Essentials for a Perfect Trip (2024)

Paris Packing: Essentials for your trip. Is your Paris trip just around the corner, and you’re unsure what to pack? Preparing for international travel can be stressful, especially if you don’t travel abroad all too often. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

As a travel planning expert and Paris sítio, I’ve created a comprehensive Paris Packing List with all the essential items you’ll need for your trip.

Salut, I am Lena – travel planning expert and parisienne since 2006 🩷

However, this post is not about style, it is about essential travel items that are either unarguably necessary in Paris, or will simply make your trip to France’s capital easier. 

I listed all the Paris travel essentials below, but of course, not all will apply to you. Just go through the list of Paris travel checklists and make sure you’ve got everything you need for your trip.

What to Pack for Paris? Here’s My Paris Packing List!

Most items that make it on your Paris packing list are personal, of course. But there are a few things to bring to Paris that everyone should consider.

Either because they are Paris travel essentials that are required or because they make your Paris day-to-day travel experience smoother. 

Here’s a short list but of Paris Packing essentials. For more info and explanations, scroll down.

Paris Packing Checklist – Essentials

Headphones

→ Get these headphones for good value for money

Since tourists can travel to Paris again, many visitors ask if audio guides provide headphones or do they need to bring their own? It certainly depends on the provider, but you need to ask yourself if you really want to use the ones they give out for free?

I don’t even want to start talking about hygiene. The biggest pain point is their horrible quality.

You’ll hear mostly your environment and not too much of the audio guide story that you’re trying to listen to. Plus, often the headphones are not working correctly, do not fit your ear, and fall off all 20 seconds.

You are better off adding your own personal headphones to your Paris packing list!

→ buy headphones easy on Amazon

Personally, I love my  Apple AirPods, but they won’t help much when packing for Paris. When buying headphones to bring to Paris, make sure that they have an aux-in plug.

Most audio guide devices are not equipped for Bluetooth connections, so you have to get back to good old cable headphones. 

Travel Adapter – Paris Packing Essentials

→ Get this adapter for the best value for money

A travel adapter is one of the most important things to take to Paris. Simply, because if you are not using Type C plugs in your home country, you won’t be able to use the French power sockets to charge your devices. 

If you’d ask me which adapter to get, I’d recommend this one. I have had it since 2017, and it still works perfectly ever since.

→ Order your travel adapter with USB today on Amazon

IMPORTANT: You can use this travel adapter only for devices like phones, cameras, laptops, etc. Everything that is not dual voltage requires a Voltage Metamorfosear. 

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Travel Voltage Metamorfosear

→ Get this Voltage Metamorfosear for the best value for money

You might wonder now if you need to add a Voltage Metamorfosear to your list of things to bring to Paris. European devices run on 220V, American and Canadian on 110V. Most modern devices like phones and tablets are dual voltage devices, and you can use them everywhere. 

However, if you want to use your blow-dryer, shaver, or hair straightener tool in Paris and that runs on 110V (like many in Canada and the US do), then you need a voltage transmutar.

→ Buy your transmutar on Amazon

The converters are not the cheapest and truth be told, you still risk either ruining your hair dryer, blowing a fuse, or causing a power cut in the entire hotel.

It’s best if you simply pack a blow-dryer that isn’t equipped for dual voltage. Honestly, buying a dual voltage hairdryer is way cheaper than using a transmutar and risking an outage. 

Travel and Paris must-haves

Quick Links: Travel Cubes • Headphones • Down Jacket • Small Umbrella

I remember the days when traveling and packing for Paris meant dragging bulky and unhandy suitcases around.

There was nothing practical about packing and the invention of a rain jacket, that you could squeeze in a bag and strap around your waist, was revolutionary. 

But we’re in 2023 now, and whether you are packing for a last-minute trip or planning longer ahead, there are plenty of convenient items on the market to ease your traveler’s life. Here are a few.

There are plenty of down jackets available on Amazon – all colors, with or without a hood. 

