Paris Local Customs

Definitely try to learn a few phrases in French, it will help you navigate the city better. Most people are friendly enough to help and honestly I think it very rude to expect someone to know your...

even if at heart not living here or if here this is it, its fairly true having lived nearby and worked for almost 10 years. 1. Had dinner at Tokyo Eat (16éme) and not needing to open the door to the...

This is an event I try not to miss any year. Now living a bit far from Paris is a challenge but luckily they do expos like it in several places even Le Mans. While in Versailles for almost 10 years I...

If you want to look like a local, make sure you are wearing a nice scarf, matched with your coat, artfully knotted around your neck. Even on a rather warm September day when we were sweating, people...

Paris is a wonder to the senses and full of all sorts of street performers. One of my favorite are the "silent" mimes that line the streets in any part of the city. The mimes usually have some sort...

Be careful when giving your opinion about religions in Paris or France! These last years the subject became very delicate. It is not yet the Saint Barthélémy, when under King Charles IX the...

Service charges are included on all restaurant bills at a cost of between 10 and 15 percent. Extra tips are accepted of course if you have received above good service. s fair to add a little more if...

This is a list of addresses where you can find the free public toilets, known as "Sanisettes" in the 20th arrondissement. - place de la Réunion sur le terre-plein entre la rue Alexandre Dumas et la...

or what was the Bastille Day, and English publications still use it, now here call the National Festival for the French revolution of 14 july 1789. or the Fête National It is a National holiday of...

It's not every day that you get to write a tip on VT which allows you (quite legitmately) to talk about fishnet tights, topless women, black twangy suspender belts,and not to mention tight basques and...

Before we went to Paris, we were told "watch out for all the Dog poo, you know they don't pick it up like we do here!" I think that must have been a while back, as we found the streets to be fairly...

this is a phenomenon that has increase over the years, started slowly now there is more than one bridge which is loaded with locks of love. The city is trying to minimize this and there are groups...

Anytime you enter an establishment, whether it be a restaurant or retail store it is customary to say "Bon Jour". It doesn't have to be loud but try to make eye contact as you say it. Also, upon...

its a local custom to celebrate Christmas, with the best decoration,and ambiance in Europe. The cityof Paris becomes even bigger, and the excitement of been part of it its inmense. I was there just...

There is a pleasant little ritual the French engage in when you walk into their store. You are always greeted (Bonjour) and you are expected to greet in return. If you ignore their greeting you are...

The first thing we noticed on our second trip to Paris was that the scaffolding covering part of Notre Dame Cathedral had been moved. On the third trip it had been moved again. On each trip the...

I shall go to Paris and hope the fear of cigarette smoke is less than in the west. There is no reason why both nonsmokers and smokers can't have a place to go. Unless of course the nonsmokers have a...

Did you ever wonder how they keep the Pei Pyramid at the Louvre clean? We were taking a coffee break in Café Richelieu one afternoon recently and my husband, who was facing the courtyard, noticed a...

if you like to drive a car, and come from a place where driving a car is a normal way of life, then driving in Paris will be heaven. I have a driving tip on Paris here, so will be brief. I started...

At any given time you will come across musicians performing in the many "tourist" areas in the city. Montmatre is just one of the many places that I have enjoyed a little bit of street music while...

France is firmly in Euroland, the new currency accepted right across Europe (except for the UK and Switzerland). Some French however hanker back for the days when the French Franc was the only...

I used to use Nationwide debit card. I loaded the account with money, safe in the knowledge that I withdraw cash around the world without charges. The robbingtheivingbastids started to charge not only...

I read in the National Geographic that the City of Paris and its citizens really believe that green patches/areas are essential for the emotional well-being of the people. I totally agree and this...

I bought the museum pass as soon as I arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport. I must say it has been really convenient not only because I saved money but because I had dedicated access and so shorter...

well not a local custom but one that is getting popular every year. When I first came to live in France back in 2003 (versailles) , I wanted to continue the traditions of my adopted country the...