paris 8 voyage

What's On in Paris

Performances.

• Christmas in Paris
• The Eiffel Tower

Monuments in Paris

Historic churches, history museums.

• The Louvre Museum
• Musée d'Orsay

The Top Paris Museums

Artist museums, more paris museums.

Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line

The 6 essential day trips, 10 more iconic day tours, what to do in paris, seine river cruises, night in the city of light, paris city tours, walking tours, your own private paris.

• Romantic Dinner Cruises

The Top Left Bank Hotels

The best hotels in paris, boutique & romantic, top hotels near…, preferred 5-star hotels, the palaces of paris, affordable hotels.

Le Marais Food & Wine Tour

Food & wine activities, the foods of paris, memorable paris dining, best paris restaurants, paris restaurant guide.

• Bistros & Brasseries

Top-Rated Restaurants

• Visit the Champagne Region

Paris Attractions

You ask, we answer, visiting burgundy, paris miscellanea, top ten lists, unusual paris sights, paris gardens & parks, the paris explorer.

• What's On When You're Here

Airports & Transfers

Getting around paris, paris travel guide, paris essentials, train travel, paris arrondissements, the 8th arrondissement of paris – more than just the champs-elysées, the 8th arrondissement of paris.

Yes, Avenue des Champs-Elysées is here, but the 8th Arrondissement of Paris is much more than that. First of all, it's home to almost 40,000 Parisians and full of the things they need on a daily basis — boulangeries, boucheries, food markets, stylistes , and shoe stores. It's also where you find Hotel de Crillon ; the Grand Palais and Petit Palais ; the elegant Parc Monceau.

Discover What's On When You're Here...

Discover what's on when you're here, 18 great things about the 8th arrondissement, 1. musée nissim de camondo.

This beautiful private mansion abutting Parc Monceau was once owned by a wealthy Parisian family, the last of whom were murdered by the Nazis during World War II, with the complicity of Vichy authorities. Today it's a museum and a memorial to the de Camondos and their son, Nissim, an early aircraft fighter pilot who was killed in World War I. Inside you'll discover an impressive collection of furniture and objects from 18th-century France, sort of a legacy to a lost era.

• 63 Rue de Monceau
• 8th Arrondissement Paris

Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

2. musée cernuschi – museum of asian art.

Near Parc Monceau, this museum is based on the remarkable collection of a wealthy financier named Henri Cernuschi, who collected 20th-century paintings, Chinese art, and Far-Eastern art on his travels. This is a City of Paris Museum and entrance is free. After you complete your visit, make sure to take a stroll in nearby Parc Monceau.

• 7 avenue Vélasquez

3. Parc Monceau

On the northern border of the 8th Arrondissement is this elegant and eye-pleasing park built as a private garden for the Duke of Orléans in 1778 by the painter Carmontel. In those days the Monceau area was outside of the gates of Paris. The artist filled the garden with quirky architectural elements like a pagoda, a pyramid, even a Roman temple.

During the renovation of Paris by Baron Haussmann in the mid-19th century Parc Monceau was annexed by the city and was revamped to give it the English-garden style you see today. There's a pond, bridges, and all sorts of odd elements that were gathered from around Paris during the renovation. Perhaps the most famous is the semi-circular colonnade by the basin that may have been part of an unfinished mausoleum of Henry II (1519-1559).

Another thing we find interesting about Parc Monceau is the round building at the north entrance to the park. Known as the Barrriere Monceau it was one of the round tollhouses built around the old city wall about 1785, just before the French Revolution. About 50 of these toll-collecting posts were built at the time, but there are only four still in existence today.

Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

4. petit palais – musée des beaux-arts.

The Petit Palais is right up against the Seine at Pont Alexandre III and directly across the street from its bigger sibling, the Grand Palais. It was built in 1900 for the Universal Exposition held in Paris that year, and it now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts — Museum of Fine Arts — of the City of Paris. Renovated not very long ago, the Petit Palais is brimming with a wonderful collection of outstanding paintings. Visit the stunning winter garden featuring mosaic-trimmed ponds and colonnades, or sit outside in the warm months and take some refreshments.

The Petit Palais also stages special exhibitions, recently a popular one about Oscar Wilde and his time in Paris. Because it's a City of Paris museum, entrance is free, except for some of the special shows.

• Avenue Winston Churchill

5. The Car-Free Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées is arguably the most famous street in the world. Some Parisian still call it "la plus belle avenue du monde" , although the proliferation of stores geared to tourists is putting that claim to the test. In normal times, the sidewalks are jam-packed with visitors and the street itself is bumper-to-bumper cars.

The City of Paris, under the guidance of forward-thinking mayor Anne Hidalgo, has declared the first Sunday of every month to be car-free along the Champs-Elysées. "Come to breathe a lung full of air," the City Council tells citizens and visitors, "and enjoy a walk along the avenue without encountering any traffic."

There are other traffic-reducing initiatives being planned for the Champs-Elysées and elsewhere in central Paris, such as the recent banning of cars on Rue de Rivoli. Stay tuned!

• City of Paris Pedestrian Website …

Skip-the-Line at the Louvre Museum

6. place de la concorde.

Today it's hard to imagine that this stately square, covering 21 acres, was once a swamp. In 1755 Louis XV had architect and garden designer Ange-Jacques Gabriel build an eight-sided royal place to connect the Jardin de Tuileries to the Champs Elysées. In the center a statue of Louis XV was erected and the new square was christened Place Louis XV .

All that royal splendor lasted less then 20 years when the French revolutionaries pulled down the statue and replaced it with the guillotine.

7. The Marly Horses

Flanking the entrance to Champs-Elysées from Place de la Concorde are two sculptures of rearing horses. These were created by the Coustous brothers for Louis XIV's Chateau de Marly. When the chateau was destroyed in the Revolution, the statues were moved here.

What you see today are replicas of the statues. The originals were moved in 1994 to La Cour Marly , the glass-covered courtyard of the Louvre.

Our Most Popular Day Trips from Paris

8. église de la madeleine.

With a history as stormy as the French Revolution itself, Église de la Madeleine , located in the center of the place of the same name, was first conceived as a monument sited at the top of Rue Royal that would set off the new Place Louis XV . (This was back in around 1764.) A domed structure was first proposed, the site was readied, and then the Revolution interfered and work was abandoned.

Under Napoleon, work was started again. Until, that is, Napoleon himself was halted. In 1837, the site was proposed as the location for the city's first railroad station and the current design was drawn up. Finally, it was France's last king, Louis XVIII, who decreed that it would become a church.

Twenty-eight monumental steps lead up to the fifty-two giant Corinthian columns, a bit of ancient Greek architecture in the middle of Paris. Église de la Madeleine is today known for its splendid organ, which was played when Chopin's funeral service was held here. A memorable thing to do when you're in Paris is to attend a classical music concert inside this monumental church.

9. Arc de Triomphe

At the top of the most famous avenue in the world is the most famous triumphal arch. The Romans pretty much started this whole arch thing — you can still see one of their arches in Orange, in Provence — but we feel it was Napoleon who perfected it.

The view of Paris from the top of the arch is one of our favorites. From here you can look out onto the streets of the 8th, 16th, and 17th Arrondissements, which all meet beneath the Arc de Triomphe.

Delectable Food Tours in Paris

10. grand palais.

Along the short Avenue Winston Churchill is a grouping of three exuberant examples of Art Nouveau architecture — Pont Alexandre III, the Petit Palais, and the big brother facing it, the Grand Palais. Because of these three architectural flights of fancy, this small part of Paris feels different from the rest of the city.

Like the Petit Palais, the Grand Palais was built for the world's fair held in Paris in 1900, the Universal Exposition . Famous for the vaulted and domed glass ceiling that floods the interior with light, as well as its magnificent staircase, the 54,000 square feet today host art shows, book fairs, special exhibitions, and even a skating rink in the winter! It's worth attending an event there just to get inside the building.

Note: The Grand Palais complex is closed for renovation until 2024

11. Palais de la Découverte

The 8 Funnest Family Museums in Paris …

This hands-on science museum located in the Grand Palais complex was our son's favorite place in Paris for a decade or more. There's a planetarium, lots of fun exhibits that teach kids about science while they play, the rat school, ant farms, and lots of special exhibitions about moving dinosaurs, giant insects, apes, light, hair. .

Note: Palais de la Découverte, like the entire Grand Palais complex, is closed for renovation until 2024

• Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Statue of Charles de Gaulle

When you come up out of the Metro at station Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau (in front of the Grand Palais) you find yourself at Place Clemenceau, named for famous French politician Georges Clemenceau who helped France rally during and after world War I. On this place you find a large statue of… Charles de Gaulle.

That's right, it's the World War II leader of France, striding into the future, on a square named from the World War I leader of France. It's not as odd as it seems, though, because just across the street from Charles is a bronze statue of Georges.

Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

13. louis vuitton flagship store.

It's expensive, it's always crowded with tourists, and you may have to wait in line to get in, but it's worth it to wander among some of the best-made luxury-label clothes you're ever going to see. Take some time to examine the craftsmanship and, if you dare, try something on.

• 101 Avenue des Champs-Elysées,

14. Gare Saint-Lazare

Gare Saint-Lazare is the only train station in the western part of Paris and it's right on the border between the 8th Arrondissement and the 9th. This quartier was the setting for a surprising number of Impressionist paintings, especially by Monet , who was intrigued with capturing on canvas the steam clouds emitted by the engines.

Today you head to Gare Saint-Lazare to catch trains to Mont-St-Michel, Dieppe, Le Havre, Caen, and Deauville, among other destinations. We were surprised to learn that it's the second-busiest train station in Paris.

