Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview
Paris (Île-de-France) is one of France's most rewarding destinations: France's capital of grand Haussmann boulevards, world-renowned art museums, neighborhood boulangeries, and candlelit Left Bank bistros along the Seine.
Getting here and moving around is straightforward: CDG Airport (RER B 35 min, €13.00; Official Taxi €56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank) or Orly Airport (Metro Line 14 25 min, €13.00). Once in town, rely on Navigo Easy card (€2 card + €2.50 Métro-Train-RER ride or €2.00 Bus-Tram ride) or Navigo Semaine weekly pass (€31.60 Mon–Sun all zones).
Neighbourhoods & areas
Le Marais (3rd & 4th Arr.)
Walkable, central, packed with boutiques, galleries, and cafés.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th Arr.)
Classic Left Bank literary cafés, Luxembourg Gardens, and boutique hotels.
Canal Saint-Martin & 11th Arr.
Independent bistros, natural wine bars, and great mid-range value.
Top sights & experiences
Louvre & Tuileries
Book timed entry weeks ahead (closed Tuesdays); walk west through the Jardin des Tuileries toward Place de la Concorde.
Musée d'Orsay & Left Bank
Housed in the 1900 Gare d'Orsay train station with Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh masterpieces overlooking the Seine.
Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars & Seine Cruise
Reserve summit or 2nd-floor lift tickets 60 days out; pair with a golden-hour Vedettes du Pont Neuf river cruise.
Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle & Île de la Cité
Marvel at Notre-Dame's restored Gothic nave and the 1,113 stained-glass panels of Sainte-Chapelle.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Climb the cobbled lanes of Place du Tertre and Rue de l'Abreuvoir at sunrise before crowds arrive.
Le Marais & Place des Vosges
Stroll 17th-century aristocratic hôtels particuliers, Picasso Museum, and historic Rue des Rosiers falafel and pastry shops.
What to eat
Baguette de Tradition & Croissant au Beurre
Protected by the 1993 French Bread Decree—buy warm from a neighborhood Artisan Boulanger.
Steak Frites & Confit de Canard
Served at classic brasseries and Bouillons (Bouillon Chartier, Bouillon Pigalle) with a €4–€6 pichet of house wine.
Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée
Caramelized onion soup baked under a thick crust of Comté and Gruyère cheese in Les Halles.
Paris-Brest & Macarons
Choux pastry ring filled with praline mousseline cream, created in 1910 to celebrate the Paris–Brest bicycle race.
Where to stay by budget
Budget
€95/night — clean central hostels, 2-star family hotels, and boulangerie breakfasts.
Mid-range
€210/night — 3-to-4-star boutique hotels in walkable historic quarters (Le Marais (3rd & 4th Arr.)).
Luxury
€460+/night — 5-star Palace hotels, historic hôtels particuliers, and Relais & Châteaux estates.
Rough nightly ranges: hostels and budget hotels often run €45–€95 per night; mid-range boutique hotels commonly €130–€240 per room; 5-star Palace hotels and château stays run €380+, especially in peak seasons. See our accommodation guide.
Getting there
CDG Airport (RER B 35 min, €13.00; Official Taxi €56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank) or Orly Airport (Metro Line 14 25 min, €13.00).
Getting around
Navigo Easy card (€2 card + €2.50 Métro-Train-RER ride or €2.00 Bus-Tram ride) or Navigo Semaine weekly pass (€31.60 Mon–Sun all zones).
Day trips & side trips
Versailles Palace & Gardens
Easy regional excursion from Paris: Versailles Palace & Gardens (RER C, 40 min).
Giverny Monet Gardens
Easy regional excursion from Paris: Giverny Monet Gardens (TER to Vernon, 45 min).
Reims Champagne Houses
Easy regional excursion from Paris: Reims Champagne Houses (TGV from Gare de l'Est, 45 min).
Fontainebleau Château & Forest
Easy regional excursion from Paris: Fontainebleau Château & Forest (Transilien R from Gare de Lyon, 40 min).
Best time to visit
The most pleasant months to visit Paris are April–June & September–October, when café terraces are lively and sightseeing queues are manageable. Book SNCF TGV trains and timed monument entries 3–6 weeks ahead.
Local tips
- Waiting until the day of travel to book high-speed SNCF TGV tickets to Paris instead of locking in early-bird fares.
- Sitting down at an unset café table for drinks or forgetting to greet staff with a polite "Bonjour" before asking a question.
- Skipping the weekday lunch "formule du midi" (2- or 3-course set menu for €18–€26), which offers the best culinary value in Paris.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: