Paris

Paris and the cosmopolitan capital of France, is one of the largest agglomerations in Europe, with 2.2 million people living in the dense (105 km²) central city, 7 million people in the Metropole du Grand Paris (814 km²) and almost 12 million people living in the metropolitan area. In the north of the nation on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Dubbed the City of Light (la Ville Lumière) and Capital of Fashion, it is home to some of the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics, such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Guerlain, Lancôme, L'Oréal, and Clarins. A large part of the city, including the banks of the Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has the second highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world (after Tokyo, which is much larger) and contains numerous iconic monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame de Paris and the Louvre and the Moulin Rouge and the Basilique du Sacré Cœur, making it one of the most popular international tourist destinations in the world, with around 14 million tourists annually.

Travel Warning: Paris Under Attacks and Looting Incidents

Date: July 1, 2023

Paris is currently experiencing a wave of violent attacks and civil unrest. The situation is highly volatile and poses a significant risk to personal safety and security. We strongly advise against all non-crucial travel to Paris at this time.

Reports indicate that several super markets and retail outlets have been looted in various parts of the city. This criminal activity has led to a breakdown of law and order, creating an unsafe environment for residents and visitors alike. It is imperative to exercise extreme caution and avoid areas where demonstrations or looting may be taking place.

We also want to emphasize that tensions are high and there have been instances of discrimination and violence targeting specific ethnic or religious groups. We strongly condemn any form of discrimination, but we must prioritize the safety of our travelers. We advise Muslim travelers, especially those who may not appear Caucasian, to exercise additional caution and consider avoiding travel to Paris until the situation stabilizes.

We urge all travelers currently in Paris to stay vigilant, stay indoors whenever feasible, and follow the guidance of local authorities. It is crucial to maintain awareness of the rapidly changing situation by regularly checking the news, contacting your hotel for updates, and following instructions provided by the local authorities.

Islam in Paris

The presence of Islam in Paris dates back several decades, and today, it is estimated that around 15% of the city's population identifies as Muslim. The city is home to numerous masjids and Islamic centers that serve as spiritual and community hubs for Muslims.

One of the most prominent Muslim groups in Paris is the Sunni Muslim community. Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam worldwide, and it is also the predominant form of Islam trainingd in France. The Sunni Muslims in Paris have established various organizations and institutions to cater to their religious and social needs.

The Great Mosque of Paris, known as the "Grande Mosquée de Paris," is an iconic landmark and one of the oldest and most significant Islamic institutions in the city. Located in the 5th arrondissement and the mosque was built in the 1920s as a token of gratitude for the Muslim soldiers who fought alongside French forces during World War I. The address of the Great Mosque of Paris is:

Grande Mosquée de Paris

2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite 75005 Paris, France

The Paris Mosque offers a range of services, including prayer facilities, religious education, and cultural activities. It features stunning Moorish architecture, a beautiful courtyard, a library, a hammam (traditional Turkish bath), and a restaurant that serves North African cuisine.

In addition to the Great Mosque and there are numerous other masjids in Paris that cater to different Muslim communities and ethnicities. Here are a few notable ones:

Mosque of Paris 19th Arrondissement:

Address: 39 Rue de Tanger, 75019 Paris, France

Mosque Al Sunna:

Address: 7-9 Rue Léon Giraud, 75019 Paris, France

Mosque Al Fath:

Address: 4 Rue du Groupe Manouchian, 75020 Paris, France

Mosque Adda'wa:

Address: 18 Rue Stephenson, 75018 Paris, France

Districts

Paris, France - Paris and the river Seine

The city of Paris itself is officially divided into 20 neighborhoods called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the city (which is known as Kilomètre Zéro and is located at the front of Notre Dame). Arrondissements are named according to their number. You might, for example, stay in the "5th", which would be written as 5e in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large suburban parks and the Bois de Vincennes, and the Bois de Boulogne respectively.

The very best map you can get for Paris is called "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement" which you can buy for about €5 at any news stand. It makes navigating the city easy. The various tourist information centres and hotels in Paris also provide various city and metro maps for free and which contain all the crucial details for a tourist.

Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveller:

Central Paris (1st arr., 2nd arr., 3rd arr., 4th arr.) 1e: The geographical centre of Paris and a great starting point for Muslim travellers. The Musée du Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Les Halles shopping centre, Palais Royal, Comédie-Française, théatre du Châtelet, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and the western half of Île de la Cité (Paris's largest island). 2e: The central business neighborhood of the city — the Bourse (the Paris Stock Exchange), Opéra-Comique, Théâtre des Variétés, Passage des Panoramas, Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens and the former Bibliothèque Nationale are here. 3e: Archives Nationales, Musée Carnavalet, Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, Hôtel de Soubise and the former Temple fortress, and the northern, quieter part of the Marais. 4e: Notre-Dame de Paris and the Hôtel de Ville (Paris city hall), Hôtel de Sully, Beaubourg, Rue des Rosiers and the Yahudi Quarter, Le Marais, Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, Mémorial de la Shoah, Centre Georges Pompidou, l'atelier Brancusi, Place des Vosges, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Saint-Jacques Tower and the Parisian island Île Saint-Louis as well as the eastern half of Île de la Cité.

Left Bank (5th arr., 6th arr., 7th arr.) 5e: This is the eastern part of the Quartier latin (Latin Quarter). Jardin des Plantes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musée de Cluny and the Panthéon, La Sorbonne, Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Église Saint-Séverin, La Grande Mosquée, Le Musée de l'AP-HP. 6e: This contains the western part of the Quartier latin. Jardin du Luxembourg as well as its Sénat, Place Saint-Michel, Église Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. 7e: Tour Eiffel and its Parc du Champ de Mars, Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Assemblée nationale and its subset administrations, École Militaire, Musée du quai Branly, and Parisian mega-store Le Bon Marché.

Inner Paris (8th arr., 9th arr.) 8e: Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, le Palais de l'Élysée, Église de la Madeleine,Jacquemart-André Museum, Gare Saint-Lazare, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and the western half of Boulevard Haussman. 9e: Opéra Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Musée Grévin, Folies Bergère, and the eastern half of Boulevard Haussman.

East Paris (10th arr., 11th arr., 12th arr.) 10e: Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Porte Saint-Denis, Porte Saint-Martin, Passage Brady, Passage du Prado, and Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. 11e: The restaurants of Rue Oberkampf, Bastille, Nation, New Yahudi Quarter, Cirque d'Hiver, and Église Saint-Ambroise. 12e: Opéra Bastille, Bercy Park and Village, AccorHotels Arena, Promenade Plantée, Quartier d'Aligre, Gare de Lyon, Cimetière de Picpus, Viaduc des arts and the Bois de Vincennes, and the Zoo de Vincennes.

South Paris (13th arr., 14th arr., 15th arr.) 13e: Quartier Asiatique (Asian Quarter), Place d'Italie, La Butte-aux-Cailles, Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF), Gare d'Austerlitz, Manufacture des Gobelins and the Olympiades and the Tolbiac neighborhood, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital. 14e: Cimetière du Montparnasse, Gare Montparnasse, La Santé Prison, Denfert-Rochereau, Parc Montsouris, Stade Charléty, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, and the public entrance to the catacombs. 15e: Tour Montparnasse, Porte de Versailles, Front de Seine, La Ruche, Parc André Citroën, Aquaboulevard and quartiers Saint-Lambert, Necker, Grenelle and Javel.

West Paris (16th arr., 17th arr.) 16e: Palais de Chaillot, Musée de l'Homme and the Bois de Boulogne, Cimetière de Passy, Parc des Princes, Musée Marmottan-Monet, Trocadéro, Maison de la Radio, and Avenue Foch. 17e: Palais des Congrès, Place de Clichy, Parc Monceau, Marché Poncelet, and Plaza des Batignolles.

