With its incredible heritage, its famous monuments and museums, and its wonderful food, its no wonder that Paris is truly one of the world’s top destinations. View my Paris travel tips and start planning a memorable trip to French capital today.
Why Go
Paris is a dream destination for visitors in search of history, romance, art and architecture – as well as food and fashion. It’s the home of the historic splendour.
However well you think you know Paris, there’s always something new to discover. From a new bar or restaurant, to a new gallery. Behind the shimmering palaces, grand boulevards and historic façades you will find intimate courtyards, gardens and craft workshop. The real insight to Paris’s appeal is that it is a city of villages where people actually live – even right in the centre.
I fell in love with Paris, like so many other people, when I barely understood the idea of it. The City of Lights seemed like a figment of my imagination. Something that I would never see and only be able to appreciate through paperbacks and postcards.
Arguably Paris is the most iconic city in the world, tempting dreamers from all over the world with its beautiful boulevards and massive monuments. As my love for Paris deepened all these notions of the city began to form inside my head. This made me slightly nervous because when one begins to build something up and burden it with expectations, disappointment is almost sure to follow.
My expectations grew grander as I saw many other areas of France and got to experience the beauty of the country in many other cities. Paris left a lasting impression of the country for me which heightened the stakes even further.
When my trip to Paris finally arrived and it was time for my expectations to battle it out with reality. As my bus drove into the city a double rainbow (yes, a double rainbow) appeared and I knew that this city was ready for me to fulfill my childhood dream of seeing Paris.
Since visiting multiple times, I have fallen deeper under the spell of the City of Lights. Every boulevard, every boulangerie, every cafe adds to the magic of this place. My entire time here has felt like a dream and Paris is the cherry on top of the most delicious cake.
The French receive a bad rep and since Paris is the most visited city in the country it gets even more criticism. These bad words do not make much sense to me.
With millions of people living in the city it is simpleminded to write off all Parisians as snobby or cold. Like other large metropolitan areas there is every type of person in the city.
What I have come to understand from the mixed reviews of this magnificent city is that many people that complain are the ones that have not bothered to speak the language.
A simple “Bonjour” goes a long way. Imagine someone coming into a shop in New York and saying “Hola” then demanding something from behind the counter. That would never fly. As with any country, know a few words and phrases in the native tongue and do not assume that everyone speaks English.
Also, anyone who speaks poorly of this city has simply not gone out of their comfort zone which is what traveling is all about. There are endless things to see. Paris is art. Paris is beauty. Paris is life.
This post may seem a bit self-indulgent but Paris was always a dream of mine and I can’t help but gush since I’ve visited multiple times.
If I have the option to take a city break anywhere, I cannot imagine spending it anywhere other than Paris. My love for this country if solidified even more so and I know that I will be back as soon as I can.
Films, books, and photographs have tried to encompass the beauty of Paris, but nothing can compare to seeing it in person. To all who have not been able to experience Paris, come as soon as possible. To all who have been to Paris, come again and see the endless sights it has to offer.
Getting to Paris
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Paris Orly Airport
Orly airport, 14 km south of the city, primarily serves domestic flights and international destinations in Southern Europe and around the Mediterranean. Buses and coaches leave regularly and take only 25 minutes to get to the city. Taxis are also available and will cost €35-45, or you could hop on the metro for a cheap ride (around €10 depending on destination).
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris is located 23 km northeast of the city.
Taxi
Charles de Gaulle Airport is directly connected to Autoroute A1 which connects Paris and Lille. You can take a taxi directly to Paris. It takes about an hour depending on traffic and can cost up to €60.
Taxis can be hailed in the street or at taxi ranks, but there are not as many as such a big city requires. There’s a minimum journey charge of €7, and additional charges for more than one piece of luggage in the boot.
Surburban Rail – RER
Charles De Gaulle is connected to Paris by the RER ‘B’ suburban route. There are about 8 trains per – half of which are fast services direct to Gare du Nord taking about 30 minutes. There are two RER ‘B’ stations inside the airport:
1. Called Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1, is located inside Roissypôle (an area with hotels and company offices) next to Terminal 3 – the main way to access Terminals 1 and 3;
2. Called Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV, is located beside the TGV station under Terminal 2.
RER ‘B’ serves both CDG airport as well as northern suburbs of Paris. Note – the last RER B is at 23:50. Take the Noctilien night bus N143 and N140, departing every half-hour and hour respectively from terminal 1 door D12, terminal 2F door 2 and Roissypôle at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1.
