12 Things NOT to do in Paris (by a Local)!
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- čas přidán 5. 05. 2024
- I'm French and these are the things you should NOT do in Paris!
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Here is the advice I give all my American friends who come to Paris for the first time. From where to find the good food to how to not have Parisians hate you and also essential questions like "why do they keep serving me tiny coffees?".
#paris #france #lifeinparis #firstimeinparis
Wow, I am SO grateful for the response on this video!! To be honest, I was a bit scared/shy to speak about my culture, but after seeing all your nice comments, I think I'll keep doing it :)
If you want more local French tips, you should watch this video on how to recognize a good croissant: czcams.com/video/Wc0INHeMOMs/video.html
Thank you for a wonderful video. I have been lucky enough to visit Paris 3 times, in addition to Provence, Bordeaux, Loire Valley (I'm in the wine business....!) J'adore Paris, but also the small towns. So much to experience. Merci!
yes, please! I really enjoyed it. 😊😊 Thanks for these tips and sharing your lovely culture! I suddenly crave a cake right now and would really want to eat any pastry made by a boulangerie (hope I spelled that right). ❤❤
17th is the best arrondissement I've stayed in. Agreed
We're planning a trip to France in the next couple of months with a few days in Paris so I've been browsing for videos here. Thanks for this one, it's a big help. :)
Exactly right! I wish I'd known this. After a day or two I caught on.
Note that the advice about not standing like an idiot in the flow of pedestrian traffic is applicable to every big city in the world, not just Paris.
Hear hear 😂
Absolutely! This drives me mad regardless of what city/country/building I am in. The lack of bodily awareness of most people is astounding - guess that’s why pickpockets still do so well. 😁
Yeah in nyc we curse you out for that 😢😂
love the NY ways haha
"Note that the advice about not standing like an idiot in the flow of pedestrian traffic is applicable to every big city in the world, not just Paris."
You would be surprised it is not universal at all
Love to hear that me walking around aimlessly was a right way to experience Paris. Also, every time someone says that French people are rude and don’t want to interact I just don’t know what they are talking about, cuz all the French people I met were so nice and respectful and tried to understand me even though I didn’t speak French (which I am working on right now)! Can’t wait to go back. Thank you for the video 😊
You're a young female, that helps to ease things out with strangers 🙂
@@SuperTitankI am neither young nor female, and don't speak French. I agree with Dee about how nice and polite the Parisians were
I've only experienced rude Parisians that were working in restaurants. Everyone else was super nice, but the waitstaff were terrible.
Just arrived back from Paris. I only met lovely helpful people. Loved it
Many say that about New Yorkers which I’ve never found this to be true.
Good manners are globally accepted everywhere.
Thank you….Merci Gracias…. Dankeschon
Obrigado….Grazie ….Arigato Gozaimarsu…..Namasteor the internationally recognized 🙏🏽
When picking a restaurant, look for those that have a “Ticket Restaurant” stickers outside: those’ll be places working people have lunch at every day, and you’ll get a cheap “prix fixe” menu that will typically be excellent traditional cooking.
Is it a smart tip or am I an idiot for never thinking about it? 😂
@@Reaper591000 I don't think the ticket restaurant is a good sign of quality, I find some good or bad restaurant who accept tickets.
So, you still have to try it.
@@theodorefruchart7058 it's not a good sign of quality, but it's a sign that you are gonna have a cheap decent meal which is pretty nice, no?
@@Reaper591000 not cheap : not overpriced for tourists
Change “pastry” to “pizza” and you just explained every bit of advice we in NYC have for tourists to our city. Why anyone would want to stay in, much less go to Times Square is baffling to us. It’s like Disney’s idea of what New York is. Not real.
My favorite part of the video, tourist walking habits. So true, nothing more annoying than you trying to get to work or home and you can’t make your train on time because a group of tourists have decided to form a phalanx across the entire sidewalk as they slow walk armed with their map apps and guides. If you don’t know where to go please make room for those that do.
Great video, thanks, I think I’ll like Paris . I’ve traveled to Europe on business many times, mainly to London and Basel , but unfortunately I haven’t had enough free time for a quick trip to Paris. You have just made me more determined to go , thanks.
Your comment made me laugh! We used to live in NYC and I really loved the no-nonsense energy there. I think you'll like Paris!
Merci. Just learn Bonjour, Madame or Bonjour Monsieur to say to the shop owners. "France is not Paris." I lived in Orleans, Pau, Caen & Rennes which allowed me many personal advantages to get to know the people and regional food and differences. I also ran around on a Peugot bike. How I love and adore France and the people. Years and years ago my landlady was 93 and told us how Gen Patton liberated Orleans and what that was like. She was so happy to have Americans living with her because of this. Such enriching experiences to remember at 80 years old.