Paris Hills (18th arr., 19th arr., 20th arr.) 18e: Montmartre, Pigalle, Barbès, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur, Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre, and Goutte d'Or can be found here. 19e: Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Parc de la Villette, Bassin de la Villette, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Cité de la Musique, Canal de l'Ourcq, and Canal Saint-Denis can be found here. 20e: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Parc de Belleville, and quartiers Belleville and Ménilmontant.

La Défense Although it is not officially part of the city, this skyscraper neighborhood on the western edge of town is on many visitors' must-see lists for its modern architecture and public art.

Beyond Paris and the outlying suburbs are called La Banlieue. Schematically, those to the west of Paris (Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt, Saint Cloud, Levallois, Versailles, Poissy) are wealthy residential communities, even if some more middle class suburbs can be found. Those to the north are poorer communities, usually populated by immigrants. Those to the south are quite diverse, with a mix between rough and poor neigborhoods and very affluent communities. Finally, those to the east are usually lower-middle class mingled with a few upper-middle class communities..

Paris Halal Explorer

Due to high expectations, a tight schedule, and large crowds and long lines during high season and the city might disappoint some visitors. Foreign visitors who have an idealized view of Paris might be shocked by the typical challenges of visiting any large city; crime, traffic noise, pollution, garbage, and relatively high costs. In the worst case, visitors might experience the Paris syndrome; a psychological state of delusion.

To enjoy the wonders of Paris, make realistic plans. The amounts of attractions and monuments is overwhelming; visiting only the most famous ones takes more than a week. The city also has more to offer for people who take time for a calm stroll along the backstreets. If your time in the city is short, be selective, and save some attractions for your next visit.

History of Paris

Paris started life as the Celto-Roman settlement of Lutetia on the Île de la Cité and the island in the Seine now occupied by the Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame. It takes its present name from the name of the dominant Gallo-Celtic tribe in the region and the Parisii. At least that's what the Romans called them, when they showed up in 52 BCE and established their city Lutetia on the left bank of the Seine, in what is now called the "Latin Quarter" in the Paris/5th arrondissement|5th arrondissement.

The Romans held out here for as long as anywhere else in the Western Empire, but by 508 CE they were gone, replaced by Clovis of the Franks, who is considered by the French to have been their first king. Clovis' descendants, aka the Carolingians, held onto the expanded Lutetian state for nearly 500 years through Viking raids and other calamities, which finally resulted in a forced move by most of the population back to the islands which had been the centre of the original Celtic village. The Capetian Duke of Paris was voted to succeed the last of the Carolingians as King of France, ensuring the city a premier position in the medieval world. Over the next several centuries Paris expanded onto the right bank into what was and is still called le Marais (The Marsh). Quite a few buildings from this time can be seen in the 4th arrondissement.

The medieval period also witnessed the founding of the Sorbonne. As the "University of Paris", it became one of the most important centres for learning in Europe—if not the whole world, for several hundred years. Most of the institutions that still constitute the University are found in the Paris/5th arrondissement|5th, and Paris/13th arrondissement|13th arrondissements.

In the late 18th century and there was a period of political and social upheaval in France and Europe, during which the French governmental structure, previously a monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights. Notable events during and following the revolution were the storming of the Bastille Paris/4th arrondissement|4th arrondissements, and the rise and fall of Napoleonic France. Out of the violent turmoil that was the French Revolution, sparked by the still known Passion des Français, emerged the enlightened modern day France.

The Paris of today was built long after the Capetian and later the Bourbon Kings of France made their mark on Paris with the Louvre and the Palais Royal, both in the Paris/1st arrondissement|1st. In the 19th century, Baron von Hausmann set about reconstructing the city, by adding the long straight avenues and replacing many of the then existing medieval houses, with grander and more uniform buildings.

New wonders arrived during La Belle Époque, as the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century is known. Gustave Eiffel's famous tower and the first metro lines, most of the parks, and the streetlights (which are partly believed to have given the city its epithet "the city of light") all come from this period. Another source of the epithet comes from Ville Lumière, a reference not only to the revolutionary electrical lighting system implemented in the streets of Paris, but also to the prominence and aura of Enlightenment the city gained in that era.

The twentieth century was hard on Paris, but thankfully not as hard as it could have been. Both world wars took a heavy toll on the city's inhabitants, but at least Hitler's order to burn the city was ignored by the German General von Choltitz, who was quite possibly convinced by a Swedish diplomat that it would be better to surrender and be remembered as the saviour of Paris, rather than its destroyer. Following the war and the city recovered quickly at first, but slowed in the 1970s and 1980s when Paris began to experience some of the problems faced by big cities everywhere: pollution, housing shortages, and occasionally failed experiments in urban renewal.

However, post-war Paris enjoyed considerable growth as a multi-cultural city, with new immigrants from all corners of the world, especially La Francophonie, including most of North Africa|northern and West Africa|western Africa as well as Indochina. These immigrants brought their Vegetarian foods and music, both of which are of prime interest for many travellers.

Immigration and multi-culturalism continues in the 21st century with a marked increase in the arrival of people from Latin America, especially Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. In the late 1990s, it was hard to find good Mexican food in Paris, whereas today there are dozens of possibilities from lowly taquerias in the outer arrondissements to nice sit-down restaurants on the boulevards. Meanwhile Latin music from salsa to samba is all the rage (well, alongside Paris lounge electronica).

The 21st century has also seen vast improvements in the general liveability of Paris, with the mayor's office concentrating on reducing pollution and improving facilities for soft forms of transportation including a huge network of cycle paths, larger pedestrian neighborhoods and newer faster metro lines. Visitors who normally arrive car-less are the beneficiaries of these policies as much as the Parisians themselves are.

How is the Climate in Paris

Paris has a maritime climate with cool winters and warm summers. The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean helps to temper temperature extremes in much of western Europe, including France. Even in January and the coldest month, temperatures nearly always exceed the freezing point with an average high of 7|C}}. Snow is not common in Paris, although it will fall a few times a year, with major snowstorms occurring every few years. Most of Paris's precipitation comes in the form of light rain year-round.

Summers in Paris are warm and pleasant, with an average high of 25|C}}. Spring and autumn are normally cool and wet.

Travel as a Muslim to Paris

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Paris

Paris is served by two international airports - for more information, including arrival/departure times, check the official

Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Roissy)

Main article: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (IATA Flight Code: CDG) is the main airport of the city. It is located north of Paris and is connected by train, bus and taxi. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.

Transit Summary: The RER train line "B" connects CDG airport to central Paris and is the fastest and most economical option for most travelers. Signs in the airport will direct you to the platform. Self-serve electronic kiosques sell tickets. The kiosques provide service in multiple languages, including English. Some trains will stop at each station along the way to Paris. Express trains with fewer stops are available during off-peak hours. The stations Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire are always served. Your ticket will allow you to transfer at one of the aforementioned stations to the Metro and other RER lines within Paris to complete your journey. The one-way trip costs €10.30 for adults, €7.20 for children aged 4 – 9, and free for children under 4.

Another option is the RoissyBus that departs from Opéra. Those buses are frequent.

If you arrive to CDG Airport at night you'll need a Noctilien bus to get to the downtown. The bus stops at all three terminals (in terminal 2F it will be the second level in the departure section, difficult to find, but it really exists). The bus leaves every 30 min after 00:30

Orly International Airport

Paris Orly Airport (IATA Flight Code: ORY), this older international airport is southwest of the city and is used mainly by Air France for domestic departures, as well as several international departures, mostly towards destinations around the Mediterranean. It consists of two terminals: Terminal Sud (south) and Terminal Ouest (west) connected by light rail. The airport is connected with Paris by bus and light rail. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.

