Is Paris Safe? Our Honest Tips & Experiences

How Safe Is Paris?

In general, Paris is a safe travel destination. This is especially true for the tourist hotspots in the city center and for the artists’ neighborhood of Montmartre.

Paris really has just two issues that can affect your safety:

1. Pickpockets & scammers (especially at heavily visited spots like Sacré-Cœur)
2. and street protests (the French do love to take to the streets every now and then)

Other than that, it’s no more dangerous here than in any other major European city.

Which Paris Neighborhoods Should You Avoid?

All the arrondissements bordering the Seine — like the 8th, 9th, 14th, and 18th — are safe and also have some great places to stay in Paris.

As a tourist, you’re unlikely to accidentally wander into a dangerous area. The neighborhoods worth avoiding — the so-called banlieues — are located far outside the city center.

Steer clear of:

• Seine-Saint-Denis (large neighborhood in the northeast)
• Barbès-Rochechouart (train station)
• Château Rouge (train station)
• Château d’eau (train station)

To put it nicely, these areas are “rough” and known for petty crime.

To give you a better sense of which Paris districts are safe and which aren’t, we’ve marked the most important ones on a map in red and green.

Red for not safe, green for safe.

And here you’ll find the most beautiful neighborhoods in Paris:

Pickpockets in Paris

Where there are lots of tourists, pickpockets are never far behind — and Paris is a serious pickpocket hotspot.

In an analysis by QuoteZone, France ranks 2nd among European countries with the most pickpocketing incidents — right behind Italy.

These are the spots in Paris where you should be especially vigilant:

• Arc de Triomphe
• Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Sacré-Cœur
• Louvre
• Paris Metro
• Terraces and sidewalk cafés

How Do You Protect Yourself from Pickpockets in Paris?

You’re practically guaranteed to cross paths with pickpockets in Paris, especially at the top Paris attractions. To avoid becoming a victim, keep these tips in mind:

• Only carry bags you can fully close
• Always carry your bag visibly IN FRONT of you
• Never hang bags or jackets over chairs
• Never leave your valuables unattended
• Carry your phone on a phone lanyard directly on your body — we always do this when traveling!
• Don’t leave your phone on the table at a café or restaurant
• Avoid cash whenever possible — a debit card is much easier to keep secure than a wallet
• If you do carry a wallet, don’t keep it in your pants pocket
• Don’t engage with strangers who approach you (more on scammers coming up)
• Don’t close your eyes on the Metro (more Metro tips further below)

Scammers in Paris

You really don’t need to worry about your physical safety in Paris. Your wallet, on the other hand, is a different story.

On top of pickpockets, Paris is full of scammers running all kinds of tourist traps. Here’s what to watch out for:

Friendship Bracelets

With this scam, someone approaches you and gestures or says something unintelligible to get you to hold out your hand.

The moment you do, you’ve got a thread on your finger and the person starts braiding a bracelet for you. And naturally, they want money for it — whether you asked for their services or not.

This trick is especially popular in front of Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.

Our tip: Don’t respond to gestures or conversations like this. If you suddenly have a thread on your finger, pull it off as quickly as possible.

Roses

The rose trick isn’t unique to Paris — it’s also very common in places like Cologne, for example.

Someone approaches you and holds out a rose. What might seem like a friendly gesture is simply a brazen scam — they’ll immediately demand money from you.

And even if you hand the rose back, the person will follow you for quite a while. Really annoying.

Our tip: Don’t accept any supposed gifts from strangers in Paris. If you want to buy flowers, there are florists everywhere with a wonderful selection of beautiful little bouquets.

Shell Game

This trick has been around for centuries. Someone sets up three upside-down cups or shells and hides a ball under one. The cups are shuffled around and you have to guess where the ball is.

Sounds easy — and like quick money. But the ball isn’t under any of the cups. It’s in the scammer’s hand. You can only lose.

And watch out: don’t even stop to watch. Pickpockets who are part of the operation are always lurking nearby.

Our tip: Give a wide berth to any street magic games.

Demonstrations in Paris

The French are known for taking to the streets quickly when it comes to political matters. These heated street protests unfortunately tend to escalate fast, with burning cars and smashed windows.

But of course, that’s not everyday life in Paris!

What Should Tourists Do During Street Protests in Paris?

Should unrest break out while you’re there, the standard travel safety advice for France is:

• Keep an eye on the domestic political situation when planning your trip
• Avoid all demonstrations of any kind
• Follow the instructions of local authorities (e.g. curfews)

But again: you really don’t need to worry that Paris will be in chaos when you visit. The protests can be intense, but they’re also genuinely rare.

Is Paris Safe at Night?

Yes, Paris is safe at night too. Stick to the districts marked in green on the map above, stay where other people are around, and you have nothing to worry about.

And honestly, you absolutely shouldn’t miss Paris after dark! The city’s magic really only comes into its own in the evening.

Cycling Safely in Paris

Cycling in Paris is also a solid option. The key is that you’re comfortable on a bike, follow traffic rules, and stick to designated bike lanes.

More information about cycling, bike lanes, and bike rentals can be found here:

Safety in Paris for Women

For solo female travelers or small groups of women, the same applies: Paris is about as safe as any other major city.

You can enjoy your sightseeing, go out to eat, and head out in the evenings without any trouble. We’d simply recommend following the usual guidelines:

• Always keep your phone with you
• Watch your valuables
• Avoid dark, deserted areas
• Avoid the rougher neighborhoods
• At night, take an Uber instead of the Metro if in doubt
• Be careful when accepting drinks from strangers
• If someone asks whether you’re alone, it’s perfectly fine to lie

Safety on the Paris Metro

By and large, the Paris Metro is safe and is patrolled by police.

That said, the hustle and bustle on the platforms attracts a lot of pickpockets. So keep a close eye on your valuables — both while waiting on the platform and while riding the train.

You should also watch out for scammers at the ticket machines. They’ll offer to help you buy a ticket, then take your money, buy the cheapest option available — which is useless to you — and disappear with the change.

Always buy your ticket yourself. And if you genuinely need help, head to the nearest service counter and ask a staff member.

Parking Safely in Paris

The safest parking option in Paris is your hotel’s parking lot. If your hotel doesn’t have its own parking — which is often the case in the city center — we recommend a staffed parking garage.

Paris has a large number of parking garages that you can easily book in advance online through Parclick.

Your best bet is to choose a garage near your hotel and use the Metro or walk for trips around the city center.

Do not park on the street in Paris. While it’s not universally forbidden, it comes with a lot of headaches.

Parallel parking alone is a real challenge. On top of that, it’s not always clear where you need to pay or for how long — sometimes you’re only allowed to park for a maximum of two hours.

And once you’ve parked and come back, it’s not uncommon to find yourself boxed in, discover a dent in your car, or be greeted by a parking ticket.

Bottom line: In Paris, the safest place to park is in your hotel’s parking lot or a dedicated parking garage.

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