If you’ve had the chance to visit Paris already, you’ll know that it’s a one-of-a-kind place, full of charm and surprises. What you might not know is that the people who live there – what with their quirky mannerisms and distinct sense of humor – are, in fact, just as unique as the city itself. Here are 20 things that only a Parisian would do.
Wear sunglasses in winter
Who cares if the sky is grey and you’re sporting a woolly scarf, hat, and ear muffs? Not the Parisians, who seem to have this knack of making everything and anything look cool.
Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip
Looking for an expert's perspective?
Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
CentralAmerica
Gorgeous Guatemala
5 days . Mini
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.
Next
CentralAmerica
Beachy Belize
5 days . Mini
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
Next
CentralAmerica
Colonial Mexico
5 days . Mini
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
Back to Map
SouthAmerica
Adventurous Ecuador
8 days . Epic
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.
Next
SouthAmerica
Ancient Peru
9 days . Epic
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
Europe
Seductive Southern Italy
10 days . Epic
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.
Next
Europe
Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train
7 days . Culture
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
Next
Europe
Complete Portugal By Train
8 days . Culture
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
Back to Map
Asia
Soulful South Korea
10 days . Epic
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.
Next
Asia
Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam
11 days . Epic
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
Next
Asia
Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train
10 days . Culture
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
Back to Map
Africa
Epic Morocco
11 days . Epic
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!
Next
Africa
Ultimate Egypt
9 days . Epic
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
Next
Africa
Immersive Kenya
8 days . Epic
3. Kenya
An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
Back to Map
Beep their car horn to solve any problem
Ahhh Paris: quaint, calm, quiet – that is, if you can get past the constant beeping of car horns. The Parisians seem to resort to using their horn as soon as traffic stops, which, being a busy city, happens a lot. When this does occur, the deafly noise of ten cars’ continuous horns is not uncommon. Beep!
Sit outside in winter
The cafés in Paris offer outdoor seating year in, year out. Whether it be blistering hot or blowing a blizzard, you will always find Parisians sitting out on the street terraces people-watching the day away. Many café’s even provide blankets and outdoor heaters for such occasions; talk about hospitality!
Become a Culture Tripper!
Sign up to our newsletter to
save up to 800$ on our unique trips.
Substitute a scooter for a car
Scooters are a big deal in Paris. No, not the electric ones with a motor, the two-wheeled manual ones. Young or old, men in suits or kids in wellingtons, everyone seems to have one. Not a bad way of getting around!
Have ‘cheese’ as an independent course on a menu
So unsurprisingly, the Parisians eat a lot of cheese, but did you know you can often order the stuff as a course at many restaurants in Paris? A simple, quick and tasty treat, requiring absolutely no cooking – only the Parisians could get away with that!
Make smoking look like a still from a retro film
Despite smoking becoming less and less glamorized across the rest of the world, the Parisians have a knack of making it look as elegant and sophisticated as it did back in the 1940’s black-and-white films.
Men wear scarves – the cloth kind
A stereotype maybe, but lots of Parisian men do, in fact, wear those linen scarves – often seen in pictures – to accessorize their outfits. Striped, checked – how very chic indeed!
Be able to resist food and only have a ‘morceau’
A ‘morceau’ is a French noun used to mean ‘a little bit’ when talking about food. What even is ‘a little bit’ of bread? The Parisians seem to be incredible adept at staying controlled whilst enjoying the finer things in life – meanwhile, we’ll have two baguettes with a side of croissant please.
Make drinking wine in public look classy
Somehow the Parisians manage to make public drinking in groups look sophisticated, where in most other places across the world it would be deemed as ‘anti-social behavior.’ Perhaps it’s the red wine, perhaps it’s the Louvre in the background, or perhaps it’s simply the Parisian charm.
Dress from head-to-toe in black in summer
‘Women think of all colours except the absence of colours. I have said that black has it all,’ – Coco Chanel. So what if it’s 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)? I’m a Parisian.
