We Didn’t Expect This in Paris (7 Surprises You Should Know)
In this video we share seven things we wish we had known before our first trip to Paris, from bathrooms to budgets to apartment rentals. If you are planning your first visit to Paris, these tips will help you feel prepared, save money and avoid a few surprises.
Our 7 surprises
- Bathrooms are scarce. Supermarkets and shops usually have none, and public toilets can be unpleasant. Never pass a good bathroom without going, and download a toilet-finder app.
- Eating well on a budget is easy. Look for lunch “formules” at about 17 to 23 euros, fresh markets, and bakery meal deals at around 7 or 8 euros. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, so about 300 euros in cash for emergencies is plenty.
- Book early. Famous restaurants, the Louvre and Versailles sell out. “Skip the line” tickets are really timed entries. Book TGV trains early, as prices climb, but local TER trains can be bought the same day.
- Opening hours are not 24/7. Many shops close on Sundays, some on Mondays and at lunchtime, and many close in August. Most street markets run only once or twice a week, so go around 9 am.
- Apartment rentals have quirks. Expect stairs, tiny elevators, weak air conditioning, slow washer-dryers and generous photos. Watch out for scams, never pay deposits off-platform, and consider a professional rental agency since private rentals are capped at 90 days a year.
- You do not need fluent French. Bonjour, au revoir, s’il vous plaît and merci go a long way, and Google Translate and Google Lens handle the rest, even at the doctor.
- Summer heat waves happen. Air conditioning is rare, so plan outings for morning and evening, seek shade or go underground, like the Catacombs, and bring a handheld fan.
Our advice
None of these should put you off. A little planning, a few French words and realistic expectations make all the difference, and Paris rewards you for it.
To plan where to stay, eat and explore, see our Paris Guide Bundle, our guide to 125 Paris hotels and our selection of things to do in Paris. For bathrooms on the go, try the Ici Toilettes app.