17 Top Paris Packing List Items + What NOT to Bring (2018 Update)

Updated on April 12, 2018 by Asher Fergusson

What should I bring on my trip to Paris?

My wife and I (pictured) absolutely love Paris. It’s our favorite city in the whole world because of it’s art museums, exquisite Michelin-rated food, amazing architecture, and CHOCOLATE!

Many friends were asking us what to pack for Paris so we wrote this detailed checklist.

We also include what NOT to bring to Paris, a section on what to wear and general FAQs about Paris. Enjoy the city of love!

1) Passport pouch – Paris is known for it’s pickpockets and this little pouch makes it next to impossible for them get your valuables. It fits your passport, cash, and credit cards neatly and you can have it concealed under your clothing. Places where pickpockets are most likely to operate are crowded areas such as on public transport or around the Eiffel Tower etc.
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2) Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger – The ability to carry extra device charges with you seems so high-tech, and so convenient. This little charger makes that incredibly easy to do. It uses regular USB cables and is portable so you can charge devices on-the-go instead of having to return to your accommodations to plug them in.
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3) French Power Adapter – The French power outlets are quite different from those in the US, so you’ll definitely need an adapter. It’s good to choose a quality one that works in many countries so that if you go to other destinations like London you will also be able to charge your devices. This one (pictured) works in almost 100 countries and has built-in device protection via a safety fuse.
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4) Travel Insurance – We’ve had our fair share of sketchy experiences in Paris especially with our housing. Having World Nomads insurance on our side gave us peace-of-mind even when things started getting weird. Additionally, medical emergencies and other unexpected trip problems happen, and you don’t want that to ruin your vacation or make a huge dent in your pocket book because you did’t pay small cost of having insurance. Just like you wouldn’t have a home without home insurance, you also shouldn’t travel without travel insurance.
View their plans at WorldNomads.com ➜

5) Activated Charcoal – French food is divine. Although certain dishes can be rather interesting such as snails, raw veal and frog’s legs etc. It’s worth trying these delicacies but we recommend having activated charcoal on hand in case your stomach doesn’t agree and needs a “reset”. Trust me, we know from experience! 🙂
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6) Pea Coat: Women’s and Men’s – The daily temperature in Paris averages around 41°F in the winter and 65°F in the summer. Therefore, no matter what time of year you go, you’ll want a nice coat. We recommend checking out a pea coat for the perfect blend of warmth and style while not breaking the bank.
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7) Stylish daybag – You’ll be carrying things with you, but you don’t want to ruin your stylish appearance in such a fashionable city. Try this attractive daybag to carry your shopping purchases, water bottle, camera, phone, rain jacket, umbrella and anything else you may need while exploring. It’s also very affordable.
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8) Windproof Travel Umbrella – It rains in Paris roughly 15 days per month every month and often without warning. Having a compact, high-quality umbrella like this one is a must have for keeping dry in this gorgeous city. When my wife and son were visiting recently we got caught off guard when it started raining heavily even though when we left the hotel it was sunny!
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9) Packing cubes – It seems counterintuitive to add an extra layer in order to save space, but trust me when I say that these packing cubes make life much easier while traveling. When I pack my items I know exactly which “cube” they’re in without having to rummage around, and I can even switch the smaller ones from my suitcase to my daybag without having to unpack and repack them.
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10) Comfortable, attractive flats – Paris is a fashionable place, and it’s also a place where you’re likely to do a lot of walking. Wearing sneakers or “tennis shoes” is a dead giveaway that you’re a tourist, so opt for something more fashionable but still comfortable instead. These shoes offer a nice balance, and are comfortable enough to walk around all day in.
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11) Pashmina Scarf/ Wrap – Pashmina scarves are one of the best accessories to have with you when you travel to Paris. They’re fashionable and useful, and very light and easy to pack. They’ll keep you a little warmer when you’re feeling chilly, they can be draped over your shoulders when you need to dress more modestly to visit churches, and they can be used to dress up an outfit should you decide to have a nicer dinner without going back to your room to change. This one is ultra soft but also affordable.
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12) Virtual Private Network (VPN) – If I’d had a VPN when I went to Paris recently, I could have saved myself from having my credit card number information stolen while using what I thought was a secure WiFi at our Airbnb.

