Before you go · Paris
Paris essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official sources on 27 October 2026. Entry rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry to the EU
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) registers travellers from outside the EU electronically at the border.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not yet in operation: the EU’s official site says it will announce the start date several months before launch. Never pay a third-party site.
From the airports
From Charles de Gaulle, RER B runs to the Gare du Nord and Châtelet. From Orly, metro line 14 runs to Châtelet in about 25 minutes, in Paris Aéroport’s words; Orlybus ended in March 2025. Both journeys need the Paris Région <> Aéroports ticket (Île-de-France Mobilités).
Arriving by train
The Eurostar from London, Brussels and Amsterdam arrives at the Gare du Nord; TGVs from the south arrive at the Gare de Lyon. See our page Paris by rail.
The métro, the RER and the buses
The RATP runs the métro and most buses and trams; tickets and passes, including the Navigo Easy card, are set by Île-de-France Mobilités. Check current fares on their websites before you buy.
Book the big sights direct
Book the Louvre on ticket.louvre.fr (closed on Tuesdays), the Eiffel Tower on toureiffel.paris, Versailles on the palace’s own website. Notre-Dame is free; you can reserve a time slot on its own website or app, usually from the day before.
Customs and etiquette
Say “bonjour” as you enter a shop or café, and “au revoir” as you leave. Many smaller shops close on Sundays. Dress respectfully in churches. Watch your bag on the métro and in crowds at the big sights.
Emergencies
Call 112, or 15 for the SAMU (medical emergencies), 17 for the police and 18 for the fire brigade. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers can text 114. See our health page for hospitals. Carry your EHIC or GHIC, or travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Questions and answers
Do I need ETIAS to visit Paris?
Not yet: ETIAS is not in operation. The EU will announce the start date several months in advance on its official site.
How do I get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris?
By RER B to the Gare du Nord and Châtelet, with the Paris Région <> Aéroports ticket.
How do I get from Orly to Paris?
By metro line 14 to Châtelet, with the Paris Région <> Aéroports ticket.
What is the emergency number?
112, or 15 for the SAMU, 17 for the police and 18 for the fire brigade.
Entry rules and transport change, sometimes at short notice. Check the EU’s official sites, ratp.fr, iledefrance-mobilites.fr and your government’s advice before you travel.