How to Visit Paris Without Speaking French: A 2025 Guide for Travelers 

Amber Everywhere contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my privacy policy for more information.

Planning a trip to Paris and wondering if you can get by without speaking a word of French? Take it from a local: yes, you can!

One of the most intimidating parts of travel, for me anyway, is going somewhere where I know I won’t speak the language. I usually try to brush up on a few key words and phrases, but there’s still an anxiety that I won’t be able to communicate when I get there. 

Paris is a city famous for its beautiful sites, fabulous food, and its sometimes curt locals. Although I now speak conversational French and live in Paris, I’ve previously visited knowing only a word or two. I can confidently tell you that it’s entirely possible to visit Paris without speaking French – in fact, I guarantee hundreds of people are wandering around Paris at this moment without a French word in their vocabulary.

In this post, I’ll tell you everything I think you ought to know before visiting Paris without speaking French. 

Can You Really Visit Paris Without Speaking French?

Yes, you absolutely can visit Paris without speaking French! 

When I first visited Paris, I think I knew bonjour and merci and that was about it. Despite having never taken a French class in my life, I fell in love with Paris and eventually moved here with my partner. I speak French now, but I have absolutely navigated the city as an English speaker – so I promise, you can do it too! 

But most Parisians don’t mind tourists or expect that they’ll speak French just because they’re visiting. In my experience, Paris has not seen the anti-tourist sentiments that have spread in other European cities. Tourists are a welcome part of the economy. 

Living in France without speaking French? That’s another story. You can read my thoughts about speaking French as an immigrant in France, if you’re interested!

Who (Typically) Speaks English in Paris?

You’re most likely to hear English spoken in Paris among immigrants (also called expats), those working in the tourism sector, and from other visitors. Many educated Parisians have studied or lived in an English-speaking country, so you may well encounter professionals who speak English fluently. 

As someone who lives in Paris, I’ll put it this way: I speak in public like everyone will understand 100% of what I say in English. I directly address people assuming they don’t speak any English. You can’t tell which language(s) someone speaks just by looking at them, so it’s best to play it safe!

Where Might You Run into Trouble?

It’s probably safe to assume that some workers in Paris  won’t speak any English at all and plan accordingly. Those include the police, the staff on the métro, healthcare workers, and others with jobs entirely unrelated to tourism. 

Sure, you might meet someone who speaks English here or there, but for the most part these are jobs filled by French people who will only speak French. 

If you find yourself in one of these situations, be prepared by learning a few words. Then, have your Google Translate handy and be as polite and courteous as possible. 

Will Parisians Be Rude to Me for Speaking English?

Parisians remind me a lot of Americans. If you were to visit the US without speaking English, you would probably run into several people who were perfectly pleasant and just wanted to take your order or sell you a souvenir without any hassle. You might, however, also run into someone who tells you, curtly, that, “In America, we speak English!”

The same is true in Paris. If you’re on the tourist track and surrounded by people who work with tourists all day, they will probably speak enough English to get by and won’t be at all annoyed by your lack of French. If you head out into more local parts of the city and try to do something complicated (think: ask what a particular cheese is at a busy deli counter), you might get some snark. 

Most often, Parisians who bristle at English-speaking tourists do so out of self-consciousness because they’re embarrassed to speak English. There are exceptions and people who are just plain mean, that’s to be sure, but I’d argue they’re definitely the minority. If you’re kind and just trying to get the answer to a question, they’ll usually use a mix of English and French to help you. 

Why Won’t Anyone Let Me Practice My French?

Finally: if you only speak a little French, people might switch to English quickly instead of giving you a chance to practice. This could happen for a number of reasons, but typically it’s just what they’re most comfortable with or they feel the conversation will be most efficient in English. 

You can (and should!) keep trying, but you may always encounter people who switch to English with you – don’t take it personally. 

Remember The Golden Rule: Always Start With “Bonjour.”

Believe it or not, a friendly, “Bonjour,” (hello) really is the key to a pleasant interaction in Paris. This greeting is a social must – to the point that [particularly aggressive] people deprived of a “bonjour” will sometimes refuse to continue speaking with you until you say it back to them. Just get in the habit of saying it every time you greet someone, even if you switch to English immediately after. 

After 6pm, Parisians switch to “bonsoir” (good evening) as the default greeting. However, a bonjour in the evening is extremely unlikely to offend anyone – even if it is technically incorrect. So, if you’re overwhelmed by using any French at all, just stick to bonjour for now!

5 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris Without Speaking French

Now that we’ve established that you absolutely can visit Paris without speaking French, here are a few tips to help you navigate the city. 

1. Learn a Few Essential Phrases

When it comes to navigating France as an English speaker, a little effort goes a long way. If you can learn a few essential phrases, you’ll be ready for some of the most common situations you’ll find yourself in. 

Greetings 

Bonjour – (Bone-jur) Hello or good day. Say this anytime you greet someone!

