Paris Travel Guide

Quick Facts: Paris, France

Destination Overview

Why Visit Paris?

Paris is a city built for lingering. Mornings start with flaky croissants and zinc counter espresso, afternoons wander from river islands to sunlit museums, and evenings climb toward golden rooftops as the city glows. It blends grand monuments with village like quarters, where galleries, bakeries, and markets keep daily life delicious. From Gothic arches to bold contemporary design, Paris rewards curiosity on every corner.

Best Time to Visit Paris

• Spring – Blossoms along the Seine and in neighborhood squares. Mild temperatures and festivals. Showers possible, bring a light jacket.
• Summer – Long daylight, riverbank pop ups, outdoor cinema. Book key sights ahead. Heat spikes do occur, plan indoor art breaks midday.
• Autumn – Soft light, grape harvest menus, cultural season ramps up. Great balance of weather and crowd levels.
• Winter – Festive markets and cozy bistros. Shorter days, lower hotel rates, and excellent museum time.

Travel Difficulty & Ideal Duration

Difficulty: Easy for first timers with robust transit and walkable cores.

Recommended: 4 to 6 days for a first visit, longer if you plan day trips like Versailles or Champagne.

Essential Travel Information

Visa & Entry

Many travelers can enter the Schengen Area short stay without a visa, others require a type C Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days. Always confirm your status and apply via the official portal: France-Visas. Applications are online with biometrics and set appointment windows. Start several weeks ahead, especially in peak months.

Money & Realistic Daily Costs

• Budget: €70–€120 per day (hostel or simple hotel, transit, bakeries, one paid sight)
• Mid-range: €150–€280 per day (3 to 4 star, bistro meals, multiple sights)
• Luxury: €350+ per day (5 star hotels, fine dining, private tours)

Language & Communication

Learn basic greetings and politeness formulas in French. eSIMs work well and coverage is strong in Paris. Translation apps help with menus. Many museum staff and waiters understand English, a friendly “Bonjour” sets the tone.

Getting There & Around

Air, Rail, Bus: CDG and Orly connect globally. High speed TGV links Paris to London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Lyon and beyond.

Local transport: Use Metro, RER, buses and trams. Paper tickets are being phased out. Single Metro/RER rides are shown at €2.50, Paris Visite day passes from about €29.90, weekly Navigo about €31.60, plus a €12 one day Navigo option. See official fare details on RATP. The Navigo Easy card costs €2 and stores tickets and passes. Airport transfers via RER or dedicated tickets are typically around €13.

Top Things to Do in Paris

Must-See Landmarks & Cultural Sites

• Notre-Dame de Paris
  Address: Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris
  Admission and timing: Cathedral entry free, daily services and visiting hours published on the official site. Towers reopened to the public in September 2025 with timed slots and paid access
  Best visiting time: Early morning or late afternoon for shorter queues
  Reopened in December 2024 after restoration. Check schedules for masses and tower access on the cathedral and monuments sites.
• Eiffel Tower
  Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
  Admission and timing: Adult tickets roughly €14.50–€36.10 depending on level and access. Reserve online on the official site
  Best visiting time: Sunset into night for city lights
  Iron icon with sweeping views. Stairs access is a good value when elevators sell out.
• Louvre Museum
  Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
  Admission and timing: Timed tickets around €22 for standard adult. Reservation strongly recommended
  Best visiting time: Morning slots or Friday evening openings
  Home to the Mona Lisa and 35,000 works. Reserve ahead, use lesser entrances, and plan a focused route.
• Musée d’Orsay
  Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris
  Admission and timing: Timed entries available, combined tickets possible with partner museums
  Best visiting time: Late afternoon for soft light in the great hall
  Masterpieces of Impressionism and beyond inside a grand former railway station.
• Sainte-Chapelle
  Address: 8 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
  Admission and timing: Timed tickets recommended. Allow 45–60 minutes
  Best visiting time: Late morning on a sunny day for luminous stained glass
  A jewel box of 13th century glass wrapped in delicate Gothic stonework.
• Arc de Triomphe
  Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
  Admission and timing: Rooftop access ticketed. Eternal Flame ceremony nightly
  Best visiting time: Blue hour for sweeping boulevard views
  Climb for a grand axis panorama aligned with the Champs-Élysées.
• Sacré-Cœur Basilica
  Address: Parvis du Sacré-Cœur, 75018 Paris
  Admission and timing: Basilica free daily 6:30–22:30. Dome access ticketed
  Best visiting time: Sunset for views across the city
  White domes crown Montmartre’s hilltop, with artists’ squares and cobbles below.
• Palace of Versailles
  Admission and timing: Timed entry required for the Palace. Full access “Passport” ticket covers Palace and Estate on eligible days
  Best visiting time: Mornings midweek. Allow a full day
  A short RER ride from Paris, Versailles blends royal spectacle with vast gardens, groves and Trianon retreats.
• Paris Catacombs
  Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris
  Admission and timing: Timed tickets around €31 adult with audioguide included. Capacity strictly limited
  Best visiting time: Morning slots, bring a jacket for 14°C underground
  An evocative network of ossuaries and galleries beneath the Left Bank.

