Paris is generally safer than other major cities when it comes to violent crime (remember handguns are illegal), but visitors should still remain alert and use common sense.
Personal Safety
Pickpockets are a problem, especially in tourist areas (like the Champs-Elysées and Montmartre) and crowded Métro cars, so always keep your bags closed and wallets in front pockets. Gypsy children are the most common offenders, but pickpockets may also wear business suits to avoid suspicion. A hidden money belt to protect your passport, extra cash and credit cards is advised for peace of mind. Beware of distractions, especially if you’re at a cash machine. And never, ever leave your baggage unattended (if it’s not stolen, it could be mistaken for a bomb).
Strikes and Marches
I read somewhere that there are about 700 protest demonstrations a year in France, and more than half are in Paris! Despite some high profile (read: looks bad on TV) unrest during the Gilets Jaune protests in 2019 and the student protests/riots of March 2006, most protests are peaceful.
Use common sense, though, and stay away when you see them. The CRS (French riot police) carefully guard all major demonstrations, directing traffic and preventing violence. They are armed and use tear gas and water cannons when things get out of hand.
Terrorism
France has been fighting terrorism on its own soil for decades. After the Métro bombings of 1995 the Plan Vigipirate was enacted (a sort of Homeland Security act). As a result, many trash cans were replaced with clear plastic bags; there’s no parking allowed in front of schools, government buildings and sensitive areas like Jewish temples; and you will see a lot of machine-gun-carrying French troops around town. The terrorist attacks on Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan in 2015, and knife attacks against Paris police in 2016 have only reinforced this security. The Parisians are used to this now, but visitors are always a bit shocked the first time they see them.
For Women
Women traveling alone should ride in the front car of the Métro or train, nearest to the conductor. Try and avoid the long maze of Métro tunnels at Montparnasse, République and Châtelet-Les Halles late at night, which tend to be full of young thugs. There are yellow emergency call boxes on every platform. French men are famous for trying to pick up beautiful women they pass on the street. To avoid unwanted advances, don’t smile if you accidentally make eye contact (it’s interpreted as a come-on). If you think you’re being followed, go into the nearest open café or restaurant and ask them to call you a taxi.
Blending in when you’re a visitor is more difficult than it looks. Even in a big city, those with blonde hair, taller than 5’6″/170cm, or wearing clothing brands or styles that aren’t common in France will reveal you as a tourist. So expect to get attention, no matter what. The best thing to do is to ignore male attention. Don’t worry about being polite, this is a big city! As soon as you open your mouth, even to say “leave me alone” they will hear your accent and continue harassing you even more. I never talk to men in the street or on the Métro when I’m alone, even if they’re asking the time. They can ask someone else. Self preservation, ladies!
Lost or Stolen Items
If you’ve lost something in Paris—on the street, in the metro, or in a taxi—you can file a report (in English) on the Préfecture de Police website or directly in the Bonjour RATP app on your phone (tap the profile icon to access the main menu).
Items found in the metro are held for 48 hours at the station before being transferred to the central lost property office; certain items like children’s toys or foreign ID papers may be kept slightly longer, while sealed bags and suitcases are destroyed by the bomb squad.
If your item is located, you’ll be contacted with instructions to retrieve it or have it shipped at your expense (a €11 handling fee applies). Items worth over €100 are kept for at least a year, others for three months, after which they are donated, resold, or destroyed, and roughly one in four lost items is eventually returned.
To report a theft (often required for insurance), contact the nearest police station (commissariat) or the Préfecture de Police.
NOTE: If you’ve lost something like a scarf or glove while out walking, it’s worth backtracking to find it. Parisians will often hang it on the nearest fence or street sign.
Report Missing Credit Cards
All of your card providers will have emergency numbers to report stolen cards, but it’s usually on the card itself. Make sure you note this number down somewhere separately when traveling. Here are some basic central numbers:
- Visa 0800 90 1179
- Mastercard 0 800 90 1387
- American Express +1 336 393 1111
More Articles & Resources
- Download the Guide to Staying Safe in Paris from the Paris Police (PDF in English).
- Do Yourself a Favor: Be Prepared for Pickpockets (Jan 2019)
- Scared of coming to Paris this Spring? Some perspective… (May 2016)
- Former Paris Policeman Creates Videos on Avoiding Travel Scams (Aug 2015)
- Gold Necklace Thieves in Paris (June 2012)
- Strikes & Terror Alerts…A Bad Time to Visit France? (Oct 2010)
- The Artful Dodger Strikes Again (July 2008)
- Tips on Personal Safety in Paris (Jan 2000)
- Paris: City of Illusion (Jan 2000)
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