• 13 Rue d'Amsterdam

15. Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire

Pierre Gagnaire's restaurant has been opened in this location on Rue Balzac since 1998, and has held three stars for almost that entire time. (He received two stars the year the restaurant opened, three stars ever since.) Found on a small side-street about as close as you can get the the Arc de Triomphe, it's a surprisingly quiet and calm enclave.

In the intervening years, Gagnaire has expanded his small empire by taking over two other restaurants in Paris — Gaya in St-Germain and the legendary Le Fouquet's on Champs-Elysées — as well as opening restaurants in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, but we think this is still his best, and one we cite as being worth a splurge.

• 6 Rue Balzac
• Website …

16. Brasserie Lorraine

It's a typical brasserie on Place des Ternes at the edge of the 8th, and it oozes Parisian dining with its elegant room, white tablecloths, professional service, and French specialties. It's not a restaurant you're going to read about in many best-of lists, but it's a pleasant place to dine if you're staying nearby. We like coming here for the terrace on the place and for the oysters.

• Place des Ternes

17. The Flame of the Statue of Liberty

The flame of the Statue of Liberty is found at Pont d'Alma on the Seine. This is a a full-sized, gold-leaf-covered replica of the flame found at the top of the torch on the statue in New York. The monument was the result of a campaign by the International Herald Tribune to celebrate its hundredth anniversary of publication in Paris, and the flame was dedicated in 1988. However, ever since Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in the tunnel beneath the quay in 1997 the flame has become a sort of unofficial memorial to her life.

The Highest-Rated Paris Activities

18. avenue montaigne luxury shopping.

The retail section of Avenue Champs-Elysées has somewhat been given over to tourist shopping, but there still are nice luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and Lancel. But Avenue Montaigne — between Place Franklin D. Roosevelt and the river — is to haute couture what the Louvre is to art.

Located in luxury townhouses, you'll find store after store of today's high fashion brands — Chanel (with two stores), Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Nina Ricci (showing the most beautiful lingerie in the world), Valentino, Prada, Bottega Veneta, another Louis Vuitton.

The Best Places to Stay in the 8th Arrondissement

The sheer number of luxury stores is a hint that there's also no shortage of luxury hotels in the 8th. In fact, here's where you find the highest concentration of 5-star and Palace hotels in Paris, all world-class accommodations.

Plaza Athénée

Gorgeous rooms, top-notch service and close to all of the best of Paris shopping, museums and monuments, Plaza Athénée pretty much defines luxury. And that's confirmed by the hotel's prestigious Palace rating, more luxe than five stars.

Royal Monceau Hotel

"Unforgettable luxury," a visitor has opined and the Monceau's Palace designation confirms that. Designed by Philippe Starck, this 8th Arrondissement hotel is a breath of fresh air compared to the old-fashioned Louis XIV feel of some other luxury hotels.

Hotel Lancaster

Occupying a 19th-century hôtel , the Lancaster has the feel of an elegant private mansion, and in a most serene way. In our review we say that "Zen" could be the Hotel Lancaster's middle name. Experience the art of living à la Française . And it's not just us. Travelers, too, rave about this 5-star hotel.

Hotel Champs Elysées Plaza

Generously-sized rooms with separate Jacuzzi baths and showers plus Hermés body care products all make for a luxurious stay in the 8th Arrondissement. We rate it Superb .

Hotel Francois 1er

This elegant hotel is just off Champs Elysées and close to the Louis Vuitton flagship store. It's the details make this Paris hotel special — a free glass of champagne, chocolate on your pillow… "After 18 trips to Paris, I finally found this little gem", enthused a recent visitor. For our part, we rate it Superb .

8th Arrondissement Resources

The Champs Elysées is the spine of the 8th Arrondissement, running its entire east-west length, from Place de la Concorde (in the east) to the Arc de Triomphe in the west, where the 8th, 16th, and 17th Arrondissements meet. Like other Paris arrondissements, the 8th is defined by the Seine and certain landmarks. The river is its southern border and landmark points are Place de la Concorde , Place de l'Alma , with its bridge and golden flame, the Arc, Place des Ternes , Place de Clichy , and the church of La Madeleine .

• Metro Line 1 runs along Champs-Elysées and can get you to many of the interesting spots of Paris since it traverses the entire city from east to west. Stations along Line 1 in the 8th are Concorde, Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau,Franklin D. Roosevelt, George V, and Charles de Gaulle-Etoile.
• Other Metro lines cross the 8th running more or less north and south. Lines 12 and 8 pass through Concorde. Line 13 through Clemenceau. Line 9 passes through Franklin D. Roosevelt. Etoile is also served by Line 2 and 6, forming arcs through the north and south of Paris respectively.
• A further three Metro lines intersect at St-Lazare — 3, 12, and 13.
• Theatre des Champs-Elysées at 15 Avenue Montaigne is where Stravinsky's revolutionary ballet Rite of Spring premiered in 1913. The outrage and resulting riot are the stuff of music legend. Today, you can still attend performances of classical music at the historic theatre.
• Both the Canadian Embassy in France and the US Embassy in France are located in the 8th Arrondissement.

Paris Planning Guides

Copyright © 2010-2023 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

• • April 2024 in Paris…
• • May 2024 in Paris…
• • June 2024 in Paris…
• • July 2024 in Paris…
• • August 2024 in Paris…
• • September 2024 in Paris…
• Paris Activities Month by Month
• Paris Olympics 2024
• Paris Events Calendar
• Museum Exhibitions Calendar
• Paris Ballet Calendar
• Paris Opera Calendar
• Christmas Day in Paris
• New Years Eve
• New Years Day in Paris
• Easter in Paris
• Valentines Day in Paris
• Bastille Day Celebrations
• Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
• Visiting The Eiffel Tower
• Eiffel Tower Information
• See all…
• The Arc de Triomphe
• The Panthéon
• The Bastille
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• La Sainte Chapelle
• Sacre-Coeur Paris
• Chateau de Versailles
• Palais Garnier Opera House
• Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
• Get the Most from Your Visit
• Masterpieces of the Louvre
• Paintings of the Louvre
• Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
• Musée de l'Orangerie
• Centre Pompidou
• Musée Picasso
• Rodin Museum Paris
• Cluny Museum Paris
• Arts et Metiers
• Guimet Asian Arts Museum
• Galliera Fashion Museum
• Versailles the VIP Way
• Versailles History & Highlights
• D-Day Landing Beaches
• Monet's Gardens at Giverny
• Mont Saint-Michel
• Monet + Van Gogh
• VIP Private Day Trips
• 10 Ways to Skip the Lines
• 9 Most Romantic Things to Do
• 5 Top Activities In The Marais
• Lunch & Brunch Cruises
• Cruises with Extras!
• The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
• Moulin Rouge
• Paris at Night
• Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
• The 6 Best City Tours
• Private Tours of Paris
• Champagne & Shows
• Top 10 Walking Tours
• Mysterious Walking Tours
• Shangri-La Paris
• Hotel George V Paris
• The Royal Monceau
• Le Cinq Codet
• Peninsula Hotel Paris
• Hotel Le Burgundy
• See all …
• 10 Best 4-Star Hotels
• Top 3-Star Hotels
• Best Airport Hotels
• Latin Quarter Hotels
• Left Bank Hotels
• Romantic Paris Hotels
• Best 2-Star Hotels in Paris
• Ibis Hotels
• Les Hotels de Paris
• Best Western Hotels
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Top 10 Food Experiences
• Paris Wine Tastings
• Chocolate Tours
• 10 Best Cheese Shops
• The Best Baguette in Paris
• Food Markets of Paris
• Le Jules Verne
• Jacques Faussat
• Restaurant Le Gabriel
• How to Choose a Restaurant
• The Best Paris Bars
• In the Marais
• On the Left Bank
• Historic Brasseries of Paris
• Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
• 6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
• See All…
• Best Paris Terraces
• Seine Dinner Cruise
• The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
• 5 Paris Itineraries
• Gardens & Parks
• Paris Hotels for Christmas?
• Best Restaurants in the 8th?
• Best Way To Visit Versailles?
• VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
• Burgundy Accommodations
• Napoleon's Paris
• Hemingway's Paris
• Medieval Paris
• 10 Tips For Visiting Paris
• 7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
• 13 Hidden Places In Paris
• Hidden Landmarks
• The Catacombs
• Pere Lachaise Cemetery
• Jardin des Tuileries
• Jardin des Plantes
• Palais Royal
• Rue des Barres in the Marais
• Waterfalls of Paris
• Arcades of Paris
• Airport Transfers
• Paris Airports
• Airport Taxis
• Train Travel From Paris
• Eurostar: London & Paris
• Paris Train Stations
• The Latin Quarter
• Saint-Germain-des-Pres
• Essential Facts for Visitors
• Taxes, Tipping & Etiquette
• What to Wear in Paris
• Maps of Paris
• The Paris Metro
• Paris Metro Tickets
• Paris Taxis
• Seine River Dinner Cruises
• Visiting Versailles
• Essential Day Trips

Home > 8th Arrondissement of Paris: Where To Eat, Play & Stay beyond the Champs Elysées

8th Arrondissement of Paris: Where To Eat, Play & Stay beyond the Champs Elysées

Introducing the 8th arrondissement of paris.

After wandering around the Eiffel Tower, let’s cross the Seine River to the Right Bank to explore one of the most elegant Arrondissements of Paris .

Chic stores, haute couture houses, and large art galleries at la Madeleine; Shopping and people watching along the Champs-Elysées; relaxation in the green enclosure of Parc Monceau. Welcome to the beautiful (and expensive!) 8th Arrondissement of Paris.

This elegant district delimited by the Seine River in the south, and also by Paris 16, Paris 17, Paris 9, and Paris 1, is the district of the Champs Elysées , Place de la Concorde , and Arc de Triomphe but of course, there is much more!

