What Americans should know about Paris?

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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Is Paris friendly to American tourists? Yes, Paris is generally friendly to American tourists. But French culture is very different from American culture so it's best to be aware and respectful of the local customs.

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Article Talk. Paris syndrome is a sense of extreme disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris, who feel that the city was not what they had expected. The condition is commonly viewed as a severe form of culture shock.

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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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There's too many to name, but some of the highlights include the Eiffel Tower, Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Tour Montparnasse, Arc du Triomphe, Picasso Museum, Châteaux de Versailles, Musée Rodin, and Musée National de l'Orangerie.

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Yes. Uber is definitely a safe option in France. I've always loved the fact that the Uber App tracks everything for you, including license plate numbers. Plus, if you don't speak French, there isn't that worry about language barriers, as everything is booked in the App.

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Tipping in France is not mandatory. Even though it is always appreciated, it's up to the customers to decide if they want to tip or not. Unlike other countries, the price of the service is included in the total cost of the bill. You will never be asked to tip, but it's common to leave one if the service was good.

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It's polite to learn a few key phrases in French; this will earn you the respect of locals, and help you in the end. As mentioned above, the friendly bonjour is essential. Other key expressions include au revoir (goodbye), merci (thank you), s'il vous plaît (please) and l'addition (the bill).

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Yes, tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink and is readily available wherever you go, even at public water fountains. As long as taps aren't labeled eau non potable—meaning “not for drinking” in French—everything else is potable. In fact, drinking water from the fountains of Paris has been encouraged.

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An usual French lunch will include: an appetizer (une entrée), such as a mixed salad, soup, terrine or pâté; main course, (le plat principal), choice of beef, pork, chicken, or fish, with potatoes, rice, pasta and/or vegetables; cheese course (from a local selection) and/or a sweet.

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To fully enjoy Paris, here are a few basic guidelines and some common-sense attitudes to adopt:
  • Beware of pickpockets. ...
  • Make payments by banker's card. ...
  • Remain vigilant. ...
  • Keep your baggage close to you. ...
  • Keep a copy of your ID papers. ...
  • Contact the relevant authorities after the loss or theft of your ID papers.


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Here are the few places you may want to avoid during your stay: Northern 18th and 19th district at night, around Marx Dormoy, Porte de la Chapelle, La Chapelle, Porte de Clignancourt, Porte de la Villette. Montmarte is very safe day and night.

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12 Things Not To Do In Europe
  • Do Not Litter.
  • Do Not Beckon The Waiter By Waving.
  • Do Not Use The Bicycle Lanes For Walking.
  • Do Not Skip The First Verse Of German National Anthem.
  • Do not Assume That Everyone Knows English.
  • Avoid Making Much Noise.
  • Do Not Leave A Bigger Tip Than Required.
  • Avoid Jaywalking.


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Avoid bright-colored clothes and wear muted colors instead. Ditch the white sneakers, bulky cargo shorts, and yoga pants, and opt for comfortable shoes and casual pants like khakis. Forget the fanny pack and hulking backpacks. Carry only what you need.

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