The Strange Detail About Building Doors In Paris Tourists Need To Know
When visiting a new city, most travelers generally aim to blend in with the locals and avoid making themselves the center of unwanted attention. From learning how to order gelato like a local while exploring Italy to understanding the ins and outs of how to order coffee in Portugal and even knowing what to wear to blend in with the locals in London, these small details can make a big difference.
However, there's one unexpected challenge that unassuming visitors might face in Paris — and it has nothing to do with language or cultural norms. In fact, it's about something as simple as opening a door. Because in many Parisian buildings, front doors aren't just pulled open — they're usually controlled by electrical systems and opened with the push of a button. Silly as it may sound at first, there's no denying that knowing how to navigate these everyday, mundane situations can ultimately make your trip seem a whole lot less stressful — and in some cases, even help you feel more at home.
Doors in Paris are controlled by a button
Traveling to Paris comes with its own set of tips and tricks that'll make your experience a whole lot more enjoyable. Whether that's hacks to help you save on food and drink or knowing how to find the secret entrance to one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, the City of Light has plenty of quirks to look out for. That said, it'd be impossible to explore any of it if you can't even leave your accommodation, right? That's why it's important to know how to open a Parisian door. Because, believe it or not, it's not necessarily as straightforward as you might think.
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Put simply, most doors in Paris operate through an electrical system that requires pushing a button to open. So, if you're trying to leave your building and the door won't budge — don't worry, you're not stuck forever. You just need to find a button that might be labeled "porte" for the word "door" in French. Unfortunately, these buttons aren't always obvious or conveniently located — in some cases, they even look like regular light switches you'd probably overlook — so it might take a bit of trial and error (and a drop of two of nervous sweat) to eventually get outside.