Business Tips

Paris Dress Code: Casual but smart clothing outside of business is the norm, with the possible exception of the more exclusive restaurants and hotels, which may stipulate a jacket and tie. For business meetings, both men and women wear suits.

Greeting Someone in Paris: A friendly handshake is the normal greeting for business associates in Paris. It is not customary to use Christian names unless formalities are mutually disregarded. Visitors are advised to be slightly cautious when addressing women. The decision to use madame, or alternatively mademoiselle, can cause avoidable friction. The very best advice is to keep alert and listen carefully to introductions and follow the example given.

Paris Business Hours and Banking: Both government and commercial offices operate between 09:00 and 17:00. Generally, banks in France are open weekdays from 09:30 to 16:30 (the Banque de France is an exception and closes at 15:30), and some banks are also open on Saturday. Most take a one-hour, or even a 90-minute, lunch break, except for those in central Paris. Banks at the airport and main train stations open as early as 06:30 and close as late as 22:30.

Paris Smoking: Smoking, although more widely accepted in France than in many English-speaking countries, has recently become an issue. Expect to find no-smoking signs in many public places, although most cafes and restaurants will allow smoking in at least part of their premises. The non-smoker may find this difficult, as so many people do smoke. If this is so, their only recourse is to make their feelings known!


When to Visit - Arts and Events

Paris contains many museums that house permanent exhibitions. These museums are dedicated to famous artists such as Picasso, or famous movements such as the huge Impressionist collection in the Musée d'Orsay. Major works from the early periods in the history of art can be viewed at the Louvre. There are hundreds of museums in Paris, exhibiting all kinds of art; the museums included here are the most visited. They contain the work of the greatest artists, including Picasso, Monet, Rodin and Matisse, along with a host of others.

In addition to permanent exhibitions on show at the museums, the city's art galleries put on irregular exhibitions of historical and contemporary work. Many a masterpiece can be 'discovered' in these periodical showcases. The Pompidou Centre is probably the most famous art gallery in Paris, instantly recognisable as the 'inside-out' building.

At February's Great Wines Fair, 100 of the country's top wine producers display their vintage crops at the Carousel du Louvre; Paris Fashion Week displays the most daring Parisian haute couture in March, with outdoor fun the theme at the "Printemps des Rues" arts festival later in the month; classic cars race up the Montmartre hill during the Vintage Car Rally in May, while June sees the Music Festival de Saint-Denis and Le Carre Rive Gauche, when the rue de Bac beside the Seine is bedecked with antique art.

Parisians are always in celebratory mood during mid-July's Bastille Day celebrations, before disappearing for extended vacations during August, leaving Paris almost solely to tourists. The September Autumn Arts Festival showcases the city's contemporary and performing arts, with an extended jazz festival at Parc de la Villette. As in London, Paris hosts an Open House 'Heritage Weekend' in September when visitors can tour a host of buildings normally closed to the public.

Sports events of note in Paris include the start of the Paris-Dakar rally in January; the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros from late May; Europe's oldest golf tournament, the Open de France, is staged at Le Golf National just outside Paris in June; the climax of the epic Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees in August and October's Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe horseracing meeting at Longchamp. Rollerblading is popular most of the year, and skaters are welcome to join the groups that make circuits of the city on Friday evening and Sunday afternoons.

Value for Money Sightseeing

The widely available Museum Pass (Carte Musées et Monuments) gives access to more than 70 museums and monuments in Paris and the wider region, including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Pompidou Center, Basilique Saint-Denis, and Rodin, Picasso and Versailles museums. Prices from €25 per day, €44 for three days, €62 for five days.

The permanent collections of the Paris City museums are free for everyone all year. Many museums in Paris offer free admissions on the first Sunday of each month, with others free at all times for visitors under 18. (Note: The museum pass does not permit access to temporary exhibitions or guided visits.)

Paris Visite combination passes are available that include entry to the Louvre Museum or Disneyland Paris resort in conjunction with RATP transport.

Buy a Carte Orange, Mobilis Pass or Paris Visite Travel Card if you plan to make full use of the city's public transport network.

Paris Tipping Advice

Service charges are included on all restaurant bills at a cost of between 10% and 15%. However, it is fair to add a little more if the meal and service have been exceptional. Taxi drivers expect small tips of between 5% and 10% of the fare. Parisian porters, doormen and room service staff can be offered a gratuity of approximately EUR 1.50 to EUR 3.00. It is also common practice to give a small tip to ushers in cinemas and theatres, perhaps EUR 1 or 1.50.

Disabled Travellers

Major attractions such as the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay are easily accessible, though less visited cultural attractions tend to fall short. Admission is free to national museums for the disabled.

A limited number of restaurants have disabled bathrooms. Metro transport is not wheelchair accessible, though wheelchair compartments are provided on all TGV high-speed train services (book ahead). RATP provide travel companions (‘compagnons du voyage’) for around 25€ per hour, on métro, RER, bus and trains.

Since 2001, disabled travelers in Paris have seen an improvement in services and facilities thanks to the work of the “Tourisme & Handicap” association (tourisme.handicaps@club-internet.fr). Useful books include ‘Paris for Everyone: A Guide for People with Reduced Mobility,’ available from French National Tourist Offices. The Michelin red guide for France also lists hotels with disabled facilities. Access Able provides worldwide access information.


Public Holidays

1 January: Jour de l'an (New Year's Day)
1 May: Fête du premier mai (Labor Day)
8 May: Fête de la Victoire 1945; Fête du huitième mai (WWII Victory Day)
14 July: Fête nationale (Bastille Day)
15 August: Assomption (Assumption Day)
1 November: La Toussaint (All Saints Day)
11 November: Jour d'armistice (Armistice Day)
25 December: Noël (Christmas Day)