Sometimes it’s good to get back to basics. If you’re coming to Paris in 2026, it’s fine to admit you need a quick refresher. Here are five things to remember when you’re visiting Paris that require repeating.

1. Mind Your Politesse

We won’t bore you with all the vocab you need to know, but a simple bonjour (hello) and merci (thanks) go a long way in every single interaction. Someone once told us that instead of leaving a tip, it’s best just to go out of your way to tell your server or bartender merci, au revoir.

Looking back, that person was probably just cheap, but you get the idea. These words are important and unlock smooth interactions.

2. Accept You’re Not Parisian

But all that said, remember no one expects you to be Parisian. You don’t need to speak fluent French. You don’t need to dress high fashion. Be sensible, but be realistic. You’re a visitor supporting the local economy with every euro you drop into it, and that entitles you to some grace. If you forget some “protocol,” you will not be sent to the guillotine.

They stopped using that in 1977, anyway.

3. Skip Calorie Counting

Eat. The. Food. Why? You’ll be walking so much as it is that calories will become distant memories. The bread. The wine. The pastries. While we exaggerate a little, we also mean it a lot: enjoy Paris’s cuisine guilt-free.

You won’t know how good you had it until you’re home looking for fresh bread and realizing how poorly your local offering stacks up.

4. Follow Your Bliss

Just close Instagram. Close the guide books. Turn off the noise. Wake up in Paris each day and do what you want to do. It’s your trip, not the editors’ of Lonely Planet or some influencer who paid bots to give them clout online. If you don’t feel like going to the Louvre, don’t. I don’t think anyone’s greatest memory of Paris is pushing through a museum. It’s a memory, sure, but not one you want to make if you won’t enjoy it.

Be flexible, plan ahead, but don’t force yourself into a corner where you feel a visit becomes a chore instead of a pleasure.

5. Stay Hydrated

Paris loves its free water. A carafe d’eau at every meal means getting a pitcher of fresh tap water (delicious). The Wallace fountains churning water out all day are perfect for filling up your water bottles. Skip the plastic, please, and embrace all the ways to slake your thirst in Paris.

This is especially important given all the wine you may (or may not) try while you’re here…

Do you have any other top tips for travelers to Paris? We’d love to hear ‘em!