Accesorize with a baguette
On the weekends, you will pass many a Parisian walking to and from local shops to fill their cupboards and fridges up with fresh and seasonal produce from the nearby market streets. While their purchases may very, you can practically guarantee most of them to be carrying a baguette in hand. Indeed, this baguette-carrying is so common that it’s almost like a Parisian stamp – an accessory, a statement.
Wear Stan Smith with everything
Parisians love trainers, in particular, Adidas Stan Smiths. Renowned for their chic dress sense and class, this may seem rather bizarre, but don’t knock it till you’ve seen it in action – it is surprisingly genius. A snakeskin skirt? Pair with Stan Smiths. A flowery dress? Pair with Stan Smiths. A fur coat? Pair with Stan Smiths. You get the picture.
Be defensive about which part of town is best
There are 20 different arrondissem*nts in Paris, each varying in architectural design, culture and amenities; however, what they do all have in common is that the Parisians who live there will always consider their arrondissem*nt to be the best, and be willing to argue to the death in order to defend this view.
Choose to Speak English over French in the French capital
Whether it’s because the Parisians are proud of their language abilities, or whether they just can’t stand us foreigners using their beautiful language so poorly, any slight hint of the fact you are not, in fact, French yourself when conversing with a Parisian, they will switch the English so quickly that it seems second nature.
Turn people away at clubs for ‘over-dressing’
So the Parisians love trainers, but surely this is just a daytime thing? Well actually, no. The trainer trend is also in many of the most A-list clubs in Paris, along with baggy t-shirts, jeans and snapbacks. In fact, wear something too snazzy like your best stilettos or a button up shirt and tie and you may actually be refused entry! Who knew looking ‘too smart’ was a thing?
Knock someone’s car while trying to park
Being a busy city, it is often very difficult to find a parking spot in Paris, and when you finally do, they are often very small. This, however, doesn’t seem to deter the Parisians who attempt to fit their car into any space, no matter the size. This results in the knocking and scraping of the paintwork of the car in front, behind, or both. Surprisingly, no one ever bats an eyelid – something to bare in mind before buying or renting something fancy to drive around in the French capital.
Stock up their beauty cupboard at the pharmacy
Who needs Sephora when there is a pharmacy on nearly every corner in Paris? Unlike elsewhere – where pharmacies are more commonly associated with medical supplies – the pharmacies in Paris hold beauty products that the Parisians swear by: French branded moisturizers, shampoo, natural soaps and even makeup. A trip to a pharmacy in the capital is just as exciting as visiting the clothes shops on the Champs Elysées – a store full of goodies that help explain why the Parisians always seem to look so flawless.
Live in an apartment the size of a family bathroom
With the smallest, legal, rentable apartment size standing at just 9 square meters, Parisians are willing to live in incredibly small spaces in order to live in the French capital. In fact, most apartment buildings will have a separate ‘maids’ staircase that leads up to a separate floor in the roof, where you can find such apartments. Think Ratatouille.
Take regular museum trips
There are tens of fabulous museums across Paris, all housing different exhibitions and themes. Culture is something that Paris very much encourages, with tickets for under-25s often being free of charge. Thankfully, these trips to the museums are often chosen over staying in and watching TV. Yes, the Parisians really are cultured and sophisticated!
Visit numerous shops in order to get fresh, organic produce
Despite Paris being a big city, each arrondissem*nt is almost like a small town, having several ‘market streets’ lined with specialized, independent shops. Paris is known for its boulangeries, but they also have shops which just stock cheese and dairy, honey shops, butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg and all manner of other things. Much importance is placed on both the quality and seasonality of products, and Parisians are prepared to shop around in order to obtain such produce.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Read Next
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of travel, culture, and the unique aspects of different cities, including Paris, I find this article on "20 things that only a Parisian would do" quite intriguing. My extensive knowledge in these areas allows me to shed light on the various concepts mentioned in the article.
-
Wearing Sunglasses in Winter: Parisians are known for their impeccable style, and wearing sunglasses in winter is a testament to their ability to make any accessory look cool regardless of the weather. This reflects the Parisian flair for fashion and individuality.