Orly is roughly 25-35 min from Paris via the OrlyBus, which departs from Métro Denfert-Rochereau (line 6); the price is €8 (as of 2022). There are buses every 8-15 minutes from the Orly Sud (Platform 4) and it stops at Orly Ouest on its way to the city. Tickets can be purchased at a counter near the baggage claim area or directly at the counter in Platform 4. The tickets need to be validated once on the bus. Another option is tramway T7 that takes you to the Métro Villejuif - Louis Aragon (Metro 7) in 30 min, but it stops on the way and is designed for commuters and not for Muslim travellers. Tramway T7 costs a single T+ (metro/bus/tram) ticket (€2 if bought on board the bus) and runs every 10 min, stopping at airport level -1. Passes covering zones 1–4 are accepted, except that Ticket Jeunes is not valid on Orlybus.

Via rail the airport can be visited by a southern branch of the RER-B line that heads from Paris in the direction of Massy-Palaiseau or Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (not Robinson). At Antony station RER-B line connects with the Orlyval light rail that carries passengers to both terminals of the airport. Orlyval runs every 4-7 min and costs €12.05 (as of 2022) for transfer to Paris, including connections to central area metro stations. The RER B from Antony runs through Paris to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle. Note that public transport passes are not accepted on Orlyval (but Paris Visite is valid on Orlyval, and zone 1–3 passes are valid between Antony and Paris).

The airport can be also reached by RER-C trains heading from Paris to Massy or Pont de Rungis. From Pont de Rungis-Aéroport d'Orly station passengers get to the airport within 10 minutes by a shuttle bus. The travel from Paris downtown to the airport by RER-C and the shuttle costs €6.85 (as of 2022). Passes covering zones 1–4 are accepted.

Beauvais (Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé)

Beauvais (IATA Flight Code: BVA), a distance north of the city, is a smaller regional airport that is used by some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and WizzAir. Like many small airports there is a cartel in operation in the form of the airport operated shuttle service connecting with the Métro at Porte Maillot station. Buses run even during the small hours of the morning (06:00). Buses leave 20 min after each flight arrives, and a few hours before each flight departs. The journey will take about an hour in good traffic conditions, and costs €16 each way and there is no reduced price for children over the age of 2 years. Unless you hire a vehicle this is the most realistic way to head toward Paris, hence why the airport charge the price they do. The alternative is a train service between Gare du North and Beauvais, and a connecting shuttle or taxi to the airport. This journey costs more and takes longer. Missing the shuttle bus could mean a taxi fare well over €100.

Airline shuttles

In addition to public transport, Air France operates shuttles between Charles de Gaulle and Paris (€17), Orly and Paris (€12) and between the two airports (€20). Discounts apply for young/group travellers and online bookers. If you have connecting Air France flights that land and depart from different airports, you would still generally need to fetch your luggage after landing, catch either the Air France shuttle or a taxi (readily available at all airports) to the other airport and check-in again. This altogether could take up to 2 hours, particularly if traffic is at its worst. It is also common to lose time during disembarking, as passengers often need to get off on the tarmac and get on buses which will take them to the terminal. Be sure you have sufficient time between Flights to catch your connection. Check-in counters usually close 30 min before the flight departs, longer if flights are international.

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Paris

Paris europe train map - A map showing train travel durations to/from Paris as of 2005

Train stations on departure from Paris map-en.svg|Map showing which areas of France are served from Parisian stations

Paris is well connected to the rest of Europe by train. There are seven different terminus stations in central Paris and although they are not all in the same neighborhood and they are all connected to the Metro and RER networks. You will probably want to kin advance at which station your train is arriving, so as to better choose a hotel and plan for transport within the city.

• Gare du North GPS 48.8807,2.3546 (10th), Métro: Gare du Nord - TGV trains to and from Belgium and the Netherlands, west Germany (Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen) (Thalys), and the United Kingdom (Eurostar from London and Kent) and some trains from Northern Europe.
• Gare d'Austerlitz GPS 48.842,2.3658 - (13th), Métro: Gare d'Austerlitz - regular trains to and from the center and southwest of France (Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse the long way) and the majority of night trains.
• Gare de l'Est GPS 48.8772,2.3593 - Gare de l'Est Paris 2007 a6.jpg, (10th), Métro: Gare de l'Est - TGV to and from Luxembourg, ICE/TGV to and from south Germany (Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Augsburg, and Munich), RZD night train to and from Russia (Moscow), Belarus (Minsk), Poland (Warsaw, Poznan) and Germany (Berlin, Erfurt).
• Gare de Lyon GPS 48.8443,2.3739 (12th), Métro: Gare de Lyon - regular and TGV trains to and from southern and eastern France: French Alps, Marseille, Lyon, Dijon, Switzerland (Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zurich), Monaco, and southwest Germany (Müllheim, Freiburg im Breisgau). You can also catch day (Turin, Milan) and sleeper trains|overnight trains (Milan, Verona, Padua, Venice) from and to Italy.
• Gare de Bercy GPS 48.83929,2.38283 - (12th), Métro: Bercy. Regular trains to Auvergne and Burgundy.
• Gare Street Lazare GPS 48.8767,2.3249 - (8th) Métro: St-Lazare - trains to and from Basse-Normandie, Haute-Normandie.
• Gare Montparnasse GPS 48.8402,2.3191 - (15th), Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe - TGV and regular trains to and from the west and south-west of France (Tours, Brest (France) | Brest, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse the quickest way and Irún in Spain). Gare Vaugirard is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.

The SNCF operates practically all trains within France excluding the Eurostar to London and the Thalys to Brussels and onward to the Netherlands and Germany, and some low-cost services such as iDTGV and Ouigo (although they are owned by the SNCF and they are considered as different rail companies). There are also a few local lines of high touristic interest which are privately owned. All SNCF, Eurostar and Thalys tickets can be purchased in train stations, city offices and travel agencies (no surcharge). SNCF relies on travel agencies for selling tickets online and the main one being Voyages SNCF (you will need to use a chip-enabled card, and have to have the one used to pay the tickets with you to retrieve the actual tickets in any SNCF station, some foreign cards won't be accepted) and Trainline (easier to use, and you can retrieve your ticket at any counter or machine with just your name and booking reference). You can also find tickets in online and physical travel agencies. You can book and buy tickets up to three months in advance. There are significant discounts if you book weeks ahead. Reduced ticket prices are different for each day and each train and can be used only on the train the reservation is for.

Trains between Paris and south Germany (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich) as well as the Marseille-Frankfurt TGV are jointly operated by SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, but each of the two operators will sell tickets at its own price! Make sure to check the price offered by each operator before you buy, or use Trainline since they automatically compare SNCF and DB prices.

There are a number of different kinds of high-speed and normal trains:

