47th session of the World Heritage Committee

Accommodation

The participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. A list of hotels close to UNESCO can be found here.

Travel to Paris, France

Wherever possible, we encourage participants to opt for travelling by train rather than by plane, and to arrive in one of the numerous train stations in Paris.

Nevertheless, please note that the closest international airports to the city are:

• Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) (north to Paris)
• Paris-Orly airport (ORY) (south to Paris)

Both airports are equipped with Information counters, Banking facilities, foreign exchange Counter, Free Wi-fi Internet connection, Business and VIP Facilities, Airport lounges, food courts and a diverse shopping experience including duty free outlets.

Local Transportation and Transfers

Participants will arrange their own private transportation from and to airport, as well as between hotels and the session venue.

In this regard, various options may be considered:

Taxi

The journey for both airports takes approximately 40 minutes to an hour or more, depending on traffic conditions. In this regard, please note that the taxi rates from both airports are fixed:

• From Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) :
  56€ for a destination on the right bank of Paris and 65€ for a destination on the left bank of Paris (where UNESCO Headquarters are located).
• From Paris-Orly airport (ORY) :
  45€ for a destination on the right bank of Paris and 36€ for a destination on the left bank of Paris (where UNESCO Headquarters are located).

Public transportation

Kindly note that there is a special tariffication to and from Parisian airports (fare of 13€).

From Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG)

Suggested route to UNESCO Headquarters (journey of around 1h)

From Paris-Orly airport (ORY)

Suggested route to UNESCO Headquarters (journey of around 1h)

Several available mobile app / internet taxi aggregators

Participants who would prefer renting their own vehicle may arrange it themselves with one of the many international or local transportation companies.

Inside Paris, taxis or public transportation by metro or buses are widely used. For more information on public transportation, please visit the RATP website to find out more about the different travel passes and fares: https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs.

To find your way around Paris, we recommend using the official Bonjour RATP website and app: https://www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/.

Tickets can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass (2€) for frequent travelers to Paris, or onto a smartphone to avoid single use tickets.

Once in Paris

participants are strongly encouraged to walk whenever feasible or use the comprehensive public transport system (metros and buses) and the bike sharing system Velib’ for accessing UNESCO Headquarters and avoid as much as possible car transit.

Furthermore, several biodiversity and garden areas, which contribute to a healthy balance of ecosystems, can be visited and explored by participants at UNESCO Headquarters.

Hotels near UNESCO Headquarters

Indicative non-exhaustive list

Passport Requirements

France follows Schengen area rules. All participants traveling from outside the Schengen area to attend the 47th session of the Committee are required to possess an international passport, which should be valid for more than 6 months from the time of the departure.

Visa Requirements

Visa application guidelines for France are available at:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/visa-application-guidelines.

The following webpage will help you determine, depending on your situation, the visa requirements, as well as the visa fees and required supporting documents:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/visa-wizard

Travelers are advised to contact as early as possible the nearest diplomatic mission/consulate of France from their country of residence to determine the formalities for entering and staying in France.

The 47th session of the World Heritage Committee will be held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, from 6 to 16 July 2025.

The entrance is located at 125 avenue de Suffren, 75007 Paris, and will be opened from 8.30am to 6.30pm (except on 6 July: 1.30pm to 5.30pm), and will be closed on 14 July.

The Plenary meetings will be held in Room I located at the ground floor in the main UNESCO Headquarters building from 10.00am onwards, unless otherwise announced by the Chairperson. The meetings of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee will be held in Room X (Room IV on 6 July) and the budget working group in Room VI.

When deemed necessary, ad hoc sessional groups will meet in other rooms, and will be announced by the Chairperson and notified on the screens outside Room I.

Furthermore, several biodiversity and garden areas, which contribute to a healthy balance of ecosystems, can be visited and explored by participants at UNESCO Headquarters.

Service Area For Participants

Free wireless Internet connection shall be provided in the entire venue.

A cloakroom will be available at Fontenoy building next to Room I, from 7 to 15 July 2025, from 9.00am to 6.30pm and from 2.00pm to 6.00pm on 16 July 2025.

Meals and Refreshments

During the session, coffee, tea, water and some refreshments will be available on payment basis outside the main plenary meeting room at a Pop-up bar in the Pas Perdus Hall, as from 7 July until 16 July 2025, from 9.00am to 6.00pm.

The restaurant, cafeteria and bar on the 7th floor of Fontenoy building shall also be open for the duration of the session (except on 6, 12 and 13 July) on payment basis. The restaurant will be open for lunch from 12.00pm to 2.30pm and is available on reservation through the Reservations Unit of UNESCO (unesco.restaurant@serenest.fr). More details can be provided by the Secretariat upon request.

