Plan on using the Metro a lot including our return trip to the hotel after dinner. Is it relatively safe late at night?

You're pretty safe anytime of the day from strong-armed robbery, but pickpockets are everywhere! Like Rick Steves says, "Wear a money belt". Seriously. Do not put a wallet in your back pocket like you might here. Not unless you want to mess with the pickpockets by using an old, empty wallet and stuffing it with Monopoly money.

Generally, yes, you are safe.<BR><BR>Once, however, I was assaulted by a punch to the jaw from out of nowhere. Someone just decided to hit me (the carriage was full). Rather than make a commotion, I let him get off at the next stop (he may have been carrying a weapon).<BR><BR>I then asked a policeman in the Les Halles station what I should do. He responded that I should find a dentist!<BR><BR>Another time I caught a 12 or 13 year old's hand moving toward my pocket. He withdrew when I looked at him. The kid had placed himself between me and another man. The other man had both his arms in full view and allowed the kid to approach my pockets underneath his. They were probably in it together.<BR><BR>These are 2 incidents out of thousands of trips. I chuckle when I hear comments like "nothing has ever happened to me so I don't know what these people are talking about". If you have at least average luck, you'll be OK. Just hope your not unlucky.

Could not resist after seeing a reference to von der Vogelweide!<BR>(Walther von der Vogelweide, an ancient minstral, influenced Walter von Stolzing, the tenor hero in Die Meistersinger.)<BR><BR>Bird meadows aside, I for one do NOT like the Paris Metro, period. I use the bus when I can.<BR>Pickpockets are a threat in Paris, particularly on the Metro. They can spot a pigeon 50 yards away, it seems.<BR>I was very skillfully set up and would have been "taken" had I not had my money and passport under my clothes. <BR>I had my wallet in my hip pocket, but it contained $7.00 US, my voter's registration card, and a couple of small papers of no financial value.<BR>(Driver's license was also not there.)<BR>The thief was standing in the doorway of the Metro car pretending to read the subway route map posted over the door.. As I boarded, he moved into me while running his finger along the map. <BR>I stepped quickly to avoid him as he squeezed out through the closing door. My wife's reaction was "What's with that guy??" Well, he was trying to rob me!<BR><BR>I was not fully aware that he had fingered my billfold until another passenger who spoke like an American asked me if everything was still in my pockets. (They were.)<BR>Had he been successful, I could have done nothing because of his excellent timing. The door almost shut on him and the car was in motion.

Bob, do what you would do if you were in NYC on the subway-- be very careful and mindful. We were just in Paris and had a five day Metro pass, which was great, we took it as late as midnight and there were lots of people on board. The Metro can be very entertaining, but just be careful AND DEFINITELY WEAR A MONEY BELT. I did. The Metro can be quite crowded and pickpocketing would be a cinch. One early evening on a platform a very drunk man came after a lovely young woman and she ran and hid behind us! The man was hostile but my husband was very kind to him and said: "s'il vous plait, monsieur, s'il vous plait...." The dude split. Phew. What a relief. I have had those things happen in NYC, too.

Can anyone tell me if the Paris Metro is any different from the tube in London. I've not been to Paris yet, but I've ridden the tube late at night many times in London and never felt unsafe.

Bob, my boyfriend and I just spent 1 week in Paris and took the Metro everywhere. It was a lot less crowded than during the summer months but during rush hour sardines have been more comfortable! We never had any problems but were always aware of the people around us. We made sure we knew our stops and transfers before getting on board so we wouldn't look "lost". We also spoke very little on the trains and when we did we basically whispered to each other so that we weren't as likely to be targeted as tourists. We also tried to sit when possible.<BR><BR>Another thing we did is we always took a cab after dinner, $7 got us just about anywhere! The metro closes at 1 am so if you are out at a club or after dinner place you may want to just head to the nearest taxi stand anyway.<BR><BR>The other thing is that some stops are much nicer/safer/cleaner than others. I thought Bastille, Gard de L'est and St. Paul were some of the sketchier stops at night.

Bob, my boyfriend and I just spent 1 week in Paris and took the Metro everywhere. It was a lot less crowded than during the summer months but during rush hour sardines have been more comfortable! We never had any problems but were always aware of the people around us. We made sure we knew our stops and transfers before getting on board so we wouldn't look "lost". We also spoke very little on the trains and when we did we basically whispered to each other so that we weren't as likely to be targeted as tourists. We also tried to sit when possible.<BR><BR>Another thing we did is we always took a cab after dinner, $7 got us just about anywhere! The metro closes at 1 am so if you are out at a club or after dinner place you may want to just head to the nearest taxi stand anyway.<BR><BR>The other thing is that some stops are much nicer/safer/cleaner than others. I thought Bastille, Gard de L'est and St. Paul were some of the sketchier stops at night.

I'm sure crime -- both non-violent and violent -- occurs on the Paris Metro. But I've never felt unsafe riding it at any time of day or night.

This is for France in general -- not just Paris & the Metro (although #3 is CRIME AND PUBLIC ORDER IN PARIS) -- but some people may find this of interest. <BR><BR>2000 OSAC CRIME / SAFETY REPORT FOR FRANCE<BR><BR>http://www.amb-usa.fr/usodc/crimerep.htm

My husband and I have never had a problem riding the metro in Paris, and we/ve been there 6 times! My advice, which you've heard over and over again, is try not to look too much like a tourist. We tend to blend in, put away the guidebooks, and not speak too much (speaking English - dead giveaway). No flashy clothes, jewelry, wallets in plain view, and I never carry a pocketbook. We plan our route before we get on so we are not drawing attention to ourselves by looking at maps, etc. These are pretty much the same precautions (except for the no speaking English part) that we take in our everyday live in NY.