How to Visit Paris Like a Local, Mistakes From Local Born in Paris

• I was born and raised in Paris and know the best ways for tourists to blend in with locals.
• Wearing a beret is typically a surefire way to spot that someone is a tourist.
• Greeting people in English and waiting for the check at a restaurant make tourists stand out.

It’s no secret that Parisians have a reputation for being a little standoffish if you don’t know how to properly approach them.

However, as someone who was born and raised in Paris, I know that blending in with the locals is a good way for tourists to have a positive experience while visiting the French capital.

Here are five mistakes I advise against making if you want to experience Paris like a local.

Wearing a beret

I’ll admit it — berets are cute. However, if you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb on your visit to Paris, I’m sorry to say you’ll need to skip the souvenir-shop beret.

Most Parisians don’t wear this stereotypical hat, and sporting one feels like a sure sign that someone is a tourist.

On a similar note, as a general guideline, I recommend avoiding anything the title character in “Emily in Paris” would wear or do.

Eating at restaurants where the staff really try to lure you in

If staff members are posted outside a restaurant with a handful of menus and call out to you as you pass by, you can almost guarantee the food will be overpriced and subpar.

In my experience, the same goes for any restaurant where the menu is offered to you in English before French. That’s why I typically recommend steering clear of overly touristy restaurants.

However, I do think some popular tourist spots, like Les Deux Magots and the Café de Flore, are worth visiting. Both are unbeatable for a weekday breakfast of a croissant, coffee, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Waiting patiently for your check at a café or restaurant

Although many Americans are accustomed to being served their bill before deciding whether they want dessert, in Paris, the check is typically only brought to you if you explicitly ask for it.

If you wait patiently to be invited to pay, you could sit there for a long time.

Sticking exclusively to tourist hot spots

One of my favorite things to do in Paris is roam the side streets aimlessly. However, you’ll miss out on this experience if you head directly to famous monuments and museums.

Instead, take the long way to your destination, turn off the major avenues, and take in the architecture and charming little shops.

Paris is compact and designed for walking, so you’ll never get too far off track, even if you’re lost.

Greeting people in English

You definitely don’t need to be fluent in French to visit Paris, but it’s always polite to learn a few basic phrases and greetings.

Although this is a considerate practice in any non-English-speaking country, I’ve noticed Parisians particularly resent a lack of effort on this front.

As long as you do your best to initiate the conversation in French, it’s often fine to then immediately switch to English — some locals will be eager to practice their language skills with you and appreciate you meeting them halfway.