The 9 DON’T You Must Remember in Your First Time Travel to Paris

1. Don’t Stay Outside the City

Although the price is definitely cheaper, most visitors consider it’s not worth staying on the outskirts of the city. Instead, you should choose hotels near the center, with easy access to bars and restaurants. Such an option will help you mingle with the locals and learn more about magnificent Paris city without having to travel long distances or feel disheartened by having to return to a boring hotel room.

2. Don’t Buy Tickets for the Day

If you arrive at a tourist destination and then buy a ticket, you will not be able to visit immediately and may be stuck in a long line at the door. This queue can last several hours or even half a day in popular spots. Hence, the best way to avoid this is to plan and book your tickets online in advance.

3. Don’t Board the Train Without a Ticket

When traveling to Paris, many tourists will find that taking the train is easier than taking a taxi and even a lot cheaper. One thing to avoid, however, is getting on a train without a ticket as you could incur hefty fines that aren’t worth it. You should also be aware that the train can sometimes be a bit late. Yet, it’s still better than being stuck in traffic.

4. Don’t Buy Water

In fact, tap water is perfectly safe to drink in Paris, according to the International Standards (WHO). Thus, you shouldn’t waste money buying bottled water as you can go to the sink or Wallace fountains around the city. Bringing a water bottle will save you quite much from having to buy bottled water. Also, when you come to restaurants, simply ask for tap water.

5. Don’t Shop at the Champs Elysees

An attractive thing for visitors when coming to the fashion capital of Paris is to go shopping. High fashion boutiques dot the capital, and one of the most popular shopping streets is the Champs Elysees.

This place converges a series of stores of world-famous brands. You can easily find every trendy high-fashion item. However, if you have a tight budget, Champs Elysees is not the ideal shopping destination for you. Instead, the streets behind this avenue are filled with shops with much more affordable prices.

6. Don’t Eat at Tourist Restaurants

There are tourist traps, including restaurant traps near tourist attractions, where food is at sky-high prices. To avoid those, you can go to much better restaurants just a street or two from the main streets of Paris that the locals will recommend to you.

7. Don’t Just Rely on English

English is not the native language of Paris. French is primary in France. Therefore, you should make an effort to learn a little French before traveling to Paris, even if it’s just a few words or sentences. This will create sympathy with the locals, who will appreciate your understanding and polite attitude.

Additionally, in a lot of places locals don’t speak English and won’t understand what tourists are saying. However, some translation apps can also help you communicate well.

8. Don’t Miss the Arc de Triomphe

While most tourists love visiting classic attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, a few other attractions are less well known but well worth a visit. One of them is the Arc de Triomphe, where you can enjoy city views at a cheaper rate and with fewer crowds.

9. Don’t Forget to Dress Well

Sometimes, travelers may not care how they dress during their outing. However, when coming to Paris, one of the fashion capitals of the world, where most people usually dress well, you should also pay attention to your appearance to better match the surrounding atmosphere. It does not require you to wear too fancy clothes. Nevertheless, a polite and elegant appearance will make you more confident when visiting the city. Furthermore, I’m sure that you can take great photos with beautiful outfits in the environment of Paris.