Is Paris safe for tourists? If you’ve been following the news out of France over the past couple of weeks, you know all about the Gilets Jaunes movement. The Gilets Jaunes, or Yellow Vests in English, have been demonstrating all over the country and Paris was hit particularly hard by the destruction over the weekend. It started as a grassroots citizens’ movement made up of working people — with participants donning a yellow hi-visibility roadside vest — to voice feelings on a planned increase on the price of diesel and gasoline. Calm protests that started out with road blocks have turned increasingly aggressive. Now the Gilets Jaunes represent a greater anti-government movement that goes beyond fuel prices. Several readers have written to ask me if it’s still safe for them to visit Paris on an upcoming vacation and here’s my answer. I’ve included resources at the end that you might find helpful.
Is Paris safe for tourists?
Paris, France. 1st December 2018. People take part in a protest march of the yellow vests against the rising of the fuel and oil prices. Credit: Shutterstock.com / Alexandros Michailidis
The Gilets Jaunes movement is complicated, so I don’t want to focus on the heated politics here. I’ve provided links at the end with more information on the nuts and bolts of what’s going on. As of today, it seems the government will be postponing fuel hikes but I’m not sure it’ll stop the protests.
Tom and I just got back from the USA, but on the day we left, the Gilets Jaunes were starting to protest in and around Nantes Airport. I shot this quick video that I posted on Facebook showing the situation back in mid-November. While nothing I witnessed was particularly violent, it could have easily escalated. Hordes of people were walking back and forth at crosswalks to delay motorists, fires were started in the middle of the street, and cars were deliberately parked in places to stall traffic. We saw aggressive confrontations, and since then two weeks ago, what I’ve seen and heard in Paris and around France is deeply troubling. The day before we were to fly into Nantes Airport, protesters were physically out on the tarmac blocking flights from taking off!
That’s not normal. But I understand.
I, like many French people, understand the Gilets Jaunes’ original motive of getting the government to stop planned fuel tax increases . I agree with people’s right to calmly protest and express themselves. What I don’t agree with are the methods and the way this has escalated. Any type of protest that includes violence and damage to property is not OK and there has got to be a better way of getting your point across and effecting change.
For the record, fuel prices in France (and Europe) are already quite high. For working class people who rely on their car to get to work from rural areas, the increased taxes would be detrimental. Minimum wage in France (SMIC) for full-time workers is 1,153 € NET per month.
In my area of the Maine-et-Loire, the current price of fuel is:
(3.785 liters in 1 US liquid gallon, 1 euro=USD$1.13, current as of Dec. 5, 2018)
1 liter of diesel: approximately 1.40 € ($5.98 per gallon)
1 liter of gasoline: approximately 1.42 € ($6.07 per gallon)
Paris, France. 1 December 2018. Riot Police uses a water cannon and tear gas against demonstrators during a protest of the rising of the fuel and oil prices by people wearing yellow vests. Credit: Shutterstock.com / Alexandros Michailidis
So is Paris safe for tourists, or any area of France?
The answer is…. mostly yes (and a little no).
It’s a big question and not one that I can answer for you. Ultimately, you have to do what you are most comfortable with and what feels right for your particular circumstances.
Have you been planning your trip to Paris for years? Is it your first time and will you be there over the weekend, next weekend? Is it important to see all the top tourist monuments on set days? Do you have travel insurance? Are you a nervous traveler in general? Are you OK with having flexible plans? Are you an experienced traveler who keeps a low profile?
These are questions I’d be asking myself if I had upcoming Paris travel plans.
My stance on life ever since I was a teenager is that we have to live our lives and not let ourselves be ruled by fear or what-ifs. Bad things happen everywhere, both near and far and are out of our control, but that’s not to say that we shouldn’t take the current political situation in France seriously and just hope for the best. Burying our heads in the sand and going about life as usual is not the best answer either. In an ideal world, Paris would be perfectly safe, but it’s a real city with real problems like many places around the world.
Right now, tensions are high in France. The Gilets Jaunes movement is far from ideal and remains unpredictable. But I think it’s important to keep what’s going on in perspective. That’s not to say it’s something we should sweep under the rug or not take seriously. This is a serious situation and I’m not saying Paris is perfectly safe and everything will be fine. Let me be clear about that. No one knows what will happen in the future. No city is 100% safe and there’s risk in everything we do.
Despite what we see on repeat on the news, all of France is not burning or in crisis. I feel silly saying that but relatives of mine have contacted me worried thinking the whole country is in ruins. That’s not the case and far, far from the reality. A relatively small area of Paris was affected (pretty badly). But not every French person is out protesting or acting violently. Cities all over France aren’t overrun by anarchists.
