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Long gone are the days you could pack your bags, grab your passport, and jet off to Europe carefree, knowing you were headed to a low-risk, largely crime-free continent:
The Old Continent is no longer what it once was 20 or even 10 years ago, and whether it’s issues stemming from irregular border crossings or ongoing terrorist threats, authorities are now urging tourists to be more cautious when visiting most European countries.
As the world’s most popular destination, hosting over 100 million visitors on average, France is no exception:
Americans Must Be More Cautious Traveling To France From Now On
The US State Department has just reissued its travel advisory for the French Republic, urging U.S. citizens to exercise ‘increased caution’ due to terrorism and civil unrest.
Out of all European states, France is probably the one most heavily affected by external threats and extremist religious movements, having accumulated over 120 such incidents between 2015 and 2025, both carried out successfully or foiled.
That being said, terrorism isn’t a daily concern for most people, and though the numbers are alarming compared to preceding decades, French law enforcers are well-trained to deal with the problem and have intercepted most planned attacks.
74 of the 120 compiled in this decade were quashed, mainly through the surveillance of radicalized individuals, stricter monitoring of online communications, and the swift action of intelligence services.
In other words, it’s not like Parisians are walking the streets in constant fear, but as the State Department now notes, you are advised to follow a list of precautions in order to be able to promptly identify an impending attack, or keep safe in the (unlikely) scenario there is one:
- You must stay alert in touristy spots, especially crowded spaces
- Avoid public demonstrations that involve police activity
- Check the news at your location for ‘breaking events
- Be ready to adjust your plans if needed
- Follow instructions of local authorities regarding movement restrictions
- When finding yourself in the ‘immediate area’ of a zone of tension, either leave, if safe to do so, or find shelter until the situation stabilizes
Check The Latest News At Your Destination
The State Department also refers to demonstrations in particular, which are not necessarily related to terrorism.
As you might know, the French are famous for their love of protesting, and have been doing so vigorously since they first toppled the king, and in many cases, these can turn violent, or in the very least, seriously disruptive.
We will reiterate the importance of checking the local news to stay up to date on whatever’s going on in any country you’re visiting—in France specifically. Not doing so could, to put it mildly, put you in a tricky situation.
We’re not even talking violence, water cannons, or tear gas: peaceful demonstrations can be just as nightmarish for regular tourists.
Paris, France – 03 23 2023: Strike. Demonstration in Paris against the pension reform project
Imagine your flight out is in only 4 hours, but you had no idea today’s the day French train operators are protesting en masse across the entire country, and most rail routes traveling into and out of Charles de Gaulle Airport have been halted, with no indication as to when they’ll resume.
We’re fierce France defenders ourselves, but trust us, it happens more often than we’d like to admit.
Beware Of Pickpockets!
Last but certainly not least, US officials warn of rising pickpocketing across tourism hotspots in France, most notably Paris.
They mention airports, subways and trains, train stations, and tourist attractions as common areas for petty crime, and in fact, certain lines of the Paris metro even have warnings against pickpockets, urging commuters to keep an eye on their belongings and beware of their surroundings.
France remains the world’s most-visited country, after all, and if reality on the ground was indeed dire, we doubt it would have held on to the crown for all these years.
Most tourists will have a stress-free vacation, provided they take the necessary precautions already expressed here—nonetheless, we can’t deny crime has been rising steadily, so safe as France may appear to be still, do take the warnings seriously.
If traveling to France, you can opt to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts directly to your mobile phone in case of an emergency, and so that the U.S. Embassy is able to contact you.
Additionally, you can continue to review the Country Security Report for France, your best source for developments concerning American tourists, and let’s be real, just keep your wits about you when going abroad, will you?
No leaving your phone on the table when dining alfresco, your wallet in your back pocket where it can easily be snatched and you won’t even notice, and no talking to strangers who approach you on the streets to sign a ‘petition’, or sell trinkets.
Chances are they’re scammers, and one thing you need to learn about Parisians is, they generally won’t reach out and talk to you for no apparent reason, or out of the kindness of their hearts.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.