Hi fellow fodorites!

We plan to arrive to Paris, almost sure Orly, on 05/01/2019.... May 1 2019.
Will we find public transport for going to city center? Are restaurants open normally on that special day?
Thanks in advance.

As I recall, the taxi ride was only about 15 minutes into the center. I haven't been there on May 1st, but I imagine most places will be open.
You might run into some large demonstrations, though.

Public transportation works just fine on May 1st and plenty of restaurants will be open.

1st of may is like a sunday. No more.

Really?

Hi JeanneB, Thibaut, Kerouac and Michael! Thanks to you all! You are great, as expected.
Starting to make plan the trip, very excited even wth our 5th stay in Paris, with day trips to Chartres and may be Reims.
Any comments beyond the bvious about Chartres vs Reims???

Thanks once again!

They gave us little bouquets of flowers as we got off the plane, Very nice day. More like a Sunday but we found the markets open on rue Montorgueil and many places to eat and visit.

Yes, on May 1st you will see hundreds of people selling muguet (lily of the valley) on every street corner. It is supposed to bring good luck for the rest of the year. It is the only day (& item) when no permit of any kind is required for people to sell the stuff, and lots of poor families try to make a bit of extra cash on that day.

Hi jelopez33,

I was in Bordeaux on 5/1/2016. It was a Sunday. The tram system was not running. I don't know if that was because it was a Sunday or May Day. I bow to the first-hand knowledge of the above Fordorites but do double-check with your hotel.