Is Paris Safe for Tourists: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Is Paris safe for tourists? Know the real risks

Paris is safe for most tourists, and the risk you will most likely meet is petty theft. The UK government says that thieves and pickpockets operate on the Paris Métro, on RER lines and at mainline stations. It adds that you should take sensible precautions against street crime.

How common are pickpockets? Neither the UK page nor the Canada page gives a figure. The Government of Canada says petty crime such as pickpocketing and phone snatching "occur frequently" in France. It says thieves are skilled, often work in groups and regularly work with minors.

Where do they work? The UK page names the Paris Métro, RER lines and mainline stations. It also says not to get distracted around tourist attractions and cash machines. Canada names popular tourist sites, large stores, restaurants and patios, hotel lobbies and parks. It also names buses, trains, stations and airports.

Which metro lines and stations are riskiest? No official page ranks them. The UK page and Canada name no metro line and no metro station. The RATP (Paris metro operator) site and the Paris police site gave no readable text. So keep your bag closed and your phone in a front pocket on every line.

The UK page does name two RER lines for serious assaults. RER line B serves Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, Orly airport and Gare du Nord. RER line D serves the Stade de France. Canada also says violent crime happens on RER trains. Stay alert on both lines.

Canada names these scam patterns:

• People who spill drinks on you or your things.
• People who start long talks or keep offering help.
• People who try to move you away from your bag.
• Illegal taxis at airports and train stations, which charge much more than official taxis.

The UK page adds pairs of thieves (Step 2) and spiked drinks (Step 5). The Louvre warns of mirror sites and street ticket sellers (Step 6). The Paris police page gave no readable text, and the US State Department page returned an error, so neither is quoted here.

Is it safe to walk at night? Neither government gives a yes or no, and neither names a street, area or hour. Canada says violent crime is rare, but tourists are sometimes victims. It says attacks usually happen near major tourist sights and near railway stations. It says assaults can also happen at night outside bars and clubs and in more isolated areas. The practical answer: busy, lit streets are the lower-risk choice, and empty streets, bar doors and stations late at night need more care. That reading is ours and not an official rule. The UK page warns about drinks at night, so keep your drink in sight. Take a car or a group when the streets are empty, which is a sensible habit and not an official rule.

Two other risks are worth knowing about. Terrorists, the advice says, are very likely to try to carry out attacks in France, including at places that tourists visit. Demonstrations can happen with little or no warning, particularly in cities, and strikes are frequent. Big sights run security checks, and the Louvre says all visitors must pass them.

A stolen phone or card also hits your wallet, so safety is part of your paris trip cost. Plan for a lost card or phone as you plan for hotels and tickets.

Key Takeaway Pickpockets on the metro, RER and at mainline stations are the main risk the UK government names for Paris, so guard your bag first.

Step 2: Guard your bag on the metro and RER

You keep your things safe on the metro by closing your bag and keeping it in front of you. Pickpockets can work in gangs, says the UK government. One person distracts you, and the other goes into your bag.

Stand with your back to a wall or a pole on a full train. Keep your phone in a front pocket, not in a back pocket or the top of an open bag. Split your cards and cash between two places, so one loss does not end your day.

Serious assaults have also happened on RER line B, which serves Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, the UK government says. Stay awake and alert on that line, and keep your bag on your lap. For tickets, lines and which train to take, read the guide to getting around Paris.

Pro Tip Put your phone in a front pocket before you step onto the platform, and keep one hand on your bag when the train stops and doors open.

Step 3: Stay alert at the Eiffel Tower and other busy sights

The Eiffel Tower is safe to visit, but queues are where distraction happens. Do not get distracted around tourist attractions and ATMs, the UK government advises. A crowd is the cover a thief needs.

Hold your phone in your hand only when you take a photo, and put it away at once. Wear your bag in front of you in the queue and in the lift. Plan your ticket ahead, so you do not stand at a machine with your wallet out. The page on Eiffel Tower tickets shows how to book ahead.

A guide helps in a crowd, because someone else watches the group and the time. The Eiffel Tower guided tour with summit access is from €99 per person, runs about 1.5 hours and takes up to 20 people. The operator, Blue Fox Travel, lists it as not suitable for wheelchair users or people with vertigo.

Step 4: Explore Montmartre and unfamiliar streets with care

Montmartre is safe for most visitors, and the advice is the same as at any busy sight. The UK government names no scam on the hill or its steps, and no official page read for this guide names one either. If anyone distracts you on the way, keep your hand on your bag and walk on.

A city feels safe when you know what to watch, not when you watch everything.

Side streets can feel confusing at first. A small group takes the guesswork out of it. The City Treasures bike tour is from €45 per person, takes 2.5 to 3 hours and keeps to small groups of up to 10 or 12 people. Simply France Tours SAS runs it. The listing says it is not for children under 10 or people under 4 ft 9 in (150 cm).

To pick a base that suits you, see the guide to Paris neighborhoods.

Step 5: Stay safe at night in Paris

The safest way to see Paris at night is to go by car or with a group, and not to walk long distances alone. Be alert, warns the UK government, to the possible use of drugs such as GHB and liquid ecstasy in drinks. The UK government adds that you should buy your own drinks and always keep them in sight. Watch your glass and never leave it unattended. The Government of Canada adds that assaults can happen at night outside bars and clubs and in more isolated areas, so avoid quiet streets after dark. Neither page gives a time when walking becomes unsafe, and neither says a night walk is safe or unsafe.

Ride home instead of walking if the streets are empty and you are tired. Share your location with a friend, and keep your phone charged. The metro still runs late, but check the last train for your line before you go.

You can also book the evening, so that you never decide in the dark. The evening ride in a vintage 2CV is a private tour of about one hour from €70 per person, and pickup is included. Best Things to Do in Paris' count of GetYourGuide listings on 24 October 2026 found 52 of 658 Paris listings with a private option. Pick the 2CV ride if you want to avoid a late walk, and it has free cancellation. Walk on your own only on busy, lit streets, and take a car when you are tired.

Step 6: Buy tickets only from official sellers

You avoid ticket scams by buying only on a sight's own website or from a seller you can check. The Louvre warns of a rise in mirror sites that sell tickets supposed to let you jump the queue. It also says never to buy from illicit street vendors, because you may be refused entry. The Louvre points visitors to its own booking page, ticket.louvre.fr.

Check the web address before you pay, and book through the sight's own page when you can. Be wary of anyone on the street who offers a skip-the-line ticket. On the day of your visit, check the sight's own page, because demonstrations can close sights at short notice.

The UK government page names no ticket scams. One honest limit applies. This guide rests on official advice pages, and it names no scam that those pages do not name. The Paris police and the US State Department also publish advice, but those pages could not be read for this guide, so check them before you go.

Step 7: Call 112 if something goes wrong, then plan your days

In an emergency in France, call 112, the emergency services number named by the UK government. If a pickpocket takes your phone, use a friend's phone or your hotel desk, block your cards at once and ask your hotel how to report the theft. No official page read for this guide says where tourists report a theft, so ask a police station.

Once you feel at ease, the next question is time. Read how to decide how many days in Paris your trip needs, and match your safety plan to that plan.

Prices and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026.