I love Paris. The cobbled lanes, the flaky pastries, the way people just seem to effortlessly glide around in trench coats with their fresh baguettes tucked under their arm like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
But. It turns out, even after all my travels, I still managed to make a few classic tourist mistakes while I was there with my daughter last month.
So. In order to save you a few stumbles (and possibly a blister or two), here’s a list of the most common mistakes tourists make in Paris—and how you can sidestep them with the grace of a local.
Or at least a slightly more seasoned tourist who’s learned the hard way.
After a week in Paris with my daughter, I’m sharing the 10 most common mistakes tourists make in Paris—and how to avoid them so your Paris vacation feels more “La Vie en Rose” and less “Help, my feet are bleeding.”
If you don’t know where to stay in Paris I have some good suggestions.
This post contains affiliate Amazon links. They cost you nothing but we make a small commission. If you would like me to explain it further, please visit our disclaimer page.
1. Forgetting to Say “Bonjour” (It’s Basically a Crime)
Let’s start with the big one: bonjour. If you take nothing else from this post, take this—always greet people when you walk into a shop, a bakery, a café, even a tiny museum gift shop run by a woman who looks like she could spot a rude tourist from 400 metres away.
It’s not just being polite—it’s cultural.
Not saying “bonjour” is basically like walking in and announcing, “Hi! I’m here to disrespect your entire way of life!”
Say it with a smile. Say it even if you butcher the pronunciation. Just… say it.
2. Trying to Conquer All the Must-Sees in Paris in One Day
I get it. Paris is full of world-famous sights, and we want to see them all. But here’s the thing—this city wasn’t built to be rushed.
I tried to pack too much into our first day and nearly had a breakdown in the Louvre queue.
Pick a few things. Leave room for magic. Sit by the Seine. Watch the boats. Wander with no goal and accidentally find a jazz band playing on a bridge at sunset (yes, that actually happened).
Paris rewards the slow.
3. Wearing Silly Shoes Because They Look Cute
Paris has stairs. And cobblestones. And metro stations that require the agility of a mountain goat.
And yet… my daughter and I both brought shoes that were fine for strolling—but not for Paris walking. There’s a difference. Within 48 hours, we were hobbling around like tragic extras in Les Misérables.
Wear the comfy ones. The “I can walk 10k and still feel fabulous” ones. Nobody’s looking at your feet—they’re too busy admiring their own reflection in the bakery window.
4. Assuming Everyone Speaks English
Here’s a tip: if you try a little French—even just, “Excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais?”—most Parisians will happily switch to English.
But if you launch into a full conversation like you’re still in Auckland or Sydney or Chicago, they’ll stare at you like you just asked them to babysit your dog for a week.
It’s about effort. Show some. They’ll meet you halfway. Sometimes with a grin, sometimes with a shrug, but it’s worth it either way.
5. Expecting Dinner to Be Fast
Parisian dining is not a transaction—it’s a journey. No one’s in a hurry to feed you and boot you out. In fact, if you want the bill, you’ll need to ask for it. Twice, sometimes.
At first, I thought we were being ignored. Turns out, they just assume you want to linger for two hours talking about life, love, and whether you should order another crème brûlée. And honestly? Once I stopped being twitchy about it, I kind of loved it.
Next, You Could Read:
Don’t forget to join my email list!
We have just left New Zealand to travel the world for a year. We are having the year away — living the dream!
We work online remotely, something that I have worked hard to achieve over the last five years. Digital nomad life isn’t just for the twenty-somethings!
You can join my inside circle, Frontrow newsletter, here.
We have a YouTube channel where we’ll be documenting our travels. I also have a podcast with my husband, and I write a newsletter or three.
You can find our YouTube channel here.
You can find our latest podcast, “Our BIG news”, episode here.
6. Getting Tricked at the Eiffel Tower
Ah yes. The infamous tourist traps. Within five minutes of standing under the Eiffel Tower, I was approached by two men trying to sell me roses and one very enthusiastic man with light-up keychains.
Smile. Shake your head. Say “non, merci” like a local who’s seen it all before. And for heaven’s sake, don’t let anyone tie a bracelet onto your wrist “as a gift.” It won’t be.
7. Skipping the Back Streets
Sure, the Champs-Élysées is grand, but if you want the real Paris? Wander. Get lost in the Marais. Find a tucked-away courtyard. Buy a €3 baguette and some cheese and sit in a square with peeling shutters and children playing football in their school uniforms.
My daughter and I had our favourite afternoon in a random park, nibbling on apricots, people-watching, and planning what dogs we’d adopt if we lived in Paris. It was magic—and there wasn’t a tourist in sight.
8. Overpaying for Coffee in Tourist Traps
A latte in a café near Notre-Dame will cost you €7. The same latte five blocks away? €3. And better. And probably served by someone who isn’t deeply over tourists asking for soy milk with extra foam.
Pro tip: go where the locals go. And if the menu’s only in French? Even better.
9. Thinking the Metro Is a Nightmare
It’s not. It’s actually brilliant. Once you figure it out, you’ll feel like a Parisian ninja. Just keep your bag zipped, stay alert, and let people off before you get on. (Why is this so hard for people?!)
Also: avoid changing trains at Châtelet unless you fancy a 20-minute hike through tunnels that feel like you’re heading toward Mordor.
10. Believing All Croissants Are Equal
They’re not. Some are life-changing. Others taste like a deflated pillow. Ask your hotel where they get theirs, or find a queue of locals outside a boulangerie and follow the scent of butter like a cartoon character.
Our favourite was a little place near our Airbnb where the pastries were still warm at 8am, and the woman behind the counter called us mes chéries. I nearly proposed.
Conclusion: Paris Dreams Are Built on Croissants, Curiosity, & Comfy Shoes
So there you have it. My lovingly gathered list of Parisian pitfalls—shared not to scare you, but to help you sink into the magic without tripping over the avoidable bits.
Paris isn’t about doing everything right. It’s about feeling something. It’s about having sore feet and pastry crumbs on your jumper and a weird little ache in your chest when you leave.
Go gently. Go curiously. Go with an appetite and a few French phrases. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll fall in love with it like I did.
Bon voyage, mes chéries
Next, You Could Read:
Don’t forget to join my email list!
We have just left New Zealand to travel the world for a year. We are having the year away — living the dream!
We work online remotely, something that I have worked hard to achieve over the last five years. Digital nomad life isn’t just for the twenty-somethings!
You can join my inside circle, Frontrow newsletter, here.
We have a YouTube channel where we’ll be documenting our travels. I also have a podcast with my husband, and I write a newsletter or three.
You can find our YouTube channel here.
You can find our latest podcast, “Our BIG news”, episode here.
