The terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13 have left France, and the world, stunned and in mourning. Needless to say, travel has been affected both within the city and throughout Europe. Here's what travelers who are in Paris right now, or heading there soon, need to know:
- French President François Hollande declared a national state of emergency, which means that there will be increased police and military presence throughout the country. French authorities also have the right to limit movement within cities, set curfews, and forbid mass gatherings, among other measures. It's possible that the state of emergency could continue for up to three months.
- Air travel is proceeding normally in and out of Paris, but travelers should be prepared for extra safety precautions and longer waits.
- SNCF national and international trains are running as scheduled.
- The Paris metro is running, with the exception of the Oberkampf metro station, which remains closed.
- Several Paris museums and landmarks such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower re-opened today.
- To honor the victims of the attacks and support all those working in the restaurant industry, esteemed restaurant guide Le Fooding is encouraging everyone in France to head to their neighborhood café or brasserie the evening of Tuesday, November 17. Many French restaurants will observe a minute of silence at 9 p.m. that evening.
- Disneyland Paris is closed through Tuesday, November 17.
- Airbnb is offering anyone affected by the attacks a free place to stay. Many Parisians have opened their homes to victims' families through the site, and the company is waiving service fees for these arrangements. Travelers have to check in to their temporary homes by November 17.
- AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Skype, and Google have offered free calls and texts to France.
- Travelers moving within Europe should expect increased security measures at every border. French authorities will be meeting with other E.U. ministers in Brussels later this week, where they are expected to ask the European Union to suspend the Schengen Agreement, which established open borders between the 26 European countries that make up the Schengen Area (the majority of E.U. countries, in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). A suspension of the agreement would likely result in the reinstatement of border identity checks.
By Anya Hoffman