the people and culture and you will have an amazing trip. What would you add to this list?