❤
We stayed at a ladies house in Paris (a rental room) and every morning while having breakfast she would brief us on places to go and things we might enjoy seeing, very casual and fun, very chill. We walked a lot. Another time we rented a room for three weeks ( I think in the 20th) and walked everywhere except for rides on the metro. Buying 10 tickets at a time saves money and time, don't throw the ticket away before the end of the day. Thanks for your tips. Yes speaking a few French words goes a long way to enjoyment of your stay, it just shows respect.
Unfortunately lot's of English speaker think that the world should do so as well......not realising most Europeans speak (good or lousy) more than one language in the opposite of f.e. the US (just immigrants speak more than one ...in the first generation)
What !!😮
As a local, I can say all these tips are 100% spot on ! Please follow them :D
Amazing tips, and they apply to other places too. Absolutely agree with not limiting yourself to a tickbox list of landmarks to visit. Experience the city (indeed, any city) by exploring the seemingly mundane, everyday parts. That's where the adventures are!
I agree, I love walking around and trying to do whatever people are doing when I visit a new place :)
We just visited Paris last November and had a wonderful time. We walked everywhere. Miss our morning coffee and croissants. Had the most delightful conversation with our hotel clerk about which boulangerie he loves. He gave the most detailed description of the perfect baguette! ❤ Also found that people were extremely helpful when asking a question politely.
Great advice! We moved to Switzerland (French speaking portion) a year and a half ago and we go in to France all the time. My first trip to France 9 years ago I was excited and nervous. As an American all you hear is the worn out stereotype that the French are rude, unhospitable and hate Americans. I worked hard to learn some basic French as I'd heard that if you make an effort then you will have a wonderful experience. That was 100% true. Everyone we met and interacted with were friendly, willing to chat and give advice of where we should visit. But, I started every encounter with a friendly "bonjour" and a smile. And the sit down meal advice is spot on. Since moving my wife and I have become more accustom to a 1.5 to 3 hour dinners when we go out. My father-in-law was about to loose his mind after 45 minutes! 😆 Definitely slow yourself down, sit for coffee's and pastries and enjoy the experience.
I had a really good time when I visited Paris for the first time in 2012. I went there with my wife without real preparations, and judging by your tips, we instinctively did everything right. She speaks a bit of French, having spent some time working in Belgium, so this helped a bit with the locals, who were noticeably pleased when they saw we were doing our best to ask things in French. They often continued the conversation by revealing they knew English or Spanish (we’re from Spain), and made things much easier. In my experience, and confirming your tip, politeness and kindness will help a lot in Paris. Of course it helps everywhere, but I noticed that Parisians are particularly put off by rudeness (or by what they perceive to be rude behaviour) and they quickly become uncooperative. Being polite, quiet, and tactful goes a long way.
CZcams suggested your channel out of the blue, and I’m glad it did. You’re such a lovely presence. Cheers! //Rick
So true! I lived in France but in Alsace and never encountered rudeness when I made an effort to speak French. I speak Spanish as well. I find Parisians speak very quickly if they think you know French but are very kind when you ask them to slow down, please. We are visiting from Scotland which is home.
Last year, we were in Paris during the World Cup, and boy, I've never seen people get so crazy. People were stood, waving flags, drinking, and sinking. Truly a memory I will always have. We try to visit every couple of years, but even now after a dozen trips, staying a week or more at a time feel like, we still haven't scratched the surface of the city.
Lived there nearly for 2 years in my youth and I still remember, everytime I couldnt sleep taking my skateboard, going out and riding till I got lost through the streets of Paris which was so quiet and calm after midnight, such a lovely city when is empty!
On my first visit to Paris, the best part of the trip was wandering through neighborhoods well away from the main tourist sites. I even had fun trying to figure out how to do laundry in a local laundromat. I had pleasant conversations with some locals who gave me tips on what to see.
That is so funny, we had the same experience trying to figure out the laudrymat too. Got it though with some kind help from a local that did not speak English and used it several times on my last trip.
You can explore the whole of Paris, but avoid crossing the peripheral border, unless you deeply wish to experiment the parisian ghettos. Lot of poverty, drugs and rundown buildings. Nothing to see and nothing to do.
No matter which new country I travel to, I always learn how to say "hello, do you speak English" in their language. Imagine you are in your own country and dont speak a word of French and somebody just walks up to you and starts speaking in French and also has an attitude like they think everybody in the world speaks French. Now. imagine that same person walks up to you and says, in your own language "hello do you speak French?" You I had a wonderful time in Paris traveling solo, staying in an air-b-n-b in a neighborhood in the city but not right next to any major tourist attractions and being surrounded by friendly and helpful locals.
