11 Paris Planning Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Trip
After years of living here, we keep seeing the same Paris planning mistakes. In this video we go through the logistical, cultural and restaurant errors that can turn a dream trip into a disappointment, plus the scams you are most likely to meet. If you are planning your first visit, this will help you have a smoother trip.
Getting around
- Landing without a plan to get into the city. Decide before you fly: train, taxi, private car or Uber. Official taxis use a flat rate and should take cards, and anyone offering a ride inside the terminal is a fake taxi.
- Underestimating public transport. The metro and buses are fast, and buses are great if stairs are hard for you.
- Using the wrong ticket. Metro tickets also work on the RER, but not on the bus, and riding with the wrong ticket can mean a fine. We like a Navigo Easy card loaded with the right tickets.
Culture and planning
Always start with bonjour, in shops, restaurants and even churches. Do not feel you have to tip like at home. Slow down: the French take their time, and a long lunch is normal. Book timed tickets for Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in high season, and visit early, late or during the lunch hours when attractions get quieter. Ask before photographing people, plan one big thing per day, build in rest time, and leave room for a day trip to places like Giverny, Champagne or the Loire Valley.
Scams and restaurants
From least to most likely, we cover rickshaws that change the price on arrival, the cup-and-ball game (you will lose), the bracelet sellers in Montmartre, petition ladies whose partners watch where you keep your money, the found gold ring trick and metro pickpockets. In restaurants, arrive at noon or 7 p.m. rather than right before the afternoon break, keep substitutions to a minimum, ask before sitting on a terrace, and keep your voice down a notch.
To avoid the ticket lines, see our reserved access for major attractions and Sainte-Chapelle skip-the-line tickets. For hotels by neighborhood, use our Paris hotel guide, and for everything else our Paris Guide Bundle.