Paris Post-Visit Report for Future Travellers
I apologize in advance for the long post, but I know how much time I spent reading reviews and forums before our trip. Hopefully this helps future travelers.
Firstly, my wife and I felt very safe throughout our entire time in Paris — day and night. We didn’t dismiss Reddit warnings about pickpocketing or scams, because of course they exist, but simple precautions were enough. In crowded areas, I kept my phone in my front pocket with a hand on it, or moved it into my crossbody bag. I also used small anti‑theft zipper locks when it felt necessary. We never had any issues.
• Plan ahead for major sights.
If you know what you want to see, book early. Popular places like the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Palais Garnier, Galerie Dior, and Sainte‑Chapelle can fill up weeks in advance. Notre‑Dame releases reservations at midnight local time for three days ahead. You can line up without reservations, but it’s rarely a good use of time.
We bought the Carte Blanche for Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie, which gives unlimited entry with no reservations. There’s a dedicated line, and we walked right in every time. This was perfect for us because it kept our schedule flexible.
• Expect a lot of walking.
Even with the Navigo Weekly Pass (Monday–Sunday), we still walked 14,000–20,000 steps per day. Wear comfortable shoes. Since we both use orthotics, we made sure all our footwear could accommodate them.
For the Navigo card, you need a small printed photo. We printed 25×30 mm headshots at home — they don’t need to be passport quality, just clear.
• Bring a comfortable backpack.
If you plan to carry water, snacks, or small purchases, a backpack is much easier. My wife started with a shoulder bag, but I ended up carrying it most of the time, so we switched to the backpack and it made a big difference.
• Don’t over‑plan restaurants.
I’m stating the obvious here, but Paris has great food everywhere. Before our trip, we spent hours researching “the best” restaurants, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary. Many of the places we enjoyed didn’t require reservations. Plans change — long lines, transit delays, museums taking longer than expected — so it’s better to stay flexible.
When you’re hungry, open Google Maps, check what’s nearby, look at the posted menus which are often located by the restaurant entrance, and go with what appeals to you. Quick review checks are enough.
Some places we enjoyed: Creperie Gigi, Café Courtial, Le Procope, Les Antiquaires, Chez Neco, Madeleine Versailles, Le Chalet Saint‑Michel, La Mascotte. I only reserved Gigi and Le Procope because these were must visit restaurants. Most of these don’t show up in Reddit threads, but they were all great and handy to our location when hungry and ready to eat.
• Use CityMapper for navigation.
Google Maps consistently underestimated walking times. CityMapper was more accurate for both walking and transit, so we used it most of the time.
• Getting from CDG Airport to Paris.
Many recommended G7 taxis with fixed prices, but Bolt and Uber often offer lower fixed fares. Bolt was usually cheapest, though Uber had more drivers. Taxis were the most expensive option, so avoid them if you’re on a budget.
• Wise worked extremely well.
We brought some cash but used Wise for most purchases. Low fees, the ability to hold Euros, and universal acceptance made it better than using a credit card.
• SimLocal for eSIM.
We used SimLocal for a French number and data. It was affordable, easy to set up, and reliable. We chose the 15‑day plan with 70 GB. I used ~10 GB and my wife ~20 GB, so choose a plan that fits your needs.
• Toilets can be tricky.
Public restrooms are limited, and cafés often require a purchase. The free public toilets were helpful. I scanned the QR code and saved the page to my iPhone Home Screen. If you want it: https://sanitaires.jcdecaux.com → select Paris → “Nearest Open Sanitary.”
• Plan 1–2 main activities per day.
Our days were full, but we kept our schedule flexible. We typically only planned 1-2 main events per day (though we had more things in mind time permitting). Leave time to be open to unexpected discoveries, and to simply explore all the city has to offer. Some memorable moments were unplanned — discovering the Flame of Liberty (where Princess Diana died) after chatting with a couple on the metro, stumbling upon a late night street party, or finding Amorino gelato (my wife’s new favorite). The city has so many treasures to discover! Paris will find us there again in the future :).