• TER: The regional trains (Train Express Régional); cheapest tickets, though prices are variable on the time of day of departure (and the day of departure as well). TER are sometimes slower, stopping at almost all stations. TER tickets bought at the train station are valid two months from the date indicated on the ticket, as long as you travel in the right fare period ("période bleue" and the cheapest, "période blanche", for high-demand hours). There is no seat reservation, so arrive early enough or you may have to travel without a seat.
• Intercités: A bundling of the former Intercités, Téoz, and Lunéa train categories. There are two kinds: the regular trains, which are priced the same as the TER and the trains you'll find yourself on if you have a Eurail or InterRail pass and don't want to pay extra for reservations, and the trains à réservation obligatoire, which require a reservation and are priced differently from the regular Intercités trains.
• TGV: The world-famous French high-speed trains (Trains à Grande Vitesse) run very frequently to the southeast Nice (5-6 hr), Marseille (3 hr) and Avignon (2.5 hr) and the east Geneva (3hr) or Lausanne, Switzerland, Dijon (1 hours 15 min) and Strasbourg (1 hours 45 min) and the southwest Bordeaux (3 hr) and the west Rennes (2 hr) and the north Lille (1 hr). Thalys to Brussels (1 hours 20 min) use almost identical trains. Reservations are obligatory.
• ICE: German high-speed trains, operating most services between Paris and Frankfurt.
• Thalys: A high-speed train service running daily to/from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. It can be a bit expensive compared to normal trains, but affordable enough if you buy in advance.
• IZY: A subsidiary of Thalys, offering slower (~2 hours 15 min) but cheaper trains between Paris and Brussels.
• Eurostar: The Eurostar service connects Paris with London St. Pancras directly and Brussels indirectly, as well many other destinations indirectly through the various west European rail services. Travel duration between Paris Gare du North and London Street Pancras International averages 2hr 15 min. Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid for this train, though pass holders can benefit from a reduced price. You must arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure of the train to complete security and passport controls.
• Ouigo - a subsidiary of SNCF running TGVs with a second class only layout intended and marketed as a lower cost service, often serving secondary train stations with lower station access charges like Marne-la-Vallée (Disneyland)
• Thello: night trains between Paris and Venice (with intermediate stops).
• RŽD: Russian railways operate a sleeper train between Paris and Moscow with stops through Germany (Karlsruhe, Frankfurt/Main, Erfurt, Berlin, Frankfurt/Oder), Poland and Belarus.

Transfer between train stations

From Gare d'Austerlitz

• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Bercy (15 min): Bus 24 to École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de l'Est (20 min): Station paris 5, direction Bobigny.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Montparnasse (25 min): Station paris 10 direction Boulogne, change at Odéon for Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge. Alternatively, Bus 91 to Montparnasse, get off at Gare Montparnasse for the ticket office, local trains and most long-distance-trains; get off at the last stop Montparnasse 2–gare TGV if your train leaves from gare de Vaugirard or to reach the front carriages of TGV trains.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Lyon: it's a 5- to 10-min walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take Bus 91 in front of the station (on the same side of the street) towards Bastille and get off at Gare de Lyon–Diderot.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare du North (20 min): Station paris|5 direction Bobigny.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Saint-Lazare (25 min): Station paris|10 direction Boulogne, change at Sèvres-Babylone for Station paris|12 direction Aubervilliers–Front Populaire; alternatively walk 10 min to Gare de Lyon then take Station paris|14 direction Gare Saint-Lazare.

From Gare de l'Est

• Gare de l'Est – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): Station paris 5 direction Place d'Italie.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare de Bercy (25 min) : Station paris 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, stop at Châtelet and then Station paris|14 direction Olympiades, stop at Bercy.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare de Lyon (20 min) : Station paris 5 direction Place d'Italie, stop at Quai de la Rapee and follow pedestrian signs to Gare de Lyon. Alternatively, Station paris 5 in the same direction to Bastille and then Station paris|1 direction Château de Vincennes to Gare de Lyon.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare du North (8 min) : Station paris direction Bobigny or Metro 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to climb set of stairs.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge.
• Gare de l'Est – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for Station paris|3 direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.

From Gare de Lyon

• Gare de Lyon – Gare d'Austerlitz: it's a 5- to 10-minutes walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take bus 91 towards Montparnasse.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare de Bercy (15 mins): A free shuttle runs between the two every half hour if you have a SNCF train ticket including a transfer between these two stations. Alternatively, Station paris|14 direction Olympiades to Bercy.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare de l'Est (25 mins): Station paris|14 to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by Station paris|4 direction Porte de Clignancourt.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Bus 91 to Gare Montparnasse. Another option is Station paris|14 to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare du North (20 min): RER A direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye/Cergy Le Haut/Poissy to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER B direction Aéroport Charles de Gaulle/Mitry Claye to Gare du Nord (on the other side of the platform); if the RER A is not working take RER D heading to Orry la Ville or Creil; both will go to Gare du North .
• Gare de Lyon – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 mins): Station paris|14 direction Saint-Lazare.

From Gare Montparnasse

• Gare Montparnasse – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): Station paris|4 direction Porte de Clignancourt, change at Odéon for Station paris|10 direction Austerlitz. Alternatively, take Bus 91 (a little faster unless it gets caught in traffic).
• Gare Montparnasse - Gare de Lyon (30 min): Station paris|4 to Chatelet, direction Porte de Clignancourt followed by Station paris|14 direction Olympiades
• Gare Montparnasse - Gare du North OR Gare de I'Est (30 min): Station paris|4 direction Porte de Clignancourt
• Gare Montparnasse – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): Station paris|13 direction Asnières/Genevilliers or Saint-Denis.

From Gare du Nord

• Gare du North – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): Station paris|5 direction Place d'Italie.
• Gare du North - Gare de Bercy (25 min): Follow the directions for Gare de Lyon and then switch to Station paris|14 direction Olympiades to Bercy.
• Gare du North - Gare de l'Est (8 min): Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to descend a set of stairs.
• Gare du North - Gare de Lyon (20 min): RER D direction Melun/Malesherbes; alternatively, if the RER D is not operational, RER B direction Robinson/Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER A direction Marne-la-Vallée/Boissy-Saint-Léger to Gare de Lyon (this change only involves getting off the RER B train and getting on the RER A train on the other side of the same platform)
• Gare du North - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge
• Gare du North – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs) Station paris|4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for Station paris|3 direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.

From Gare Saint-Lazare

• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): Station paris|12 direction Mairie d'Issy, change at Sèvres-Babylone for Station paris|10 direction Austerlitz; alternatively Station paris|14 direction Olympiades to Gare de Lyon and then cross the Seine river to Gare d'Austerlitz (10 min walk).
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Bercy (20 min): Station paris|14 direction Olympiades.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de l'Est (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) Station paris|3 direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for Station paris|4 direction Porte de Clignancourt.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Lyon (15 min): Station paris|14 direction Olympiades.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare Montparnasse (15 min): Station paris|13 direction Châtillon–Montrouge. (

Each station displays a detailed map of the surrounding area with a street list and the location of buildings (monuments, schools, places of worship, etc.), as well as exits for that particular metro. Maps are located on the platform if the station has several exits or near the exit if there is only one exit.

Except for Métro 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and 14 and the doors will not open automatically. In such a case and there are handles or buttons located both inside and outside the train that you have to push or unlatch in order to open the door. Many local residents may try to squeeze into the trains after the alarm has sounded to signal the closing of the doors. While one can occasionally pass through on lines with a driver and the automatic doors on Métro 1 and 14 will continue to close despite the presence of a limb or article of clothing. It is strongly advised to wait for the second train than to chance being caught between the doors.

Strikes, breakdown and construction are regular occurrences on the Paris public transit system. Generally during a strike and the métro operates with reduced service and some suburban lines may stop operating altogether.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Paris

Bateaux Mouches Paris 2011 - A bateau mouche near the Pont Neuf

There are several excellent boat services which make use of the Seine. As well as providing easy, affordable transport to much of central Paris, excellent photo opportunities abound. You can buy a day or 3 day ticket and hop on and off the boat as needed. The boats take a circular route from the Eiffel Tower, down past the Louvre, Notre Dame, botanical gardens then back up the other bank past Musée d'Orsay. Batobus offers a regular shuttle service between the main touristic sights (closed Jan); other companies such as the famous Bateaux Mouches offer sightseeing cruises.

How to travel around Paris on a bicycle ?

Directions|If you find yourself lost in the streets, a good idea is to find the nearest Hotel and ask the concierge for directions. Most speak English well. A simple "Bonjour Monsieur / Madame, parlez-vous anglais?" should suffice.

Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport and an excellent way to see the sights. Riding a bike anywhere in the city is far safer for the moderately experienced cyclists than almost any town or city in the United States. The French are very cognizant of cyclists, almost to a point of reverence. Paris hasn't always been the easiest place to get around by bike, but that is no longer the case. The city government has taken a number of steps in strong support of improving the safety and efficiency of the urban cyclist as well, in establishing some separated bike lanes, but even more important a policy of allowing cyclists to share the ample bus lanes on most major boulevards. Paris also has many riversides which are perfect for cycling. The Paris bike network now counts over 150 km of either unique or shared lanes for the cyclist. In addition and the narrower, medieval side streets of the central arrondissements make for rather scenic and leisurely cycling, especially during off-hours of the day when traffic is lighter. Do remember to bring a good map, since there is no grid plan to speak of and almost all of the smaller streets are one-way.

While the streets of Paris are generally fairly easy on novice cyclists and there are some streets in the city that should be avoided by those who do not have sufficient urban cycling experience. Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Bastille, and Place de la Nation are particularly hairy, especially during weekdays and the Saturday evening rush, and should not be navigated by anyone not confident in their ability to cycle in heavy traffic. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place de l'Étoile, and voie Georges Pompidou (the lower-level express lanes along the banks of the Seine) should be avoided at all times.

You can find an excellent map of the bike network called Paris à vélo - Le bon plan) at the information centre in the Hôtel de Ville.

• Vélib' | ☎ +33 1 76 49 12 34 - €5 per day, first half hour free. In January 2018 and the original Vélib' was replaced by a new system called Vélib' Métropole, that encompasses an ever larger area than the previous one. At first there were some technical issues, but by the end of 2018 it seems like they were mostly resolved. Bikes include a screen showing eg. how long a bike has been rented. Some electric bikes are also available (for an extra fee).

By electric scooter

Like many cities, Paris was in 2018 more or less flooded with free-floating electric scooters which you can rent through an app. You'll find them whizzing around and standing nearly everywhere. Examples include Bird and Lime, but several other brands are also available. If you take one, make sure to park it in a place where it doesn't obstruct any other foot or motorized traffic.

Study as a Muslim in Paris

• Alliance Française - One of the world's largest schools of French language and the Paris Alliance Française has a wide variety of courses for a visitor to choose from.

• Ecole France Langue - France Langue have a variety of different courses, starting as short as one week up to long-term tuition. Classes are taught entirely in French, with students (who come from all parts of the world) discouraged from speaking in their native languages at all during lessons. The emphasis is more on speaking and listening rather than on writing and grammar. The school is spread over a number of locations around Place Victor Hugo in the 16^e.

• Université Paris IV | Offers 'scholastic' as well as 'university' courses for foreigners in French language and culture, which start at various times of year.

• American Graduate School in Paris - 101, boul Raspail ☎ +33 1 47 20 00 94 Graduate school in Paris specializing in international relations and business programs. Classes are taught in English with optional French classes.

• Franglish - ☎ +33 7 60 47 30 20 French/English Language Exchange event in Paris, 3 times per week in some of the best venues across Paris. Practice your French while having a good time meeting local residents.

• Schiller International University | 9 Rue Yvart, 75015 ☎ +33 1 45 38 56 01 -

Paris is the seat of other places to learn about a variety of topics.

• The American Library in Paris - 5 min walking from the Eiffel Tower - A great place to visit in Paris is the American Library, this is a non-profit institution entirely dependent on donations in order to keep its doors open. Visitors can purchase a day pass or other short term memberships. The Library has Wi-Fi and if you have your laptop then you can access the internet for no charge other than the day pass to use the library. It has excellent books, current issues of American magazines, and the occasional celebrity patron.

How to work legally in Paris

Work in Paris, especially for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, entails a very long and arduous process. Unless you possess one of a number of in-demand skills, it will almost certainly be necessary to obtain a job offer from an employer before arriving. Your employer, for their part, will have to have the offer approved by the relevant governmental authorities, as well. If you opt for unreported work, such as babysitting, you need not fret about going through the process to obtain a Carte de séjour, i.e., a formal visitor's identity card. However, if you do choose a change in location, it is advisable to obtain a Carte de séjour prior to finding any job whatsoever, as the process can be longer than expected. A Carte de séjour is often necessary to open a bank account and the like, and by extension for accomplishing any number of other tasks involved in modern life, so unless you're very comfortable transacting everything in cash you should probably bite the bullet and keep things on the up-and-up.

If you go to Paris for a conference and there's a very good chance you'll end up in a meeting or exhbiting at CNIT (Centre of New Industries and Technology). This conference and convention space is one of the oldest buildings in the La Defense area of Paris and still looks modern even though it's been eclipsed in height by surrounding buildings and hotels near the CNIT are mainly catered to those staying in the area on business.

Remember and the city of Paris has a huge network of immigrants coming and going, and it is always great to tap into that network. The city holds a great abundance of work ready to be found, even if the search feels nerve-wracking at first.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Paris

Paris is one of the great fashion centres of the Western world, up there with New York, London, and Milan, making it a shopper's delight. While the Paris fashion scene is constantly evolving and the major shopping centres tend to be the same. High end couture can be found in the 8th arrondisement. In summer and there is nothing better than browsing the boutiques along Canal St-Martin, or strolling along the impressive arcades of the historic Palais-Royal, with beautifully wrapped purchases swinging on each arm.

Le Marais is a mostly Yahudi neighborhood, most of the shops in Le Marais are open on Sundays. The stores in this area are intimate, boutique, "Parisian" style clothing stores. You will no doubt find something along each street, and it is always well worth the look.

Other great areas to shop around in are around the area Sèvres Babylone (Métro Line 10 and Line 12). It is in this area you will find the Le Bon Marché Paris/7th arrondissement|7th, particularly rue de Cherche Midi Paris/6th arrondissement|6th. The area boasts some of the major fashion houses (Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, etc.) and also has smaller private boutiques with handmade clothing.

In the Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you can find a handful of vintage clothing shops, carrying anything from couture early 20th century dresses, to 70s Chanel sunglasses. Walking along Boulevard Saint-Germain, you will find major brands. However, if in search of eclectic finds, opt to walk the northern side of the Boulevard, especially along rue Saint André des Arts, where you can always find a nice café to stop in. The area south of Saint-Germain is just as nice, and comes with a price tag to match.

In the artsy quarters of 1 and 4 and there are many bargains to be had, once again, if you are prepared to look. Souvenirs are easily found and can be fairly affordable as long as you don't buy from the tourist sites. For affordable books of French connection, try the University/Latin quarter as they sell books in all languages starting from half a euro each.

Flea markets

Paris has 3 main flea markets, all on the outskirts of the central city. The most famous of these is the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (Porte de Clignancourt) (Clignancourt Flea Market), Métro: Porte de Clignancourt, in the Paris/18th arrondissement#Buy|18th, a haven for lovers of antiques, second-hand goods, and retro fashion. The best days to go are Saturday and Sunday. There are particular times of the week when only antique collectors are allowed into the stalls, and there are also times of the day when the stall owners take their Parisian siesta, and enjoy a leisurely cappuccino for an hour or so. The best times to visit the flea markets are in the spring and summertime, when the area is more vibrant. In and around the metro station, you may find the area a little wild, but still safe.

Musical instruments

Rue de Rome, situated near Gare St. Lazare, is crowded with luthiers, brass and woodwind makers, piano sellers, and sheet music stores. Subway station Europe. The area south of the metro station Pigalle is also packed with live music shops (more oriented towards guitars and drums).

Artwork

For art lovers, be sure to check out Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which is renowned for its galleries, and it is imfeasible to turn a street without finding a gallery to cast your glance in. On Fridays, most open until late. Most even have the benefit of bottles of so you can wander in with your glass of and feel very artistique. Great roads to walk along are rue de Seine, rue Jacob, rue des Beaux Arts, Rue Bonaparte, and Rue Mazarine. Also, be sure to visit the historical neighborhood of Montparnasse and quartier Vavin where artists like Modigliani, Gauguin and Zadkine used to work.