Bus
Roissybus departs from terminals 1 and 2 and goes non-stop to Paris, terminating behind the Palais Garnier. It an take up to 90 minutes. Air France operates “Les Cars Air France” to several destinations: line 2 to Place de l’Etoile and Porte Maillot, line 3 to Paris Orly, line 4 to Gare Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon.[53]. There is a bus and coach station in Roissypôle, next to the RER B station. Buses departing from this station include RATP lines 350 and 351 going to Paris and the bus going to the Parc Astérix.
A shuttle to Disneyland departs from the three Terminals.
Metro
You can jump on the metro; the ride is about 35 minutes to Gard du Nord station and costs about €8.10.
Where to Stay
With over 1500 places to stay in Paris, you will be spoilt for choice for accommodation, from the 5-star Crillon, Bristol or Ritz to the more humble budget hostel, there is a choice for every budget. Get the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Paris excels in luxury, but most hotels are small, family affairs. Many hotels have been recently refurbished, so air-conditioning, lifts and comfortable beds are the norm, and many are in historic buildings. Don’t expect huge bedrooms but what you lose in room size, you gain in character and atmosphere. Breakfast is generally not include unless you pay more.
Hotels are heavily booked during the January/February fashion weeks and furniture fairs. Look for well-priced offers, especially at business-orientated hotels, outside of summer and weekdays they are less busy.
The Shangri-La Hotel is just one example of the many luxury hotels in Paris, located just 600 metres from the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. Custom designed suites, stunning views and 2 Michelin Star Restaurants are just some of the outstanding facilities this hotel has to offer.
The Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel is perfect for those wanting to be in the heart of this vibrant city, located just 700m from the Arc De Triomphe, it is the only five-star hotel situated on the Champs Elysees.
Another recommendation, try the Hotel Ekta – a boutique hotel offering black and white 1960 décor, a futuristic lounge, a hidden garden terrace, a great atmosphere near the Champs-Elysées on rue Galilée.
If you’re on a budget, there are also many hostels and hotels to meet your needs such as the Ibis Budget which both offer convenient locations and low prices. Or for budget backpackers, consider hostel dorms which are a fraction of the price of hotels – although still high compared to European standards.
Getting Around
Walk
Stay central and most attractions are walkable. You’ll save money and gives your legs a good workout.
Metro
Paris has an extensive transport system but the cheapest and quickest way to navigate the city is via the metro. View my extensive guide with tips for riding the metro in Paris.
Hiring a Car
Paris to be Europe’s most traffic-jammed cities,so stick to using a car for venturing outside the city. Driving with Paris – and, in particular, mastering the Arc de Triomphe, where priorité à droite (priority for vehicles coming in from the right) still holds, is not for the faint-hearted. The main car hire companies have branches at the airport and main train stations.
Tours
Find the best sightseeing tours & attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Sightseeing
Thanks to its unique blend of iconic sights, innovative architecture and unusual places, the French capital promises a sightseeing and shopping like no other city.
Paris has 1,803 monuments and 173 museums, as well as some of the great shopping in the world. The Champs Elysées, Printemps and the Galeries Lafayette and the concentration of high-end boutiques make it a magnet for shopping.
For sighteseeing, its almost impossible to know where to start when you fly to Paris. The Eiffel Tower is a must see. Constructed in 1889 to mark the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution it is now the worlds most visited paid monument. From the top of the Tower, you’ll be treated to an unrestricted view over Paris.
Take the lift to the third floor for something extra special; enjoy a glass of champagne whilst experiencing magnificent panoramic views over the city.Then, hop onto one of the river boats moored just below and glide down the Seine as far as Notre-Dame.
Visit one of the largest and most famous religious buildings in the world, The Notre-Dame. Climb the North tower or admire the spire and stained glass of this historic Catholic Cathedral, which presents one of the best examples of French gothic architecture.
The Louvre Museum is also a must see, which houses many famous works of arts, including the Mona Lisa. As you leave, take a walk over the Pont des Arts footbridge and the Pont Neuf and visit the Left Bank.
For more art, discover the impressionaist treasures of the Musee D’Orsay on the left bank of the Seine. It used to be a ‘Beaux-Arts’ era railway station built at the end of the 19th century. It has the largest collection of impressionist with painters including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
For something just as iconic, try the Centre Georges Pompidou also known as the Pompidou Centre in English – the inside-out building – with all the pipes, stairs and other normal parts of a building actually outside! Its in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, and the Marais. Again, it has largest museum for modern art in Europe.
Go regal at the Palace of Versailles – the site of the huge royal palace and gardens built by the Sun King, Louis XIV. Versailles is best known for being the site of the vast royal palace and gardens as well as the scene for major historic event such as the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
It is a real “must see” location on the western part of Paris. Not only does it have enormous historical significance but also it is a very beautiful building. If you plan to visit Versailles, get there early, as the queues are huge – all day until early evening.
If you want a taste of 19th century Bohemian Paris, go to Montmartre, starting out from the Odéon metro station. The brasseries and cafes of boulevard Montparnasse are home to the workshops of Picasso and Utrillo, the birthplace of cubism and cabarets.
Make sure you make it as far as Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Parisian centre of intellectual and artistic activity. Visit the Marais, one of the oldest parts of the city, with beautiful private houses, the Picasso museum, the latest small chic boutiques, and stillness and quiet of the Place des Vosges.
Shopping
When you think of fashion, you think of Paris. The city’s iconic Paris Fashion Week held twice yearly, and fashion’s influence means that shopping in Paris means the best in clothes, shoes, accessories and much more. Parisians often seem to make being stylish look effortless.
It’s no surprise, then, that the city remains the global centre for style-related, making it the ideal place to check out the boutique stores with world famous designer creations and the finest jewellery. There’s something to find for everyone: from high-end boutiques to fantastic flea markets.
Indeed, Parisian department stores have become must-see monuments with their fabulous Art Nouveau glass domes. Try Galleries Lafayette with its magnificent stained-glass roof.
For high end boutiques, visit Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Rue Saint-Honoré, Rue de la Paix and around the Place Vendome. For something different why not take a stroll along the Champs Elysees, where you will find 1.9 Kilometers of luxury shops, cafes and famous theatres.
For something a bit different, discover the famous passages of Paris. These are covered pedestrian arcade that are all over the city, always full of small traditional shops. These small arcades started popping up all over Paris at the end of the 18th century, and were very popular among the wealthy.
Over 20 of these arcades still exist today, and indeed, many such as the Passage Jouffroy (between the Boulevard Montmartre and Rue de la Grange-Bateliere) or the Galerie Vivienne in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, have become historical monuments.
If you are interest in bargains, view my guide to the best markets in Paris.
Paris Short Weekend City Break Itinerary
There is so much to do and see in Paris that it is impossible to savor everything that the city has to offer on a short visit. To be able to even have just a taste of the distinct flavors that are unique to Paris, a trip to the city should be no less than a at least a few days. Alas, even a week would be too brief.
However, if a few days is all that you have, all the more that you should make the most out of your visit to Paris. To see just one part of Paris on a short stay is better than rushing through the city in an attempt to see everything. Taking Paris one bite at a time would leave longer lasting impressions and more colorful memories. It will also give you a reason to come back to Paris for more.
To maximize your sightseeing bucket list the first thing you should do after you have shaken off the journey getting here is to hop on a tourist bus or on a boat on the River Seine. Spend your first day hopping on and off tourist buses and the Metro just to get your first feel of Paris and to get your bearings. You do not need to see one of the many tourist attractions in Paris just yet.
When you return to your hotel room on your first day, make a list of the attractions that you have seen on your overview of Paris on board these tour buses. Since you have only a short time to spend in Paris, prioritize the places that you want to see. Also, expect to see only one or two attractions a day; you cannot expect a lot of beautiful memories to form by rushing through the places that makes Paris a worthwhile place to visit.
From your second day on, roam about the city on foot on your way to your chosen itineraries for the day. Who knows what delightful spot or corner you might discover while strolling about the city?