Yes, about 285,000 French people have mobilized in support of the movement nationwide but many of those were peaceful protests that didn’t escalate to extreme violence and destruction. Extremists (pro rioters) have now cashed in on the opportunity to wreak havoc on the police and everyday citizens as part of this movement. That’s what the news is focusing on. Parts of Paris have been heavily affected as these recent photos from over the weekend show, but by taking precautions, you can do your best to stay out of harm’s way.
Paris, France. 1st December 2018. Demonstrators light a car on fire during a protest of the yellow jackets. Credit: Shutterstock.com / Alexandros Michailidis
It’s not easy to answer is Paris safe for tourists,” but we do need to take precautions when we visit any big city. Here are some tips I’ve compiled based on my observations and experience for those of you heading to Paris. They apply to the current set of circumstances but are good tips for smart travel in general:
- Avoid the areas where there are demonstrations. This one is the most important and might seem like a no-brainer. But beyond making a mental note to stay away from planned demonstration areas, do a little research of Paris geography ahead of time so you’re familiar with the neighborhoods while walking around. You may wander into a protest area without realizing it.
- Keep in touch with a friend or family member and check in regularly. Make sure people in your group or at home know where you’re planning to go and when.
- Check local news and updates on the current situation. Keep yourself informed.
- Don’t engage with protesters and don’t film/photograph them without permission. A situation can become volatile so best to just stay away.
- Keep a low profile. Don’t wear flashy clothes or jewelry, speak super loudly, or draw attention to yourself.
- Stay away from crowded areas. Paris is a busy city with lots of tourists so it’s impossible to always stay away from crowds. My advice would be to stay vigilant in areas where people are congregating, so metro stations, tourist attractions, etc. Stay alert and don’t wear headphones. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
While protests are happening nationwide, they aren’t as severe in other areas of France. That said, use caution regardless. If you’re coming to France and just connecting in Paris to vacation elsewhere, I would encourage you to continue with your planned travels. I just passed through Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday and there were no issues at the airport itself. But check the latest advisories before you leave to keep an eye on the ever-changing situation.
While everything in Paris is concerning, this movement was not aimed at tourists, so staying away from the demonstrations is the best course of action.
It would be irresponsible of me to say that if you’re vigilant, you’ll be fine so don’t cancel your travel plans. It would be just as foolish of me to say that you should stay home and postpone your trip because you’ll be subject to violence and chaos. Neither one of those things can be said with any certainty.
2018, December 1st – Paris, France: Protesters and police forces fighting at the Yellow Vests protests against Macron’s politics. Credit: Shutterstock.com / Guillaume Louyot Onickz Artworks
If you have plans to visit Paris in the near future, go with your gut. Do your own research. Is Paris safe for tourists? There’s no right or wrong answer — just the one you have to be comfortable with.
The bottom line is that France is not engaged in a civil war and extreme demonstrations are not happening everywhere. The protests are only happening on the weekends for the most part. As I said, this isn’t directed at tourists, so by staying away from the main protest areas, I feel you can still have a lovely time vacationing in Paris. You may be inconvenienced by the protests and have to change which attractions you see when or the route you take when you walk there, but I personally don’t feel tourists need to cancel their upcoming vacation plans to Paris in response to the Gilets Jaunes.
Anyway, all this is my opinion as a woman who’s lived in France for nearly 7 years. I personally would still travel to Paris given the current situation. I wouldn’t cancel my plans. But I’m not you. Only you can decide if you’re comfortable traveling to Paris and what’s best for your particular situation.
Info on what the Gilets Jaunes are all about and opinion pieces that I’ve found particularly helpful:
“Who are the Gilets Jaunes and what do they want?” via The Guardian
“France is deeply fractured and the Gilets Jaunes are just a symptom” via The Guardian
“Yellow Vests riots in Paris, but their anger is rooted deep in France” via The New York Times
Resources on Paris safety:
Demonstration alert from US Embassy, dated Nov. 30 and State Dept updates
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Do you have upcoming travel plans to Paris? What are your thoughts on the Gilets Jaunes? Do you feel Paris is safe to visit?
PIN IS PARIS SAFE FOR TOURISTS:
Is Paris safe Pinterest & feature image credit: Shutterstock.com / Guillaume Louyot Onickz Artworks
I think that your advice is really good, Diane. I have seen a lot of Demonstrations in California. Some of the most violent are in the North. When they happen in LA I just stay away from those areas. It’s the best way to stay safe.
Excellent post, Thank you !
