If you’re visiting France the odds are quite good that you’ll be visiting Paris. It’s one of the most visited cities on the planet and there’s a reason why – it’s magical. It definitely has a quality that captures imaginations and creates obsessions. Having said that, Paris can also be overwhelming for the uninitiated, so here are three tips to help you get started in the City of Light.

1/ Choose the location for your accomodations carefully. We’ve stayed all over the city – in the 18th arrondissement, the 19th, the 3rd, the 8th, 9th, 4th, and on the outskirts in a cute little town called Garches. What we’ve learned is that location matters – you will be walking a TON in this city, so if you have specific things you want to see try to choose accomodations that are convenient to where you’re heading. Staying on the outskirts sounds fine in theory (“oh, just jump on the Metro!” everyone will tell you) but in reality it can be a pain if you’re out for a twelve hour day and your hotel is way outside the middle of the city. Lately we’ve really been making an effort to stay in the Marais (3rd arrondissement) as we like the area, the shops, restaurants, and it’s easily walkable to the Louvre and other places we tend to visit on each trip. Being able to to walk so many places and zip back to the hotel is a huge plus, and well worth the extra euros we might spend over staying on the outskirts of the city. Convenience is a huge bonus when you’re on limited time in a city as awesome as Paris.

If you can’t choose a central hotel, at least choose one on a good Metro line so you can use the subway system (which is excellent).

2/ Bring good walking shoes. Yes, you want to look good in Paris. We all do, but honestly you will be walking a ton, and you might be walking up and down stairs (especially if using the Metro), as well as on uneven pavement and cobblestones. Paris has a zillion tourists every year, many of whom will also be wearing comfortable walking shoes…so you’ll fit right in and no one one will care you’re not in heels or snappy dress shoes.

3/ Leave some unscheduled time. You’re definitely going to hit the highlights, but try to avoid overplanning. Allow yourself to let the city wash over you a bit and take in an event you weren’t expecting (Paris is full of them), or maybe just give yourself the freedom to sit on a terrasse and watch the world go by. Walk along the Seine and enjoy the French pastime of flâner – to wander without purpose. Paris is a city full of little gems to be discovered.

We LOVE Paris. Both of us have seen Midnight in Paris at least eleven times and when we win the EuroMillions lotto we’re definitely buying a huge apartment overlooking the Seine. But our time here has also proven to us that France is an absoutely magnificent country outside of Paris. We live in the south, in the province of Occitanie, a beautiful region that contains one of France’s largest wine growing regions, gorgeous beaches on the Mediterranean, and fascinating cities rich with ancient history. All of the regions of France have something to offer, and the more time we spend here the more we are amazed by it. So when you come to France expand your horizons and explore beyond the borders of Paris – you will love every minute.

Save your diet for when you get back home. The French have perfected bread, butter, cheese, and wine (among other delicious things). The butter is so good I was eating it on its own all through my first trip here, and I don’t particularly love butter! As for bread, the baguette is a French icon for a reason – it’s crunchy-on-the-outside-soft-and-doughy-on-the-inside characteristics are freakishly delicious. Even the hamburger here destroys most burgers we ever ate back in North America, because the French tend to take pride in all aspects of what they serve. So that means a burger made with good meat, made on a freshly baked bun, with amazing cheese like comte, emmental, or bleu. Just read this description from one of my favourite burger places in Paris (Burger Fermier – Des Enfants Rouges): “Our bread is homemade with organic flour from the Brimeux mill, the Angus or Limousine meat comes from the Chateauneuf farm in Audinchtun (62) and the chicken from Licques. Our cheeses come directly from the producer, the cheddars of small English pleasures, the tomme with cider from the Saint Jean chapel in Picardy.”

The French care about food, and you will enjoy the benefits of that your entire trip. You’ll also notice they don’t eat big portions – so if you do the same, don’t be afraid to eat the bread, the butter, the cheese, the burgers, or drink the wine. It’s a big part of the French experience, so enjoy!

Learning a few phrases in French will make a huge difference for you when you experience this country. If you’re Canadian, like us, you likely have at least a few basic phrases to help you get by. If you’re not, try spending a bit of time using duolingo and other online resources to learn even just a few phrases. This is useful for any country you travel to, but especially so in France – french people tend to respond well if you make an effort. They will likely flip to English anyway (if they speak it) as it makes it easier for both you and them, but it often breaks the ice when starting an interaction. It’s been written about to death that the key to any French discussion is to begin with “bonjour” – and for good reason. Always start off with a friendly “bonjour” and then take it from there. In our experience, if you’re friendly and start off on the right foot your odds of having positive interactions increase. People here in France are very nice and generally helpful (despite the cliche that they’re rude or stand-offish) … if you show you’re making an effort people here will reciprocate.

As with most places, the timing of your visit can make a huge difference on your overall experience. Paris in July is very different than Paris in late September. Being one of the most visited cities on the planet, hitting it in the middle of summer will mean long lines, hordes of tourists, and sold out exhibitions. In our experience July is almost unbearable, whereas April, May and September are amazing months to visit, both for the weather and the ability to move around more freely. Even low season can be really enjoyable – we visited once in mid-March and it was fantastic.

August in Paris – and all of France, for that matter – is kind of a strange month. This is when Europeans tend to take their holidays, so you might find locals skipping out of town but plenty of tourists are still hanging around. Some shops and services close in August, so it’s always good to check ahead and get a sense of what’s open and what isn’t if you’re visiting in August.

Every city and attraction has its seasons – we were recently in Carcassonne (in January) and many of the shops and services were closed because it’s the lowest season there. It meant we had the place almost to ourselves, which was amazing, but it also meant a more laid back and limited adventure.

So check out the seasons and rhythms of whatever city you’re visiting, it can completely change the vibe and your overall experience.

The pace of life in France – even in Paris – is slower than many other places. When we first moved here from Canada we couldn’t believe how much time people took for lunches or how people were quite happy to patiently wait in long lines. Things don’t happen here as quickly as they do in a fast-paced North American city, and for many visitors it can take a bit of time to get used to the idea that things move at a more relaxed pace. Now that we’re assimilating into life in the south of France we’re starting to really enjoy this slower pace…but it does take some getting used to. It’s a cultural thing, and it isn’t going to change during your trip, so just get on board, breathe (it’s very important to breathe) and enjoy the journey!

France is a relatively safe country, but like most countries there are places where you need to be careful. Assaults and other dangerous crimes are rare when it comes to tourists but pickpockets are everywhere, especially in Paris and other tourist-centric areas like the town squares or main attractions of any French city. Be alert, watch your wallet (keep it zipped up if you can), and guard your cell phone. Thieves, especially on the Paris metro, are really good at what they’re doing so you need to be vigilant.

If something does happen and you need to call for emergency assistance, remember that the number to call in Europe is 112.