The 8th Arrondissement is divided into 4 neighborhoods: Champs-Élysées, Faubourg-du-Roule, Madeleine , and Europe.

From the Tuileries Gardens to the Champs Elysées

For many centuries, the grounds of the 8th Arrondissement were covered by the waters of the Seine River, a river much wider than today. Later, it became a marsh, which was sanitized and cultivated to provide Paris with fresh produce.

Everything started to change in the 17th century when Queen Regent Marie de Médicis decided to build in this area a long alley lined with trees – the Cours de la Reine . This alley was built on the historical axis used by the first Capetian Kings to go hunting in the forest from the Louvre Palace .

Later in 1667, King Louis XIV decided to open a path to facilitate the passage of the coaches going from the Tuileries Palace to the royal domain of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Palace of Versailles (at that time under construction). Inaugurated with the name Grand Cours (to distinguish it from Cours de la Reine), this new alley was designed by the landscape designer André Le Nôtre, and it corresponds to the current   Champs Elysées.

The current Place de la Concorde was arranged in the 18th century to host an equestrian statue of King Louis XV that celebrated his recovery from a terrible illness. The square was inaugurated in 1772 with the name Place Louis XV, and it was later an important stage of the French Revolution .

The Faubourg Saint-Honoré became an aristocratic place to live, with the construction of many private mansions: the Hôtel d’Evreux (now the Elysée Palace), the Hôtel de Beauvau, the Hôtel de Béthune-Charost, the Hôtel de La Vaupalière, and more. Begun during the 1st Empire, the Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836.

With the arrangement of Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysées, the west of Paris became in the 19th century a place of real estate speculation. Rich bankers, upper bourgeoisie, and politicians built magnificent private mansions around the Parc Monceau . Some of the mansions are today beautiful museums ( Musée Nissim de Camondo, Musée Cernuschi, Musée Jacquemart-André ).

Today the 8th arrondissement of Paris is both a tourist hotspot and one of the districts where the upper-middle class resides. It hosts many fancy shops, lesser-known covered passages , grand hotels, and many financial institutions and company headquarters. The 8th Arrondissement is also a place of power, home to the Élysée Palace (the residence of the French President) and the Ministry of the Interior, as well as seven embassies from G20 countries.

The District of the Champs Elysées

The 8th Arrondissement of Paris is also the district of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées . This elegant avenue designates both one of the most visited tourist areas and (for some) the most beautiful avenue of the capital.

The immense avenue des Champs-Élysées is the historical axis of the west of Paris, offering a long perspective born from the Louvre Palace, in which are aligned the equestrian statue of Louis XIV in the Napoleon courtyard of the Louvre, the Triumphal Arch of the Carrousel , the Tuileries Garden , the Luxor Obelisk , the Arc de Triomphe , and further west, (outside Paris) the Arche de la Défense .

The avenue inspired the creation of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) in 1917 and Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City (Mexico) in 1860.

Hotels 8th Arrondissement Paris

The 8th Arrondissement concentrates some of the most beautiful historic hotels in Paris , such as hotel Plaza Athénee , Hotel de Crillon , or Hotel Georges V .

Generally speaking, the hotels in the 8th Arrondissement tend to be more expensive than in other areas of Paris and it’s hard to find budget hotels (-100€ /night) in the 8th District of Paris.

As you make your bed, so you lie. Find the right accommodation in Paris 8 – whether it’s a hotel or guesthouse, holiday apartment, or private apartment. We have them all! Book your accommodation by using the map below.

A ROOM WITH EIFFEL TOWER VIEW

If you are traveling to Paris for a few days and you can afford it, why not treating yourself with a hotel with Eiffel Tower views ? Some of the best hotels in Paris 8 propose just that! If you prefer a home from home, there are also cute apartments with view of Eiffel Tower in Paris 8.

SUGGESTED HOTELS IN PARIS 8TH ARRONDISSEMENT

HOTEL PLAZA ATHENEE ; Paris 8, $$$$

Located in Avenue Montaigne, the Plaza Athénée is one of the most beautiful hotels in Paris. Active since 1913, this legendary hotel has welcomed royalty, celebrities, and politicians in their visit to the City of Lights. Apart from its lavish rooms, some with Eiffel Tower view, the hotel has a Dior spa, 5 restaurants, a cocktail bar, and a seasonal ice skating rink.

Click here for the Latest Prices

PLEY HOTEL : Paris 8, $$$

Conveniently located at rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, this recently renovated hotel offers comfortable rooms, a lounge area, and a buffet breakfast. We love the contemporary design and colors of the rooms and common spaces

HOTEL MASSENA : Paris 8, $$$

This cozy hotel is ideally located between the Opéra Garnier and the Madelaine Church. It offers contemporary rooms with comfortable beds, and some of them come with original wooden beams.

Click here for the best hotels in Paris 8

Top 8th Arrondissement Attractions

Without any further ado, let’s check the most interesting things to see and do in the chic 8th Arrondissement of Paris.

Click here to view this map on Google

1- The Champs Elysées –  Large sidewalks and gardens run alongside Paris’ most famous avenue, one of the main sights of Paris 8. Stroll down this Parisian avenue in a cosmopolitan atmosphere and enjoy its jovial, romantic ambiance.

2- Climb to the top of Arc de Triomphe –  Climb up to the top of Arc de Triomphe for a unique panorama of the Champs Élysées. Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon I to honor those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, this triumphal arch 55m high is inspired by the arches of Roman times. It also houses the tomb of the unknown soldier whose flame is rekindled every evening.

3- Relax at Parc Monceau –  this is a pleasant and elegant garden surrounded by beautiful private mansions, perfect for reading a book or a picnic in the grass.

4- Admire the Grand Architecture of Grand Palais and Petit Palais  – These magnificent palaces were built for the World Fair of 1900 and they host today temporary exhibitions. The Petit Palais (which is not that petit ), belongs to the City of Paris and their permanent exhibitions are always for free.

5- Visit the peaceful Chapelle Expiatoire  – this small chapel in Neoclassic style, was built during the Restoration in France to honor the memory of the Royal Family (King Luis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette) who lost their lives under the guillotine.

6- Explore the Golden Triangle, Haute Couture’s Home in Paris –   The golden triangle corresponds to the area delimited by avenues Montaigne, Champs-Élysées , and George-V , and it is home to wealthy families, businesses, grand hotels, and haute couture shops. The list of French haute couture boutiques in this area includes Hermès, Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent , or Louis Vuitton . Round off your shopping day with a top-notch cocktail at the Plaza Athénée , one of the most lavish luxury hotels in Paris.

7- Walk along the elegant Pont Alexandre iii –   This elegant bridge was also inaugurated on the occasion of the 1900 World Fair to connect the Invalides on the Left Bank to the Grand Palais and Petit Palais on the Right Bank. From the bridge, enjoy awesome views of these buildings and also one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower , with the Seine River in the foreground.

Unique Things to Do in Paris 8th Arrondissement

In our Paris Arrondissement Guides , we like to encourage people to beat the crowds and explore Paris beyond its main sights. Despite being one of the most touristy districts of Paris, there are many unique things to see and do beyond the classic stroll along the Champs Elysées.

Below, the list of unique things to do in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris we believe you shouldn’t miss:

8- A night of Music and Bubbles at Lido or Crazy Horse Cabarets –  a night in a Parisian cabaret is one of the most iconic things to do in Paris and the 8th Arrondissement is home to two of the most popular cabarets – the Lido Cabaret and the Crazy Horse – proposing two different kinds of shows with more or fewer feathers 😉 Lido or Crazy Horse? This Parisian Cabarets quick guide will help you decide.

9- Immerse yourself in the Belle Époque at Maxim’s –  the famous restaurant Maxim’s, at 3 rue Royale, is one of the symbols of the 1900s and the Belle Epoque in Paris. Enjoy exceptional dishes served in the sumptuous Belle Epoque atmosphere.

10- A selfie with the Giant Tulips – Particularly moved by the testimonies of support and friendship expressed by American citizens towards Parisians following the attacks of November 2015, the United States Ambassador to France, asked the artist Jeff Koons to design a work of art for the City of Paris. This bouquet of tulips located in the garden behind the Petit Palais is imagined as a “symbol of remembrance, optimism, and recovery” and makes a colorful background for a selfie in Paris.

11- Look for the Parisian Piece of the Berlin Wall – Few Parisians know that the city has a piece of the Berlin Wall, not far from Paris’ most famous avenue. This memorial located at Square de Berlin consists of a piece of the original Berlin Wall, a fountain, and a vegetal composition featuring a bear, the symbol of Berlin. The Square de Berlin was inaugurated in the year 2000, with the presence of the majors of Paris and Berlin.

12- Look for the masonic pyramid of Parc Monceau –  This quirky pyramid half-hidden in the Parc Monceau is the result of the work of a Masonic lodge. Indeed, Philippe d´Orléans, sponsor of the creation and arrangement of Parc Monceau, was Grand Master of the mason order Grand Orient de France. The room at its base once contained a statue of the goddess Isis. It was an Egyptian tomb!

13- Admire the historic boutique of Guerlain Boutique, on the Champs Elysées – Nope, our favorite building in the Champs Elysées is definitely not Ladurée but the boutique Guerlain , on the opposite side. Guerlain is one of Paris’ oldest parfumiers and its historic boutique is running at 68 avenue des Champs Elysées since 1914! The brand’s flagship store is one of the most beautiful Belle Epoque buildings in Paris, a listed historical monument. Step inside to admire a setting as precious as its legendary fragrances, the staff is always very kind!

14- Vintage Shopping at Marché aux Timbres – Vintage stamps and postcards aficionados will find their paradise on earth at Avenue Marigny, near the Champs Elysées. Le Marché aux Timbres takes place on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9 am to 7 pm.

