Often times, bloggers and tourists rave about what to do in Paris. The list is long actually, but less is discussed about things no one should ever do in the French capital. These are things that are not worth anyone’s time, and insisting on doing them might result in a waste of time and money. Conversely, you the idea of how best to enjoy the city and be safe.

Next time you are in Paris, do not argue with crowds in tourist areas, wait in line at the Eiffel Tower, or eat at the wrong brasserie. 

Here Is A List Of Things You Should Not Do In Paris

Visit Popular Brasseries 

Bubbling with charm and history, the city’s famous brasseries are worth a visit anytime of the day. However, you do not have to spend too much on one of them. Quite regrettably, the city’s popular brasseries are run by chains that are making money off the name, and the quality does not meet up to the price.

A chocolat chaud or beer ar Bofinger, La Coupole, Brasserie Lipp, or Le Grand Colbert, for example, is good. But for a genuine Parisian meal, La Palette in the center of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Terminus Nord, Le Chardenoux, comes to mind.

Not Exploring Beyond the Grands Magasins

At the Grands Magasins, you will find a vast collection of what you need or want here in the legendary department stores; however, you will have to whisk through crowded areas at sales time (June-July and the first week of January). The city is famed for its fantastic shopping enclaves and districts, which has special boutiques and Parisian gems.

The Golden Triangle, the Marias, the Rue Saint-Honoré, and the Marias are Paris’ most popular and rich. However, there are many streets that have a lot of charm too: the delightful old market streets Rue des Martyrs and Montorgueil, and Montmartre; rues Charonne and Keller; Palais Royal; rue Beaurepaire close to Canal Saint-Martin; and rue Vavin for children clothing.

Include Tourist Areas for Meals 

Generally, the Latin Quarter, the Place du Tertre, the area close to the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, and other places where visitors mostly frequent should be excluded. There are many nice places to grab a bite in Paris, and they are not far from tourist areas- it will be remiss of you to eat at an underwhelming joint.

Ensure you research before setting out by visiting websites and be prepared to check out restaurants that do not serve only tourists. On the other hand, you can just step into one of the city’s many great small specialty grocers (épiceries) that are located in every district for fast food. Alternatively, you can get some cheese and a baguette.

Do Not Skip the Smaller Museums 

The City of Light is a treasure trove for small but incredible museums. Many of the used to be private mansions of famous personalities, and they still retain their shape. Places like Nissim de Camondo, Gustave Moreau, Jacquemart André, Cognacq-Jay, the Palais Galliera, Musée de la Vie Romantique and many more have similar profiles.

There are the mid-size museums worth visiting, too, like the Musée Carnavalet, where you can find Marcel Proust’s bedroom and the phenomenal Musée Guimet and its well-maintained offshoot, Musée d’Ennery. A good number of these art repositories are managed by the city authorities and therefore free to the public. You should also know that entry is free when you visit any museum on the first Sunday of the month.

Do Not Avoid the Metro

Do not avoid the metro if you intend to move around often. You will save yourself a fortune by sticking to public transport in Paris. The city metro system is clean, safe, and one of the most convenient and cheap ways to move around.

Get a map at the yellow information booth at most of the stations, a carnet of about 10 tickets, and you are set to hit the road. Metros will convey you to within a few minutes’ walk of anywhere in the city, without being stuck in traffic.

The metro stations here are very automated, and though many have information booths with people, some do not so have money on you. Ticketing machines will take a credit card with chip or cash, and you can purchase tickets with a regular credit card at any booth. The machines are in English.

Do Not Waste Time on the Champs-Elysees

While the popular street of Champs-Elysees is still fantastic, especially when seen from the Arc de Triomphe, dealerships, overpriced cafes, and megastores have all tarnished its glam. There are some exceptions like Guerlain, but you will see many American chains. Visit the Banana Republic, Abercombie & Fitch, or Levis superstores.

It is a special Parisian stroll when you walk along the Boulevard Saint-Germain, the Rue des Martyrs, along Kes Berges de Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin, a new pathway along the Seine, starting from the front of the Musée d’Orsay. This walk will doubtless offer up-close views of the city’s many bridges and monuments.

Do Not Stay Inside the City limits

Ensure you do not stay within Paris only throughout your visit. When booking a trip, regardless of how many times you have visited, bear in mind that some of the country’s greatest gems lie within an hour from the French capital. Adding a day or two to travel a little farther to see some of France’s treasures is a rewarding adventure.

An hour-long train ride from the capital, the Chartres cathedral is a spectacular place to visit. Giverny, which is also an hour ride, is an absolute must-see, and you should visit the Château de Chantilly; Fountainrbleau or Vaux-le-Vicomte; Le Notres gardens, and the alluring quaint town of Senlis which is a short ride from Chantilly.

Do Not Wait On The Queue At The Eiffel Tower

The iconic tower is one of the most visited landmarks in the world. Though you want to have the beautiful ride up and magnificent views, waiting on long queues is hardly the perfect way to enjoy one’s time on holiday. But you do not have to.

Courageous visitors can climb the 38 steps to the Eiffel Tower’s first level and enter the lift from there. There are tour operators who offer ‘skip the line’ packages in case you do not want to visit alone. Some also have the package that includes seeing amazing views around while having the tastiest treats; a real VIP treatment.

Not Daring to Eat Like a Parisian

Discover the tastiest local specialty. From boudin noir (blood sausage) to tete de veau (calf’s brain) and garlicky escargots, the list of French delicacies is not short. You should try treats like langouste (lobster from Brittany), confit de canard (preserved duck leg), or tender lapin (rabbit). There is something for the vegetarians too; fraises des Bois, white asparagus, and any affordable truffle dish.

