Paris practical essentials
Arrive ready for Paris.

Sun, showers & a cooler evening

Pack comfortable shoes, a light layer and rain protection. A museum, covered passage or café can replace an outdoor stop when the weather changes.

Use the rainy-day collection for museum closure days and shorter walks between indoor visits.

Check the whole accessible journey

Check departure and arrival station access, interchange lifts and the final street approach when planning a step-free journey. Many older Métro stations involve stairs.

Arrange any required assistance with the transport operator and allow time for luggage and changes between platforms.

Choose Paris stops at your pace

Montmartre adds hills, steps and uneven paving; the Seine’s lower quays and older buildings can also require a different route. Confirm museum lifts, accessible entrances, available rooms and café seating directly before committing to a timed visit.

Use a half-day city plan or fewer stops if you want longer breaks. Saved routes are editable, so you can shorten a walk or choose a suitable transfer.

Paying & tipping

Paris uses euros. Check accepted payment methods before ordering and keep a second way to pay. Confirm the total and any booking conditions before accepting a restaurant reservation or hotel rate.

Restaurant prices include tax and service. An additional tip is optional; choose it for service you appreciated rather than automatically adding a percentage. Keep your food and transport estimates editable in your trip budget.

Find toilets before you need a break

Paris has public toilets across the city. Allow for the facility’s opening hours and accessibility; café and museum toilets may be restricted to customers or admitted visitors.

Pharmacies & urgent help

For a pharmacy open on your chosen day or overnight, search MonPharmacien by address, date and day or night. Confirm opening before travelling.

For an emergency in France, call 112; 15 is emergency medical assistance, 17 police and 18 the fire service. For accessible emergency contact, use 114 by SMS. Give your precise location when asking for help.

Keep your essentials close

Keep your phone, wallet and identity documents secure on busy transport and in queues. Avoid leaving bags unattended.

For lost or stolen identity documents in Paris, contact the police and your consulate as appropriate. Ask the venue or transport operator about an item left on its premises.

A few useful French phrases

Bonjour — hello. S’il vous plaît — please. Merci — thank you. Parlez-vous anglais ? — do you speak English? Start a café or shop conversation with a greeting.

Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît — a carafe of water, please. L’addition, s’il vous plaît — the bill, please. Où sont les toilettes ? — where are the toilets? Une entrée sans marches ? — an entrance without steps?