8th Arrondissement Restaurants

Most of the restaurants in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris are upscale restaurants proposing French gourmet cuisine. The grand hotels of the 8th Arrondissement have on-site restaurants too, and some of them are run by Michelin starred chefs.

Don’t you know where to find the best restaurants in the 8th Arrondissement? Here, some of the best restaurants in Paris 8 proposing good French cuisine.

» Le 114 Faubourg, Le Bristol Paris –   114 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris. Le 114 Faubourg is the restaurant at Le Bristol Paris but you don’t need to sleep in the hotel to taste the excellent cuisine of this unique (yet affordable) brasserie. Le 114 Faubourg proposes traditional French cuisine (1 Michelin star). If you love pâtés, and the tartare de boeuf (one of the best in Paris!), this is THE place to go.

» Restaurant De Sers –    41 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie 75008 Paris. This beautiful and always well-rated address not far from avenue Georges V proposes French savory cuisine made with fresh produce, and a staff always attentive. The dishes are always beautifully presented, the restaurant’s spaces are stylish and there’s also a quiet and charming patio to eat during the beautiful days.

» La Table de Lucie –   29 rue d’Edimbourg 75008 Paris. This simple but cute address not far from Gare Saint-Lazare or Parc Monceau is perfect for a lunch break during your explorations in the 8th Arrondissement. The homemade cuisine is simple but delicious and they also have good wines.

Click here for more restaurants in Paris 8

Paris Eighth Arrondissement Directory

The Champs Elysées : avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris

Arc de Triomphe: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris

Parc Monceau : 35 boulevard de Courcelles, 75008 Paris

Petit Palais and Grand Palais: avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris

Chapelle Expiatoire: 29 rue Pasquier, 75008 Paris

The Golden Triangle: avenues Montaigne, Champs-Élysées, and George-V, 75008 Paris

Pont Alexandre iii: Pont Alexandre iii, 75008 Paris

Lido and Crazy Horse cabarets:  116 av, des Champs Elysées (Lido) and 12 avenue Georges V, 75008 Paris

Maxim’s:  7 rue Royale, 75008 Paris

Bouquet of Tulips: behind the Petit Palais, 75008 Paris

Berlin Wall: Berlin Square 75008 Paris

Historic Boutique Guerlain: 68 avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris.

Marché aux Timbres : avenue Marigny, 75008 Paris.

Want to Explore Beyond the 8th Arrondissement?

Click here for Other District Guides

Back to Homepage

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links. It costs you nothing more (in fact, if anything, you’ll get a nice discount) but helps us to go on creating incredible Paris content for you. We trust all products promoted here and would never recommend a product that isn’t of value. World in Paris is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no expense to you.

About WORLD IN PARIS

Quirky parisian explorers with a preference for lesser-known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the city of light read more about us ., we’re elisa, norbert, valérie, and cédric, four travel bloggers and friends living in paris. quirky explorers with a preference for the local side of our city and its lesser-known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of paris & around . do you want to go beyond the louvre museum or the eiffel tower keep clicking for first-hand information & our best tips learn more about us.

• Virginia Beach
• History & facts
• Famous people
• Famous landmarks
• AI interviews
• Science & Nature
• Tech & Business

Discover something new everyday

• Famous places
• Food & Drinks
• Tech & Business

Paris , Travel

8th Arrondissement of Paris: What to Do, What to See

Parc Monceau - by Daphné Be Frenchie - Unsplash

Read Next →

Paris - Food & restaurants

Top 20 non-touristy restaurants in Montmartre

Barcelona - Activities & Things to do

20 Best Thrift Stores of Barcelona (with map)

Paris - By month

10 Best Techno Clubs in Paris

Pont Alexandre III in the 8th arrondissement – by Moonik – Wikimedia Commons

Kick Back in the Parc Monceau

Parc Monceau – by Jmh2o – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening hours: monday to sunday — 7am to 9pm, address: 35 boulevard de courcelles, 75008 paris, france, metro station: monceau, find the cafe in the petit palais.

Petit Palais – by Calips – Wikimedia Commons

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday — 10am to 6pm

Address: avenue winston churchill, 75008 paris, france, metro station: champs-élysées – clemenceau, see what’s happening on the place de la concorde.

Place de la Concorde – by Para – Wikimedia Commons

Visit the Musée Jacquemart-André

Jacquemart-André Museum – by International Fertilizer Industry Association – Wikimedia Commons

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday — 10am to 6pm

Address: 158 boulevard haussmann, 75008 paris, france, metro station: miromesnil, walk the champs-élysées to the arc de triomphe.

Champs-Élysées – by Jebulon – Wikimedia Commons

Marvel at the Interior of the Gare Saint-Lazare

Gare Saint-Lazare – by Akiry – Wikimedia Commons

Have Tea in the Courtyard of the Plaza Athénée

Hotel Plaza Athénée – by Hotel Plaza Athénée – Sourced from their website

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !

These are  Amazon’s best-selling  travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

• The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –  Learn more here
• Fodor’s Paris 2024 –  Learn more here

Travel Gear

• Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –  Learn more here
• Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –  Learn more here
• Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –  Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.

Natalie is a film photographer and is fascinated by both humans and astrology. She enjoys roaming the streets of Paris by foot, and is inspired by the city’s timeless, Bohemian flair and the soul in districts such as Le Marais and Menilmontant.

Hello & Welcome

Popular Articles

Top 20 Streets to See in Paris

Paris in two days

Top 15 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower

The Best Way to Visit Paris Museums

Top 15 Fashion Stores in Le Marais

Visit europe with discover walks.

• Paris walking tours
• Montmartre walking tour
• Lisbon walking tours
• Prague walking tours
• Barcelona walking tours
• Private tours in Europe
• Privacy policy

© 2024 Charing Cross Corporation

• 1 Districts
• 2.1 History
• 2.2 Climate
• 3.1.1 Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Roissy)
• 3.1.2.1 Connect
• 3.1.3 Beauvais (Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé)
• 3.1.4 Airline shuttles
• 3.2 Private aviation
• 3.3.1.1 From Gare d'Austerlitz
• 3.3.1.2 From Gare de l'Est
• 3.3.1.3 From Gare de Lyon
• 3.3.1.4 From Gare Montparnasse
• 3.3.1.5 From Gare du Nord
• 3.3.1.6 From Gare Saint-Lazare
• 3.3.1.7 From Gare de Bercy
• 4.1 On foot
• 4.2.1 Using the Métro & RER
• 4.2.2 Fares
• 4.2.3 Access
• 4.3 By bus & tram
• 4.4 By boat
• 4.5 By bicycle
• 4.6 By electric scooter
• 4.7 By scooter or motorbike
• 4.8 On skates
• 4.10 By taxi
• 4.11 By chauffeur (Limo)
• 4.12 With children
• 6.1 Landmarks
• 6.2 Museums and galleries
• 6.3 General tips
• 6.4 Sightseeing passes
• 7.3 Photography
• 7.5 Theatres
• 7.6 With children
• 8.1 Culinary
• 10.1 Flea markets
• 10.2 Musical instruments
• 10.3 Artwork
• 11.1 Self-catering
• 11.2 Some specialities
• 11.3 Prices
• 11.4 Kosher dining
• 11.5 Vegetarian dining
• 11.6 Tourists and locals
• 13.1 Hotels
• 13.2 Apartment rentals
• 14.1.1 Theft in public transit
• 14.1.2 Theft in tourist hotspots
• 14.1.3 Scams
• 14.1.4 Danger for identifiably Jewish people
• 17.1 Airlines
• 17.2 Embassies

Paris , the cosmopolitan capital of France , is one of the largest agglomerations in Europe , with 2.2 million people living in the dense (105 km 2 ) central city in 2022, 10 million people in the Métropole du Grand Paris (814 km 2 ) and almost 13 million people living in the metropolitan area. In the centre-north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historic associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Dubbed the City of Light ( la Ville lumière ) and Capital of Fashion , it is home to some of the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics, such as Chanel , Christian Dior , Yves Saint-Laurent , Guerlain , Lancôme , L'Oréal , and Clarins . A large part of the city, including the banks of the Seine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The city has the second highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world (after Tokyo , which is much larger) and contains numerous iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower , the Arc de Triomphe , Notre-Dame de Paris , the Louvre , the Moulin Rouge and the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur , making it one of the most popular international tourist destinations in the world, with around 14 million tourists annually.

Districts [ edit ]

The city of Paris is divided into 20 districts called arrondissements , numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the city (which is known as Kilomètre zéro and is located at the front of Notre Dame). Arrondissements are named according to their number. You might, for example, stay in the "5th", which would be written as 5e in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large parks: the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne respectively.

The very best map you can get for Paris is called "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement" which you can buy for about €5 at any news stand. It makes navigating the city easy. The various tourist information centres and hotels in Paris also provide various city and metro maps for free and which contain all the essential details for a tourist.

Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveller:

Beyond Paris, the outlying suburbs are called La Banlieue . Schematically, those to the west of Paris ( Neuilly-sur-Seine , Boulogne-Billancourt , Saint Cloud , Levallois , Versailles , Poissy, Rueil-Malmaison) are wealthy residential communities, even if some more middle class suburbs can be found. Those to the north are poorer communities, and very ethnically diverse. Those to the south are a mix of rough and poor neighbourhoods alongside very affluent communities. Finally, those to the east are usually lower-middle class mingled with a few upper-middle class communities.