Absolutely correct! Travelling through Europe you cannot master all the languages. But just learning a few basics in the way you have described, stands you in good stead. It's basic respect.
I find Americans and Australians the worst for just barking English at people in foreign countries, it's so weird. How hard is it to learn the basics...ON A LONG HAUL FLIGHT!! The clowns have at least 10 hours to practice!
Maybe you should try saying "hello I'm sorry but I don't speak French do you by chance speak English" that would be more polite and wouldn't make them feel dumb because they only speak their own language. Most French people 30 or under speak English these days.
Super boulot Lucile !
As a parisian, I confirm that those are very good advices ! Don't try to thick all the boxes. I'd rather spend a day walking slowly through districts (arrondissements) than queueing to enter a museum ! Parisians are not rude and love foreigners if themselves are not rude. Go to local places to have some drink from 7pm to midnight (Butte aux Cailles, Batignolles, Gaieté, Belleville, Marcadet, Mabillon and many many more)
Take your time 🙂
super boulot!
Thanks for these tips Lucile! 😅 I need them 😂
Hi Bobby keep having fun in Paris.see ya in the next video. Staying turned.
That's actually the most down to earth description of the Paris tourist experience I have ever seen. Good job! I'll refer my next visitors to your video for a reality check.
Yes! We walked so much and it was amazing to just people watch and see how people interact with each other. I loved going to sidewalk cafes and not feeling rushed. Having comfortable shoes and getting out there with a map and exploring was the best thing.
Very nice videos Lucile thank you !
I'm an expat Brit, lived In Paris for 18 years and have 2 college age dual nationality Franco-Britannique children and being a professional history tour guide I am constantly meeting tourists , and one thing I would mention to anyone as you spoke a little about taking public transport is to be VERY careful to both KEEP and VALIDATE your ticket and have the CORRECT ticket
I make sure I always explain this to people on any tours when we chat
I always joke that being caught up in a manifestation and tear gassed by the CRS French Riot Police just for doing nothing and being "controlled" by the totally inflexible RATP ticket inspectors are part of the rights of passage of living In Paris
RATP , the Parisian area transport authority and the people who work for them are notorious for all the wrong reasons
They are COMPLETE ###-holes, the very worst definition of giving someone a tiny bit of power and a uniform and it going to their heads
Their lives in reality are sad and pathetic and they get off on this tiny moment of power and creating misery for another human being
They deliberatley target stations where they know tourists will frequent because Its "low hanging fruit" as tourists often quite innocently misplace their ticket or the barriers may not be functioning correctly so their ticket doesn't get stamped and as these peoole do not understand the regles which are NOT in English or any of their rights or speak French they can very easily bully them Eg Concorde, Invalides, Etoile, Clemenceau
A special mention also for the notorious La Defense station, if you travel there on the RER A then it is a different ticket from if you take METRO LIGNE 1 even though Its exactly the same station
It Is TOTALLY confusing makes no sense and Is not explained at all clearly
And these ###-holes know this Is the case but still target people from out of town deliberately there knowing full well they will find people making innocent mistakes
It Is QUITE deliberate and has absolutely NOTHING to do with preventing ticket fraud at all
Its pure and simple revenue collection by the easiest means possible IE TOURISTS
I know this because if they were really interested in preventing ticket fraud then they would come out to the 92 and 93 districts and control the tickets at some of the stations there
I have lived now in Gennevilliers near Gabriel Peri metro on the ligne 13 for the last 6 years and If I go to Gabriel Peri station and just stand there for one hour I can guarantee that i will see a person at least every couple of minutes going through the barriers witout any ticket
But in those 6 years I have not seen ONCE any controleur, I am not exggerating not a single time !
If you live in the Banlieue, even the "colder" ones or shall we say nicer areas of the suberbs then you will know very well why you never see them there In these areas of the 92 and 93 but instead they just target innocent tourists for easy money sadly
What a way to treat visitors and say Bienvenue a Paris!
Was in Paris last spring and these tips are spot on. We found the locals to be very friendly and accommodating though we attempted our best at French where we could. We enjoyed the local neighborhoods way more than the tourist areas. Pack light and walk if you can. We walked a total of 32 miles in 6 days while there. Loved it!
you must be american, those are rookie number, haha
@@adamvoid555 yup! 😂
Merci! I hope to travel to France/Paris soon and this video is helpful and inspires confidence. Looking forward to more videos from you!