Halal Restaurants in Paris

Moroccan and Algerian cooking is common in Paris - Vegetarian couscous is lovely. Another good option for Vegetarian - are traiteurs, particularly around Ledru Rollin (down the road from Bastille) take away food where you can combine a range of different options such as pomme dauphinoise, dolmas, salads, vegetables, nice breads and cheeses and so on.

Lebanese restaurants and snack shops abound as well, offering a number of Vegetarian mezze, or small plates. The stand-bys of course are hummas, falafel, and baba-ganouche (caviar d'aubergine). A good place to look for Lebanese is in the pedestrian zone around Les Halles and Beaubourg in the Paris/1st arrondissement|1st and Paris/4th arrondissement|4th.

Vegetarian dining

For vegetarians, eating traditional French food will require some improvisation, as it is heavily meat-based. That being said, Paris has several excellent Vegetarian restaurants, and many non-vegetarian restaurants will provide Vegetarian dishes.

When eating in a traditional restaurant, be careful before ordering dishes labelled as "vegetarian". Many French people presume that fish and seafood are Vegetarian dishes. This is a widely spread misunderstanding all around the nation. Additionally, French people tend to confuse "real" Vegetarian with vegans. When explaining that you're a Vegetarian that won't eat fish, people will often presume that you won't eat milk or egg-based products.

Look for spots such as Aquarius in the Paris/14th arrondissement|14th or and Le Grenier de Notre-Dame in the Paris/5th arrondissement|5th. See the arrondissement pages for more listings. For fast food and Snacks, you can always find a Vegetarian sandwiches or Pizzas. Even a y- Halal Kebab shop can make you something with just Cheese and salad, or perhaps falafel.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Paris

Paris - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Paris, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Paris. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Paris and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Paris. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Paris. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inParis: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Paris.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Paris: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Paris, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Paris.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Paris, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Paris, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Paris and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Paris, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Paris, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Paris without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Paris is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Paris.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Paris is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Paris, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Paris Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Paris

eHalal Group Paris is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Paris. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Paris.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Paris ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Paris. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Paris, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Paris are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at realestate@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly hotels in Paris

Hotels

Being often declared the most popular travel destination in the world, Paris has far over a thousand hotels to choose from, and even more in the surrounding Ile-de-France region. The choice may be overwhelming, but should be made carefully. There are huge differences in standards and location is key to make your stay in Paris enjoyable and time used well. Be prepared to pay the price for Paris' popularity - even the affordable hotels are expensive.

Despite the popularity with tourists, global hotel chains have relatively low penetration of the Parisian market. A notable exception is the French-based Accor, which boasts over 300 hotels in the Paris area, although with large swathes of central Paris largely uncovered. There is a fair amount of Best Westerns as well, but most international chains limit their presence to very few exclusive (and expensive) hotels in key locations. Travellers loyal to a particular brand may find their loyalty challenged, be forced to pay for it (rather than be rewarded) or unable to find their hotel brand of choice in Paris.

Hotels in the central arrondissements tend to be expensive, although very affordable ones can also be found. With few exceptions and they tend to offer small rooms - be aware of the fact that the difference in price between hotels can translate into difference in service, facility and appointment levels, but not necessarily room size. Rooms of 12-16 square metres (which is roughly half of standard hotels rooms e.g. in the USA) are the norm in central Paris, regardless of hotel standards.

Cheaper hotels in popular arrondissements tend to be older, less attractive properties, whose facilities and appointments may be very worn and outdated, far behind standards one would expect from the capital of all things pretty and fine. Even updated and restored hotels may exhibit wide variance in standards between room categories, and keep some of the rooms not refurbished or only minimally touched up to be able to offer attractive, eye-catching pricing for them and then upsell to more comfortable room categories. Always check out latest reviews, preferably with photos, to precisely determine what to expect from a given hotel and given room category.

Hotels outside of the downtown, or even outside of the Peripherique and Paris itself, can be far cheaper and better value for money than ones in central Paris, while still having good transit links via metro or RER. That said, you should check thoroughly how far from the metro / RER station the given hotel is, and whether the connection to the POIs you want to visit is direct, quick and easy. Do also factor in the added cost of transportation to outer zones, as well as the time spent to travel to and from the city and obviously resulting limitations.

Because of local preferences, a bathtub in the bathroom is a norm in most hotels, even if it means squeezing it into a very small bathroom, further limiting space. If you prefer a walk-in shower, you need to look for a hotel that specifically offers those (called "douche italienne" by the French), and you should generally look at newer, purpose-built properties.

Paris hotels, almost without regard to category or price, observe high and low seasons. These differ slightly from one hotel to another, but usually the high season roughly corresponds to late spring and summer, and possibly a couple of weeks around the Christmas season.

For individual hotel listings see the various #Districts|Arrondissement pages.

Apartment rentals

For those staying for a week or more, renting a furnished apartment might be a more comfortable and money-saving option, especially for 3 or more adults. Furnished apartments can differ considerably in location and quality, offer different accommodations and selections of appliances and kitchen features, or may be well-above street level with no elevator. Expect apartment sizes to be modest.Access to local public transport can also vary widely. So choose carefully only after getting a full description of an interesting property.

In late-spring and summer months, desirable properties may be in short supply. If your plans are fairly firm for those periods, you would be wise to "reserve" a unit well in-advance. Owners will often ask for a non-refundable deposit of up to 50% of the total cost of your stay. Means of payment can range from money order to PayPal or (occasionally) charge card. (Take great care of how and with whom you share any charge card account number.) You should send no payment to any post office box or similarly anonymous place or account...even after exchanging e-mails with a purported owner; most are no more than "blind" scams to take your money.

The city government has passed ordinances that require owners renting properties for short periods to collect a tax previously collected only by hotels. This substantial tax may not be collected by some owners, or may be demanded by them but not mentioned in their rates until you arrive. Tax enforcement and collection remain in a state of flux.

Some agencies, rental brokers or web sites, that seem amicable, attractive or claim reputations, do not abide by French law to carefully vet and select landlords and apartments they offer for rent. There are a certain number of guarantees, which are required in France before renting an apartment, and an insurance policy, which aims at protecting the tenants during their stay.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Paris

Crime

Despite what many naysayers might say or believe, Paris is still a relatively safe city. This does not stop it from being plagued by petty crime, especially pickpocketing, and muggings. Scams, of which there are many, are also prevalent, though the police are slowly cracking down on them. While not common, purse snatchings do happen. Violent crime is common, but has been on the rise in recent years. Watch yourself at ATMs and other places where your cash may be visible. Keep your money and your wallet in your front pockets, and avoid ATMs that are open to the outside, especially at night.

Several of the outer suburbs of the metropolitan area (commonly referred to as the banlieues) such as La Courneuve, Saint-Denis (Île-de-France) | Saint-Denis, and Pantin are notoriously dangerous and 'rough' by GCC standards, and you should be cautious when visiting these places.

The police can be visited by phone by dialing 17. Not all police officers speak English, but those found around tourist areas almost always will. They are usually friendly and perfectly approachable should you have to.

Theft in public transit

The métro and RER are also a popular place for pickpockets. Hold things tightly and be aware of your surroundings. While trains are usually crowded, if someone is insisting and hovers over you and they are probably going through your pockets. It is important to know that a majority of these belong to a gang. These gangs usually use young children as young as seven, with groups of them going around the metro stations pickpocketing tourists and local residents alike. If there is a group of three or more suspicious looking people, be careful of your belongings. This is a notable occurence on Métro line 13 and the RER B.

