Paris Protests from a local – Is Paris Safe?

Yanique Francis

2 years ago

Just some random thoughts from someone who lives and works in Paris and is out on the streets all the time. This is in response to a few queries from visitors planning a trip to Paris asking about safety. Keep in mind I’m a local tour guide and event planner not an official news source.

Here we go:

Protests in Paris happen once a week, just about and legally they have to let us know which day ahead of time.

For the most part, the major disruption is not on the street but with public transportation on the metro lines.

You can typically take the line 1, 4 and 14 as they are automatically operated (not with a driver), so they are almost not affected at all. If taking the trains going to the suburbs expect more disruptions.

Almost all commerce, restaurants etc remains open on day of protest unless otherwise stated. Check their insta or websites.

It’s easy to take an uber or taxi in Paris.

Or simply walk – it’s a great walking city! We also have rentable bicycles, scooters and segways…

People are peaceful for the most part and what little outbreaks happen seem to always be in the heat of the protest at the end of the day between police and a few unruly.

photo of tour on protest day in Le Marais

We don’t have guns and knives Willy nilly here, and protesters are the general public so they are not usually violent.

I have had tours or an event (such as the Cafe de l’homme ) opening on every single day of a protest since March and I’ve managed to move around taking more time or avoiding certain streets and metro. Or in some case I just walk right through it 🙂

Check out my daily videos on instagram to see me showing you Paris, like the video version of these protesters dancing and us walking through it during our tour. Trust me, we had no hiccups walking around for 3 hours, and had a great time.

both these photos are in Le Marais on a day of protests, we didnt have any difficulty moving around

Estimate additional time for moving around, but if you’re coming to Paris you’ll be fine. Check the SNCF or RATP website and they will tell you if all or 2 out of 3 trains are running etc.

https://www.ratp.fr

If you’re taking the train to or from CDG airport you can take a cab. It’s fixed rate 55 eu right bank , 62 eu left bank.

https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/taxi

Also I wouldn’t trust the international news, follow the local French news and official metro website – and use Google translate

https://www.leparisien.fr/paris-75/

From all the Dms I’ve been getting of what you all are seeing outside of France I’m not surprised. The news is in the business of news. Shock and awe.

I even forget for the most part that we have a weekly protest – and when I do remember I just plan around it.

( I had oe client go to Vallee Village the spend the day outlet shopping on a day that was announced as a protest day)

As a rule of thumb, protests or not you want to be extra careful with your belongings on the metro we are notorious for some slick pickpocketers – again chill! never violent!!- you just won’t even know your phone or wallet is missing.

This all being said, do what you feel is best for you. I try to stay away from topics relating to the news as it’s all so dramatic and negative. I think most people in France (esp. someone who is a native French) understand that culturally protests happen all the time here and life is about living around it.