Excusez-moi – (Excuse-eh muah) Excuse me. Best to say this after “Bonjour” if you’re trying to get someone’s attention. 

Bonsoir – (Bone-swah) Hello or good evening. Say this after 6pm instead of “Bonjour” if you want extra credit 😉

Eating Out

Je voudrais _____ – (Juh voudraay) I would like ____. A polite way to ask for something on the menu. 

L’addition, s’il vous plaît – (La ad-i-see-oh, seel vou play) The check/bill, please. 

Getting Around (Metro tickets, asking for directions)

Je veux acheter un ticket de métro – (Juh vuh ah-sh-teh un ticket de métro) I want to buy a métro ticket.

Où est _______ – (Ooh eh) Where is _____? 

Asking for Help

Parlez-vous anglais ? – (Par-lay vou on-glay?) Do you speak English? 

Pouvez-vous m’aider s’il vous plaît ? – (Poovey-vou me aide-eh seel vou play) Can you please help me? Useful when shopping, at the pharmacy, or in other normal situations.

Au secours ! – (Au se-coor!) Use this to yell “help!” in emergency situations. 

2. Use Translation Tools

Translation tools exist to make your life a little easier – use them. My favorites are Google Translate and ChatGPT, though there certainly are others on the market. In my experience, Google Translate is best for simple translations, while ChatGPT is invaluable for more complex interpretations. 

Google Translate

I strongly recommend that you download the Google Translate app on your phone before you leave home. Then, inside the app, download French (and any other languages you might need for your trip). With the language downloaded, you can get translations more quickly and sometimes even offline. 

My favorite Google Translate feature is the camera. While in the Google Translate app, you can open your phone’s camera and take a photo of anything you need to translate – be it a menu or a grocery item. 

ChatGPT 

ChatGPT is an AI tool that can be invaluable during your trip, if you know how to use it. My favorite way to use ChatGPT as a traveler is to take a photo of a menu or wine list and ask the AI to tell you about them. You can also ask things like:

• Which of these wines is the driest/sweetest?
• Which items are most likely to be gluten-free?
• Is anything on this menu vegetarian?
• I’m in Paris, which items on this menu are local specialties?
• Tell me about these French cheeses. Assume I’m an absolute fromage beginner!

You can also use ChatGPT to write emails for you, or to draft up more complicated requests. As long as you’re polite and courteous about it, most people in France won’t mind reading off of your phone if you’re unable to communicate in French. 

3. Be Polite and Patient

It’s easy (and free!) to be nice, and a little kindness and humility will take you far when you don’t speak French in Paris. Although there’s always a chance you could run into someone having an off day or who is just plain crabby, most people will be kind to you if you’re kind to them. 

Keep in mind that you’re in France, where French is the local language, and people are accommodating you by speaking in English. Be patient, try not to get flustered, and express gratitude. 

You don’t have to go over the top, but a little eye contact, a smile, and a polite “S’il vous plaît” can make all of the difference!

4. Learn a Little About French Culture

You don’t have to be an expert or certified Francophile to navigate French culture, but a little awareness will help. Here are a few quick tips: remember to say, “Bonjour,” when you greet people, keep your voice down in restaurants, and don’t sit in the folding chairs on a crowded train. 

It’s also good to know that Parisians eat breakfast between about 8am and 10am, lunch between 12pm and 1:30pm, and dinner around 8pm. Outside of these hours, you may see restaurants closed between services – don’t be surprised! 

Finally, servers usually won’t bring you the bill until you specifically request it. The idea here is that it’s rude to rush you out while you’re enjoying your drink or food. If you’re ever in a hurry, the safest and fastest way to handle the bill is to go directly to the cash register to pay. This is normal and acceptable in most restaurants. 

5. Choose the Right Hotel

If staff anywhere is going to speak English, it’ll probably be at your hotel. By definition, a hotel’s clientele are likely to be foreign! Still, it’s a good idea to put some thought into where you’ll stay because Paris is very spread out and has its fair share of tourist traps. 

You can improve your odds of having a good hotel experience by choosing a spot that is highly rated with lots of reviews and reasonably central. I also suggest that you thoroughly research the spot beforehand so you don’t have any unpleasant surprises – including whether or not it has an elevator and/or air conditioning. 

Here’s a list of my favorite budget-friendly hotels in Paris, in case you’d like to know where to start! For those with more room in your budget, take a look at Hôtel de la Motte Picquet (perfect location not far from the Eiffel Tower) or Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (artsy and beautiful in a trendy neighborhood). 

Navigating Paris Without French

Feeling ready to tackle Paris without French? Here are some tips for navigating the city as an English speaker. 

Seeing the Big Sights

The easiest way to see Paris’ biggest landmarks is usually to access them by public transit and follow posted directions. In major ticketed areas like the Louvre Museum or the Eiffel Tower, signs will be in multiple languages and most staff members will speak at least basic English. 

Similarly, you should be able to navigate the Champs-Élysées, Montmartre, and the streets of Le Marais without needing any French. Armed with Google Maps and Google Translate, you shouldn’t have any trouble seeing Paris’ biggest attractions.   

