Living in Paris for over three years, the notion that most parts of the city are beautiful and charming, experiences vary amongst travellers can be attested to. Some enjoy their stay, and some do not. Below are 10 things to have at the back of your mind before visiting Paris from the perspective of a foreigner.
1. Language Barrier
As popular known, the spoken language in France is French but some travellers always expect that wherever they go to in Paris, there would be people who would be able to speak English. Sad news is that you should be ready to get your heartbroken whilst you travel within Paris. Although, you’d find some people who would be nice enough to converse with you in English, quite a number of Parisians either do not speak English well enough, speak but choose not to confirm that they do, or get shy enough to avoid wanting to make grammatical mistakes while speaking English. Courtesy demands that you should at least, learn some words or phrases of the language of the country you’d be visiting.
Examples of some helpful phrases include:
1. Bonjour, vous allez bien?
(Hello, how are you doing?)
2. S’il vous plait, pourriez-vous m’aider avec ça? Ça fait combien?
(Please, could you help me with this? How much is this?)
3. Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous parler anglais? Je ne peux pas parler bien français.
(Excuse me, can you speak English? I can’t speak French well)
4. Merci. Merci Beaucoup. Je vous en prie.
(Thank you. Thanks a lot. You’re welcome)
5. Au revoir. Bonsoir. Bonne Nuit. Merci, Bonne Journée.
(Goodbye. Good evening. Good night. Thank you, have a nice day)
More useful French phrases could be found here for download. Also, if you are unable to converse at all in French, have a handy translating app on your mobile phone to do the trick. The trick is to start conversing with a French person using French; they’d be more open to listen to you.
2. Transportation
If you have enough money to pay for Uber online, please do so. That’d be your best bet in Paris. Taxis are crazily expensive here; the trains, metro and trams work quite well on a good day. On a bad day, where there could strikes or works on the lines, traversing in Paris could be a nightmare. Buses relatively work well too, and could be found anywhere in Paris depending on your location and destination. If you don’t want to spend half of your day wondering like a lost puppy, download the any transportation app such as Citymapper, RATP, SNCF, etc., to help you navigate your way in Paris.
Additionally, buying the train/metro/tram/RER/bus tickets could be a bit tricky. Your best bet would be to buy the 10 in 1 €14.90 ticket type (called carnet – “car-nay”) at any metro or train station. There is no date limit and it allows for many changes, so that you would not have to buy tickets every now and then. Although, you can change metros, trams, RERs, buses on a standard journey ticket, you can’t change from a bus journey to a metro journey, or vice-versa. Also, to travel to the suburbs using the RER, specifically back to the airports, you need to buy a different ticket for that. You can get it at any metro or RER stations. More information about finding your way from the airport can be found here.
Finding your way into, through and out of the metro, RER stations could be very tricky and confusing, especially the major train station hubs such as Chatelet Les Halles, Gare du Nord, etc. One way to easily navigate your way in Paris is to have the names of the train/metro stops readily available to ask people around. Alternatively, you could ask the people who work at the information help desk. Another way is to download any of the transportation application listed above before arrival, use the internet network in the train stations to find the platform where you are to board your train or metro, and the exit to take to easily get to your destination. Lastly, check the walls of the stations and available screens for directions and train/metro stops, they are self-explanatory.
3. Sightseeing
Some museums are free to visit: Petit Palais near Champs Elysées, Maison de Balzac, Musée Carnavalet, etc. Some are free only on the first Sunday of every month: The Louvre, Musée Rodin, Musée Picasso, Musée d’Orsay, etc. Some are free for students and anyone under 26 from the European Union (proof of ID needed). The Louvre is free for all Under 26s on Friday evening from 6pm – 9:45pm. Sadly, you’d have to pay the price of wasting your time on long queues and that could be very frustrating, except you have the skip-the-line visitor’s pass, also known as Paris City Pass, which could be pricey for some visitors. This pass’ benefits include: Free entry to top attractions and museums, less queuing at Louvre, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, free walking tours, tours and discounts included, free travel on bus, metro, and RER & handy city map exclusive gifts at Galeries Lafayette. Other places to freely visit include Notre Dame cathedral, the Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens, Arènes de Lutèce, Le Mur des Je t’aime, Eiffel Tower, etc., and you could also check here for more.