This video showed up in my feed and you my dear are a delight! Excellent video, so I became a new subscriber. I've wanted to go to France, live in France for ages. So I began studying France and French culture ages ago, and taught myself French which I found easy to read and write but hard to speak, so I figured total emersian might be best. Life goes on, things happen, dreams get deferred, delayed, or die. Merci for breathing some life into one such dream ❤ 😊 or as we say in Hawai'i, "mahalo and aloha".
BONJOUR, LUCILE! That was the BEST video I have watched about Paris in a long time. I hope to return in the early Spring and visit old friends, you've given me what I needed! A fresh outlook about Paris and France in general that outsiders can't do the right way! Merci bien! ♥
That's so nice!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the video :)
About the American woman in the bakery: It amazes me how many people think, when they encounter someone who doesn't speak English, that if they SHOUT it at him, he will magically begin to understand them. That's NOT how languages work!
But surprisingly sometimes that facilitates understanding haha
But yeah, totally agree
@@atriyakoller136 : It makes the person being yelled at feel attacked. And a language they don't understand is still not understood at any volume.
We are in Paris 3 or 4 times a year for decades now, so I know these tips are spot on!
We prefer to stay in the 6th for history or Chaillot in the 16th is also rather pleasant.
This is very helpful because I plan on filming some English lessons in Paris next year. Thank you for the tip about the areas in Paris that are local, but not so local.
Happy this helped and good luck with your filming!
Been to Paris twice (2007 and last summer) and we loved it both times. This time we had an Airbnb on St-Charles in the 15è and we loved having the open air market twice a week, and the stuff we got there was awesome, especially the salmon! The best meals we had were out of the touristy areas, except for that great Croque Monsieur at Brasserie Les Deux Palais on île de la Cité which is in a touristy area.
As for the coffee, my in-laws warned us about that when we were planning our honeymoon trip in 2007, and last summer, the only café filtre I had was the one I made myself in the morning before we headed out for our daily excursions. No language barrier for us, since we live in Québec and are Francophone.
Paris is my favourite city in the world, after my own hometown of Montréal. So that's the two largest Francophone cities at the top of my list, pas pire, hein? One of the reasons we love watching Secrets d'Histoire is not only because Stéphane Bern is an awesome host, but also seeing Paris time and again. Both times we were there, I felt like I was home. Maybe it's because I had ancestors who were born there and sailed to Nouvelle-France and settled here in the 17th-18th Century.
C'est clair qu'on veut retourner un jour! Bonne soirée!
I speak French and know Paris, so I once visited with an American friend, to help her and show her around. Wow! Was that ever frustrating! She came with her checklist of things to see, refused to be interested in anything else, wouldn’t walk, only wanted to eat cheap Chinese because there was something "wrong" with any French food I tried to get her to try … Thank goodness she only had ten days and I could go back to wandering, exploring, sampling, just enjoying.
Another CZcams comment grounded on Stereotype: guy who only knows asshole Americans.
And this is a friend? Why didn’t you know your “friends” likes, dislikes and interest? Seems not much a friend, but acquaintance. Why couldn’t you accept your “friend” as they are instead of how you think they should be?
@@TC-dw6wg She's a lovely person, and when I agreed to the Paris trip I didn’t interrogate her as to what kind of tourist she is. When I found out, I accommodated her tastes and gave her as far as I could the trip of her dreams, and only went back to enjoying Paris my way after she went home.
I lived 5 yrs in Paris and I just loved walking sometimes withouth a specific place in mind, It was amazing.
@@TC-dw6wgIt’s quite normal to not know how a friend, even a close friend, will behave why travelling abroad especially if the person has never done it before. It’s quite logical.
It’s a pleasure to watch your videos, Lucile. This one was very helpful. And your accent is absolutely beautiful 🤌
Thank you so much :)
My best cafe meal was in a side street away from the Arc de Triomphe. Full of big burly men in work gear. The lunch was delicious! Thanks to a friend who worked nearby and knew the best spots.
Coincides with my experiences of Paris to a tee. I loved getting lost (not really, as I had a map in my pocket), as the architecture was so gorgeous. Another tip: If it’s a walking alley lined with restaurants, the prices are lowest in the middle, highest at the ends which meet the main streets.
Toulouse was fabulous. I was very fortunate several years ago to be on a work trip to Toulouse. My schedule allowed me to shop at the local market most days. Delicious food. Lots of great restaurants. I don’t speak more than a few words of French. Bonjour, pardon, merci. Most younger shop and restaurant workers spoke English very well. I only needed my rental car for trips outside the city. Toulouse was a fantastic serendipitous location. I probably would not have picked it as a “chosen” destination. I had a wonderful time. Thanks for the memories.