A good VPN like NordVPN allows you to add a layer of encryption to your Internet connection that makes it impossible for hackers to get your sensitive info. It also allows you to access any censored websites. An affordable price and one-click activation from any device make a VPN a no-brainer for any travel!
View NordVPN.com Plans ➜

13) Rain jacket Women’s and Men’s – As I mentioned earlier, it rains roughly 15 days out of every month in Paris. Often times it may be sunny in the morning but then rainy in the afternoon or vice versa and so it’s easy to be caught off guard. Having a quality, ultra lightweight rain jacket (like the one pictured) in addition to an umbrella is a wise accessory that has saved us so many times when we’re out away from our hotel all day.
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14) Water bottle with built-in filter – Most water in Paris is potable, but it never pays to take chances. It’s best to carry water with you rather than spend money on it. Having the built-in filter will give you peace of mind if you have to get water from a less trustworthy source.
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15) Hanging toiletry bag – This bag is indispensable. You know you’ll be bringing a lot of toiletries and you want to keep them organized – this is the solution. It has plenty of room and a spot for everything. It also unfolds and hangs easily so that you have access to all of your toiletries without unpacking them completely.
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16) Jet Lag relief – Long flights, plenty of shuffling from place to place, and time changes can really mess with your sleep schedule and health. These jet lag relief tablets can help prevent and treat jet lag so that you don’t waste valuable vacation time trying to recover from the flight over.
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17) Flexible Phone Tripod – This clever little tripod from Fotopro is incredible. It comes with a bluetooth remote so that you can easily place your phone or camera in the perfect spot to capture you and yours in front of the Eiffel Tower without having to spend €500 on a photographer. It’s strong enough to be used with a DSLR and can be gripped to railings, branches or simply placed on a flat surface. Plus it’s super inexpensive.
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Other items you may want to bring to Paris

Small Notebook (Journal)
Pens
Reusable shopping tote
Facial cleansing wipes
Stain Removing Supplies
Plastic Packing Bags

Travel Blanket
Travel Pillow
Small Flashlight
Extra Flashlight Batteries
Sunglasses
TSA-approved locks
Mini hairbrush

Headphones
Headphone splitter
Refillable travel bottles
Small Pair of Binoculars
Kindle
Kindle Cover
Sleep mask

What to wear in Paris

Paris is a stylish place, and a fashion capitol of the world. This means you will want to look nice and put-together wherever you go, or risk feeling under-dressed or sticking out like a touristy sore-thumb. Nice but comfortable shoes, tasteful but inexpensive jewelry, and a small but easily interchangeable wardrobe are all key components to successful Paris clothing packing.

Cheap but nice-looking jewelry will allow you to dress nicely without having to worry about your valuable jewelry being stolen or lost.

A nice small collection of clothes in deep, rich tones that can be mixed and matched will leave you with plenty of options, a lighter suitcase, and easy layering for times when you feel a little chilly. If you’re wondering how temperatures in Paris compare to seasonal temperatures where you live, it’s a good idea to check Paris weather listings to get an idea before you pack.

What NOT to take to Paris

1) DON’T PACK heavy items: It’s worth remembering that you’ll be doing a lot of walking, and that bags can start to feel too heavy very quickly when you have to lug them everywhere. I don’t recommend bringing heavy books, heavy equipment (computers, etc.) or even excessively heavy shoes – trust me, your back will thank you for following my advice.

2) DON’T BRING too many clothes and shoes: You only need about a week’s worth of outfits and two pairs of shoes. Most of the places that you’ll be staying will have somewhere that you can either wash your clothes or have them washed. This does cost about $5 a load, but doing three loads of laundry is still less expensive than paying for even one checked bag.

3) DON’T TAKE unseasonable clothing: It just adds a lot of weight and bulk to a suitcase that’s likely already going to have limited space. Look up the weather forecast for the locations you’ll be staying before you go, and pack a couple of extra layering items if you think they’re needed.

4) DON’T PACK camouflage clothing: It’s a cultural norm here in many parts of the States, but camo gear and clothing is reserved for military personnel in most of Europe, and you certainly don’t want to look like a member of that group.

5) DON’T PACK skimpy clothes or beachwear: Clothing such as cut-off jean shorts and skimpy tank tops aren’t appropriate if you want to fit in with the locals. The only place they’re acceptable in Europe is at the beach, and there aren’t any near Paris. Feel free to bring appropriate attire for swimming if your hotel has a pool, but don’t plan to wear it out of the hotel.

6) DON’T BRING excessive amounts of cash: ATMs are widely available and tend to have pretty good exchange rates (bring your ATM card and let your bank know you’re traveling before you leave), and carrying too much cash is asking for trouble. It’s easy to secure excess cash in a safe in your room, or you can simply resupply with cash in smaller increments.

7) DON’T TAKE anything that screams “Hapless Tourist!” : A good example of this is a fanny pack. You may not look like a local, but you certainly don’t want to advertise far and wide that you’re a tourist. Doing so makes you look inexperienced, and again, marks you for potential pickpocketing. It’s not as common, but it still happens, and it’s not a chance worth taking.

8) DON’T BRING expensive items or nice jewelry: It’s tempting to bring valuables, but it’s never worth the risk. Bringing these kinds of items makes you a more likely target for theft, and you could just as easily lose them yourself by mistake. It happens, and it’s better to lose cheaper versions of your favorite items than it is to lose your expensive jewelry collection.

