Paris Travel Guide 2026

Shoulder seasons (April–June and September) balance daylight, café terraces, and manageable crowds. August sees some smaller shops close; winter is quieter for museums with shorter days and occasional rain—bring a compact umbrella.

Buy tickets or use contactless where available; keep your ticket until you exit. RER lines serve airports and Versailles; validate transfers carefully and watch for pickpockets near doors and ticket machines.

In central Paris, many people in tourism and dining speak some English. Learning a few French greetings still smooths interactions; carry a translation app offline for menus in smaller bistros.

Petty theft is the main nuisance—keep bags zipped, avoid phone-in-hand wandering near bike lanes, and be wary of common scams around major monuments. Violent crime against tourists is relatively rare in typical sightseeing areas.

Service compris may appear on bills; small change rounded up is still polite for drinks. For exceptional full-service meals, leaving a modest extra in cash is appreciated though not always mandatory—ask if unsure.

Yes for blockbuster sites and timed exhibitions, especially spring weekends. A single big museum per day plus a neighborhood walk often feels richer than racing three ticked attractions.