Business Essential

Paris is one of the world's leading financial cities and vital part of France's and Europe's economy. Paris as a wealth of business facilities, accommodations and a variety of services which will cover all your business needs. Below we have included several useful links to business resources in Paris.

Business Hours:

Monday to Friday 8.30 or 9.00am to 6.30 or 7.00pm is the norm, however in practice many may work longer hours. Lunch time is usually from 1pm and may last as long as two hours. Government and commercial offices are open between 9.00am and 5.00pm. Generally, banks in France are open weekdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Business Etiquette:

Be on time for meetings and appointments. Allow a lot of time to reach your appointments as distances are large, and public transport and traffic can be troublesome. The dress code is usually formal both for men and women and is considered an important part of making a good impression. In general how you dress is also a measure of your social status, so dress with care. Keywords are style and taste. Use first names only when invited to do so, stick to the usual 'Monsieur' or 'Madame.' if you're unsure of what to do.

Important sectors:

Main business districts:

La Défense is one of the major business districts in Paris and in fact is one of the largest business areas in Europe.