Cultural customs when visiting France alone?

Question

I'm a girl in my mid-twenties, visiting France (specifically, Paris, Lyon, and Marseille/Provence) this March. I'll be traveling alone. What are the cultural customs with regard to single females, and in general? Is it strange to dine alone in a restaurant or to walk around in the evening? Is it acceptable to read a book or knit at a restaurant or cafe while dining there? May I touch items in stores, or is it observe unless I seriously would like to purchase?

I would hate to stay in my hotel early every evening - what would be appropriate activity for a single young female?

Any other cultural tidbits would be welcome too!

Answer 1

One warning:  Don't walk alone in the Pigalle quarter after dark.  I was made to feel very uncomfortable.  (nothing untoward, mind you, just uncomfortable).

Answer 2

if you want a tavel m8 it may work in when i am going to france. I have no plans as yet. mail me. Thanks

Answer 3

Rillifane has given a fantastic answer... I would simply add that Lyon, though much smaller than Paris, has many things very worthwhile to visit. It is a very touristic town, and they are used to people walking around on their own, so you would not look out of place at all. The Vieux Saint Jean, which is the oldest quarter of the town has buildings dating back to the 15th. century. The Hill of Fourvière which looks over Saint Jean has a view of the whole city at its feet which is magnificent. Lyon is known as the gastronomical capital of France, no matter where you eat the food will be exquisite. Lots of people eat alone, and you can definitely read while at table without looking out of place... The knitting might make you look a bit conspicuous, as in Europe if you are under 70 you don't knit, at least not in public!

As to touching items in shops, the more chic the shop, the less we touch. Watch the other shoppers for a couple of minutes, and then follow your own impressions.

One thing, if you return to your hotel late at night, take a taxi, it is safer, especially if there are no longer many people out.

The french don't stay out very late.

And as to Marseille...It is considered one of the most unsafe cities in France, be more careful there, and if you can, leave the nightlife to other places in Provence, or Paris and Lyon.

As to culture.... Paris has so many museums and monuments that it would take you months if not years to see and visit everything. Lyon has several museums also, but nowhere near the quantity in Paris. You could probably see most of the interesting things of Lyon in about 4 or 5 days.

Marseille is also a beautiful city, and being 26 centuries old, it definitely has much to offer, but I'm afraid I don't have much information to pass on, as I never stopover there.

Here are some websites that might prove interesting for you.

http://www.marseille-tourisme.com/

http://www.lyon.fr/vdl/sections/en/

http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/Port...

Answer 4

France is much like other modern, post industrial, western nations in regard to the staus of women. which is to say there has been much improvement over the last fifty years but there is still a long way to go before there is genuine gender equality.

There is certainly no reason why you should fear to dine alone and the generally low crime rate in Paris and Lyon should make walking home at night safe as long as you keep your wits about you.

Marseilles does have something of a bad reputation for crime, probably because of its large immigrant Muslim population.

It is certainly acceptable to read or knit in a cafe. People treat the cafe as an extension of their living space and one reason prices tend to be high is that you are paying not only for your cup of coffee but for the privilege of sitting for as long as you like without being disturbed.  In a restaurant knitting might be a bit much. I have seen people read when dining alone but can't recall seeing someone knitting.

It is preferable to ask a clerk for help rather than handling the merchandaise. Ask even if you don't speak French.

It would be a terrible waste to miss the nightlife of Paris. there are many excellant live music venues including a lot of great jazz clubs.

My favorite hangout is Aux Trois Mailletz at 56 rue Galand in the 5th arrondissement. Its right off the rue St. Jacques just a few blocks south of the Seine. There's a piano player from 7:30 or so every evening untill 4  in the morning. the music in the early evening tends towards opera with jazz and rock after the shift change at 11 PM. Most evenings the early shift piano player is Henrietta, a very nice lady. Later there is Teicho, who is black and always wears sunglasses or Sylvan who is white, with a shaved head, who looks in his 30's but is actually 40 and who plays with Arnaud who is a jazz violinist. Say hello to any of them and give them greetings from me.

I've noticed that despite the fact that it rains a lot at certain times of the year (like March) the percentage of people who use umbrellas seems smaller than in either the USA or the UK. I'm not sure why that is but don't worry about it. Carrying an umbrella is not going to mark you for scorn or ridicule.

Some other cultural oddities:

1) People will run into you right and left. French people simply don't look where they're going, and they depend on other people not to bump into them.

2) People stare at you a great deal, no matter how unremarkable you may be. I've never understood this but they do. Pay no attention as no one means you any harm.

3) When you pay for something the person taking your money expects you to put it down, rather than taking it directly from your hand. Most places have a sort of tray on the counter expressly for this purpose.

4) When you're in a theater and have to go by someone to get to your seat always pass in front of them facing toward them, that is, away from the screen or the stage. It's very rude otherwise.

5) Always say Bonjour/bonsoir (Madame or Monsieur as appropriate) when you enter a shop or cafe. And give a cheery "Au revoir" when you leave.

6) Bread is only  buttered at breakfast or when served with with the cheese course. So don't ask for butter at other times.

7) Cafe au lait is what coffee with milk is called at breakfast. the rest of the day its called a Cafe Creme and you order it by saying "Un creme s'il vous plait"

8) What English speakers call a menu is called "la carte" while "le menu" is a special deal offering limited choices for a low price.

9) In France the entrée is the first course and the plat is the main course. While the classic standard is to have entrée/plat/dessert you are under no obligation to order all three courses and no one will give you a hassle if you don't.

10) The French don't go in for big smiles and I've hear the French remark that they think the American habit of smiling at everyone all the time gives them the appearrance of being a bit goofy.

Answer 5

Rillifane answer is very good, except for the bread (why ???)

for what I know (I've never been in expensive restaurant that's a fact) bread is free and is a "must" !

Please (please !!!!!) avoid knitting (at list in public)

Wish you the best !

Answer 6

First of all don't dress or make up flashy -

then your questions :

- go out at night is a psy problem for yourself - nobody will care about you - going back to the hotel if you can afford a cab - do it -

- to read a book in a middle-class restau makes no problem - enables you to skip other peoples' glances  - knitting is strange - unusual - but the police does nothing against that practice.....

- touch items in department stores makes no problem - in a smaller store - will give a pretext for the seller to adress you and do all in order to sell you something -that's not specifically french

- travel alone is very nice- I always travel alone - great freedom - my wife dislikes the countries I like - and you'll be surprised how it enables you to create spontaneous contacts - which is not the case when you are not alone