Understand [ edit ]

Due to high expectations, a tight schedule, language barriers and large crowds and long lines at certain attractions during high season, the city might disappoint some visitors. Foreign visitors who have an idealized view of Paris might be shocked by the typical challenges of visiting any large city; crime, traffic noise, pollution, garbage, and relatively high costs. In the worst case, visitors might experience the Paris syndrome ; a psychological state of delusion.

To enjoy the wonders of Paris, make realistic plans. The amounts of attractions and landmarks is overwhelming; visiting only the most famous ones (which can be overcrowded during major holidays) takes more than a week. The city also has more to offer for people who take time for a calm stroll along the backstreets. If your time in the city is short, be selective, and save some attractions for your next visit.

• Paris je t'aime . The website of the tourist office. ( updated Jan 2024 )
• SPOT24 , 101 quai Jacques Chirac, Paris 15th ( Metro: Bir-Hakeim (line 6); RER: Champ-de-Mars—Tour Eiffel (line C); Vélib': station 7023 ). Daily 10:00-18:00 . The City of Paris welcome centre also has an exhibition and shop. ( updated Jan 2024 )

History [ edit ]

Paris started life as the Celto-Roman settlement of Lutetia on the Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine now occupied by the Cathédrale de Notre Dame . It takes its present name from the name of the dominant Gallo-Celtic tribe in the region, the Parisii . At least that's what the Romans called them, when they showed up in 52 BCE and established their city Lutetia on the left bank of the Seine, in what is now called the "Latin Quarter" in the 5th arrondissement .

The Romans held out here for as long as anywhere else in the Western Empire, but by 508 CE they were gone, replaced by Clovis of the Franks , who is considered by the French to have been their first king. Clovis' descendants, aka the Carolingians, held onto the expanded Lutetian state for nearly 500 years through Viking raids and other calamities, which finally resulted in a forced move by most of the population back to the islands which had been the centre of the original Celtic village. The Capetian Duke of Paris was voted to succeed the last of the Carolingians as King of France , ensuring the city a premier position in the medieval world. Over the next several centuries Paris expanded onto the right bank into what was and is still called le Marais (The Marsh). Quite a few buildings from this time can be seen in the 4th arrondissement .

The medieval period also witnessed the founding of the Sorbonne. As the "University of Paris", it became one of the most important centres for learning in Europe—if not the whole world, for several hundred years. Most of the institutions that still constitute the University are found in the 5th , and 13th arrondissements .

In the late 18th century, there was a period of political and social upheaval in France and Europe, during which the French governmental structure, previously a monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights. Notable events during and following the revolution were the storming of the Bastille 4th arrondissements , and the rise and fall of Napoleonic France. Out of the violent turmoil that was the French Revolution, sparked by the still known Passion des Français , emerged the enlightened modern day France.

The Paris of today was built long after the Capetian and later the Bourbon Kings of France made their mark on Paris with the Louvre and the Palais Royal , both in the 1st . In the 19th century, Baron von Hausmann set about reconstructing the city, by adding the long straight avenues and replacing many of the then existing medieval houses, with grander and more uniform buildings.

New wonders arrived during La Belle Époque , as the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century is known. Gustave Eiffel's famous tower, the first metro lines, most of the parks, and the streetlights (which are partly believed to have given the city its epithet "the city of light") all come from this period. Another source of the epithet comes from Ville Lumière , a reference not only to the revolutionary electrical lighting system implemented in the streets of Paris, but also to the prominence and aura of Enlightenment the city gained in that era.

The twentieth century was hard on Paris, but thankfully not as hard as it could have been. Both world wars took a heavy toll on the city's inhabitants, but at least Hitler's order to burn the city was ignored by the German General von Choltitz, who was quite possibly convinced by a Swedish diplomat that it would be better to surrender and be remembered as the saviour of Paris, rather than its destroyer. Following the war, the city recovered quickly at first, but slowed in the 1970s and 1980s when Paris began to experience some of the problems faced by big cities everywhere: pollution, housing shortages, and occasionally failed experiments in urban renewal.

However, post-war Paris enjoyed considerable growth as a multi-cultural city, with new immigrants from all corners of the world, especially La Francophonie , including most of northern and western Africa as well as Indochina . These immigrants brought their foods and music, both of which are of prime interest for many travellers. Immigration and multi-culturalism continues in the 21st century with a marked increase in the arrival of people from Latin America, especially Mexico , Colombia , and Brazil . In the late 1990s, it was hard to find good Mexican food in Paris, whereas today there are dozens of possibilities from lowly taquerias in the outer arrondissements to nice sit-down restaurants on the boulevards.

Nevertheless, Paris remains a French city; bistros, baguettes, high-end fashion, art, accordions, Hausmann architecture, and all the stereotypes (whether good or bad) of France are alive and well in Paris. People from all over France flock to Paris for work, study, partying, and everything in between. After all, this IS the capital of France, so anything pertaining to France can be found here.

The 21st century has also seen vast improvements in the general livability of Paris, with the mayor's office concentrating on reducing pollution and improving facilities for soft forms of transportation including a huge network of cycle paths, larger pedestrian districts and new metro lines. Visitors who normally arrive car-less are the beneficiaries of these policies as much as the Parisians themselves, although tensions and doubts have emerged over the actual benefits of those measures.

Climate [ edit ]

Paris has an oceanic climate with moderately cold winters and warm summers. The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean helps to temper temperature extremes in much of western Europe, including France. Even in January, the coldest month, temperatures nearly always exceed the freezing point with an average high of 7 °C (45 °F). Snow is not common in Paris, although it can fall a few times per year. Most of Paris' precipitation comes in the form of light rain year-round. Daylight hours run from 08:45 until 16:45.

Summers in Paris are moderately warm and humid, with an average high of 25 °C (77 °F) during the mid-summer months. Occasional heat waves can push temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) and rarely even reach 35 °C (95 °F). The sun is up from 06:00 until almost 22:00.

Spring and fall are normally cool and wet.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Paris ( PAR  IATA ) is served by two international airports.

Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Roissy) [ edit ]

49.0098 2.5612 1 Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport ( CDG  IATA ) is the main airport of the city. It is north of Paris and is connected by train, bus and taxi. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.

Transit Summary: The RER train line "B" connects CDG airport to central Paris and is the fastest and most economical option for most travellers. Signs in the airport will direct you to the platform. Self-serve electronic kiosks sell tickets. The kiosks provide service in multiple languages, including English. Some trains will stop at each station along the way to Paris. Express trains with fewer stops are available during off-peak hours. The stations Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire are always served. Your ticket will allow you to transfer at one of the aforementioned stations to the Metro and other RER lines within Paris to complete your journey. The one-way trip costs €10.30 for adults, €7.20 for children aged 4–9, and free for children under 4.

Another option is the RoissyBus coach service that departs from all terminals and travels non-stop to Opéra (actually stops at 11 rue scribe, next to Place Charles Garnier, and not on Place de l'Opéra itself) in Central Paris, within easy walking distance of several stations: Opéra for Métro Lines 3, 7, 8; Auber for RER Line A; Chaussée d'Antin or Havre-Caumartin for Métro Line 9. It offers great value if you're travelling with lots of luggage; as of December 2023, a one-way ticket is €16.20. The buses are frequent, departing every 15 min during the day and every 20-30 min in the evening. Journey time is typically 60 minutes, but can take longer in heavy traffic.

If you arrive to CDG Airport at night you'll need a Noctilien bus to get to the city centre. The bus stops at all three terminals (in terminal 2F it will be the second level in the departure section, difficult to find, but it really exists). The bus leaves every 30 min after 00:30 (see timetable ). The buses you'll need are N140 and N143; the price is 2 T+ tickets (€4 if bought on board).

Orly International Airport [ edit ]

48.7294 2.3682 2 Paris Orly Airport ( ORY  IATA ), this older international airport is southwest of the city and is used mainly by Air France for domestic departures, and for several international departures, mostly towards destinations around the Mediterranean. It consists of two terminals: Terminal Sud (south) and Terminal Ouest (west) connected by light rail. The airport is connected with Paris by bus and light rail. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.

Orly is roughly 25-35 min from Paris via the OrlyBus , which departs from Métro Denfert-Rochereau (lines 4 and 6 of the Metro and RER line "B"); the price is €11.20 as of December 2023. There are buses every 8-15 minutes from the Orly Sud (Platform 4) and it stops at Orly Ouest on its way to the city. Tickets can be bought at a counter near the baggage claim area or directly at the counter in Platform 4. The tickets need to be validated once on the bus. Another option is tramway T7 that takes you to the Métro Villejuif - Louis Aragon (Metro 7) in 30 min, but it stops on the way and is designed for commuters and not for travellers. Tramway T7 costs a single T+ (metro/bus/tram) ticket and runs every 10 min, stopping at airport level -1. Passes covering zones 1–4 are accepted, except that Tickets Jeunes are not valid on Orlybus.

Via rail the airport can be reached by a southern branch of the RER-B line that heads from Paris in the direction of Massy-Palaiseau or Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse ( not Robinson). At Antony station RER-B line connects with the Orlyval light rail that carries passengers to both terminals of the airport. Orlyval runs every 4-7 min and costs €12.05 (as of 2019) for transfer to Paris, including connections to central area metro stations. The RER B from Antony runs through Paris to CDG. Public transport passes are not accepted on Orlyval (but Paris Visite is valid on Orlyval, and zone 1–3 passes are valid between Antony and Paris).

The Orly connection map shows you how you can go to Paris from the airport.

Connect [ edit ]

Wi-Fi Internet access is provided free of charge.

