Unsure about your French table manners? Updated 5 June by Leyla Alyanak β Parisian by birth, Lyonnaise by adoption, historian by passion. Yes, you could say there are some relatively dangerous areas in Paris β or at least, areas that are less safe than others. But keep in mind that violent crime is still rare in Paris, especially in daytime.
There's no reason to be scared β just aware. But it's no different from other major cities where crime and insecurity are on the rise. Most violent crime involves drugs or gangs, and tends to be quite localized in certain suburbs or pockets of town β it rarely occurs where visitors go. In tourist areas, the greatest danger you're likely to face is the proliferation of pickpockets. The 3 main Paris neighborhoods to exercise caution.
Other areas to watch out for. What kind of crime is there in the city center? Is Paris more dangerous than other cities? Safety tips in Paris. No-go zones is a bit of a harsh phrase, but I use it here to signal those areas of Paris that are less safe, at least at certain times. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements , or districts. Paris also has some suburbs, or banlieues , some of which are not recommended for visitors.
But to some of my non-French friends and even a few French ones , there are neighborhoods to avoid, at least at night.
But if you're from a megacity with a high crime rate, you might consider Paris a haven of serenity. It's all relative: to me, the USA can be a scary place. There are many murders, and mass shootings are all too common.