Pretty enlightening and chill video! Thanks! I really like the lo-fi music in the background
So happy you enjoyed it :)
LOVED Toulouse! Had to go where one of my favourite artist was from. They have a wonderful market. Also, your wonderful Paris advice, most of it can easily be applied for other destinations as well. Learn a greeting in their language much less "excuse me, do you speak english?"; simple courtesy.
You right !
Nice vid !
Paris is not to big. You can easily walk or rent a bike . It doesn t take long time, and you can feel the City and taste each boulangerie you ll met!
I lived and worked in New York most of my life, and ALL of these big-city tips are so true! And I'm planning a month in Paris during the Olympics this summer and can't wait to put your suggestions to use!
Nice. Thank you. I enjoyed that.
I primarily watched this to see if there were some tips that I could forward to someone and Number 9 was one of the tips that I really wanted to get across to them. Walk. Paris does have a great Metro system - you can get basically anywhere within inner Paris on it very efficiently. Most places aren't more than a 5 minute walk from a Metro stop and you can almost time your journey by the number of stops they're situated that regularly (with a little extra time for any changes you have to do). However, you're going to miss most of Paris (little shops, eateries, the buildings, the vibe, etc.) if you Metro everywhere. Some locations are really good to walk between, especially in the inner arrondissements.
I like the advice on closing time - that is definitely something to consider - their work-time is their work-time and then it is their time. Making them work late for little reward, maybe miss their transportation, or take away from their time, is not just impolite, it is almost an affront to their existence. A job is a job and after that they are regular people with lives to live, not some kind of servant to do your bidding whenever you deem it. I would hazard that this extends to being polite - which is definitely a good option anywhere you go in the world. It may be just simple civility, but it in France it seems to extend to beliefs about a person's existential rights and expectations as a as a human being and a member of a collective society. There are times where someone will be so formally polite with the "Je vous en prie, monsieur/madame" that it feels sycophantic, but in a cultural context I once heard it put that not starting with a simple "bonjour" is like treating the person with whom you are talking (waiter/ress, shop worker, etc.) like a servant instead of a member of the liberté, égalité, fraternité country.
And I must agree that when booking your hotel on a website, you need to check each hotel you are considering for its location. You would not believe how far out of Paris you can be offered a "Parisian" hotel - as much as a bus trip past the last stop on an RER train line - and like Lucile said you do not want to be travelling much on the RER outside of inner Paris if you can avoid it. Basically, you really want to stay within the Metro system if you're in Paris, and ideally within the Boulevard Périphérique. However, the closer you get to the Périphérique, the more average or distant it can seem (although there are exceptions). Just think, everything inside the Périphérique is considered Paris proper and everything outside the Périphérique is considered Greater Paris, with the further locations considered commuterville. If you look at the postcodes for your hotel - anything starting with a 75 is inner Paris and the last two digits (01 to 20) will tell you which arrondissement it is in. I would say that there are areas near Gare du Nord and Sacre Coeur aren't too great to be based in either. Funnily enough, I thought that Lucile colour-coded the nice arrondissemets on the map (17, 20, 10th near Canal St Martin), but then I realised that it was just coloured in sequence to the numbered order as one of my favourite local 'coins' is also in another of the same-coloured arrondissements.
Paris is mostly safe, but there are number of scams being tried, mostly on tourists: Signing petitions, making donations, organised begging, the bracelet around the wrist, the reward for the "found" ring, etc. plus the potential pick-pockets on crowded streets and trains. Definitely keep your possessions in safe locations and make sure your bags are secure and do not walk around with them just hanging in a way that makes them easy to access without your knowledge. Advice for many places, not just Paris.
I like your suggestion about visiting Toulouse, I spent a fair amount of time there for work and enjoyed being able to walk around and enjoy the city without the crowds (and tourists!).
Very sound and helpful advice. And so true wherever people travel. When my wife and I were in Venice, Florence and Bologna for our honeymoon our guide (after telling our group they were on their own for lunch) would take my wife and I to HIS favorite restaurants which were definitely "locals only" and we ate well. Whereas the rest of our group always complained that the food was horrible in the tourist sections...and i boned up on as much Italian to be respectful to the locals.
That and what a lot of people dont understand is that when you travel to Italy or Mexico from USA - food in those countries doesnt taste like the Americanized versions at Olive Garden and Chi Chis.
@@jenp3752 agreed. Good insight!
Thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to watch your videos again... when I start planning my trip to Paris...
We absolutely loved our trip. We walked so much, just seeing the buildings and getting the vibe of the streets. Some of our best meals were bread, cheese and wine sitting in a park.