FAQs about travel in Paris

1) About how much money will I need on a daily basis to enjoy Paris?

That depends on what you plan on doing while you’re in town since some hobbies are more expensive than others. Even so, a basic daily budget of $80 per day should cover meals, metro tickets, some attractions, and a night in a hostel dorm. Travelers who want their own room should allot about $60 extra per day, just to cover the change in accommodation costs. Of course, splitting the price of a private room with a traveling companion or two can help your budget in this regard. It’s also worth looking into AirBnb (or maybe Couchsurfing) to cut down on accommodation costs. But, if you’ve got the money, Paris is definitely a place with plenty of spending options.

2) Do I need to tip servers in restaurants in Paris?

Leaving the coins you’re brought back as change is the standard reward for good service. However, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave nothing at all since waiters’ salaries are already factored into the overall cost of dining out in Europe. Even so, failing to leave at least a 5% tip in a very fancy restaurant might indicate that you’re cheap.

3) What are some good day trips from Paris?

Versailles is the best known day trip from Paris but nearby Giverny and Chartres are also nice places to visit if you have the time. Another good thing is that all of these towns can be reached using public transportation so you don’t have to rent a car to get to them.

4) Is the “Paris Pass” or the “Paris Museum Pass” worth it?

The only way to tell for certain is to do the math yourself. However, if you are a marathon traveler who can easily see multiple attractions in a day without collapsing from exhaustion, one or both of these passes might be a good deal.

On the other hand, if you are someone who likes to meander and only needs to see one or two iconic places per day, the passes might end up costing you money instead.

5) What is the best way to get around Paris?

The subway is usually an effective means of transportation but it’s a bit pricey. You can still save some money by purchasing your metro tickets in sets of 10 instead of buying them individually. Walking is another good way to get around and it is certainly cheaper than taking the metro.

6) How can I avoid lines at popular Parisian attractions?

Buy your tickets online and in advance. Sometimes doing this will even get you small monetary discounts as well.

7) What is the best time of year to visit?

The weather in Paris is at its warmest during the summer months but the city is extremely crowded from June to August when the tourist hordes descend in full force, causing the prices for attractions and accommodations to shoot upward. Even the locals leave town at this point, if they can. Paris sees far fewer crowds and more affordable prices during the spring and autumn months but the weather can be temperamental at times. Spring in particular is known for its wet weather. So perhaps the most reliably pleasant time to visit Paris would be in either September or October.

8) How can I save money while traveling in Paris?

There are plenty of ways! You can:

Take advantage of free admission days at some of the museums.
Cook your own meals or at least nosh on takeout since in Europe you pay extra for just sitting down and eating in restaurants. If you do eat out, try to aim for lunchtime instead of dinner, since prices tend to be lower at lunch.
Eat the free hotel/hostel breakfast if one is available. It might not be the stuff dreams are made of but it will fill you up enough to get you to dinner.
Buy carnet books rather than purchase subway rides individually.
Walk between attractions rather than use the subway

9) Which areas of the city are best avoided by tourists?

Most of the main tourist areas are fine but there are some neighborhoods on the fringes that aren’t a great place for outsiders to stay. In some instances, this is because they’re a long way from the action and there isn’t much to see nearby. Other arrondissements (districts) may be a little on the “dodgy” side for tourists – I encourage you to do your own research on this subject before setting out to ensure that you are making decisions with up-to-date information.

Some places to avoid include the areas around these metro stops: La Courneuve, Mantes-la-Jolie, Les Halles, Pigalle, Place Blanche, Strasbourg St-Denis, Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Barbès-Rochechouart, and Château Rouge. However, traveling through most of the subway stations listed here should be fine as long as you’re not attempting to pass through them unreasonably late at night. Other places to avoid after dark include the Champ de Mars, the Belleville neighborhood, the Seine Banks, the Bois de Boulogne Park, the Saint Blaise area, and portions of the Rue Saint Denis. Travelers will also want to watch out for pickpockets near popular tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower.
Don’t get the wrong idea – Paris is much like any large city: there are pockets that any outsider should avoid, but the majority of the city is welcoming and fun to explore.

10) What are my options for getting from the airports to the city center?

From Charles De Galle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports, the quickest and easiest way to get into Paris is to take the RER subway trains. You’ll just need to keep an eye on your bags because pickpocketing can be a problem on these routes. While there are numerous buses that travel from these airports into Paris, using them can be time-consuming process. However, those traveling from Beauvais (BVA) airport will have to use a bus to get into town if they don’t want to pay for a taxi since there isn’t a convenient train station nearby.

Asher & Lyric

India Travel Blog, Packing Lists & Tips