Beauvais (Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé) [ edit ]

49.4594 2.1139 3 Beauvais ( BVA  IATA ), north of the city, is a smaller regional airport that is used by some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and WizzAir. The airport operates a shuttle service to the Métro at Porte Maillot station. Buses run as early as 06:00. Buses leave 20 min after each flight arrives, and a few hours before each flight departs. A schedule can be found on the Beauvais Airport website . The journey will take about an hour in good traffic conditions, and costs €16.9 each way (Online) or €18 each way (Physically); there is no reduced price for children over the age of 2 years. Unless you hire a car this is the most realistic way to head toward Paris. The alternative is a train service between Gare du Nord and Beauvais, and a connecting shuttle or taxi to the airport. This journey costs more and takes longer. Missing the shuttle bus could mean a taxi fare well over €100.

Airline shuttles [ edit ]

Air France operates shuttles between Charles de Gaulle and Paris (€17), Orly and Paris (€12) and between the two airports (€20). Discounts apply for young/group travellers and online bookers. If you have connecting Air France flights that land and depart from different airports, you would still generally need to fetch your luggage after landing, catch either the Air France shuttle or a taxi (readily available at all airports) to the other airport and check-in again. This altogether could take up to 2 hours, particularly if traffic is at its worst. It is also common to lose time during disembarking, as passengers often need to get off on the tarmac and get on buses which will take them to the terminal. Be sure you have sufficient time between flights to catch your connection. Check-in counters usually close 30 min before the flight departs, longer if flights are international.

Private aviation [ edit ]

Paris Le Bourget Airport ( LBG  IATA ) is a 24-hour airport for private jets and business aviation 11 km northeast of Paris. Companies like Air Charter Advisors and Priority Jet offer access to a variety of aircraft rentals based at Le Bourget.

By train [ edit ]

Paris is well connected to the rest of Europe by train. There are seven terminus stations in central Paris and although they are not all in the same district, they are all connected to the Metro and RER networks. You will probably want to know in advance at which station your train is arriving, so as to better choose a hotel and plan for transport within the city.

• 48.8807 2.3546 4 Gare du Nord , ( 10th ), Métro: Gare du Nord - TGV trains to and from northern France (Lille, Amiens, Lens...), Thalys trains to Belgium , the Netherlands , and Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), and Eurostar to the United Kingdom ( London ).
• 48.842 2.3658 5 Gare d'Austerlitz , ( 13th ), Métro: Gare d'Austerlitz - regular trains to and from the center and southwest of France ( Orléans , Limoges , Toulouse the long way) and the majority of night trains.
• 48.8772 2.3593 6 Gare de l'Est , ( 10th ), Métro: Gare de l'Est - TGV to and from the Grand Est region (Strasbourg, Reims, Nancy, etc.), Luxembourg , ICE/TGV to and from south Germany ( Saarbrücken , Kaiserslautern , Mannheim , Frankfurt , Karlsruhe , Stuttgart , Augsburg , and Munich ), ÖBB Nightjet night trains to Germany ( Karlsruhe , Munich ) and Austria ( Salzburg , Vienna )
• 48.8443 2.3739 7 Gare de Lyon , ( 12th ), Métro: Gare de Lyon - regular and TGV trains to and from southern and eastern France: French Alps , Marseille , Lyon , Dijon , Switzerland ( Basel , Geneva , Lausanne , Bern , Zurich ), southwest Germany ( Freiburg im Breisgau ), and Italy ( Turin , Milan ).
• 48.83929 2.38283 8 Gare de Bercy , ( 12th ), Métro: Bercy . Regular trains to Auvergne and Burgundy .
• 48.8767 2.3249 9 Gare St Lazare , ( 8th ) Métro: St-Lazare - trains to and from Basse-Normandie , Haute-Normandie .
• 48.8402 2.3191 10 Gare Montparnasse , ( 15th ), Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe - TGV and regular trains to and from the west and south-west of France ( Tours , Brest , Rennes , Nantes , Bordeaux , Toulouse the fastest way, Hendaye ). Gare Vaugirard is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.

The SNCF (French national railway authority) operates practically all trains within France excluding the Eurostar to London, the Thalys to Brussels and onward to the Netherlands and Germany [dead link] , and some low-cost services such as Ouigo (although owned by the SNCF, it is considered as a separate brand). There are also a few local lines of high interest to tourists which are privately owned. All SNCF, Eurostar and Thalys tickets can be bought in railway stations, city offices and travel agencies (no surcharge). SNCF relies on travel agencies for selling tickets online, the main one being SNCF Connect and Trainline (easier to use). You can also find tickets in online and physical travel agencies. You can book and buy tickets up to three months in advance. There are significant discounts if you book weeks ahead. Reduced ticket prices are different for each day and each train and can be used only on the train the reservation is for. Trains between Paris and south Germany (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich) as well as the Marseille-Frankfurt TGV are jointly operated by SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, but each of the two operators will sell tickets at its own price! Make sure to check the price offered by each operator before you buy, or use Trainline since they automatically compare SNCF and DB prices.

There are a number of different kinds of high-speed and normal trains:

• TER : The regional trains ( Train Express Régional ); cheapest tickets, though prices are variable on the time of day of departure (and the day of departure as well). TER are sometimes slower, stopping at almost all stations. TER tickets bought at the train station are valid two months from the date indicated on the ticket, as long as you travel in the right fare period ("période bleue", the cheapest, "période blanche", for high-demand hours). There is no seat reservation, so arrive early enough or you may have to travel without a seat.
• Intercités : A bundling of the former Intercités , Téoz , and Lunéa train categories. There are two kinds: the regular trains, which are priced the same as the TER and the trains you'll find yourself on if you have a Eurail or InterRail pass and don't want to pay extra for reservations, and the trains à réservation obligatoire , which require a reservation and are priced differently from the regular Intercités trains.
• Intercités de nuit : Overnight trains from destinations to and from south of France, including Latour-de-Carol , Lourdes and Cerbère via Toulouse .
• TGV : The world-famous French high-speed trains ( Trains à Grande Vitesse ) run very frequently to the southeast Nice (5-6 hr), Marseille (3 hr) and Avignon (2.5 hr), the east Geneva (3hr) or Lausanne , Switzerland , Dijon (1 hr 15 min) and Strasbourg (1 hr 45 min), the southwest Bordeaux (3 hr), the west Rennes (2 hr) and the north Lille (1 hr). Thalys to Brussels (1 hr 20 min) use almost identical trains. Reservations are obligatory.
• ICE : German high-speed trains , operating most services between Paris and Frankfurt .
• Thalys : A high-speed train service running daily to/from the Netherlands , Belgium and Germany . Though it can be a bit expensive compared to normal trains, tickets can be cheap enough if you buy in advance. On-board service is usually very good.
• Eurostar : The Eurostar service connects Paris with London St. Pancras directly and Brussels indirectly, as well as many other destinations indirectly through the various west European rail services. Travel time between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International averages 2hr 15 min. Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid for this train, though pass holders can benefit from a reduced price. You must arrive at the station at least 90 minutes, and up to two hours, before the departure of the train to complete security and passport controls.
• Ouigo : A subsidiary of SNCF running TGVs with a second class only layout intended and marketed as a lower-cost service. Strict baggage limits and 30-minute check in times make them more like budget airlines.
• Trenitalia : Operates high-speed Frecciarossa trains between Paris, Lyon, Chambéry, Modane, Turin, and Milan. Prices can be cheaper than SNCF, Trainline automatically compares both options.

Transfer between train stations [ edit ]

From gare d'austerlitz [ edit ].

• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Bercy (15 min): Bus 24 to École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de l'Est (20 min):   5   , direction Bobigny.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Montparnasse (25 min):   10   direction Boulogne, change at Odéon for   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge. Alternatively, Bus 91 to Montparnasse, get off at Gare Montparnasse for the ticket office, local trains and most long-distance-trains; get off at the last stop Montparnasse 2–gare TGV if your train leaves from gare de Vaugirard or to reach the front carriages of TGV trains.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Lyon: it's a 5- to 10-min walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take Bus 91 in front of the station (on the same side of the street) towards Bastille and get off at Gare de Lyon–Diderot.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare du Nord (20 min):   5   direction Bobigny.
• Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Saint-Lazare (25 min):   10   direction Boulogne, change at Sèvres-Babylone for   12   direction Aubervilliers–Front Populaire; alternatively walk 10 min to Gare de Lyon then take   14   direction Gare Saint-Lazare.

From Gare de l'Est [ edit ]

• Gare de l'Est – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min):   5   direction Place d'Italie.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare de Bercy (25 min):   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge, stop at Châtelet , then   14   direction Olympiades, stop at Bercy .
• Gare de l'Est - Gare de Lyon (20 min):   5   direction Place d'Italie, stop at Quai de la Rapee and follow pedestrian signs to Gare de Lyon. Alternatively,   5   in the same direction to Bastille and then   1   direction Château de Vincennes to Gare de Lyon.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare du Nord (8 min):   5   direction Bobigny or Metro 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to climb set of stairs.
• Gare de l'Est - Gare Montparnasse (30 min):   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge.
• Gare de l'Est – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs)   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for   3   direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.

From Gare de Lyon [ edit ]

• Gare de Lyon – Gare d'Austerlitz: it's a 5- to 10-minute walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take bus 91 towards Montparnasse.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare de Bercy (15 mins): A free shuttle runs between the two every half hour if you have a SNCF train ticket including a transfer between these two stations. Alternatively,   14   direction Olympiades to Bercy.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare de l'Est (25 mins):   14   to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by   4   direction Porte de Clignancourt.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Bus 91 to Gare Montparnasse. Another option is   14   to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge.
• Gare de Lyon - Gare du Nord (20 min): RER A direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye/Cergy Le Haut/Poissy to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER B direction Aéroport Charles de Gaulle/Mitry Claye to Gare du Nord (on the other side of the platform); if the RER A is not working take RER D heading to Orry la Ville or Creil ; both will go to Gare du Nord.
• Gare de Lyon – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 mins):   14   direction Saint-Lazare.