Oh, and Urfa Durum (Kurdish Sandwich Shop) in the 10th.
We went to Paris last summer. We were mostly in the tourist areas and I found the French to be polite and the service was great. We had an amazing time.
There were no French folks there in the summer.
@@Wilem35 paris's urban space has 17 million residents, but alright
We really liked staying in the 5th, near UPMC, because there aren't many tourist crowds but there's lots of food and lots of cool things to see (Jardin des Plantes and the Natural History museums, seriously the Hall of Bones needs to be on every tourist itenerary; the Mineral museum in UPMC also, which is mind-blowing), and also it's a short walk to Tourist Ground Zero.
Oh I love the Jardin des Plantes area!!
@@LucileHR I assume you've seen the "Hall of Bones", which is absolutely insane. However, you may not have seen the very beautiful Mineral Museum at UPMC, one of the finest mineral collections on earth. Well worth a visit.
Thank you will check out theses museums
Thank you so much for the helpful video, Lucile! We've been to Paris and all over France, and your tips are perfect, especially for people who have never been. It's always important to research how you should behave in any foreign country. And, there are SO many amazing places in France other than Paris ~ I urge people to go!
Great content Lucile! You opend my eyes to so obvious facts, which screwed my first visit to Paris. So eager to follow up and try the sandwich, you had. 😉
Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo, je la garde dans une liste de lecture pour la consulter avant d'aller en France et à Paris. Et j'aime ton énergie bienveillante et que tu sois souriante...encore merci, du Québec 💙
I love the fact that where pastries are even, that means that they’re not the best, maniacal precision isn’t the result of human craft. I’m Italian and I was also told several times that if you want bread or pastries, you have to get the “imperfect” one, because it’s handmade, there isn’t a single piece of fresh bread that is identical to another one, and that’s it’s beauty.
We love visiting Italy ... Always a great experience with the lifestyle, history and of course food.
I just wanted to let you know that your videos have been VERY helpful. I even canceled a reservation because it was far away. Now I am about 30 mins walking distance from the areas we plan to visit. I thought I was smarter than that but I really needed to hear this!
Perfect advise! I am happy to see the place I stayed in 2022, 17th Ard, is in your suggested areas, and Yes! I do speak some French, and ate at the local cafe to my hotel, Rendezvous des Chauffeurs -- and it was Amazing! I have several friends in US who are Truckers, and the locals were happy with my patronage, kept giving me cognac and more fries, gratis! I was just following my instincts, and it's gratifying to get your confirmation 🙂 Thank you for making this, I DO hope to return to France again! Love the food, respect the culture, know some history and enjoy! Merci
Thank you for being so honest and helpful!😂 I am coming to the France next month. Looking forward to a great trip!
I am a Croat who spent six months in Paris on a IT consulting stint. I must say that I agree with every word you said. To add a little tidbit to your advice about not blocking sidewalks: don't stand on the "wrong" side of escalators - there are many people in hurry who would like to "overtake" you. I was initially often guilty of this.
Same in Germany!😁
Ditto for London.
Great video Lucile! Fortunately, I learned most of this prior to my first visit to Paris in 2022 and I have to say that it all served me very well. I only wish that I was better able to speak the language more fluently. My biggest pet peeve is when people come into a country like France and don't know and/or don't respect the culture and the norms. I studied this in depth before I went and it made my trip a lot more pleasant, I'm sure! J'aime Paris et la France !
Thank you so much for your nice and detailed comment, I loved reading it! I agree with you, I always try to research the culture of the place I'm visiting beforehand. France is also the first foreign country a lot of people go to, and there are a lot of new things to learn when you travel for the first time :)
Aimless walking, morning coffee and croissant sounds like a perfect way to spend a day-thanks for the great video, will enjoy learning more about the best way to visit Paris and other regions in France. Will plan ahead and work on my French. Merci beaucoup.
We've been to Paris a dozen times and your advise is great... I always brush up on my high school French before we go and yes an attempt and at least politeness will go a long long way. Oh, YOU must greet the shopkeeper when you enter a store, not the other way around. Be nice, you'll be surprised at how nice the French will be to you. Très
magnifique, merci!
I had to love this. It's the same in the US in so many big cities, hard to find a good chocolate Croissant and a real coffee. All the best.
Fantastic happy and informative vid. Super! Merci!
Merci :D
This is great advice that tracks well for any major city I’ve ever been to. This gal is like the one I might have dreamed about meeting when I went to Paris in my 20’s. Make more of anything!
Thank you for sharing this video.
I grew up in Paris (17ieme) so I was happy to see you mention "my" arrondissement!
