What's Allowed in Paris: Rules and Etiquette in 2026

Drinking alcohol in the street

Yes, by default: no national law bans having a drink in the street or on a riverbank. However, police prefecture orders restrict drinking in certain areas or during major events, the rules of Paris parks and gardens forbid it, and obvious drunkenness in a public place remains an offence everywhere. The details: drinking alcohol in the street in Paris.

Smoking and vaping

Smoking in the street is allowed, but public parks and gardens have been smoke-free since 29 June 2025, with a fine of €135 to €750. Café terraces open on at least one side are still allowed; enclosed terraces and public transport are not. E-cigarettes follow separate rules. The details: where to smoke in Paris.

Cannabis and CBD

Cannabis is illegal in France, Paris included: possession is a criminal offence, most often punished with an on-the-spot fixed fine, and using it at home is no more permitted than in the street. CBD products are legal if their THC content does not exceed 0.3%. The details: is cannabis legal in Paris?.

Picnicking

Picnics are part of Parisian life, on the riverbanks as well as in the parks. In parks and gardens, their rules apply: no alcohol unless authorised, and no smoking. The best spots and the rules for each place: picnicking in Paris.

Drinking tap water

Yes, tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Paris, and more than 1,200 public fountains provide it for free. In restaurants, a carafe of water is free for customers. The details: can you drink the tap water in Paris?.

Swimming in the Seine

Yes, but only at the three designated, free and supervised sites (Bras Marie, Bercy, Bras de Grenelle), open in summer: from 4 July to 30 August in 2026. Elsewhere, swimming in the river remains banned, and a site may close for a day or two if water quality deteriorates. The details: swimming in the Seine.

Public toilets

Urinating in a public place carries a fine of around €135. Paris has several hundred free self-cleaning toilets; a café is only required to let its customers use its toilets. The details: public toilets in Paris.

Taking photos

You are free to photograph streets and monuments for personal use. In France, publishing a photo of a recognisable person in principle requires their consent (image rights), and museums set their own rules. The details: taking photos in Paris.

Flying a drone

In practice, no: inner Paris is a no-fly zone for drones, whatever the weight of the device. Recreational flights get no exemption there, and the penalties are heavy. The details: drones in Paris.

Travelling with your dog

On the metro, RER, buses and trams, a small animal travels free in a closed bag or basket. Medium-sized and large dogs are allowed on the metro and RER, on a lead and muzzled. The details: coming to Paris with your dog.

Tipping

Tipping is never compulsory: service is included in the displayed prices. Rounding up the bill or leaving a few euros at a restaurant, or your small change at a café, is up to you, and leaving nothing is not rude. The details: tipping in France.

Paying

Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, often contactless. When a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, always choose euros. The details: paying and withdrawing money in Paris.

Booking your visits

Some sites require a timed ticket booked in advance, such as the Palace of Versailles or the Sainte-Chapelle; at the Louvre, booking a time slot is strongly recommended. The details, site by site: what to book in advance in Paris.

Sundays

Some neighbourhood shops close on Sundays, while the tourist areas have more shops open. The major museums generally stay open; at the Musée d'Orsay, booking is compulsory on the first Sunday of the month. The details: Paris on a Sunday.

Public holidays

France has 11 public holidays. 1 May is the most closed-down day of the year (most museums and department stores), and public transport often runs on a Sunday-type timetable on public holidays. The details: public holidays in France.

Safety at night

Paris can be explored at night with common sense; the most frequent risk is pickpocketing, not assault. If something serious happens, call 17 or 112. The details: Paris at night: situations to know about.

Street scams

A bracelet tied around your wrist, a fake petition, a "found" ring, the shell game: none of these scams is violent, and the defence is always the same: don't stop and don't take out any money. The details: scams to avoid in Paris.

Everyday etiquette

These customs are not laws, but they often make all the difference to the welcome you receive.

Say "Bonjour" when you walk in

When you enter a shop, a bakery or a café, greet people with a "Bonjour" ("Bonsoir" in the evening), and say "Merci, au revoir" (thank you, goodbye) as you leave. Launching straight into your request without a greeting is seen as rude.

Respect the queue

At the bakery, at a ticket counter or at the bus stop, everyone waits their turn: pushing in is very much frowned upon.

On the metro and the bus

The RATP reminds passengers of a few simple courtesies: let people get off before you get on, don't use the fold-down seats when the train is packed, and turn off your phone's speaker. Paris trains are fairly quiet: people talk in low voices. For how the network works, see our guide to the metro and RER.

On escalators

Stand on the right to leave the left free for people walking up. The RATP reminds passengers of this through announcements and signs in stations.

In churches

Churches are first and foremost places of worship: speak quietly and dress appropriately. At Notre-Dame de Paris, the cathedral asks visitors to cover their shoulders and stomach and invites men to remove their hat or cap; otherwise, entry may be refused.

Summary: allowed or not?

Information noted in October 2026. Local orders and opening hours may change: check on site or on the relevant official website.

Further reading

For an overview of the real risks and useful habits, see our guide Is Paris safe?. The other practical guides are gathered in the Practical section of the menu.