Paris generates more pre-trip anxiety than almost any city on earth. The perceived rudeness, the pickpocket warnings, the museum logistics. Most of it dissolves the moment you have good information. Here are the 14 questions that come up on repeat — answered.
The 2-day pass costs 55 EUR and covers 60+ museums with skip-the-line entry. The Louvre alone is 22 EUR, Orsay is 16 EUR, Versailles is 21 EUR, Sainte-Chapelle is 11.50 EUR. Visit 3+ museums in 2 days and it pays for itself while saving you hours of queuing.
The 4-day pass (70 EUR) is even better value. Buy it at any participating museum or online.
Q: How do you get from the airport?
CDG to central Paris: RER B train, 11.45 EUR, 35 minutes. Orly: Orlyval + RER B, 14.10 EUR. Taxi flat rates run 55 EUR to the Right Bank, 62 EUR to the Left Bank. In traffic, the RER B beats the taxi every time.
Q: Is the Metro confusing?
Not once you're on it. 16 lines, well-signed, trains every 2-4 minutes. Single ticket: 2.15 EUR. Buy a carnet of 10 for 16.90 EUR, or tap through with a Navigo Easy contactless card. Google Maps handles Paris Metro routing accurately.
Q: Is it true you should always say bonjour?
Yes. This is the single most important cultural tip for Paris. Say "Bonjour" when you enter any shop, cafe, or restaurant. Say "Au revoir" when you leave. Skipping it reads as genuinely rude and will visibly change the service you get.
Even a stumbling "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" opens doors that "Hi, do you speak English?" keeps firmly closed.
Q: Are Parisians really rude?
No. Parisians run on a different social code. The "rudeness" visitors report is almost always a response to being greeted without a bonjour, to English being treated as everyone's default language, or to behavior read as impolite in French culture — too loud, too casual, too familiar too fast.
Say bonjour. Attempt a few French words. Be polite. You'll find Parisians warm, helpful, and often charming.
Q: Is the cappuccino-after-11AM thing real?
That's Italy, not France. In Paris, order whatever you want whenever you want — nobody cares. But if you want to do as Parisians do: espresso after meals, never with milk.
Q: How do you eat well without going broke?
Skip sit-down lunch at restaurants — expensive and tourist-trap-prone. Instead:
Q: Best affordable food experiences?
L'As du Fallafel in Le Marais (~8 EUR for the best falafel in Europe). Rue Mouffetard market street for cheese, bread, and charcuterie. Any boulangerie for a pain au chocolat (1.50-2 EUR) that outclasses every "French pastry" you've had anywhere outside France.
Q: Do you really need to book the Eiffel Tower in advance?
Yes. Walk-up lines can top 2 hours. Book timed entry at tour-eiffel.fr weeks ahead. Summit by elevator: 29.40 EUR. Stairs to the 2nd floor: 11.80 EUR — good exercise, better experience, shorter queue.
Q: Is the Louvre worth it?
Yes, but manage your expectations. Seeing everything is impossible — 380,000 objects across 72,735 square meters. Pick 2-3 highlights (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory), give yourself 3 hours, and enter via the less crowded Passage Richelieu or Carrousel du Louvre entrances. Timed entry booking online is essential.
Q: What about Notre-Dame?
Still under reconstruction as of 2026, with partial reopening. Check notredamedeparis.fr for current visitor access. In the meantime, Sainte-Chapelle (11.50 EUR) holds the finest medieval stained glass in the world and draws far smaller crowds.
Q: How bad are pickpockets?
Professional teams work the Eiffel Tower, Metro lines 1 and 4, the Sacre-Coeur steps, and the area around the Louvre. Common tactics: the clipboard petition distraction, the "gold ring" scam, and crowding at Metro doors.
Use a crossbody bag with zippers. Keep your phone in a front pocket. Stay extra alert on crowded trains. Don't engage with petition-holders. You'll be fine.
Q: Are there neighborhoods to avoid?
Paris is generally safe. The areas around Gare du Nord and Chateau-Rouge can feel rough after dark. Skip the peripheral arrondissements (18th, 19th, 20th) late at night if you don't know them. The tourist core (1st-8th arrondissements) is well-patrolled. For more, read our Paris travel story.
Q: How much should you tip?
Service is included in every French restaurant bill by law (service compris). Tipping isn't required. Rounding up or leaving 5-10% for excellent service is appreciated but never expected. At cafes, leaving small change (50 cents to 1 EUR) on the table is common.
Paris has rules. Learn them and the city opens up. Say bonjour, book your museums ahead, eat baguette sandwiches in parks, and spend at least one afternoon doing absolutely nothing in a garden chair. That last one isn't a tip — it's the whole point. If Nice is also on your itinerary, read our Nice travel guide.
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