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6 mistakes American tourists make when visiting Paris

6 mistakes American tourists make when visiting Paris

Madeline Diamond,Erin McDowell

One mistake American tourists in Paris often make is trying to do too much in one day.Zheltikov Dmitry/Shutterstock

American tourists are notorious for standing out like sore thumbs when visiting Europe.
A Quora thread asked Parisian locals what mistakes American tourists make while visiting Paris.

You're trying to see all the sights in one day.

A view of the Eiffel Tower in France. Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

One mistake is "trying to squeeze too many landmarks into a short space of time, to the exclusion of two of Paris' chief joys: exploring, and just sitting and watching the world go by," Quora user Diana Arneson said.

"People tend to underestimate how much time it takes to get from one attraction to another, and to overestimate how important it is to get a selfie by those famous landmarks," she added.

You're spending too much time in touristy spots, like the Champs-Elysées.

People walking through the Champs-Elysées. Shutterstock/Kiev.Victor

Another user advised steering clear of overly crowded tourist destinations.

"Do not spend too much time in Champs-Elysées. Even if the view is iconic, it is really not a good place to feel the Parisian way of life, and you will meet more other tourists than actual locals," Martin Blanchard said.

You're not even attempting to speak a little French.

A restaurant in Paris. Shutterstock/Stefano Ember

Another popular mistake is not attempting to use French at all.

"Just learn the basics — a little effort goes a long way," Quora user Katherine Marie said.

User W Kasmer advised, "Use French when entering and leaving shops (greeting when entering, and goodbye and possibly thank you when leaving)."

You're wasting your money on taxis.

Parisien taxi in Paris, France. Pawel Libera/Getty Images

User Iain Compton pointed out the benefits of discovering Paris on foot.

"Paris is a relatively small city (geographically speaking), so walking is often an option," he said. "Many times it is the best option."

You're dressing too sloppily.

Tourists at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Kiran Ridley/Stringer/Getty Images

"Parisians do dress casual, but usually smart casual, so looking sloppy might get you refused entry to some more expensive restaurants," W Kasmer said.

You're being too loud.

A group of friends drinking wine. AzmanJaka/Getty Images

Another common mistake is "talking too loudly in public places. It's part of [American] culture and we're not generally aware of it, but it does tend to make us stick out like sore thumbs in restaurants, shops, and train cars," Diana Arneson said.

"What would be a conversational volume and tone in the US would sound very loud in France, so please pay attention to not be louder than the people around you in public spaces, restaurants, etc...," Martin Blanchard added.