Hidden Gems & Local Favorites

• Canal Saint Martin footbridges – Calm waters, iron footbridges, picnic spots. Go at golden hour
• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont – Dramatic park with cliffs and a hilltop temple, perfect for sunrise walks
• Musée de la Vie Romantique – Intimate house museum with a garden café in South Pigalle
• Promenade Plantée / Coulée Verte – Elevated parkway strolling eastward from Bastille
• Marché d’Aligre – Open air produce and covered market, great for cheese and fruit tastings
• Rue Montorgueil – Classic market street for pâtisseries, seafood, café terraces
• Parc Monceau – Elegant 8th arrondissement garden framed by mansions

Unique Experiences You Can’t Miss

• Seine cruise at dusk, €15–€20, 1 hour. Book a later sailing for city lights
• French pastry class in a professional kitchen, €75–€140, 2–3 hours. Reserve 1–2 weeks ahead
• Versailles gardens fountain show in season, garden ticket from €10, plan 2–3 hours
• Natural wine tasting in the 11th, €25–€45, 1.5 hours, early evening slots
• After hours museum tour, prices vary, book well in advance for limited capacity experiences
• Dawn photo walk on the Île de la Cité and bridges, free, tripod friendly hours before crowds

Best Photo Spots

• Trocadéro terraces for Eiffel Tower sunrise
• Bir-Hakeim Bridge central platform framing the Tower
• Arc de Triomphe rooftop for radial boulevards
• Montmartre steps below Sacré-Cœur at sunset
• Square du Vert-Galant at Île de la Cité tip for river reflections
• Rue de l’Abreuvoir and Maison Rose for village scenes
• Cour d’Honneur, Louvre Pyramid blue hour symmetry

Where to Stay in Paris

Best Areas or Neighborhoods

• Le Marais – Central, stylish, great for cafés, boutiques, and Sunday strolls. Walkable to the islands
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Classic Left Bank charm, bookstores and galleries, easy to the Orsay and Louvre
• Latin Quarter – Lively student energy, budget dining, near the Panthéon and Luxembourg Gardens
• Opéra–Grands Boulevards – Shopping, covered passages, direct Metro links, varied hotel stock
• Bastille & 11th – Creative, great bistros and natural wine bars, convenient to the Marais
• Montmartre – Village feel and views. Hilly streets, check for elevator access if mobility is a concern
• Canal Saint Martin – Laid back, bohemian, easy access to East Paris and great picnics

What & Where to Eat in Paris

Must-Try Dishes

• Steak frites – Bistro classic with pepper sauce. €18–€32
• Boeuf bourguignon – Slow cooked beef in red wine. €22–€38
• Galettes and crêpes – Buckwheat savory and sweet specialties. €8–€16
• Falafel pita – Marais street staple. €9–€12
• Pâtisserie – Kouign amann, eclairs, seasonal tarts. €2–€6 each
• Cheese board – Raw milk treasures from the market. €8–€18

Restaurants & Cafés

• Budget Eats – Bouillon Pigalle (22 Bd de Clichy, 75018, mains €9–€16). L’As du Fallafel (34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004, pita €9–€12). Du Pain et des Idées (34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010, pastries €2–€5)
• Modern Bistros – Bistrot Paul Bert (18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011, €40–€65 set or à la carte). Le Comptoir du Relais (9 Carrefour de l’Odéon, 75006, €25–€40 lunch plates)
• Breton Crêpes – Breizh Café Le Marais (109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003, €8–€18)
• Destination Dining – Septime (80 Rue de Charonne, 75011, booking opens daily 10:00 for about 3 weeks ahead)
• Cafés & Wine Bars – Around Rue Martel, Rue du Nil, and Canal Saint Martin you will find third wave coffee and natural wine bars

