Paris Travel Tips for Tourists — Practical Guide 2026

The single t+ ticket covers metro, bus, tram and RER within the central zone, with connections allowed within a time limit. Buying a carnet or loading tickets on the RATP/Navigo app is cheaper than single paper tickets.

The rechargeable Navigo Easy or the weekly/monthly Navigo pass pay off if you're staying several days: buy them at ticket machines or station counters, a photo is needed for the named version.

RER B connects Charles de Gaulle and Orly (via the Orlyval shuttle) to the city centre. Watch for strikes and engineering works on the line — check live traffic status on the RATP app before heading out.

Paris taxis must use a meter and have a roof light (green = free, red = occupied). Hail them at designated taxi ranks or book via G7, the city's long-standing dispatch service.

Uber, Bolt and Heetch all operate normally in Paris and its metropolitan area. The fare is fixed and shown before booking, handy to avoid surprises especially to and from the airports.

Anyone driving inside the A86 ring road needs a Crit'Air sticker on the windscreen, graded by emissions level. Order it well in advance on the official site certificat-air.gouv.fr, since it arrives by post.

Vehicles without a sticker or with a high emissions class can be banned on pollution-peak days or during hours set by the prefecture. Rental cars often already carry the sticker — check with the provider.

Pharmacies are marked by a flashing green cross. Every neighbourhood has one on night duty ('pharmacie de garde') — the address is posted on the window of closed pharmacies.

In France, service ('service compris') is included by law in the menu price. An extra tip is not required: leaving a few euros in cash for good service is appreciated but entirely optional.

The green and grey automatic street cabins ('sanisettes') scattered around the city are free and self-clean after every use. Some close at night; cafés and department stores are a good backup.

Tap water in Paris is closely monitored and perfectly safe to drink. Many parks and squares have public drinking fountains ('fontaines Wallace') where you can refill a bottle for free.

112 — single European emergency number. 15 — SAMU, medical emergencies. 17 — Police. 18 — Fire brigade (Pompiers), who in France often respond to medical emergencies too.