Finecheapboxofwine

The best....A joke! I had to throw that in! But hmmmm, maybe there's one with a view!?
Anyway, everyone has to use one when traveling including me. It's been some years since I've been to Paris and wondering what is the toilet situation. Should I have a couple of Euros handy to unlock a toilet room door? Are the restroom attendants still around expecting a few coins?
Thanks!

swandav2000

Hi Finecheapboxofwine,

The street stalls are free, and they are usually set up nearby the major attractions. I have found a line at one or two of them, even.

I usually schedule a mid-morning break of coffee & croissant, and I always use the facilities before leaving.

Restrooms in the large department stores didn't have any attendants that I could see.

Have fun as you plan!

s

justineparis

Should explain something.. those coins.. they are not a tip.. they are a fee. In a few places the toilets are rented out as a concession to whatever the site is.. and those coins are the fee.. used to pay the staff that clean and stock the toilets.

There are free toilets that are called Sansiettes all over Paris.. I use them only when desperate.. they ARE clean.. but they just give me the heebie jeebies as they are freestanding booths and I am always afraid of two things.. the door automatically opening while I am in there.. or the cleaning system accidently starting to operate with me in there( btw.. totally impossible, but I am still freaked about it)..lol

I usually subscribe to the use a toilet when ever you find one at museums or cafes.. even if you don't think you have to.. lol

kerouac

The set price in the Paris train stations is 0.70€

Rubicund

justine, we were in Paris a couple of years with two friends, one of whom needed the bathroom whilst we were sightseeing. He disappeared from view inside, then after 30 seconds or so the door swung open whilst he was "otherwise engaged". He pulled it closed again and it went into it's cleaning cycle. We had to go back to the hotel for him to change. Hilarious!

Whathello

For those with a thalys card or Sncb frequent traveler you can use the toilets at the lounge in Gare du Nord

By the way we have for a long time had free toilets that were and still are sometimes called 'vespasiennes' in legacy of emperor Vespasian who levied a tax on urine with this famous quote 'pecunia non olet'

This in an attempt to keep the debate at the highest level .

flpab

Forum des Halles has a great bathroom, used that twice last trip right before getting on the metro. The train stations were good bathroom stops but always tried to time it for a cafe or museum. McDonald's and other fast food places have bathrooms. I don't care if I have to pay. I keep change ready.

justineparis

Rubicund.. thanks for that.. now I will never use a Sansiette again since you have confirmed my worst ( toilet) fears could actually come true.. lol Your poor friend.

nytraveler

When in unexpected need of a toilet in any city or large town (and our usual habit is use one whenever you go to a sight or cafe or place for lunch - if you need to or not) is to go into a large store or a major hotel - where the facilities will be clean and not open to any embarrassing doors flying open.

Usually this is free - if not it's easy to get change if you need it.

Christina

YOu can't use toilets in some places without buying something, like some of the McDonalds where there are a lot of tourists (like the one near the Cluny). They are sometimes locked and you get a code or something if you buy something (on your receipt). Those toilets in heavily-touristed areas in McDonalds are not usually very nice, either (meaning they can really be dirty and disgusting).

I would avoid any toilet in a RER/metro station that was unattended. There is an attended one at the RER Cluny/St MIchel but it is run by a private company and costs 1-2 euro. The restrooms in the main Printemps dept. store are also run by the same private company and cost that amount. Those are actually fairly nice for public toilets because of that. This is the company

http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-profes...74786/Point-WC

annhig

I usually subscribe to the use a toilet when ever you find one at museums or cafes.. even if you don't think you have to.. lol>>

absolutely, justineparis. Also I agree with nyc's trick of going into the biggest poshest hotel - far nicer than the cleanest McD's, and they never turn you away.

Michael

<i>By the way we have for a long time had free toilets that were and still are sometimes called 'vespasiennes' in legacy of emperor Vespasian who levied a tax on urine with this famous quote 'pecunia non olet'
</i>

They are urinals, not toilets, and definitely male oriented.

kerouac

I use the sanisettes regularly, and absolutely the only incident I ever had was the door not opening automatically when I wanted to leave. However, there is a lever to pull to open manually and it worked just fine.

As for the door opening all by itself, that will happen if you go beyond the (generous) 20-minute time limit.

fuzzbucket

If you go to cafés or restaurants in touristy areas, you might need coins to get into the stall. But if you are a customer, just ask at the bar for "un jeton", which is free.

PalenQ

Public toilet with a view - try a Vespasienne of which there is only one left in Paris but it comes with a view of the passing pedestrians and cars - in front of La Sante Prison. Not for the bashful!

https://www.google.com/search?q=last...w=1745&bih=868

Watch this video of a Vespasienne in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhcQInZbAfs

Worth a detour! Paper not provided and though not meant for # 2 some seem to do just that in them - can become really funky - Amsterdam still has dozens of these things!

Michael

<i>Amsterdam still has dozens of these things!</i>

Some are obviously new, usually built near a pub so that the customers don't urinate in the nearby canal (or so it seems).

swandav2000

Yes, I use them often, too. The only problem I had was once trying to figure out how they worked -- this was about 10 years ago. After fiddling with the door to get in, being inside, and fiddling with the door trying to get out, the door whisked open to reveal that I was pretty much perched across the street from a cafe with a bunch of men enjoying the vignette of my confusion. I hadn't flashed them, but I don't think I would be any more or less embarrassed if I had -- it's a pretty normal activity, using the toilet. I was more embarrassed about being thwarted by the stall than by the chance to flash someone (but admittedly, I've been urinating outside -- in the woods -- for decades, either in the Army or on bike rides or hikes and don't get embarrassed by it).

So I would guess I would say, to minimize your embarrassment, just use one a bit more discretely located.

I find the stalls much more clear to operate these days -- either I got more experienced using them or the instructions are clearer or they are better engineered. Whatever.

Don't know if this is worth sharing, but -- There is an app for that. Really. I have an app on my phone to locate the nearest toilet in Paris. (Thank you, menopause . . )

Have fun!

s

KayF

I had read in a guidebook about a beautiful Art Deco public toilet in Paris. A different sort of tourist attraction, it appealed to us anyway. After wandering about a bit and checking the map we found it and I - as usual - needed to go. It was closed for lunch! Only in Europe.

Kay

kerouac

The beautiful art déco toilet at Madeleine has been closed for about 10 years and it is not on the priority list for refurbishment and reopening.

jubilada

There are apps for this now, several for Paris.