Toilets in Paris and around

I have a rule when I travel - Whenever a toilet is available, use it whether I “need” to or not!

Museums usually have restrooms.

Restaurants have restrooms for their customers.

In places like bars and cafes, you can often use a restroom by buying something small, like a coffee.

American chains such as McDonalds or Starbucks have restrooms. Again, you might need to buy something.

Department stores and shopping malls have restrooms.

There is an app that friends have used called Flush. Apparently is super useful! I haven't downloaded yet but plan to.

My experience is the same as Renee's.
One thing to note is that restrooms in train stations require payment of one or two euros. I usually have coins but they now take credit cards and some take apple pay.
The good news is that a paid restroom is usually very clean and stocked.

How is your mobility? I ask because many restaurants in Paris have restrooms that are essentially inaccessible for those with mobility issues. I am in Paris now and a friend who is traveling with me for part of my trip and who uses a cane has not been able to access several of the bathrooms.

mentors,
Renee's suggestions....d'accord!

While not ideal, I did use the automatic toilets in Paris a few times. I understand your concerns, I had some too. You control when to open the door to get out, you just wave your hand over the button. Perhaps consider them a plan B. Make sure you have some tissues on you, though, just in case.

Thank you so much to everyone for the advice!! I have no mobility issues but very claustrophobic. I assume the restrooms in cafes are probably small with no window..
Thanks again!!

a cautionary tale about the automatic cleaning toilets.... Do NOT catch the open door and enter immediately after the person in front of you. I did.
the door shuts and locks, the lights go out, then the floors are sprayed with water.
it was a wet and embarrassing situation for me but a hearty laugh for the guy after me.
.

We had a Paris Museum Pass, so for the most part, we had no issue related to toilets. A few toilet locations to add to a list. When facing Notre Dame, on the right hand side, there are public toilets that cost I believe 2 euro. These are regular toilets. And if by the Opera, there is a Starbucks that's very busy. It's a fancy place and in the back they have toilets. I don't remember them being locked and there can be a line, so individuals would hold the door open for the next person, if needed. I doubt if anyone would notice if you buy something or not. I bought my coffee and rested a bit before a tour. And the Petit Palais is free. In their outside courtyard, close to the cafe, they have a free toilet. Great place to grab a snack or coffee and chill. I'm scared of the automatic ones too. I was in Paris Feb this year.

All the major department stores have restrooms: Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and the BHV. All the street restrooms are free. The train stations have restrooms which costs about 1€. All cafés have restrooms, hotels have lobby restrooms.

No one should have any anxiety about being able to find restrooms in Paris.

It is much easier to find public restrooms in Paris than in any US city I am aware of. There are free standing automatic toilets on many street corners; parks have public restrooms (e.g. several in Luxembourg Gardens -- one right under the cafe near the Medici Fountain, e.g. one under the wall at the Tuilleries, in the entry 'guard house' at Parc Monceau, several in Butte Chaumont. etc) And there are some public restrooms near major attractions. e.g. There is an underground rest room in the front of Notre Dame (and before the fire one in the back garden which. is still under construction so off limits -- don't know if it will be reopened when the gardens open)

AND every cafe has a restroom and for the price of an espresso at the bar, you can nip in and use it

Department stores have restrooms -- some free and some ridiculously expensive. In parks usually they cost a euro or so.

Mentors you have claustrophobia and are fearful that if you lock the restroom door, it won't unlock. Any chance that someone you are with can stand outside the restroom door while you are inside with the door unlocked? Also, hopefully you have a cell phone and can take it into the restroom with you in case you need help. There are definitely tiny restrooms with no window in some restaurants in Paris. Check out restaurant restrooms before you are seated to make sure they suit your needs.

Thank you again!! Appreciate all your help!!!

I'm also claustrophobic, and I have been trapped in 2 bathrooms - once in NYC and once in the Priorat region of Spain. Both times, the people waiting in line took immediate action to get me out of there.

You'll be fine.