The 10 UNSPOKEN RULES Tourists Keep Breaking in Paris

Learn the rules about shopping, driving, and tipping in Paris.
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[LesFrenchiesTravel]

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[LilysWorld]

The fact that I'm french and I live in Paris but still watching and enjoying this video 😂😂

[lilchihuahua]

There’s also an unspoken rule about Parisian escalators : if you’re standing, stay on the right. The left lane is for people who are walking up.
I feel like the same thing applies for sidewalks, always be mindful of the people around you so you don’t block the whole sidewalk (which can be very narrow)

[zepoubelle]

It's not a theme park. You made my day right there. I come from a beautiful village in the south of France and tourists are so loud, even in the middle of night, because they forget that all those typical old houses are actually homes for real people, not a movie set.

[sfermigier]

Parisian here. First point is not very accurate. Most shops aren't closed on Mondays in Paris (as they are in the rest of the country). "And we don't know why they are closed": of course we know, it's written on the paper: "For inventory". This happens usually once a year, and usually in the early days of the year (for businesses that close their books in December).

[corgiowner]

Funny story. I was on the corner by the Louvre at Pont Royal and an American couple approached me and asked in very awkward French where the Musée D’Orsay was. So I said in English that it was the building with the big clock across the river. The said “wow your English is great!” so I said “i hope so I’m from Texas!” We all had a good laugh.

[MastaHibouw]

The last remark is very important. Last time i ate in a Bouillon (traditionnal parisian restaurant) a north american person, came (alone) and start taking pictures of the place, food and everything. One of the client came to her and said to please delete pictures where we could see him. That's how serious we're taking the question. If it is your job to share your life on social media please respect the right of others to not share their image on your social media.

[JulieGiddens-Davies]

A lot of these apply to Paris but not across France. We live in the Loire Valley and people invariably acknowledge each other with a ‘Bonjour!’ and a smile when passing in the street.

[scubagib]

The unspoken rule I always adhere to is when engaging with a Parisian, make an honest attempt to communicate in French first. The French and, in particular, the Parisians are very proud of their culture and history and this includes their language. I have found that if I initiate contact in French and take it as far as I can, that really goes a very long way with Parisians. I've heard countless people complain about Parisians being rude. Often this revolves around an unwillingness on the Parisian to speak English to the tourist (often US tourist). If the roles were reversed and a Parisian was visiting the US we'd expect them to communicate in English, so extend the same courtesy when visiting Paris. I've found that if you do this, Parisians are very warm and helpful.

[richardmccarthy]

From the Uk I used to work in Paris…..if not strictly an unbroken rule, I have always found French/Parisiens welcome an attempt to speak the language. If they speak back to you in English don’t take it personally! ….but they will appreciate you’ve tried

[WinstonTexas]

I lived in Paris for four years. I have to say this is a great video. Paris in particular has ritualised behaviour, people from countries with ritualised behaviour like Japan have no problem there. Visitors who complain about Parisians, waiters in particular, just didn’t learn the rules. Always say bonjour in a shop or restaurants and remember that the waiter is the boss, not you.

[avroml]

3:00 The staring-and-not-acknowledging thing happens in Paris and busy tourist places, but in smaller towns and villages it's quite common to greet the strangers with a polite “bonjour” and a smile.

[BomageMinimart]

The best advice I got was to learn some basic phrases and always ALWAYS begin any conversation or inquiry or interaction with "bonjour" and then speak French, no matter how badly or poorly it's gonna come out. Nearly EVERYONE spoke English and would quickly stop me from murdering their beautiful language so we could communicate effectively. But the attempt mattered, and I was always treated well. I saw people who did not make the attempt and they were not treated well. Paris was wonderful IME; I would gladly visit again.

[pokeyjeanne]

The last time I was in Paris I thought I could pass for 65. Every time I got on a bus or the Metro people would immediately jump up and give me their seat. Sometimes while holding onto the pole for a short hop I would say I wasn't going far. But then they would watch me carefully to make sure I wasn't about to lose my grip. I love Paris! Also, it is wise to hang onto anything you can on public transport, no matter how old you are!

[Frenchiesonthego]

As a french person, it's funny to see those rules seen from the outside. Some are accurate, some are a little false, some are not that important, and some needs more nuances because from one french to another, you will have a large specter of behaviour. French does not all act the same, sometime for the best, sometime for the worst.
Don't hesitate if you need any answers, I'm a former parisian, now living far from Paris, and I have visited almost every major cities here from North to South. If I can be of any help, you're welcome to ask 🙂

Anyway, it's a really good video, it's really cool that you try to warn tourists and help them have a nice stay in your beloved/hated capital city 🙂

[VisitorsWelcome]

#11 Do not talk loudly. Whether it is fair or not, the French complain about tourists speaking too loudly in public.

[CeciliaSalinas-ombr]

I visited Paris in 2022 during the last phase of the covid pandemics. Had a great time. I met some very nice people who were very kind. I young man and a mature man (very handsome, by the way) offered to help me with my big luggage in the metro stairs. An elderly woman who didn't speak English nor Spanish (I'm Peruvian) made sure I took the right bus and even asked the driver to help me. I remember those nice people with gratitude. I expect to return to Paris next year.

[paulascholz]

I've been to Paris three times and Parisiens have been nothing but friendly, helpful and kind. My favorite city on the Continent.

[dennischiapello]

I visited Paris for the first time last year. I didn't encounter rude Parisians. What I did find was similar to what I noticed in Italy: when you encounter polite behavior, it tends to be especially gracious.

[northbridge]

My wife and I are fortunate to have visited Paris 13 times. Far and away the single most important thing to do when you’re there, which was addressed in this video, is to greet people when you enter a shop or restaurant, and also to say “Au Revoir” when leaving. Stores in France used to be in people’s homes, and just like you expect someone to say hello and goodbye to you when visiting your house, it was also expected by French people, and that tradition continues even now that most businesses are in commercial buildings, not homes. If you fail to do this, your interactions with French people are going to be cold, as you’ve skipped what they consider to be a fundamental part of social interactions.

On the metro, wait for people to get off before getting on. And if a metro car is crowded, do not sit in the fold down seats located near the doors. Sitting there makes it difficult for others to get on and off, so stand until the crowd thins.

Also, when you’re looking for a table at a restaurant, the ones with silverware on them are reserved for people who are ordering a meal. If you just want a coffee or a glass of wine, sit at a table without silverware. And when you want the check, you have to ask for it. The French phrase for that is “l'addition s'il vous plaît”, although if the waiter is far away, making a writing motion in the air will also let them know you want the bill.