Wi-Fi in Paris: How does it work?


 

Free Wi-Fi you said? Your teenage children already took their IPhone out of their pockets, and look at you with an intense look in the eyes with one question suspended to their lips: “What’s the password?”

Other scenario: yesterday night you looked up the address of this restaurant at your hotel. This place to eat was a real gem: not too expensive, nice view, your dog was accepted AND they had some gluten-free quinoa. But this morning, the thoughts a bit blurry thanks to last night’s champagne glass, you forgot to download a map placing the restaurant and its address, and directly went out for shopping, then took a free tour of Notre Dame with Discover Walks and now here you are, in the centre of Paris, your stomach crying wolf, your dog moaning and your brain displaying pictures of this vegan burger, with organic ketchup dropping as you bite into it….

You ask your favourite Discover Walk guides if they know about this place but these two unconscious bloody French students are true charcuterie lovers and roll their eyes as you mention this “eco-responsible-gluten-free-restaurant”: they don’t have a clue about the place you are talking… From now on you have two options: give way to the guides describing with stars in their eyes this nice bistro across the street making the best (very greasy) sausages in town OR follow your instinct and THANKS TO PARIS FREE WIFI, find the address and the itinerary to your predilection restaurant!

In case my message wasn’t clear enough, I’m going to be explicit: the city of Paris offers free Wi-Fi. Well not everywhere but in public parks and gardens, and I’m telling you, there are a lot of them, a lot.

wifi-zone

So the protocol is easy as pie:

1.) Find a park with a “zone wifi” sign by the gate.
2.) Select the “PARIS_WI-FI_” Wi-Fi network on your electronic device (the name of the network is often followed by a number indicating the number of the spot you are trying to connect to).
3.) Launch your internet browser and type whichever website address.
4.) You will be automatically be redirected to the homepage.
5.) Fill in the quick registration form, accept the Terms of Use by ticking the box, eventually click on “ME CONNECTER”.

You can now do free internet surfing (and either satisfy your Generation Z teenager or head to your favourite restaurant!)

PS 1: Each free session lasts 2 hours, after that, you have to begin the protocol again at point #2.

PS 2: In your big quest of free Wi-Fi, do not get mistaken with the network “Free Wifi”, “Free” is actually the name of a French phone operator (just like Vodafone) and to be able to connect to this “Free” network, you actually have to get a phone contract, and therefore… pay (these guys didn’t invent marketing).

PS 3: If this isn’t enough and you actually want to have internet everywhere in Paris/France, you can buy a prepaid SIM card at any supermarket and put it on your phone. You pay as much as the quantity of data you plan to use and you can buy another one once it is empty. The prices can range from 5 to 50€ depending on the quantity of internet you want to have.

I hope this was useful and now you can no longer say that Paris is not modern!

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.