The Bathroom Door Etiquette Rule Tourists Often Break In France

Like in many countries, there are some jarring culture shocks that travelers in France might experience. For instance, smiling at people may be treated as strange by French locals, yet tourists will often notice friends and acquaintances greeting each other with cheek kisses. If you visit the European country, you may also witness more people smoking on the street and at café terraces than you're used to in your home country. It turns out that cultural differences even extend to one of the most intimate places in France: the bathroom.

In France, leaving the bathroom (or, rather, the W.C.) door open is often frowned upon, even when the room is unoccupied. In some countries, leaving a bathroom or toilet stall door open would be an appropriate way to signal to others that it's empty. Not so in France. Instead, people expect the door to remain closed, and they rely on a colored dial or other indicator on the door to determine whether the toilet is in use.

This makes sense when using the free-standing sanisettes on the streets, which begin self-cleaning only after the user leaves and closes the door. However, you'll also find that bathroom doors are kept closed elsewhere, especially in people's homes. This practice may be to keep the space private, to contain unpleasant odors, or simply out of habit.

Nature will call at some point, no matter what country you're in. But be aware that finding a restroom in France might look a little different than in some other destinations. If you're out sightseeing in one of the major cities and really need to go, your best bet may be the sanisettes we mentioned earlier, which dot the streets in busy areas. Many of these cubicles are free to use, though they're not always stocked with toilet paper and soap, so pack some tissues and hand sanitizer in your bag.

If you're, say, dining in Paris or sipping un café au lait at a coffee shop, you'll likely find a restroom available to use in the building. Note that you may have to go downstairs to find it, and the room is often unisex (and even if men's and women's toilets are separated, you may see people going into the other sex's restroom if there's a long line). Not hungry but need to do your business? Among Rick Steves' toilet info you need to know before visiting Europe, the travel expert suggests confidently walking into a restaurant or café to find the restroom, even if you're not dining there. Often, the staff won't notice or won't care that you're not a paying customer, as long as you don't occupy the W.C. for too long.

You'll also find toilets in many shopping centers and train stations, though you'll often have to pay to use them. If you're road tripping across France and need to make a stop, prioritize well-developed service areas with restaurants and other facilities. While you'll find rest stop toilets along major roadways, they're known for being dirty and unpleasant to use.