What strikes me about protests in France is that they often have the effect of being directed against fellow citizens rather than against the government. I remember two years ago (spring 2016) when the blockades around oil refineries caused gas stations to run out of gasoline. And yet, despite these huge inconveniences, these protests are often widely supported. I’m not saying that the French system of protest is right or wrong, just that this is one of the characteristics that sets it apart from many other countries.
Pretty peaceful in the Loire valley, although they are starting to get on folks nerves. And nobody supports the violence.
hey terry im not far from there- they are being a bit of a pain here in sens- theyve wrecked a few places but they look like they are not giving in!
Excellent advice. Thank you.
Just stay out of Paris on a Saturday weekend in which the Champs Elysees is blocked by the police. The demonstrators are, however, everywhere in central Paris.
Even if the Gilets-Jaunes negotiate with the government this week, there is no guarantee that False Gilets-Jaunes will not be demonstrating in Paris.
These demonstrations will inevitably die down. Petrol prices TODAY are at the same level as they were in 2004/5 and there were no demonstrations then. These eruptions have gone too far and there is a good chance the demonstrators around the country will be making less of an effort. Only time will tell.
If Macron calls in the Army to patrol the streets, stay out of Paris …
You can tell this is an unorganized protest because the demands are contradictory. They want to reduce taxes but increase government services and benefits. Hmm. I agree with the analysis that Macron shot himself in the foot by getting rid of the wealth tax, which failed to stimulate the economy and also looked bad. But nobody should be surprised by the increase in diesel tax since the 2015 VW scandal. The automakers swore that they had made diesel clean, and governments promoted diesel. Turns out it was a scam, so it’s logical that dirty diesel would be taxed for what it is. 90% of the folks I saw in the early days were drivers of new SUVs (based on yellow vests on the dashboards of vehicles on the road or parked near the protest points). Not poor people. Now, though, it seems like an excuse to break stuff, which has brought in different participants.
I can’t say I enjoy paying taxes, but I do like the excellent health care, great schools, decent roads and other services. Maybe they were better in the past. But on a global scale, France is better than almost anywhere else. Macron would do well to find a way to tax the rich without letting them just offshore their money. Already, Brussels is full of French tax expats–Belgium taxes salaries more but the rich don’t have salaries.
I agree this is an excellent post. The yellow vest protests are not getting as much coverage here in the USA as they should. Hmm., wonder why? I think the protests are not truly about fuel prices. People around the world are finally waking up to the lies, deception and propaganda being perpetrated by the globalists and their MSM machine. I believe in the coming months you will see the evidence of heinous crimes that have been committed by those in power around the world. The great awakening….
totally agree- biggest crooks are those we are ruled by- because they can ….. I didnt used to believe in this stuff but hell yeah i can see it now!
We are Australians coming to the end of a 3 month stay in France. We have been in Provence since the Gilets Jaunes started protesting and it has delayed and hampered our travel on many occasions. This Saturday we need to return our car to Renault at the airport in Marseille and then make our way to Saint Charles station to catch the TVG to Paris. There is the potential for us to be delayed in trying to access both the airport and the station which is worrying since we have a deadline in the TVG departure time. Do you know of any resource or internet site that lists where the protests are, so that we can plan our trip and allow extra time?
Thank you for this post. My son and I have plans to be in Paris for Christmas and I have been trying to decide whether to cancel or not. I’ll decide after this weekend, knowing there isn’t an easy yes or no. Your post was very helpful! Merry Christmas!
I am now living and working in Boulogne-BillanCourt, not officially part of Paris, but within the Metro Zone 1 & 2, as is all of downtown Paris. I knew nothing of the demonstrations until someone emailed me an “Are you OK?” message! I went to lemonde.fr (the Le Monde newpaper’s web site) to read about it.
My life here is still totally unaffected, but I will not spend my weekend strolling between the Arc de Triomphe and the Hôtel de Ville. That is too bad as the Christmas decorations are being put up and are quite nice to see.
I would recommend coming to France and even Paris if you have a trip planned. Just be careful.
We spent part of December in France – 10 days spent in Paris. We did not see any protests and were all over looking at apartments and shopping. Thank you for your comments – it made a difference. We felt very safe and it was sad for France tourism when they had to close Versailles – butit was the proper move to ensure Versaille was protected. Vive la France!
Thank you for the tips. We have not changed our plans but come to France because we love France. We will be diligent and respectful of every person in France as their guest. I love France and came to support my heart’s home after the attacks on liberty and I come this time to enjoy a Joyeux Noel and wish everyone the same.
Excellent post Diane, and also I like that you included your video taken at Nante airport! That was the reality, first hand. There has not been a lot of coverage of this in the US, so your perspective and advice are much appreciated.