When To Visit Paris - Part 2

Other factors are much more important in determining when you should go. If you are interested in fashion, then you might want to go when  the Paris fashion shows are on, or perhaps when the major Paris sales are on, so that you can shop for bargains.

There are many other events in Paris every year, and our regular fortnightly newsletter or ezine will keep you abreast of these. You can sign up for the newsletter at our website at:
http://www.whyvisitparis.com/Why-Visit-Paris-Newsletter-Sign-Up.html

It's worth bearing in mind that the Summer school vacation in Paris is in late July/August. Many Parisians leave the City at that time for their annual vacation, so there may be less traffic and shorter lines at the tourist sights. The downside is that many local restaurants will be closed.

In Winter, although the weather will be colder, there are fewer tourists and it will be easier to gain entrance to the City's museums and other attractions.

Safety Issues

In all my many trips to Paris, I've found it to be a very safe place to be. Crime rates are low, especially violent crime, and certainly when compared with many American cities. I've only once felt a little uncomfortable and that was in one of the areas to the north and east of the City. In central Paris, and especially in the more popular tourist areas, there is nothing much to worry about. Having said that, petty crime is an issue in many cities, and you should be aware of the possibility of pickpockets, who often target tourists.

People ask if the Métro is safe. I can only speak from my experience, and I've never had a problem. The Paris Métro is very modern, efficient and reliable. It certainly compares very favourably with the London underground system. But you should always be on your guard, and make sure that you look after your belongings, especially in crowded trains and on busy station platforms.

Click here to read Part 1 of this article, including information about the Paris weather.