If that happens to you and there is a booth near by, cut of the line and go directly to the teller. They will tell you they charge the same as a regular taxi driver does, but it is not true. They charge more, and it is not legal. Some of them are private limo drivers, others are simply plain people with no taxi license whatsoever and often no particular taxi insuranceβ¦. This one is sad but true.
Many Parisian monuments close on either Monday or Tuesday, and on holidays, so make sure you check their opening days before you show up. An audio novel for all levels. Explore Paris with modern, lively and realistic dialogues.
Be prepared to face long walks and stairsβ¦ especially if you need to connect between lines. Which brings us to the next piece of adviceβ¦. There are also taxi lines where you can wait and get a taxi β if you are lucky, that isβ¦ Like anywhere else, taxis get super busy on rainy weekend nightsβ¦.. And of course, now there is Uber, which makes things really easier! Read my article on How to get a taxi in Paris. Use Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle.
Learn more about French politeness in my French audio lesson. Master French politeness without hesitation and avoid embarrassing faux-pas. Paris is a big city and relatively safe. Like in any other big city, you might run into pickpockets, beggars of all sorts, and of course scammers. Certain parts of the Rue St. Denis, a few blocks from the Centre Pompidou can be a bit dicey. Ditto for the side streets around the Place Pigalle down the hill from Montmartre up the hill is fine.
You should also avoid walking at night time on the Barbes Boulevard, the Forum des halles and the Seine banks by the river; up the street is fine. Should you have more tips on what to avoid in Paris, please do share them in the comments below.
