A travel expert shared a video on TikTok listing seven things you should know before visiting a popular European city after she hated her first trip there
A travel guru has revealed seven crucial tips she wishes she’d known before visiting a renowned romantic European city.
Raimee, who uses her online platforms to help people “travel smarter and for less” has travelled to over 40 countries and shares her insights from these experiences. She recently posted a TikTok video offering valuable advice for those planning to visit Paris—a French city she’s visited more than ten times.
The American travel expert compiled this list after her initial trip to Paris left her feeling disappointed. However, after numerous visits, she’s grown to love the city.
She began her video by saying: “I desperately wish I knew these things before my first trip to Paris because I hated it. Now I actually love it after visiting over ten times so here’s what you need to know!”.
1. Use a secret entrance to the Louvre
Raimee advised: “First: To avoid the crazy lines at the Louvre take one of the many secret entrances, not the main pyramid. My favourite is the one through the subway.
“Take Metro Line 1 or 7 to this stop (Le Carrousel de Louvre) and you can enter the Louvre from underground.” In her TikTok video, she shared a map showing various alternative entrances to the famous museum, including Porte des Lions, Passage Richelleu, and Palais Royal.
2. Select the correct zone for your Metro card
The travel expert further explained that when purchasing a Metro card for public transport in Paris, you’ll be asked to select the zone you wish to travel through. Most likely, you’ll only require access to Zone 1, which covers central Paris including landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Galeries Lafayette.
3. Expect odd reactions when requesting oat/almond milk
Raimee advised travellers to brace themselves for unusual reactions when asking for oat or almond milk in their coffee while in Paris. She shared an amusing anecdote: “I asked one cafe what kind of milk they had and they said ‘cow’ and I thought that was pretty funny.”
She added: “It’s becoming more common for them to have milk alternatives here but you might be like me and find that regular milk doesn’t actually upset your stomach in Europe.”
Medium reported that eight out of the top ten countries with the lowest rates of lactose intolerance are European. The United States, however, didn’t make the cut, as Americans are “less likely to possess the gene that processes lactose” and there are differences between milk production in America and Europe.
4. Avoid queuing for the Shakespeare and Company bookshop.
The Paris fan revealed she wouldn’t queue for the Shakespeare and Company bookshop. While acknowledging it as “a cool bookstore” she doesn’t believe it’s worth enduring a lengthy line.
In her TikTok post comments, Raimee mentioned that the shop was “so crowded” during her last four visits, making the wait to get in seem less appealing. Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookstore nestled in the heart of Paris, situated on the banks of the River Seine and opposite Notre-Dame.
Since opening in 1951, it has served as a “meeting place for anglophone writers and readers, becoming a Left Bank literary institution”, as per its official website. The bookstore resides in a 17th-century building, and staff regulate the number of customers inside at any given time. According to the website, queues may form during peak times but typically progress swiftly.
5. Eat at establishments away from major nearby tourist sites
Raimee’s subsequent advice is to dine at eateries located away from major tourist attractions. She suggests walking five to ten blocks away from any significant tourist site before settling down for a meal, asserting the food will be “better and cheaper.”
6. Have a picnic by the River Seine like the locals
Lastly, Raimee recommends embracing local customs for an authentic Parisian experience. She advises: “The best way to have a good time in Paris is to do as the locals do, have a little picnic by the Seine. Go to a local market and grab some cheese, a cheap bottle of wine and a baguette and just lounge around and people watch.”
Devour has crafted a blog post detailing how to dine like a true Parisian. It suggests indulging in an apéro, the “early evening bite” typically enjoyed with beer or wine, which can be hosted at home or in public spots such as along the Seine.
7. View the Eiffel Tower from the second floor
Raimee shared her insights on visiting the Eiffel Tower, advising that the “view from the second level is much better than the view from the third” (the summit). The iconic landmark offers three levels for visitors: the first floor, second floor, and top.
According to the Tour Eiffel’s official website, the second floor boasts both a lower and upper level, providing the “take in the most unobstructed view” and is also home to the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jules Verne. Raimee’s TikTok has racked up an impressive 3.6 million views, 296,600 likes, and over 700 comments.
One viewer remarked: “Love these tips! I just went to Paris in May. I loved it!” A Paris resident chimed in: “I’ve been living in Paris for 3 years and I must say, you gave pretty good advice!”.
Another user reflected: “Great tips! I was so disappointed when we went. I had such high expectations my whole life and it was a let down. I’m excited to go back and try again though.”
