When to Use
User asks about Paris for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Arrondissements | |
| Quick comparison | arrondissements-index.md |
| Central (1-4) | arrondissements-central.md |
| Left Bank (5-7) | arrondissements-left-bank.md |
| Right Bank (8-11) | arrondissements-right-bank.md |
| Outer (12-20) | arrondissements-outer.md |
| Choosing guide | arrondissements-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & restaurants | food-overview.md |
| French classics | food-traditional.md |
| Markets | food-markets.md |
| Best areas | food-areas.md |
| Wine bars & cafes | food-wine-cafes.md |
| Dietary & tips | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather | climate.md |
| Local services | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry | tech.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety is Important
Paris is safe overall. Main concerns:
- Pickpocketing (#1 risk, especially metros and tourist sites)
- Street scams (bracelet, petition, ring)
- Some areas at night (north 18th, 19th)
See
safety.mdfor area-specific guidance.
3. Weather Surprises
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Always romantic" | Rains often, grey winters |
| "Hot summers" | Can be very hot (35°C+) in July-Aug |
| "Mild spring" | April can still be cold |
Best weather: May-June, September-October
4. Current Data
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent | €1,200-2,000 (central) |
| Senior SWE salary | €70K-120K total comp |
| Student budget | €1,000-1,500/month |
| Metro ticket | €2.15 (single), €16.90 (10-pack) |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Euronet ATMs (40% fees), restaurants near Eiffel Tower
- Do: Free museums (1st Sunday), Marais, Latin Quarter side streets
- Free views: Sacré-Cœur steps, Galeries Lafayette rooftop, Parc de Belleville
6. Transit Over Walking
- Metro covers everything (16 lines)
- Navigo Découverte for week stays (€30.75/week)
- Vélib bikes great for spring/summer
- Never drive — impossible parking, ZTL zones
7. Arrondissement Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young professionals | 10th, 11th, Marais (3rd-4th) |
| Families | 15th, 16th, 12th |
| Budget-conscious | 18th (south), 19th, 20th |
| Tech workers | 2nd (Sentier), 10th, 11th |
| Students | 5th (Latin Quarter), 13th |
Paris-Specific Traps
- Euronet ATMs — Private ATMs charge 10-40% fees. Use bank ATMs only.
- Ring scam — Someone finds "gold ring", offers to sell. It's worthless.
- Petition scam — Signing → distraction for pickpocket or "donation" demand.
- Eiffel Tower restaurants — €30+ for bad food. Walk to 7th arrondissement.
- Montmartre portrait artists — Aggressive, overpriced. Politely decline.
- Lock bridges — Locks removed, just a tourist thing now. Skip it.
- August closures — Many shops/restaurants close. Not best time.