Unpasteurized cheese is said to be harmful and fattening, but the French do not think so. From goat (chèvre), sheep (brebis), or cow (vache), there are varieties to savor a different cheese every day of the year.

Do Not Be Scared To Go Off The Beaten Path

The city’s large and small parks can offer outdoor activities, memorable experiences, and splendid views. La Villette, Paris’ largest green space is not just a park. The Cité de la Musique, Paris Philharmonie, and Cité des Enfants are all here. La Villette is also close to Centquartre, the incredible arts center, and boasts of many summer activities for the entire family.

The Chateau de Vincennes and Boise d Vincennes- its neighbor- have a zoo, the amazing Parc Floral, and many more. See the stately views from the adorable Buttes Chaumont (19th) and the Parc de Belleville (20th). As eerily as it may seem, the city’s cemeteries are great for a historic walk: Montmartre, Montparnasse, and Père Lachaise are must-visits.

Do Not Rely on Taxi Late At Night 

It is possible to spend an hour waiting for a taxi and still not find one, and if you do, you may still get an unpleasant treatment from the driver. Paris is not like New York, where you can rely on flagging down a taxi as there a taxi stand system, but it cannot be trusted.

Ride-hailing services like Uber, AlloCab, LeCab, others operating in the city, are trusted alternatives. They also offer fast service in English. These are excellent if you are heading to a far destination.

Having the impression that tours are too touristy

There are many tour operators- on bicycle or foot- that can reveal the sides of Paris you may not see on your own out there. They also provide historical facts and insider tips and get you through the long queues to the VIP spots to spruce up your experience.

Paris Walks is one of those, and they are experienced in offering interesting strolls, managed by knowledgeable and friendly experts, that explores everything from chocolates and fashion to churches, with historical themes and specific areas.

Underground Paris offers an insider exploration into the city’s rich art landscape. Bike About boasts of an impressive range of bike tours for family, groups, or private groups, in off-the-beaten way areas and the Champagne region and Versailles. Fat Tire provides day and nighttime bike tours in the city and outside the city.

Do Not Skip Pre-trip planning

Do not even try to do that. The French capital is smaller than many major cities, but meandering around Paris can be chivvy if you do not understand its street plans and layout. Get familiar with the district system and have some idea of the area before setting out.

When you are around, the best good you will do is to buy a small, cheap map by arrondissement titled Plam de Paris. Make use of the apps and guidebooks, including the French app in English Visit Paris by Metro (RATP), which provides correct metro schedules. The apps can save a lot of time and money. Guidebooks can be immense in getting the best out of an area too.

Do Not Pass Up The Vélib Rides

The Vélib is the official bike-for-hire system that serves the entire city. It is one of the world’s cheapest and best and all you will need is your credit card with a chip, and you are good to go. To rent a bike is easy as stations are everywhere, and they operate 24 hours daily. As regards safety, the bike lanes are safe and everywhere in the city. Using Vélib, the first 30 minutes are free, the other half will cost you a few bucks as well as the third and further.

Do Not Leave Your Kids at Home 

The French capital is an incredible kid-friendly place and do not be swayed by any talk that state the otherwise. If you adhere to the rules, you and your kids will have a great time out. As a protip, every arts center, foundation, museum, and park in Paris has a charming list of activities lined up for kids. There are some activities in English too.

The city’s hotels, like Meurice and Le Bristol, have attractions for children liked tours and cooking classes, leaving parents with some free time on their hands. From the interactive museum exhibits (Cité des Enfants, Museum d’Histoire Naturelle, Palais de la Découverte) and amusement parks (Jardin d’Acclimatation) to Guignol puppet theaters, great merry-go-rounds, playgrounds (the Luxembourg Gardens), your kids will be thoroughly thrilled in their visit.

Do Not See Everything at the Louvre

It is overwhelming, incredible, and as travelers, tourists tend to put much pressure on themselves to try and do it all. However, the Louvre Museum is not arranged that way. Ensure you plan in advance, and rather than trying to do the impossible, get more information on wings or works you definitely want to see and plan to have a great time there.

Instead of seeing the Louvre alone, try to split your time into small museums too. Many of the city’s smaller museums have equally important and stunning art- and are usually satisfying. You can visit the Musée de l’Orangerie to see Monet’s popular Nymphéas (water lily) murals. The playground’s collections of Monet is at Musée Marmottan while the Musée is one of the city’s most romantic places.

Do Not Commit a Fashion Blunder

Fashion is steeped in the Parisian life so you will want to make the right dressing decisions. Trendy sneakers and shorts are not actually off-limits nowadays, but locals will have gripes at cargo pockets and too much baggy. In all of these, ensure you avoid the selfie stick. Parisians will definitely get onto you when they see one.

 The style here is not necessarily about classic combinations. The French are simply casual, but they have perfected the art of coordinated and clean look. So keep your outfit tidy and simple, apply neutral colors, then have accessories like a bold scarf, jewel, or hat (avoid these three at the same time); also ensure they fit. Complete the outfit with the best shoe you have on vacation and a fitted jacket. The result should look incredibly effortless and ooze confidence.

Things You Should Not Do in Paris – Summary

The City of Light is an expressively striking place, but the hordes of visitors can easily make it less delightful. To thoroughly enjoy Paris, you might want to go Parisian in style, and avoid some activities that appear too touristic. Stay clear of the featured points, and your love for the city will deepen.