We used to look forward to September when the weather was still warm, but the tourists had left. Now there is no tourism free season. I still miss living there.
O,Lucile,French is beautiful on paper but man,is it hard to perceive when spoken. Spanish (not even talking about super understandable Italian) sticks to me so much better.
It's true, French is so hard to understand!
Je confirme tout ce que vous dites!!!
Très intéressante vidéo que j’ai partagé avec mes étudiants en Malaisie…
Yiu are the best lucile . Always insightful and helpful and incredibly knowledgeable!.
I'm happy you enjoyed the video :)
I fulfilled a long time dream a couple of years ago and spent a full month in Paris. My apartment was across the Seine across from the Louver. I had a month metro ticket and also walked about 350 miles. Every evening I walked along the Seine. I discovered many hidden gems. My French is poor, but got me around. The most beautiful city I know.
Merci beaucoup pour les conseils. Je me rappele que le centre ville était déjà incroyablement cher la dernière foix que j'ai rendu visite à Paris il ya a peu près 40 ans. J'aimerais retourner un jour. Surtout c'est bon savoir qu'il y a une difference entre les boulangeries et la vente de pain génerale.
Oui, c'est vrai que tout est cher à Paris, malheureusement je suis habituée car j'ai habité à New York et Londres qui sont aussi très chères :O
Oui, je trouve qu'il y a une grosse différence et il faut trouver une bonne boulangerie :)
lol j'ai trop rigolé oui ils sont chiants les touristes (et pas que) qui marchent à 2 à l'heure 🤣 mais pas que ya des personnes qui parlent sur le trottoir jusque là ça va bien mais on est obligé de marcher sur la route pour les dépasser car ils prennent toute la largeur, même en criant un pardon ça marche pas 😂 oui belle mention pour le canal de l'Ourcq à la fois à proximité de république riche en restos et bars, et de belleville idem pour pas cher. J'ai vécu dans le 19e,16e,8e, 17e, je suis plutôt fan de la tranquilité du canal de l'Ourcq mais attention aux trotinettes et vélos qui ont tendance à nous foncer dessus, comme des scoots sur le trottoir...
This is all so accurate in every aspect. I've been visiting Paris for nearly fifty years and have family there. Everything you say is right. The area they live in is off the main tourist routes. A little effort does go a long way and a 'bonjour' smooths the path every time. Curiously, its identical in meaning to our Australian greeting "g'day'", but with a bit more style!
I've not been to Paris...only Strasbourg. But we were 'warned' by a family member who was living in Europe about some of the things NOT to do as a tourist in Europe. ...One of the important things recommended was not being too loud! 🤪We took that to heart.
Loved this!!! On my way for my third trip to France in less than two weeks and walking 10 miles a day around all parts of the city 🥰
Enjoy :D
Pourquoi je regarde en toute concentration alors que je suis parisienne 😅
Pas mieux ! 😂
Nice video and accurate. My wife and I visited for a week and its a favorite of mine. We actually rented an apartment on the Ile de France and Notre Dame was visible from our window and it worked out great. We also used the Metro and walking to get everywhere. We averaged over 10 miles a day walking but it was easy. Imagine seeing some attraction and then walking 2 hours across Paris taken in the gardens, monuments, architecture. No rush. Maybe hit a small deli for a sandwich au jambon or croissant. If you're staying a while give some consideration to day trips out of the city. We did 3 and they were all fantastic. We trained over to Versailles. Try to see the village too its lovely. We also trained to Fontainebleau for a day. Beautiful. And we did a high speed train to Amsterdam, spent the day and came back the next. I loved this entire trip.
Great video! Thank you! I like to stay in the 11th. Very chill (except for Rue de Lappe! 😅). And nothing like a stroll through Père Lachaise! I have never been treated rudely and I always give eye contact with a ‘Bonjour’ with shopkeepers. People confuse formality and politeness with coldness. Totally agree about meals. We called it “restaurant prison”, so learned to budget time. 🤣 I learned the hard way showing up in a village with only one resto, but too late after the seatings started. Lots of seats, but not for my “late” entry l. You must respect the rules of the game. 😂
I'll call it the "restaurant prison" from now on haha
In no place should one stop in the path especially groups. Also it's super annoying when couples or trios walk side by side hogging all the room. This is courtesy for others and not limited to any one city or nation.
If you travel to Paris watch out for “pick pocket”.
As a French guy who's lived in paris for a few years, I would say you did a great job with this video! Accurate tips for first-timers, and your english is spot on 👏🏻
I visited Paris in 2017, everybody says parisians are rude, but I didn't experience that, they were really friendly and I barely speak french, I'll be back as soon as I can, loved the city, greetings from Buenos Aires.