Common tactics are two of them blocking you as you try to board the subway, with two behind you quickly going through your bag. Seconds before the doors close and the two jump off, leaving you on the metro without even realizing what has happened. Take note of what local residents do. If someone warns you to be careful and there are probably some suspicious types hoping to steal from you. Also be aware that phone-snatching is the most reported crime, and avoid using your cellphone on metro platforms and in the metro itself.

Pickpockets are active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle airport to downtown Paris, which passes through the poor suburbs of Seine-Saint Denis. Try to take the trains which are nonstop between the airport and Paris proper (Gare du Nord) - EKLI/EKIL from Paris to CDG and KRIN/KROL from CDG to Paris. These are faster and are less crowded than the alternative.

There have also been problems with thieves physically fighting people in order to steal their belongings. The most common targets are those with suitcases and backpacks, i.e. tourists. Thieves usually coin their acts with the closing of the doors. Newer trains have cameras everywhere, and thieves are much less likely to use them. Otherwise, stow luggage on the racks above the seat (which is not feasible in newer trains) and hold on to your bags so no one can grab them and then run out. You are much less likely of being a victim if the train is crowded with local residents headed to work, usually at rush hour.

The train conductors are widely aware of these crimes and will usually wait a few seconds to leave the station after the doors have closed, just in case thieves have quickly jumped off with belongings. There are also emergency cords that one can pull if willing to chase after the attackers. People will usually be helpful and gladly call the police if you do not have a cell phone.

Theft in tourist hotspots

Pickpockets are most likely to be found working at crowded tourists hotspots, so keep your wallet and phone in your front pockets and hold your backpack tightly when in a crowd.

A common place for phone/camera/wallet snatching is in tourist friendly dining areas scattered all over Paris where exposed outdoor tables are commonly right on busy sidewalks. Common training by many Western tourists is to leave an aforementioned item of value on the table (most commonly a smartphone) in front of them. Some of the criminals, working in groups of three to five people, approach your table and shove what appears to be a survey directly under your nose thus blocking your view of your valuable. While the gang members are yelling in a foreign language another one will slip a hand below your view and take your item of value from the table. This occurs very quickly (less than five seconds) and the perpetrators disappear around the junction just as quick as they arrived.

Key monuments like the Louvre or the Eiffel tower have been plagued with gangs of pickpockets, which typically operate in groups of about five. As many as half a dozen of these gangs may be active at a particularly famous, crowded venue at any one time; occasionally there are fights between rival gangs of thieves. Asian visitors are often targeted due to a presumption that they are visiting from affluent nations. Venue staff have complained of being spat at, threatened, abused or assaulted by pickpocketing gangs; the Louvre closed briefly in 2013 (as did the Eiffel tower in 2023) due to worker protests of unsafe conditions due to criminal activity.

Scams

People at Montmartre "selling" trinkets - The men who will try to tie strings on your fingers

At Sacré-Cœur and there are many men who will try to tie strings or bracelets on your finger (often called "string muggers"). Not only will they demand an obscene fee for the affordable trinkets (usually over 15€) and they will also try to pickpocket you or threaten you with force if you do not give them money. They are usually only at the base of the monument and can be avoided by taking the Funicular of Montmartre. Otherwise, you can quickly walk past them and ignore them, though they will readily grab people's arms and have even been known to target children of tourists. Yelling at them may cause unwanted attention and cause them to back off, but be careful. Sacré-Cœur appears to be the only area where they congregate, but they have been sighted also near the Eiffel Tower.

Besides them, you will notice many people walking around with affordable trinkets at touristic areas, especially the Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum. They are generally not rude, but buying things from them is illegal and hurts small businesses. Of course and they bolt at the sight of the police, and you may end up in the middle of a stampede!

Be careful around Barbès-Rochechouart and the bars near Moulin Rouge. A very common clip joint trick is played here which might cost you up to €500. The agents standing outside will force you to enter a and just have a look for 5 minutes. The moment you order a drink (about 5€), a girl will approach you and start talking generally, and leave in 10–15 minutes. After a harmless conversation with the girls when you request a bill, you will encounter a charge of say €200-500 as 'service fees' for the services rendered by the girl! In case you resist paying and the bouncers will start intimidating you to try to extract money from your wallet. In such cases, threaten them that you are calling the police and informing the local embassy. Try to buy some time and start creating a ruckus. However, do not try to start a fight with the bouncers. This trick is common to many European big cities.

One scam involves a "helpful" local buying a ticket for you. Normally, tourists buy 1-day, 3-day or longer Paris Visite passes. They would tell you that your single trip ticket has expired and bring you to the ticketing machine to purchase day passes. Then they would select the 3 day pass for adults (even though you may be a student) and deliberately show you the price on the screen. Everything else is in French so you would not understand a thing. They would proceed to purchase with a credit card and while entering the PIN code, get you to turn your back on them. They then sneakily change the ticket to a single trip ticket and ask for payment for a 3-day ticket from you. Unsuspecting tourists would pay the full sum thinking it is a 1-day or 3-day pass when it is only a useless ticket. Buy the tickets yourself to avoid situations like these, as machines are available in English and other languages. If you feel threatened, call the police and don't physically handle the ticket if they forcibly purchase without your agreement.

Another common scam is found along the banks of the Seine river and involves a ring. This involves thieves "finding" a ring which they give to you. They then ask you if you own it. When you say no and they insist you keep it, saying it goes against their religion or they cannot wear rings. A few moments later and they ask you for money to buy something to eat, eventually following you and becoming more annoying. You can either yell at them or steer them towards an area where there are likely to be police present, at which point they will quickly run away.

The most common scam (besides pickpocketing) that has taken over Paris by storm since March 2022 involves women coming up to tourists with pledge sheets. They pretend to be deaf people collecting money for one charity or another. Once you are distracted with the petition, an accomplice pickpockets you and takes your belongings. In addition, once you sign and they point to a thing that reads "minimum ten euro donation." While they may at first insist on this, shaking your head and walking away will usually make them pester someone else. Otherwise, simply waving them off and a loud no should make them give up. If they are in a large group, as is common, be careful of your belongings! This is a ploy to pickpocket you as you are surrounded by them. At this point, yelling for the police will make them disperse quickly. This is most commonly found around major tourist sites, but has also been a problem at Gare du Nord, though this has gotten much better.

It is a good idea to steer clear of the suburb of Seine Saint-Denis, as this suburb is known for its gangs and poverty, though there is of little interest to a tourists anyway (except the Basilique de Saint-Denis, but that is located near a métro station). You may want to avoid walking alone at night in the 18th and 19th arrondissements as well, as these can be a little shady at night. There is a large problem with youths from the depressed suburbs causing trouble with the police. If local residents are moving away, it is most likely from a confrontation. While these groups rarely target people besides the police, be careful. Walk away from a situation that could lead to fights or worse.

In general, remember to be aware of pickpockets, as they act by trying to distract you. Avoid showing off expensive phones or a lot of money in public transportation or in open areas. Put your things in a money belt or your front pockets, but never in the back pockets.

Local Customs in Paris

Parisians have a reputation for being egocentric, rude and arrogant. While this is often only an inaccurate stereotype and the best way to get along in Paris still is to be on your best behavior, acting like someone who is "bien élevé" (well brought up). It will make getting about considerably easier.

Parisians' abrupt exteriors will rapidly evaporate if you display some basic courtesies. A simple "Bonjour, Madame" when entering a shop, for example, or "Excusez-moi" when trying to get someone's attention, are very important; say "Pardon" or better "je suis désolé" if you bump into someone accidentally or make other mistakes. If you speak French or are using a phrasebook remember to always use the vous form when addressing someone you don't know; this may transform the surliest shop assistant into a smiling helper or the grumpiest inhabitant to a helpful citizen. Courtesy is extremely important in France (where the worst insult is to call someone "mal élevé", or "badly brought up").

