Paris is known for being one of the most romantic cities in all of France. The streets bustle with activity, while at the same time emanating some sort of quiet charm. You won’t ever feel rushed as you explore the city of Paris – just incredibly amazed and perhaps even spellbound.

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When to Visit Paris

The absolute best time to visit Paris is in the late spring, namely during the month of June. During this time of year the weather is beautiful and the sun doesn’t set until almost 10pm – giving you plenty of extra time to people watch or explore.

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The winter and early spring months are not nearly as pleasant. During the winter time you’ll find the city is dark and cold and during the early spring the weather is usually very rainy.

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While the summertime is usually pleasant it is also the most expensive and crowded time of year to visit. July is a very busy month while August, on the other hand, is a little milder. Just remember that many restaurants and shops in Paris close down during the month of August – not that this should deter you as there are plenty of other things to do around the city.

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The month of September is also a lovely time to visit Paris. Temperatures are a bit milder than they are in August and the costs associated with visiting are a bit lower as well.

How to Explore Paris

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Anyone looking to truly experience everything Paris has to offer should pack a great pair of walking shoes as walking through Paris has been proven to be the best way to get around. You’ll enjoy strolling through some of the city’s most beautiful parks, squares, and alleys and if you get tired you can simply hop on the public transportation system. The subway and bus systems are pretty complex and can deliver you at almost any destination.

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Not sure where to get started? Remember this. Paris is split into 20 individual neighborhoods, also known as arrondissements. Each one has a number and the number reveals the actual location of each neighborhood (ie. #1 is the oldest and is closest to the city center). The 1^st through 8^th neighborhoods usually receive the most tourist traffic.

Timing Your Tour of the City

Paris isn’t exactly a party town and the hours of most shops and restaurants are a bit different than you’re probably used to. The average museum is open 6 days a week and most are closed on Tuesdays. Many have late night hours once per week and if you can time your trips based on those late nights you’ll find the museums are not as crowded.

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Restaurants tend to be open and closed based on what they consider to be average meal times. For example, a restaurant may be open from noon until 2:30 to serve the lunch crowd but then close again until 7:30 when the dinner rush begins. There are a few cafes that will serve food all day long but they are all very casual. If you’d like to eat in a fine dining establishment, be sure to make your reservations well in advance.

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Most shops in Paris open around 10am and smaller stores won’t open until 11. Many will close for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then reopen until around 7:30pm. It its illegal for most shops to be open on Sundays, but you’ll find some exceptions to the rule along the Champs-Elysees and in a few other areas.

How to Dress in Paris

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The French do not dress nearly as causally as we do in other places around the world. Save your sports-attire for the playing field. It’s perfectly acceptable to wear jeans if they are not tattered and you should only wear sneakers if they’re urban or stylish – not the ones you’d wear while gardening or working out. Anyone venturing out for the evening should double check to make sure there is not a dress code at the restaurant or establishment he plans to visit.

A Final Word on Etiquette in Paris

Over the past few years Paris has earned a reputation for being relatively rude. The problem is not that Parisians are rude, but that tourists are cold and refuse to treat the locals with any type of respect. Sounds like we’re the rude ones, doesn’t it?

Make sure you are polite, exchange formal greetings when you meet someone new, and start your conversation by inquiring as to whether or not the person you have just met speaks English.

Add the following words to your vocabulary:

• Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) = hello
• Au Revoir (o ruh-vwahr) = goodbye
• Madame (ma-dam) = my lady, used to address a woman over 16
• Mademoiselle (mad-maw-zel) = when speaking to a woman under 16
• Monseiur (muh-syuh) = when speaking to a man of any age
• S’il vous Plait (seel-voo-play) = please
• Merci (mair-see) = thank you!

Taking a bit of time to research your destination, the places you’d like to visit, how to get around, and how to communicate with the locals will do wonders in making your trip to Paris an enjoyable experience. Find yourself a cheap Paris hotel and be prepared to immerse yourself in an incredible (and friendly) culture!