From Gare Montparnasse [ edit ]

• Gare Montparnasse – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min):   4   direction Porte de Clignancourt, change at Odéon for   10   direction Austerlitz. Alternatively, take Bus 91 (a little faster unless it gets caught in traffic).
• Gare Montparnasse - Gare de Lyon (30 min):   4   to Chatelet, direction Porte de Clignancourt followed by   14   direction Olympiades
• Gare Montparnasse - Gare du Nord OR Gare de I'Est (30 min):   4   direction Porte de Clignancourt
• Gare Montparnasse – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min):   13   direction Asnières/Genevilliers or Saint-Denis. (   12   is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)

From Gare du Nord [ edit ]

• Gare du Nord – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min):   5   direction Place d'Italie.
• Gare du Nord - Gare de Bercy (25 min): Follow the directions for Gare de Lyon, then switch to   14   direction Olympiades to Bercy .
• Gare du Nord - Gare de l'Est (8 min):   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to descend a set of stairs.
• Gare du Nord - Gare de Lyon (20 min): RER D direction Melun/Malesherbes; alternatively, if the RER D is not operational, RER B direction Robinson/Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER A direction Marne-la-Vallée/Boissy-Saint-Léger to Gare de Lyon (this change only involves getting off the RER B train and getting on the RER A train on the other side of the same platform)
• Gare du Nord - Gare Montparnasse (30 min):   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge
• Gare du Nord – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs)   4   direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for   3   direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.

From Gare Saint-Lazare [ edit ]

• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min):   12   direction Mairie d'Issy, change at Sèvres-Babylone for   10   direction Austerlitz; alternatively   14   direction Olympiades to Gare de Lyon, then cross the Seine river to Gare d'Austerlitz (10 min walk).
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Bercy (20 min):   14   direction Olympiades.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de l'Est (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs)   3   direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for   4   direction Porte de Clignancourt.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Lyon (15 min):   14   direction Olympiades.
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare Montparnasse (15 min):   13   direction Châtillon–Montrouge. (   12   is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)
• Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare du Nord (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs)   3   direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for   4   direction Porte de Clignancourt.

From Gare de Bercy [ edit ]

For most train stations, take the   14   to Gare de Lyon and follow the directions given from Gare de Lyon.

• Gare de Bercy – Gare d'Austerlitz (15 min): bus 24 towards gare Saint-Lazare.

By bus [ edit ]

While domestic bus lines were tightly regulated until 2015, they no longer are, and this has led to a heavily competitive and fast growing market. Companies that serve Paris are:

• 48.83835 2.38258 11 Blablacar Bus ( OUIBUS ), 48 bis Boulevard de Bercy, 75012 Paris ( Next to Gare de Bercy at the southside ). A subsidiary of the SNCF, offering routes between Paris and London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan, Turin, along with other cities and towns in France. ( updated Mar 2022 )
• 48.83606 2.37965 12 Flixbus ( Next to Quai de Bercy, access through the Parc de Bercy. ), ☏ +49 30 300 137 300 , [email protected] . Originally a German company, they serve many routes in and out of Paris, both domestic and international with destinations in Germany, Belgium or even London. Note that although their main hub is Bercy Seine, some buses also go to other places in Paris. ( updated Feb 2019 )
• 48.87839 2.36179 13 Regiojet , bus stop along Rue du Faubourg near Château-Landon Metro stop ( Next Gare de l'Est ), ☏ +420 222 222 221 , [email protected] . A Czech company, offers connections to Paris from Prague and via Prague from Berlin and other cities. Good service and economical. ( updated Jul 2018 )

By car [ edit ]

It is advised not to drive within Paris and to be wary in the metropolitan area. It is better to drive to a suburban train station with a parking lot and then use the train to continue your trip throughout Paris. Most of Paris' roads were created long before the invention of automobiles. Traffic inside the city tends to be heavy, especially at rush hour; driving, however, may be rather easy and efficient in the evening. Parking is also difficult. Furthermore, the medieval nature of parts of the city's street system makes it very confusing, and traffic will almost never allow one to stop or slow down to get one's bearings. If you are unfamiliar with the streets and still insist on driving in the city, make sure you have a navigator in the passenger seat with you. However, Paris does have several iconic boulevards that have multiple lanes, form the backbone of the city’s road network, and are useful if you do choose to bring a car — and are tourist attractions onto themselves.

In Paris, there are many car rental agencies offering a large number and wide range of vehicles for rental. Additionally, there are numerous car rental agencies located off-site which provide free airport transfers from their location and may offer lower prices well.

Get around [ edit ]

The best and cheapest way to get around Paris is on foot, and secondly, using the Metro which is €2.10 for a one-way trip of any length.

On foot [ edit ]

Walking in Paris is one of the great pleasures of visiting the City of Light. It is possible to cross the entire city in only a few hours, but only if you can somehow keep yourself from stopping at numerous cafés and shops. In fact within a few years walking combined with biking and the Metro may be the only way to get around the very centre of Paris as plans develop to reduce access to cars in the city centre.

The smartest travellers take advantage of the walk-ability of this city, and stay above ground as much as possible. A metro ride of less than 2 stops is probably best avoided since walking will take about the same amount of time and you'll be able to see more of the city. That said, pay attention to the Métro stations that you may pass by on your journey; the Métro network is very dense within the city and the lines are virtually always located directly underneath major boulevards, so if you become lost it is easy to regain your bearings by walking along a major boulevard until you find a Métro station.

You may have heard of the hazard of walking into dog droppings in Paris. The problem is now virtually nonexistent due to fines as high as €180 and extensive street cleaning operations.

It's always fun to experience the city by foot, and there are numerous walking tours around Paris, whether self-guided (with the help of a guidebook or online guide) or with a touring guide (booked through your travel agency or hotel). The city is best explored by foot, and some of the most marvelous memories you will have of Paris is walking through secret found places.

Pedestrian call buttons at crosswalks are activated by pressing the button underneath the call button box.

By Métro & RER [ edit ]

Paris has an excellent underground train system, known as the Métro (short for Chemin de fer métropolitain , Metropolitan Railway). Although you will probably take the RER suburban train from the airport to Paris, don't be confused: RER is a French-language acronym that translates to "Regional Express Network," and is the suburban train network mostly used by commuters.

Using the Métro & RER [ edit ]

Look for the Métro stations, marked with a large "M" sign or with an old-styled sign saying "Métropolitain".

There are 17 Métro lines ( lignes ) ( 1 - 14 , 3bis , and 7bis ) on which trains travel all day at intervals of a few minutes. Trains usually come 2–3 minutes apart during rush hour and 5–10 minutes apart during other times, depending on the line. The service starts on each end of every line at 05:30, and the last metro arrives on each end at 01:15 (service ends an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights, and the day before a holiday), stopping at all stations on the line. Some lines have rare trains that terminate at an intermediate station; if that happens, get off the train with the rest of the crowd and board the next train on the same track or on the other side of the platform (the driver will usually make an announcement in French). Lines 7 and 13 have a fork, so if you take line 13 north of La Fourche or line 7 south of Maison Blanche , make sure to board the train for the correct destination which is indicated by a lit arrow on the sign in the middle of the platform and on colour-coded binders in each carriage. Times for trains can be seen on an electronic scroll board above the platform. Scheduled times for first and last trains are posted in each station on the centre sign. Generally, except for early and late hours, travellers should not worry about specific Metro train times; just get to your station and take the next train.

The lines are named according to the names of their terminal stations (the end of the line). If you ask the locals about directions, they will answer something like: take line number n towards "end station 1", change at "station", take the line nn towards "end station 2" etc. The lines are also colour-coded.

Changing metro lines might be difficult at times for visitors travelling to or from the airport or train stations with heavy luggage or those with impaired mobility, especially at major metro intersections. Moving from one platform to another generally involves walking up and down multiple flights of stairs. Very few stations have elevators (only the newest line 14 is wheelchair-accessible at all stations). Only the busiest ones have escalators. It might be a good idea to check out the bus routes and timings and see if one can find a convenient bus connection.

In addition, there are five commuter train lines that cross Paris: RER A, B, C, D, and E. RER trains run at intervals varying from about 3 minutes (RER A) to 6 minutes (RER D), and stop at every station within Paris. The rest of the regional network, called "Transilien", departs from the main train stations (Lyon for line R, Est for line P, Nord for lines H and K, St-Lazare for lines J and L, Montparnasse for line N) and La Défense (line U). Trains can run up to every 5 minutes during rush hour, and you will never have to wait for more than 1 hour between two trains, even on the least served lines in the evening or on the weekend. Do note that the Transilien is marginally less crowded than the RER and even the Metro.

RER and Transilien will stop at every station within Paris (zone 1), but may skip stations outside Paris, so if you're going to the suburbs make sure your RER stops where you need! Information about the stops to be made by the next incoming train is presented on a separate board also hanging from the ceiling.

RER and Transilien trains do not have publicly announced numbers unlike the rest of SNCF network; the four letter codes (COHI, ELAO, QYAN, VICK, etc.) take the role of the train numbers instead; the first letter indicates the station where the train terminates, and the other three indicate the route and stops. Each line has its own nomenclature. You can look up what these codes mean on information panels in the station, but the easiest and fastest way is often to check the information screens along the platforms.

The Métro and RER move staggering numbers of people into, out of, and around Paris (6.75 million people per day on average), and most of the time in reasonable comfort. Certain lines, however, are operating at or near capacity, sometimes being so full that you'll have to let one or two trains pass before being able to board. If you can help it, avoid Métro lines 1, 4, and 13 and RER line A and B during rush hours as these are the most congested lines in the system.