If you need some spot-on tips for a certain travel time, refer to our seasonal guides:

Rain Coat or a small Travel Umbrella

→ This is one of the smallest umbrellas available currently

Depending on the season, you might have a bit of rain. Don’t worry too much about it, though. It rarely rains an entire day in Paris.

But you should always be prepared to find yourself in a shower. While you can certainly bring a raincoat, I’d recommend a little travel umbrella. This one is so small, that it fits in your purse. 

The biggest benefit of an umbrella is that you can easily pack it away when it stopped raining. 

Comfortable Walking Shoes

Even though Paris has a reputation to be very chic, most people wear sneakers and flats in their daily life. But you know what? I wrote a whole article about the best travel shoes for Paris, but to make it short: Pack comfortable shoes for Paris! 

Paris Packing List: Documents & Insurance

Depending on where you are traveling to Paris, you need to make sure you have all the necessary documents to enter France. 

Passport and Visa

The passport is obvious, but still don’t forget it! If you are traveling to Paris from the Schengen countries, your ID card is enough. However, if you are from a country that is NOT part of the Schengen area, you require a passport, that is valid for at least 3 months after your departure date.

From 2024: ETIAS 

If you are traveling to Paris from outside the Schengen Area from a visa exempt country, you are required to apply for ETIAS as a pre-traveling authorization process, similar to the American ESTA. 

ETIAS will launch probably in January 2023 and become mandatory for travelers from May 2023.

Simply put, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need to register online before trips to Europe. It will become a mandatory travel document and allows you to stay up to 90 days in the Schengen Area. 

Health Requirements

Since June 2021 travelers are allowed to enter France again. However, regulations and requirements are changing quickly. I am trying hard to keep my website up to date, but it’s surely not the right place to find information on government decisions.

I advise checking this page for the latest information when it comes to traveling to France.

Travel Insurance (important!)

Before traveling to Paris, make sure that you have Travel Insurance! If you are not covered, for example by your credit card company, make sure that you take precautions.

Student ID

If you are a student, by no means forget your international student ID! It can grant you many benefits, for example, discounts at attractions and activities! 

If you are a holder of a European student ID and under 26 years old, you even are granted free access to all national museums and monuments in Paris, for example, the Louvre or the Arc de Triomphe. But also the Château de Versailles or the Centre Pompidou.  

Credit Cards

Back in the days, money was often the biggest worry of travelers – where to get it, how much to take, and what’s the exchange rate? Luckily, that’s not really needed anymore.

First, there are plenty of ATMs in Paris, you basically have one on every corner. It’s in most cases cheaper to withdraw than to exchange money at the exchange office.

Furthermore, you can pay with credit cards in almost every store. Contactless payments are accepted in most stores for payments up to €50.

I recommend checking with your bank though how much/and if they charge for withdraws and credit card payments outside your country.

Furthermore, make sure to inform your bank about your trip so they don’t block your card if you use it abroad, to prevent abuse.

Your Attraction Tickets

Quick Ticket Link: Eiffel Tower • Louvre • Seine Cruise • Catacombs • Château de Versailles

If you want to visit a site or an activity in Paris, I strongly recommend purchasing your ticket in advance. I cannot insist on it enough: buy your tickets in advance!

It sounds weird, but even the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre can be sold out. I had the experience not that long ago when I spontaneously wanted to visit the Eiffel Tower with my son – sold out for the next 10 days to come! 

The most popular and booked out in advance sights are the following – click on them to see if there are still tickets available on your travel dates.

Pro Tip: Most tour operators are accepting mobile vouchers, so there is no need to print them out, however, not everyone does. Please double-check if a printout is required.

Medication and Prescriptions

If you are traveling to France with prescription-only medication, you should bring (a copy) of your prescription with you. Just in case and to avoid trouble at the airport.

Keep in mind that the regulations are way stricter in France (and Europe, generally) when it comes to over-the-counter medication. Especially compared to the US!

Many medications are available only on prescription, and things you can buy freely in the US are often not freely available in France.

Parisienne since 2006 🩷

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