You do not have anything to worry about walking in Paris, as long as it is in daytime. The city is quite flat and very friendly to pedestrians. If you do get tired, you can take a short rest at a sidewalk café. Then just flag a cab on your way back to your hotel.
Restaurants and Eating Out
Paris is the ‘Capital of Gastronomy’ – and is the home to some of the world’s finest – and priciest – restaurants. Get acquainted with the art of eating well in the city that is synonomous with creating culinary trends.
Typical brasseries serve French classics such as steak-frites and pommes parisiennes (Parisian potatoes), as well as more elaborate “bistro” style dishes. If you want to grab some food on the go, opt for a traditional simple baguette sandwich with ham and butter from any boulangerie, and enjoy a picnic on a bench in one of the many parks.
The grand French gastronomic meal is one thing, but the sheer variety of places to eat you can find in Paris, from haute-cuisine to all-day cafés, bars and bistros is what matters to the visitor. Note – many top restaurants have much cheaper menus at lunch – an excellent time to get a table at short notice.
For a splurge, try Le Jules Verne – 400ft up the Eiffel Tower, reached by the restaurant’s lift on the south pillar, with its food to match the view. It even has a chocolate bolt dessert to recognise the 2.5 million bolts that hold the Eiffel Tower together.
Take a look at Au Comptoir du Relais for a no-choice, gastronomic weekday dinner. At lunchtimes, no reservations are possible, and the place is packed out with foodies and literary types sampling the regional fare. Next door at L’Avant Comptoir, you can take away a crêpe or sandwich, or squeeze in for wine, charcuterie and hors d’oeuvres.
You also can’t visit Paris with trying the crepes. They seem almost too classy to be a booze-soaking, late-night-wandering snack, but this is Paris after all, darlings. In the city of love, crepes are always a good idea, no matter the time of day or night.
Whether you want sucre (sweet) or sale (salty), you’ll find vendors selling these affordable pockets of deliciousness throughout the city, but for the most choice, head to the Boulevard du Montparnasse.
Here you’ll find creperie after creperie, selling everything from plain sugar to Nutella and strawberry or a classic ham, egg and cheese galette. Even better – you’ll rarely pay over five or six euros. Bon appetit!
I recently wrote these articles with more tips:
• Where to find the best truffles in Paris
• Best budget places to eat in Paris
Tipping
Cafes and restaurants in Paris include a 15 percent service compris (tip included), but if you feel that the service and meal were worth it, leaving an extra five percent tip, a euro or two, is a nice gesture. Contrary to some opinions, it is not considered rude not to tip in France, but leaving behind a few centimes and pocket lint may not be favourable either. Cabbies in Paris are tipped 10 percent.
Nightlife
Paris nightlife is very varied – its not all about the can-can girls! Visit the Café de Flore, the legendary St-Germain café – from breakfast rendezvous to lunch to aperitif hour to late-night drinking, it’s the place to imaginge having a conversation with Sartres! Le Café Marly gives you a chance to sip a drink on a terrace overlooking the Louvre courtyard, with views over the gallery’s glass pyramid.
The Petit Suisse overlooks the Jardin du Luxembourg since 1791 and has a very down-to-earth appeal. It has lots of different levels – including a mini terrace and mezzanine.
For something offbeat, film director, David Lynch has opened Silencio – his LA club that is something between a private bar, arts club and nightclub – it has a free but selective entry after midnight. Silencio is located deep underground in a building that has a multitude of rooms including a gold-leaf tunnel, a Twin Peaks forest, a cinema, a smoking room and a stage for DJs.
Safety
Paris does have a bit of a reputation, and in some areas there are some shady characters lucking around at night to be aware of. Be especially wary while in Paris at Charles de Gaulle airport, at the Gare du Nord railway station or while on the metro and suburban trains as pickpockets and bag snatchers operate in these areas.
Plan a Trip to Paris
There are so many great destinations in France, like I love exploring the South of France, but Paris is a city everyone needs to see.
Check out some French phrases before departing or check out my guide to the best places to study French in Paris if you would like to spend longer in the city and improve your language skills.
Remember that a visit to Paris must be savored, especially on short visits. You can always return to see what you have missed on another holiday.
À bientôt, Paris. Je t’aime.