4. Interactions with Parisians
Parisians, a coined word for those who live in Paris, are generally on their feet. It is worse during the rush hour periods, in the morning and in the evening. It takes the patience of a dog waiting for the fattest bone to interact with a Parisian anywhere in Paris, except those who work in stores, restaurants, etc. These are the best people to speak with, if lost or need help. Also, you could easily speak with people who work at the train/metro stations; they provide great assistance to anyone looking for somewhere or something. If you are anywhere in Paris, and you’re lost or looking for a place, walk into a nearest store to ask for directions, be courteous about it and they would help you. Also, most train stations have internet network connection; you could browse there and get as much info as you need before leaving the station.
5. Accommodation Option
Depending on your budget, you could easily find any hotel, hostel or even aparthotel to book for your stay anywhere in Paris. Five star hotels such as Crillon, Hotel Fouquet’s, Plaza-Athénée, etc. You could also opt for the four-star/three-star hotels such as Accor, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Kyriad Prestige, Ibis, etc. There are also budget hotels, hostels, apart-hotel residences such Adagio, Citadines, etc., which are like an apartment where you generally cater for yourself. Please make sure you check the ratings and comments of the hotel or whatever sort of accommodation you’d like to book before doing so, to avoid being robbed of good quality of your stay and comfortability. Don’t be too coaxed into booking cheap hotels ranging from prices below 80€ in Paris, they might not be as comfortable as you think, but do your research before booking any form of accommodation. Also, you could opt for Airbnb.
6. Activities
Sightseeing is not the only activity you could do in Paris. There are other practical things to do that could be more enjoyable. You could visit Disneyland, although not in Paris, it is easily accessible using RER line A. You could also go bowling, go for karaoke, go dancing, clubs, bars, comedy clubs, other theme parks, window shopping, etc. Don’t just go to Paris to visit historical sites or landmarks, partake in activities where you could actively meet people and relate with Parisians when they’re in their chill mode. Take note of the public holidays and general opening and closing hours of places in Paris, very important.
7. Location of Your Country’s Embassy
To be on the safe side, it’d be in your best interest to know at least the address or telephone number of your country’s embassy. Anything could happen during your stay in Paris, and your country’s embassy is the best place to get immediate help whatever the case maybe. So, please do have the phone number or address, and know the opening hours too.
8. Weather
It’d be better to visit Paris around late spring or early fall. It gets crazily hot during summer and extremely cold during winter. Aside from the extreme weather during summer and winter, Paris gets a bit crowded during summer and if you aren’t too fazed about crowds, then early fall or late spring would be the best time to visit Paris. It could get pretty wet during these seasons as rain tends to fall sometimes. Remember to have an umbrella with you, preferably the small sized ones. Except you have an event to attend, sport specific for the weather, etc., visiting during winter or summer could be very tiring, except you really don’t mind at all.
9. Food
Best time to eat at a restaurant in Paris is arguably during lunch. Why, most workers eat at that time and so there are set menus and reasonably priced meals to eat, downside is that there would be a lot of people waiting for eat. You could get a good meal starting from 12€ at some restaurants around that period. For breakfast, except your hotel charges below 10€, eat at a café. You could easily find one near your hotel, they reasonably priced and decently good. Also, please do not be coaxed into buying meals near sights. They would be very expensive due to the influx of tourists. Eat before you embark on the journey of sightseeing, visit any store such as Carrefour City, Franprix, Monoprix to buy snacks or roasted chicken if you don’t mind those. You could also find restaurants littered around Paris, but check the menu placed outside, near the entrance or in the restaurant before you do sit and order.
10. Safety and Security
As regularly announced on the bus, tram, train, metro, RER, and their respective stations, you have to keep your belongings safe. You’d be prone to being pickpocketed if you would not be careful with your belongings and watchful. Don’t be too trustful of strangers, and do not be out of sight where you could easily get help. Nothing to be afraid of, Paris is quite safe, but you could never tell with humans and how they’d act. Also, the emergency number is 112, if you have any cause to contact them. Additionally, the English-language crisis line daily help from 3 pm – 11pm is 01 46 21 46 46 and ambulance number is 15.
If you plan well, your stay in Paris would be relatively enjoyable. Always have a plan B and plan C. Don’t be too trustful of strangers. Be vigilant, be attentive, don’t be in a rush to visit places or go somewhere, ask people for help, be courteous and don’t forget that with all the glitz and glamour attached to the city, your stay could be the best or the worst depending on certain uncontrollable conditions, your planning and mind-set throughout your stay and journey. More information about visiting Paris can be found here. It’s more comprehensive and detailed.
Oyetolani 