

Paris has been known as the “most romantic city,” and you could practically see and feel the love in its many tourist spots. But there is more to Paris than the Eiffel Tower or the Notre Dame Cathedral. Here are some things that you have to know and you can do when you visit France’s capital city.

“The City of Light”

This tag-name of Paris actually comes from “Ville Lumière,” a reference not only the the then revolutionary electrical lighting system implemented in the streets of Paris, but also to the prominence and aura of “enlightenment” the city gained during “La Belle Époque,” the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century. It was during this time when Gustave Eiffel’s famous tower was erected, as well as the first Métro line, and the creation of parks.

A multi-cultural experience


Migration even continues in Paris until now, with a marked increase of immigrants from Latin America in the 21st century, bringing along with them the “taquerias” (which were hard to find in Paris even during the 1990s), the introduction of the chili pepper, and Samba and Salsa music that has become all the rage in the city (alongside Paris lounge electronica).


The Parisians



Courtesy matters

Despite the Parisians being notoriously arrogant, Paris is observed with a high level of politeness. Even if you don’t speak the language, bear in mind that courtesy is extremely important in everyday dealings. Even one word in French, like “bonjour” (good morning), means a lot and the person will help you with overwhelming charm; or at least, give a greeting in English. Write on a slip of paper or, better yet, remember some French speak with their hands and there should be no problem.

Speak with a well-mannered tone


Americans, in particular, are advised that they are often considered ill-mannered by the French, most notably because of groups who talk very loudly in restaurants or the Métro. Keep in mind that the people around you are not on a vacation, in general. They are probably going to or coming back from work and thus may not appreciate another source of headache. Also, the vast majority of the Parisian population are not in any way related to the tourism business. You are not in a resort or theme park, but in a city where people have to get on with their lives.

Speaking in English


However, English language in Paris is a bit more complicated since they learn British English in the “received pronunciation,” also known as the “Queen’s English.” In order to communicate your English properly to a Parisian who learned English in school, always do try to speak slowly and clearly, and maybe affect a bit of a Margaret Thatcher accent, but please do not shout.

Speaking in French

Speaking French in Paris is just as complicated, since the French taught in schools in English-speaking countries tends to be “written” French and it is quite different from the spoken French. This makes your “French” hardly understandable by the actual French person. The French people speak their language very fast, swallow some letters, and make all sound like a beautiful music. If the Parisian asks you to repeat what you just said, do not feel offended. Instead, write down phrases or place names.

One determinant into knowing your “expertise” in French is that if you understand (or at least sort of understand) French movies without its subtitles, then you can speak French like a true Parisian.

Asking for directions

When in need of direction, find someone who is not in a hurry, preferably a younger person or someone reading a book or magazine in English. Greet him or her with “hello” or “bonjour,” then start by asking if the person speaks English (“Parlez vous Anglais?”), even if he or she is reading something in English, speak slowly and clearly–evern writing down names when necessary. Don’t forget to smile a lot. Also, carry a map, given the complexity of Paris’ streets.


If you do speak French, remember two magic sentences: “Excusez moi de vous déranger” and “Pourriez-vous m’aider?” Use these liberally, even in shops.

The districts of Paris

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called “arrondissements,” numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the center of town. The arrondissements are named according to their number. For instance, you might stay in the “5th,” which would be written as 5ème (“SANK-ee-emm) in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large suburban parks, the “Bois de Vincennes,” and the “Bois de Boulogne” respectively.

Each district has its own main attractions. For instance, the “1st” is where you find the Louvre, while the “2nd” is the location of the Paris Stock Exchange.

Navigating through Paris is easy if you have a pocket map, the most recommended would be “Paris Pratique par Arrondissement,” which you can buy at any news stand.

Visit the museums and monuments with just one card

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the “Carte Musées et Monuments, a pre-paid entry card that allow entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris and comes in two-day (30EUR), four-day (45EUR), and six-day (60EUR) denominations. This card allows you to jump otherwise sometimes lengthy queues and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, Fnac branches, and all the main Métro and RER train stations. However, you would still need to pay to enter most special exhibitions.

Schedule your museum visits



Explore the sights

As said before, each arrondissements of Paris has something to offer in terms of infrastructure beauty. The Eiffel Tower, located on the 7th, is one of the most famous–and tallest–landmarks in the world. The Notre Dame Catheral, an impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo’s novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” is located at the 4th. The 3rd is where you would find Picasso Museum, containing the artist’s own masterworks.


See Paris from above


Watch inline skaters

Every Friday night and Sunday afternoon (except when raining), hordes of inline skaters take to the streets of Paris on a preplanned route for about 3 ½ hours. Even if you do not participate, find a café near the route and watch them fly by. If you are interested in participating, check out http://www.pari-roller.com.

Celebrate Bastille Day


Witness its many festivals

Paris has many festivals, each catering to a particular group. For instance, the city celebrates a “techno parade” every mid-September, with Djs and (usually young) fans from acrosss Europe converging to Paris for five to six days of dancing. This culminates in a parade whose route traces roughly from Place de Bastille to the Sorbonne. Also in its events list are Six Nations Rugby (February), Paris Fashion Week (March for winter collections; October for spring-summer collections), Roland Garros (also known as tennis’ French Open, May), and Fête de la Musique Paris (June 21)

Watch a movie


Many non-French movies are subtitled (called “version originale” or “v/o”). However, when watching French movies, it is probably a good idea to watch it with subtitles especially if your French is not adequate to follow fast conversations.

To know the movie schedule around Paris, buy a copy of “Pariscope” at newsstands.

Stay safe


Many thefts also occur in major department stores like Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, and Smarantine. Tourists tend to leave wallets, pasports, and credit cards on cashier counters during transactions, leaving your possessions vulnerable from pickpocketing.





Do not litter

Not only this is disrespectful, but violators are also fined with hefty fines starting at 18EUR. Place your trash in the many trashcans provided by the City or the subway authority.

Source by Nellie Graham

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