-
Café Culture in Winter: The habit of sitting outside in winter at cafés, equipped with blankets and outdoor heaters, showcases the Parisian love for people-watching and the enduring café culture, which is deeply ingrained in the city's social fabric.
-
Preference for Scooters: The popularity of manual scooters among Parisians reveals a practical and stylish mode of transportation embraced by people of all ages, contributing to the city's dynamic and fast-paced lifestyle.
-
Cheese as a Course: Ordering cheese as an independent course in restaurants reflects the Parisians' love for this culinary delight. It also highlights their appreciation for simplicity and quality in food.
-
Elegance in Smoking: The Parisians' ability to make smoking look elegant harks back to the city's historical association with sophisticated and glamorous lifestyles, reminiscent of the classic films from the 1940s.
-
Men Wearing Scarves: The stereotype of Parisian men wearing linen scarves is a sartorial choice that adds a touch of chic to their outfits, reinforcing the city's reputation as a global fashion capital.
-
Mastery of 'Morceau' in Eating: The concept of having a 'morceau,' meaning a little bit, reflects the Parisians' ability to savor and appreciate small portions of food, showcasing their culinary sophistication.
-
Public Wine Drinking: Parisians manage to make public wine drinking appear classy, blending a love for wine with a sophisticated atmosphere, whether against the backdrop of iconic landmarks or during social gatherings.
-
Black Attire in Summer: The Parisian penchant for wearing black from head to toe in summer challenges conventional fashion norms, emphasizing the timeless elegance associated with this monochromatic style.
-
Accessorizing with a Baguette: Carrying a baguette as an accessory is a cultural stamp for Parisians, symbolizing their commitment to fresh and seasonal produce and the importance of daily rituals, such as buying bread.
-
Stan Smith Sneakers: Parisians' love for pairing Adidas Stan Smith sneakers with various outfits showcases their ability to seamlessly blend casual and chic styles, reflecting the city's diverse fashion scene.
-
Defending their Arrondissem*nt: The pride Parisians take in defending their specific arrondissem*nts highlights the diverse character of each district and the strong sense of community and identity within the city.
-
Language Preferences: Parisians' tendency to switch to English when conversing with non-French speakers may stem from a mix of language pride and a desire to accommodate international visitors while maintaining their linguistic heritage.
-
Nightclub Dress Code: The unique nightclub dress code, favoring casual attire like trainers over more formal wear, adds a touch of non-conformity to Parisian nightlife, emphasizing comfort and individuality.
-
Parking Challenges: The fearless approach to parking, even if it means minor collisions, reflects the pragmatic and determined nature of Parisians when it comes to navigating the city's bustling streets.
-
Pharmacy Beauty Products: Parisians' preference for beauty products from pharmacies showcases their commitment to skincare and beauty rituals. The availability of quality products in local pharmacies is a cultural aspect of personal grooming.
-
Compact Living Spaces: Opting for small apartments, even as small as 9 square meters, underscores the Parisian willingness to sacrifice space for the privilege of living in the heart of the city, embracing a lifestyle reminiscent of the film "Ratatouille."
-
Regular Museum Visits: The dedication to regular museum visits reflects the Parisians' appreciation for culture and the arts. Free or discounted tickets for young individuals encourage a broader engagement with the city's rich cultural heritage.
-
Seeking Fresh Produce: Parisians' commitment to exploring various shops for fresh, organic produce highlights their emphasis on quality and seasonality in food. It also reinforces the importance of supporting local, specialized shops.
-
Culture Trip's Premium Travel Offerings: The conclusion of the article introduces Culture Trip's premium small-group trips, curated by local insiders, reflecting a growing trend in responsible and meaningful travel experiences. The emphasis on flightless itineraries and carbon offsetting aligns with the global shift towards sustainable tourism.
In summary, the article provides a delightful glimpse into the distinctive lifestyle and habits of Parisians, capturing the essence of the city's culture, fashion, and culinary preferences.
