“…(Paris) cafès and terraces bring people together and nurture a creative, artistic community, and they also support the idea of ‘joie de vivre’ (lust for life) that is so intrinsically, devilishly French.” ~ Paris Perfect Rentals

On May 19th, Paris came to life again with the reopening of cafe terraces, museums, and non essential businesses. In addition, the curfew was moved from 7:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Parisians ignored the rain and flocked to the cafes. This was just the first step in France’s process of lifting Covid restrictions that have been in place since October.

The next important date, especially for those of us across the Atlantic who have been waiting to visit France, is June 9th. On this date, France will allow overseas tourists, including vaccinated Americans, to visit with a ‘pass sanitaire’. Although no one is quite sure what exactly that means or how it will work, it could be a combination of showing proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test result. In addition, all cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open for indoor dining and the curfew will be moved from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The last step of lifting restrictions is on June 30th when the curfew will end and large events will be allowed.

One thing to remember is that mask wearing will still be required in public, even for those who are vaccinated, and social distancing should still be respected.

Americans need to keep in mind that when they travel abroad, they will need to have a negative PCR test to return back home. They say it’s pretty easy to get tested in Paris and appointments aren’t usually required. Tests are free to everyone and you should receive your results within 24 hours, but no more than 36 hours. If you’re staying in a hotel, you can easily get the information from the hotel reception or concierge. You can also download the app Doctolib to make an appointment for a test.