With people traveling again after being stucked in the house for such a long time, it is nice to see tourists back in Paris. In this blog post, I highlight 14 essentials to pack for an ultimate Paris trip to help you make the best of the Parisian experience.
Planning a trip is exciting and goind to Paris is always a good idea. From picking the date, the airline and the date to the actual days leading to the trip, there is so much excitment going on. In the midst of such excitment it is easy to forget about packing for essential things that are beneficial for a trip. With that said, let’s dive into the 14 essentials to pack for an ultimate Paris trip.
Table of Contents
14 essentials for your upcoming Paris trip
As you are planning your trip, make sure to create a packing list. This way, you can cross down all the the things that you need before to leave. There is nothing worse than to realise half-way across the globe that something important is missing. These 10 essentials are probably things that probably did not cross your mind when you booked your flight.
Check the validity of your passport
That is the most important thing to do before even booking your trip. make sure that you have a:
- Valid passport
- Shenghen Visa if you plan to visit other countries than France
Travel backpack
A travel backpack comes in handy to move around and to keep your important things at hand. Make sure that you keep it in front of you at all times because of pickpockets. You can also invest in a anti theft backpack.
Comfortable shoes
Paris is a city that is best seen by foot. If you really want to experience it like a Parisian, you will need some comfortable and sturdy shoes to walk especially on cobblestone streets. Leave the high heels or your platform shoes in your hotel room or at home. If you insist on wearing heels, make sure to bring a pair of flat shoes that you can easily carry with you to give your feet a rest.
Comfortable clothes
Paris is one of the most instagrammable European cities and as a result, people want to look their best when taking pictures. There is nothing wrong with that. As I was saying above, Paris is a city that is best seen by foot. That means that you will be doing lots of walking and going up and down hills and stairs. Make sure to bring clothes that will allow you to move freely. Bring a light jacket for cool autum days and nights.
Portable charger
Another great essential for your upcoming Paris trip is a portable charger. It will come in handy when out and about and keep your phone fully charged.
Coloring Book or pages for children
Depending of where you will be traveling from it is always good idea to bring a book to keep you busy during your flight especially if it is a long haul one. Have you also thought about bringing a coloring book especially if you are traveling with children and need them to keep them occupied?
Sunscreen for summer and Ffall travel
The weather can get pretty hot in the summer and also in the fall so if you plan to visit during that time, pack your sunscreen. Sunscreeen is highly recommended by skin care specialists because they :
- Block some harmful UVA especialled if you are sitted at a window seat during daylight hours.
- Prevents premature aging
- Lower skin cancer risk
To read more on why sunscreen is beneficial when on a airplane check out Well+Good .
Hat
Regardless of the season, a hat, beannie or any head coverings can do wonders in the case of a brutal weather forecast change.
Reusable Water bottle
On my last trip this summer to Martinique, I packed a reusable water bottle. It has become an habit for me. It allows me to fill it out at water fountains or with tap water. Tap water in Paris is safe so don’t be scared to drink it. On top of that , I don’t have to buy plastic water bottle which allows me to save money and it is great for the environment.
Travel adapter
Some European countries use a different sytem than other parts of the world so make sure you invest in a good travel adapter before your trip.
A map of Paris and of its metro
You can get a map in your home country at a librairy or get one when you arrive in Paris. If you need a map of the metro, you can get one at any metro or train station. Ask the booth clerk for one.
Positive attitude
Having a positude attitude when traveling will make your trip more enjoyable. Keep in mind that culture shock is a real thing. Traveling allows us to discover new cultures and new people. If you travel with an open mind, you will be not be quick to judge someone else’s culture. Furthermore, learn a bit about Paris before arriving. First time travelers are often surpise to see that Paris is different from what they have seen on TV.
Paris has a diverse population comprised of :
- Africans
- Asians
- Mixed raced people
Many black people in France are descendants of former slaves brought to the French colonies and as such became French citizens after the abolition of slavery in the French colonies on April 27, 1848.
Credit card and cash
Many places accept credit cards. You can also carry cash but make sure it is in euros. Before your trip, make sure to change your currency to euros. Transaction fees can be really costly so avoid changing your money at the airport.
If you are traveling to the city of light on a budget, you might be interested by these posts:
- 7 best budget-friendly brunch spots in Paris
- First time traveler’s guide to Paris: Top things to do”
Travel insurance
Travel insurance gives you extra protection in case your travel does not go as planned. It will come in handy especially if you are traveling abroad in a case of a:
- Serious emergency
- Flight delay or cancellation
- Lost luggage
- Travel
- Illness
Conclusion
To sum things up, preparing a trip is fun and exciting, however don’t let the excitement make you forget to pack some of the essential things that you will need to make your trip enjoyable. I hope that this list of the 14 essentials listed above will make your upcoming trip to Paris a success.
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