Using Public Transportation

One of the fastest and easiest ways to get around Paris is by using the métro system. You can buy tickets either at the counter or some smart phone users can purchase tickets directly in their phone’s wallet. I use Google Maps to plan my route and simply follow its instructions, usually opting for the métro over the bus. 

Do be careful of pickpockets while on the métro. Thieves on the métro are often highly practiced and work in groups, so always be aware of your surroundings and keep phones and wallets tucked away.  

Anytime you’d rather not take public transit, I recommend ordering an Uber. You can use the app entirely in English, see the price upfront, and track your driver while you’re in the car. It’s the most traveler-friendly way to get around the city when not on the métro. 

If you’re curious to know more about Parisian public transit as a social/cultural/historical matter, I read (and loved) Metropolitain: An Ode to the Paris Metro by Andrew Martin. The book compares the public transit systems of London and Paris and is full of interesting stories about the quirks and peculiarities of the Parisian Metro.   

Dining Out

There was once a time when people – rightly – advised travelers not to eat at restaurants with menus in English. In the past couple of years, I would argue that the prevalence of AI and quality online translators make this advice a bit outdated. Having a menu in English is often as easy as asking ChatGPT to translate a document, then printing a second version. 

You’ll see a mix of English and French menus throughout Paris, regardless of restaurant quality or authenticity. Instead, I still encourage you to listen to the languages being spoken – lots of French is usually a very good sign!

If you do encounter a menu in French without a translation, the easiest thing to do is simply translate it using your smart phone. You can take a photo with Google Translate to see a literal translation, or you can ask ChatGPT to translate a photo of the menu for you and ask questions about the ingredients. 

You may encounter waiters who don’t speak English, even at restaurants with English menus. Don’t fret; just do your best, be polite, and don’t be afraid to point at items on the menu. 

What About the Rest of France?

Setting aside that “the rest of France” is a pretty large and diverse area, I’ll say this: English is more common in affluent areas and busy, international cities. It is less common in small cities or rural areas. You could encounter an English speaker anywhere (so watch what you say!), but it’s also possible you’ll run into a language barrier. 

Remember: there are jerks everywhere. It happens and you’ll just need to try to shake it off (sorry – I know that’s easier said than done!). But, most French people are friendly and helpful, if not overly outgoing. In my experience, 80-90% of interactions are perfectly pleasant if you start with “bonjour” and do your best to communicate using the tools you have. 

Most people you’ll encounter just want to figure out how to help you, they won’t be interested in chastising you for not speaking French! 

What If I Want to Learn Some French Before/After I Visit?

If you’re feeling inspired to dive a little deeper into learning French before you visit, bon courage! The quickest way to dive in and start learning French is to download a language learning app on your phone. There are tons of apps on the market for learning languages, from Babbel to Rosetta Stone. Each has a different value proposition and targets a slightly different kind of learner. 

Here are two that I have personal experience with and can recommend: 

Duolingo (Free with Paid Upgrades)

By far the most widely used is Duolingo – you might have seen their iconic green owl mascot on TikTok or elsewhere. Duolingo is heavily gamified, meaning that it is designed to keep you coming back day after day and to hold your attention. I turned to Duolingo when I started learning French, and it’s definitely a good way to get started learning a little French!

I decided to move on from Duolingo after a little while. In my view, Duolingo is great for getting started, but if you want to really dig in and learn conversational French, there are better apps out there. 

RocketFrench (Paid After Trial Period)

After doing a lot of research online, I bought RocketFrench when I was ready to get serious about learning French. To me, this app has been worth it because of the depth of the lessons and the ability to practice using the language right away. I also like that it has a mix of culture lessons, listening exercises, speaking, listening, and new vocabulary. 

If you struggle with motivation, you should know ahead of time that RocketFrench will not grab and hold your attention like Duolingo. They have a leader board, but you’ll need to move through the lessons at your own pace and keep yourself coming back. 

To put it another way: Duolingo feels like playing a game, RocketFrench feels like studying. You’ll have more fun with Duolingo, but you’ll probably learn more with RocketFrench. 

Alternate Option: Online Tutoring

If the idea of staring at your phone for a few hours a week and trying to motivate yourself is enough to put you to sleep, you might prefer a private tutor. There’s a great online matching platform called Preply, where you can get matched with a personal French tutor to help you make progress at your own pace. 

You can filter potential tutors on Preply by their native language, home country, other languages spoken, or popularity. That way, you can easily find someone who will be a good fit for you and your current needs. 

Final Thoughts on Visiting Paris Without Speaking French

It might be a little intimidating to step off the plane in a country where you don’t speak the language, but trust me – you’ve got this! By having a few key phrases, a positive attitude, and a willingness to be a little extra polite, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting around Paris as an English speaker. 

Who knows, maybe you’ll even fall in love with Paris, decide to learn French, and move here someday! 😊