First advice should be: DON'T GO TO PARIS.
Worst city in France.
French person here
Encore un envieux qui rage de voir que la Tour Eiffel n'a pas été érigée à Trifouillis-les-Oies.
Thing number one: do not go to Paris. I just saved you a lot of headache.
Merci. Enjoyed your video very much, especially the reminder to just eat and walk and not worry about the checklists ✌
For tourism, I would recommend bus rather than metro. It's slower but you can enjoy the sight, get a better understanding of the neighborhood, and thanks to the bus lane they are not much affected by traffic jam. The issue is that there are much less frequent than metro, but you can check the map and waiting time at each bus stop, and travel duration in the bus.
If you like sport, there is also a good network of cycle lane and on rent electric bike, but due to the dense traffic, drivers tend to apply the law rather than giving space and pass centimeters away from each other.
Tips for going to Paris: don’t go to Paris.
Tips for shutting up your mouth: press both lips onto each other.
Tips: if you don’t like Paris, don’t watch Paris videos. It’s extremely easy. There’s cities I wouldn’t go to and I don’t watch videos about them. Easy.
1 Thing NOT to do in Paris - don't go to Paris.
Thank you for this! I have ancestors who are traced to Ypres. Last I was there we traipsed around other parts of France. We had a short time to visit. I wish to return. The countryside is gorgeous
Merci! Merci! My family and I will be visiting Paris in May, so this was VERY useful and helpful!
Almost all these tips are applicable for every big city. Thank you and very helpful.
This is quite good advice. I've spent months in Paris on several trips, and she is offering great tips. Merci.
I had the best time in Paris when traveling alone back in 2007. Talked to a lot of locals, very friendly. I remember walking 15+km every day. My line was "bonjour, excuze-moi, Je ne parle pas français, parlez-vous anglais?" Worked like a charm
Superb insights. Lucile will make my trip more profoundly French!
Great tips!! I’ve had the most amazing times in Paris, just walking around taking in all of the sights, beautiful gardens and culture. I visit quite often ( I’m flight crew) do not speak French, but if you are polite and TRY , the Parisians respect that. ❤
France sounds awesome! Thanks for the vid. I hope to visit one day.
Thanks for more info.
My hubby and I went there in the 2000. I did a ton of research ,we walked a lot. Took the metro. . Went to local bakery and neighborhood shops. Thank goodness my husband can speak French and I practiced as well. There was one taxi driver he couldn’t understand very well lol. We didn’t get any weird looks 😅 We avoided speaking English 😉
Upto now when I go to a French vendor at the farmers market, i speak some French
Was touring Europe in 2000 with my wife. Paris first stop - magical place. For a big city - best place. Will never forget it. I didn’t speak any French, but would try - (would not speak English) - and I never had an issue. The Parisian’s were always appreciative of my flawed attempts.
Love someone who prioritises the best way to get good food in her advice.
So nice to see the Batignoles, and its marvelous garden of my childhood !
Bonjour Lucile, thanks for the tips! I'm visiting Normandy this summer, really looking forward to the sights, food and wine - and the beautiful language/accents...
We cancelled a Paris trip in Jan 2020 before the pandemic took off, hoping to reschedule soon, thanks for the tips,
I will really look at quartiers 20 and 17
Some of the best advice in any of the VLOGs I have seen. In particular take a taxi to and from the airport only with luggage use the Metro and walk on all other occasions. Do not select restaurants around the major tourist sites. Arr 10 & 17 especially around the canal st Martin are really cool and chic but younger set oriented. The tip on frozen goods is unique. Didn't know that. I did know that the most popular boulangeries sold out on bread early in the afternoon and locals sometimes had standing orders and bread was reserved for them. Don't be in a rush at a French restaurant. There are more tourists a
than Parisians. Well done!
Hi Lucile, first time I have seen one of your videos and thoroughly enjoyed the tips and down to earth reality! I have been to France many many times but have never ventured into Paris, after watching this it is something i now plan to do!! Je veux maintenant y aller! merci beaucoup 😉
Great advice, thank you. I'm visiting Bordeaux and Paris in May, I live in the Barossa Valley in South Australia so I'm looking forward to tasting some great wine and food in your country.
Good video. I used to go to Toulouse on business quite frequently. One of the few places I enjoyed going for business. Only thing I would add is that I would not rent a car there either. Stay near the centre of town, walk and only get a car to go to the (beautiful) surrounding areas.
Love Toulouse, but renting a car there, or anywhere in France is always terrifying: I have had to park in spaces I’d have trouble getting my motorcycle into!