Paris is a relatively safe city apart from being a major metropolitan area in Europe. We can say violent crimes are rare in this city but pickpocketing is fairly prevalent. Petty crimes sometimes occurs in places like museums, hotel dining rooms, and restaurants due to lapse of common sense and sometime due to sheer bad luck.
If you feel you are in a “difficult situation”, don’t be scared to raise an alarm in public. Parisians are really helpful and surely someone will come to your aid. However if you feel in danger or become a victim of a crime, you can lodge your complain online and the authorities will contact you. If you have time, it is better to go to the police station to file your complaint. Paris public transit is fairly safe even at night but many lines may be deserted at the later hours. In case you’re in an unknown neighbourhood and there aren’t a lot of people around, book a taxi before leaving.
Following few basic Paris safety tips will surely help you avoid danger on your trip to Paris.
- Keep check of your valuable belonging and never leave your bags in the metro, bus, or other public areas unattended. This way you may attract unwanted attention and fall prey to thieves. Also, leaving your bags unattended can cause security threats.
- Buy a travel insurance along with your flight ticket. Also, opt for an international health insurance policy as many travel insurance packages offer optional health coverage.
- Be vigilant in tourist sites. In crowded places pickpocketing is the most prevalent crime, targeting tourists. Carry less cash and avoid flaunting your valuable belongings like camera or a smart phones.
- Avoid few areas when travelling alone in night. Avoid areas around metro Les Halles, Chatelet, Stalingrad and Jaures, when the streets are secluded. While these areas are generally safe, still it is better to avoid them at night.
- To stay safe on roads, pedestrians should be extra careful when crossing roads and busy intersections even when the light is green. Traffic rules are not that much followed by the drivers and can do rash driving. So it is better to be cautious and watch out for cars even in the area that seem only for the pedestrian.
- It is quite common for taxi drivers to overcharge, so make sure to verify the price of the taxi ride before getting in. Moreover, after studying the map, you can give the driver a suggested route ahead so that he can’t cheat you.
- Keep a list of all emergency no. in your diary. Some important numbers you must remember are : Police: Dial “17”, Medical Emergencies: Dial “15”
- When travelling in any new county it is good to keep your country’s embassy numbers and contact details in case you run into a problem like in need of stolen passport.
- During your stay in the Paris holiday rental apartments or hotels, (which are quite safe) when you hear a knock on the door, check before opening it. Keep your valuable inside the in-room safe. Since housekeeping staff can open the door themselves its best to be cautious and take good care of your valuable belongings.
About the Author
I am Pradeep, an avid traveller and blogger. Exploring new places and sharing my experiences with people is my passion. I am currently working as a blogger for Ratedapartments – serviced apartments providers specifically dealing in major cities of the world such as London, Paris, New York, New Delhi and Singapore.