The cafeteria will be open for lunch from 12.00pm to 2.30pm and the bar from 9.00am to 5.00pm. A wide range of restaurants, bars and brasseries is also available within walking distance of UNESCO Headquarters. Supermarkets are also located near the Venue, where light meals (salads, sandwiches, etc.) and drinks can be purchased.

Food and beverages are not permitted inside the meeting rooms at UNESCO Headquarters.

Quiet Room

A Quiet Room will be at participants’ disposal during the entire Committee session. Additional information regarding the location of this Room is available at the venue.

Accessibility and Special Needs

UNESCO Headquarters is an inclusive venue, fully accessible to people with limited mobility.

We highly encourage any participant requiring special accommodations to reach out to the Secretariat at wh-info@unesco.org at the earliest opportunity. UNESCO will make every effort to accommodate the special needs of participants to the extent possible.

Works of Art

You can discover UNESCO’s collections on your own. Including works by some of the greatest contemporary artists such as Giacometti, Miró, Moore, Vasarely, Picasso… UNESCO's collection consists of hundreds of works of art from all continents and dating from millennia ago to the present day. Partly exhibited on the ground floor and in many UNESCO’s hallways, the works have been intrinsically linked to the architecture of the building since its creation in 1958. Donated by the Member States and validated by the Advisory Committee on Works of Art, the works reflect contemporary creation and UNESCO's actions in favour of peace, education, copyright and the safeguarding of heritage. Part of the collection is accessible online in order to better understand the relevance of the collection and allow loans to museums around the world. These are original works which require your full attention and precaution.

Guided tours of UNESCO Headquarters will be proposed to participants to the session early morning and during lunch breaks upon registration. Further information will be provided.

Lost and Found

If you have lost or found something, please contact the Secretariat in the main registration area at the entrance located at 125 avenue de Suffren.

In line with the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the UN System 2020-2030 and UNESCO’s Environmental Sustainability and Management Policy, UNESCO is striving to improve its environmental performance in a holistic and systematic manner.

In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee and the waste generated, UNESCO will not be providing any goodies or other stationery. Participants are therefore encouraged to come equipped. In case of oversight, an on-site shop will allow participants to purchase supplies.

UNESCO Headquarters provide comprehensive waste sorting facilities (including Paper, Plastic and General at each waste station, plus the ability to recycle cans, glass and food waste in the catering areas). In addition, all participants are highly encouraged to bring their personal refillable bottles, which they will be able to replenish at the water points at the Venue.

Furthermore, participants should note that no printed copies of documents will be available at the venue and are therefore encouraged to make full use of the digital versions (for more details on the documentation, see Section 10 below).

To regulate temperature in rooms, the use of air conditioning (AC) or heating systems will be regulated to keep the temperature to 25°C minimum for AC, and 21°C maximum for heating.

In terms of travel, participants are encouraged to take the train instead of flying or, if that is not feasible, to choose the most direct itinerary and economy class, and to offset the carbon emissions related to their participation, for example via the platform Atmosfair. Furthermore, once in Paris, participants are strongly encouraged to walk whenever feasible or use the comprehensive public transport system (metros and buses) and the bike sharing system Velib’ for accessing UNESCO Headquarters and avoid as much as possible car transit:

Furthermore, several biodiversity and garden areas, which contribute to a healthy balance of ecosystems, can be visited and explored by participants at UNESCO Headquarters.

Accreditation, Visa and Customs

Accreditation is mandatory for media representatives who wish to cover the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee and should be completed in advance. To be accredited, the following steps should be followed

1. Each media professional seeking accreditation should send an email to whcpress2025@unesco.org with their full name and the name of the media organization they work for;
2. In reply to the email, a unique code and a link to the accreditation form will be provided. Once the submission is reviewed and approved, an official confirmation will be sent;
3. All media representatives who need a visa must apply for one, as indicated in Section below.

Please take note of the need to declare all media equipment at Customs upon arrival.

Media Registration and Security Measures

A special desk will be reserved for the registration of media representatives in the main registration area at the entrance located at 125 avenue de Suffren, 75007 Paris. The hours of registration will be the same as for all other participants. Please note that your application for accreditation must be received and approved before you register on site. Part of the registration procedure will be to obtain your personal accreditation/security badge at the media registration desk.

Accreditation badges are to be worn visibly at all times to gain access to the venue and must be presented upon request to security personnel. Accreditation badges are not transferable. Access to the session venue will be denied to any individual who uses the badge improperly. Please be advised that security personnel may verify that equipment taken into the session venue is used for its intended purpose. Kindly allow sufficient time in your schedule to pass the security checks.

Media Centre

A Media Centre will be made available as a space with workstations for the media to cover the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Press Conferences

Press Conferences will take place in a dedicated space at the Venue and only accredited media will have access to the press conferences.

Press Material

Official press releases, photographs and live streaming of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee will be regularly updated and available to download at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/47COM.

