15 unwritten rules you should know before travelling to Paris

In our increasingly globalised world, it should come as no surprise that even Paris is different to how we might remember it. Gone are the days when servers refused to speak English and requests for takeaway coffee were met with scorn. Keeping up with international trends, the city is now home to gluten-free bakeries, and even the most classic of bistros have English-speaking servers and vegetarian offerings. That said, the densely packed French capital still has its distinct way of doing things. Parisians value food, beauty, and leisure, and tourists can easily commit a faux pas without even meaning to. If you want to disappear seamlessly into the tapestry of Parisian life, here’s how to do it.

1. Always start with bonjour

Forget what your French-English dictionary tells you: bonjour, in French, means so much more than hello. While in the Anglo world, a smile does much of the heavy lifting in social interactions, in France, whether you’re boarding the bus, visiting a shop, or entering a packed elevator, you should always begin with bonjour. It’s a piece of social punctuation, and leaving it out feels as unnatural to French people as not saying “excuse me” or “sorry” to a Brit. Keep this in mind, especially when you enter a restaurant or ask for directions: Start with bonjour (and wait for your interlocutor to say it back) before making your request, or risk getting sour looks or even poor service.

2. Treat waiting staff as esteemed equals

In France, hospitality is a revered pillar of French savoir-faire (know-how), and workers in the industry are treated with utmost respect. Staff in higher-end hotels and restaurants will be rigorously trained by specialised schools, and servers in everyday bistros are experts in their craft, perfectly positioned to counsel you on which wine to pair with the sole meunière they’ll expertly fillet before your very eyes. It should go without saying, then, that summoning your server with a lofty garçon! is verboten.

3. Remember to carry cash

Where in London you risk coming a cropper if you can’t pay contactless, in Paris, things are still a touch more old-school. While you can pay by card in most places, many smaller businesses still have a minimum amount for card payment – usually around five euros, but sometimes as much as 10. Be sure to carry a small amount of cash with you; it will also be useful for tipping and purchasing items at outdoor markets.