Finding bathrooms in Paris?

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Shay p

Pay toilets, yes, it's part of understanding and accepting foreign cultures, and lets face it, haven't there been times that you would have paid anything to use a toilet? These beige- or brown-colored space age boxes have automatic doors which open when you insert coins, (40 centimes at time of writing) and are cleaned automatically once you exit. You've only got 15 minutes so don't dilly-dally. And don't even think about trying to jump in after another paying customer; the toilet folds into the wall and the place is gassed with spray cleaners and deodorizers!

There is the mirror and the hand washing is a trip - like an automated carwash. First water comes out then soapy water then more water and then the dryer all from the same spout. Out of service is "hors service" just in case you find one that says that highlighted in red, you will have to hold it just a while longer.
Some pay toilets are disguised as Marques. My favorite is at Metro stop Jussieu on the line 10 which is a good stop for going to the Arabic Institute, the gardens of Luxembourg and the Paris Mosquee. If you forget to have 40 centimes in change, no worries there is a newspaper stand right there that will give you change. It's half the size of the normal cabins, but not half the price.

Cafes..
Paying for cafe toilets or not paying - that is the question! Out of politeness you should buy a water or a coffee at a cafe and then ask the bartender for the token for the toilets (which are usually located downstairs by the payphones). This said, every cafe has toilets and now that you know where they are, sometimes you can use 20 centimes instead of the token. Or you can wait for someone to come out and lunge

Rose T

The automatic restrooms on the street are perfectly fine. Just make sure you always have a few small coins. There's another option -- just find a Starbucks or McDonalds. They are all over Paris and keep so busy that no one will notice if you use the restroom without buying anything.

Rillifane

There are free public toilets located in most tourist areas that are self cleaning.

Cafes and restaurants invariably have facilities.

There are still a few public toilets which have little old lady attendants who keep the places clean and also sell things like cologne. They expect to be tipped before you enter. This might cost you a Euro or two.

Q&A Queen

I don't know of all locations. But I know there's one outside Notre Dam. It's not a large sum to go in. It looks like the entrance to a subway/metro station. and yes, cafes and restaurants have facilities.

Cheerchick/Bub? Was that REALLY necessary? No wonder we have such a bad rep!

middnightangell

The last time I was there was in 1999. It only cost 2 francs to use the public restrooms on the streets. ( I don't know how much that is in Euros, but in dollars at the time, it was less than a dollar) If you use one in a restaurant, you have to buy something. They won't just let you use their restrooms for free either. They are for the customers only. Hot chocolate and coffee do not come in to go cups, so you will have to sit a while and enjoy them. You can use the facilities then and believe me, you will get thirsty sightseeing. Bon chance and Bon voyage!

Senator Hussein

Here is what I found. www.slowtrav.com/france/paris/rl_restroo...
I can't believe they have to pay.

igorsvenska

It depends where you go. In many places you can go to the toilets as it is, but in several others you will have to pay or you will have to buy something... ( a drink in a cafÃ© for example...).

Millie

Here is the list of the 36 free self-cleaning public toilets in Paris:
http://en.parisinfo.com/guide-paris/daily-life/hygiene-public-toilets-/guide/hygiene-public-toilets-
There is even a little picture showing you what they look like.

Here is another list of free and paying ones but the site is in French. Where it says "ville", scroll down till you see Paris, and each arrondissement will be listed. Click on each arrondissement to see the list of addresses and a map showing their location: http://www.chez.com/wcpublics/
When you need to pay or tip a person, it's usually +/- 40 cents.

And if you have to ask someone for a bathroom in France, never ask for "la salle de bains" (= complete bathroom with bath tub) but for "les toilettes": oÃ¹ sont les toilettes s'il-vous-plaÃ®t?

And yes, all restaurants have one.

Jennifer-Joanne

Wow Having to PAY to use the toilet???
Thats complete craziness

bub66ohm

They poop in the streets and wipe their butts with croissants.

cheerchick

no french people pee on the streets

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