A technical briefing for media representatives will be held prior to the session in order to review media protocols and conduct of business of the World Heritage Committee. Media briefings might be held to provide information on proceedings or decisions taken by the Committee and press releases will be issued regularly during the session. The proceedings will also be live-streamed on the above-mentioned website of the session. UNESCO's press officers will be present during the session.

In case of additional questions related to media, you may contact the following email address: whcpress2025@unesco.org.

Visa and Passport

Passport Requirements

France follows Schengen area rules. All participants traveling from outside the Schengen area to attend the 47th session of the Committee are required to possess an international passport, which should be valid for more than 6 months from the time of the departure.

Visa Requirements

Visa application guidelines for France are available at:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/visa-application-guidelines.

The following webpage will help you determine, depending on your situation, the visa requirements, as well as the visa fees and required supporting documents:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/visa-wizard

Travelers are advised to contact as early as possible the nearest diplomatic mission/consulate of France from their country of residence to determine the formalities for entering and staying in France.

For organizing side events, the proposals are first to be submitted to the UNESCO Secretariat focal point, Ms Caroline Varnet (c.varnet@unesco.org) by 2 May 2025 at the latest.

The requester will be required to submit a standard form developed for the occasion with the details regarding the type of event the country/institution would like to organize, indicating the characteristics of the required space as well as catering and technical needs. Side events can take place in the form of seminars, workshops, panels discussion, lectures, receptions, etc., with the exception of exhibitions. Due to the limited spaces available for side events at UNESCO Headquarters, the Secretariat will not be able to accommodate all applications received, only a reduced number of events will be possible.

Further to the review of the proposals received, the Secretariat will notify all requesters concerned by 16 May 2025. The organizers of the approved side events will be put in contact with the relevant/appropriate services at UNESCO Headquarters for the finalization of the logistical arrangements (date, time, room, technical assistance, catering, interpretation, etc.).

Organizers of side-events will have to cover all the costs inherent to their event. For more information/queries regarding side events at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, please contact the organizers at the following email address: c.varnet@unesco.org

Time zone

Between 30 March and 26 October 2025, the French Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2:00).

Currency & exchange

The currency in France is European Euro (EUR), with one Euro being made up of 100 cents. Banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200. Coins come in 1 and 2. The cents come in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50.

Changing money and making transactions can be done at authorized places like exchange bureaus in airports, shopping centres, and other spots in Paris. Most major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted everywhere. You will also find plenty of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) around. Digital methods like Net banking and UPI Payment are also used.

The Société Générale bank has a branch within UNESCO Headquarters, on the left of the reception desk at the main entrance, Fontenoy building, ground floor, where a cash point/ATM is available. No exchange of currency can be made at this branch.

Gratuities

In restaurants, the VAT (Government tax) is 5.5% for food, but remains 19.6% for wine and some luxury foods, both itemized on the bill, but part of the actual menu item prices.

Although tipping is voluntary, it will be well received. A tip of 5 to 10 % is considered adequate.

Electricity supply

For France, the voltage is 230 V and plugs types C and E are the official standards. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins. Plug type E is similar to C except that it is round and has the addition of a female contact to accept the socket’s grounding pin.

A travel plug adapter may be required if your appliance's plug does not match the shape of these sockets. Hotels will have a limited number of adapters for guest use, so it is recommended to carry your own if needed during your stay.

Smoking / alcohol

Smoking is prohibited in public places (museums, monuments, cinemas) or on public transport. Restaurants are all non-smoking. This ban applies both indoor and covered outdoors areas. Many establishments offer designated smoking areas, usually in open air sections, so be sure to check for signage indicating where smoking is permitted.

Alcohol is served in many restaurants and is available for purchase from licensed vendors and in supermarkets.

Telephone, mobile & useful phone numbers

All calls within France are dialed as 10 digits. Numbers in Paris begin with 01.

Roaming agreements are in place with most international phone companies. SIM cards can be purchased at local phone stores (ID required) at airports, malls or shopping centers. WhatsApp is widely used for texting, calling and messaging. Alternative apps like Signal, FaceTime are also available.

• Country Code: +33
• Police: 17 (free call)
• Fire: 18 (free call)
• Ambulance: 15 (free call)

Medical care

UNESCO will also provide a first-aid service for participants at the meeting venue. All other medical services will not be covered.

Modern medical care and medicines are available in several hospitals and clinics in Paris. Pharmacies are common throughout the city and prescriptions are required for certain type of medicines. Payment at all medical facilities is due at the time of service via cash, card or UPI.

Participants are expected to assume the costs of any medical treatment that they might receive while in France. It is strongly recommended that medical insurance be purchased in your home country to cover Paris as well as any other destinations on your journey. UNESCO will not be responsible for travel and medical insurance costs of the session participants.

For all questions of an organizational nature concerning the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, please do not hesitate to contact the session organisers: wh-info@unesco.org.