How not to stand out as a tourist in Paris?

Skip the baseball caps, white socks, sneakers, large colorful backpacks, and fanny packs. Instead, opt for dark skinny jeans, plain shirts without logos, and leather shoes. Use tote bags or earth-toned simplistic bags if you really want to dress in France to fit in with the locals.



People Also Ask

No, the French do not hate American tourists. In fact, France welcomes millions of international visitors each year. And many French enjoy meeting people from other cultures and countries, including Americans. There are, however, unspoken cultural norms and expectations that American tourists often ignore.

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Paris remains most-visited city in the world, with 44 million tourists in 2022. Tourism in Paris and the Île-de-France region climbed again in 2022 with over 44 million visitors calculated. This represented an enormous 95% increase since 2021 but is not quite at pre-pandemic levels.

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10 Do's and Don'ts in Paris
  • DO: Take your sweet time…
  • DON'T: Make it easy for pickpockets…
  • DO: Learn some French phrases…
  • DON'T: Believe the rumours…
  • DO: Go to the Catacombs…
  • DON'T: Rely on credit cards…
  • DO: Ride the Metro…
  • DON'T: Stop Eating…


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14 Rules You Should Follow in France so the Locals Don't Hate You
  1. Don't take “non!” for an answer. ...
  2. Don't freak out if someone cuts you in line. ...
  3. Don't expect speedy service. ...
  4. A formal, polite greeting goes a long way. ...
  5. Just don't quote “Lady Marmalade” ...
  6. If you're speaking English, take it slow.


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Our advice? Skip the baseball caps, white socks, sneakers, large colorful backpacks, and fanny packs. Instead, opt for dark skinny jeans, plain shirts without logos, and leather shoes. Use tote bags or earth-toned simplistic bags if you really want to dress in France to fit in with the locals.

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Be aware of your surroundings, especially when there are crowds or around sensitive areas, like ATM machines. If you're using a machine, notice if someone approaches and do not talk to them. Keep your valuables out of sight.

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Most attractions in Paris have opened up and are welcoming international visitors. If you're still a bit wary of crowds after Covid though, maybe try to visit France during the lower seasons, such as fall and spring.

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In addition to the Eiffel Tower, Paris has countless other gorgeous landmarks and monuments that add to the beauty of the spacious boulevards and their charming cafés. French cuisine is also world-famous, and you can find some of the best of it in Paris.

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As to who is visiting, French nationals from elsewhere account for the greatest portion, counting some 24.7 million tourists. This is followed by Americans (2.4 million), British (2 million), Spanish (1.5 million) and Italians (1.5 million).

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Learn at least a little of the language The big four: bonjour (hello), au revoir (goodbye), s'il vous plait (please), and merci (thank you). Most of the locals speak pretty good English and are eager to practice. But if you immediately speak English with a French person, they will pretend to not speak English.

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You can use your card in France for most things, but if you want to shop at the street markets, you'll need cash — ATMs are typically onsite. Places like Porte de Clignancourt and Les Puces de Montreuil in Paris have some amazing deals for things you never thought you'd find.

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Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées Avenue Montaigne and Avenue des Champs-Elysées form one of the city's most coveted fashion junctures. Avenue Montaigne is fast outstripping Saint Honoré in the arena of chic-cachet, with legendary designers like Chanel and Dior lining the street with flagship boutiques.

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