France is gearing up to gradually brings itself out of a second lockdown starting on November 28th. But what does that mean for tourists hoping to visit the country or take a winter vacation in Paris? It is important to remember that this is a gradual easing of restrictions in Paris, rather than a sudden return to the “new normal”. Therefore, there are still lots of restrictions in place in the short-term future.
The tourism sector in Paris will gradually reopen between now and the end of January.
The end of November sees a step close to normalcy for locals, with store, salons and places of worship opening back up with some limitations. It will be possible to travel further afield for up to 3 hours with a mandatory certificate. This means little for the hospitality industry, however, who have to wait until the 15th of December for relevant rulings.
This is when Paris will see a relaxation on the rule for cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries. This is great for the local tourism industry as exhibitions and event should be able to start back up as long as they are Covid-secure. However, it is still not recommended to go on holiday and non-essential trips are still an issue. Also, those that do stay in Paris, either as foreign visitors or business travellers, will find that bars and restaurants are still closed. These aren’t due to fully reopen until January 20th.
What about Christmas in Paris?
Christmas is going to look a lot different in Paris because of the closures and restrictions. Travellers looking to spend a winter break in the city will need to be aware of restrictions, even with the exclusions set up for December 24th and 31st. While there is no doubt that things are still very confusing in Paris as the French government tries to find the best approach for a safer winter. Things are moving in the right direction.