The TRUTH About Paris Protests Tourists NEVER See

In this video we join Mick, a Parisian who grew up with strikes, at a union march to see what Paris protests are really like for visitors. If you have seen headlines about riots or a travel advisory and wonder whether a trip to Paris is safe during protests, this page shares what we saw on the ground.

What we saw

We arrived about an hour before the 2 pm start. Instead of chaos, it felt like a parade or a cookout, with balloons, music, stands selling €2 beers and sausage sandwiches, and unions marching group by group: education, health, industry, and even hotel and restaurant workers. We saw all ages, from students to people in their seventies, and the marchers had their own security volunteers. When the march ended, police closed the route, the cleaning crews came through, and an hour later the street was back to normal.

Strike, march, protest or riot?

These are not the same thing. Marches in France are declared in advance, with a set date and a route approved by the police. When violence happens, it usually comes from a small fringe of black-clad groups toward the end, not from the marchers, but that is what the news tends to show.

Tips if there is a strike during your trip

• Expect the metro, RER, trains and buses to be disrupted, and plan a walking day.
• If you have a train or flight on a strike day, try to change it. If you cannot, be patient.
• Look up upcoming strikes before you travel, as dates change.
• Strikes are more common in May, June, September and October, and rare in July and August.
• Outside the route, Paris is business as usual. Avoid the end of the march if you want to steer clear of any tension.

Planning around the disruption? See our favorite guided tours, our recommended day trips and airport transfers, and our Paris Guide Bundle for everything else.