Street Food & Dietary Tips

• Markets like Marché d’Aligre or Marché des Enfants Rouges for picnic supplies and cooked plates
• Vegetarian friendly picks at crêperies and falafel stands
• Gluten free bakeries and crêpes available in select shops. Ask for “sans gluten”
• Tap water is potable. Ask for a free “carafe d’eau” at restaurants
• Tipping is optional since service is included. Rounding up or leaving small coins is appreciated

Local Culture & Etiquette

• Norms – Begin interactions with “Bonjour” and end with “Merci, au revoir”. Keep voices moderate on transit and in residential streets at night
• Do’s & Don’ts – Do stand right on escalators, don’t block doors on the Metro. In churches, dress modestly and silence phones
• Tipping – Service is included. Leave small change for excellent service or round up
• Festivals & Events – Fête de la Musique in June, European Heritage Days in September, holiday lights from late November

Practical Tips & Safety

• Health & Safety – Emergency numbers: 112 Europe wide, 15 medical, 17 police, 18 fire. English speaking care at the American Hospital of Paris, 55 Bd du Château, 92200 Neuilly sur Seine
• What to Pack – Compact umbrella, scarf, comfortable walking shoes, reusable bottle. In summer, sun protection. In winter, warm layers
• Money Saving – Consider the Paris Museum Pass if visiting several sites in 2–6 days. Free first Sundays apply at some museums off peak seasons
• Emergency Phrases – “J’ai besoin d’aide” (I need help). “Où est la pharmacie la plus proche” (nearest pharmacy). “Pouvez vous appeler la police”

Paris Itineraries

3-Day Express Itinerary

1. Day 1 – Île de la Cité and the Marais. Notre-Dame interior, Sainte-Chapelle timed slot, coffee on Île Saint Louis, walk to the Marais for the Picasso or Carnavalet, falafel lunch, sunset at Place des Vosges
2. Day 2 – Louvre morning with timed entry, Tuileries picnic, Musée d’Orsay afternoon, Seine cruise at dusk, dinner in Saint Germain
3. Day 3 – Eiffel Tower or Montparnasse views, Arc de Triomphe rooftop, Champs Élysées side streets, Montmartre sunset and Sacré-Cœur

7-Day Comprehensive Itinerary

1. Day 1 – Arrival, neighborhood walk, early bistro dinner
2. Day 2 – Louvre highlights, covered passages, Opéra district food hall
3. Day 3 – Latin Quarter, Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens, Saint Germain galleries
4. Day 4 – Versailles day trip, return for late dinner near the station
5. Day 5 – Orsay and Orangerie art day, sunset walk along the Seine
6. Day 6 – Marais boutiques, Centre Pompidou exterior and off site exhibitions during renovation, Canal Saint Martin evening
7. Day 7 – Catacombs morning, Montparnasse crepes, free afternoon for shopping or markets, farewell dinner

Off the Beaten Path Route

Start at Parc des Buttes Chaumont, cross to Canal de l’Ourcq for a waterside coffee, ride Tram line T3 for urban views, then stroll the Petite Ceinture sections. Finish at rue des Martyrs for pastries and a neighborhood dinner. Use a day Navigo for unlimited hops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t Miss

• Golden hour on the Seine with bridges glowing and bateaux gliding by
• A bistro lunch that lingers into coffee and a shared dessert
• Impressionists at the Orsay followed by Tuileries garden time
• Montmartre at dusk with the city rolling away in pastel light
• Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass when the sun hits just right
• A neighborhood market morning, then a picnic with cheeses and fruit

Your Paris Story Starts Here

This city is equal parts headline sights and small rituals, a sunrise walk over the Seine, a smile at a corner bakery, a quiet bench between museum halls. Choose a neighborhood that fits your pace, pick two or three anchors each day, and leave room for serendipity. Book your key tickets, load a transit pass, and follow the light from café to river to rooftop. Paris is ready when you are, and it rewards every curious step.

Useful Links / Official Sources

• Paris je t’aime, Official Tourism
• RATP Tickets and Fares
• Navigo Easy Card Info
• Eiffel Tower Official Prices & Hours
• Louvre Hours & Admission
• Musée d’Orsay Rates
• Paris Museum Pass
• Paris Catacombs Official
• Palace of Versailles Tickets
• Sacré-Cœur Hours
• France-Visas Official
• Emergency Numbers in France
• Notre-Dame Towers Reopening
• Centre Pompidou Renovation Update