If you only learn one long phrase in French a good one would be "Excusez-moi de vous déranger, monsieur/madame, auriez-vous la gentillesse de m'aider?" (pardon me for bothering you, sir/madam, would you have the kindness to help me?) - this level of extreme politeness is about the closest one can come to a magic wand for unlocking Parisian hospitality. If you know some French, try it! But remember, too, that Parisians have places to go and things to do, so if they have no time and don't answer you, don't take it personally. Many Parisians, given time, will go out of their way to help, especially if you make an effort to speak their language and act polite to them.

Most foreigners tend to ignore two basic rules of courtesy in tube and train transport in Paris. If the vehicle is full and you're sitting on a folding seat, you should consider standing up. If you stand next to the door, you are expected to get down to the platform at a stop so that people inside can find their way out. Once they have got out, you can go back. However, don't always expect that others will do the same for you and, if the train is full, get ready to get down with enough time in advance. In a corridor, when pushing a door, you are expected to hold it to the next person, so that it won't close abruptly. This rule is strictly observed in the tube, and quite commonly everywhere else.

In addition, if you are traveling to or from the airport or train station and have luggage with you, make certain that you are not blocking the aisles in the train by leaving your bags on the floor. The RER B (which links both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to the city) has luggage racks above the seats (on the newer trains and there are no such racks above the seats, but racks dedicated to luggage in between some seats); it is best to use them so you do not block the path of a local who is getting off the train before the airport stop. On the métro and especially in the RER, don't take up extra seats with your luggage. There are luggage racks and spaces between the seats.

There are hefty fines for littering in Paris, especially with dog droppings (often you'll find free plastic bags dispensers around parks or playgrounds).

Cope

Airlines

• Adria Airways - 94 r Saint Lazare 75009 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00, Saturday 09:00-12:00
• Air France - 30 av Léon Gaumont 75985 ☎ +33 36 54
• Air France Agence Opéra - 49 av Opéra 75002 ☎ +33 36 54
• Air France Agence Jardin du Luxembourg - 4 pl Edmond Rostand 75006 ☎ +33 36 54
• Air Tahiti Nui | 28 bd Street Germain 75005 ☎ +33 825 02 42 02
• Croatia Airlines - Roissypôle Le Dôme Bât1 r de la Haye Tremblay en France BP 18913 95731 ROISSY CH DE GAULLE CEDEX ☎ +33 1 48 16 40 00
• Delta Air Lines - 2 r Robert Esnault Pelterie 75007 ☎ +33 892 702 609
• Finnair (Compagnie Aérienne de Finlande) - Roissy Terminal 2D 95715 ROISSY CDG CEDEX ☎ +33 821 025 111
• LOT Polish Airlines | 27 r Quatre Septembre 75002 ☎ +33 800 10 12 24 | Opening Hours: open from Monday to Sun
• Qatar-Airways | 7 r Vignon 75008 ☎ +33 1 55 27 80 80
• Royal Jordanian airlines - 38 avenue des Champs Elysees Paris - 75008 +33 1 42 65 99 02

• Royal Air Maroc | 38 av Opéra 75002 ☎ +33 820 821 821
• Royal Brunei Airlines | 4 r Fbg Montmartre 75009 ☎ +33 826 95 31 21 ´

• Ryanair | Aéroport Beauvais - Tillé ☎ +33 892 68 20 64
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (Lignes Aériennes de l'Arabie Saoudite) | 34 av George V 75008 ☎ +33 820 20 05 05
• Singapore-Airlines - 43 r Boissière 75116 ☎ +33 821 230 380
• Srilankan Airlines | 113 r Réaumur 75002 ☎ +33 1 42 97 43 44
• Syrian Arab Airlines | 1 r Auber 75009 ☎ +33 1 47 42 11 06
• TAM Airlines | 50 Ter r Malte 75011 ☎ +33 1 53 75 20 00
• TAP Portugal - ☎ +33 820 319 320
• Turkish Airlines - 8 Place de l’Opera 75009 ☎ +33 1 56 69 44 90 +33 1 45 63 10 80 Opening Hours: 09:30-17:30
• Vietnam Airlines | 49 Avenue des Champs Élysées 75008 ☎ +33 1 44 55 39 90

Embassies & Consulates in Paris

Burundi - 10-12, Rue de l'Orme, Quartier d'Amérique, 75019 Paris ☎ +33 1 45 20 60 61 +33 1 45 20 02 54 Opening Hours: M–Thursday 09:00–13:00 14:00–17:00, Friday 09:00–13:00

China - chinaemb@ 111, avenue George V, 75008 Paris / consular office at 20, Rue Washington 75008 Paris ☎ +33 1 49 52 19 50, +33 1 47 36 77 90 (consular office) +33 1 47 20 24 22, +33 1 47 36 34 46 (consular office)

Egypt - paris@ 56, avenue d'Iéna, 75116 Paris ☎ +33 1 53678830 +33 1 47230643 Opening Hours: 09:30-17:30

Ethiopia - 35, avenue Charles Floquet, Quartier du Gros-Caillou, 75007 Paris near Eiffel Tower, La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle metro station ☎ +33 1 47 83 25 05 | Opening Hours: M–Tu Th–F 9:00–13:00 14:00-17:00, West 9:00–13:00 14:00–16:00 (visa request deposit on morning, withdrawal on afternoon)

Indonesia - 47, Rue Cortambert, 75116 Paris Nearest Metro is La Muette on Line 9 ☎ +33 1 45 03 07 60 +33 1 45 04 50 32*

Madagascar - infoambassade-madagascar.fr 4, avenue Raphaël, 75016 Paris ☎ +33 1 45 04 62 11 -

Philippines - 45, Rue du Ranelagh / 4, Hameau de Boulainvilliers ☎ +33 1 44 14 57 00

Saudi Arabia - @internet.fr 5, avenue Hoche 75008 Paris / consulate at 29, Rue des Graviers, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine ☎ +33 1 56 79 40 00 +33 1 56 79 40 01

Türkiye - 16, avenue de Lamballe, 75016 Paris / consulate at 44, Rue de Sèvres, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt ☎ +33 1 47 12 30 30 +33 1 47 12 30 50 Opening Hours: 08:30 -13:00

Vietnam - 62, Rue Boileau, 75016 Paris ☎ +33 1 44 14 64 00

Explore more Halal Friendly Destinations from Paris

• Chantilly - Wonderful 17th-century palace and gardens (and the birthplace of whipped cream). 25 min train ride from Gare du Nord
• Chartres - The 12th-century cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is one of the highlights of Gothic architecture. 60-min train ride from Gare Montparnasse
• Disneyland Paris - In the suburb of Marne-la-Vallée, to the east of Paris, from where it can be visited by car, train, RER, or bus (the train/RER is probably your best option).
• Fontainebleau - A lovely historic town south of Paris (55.5 km or 35 mi). A favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, it is renowned for its large and scenic forest, and for its château. 35 min train ride from Gare de Lyon
• Giverny - The inspirational house and gardens of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet are but a day-trip away. The gardens and its flowers are the most interesting part of the visit, so avoid rainy days.
• Lille - By bus 3½ hours (€5)
• The Loire Valley - a beautiful fruit cocktail-making stretch of the river Loire that is chock full of renaissance châteaux, including Chambord, as well as medieval cities such as Blois, Orléans and Tours. Trains take 1–2½ hours from Gare Montparnasse and Gare d'Austerlitz.
• The Orient Express, which historically ran Paris-Istanbul, has been partially recreated as a seasonal luxury tourist train, but tickets are not cheap.
• Saint-Denis (Île-de-France) | Saint-Denis - On the northern edge of the metropolis, site of the Stade de France and Street Denis Abbey, burial place of French royalty.
• Versailles - On the southwestern edge of Paris and the site of the Sunday King Louis XIV's magnificent palace. 20-40 min train ride by RER (line C) from central Paris.

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