RATP operates the metro, buses, and about half of the RER A and B. The rest of the RER, as well as Transilien, is operated by SNCF. However, both companies take the same tickets, so the difference is of little interest for most people except in case of strikes (RATP may strike without SNCF doing so or the other way round). You will also see reference to Île-de-France Mobilités , the authority that controls and coordinates the different transport companies operating in the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris. It provides information for all public transport services operating in the region including all ticket options.

Fares [ edit ]

The Île-de-France region is divided into 5 concentric zones for fare purposes. Paris represents zone 1, all of Paris' immediate neighbours (including Vincennes and Saint-Denis) are in zone 2, La Défense is in zone 3, Orly and Versailles are in zone 4, and Fontainebleau, Provins, Disneyland and Charles de Gaulle airport are in zone 5. The few stations outside Île-de-France that are served by the Transilien system are " hors tarification Île-de-France ", meaning it is necessary to buy a special fare not affected by the zonal system.

Stations have both ticket windows and ticket machines. The ticket machines accept credit cards or coins but only some take notes. To use euro bills or a credit card with a magnetic stripe, it is necessary to make the purchase from the ticket window. Some ticket machines do not give change, so use exact change or go to the ticket window. If you look at the ticket machines closely you may find one in the group that takes euro bills and will give change, these machines can be found at major stations such as Tuileries, Gare de Lyon or La Défense-Grande Arche.

A single Ticket t+ allows you to:

• Make a metro/RER trip, with as many connections as you want between them, during 90 minutes, as long as you don't exit the network (there are a few exceptions where you can exit and enter the system reusing the same ticket). While you can reach any metro station regardless of its zone, you're ONLY allowed to reach RER stations that are within zone 1. The limit of validity on the RER is shown on public transport maps as a line break with a ʃ symbol.
• Make a bus/tram trip, with as many connections as you want between them, during 90 minutes, regardless of the zonal system. You need to validate your ticket every time you get on a new bus or tram. Roissybus and Orlybus are exceptions, and cannot be used with this ticket. Please note that tickets are no longer sold on buses.

A single paper Ticket t+ costs €2.10.

A single paper Origin-Destination Ticket allows you to make a journey beyond (and including) zone 1. Price is distance-based and capped at €5 (except to/from Charles de Gaulle airport). You can also purchase a carnet of 10 (20% discount). Tarif réduit tickets may be purchased for children under the age of 10 (50% discount for a single, 60% discount for a carnet of 10). If your Origin-Destination Ticket leaves from or goes to zone 1, or includes a transfer " via section urbaine ", you can also connect with any metro or RER lines downtown before/after your main trip. In particular, the airports and the Versailles Palace are not within zone 1, so you'll need to purchase Origin-Destination Tickets to reach these locations.

The Navigo Easy Travel Card is a smart card that stores Ticket t+ (Origin-Destination Tickets will be available soon). The card is available at ticket windows and some ticket machines for €2, no ID or photograph required. The card can be topped up at ticket windows, all ticket machines or via smartphones using the Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP apps. A single ticket costs €1.90 (cheaper than the paper version). A carnet of 10 tickets costs €16.90 (cheaper than buying single tickets). Tarif réduit tickets may be purchased for children under the age of 10 but only in a carnet of 10 for €8.45.

The Navigo Découverte Travel Card is a smart card that stores Weekly or Monthly Tickets, but not Ticket t+ or Origin-Destination Tickets. The card is available at ticket windows for €5, you will need to write your name and put a photo on it otherwise it will be considered invalid. The card can be topped up at ticket windows, all ticket machines or via smartphones using the Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP apps. The Weekly Ticket costs €30 for all zones (you can buy tickets for the current week up till Thursday inclusive. Tickets bought from Friday onwards are valid from the following Monday. Ticket validity always ends at midnight on Sunday). The Monthly Ticket costs €84.10 for all zones (will have to start on the 1st day of the month). You can choose between zones 2–3, 3–4, 3–5, 4–5, or "all zones", but most visitors to Paris will simply choose "all zones". Weekend travel is free throughout the entire Île-de-France region for passengers holding a Monthly Ticket, despite which zones are covered during the week. Weekly and Monthly Tickets allow you to reach Orly (zone 4) or Charles de Gaulle (zone 5) airports with any public transit line, except for Orlyval light-rail to Orly airport where it's not valid.

All Navigo cards can store a Day Ticket , allowing unlimited travel on the metro, RER, Transilien, bus and tram networks between 00:00 and 23:59 on any given day. The price varies depending on the zones you wish to cover. Prices range from €8.45 (zones 1-2) to €20.10 (zones 1-5). It is NOT valid on Orlyval, but it is valid on other airport links (RER B, Roissybus, RER C, Orlybus) if the pass includes the appropriate zones.

For travellers under the age of 26, all Navigo cards can store a Jeunes Week-end Under-26 Ticket , allowing unlimited travel on the metro, RER, Transilien, bus and tram networks between 00:00 and 23:59 on weekends or holidays. The price varies depending on the zones you wish to cover. Zones 1-3 is €4.60, zones 1-5 is €10.10 and zones 3-5 is €5.90. It is NOT valid to/from the airports on RER B, Roissybus, Orlybus or Orlyval, but it is valid on local links such as T7 and RER C to Orly and bus 350 or 351 to Roissy.

For travellers with an Android, tickets can be purchased and validated using your smartphone. This method removes the need to purchase a physical Navigo Easy (€2) or Navigo Découverte (€5). Ticket t+, Day, Weekly, Monthly or Jeunes Week-end Under-26 Tickets are available (Origin-Destination Tickets will be available soon). Purchase your tickets via the Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP apps. Validate your tickets by holding your smartphone to the Navigo card reader.

For travellers with an iPhone, tickets cannot (yet) be purchased and validated using your smartphone.

RATP and SNCF sell passes dedicated to tourists called Paris Visite , more expensive than the one they offer to locals, but they do include something more (a map, and some discounts on selected attractions). Depending on which attractions you consider visiting, it can be an attractive option... or not. Although not as good a deal for adults in most cases as the Navigo Day Ticket, the Paris Visite passes might still be a bargain for kids of ages 4–11 for trips on Monday-Friday (when the Jeunes Week-end is not valid), starting at €6.75 (child 4-11) per day for travel within zones 1–3. The zone 1-5 ticket (adult €28.50 per day) is valid on Orlyval but there are cheaper ways of getting from Orly airport.

Beware that traveling without a ticket will get you fined, and the packs of inspectors who roam the system show no mercy to tourists pleading ignorance. Keep your ticket with you at all times as you may be checked. You will be cited and forced to pay on the spot if you do not have a ticket. The most likely spots for being checked are just behind the turnstiles at big métro stations or during métro line changes ( correspondances ). RATP agents may be present in the métro stations even on Sunday nights.

Access [ edit ]

Some larger stations have secondary entrances, where there is no ticket booth. These are labelled voyageurs munis de billets (passengers with tickets).

When entering the turnstile with a ticket or Navigo card, it will only work once for that particular station and can only be reset if you use it at another station. Once you have passed your ticket or Navigo card, promptly move through the turnstile as it will not let you through if you attempt to use it again.

Each station displays a detailed map of the surrounding area with a street list and the location of buildings (monuments, schools, places of worship, etc.,) as well as exits for that particular metro. Maps are located on the platform if the station has several exits or near the exit if there is only one exit.

Except for Métro 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, and 14, the doors will not open automatically. In such a case, there are handles or buttons located both inside and outside the train that you have to push or unlatch in order to open the door. Many locals may try to squeeze into the trains after the alarm has sounded to signal the closing of the doors. While one can occasionally pass through on lines with a driver, the automatic doors on Métro 1 and 14 will continue to close despite the presence of a limb or article of clothing. It is strongly advised to wait for the second train than to chance being caught between the doors.

Strikes, breakdown and construction are regular occurrences on the Paris public transit system. Generally during a strike, the métro operates with reduced service and some suburban lines may stop operating altogether. Visit the RATP and Transilien websites for information on which routes are affected (beware that real-time traffic information and construction announcements are often available only on the French-language sites).

By bus & tram [ edit ]

Since the Métro is primarily structured around a hub-and-spoke model, there are some journeys for which it can be quite inefficient, and in these cases, it is worth seeing if a direct bus route exists, despite the complexity of the bus network. A bus ride is also interesting if you want to see more of the city. All stops have a name and are clearly marked on the street. At complex intersections, stops usually have a situation map that lets you know where other lines stop and if applicable where to find a Métro entrance. If more than one line stops, wave to the driver to let them know you want to board. All buses have a schematic map of the line on display with all stop names, bus connections and major street names. Electronic displays inside each bus tell riders its current position and what stops remain, but don't overly rely on them as they don't always work.

Buses and trams use the same tickets and Navigo as the Métro. A ticket is valid for 90min after its first validation, except that you may not backtrack. Just put the ticket in the machine again when you change buses. You cannot buy a ticket from the bus driver, and SMS ticket can only be bought with a French mobile phone number. You can't use a single ticket for a combined Métro+bus trip: if a ticket has been used in a bus, you can't use it in the Métro, and vice versa.

Most tourists will not encounter the trams as they run only on the outskirts of the city. Trams T3a & T3b go nearly three quarters of the way round the city at the edge. Tram 7 connects Orly Airport with Métro Line 7; it is cheap but not fast.

Noctilien , night buses run regularly through the central hub at Chatelet to outlying areas of greater Paris. There is also a circle line connecting the main train stations. It pays to know one's Noctilien route ahead of time in case one misses the last Métro home. Women travellers should probably avoid taking the Noctilien on their own to destinations outside Paris.

By boat [ edit ]

There are several excellent boat services which make use of the Seine. As well as providing easy, cheap transport to much of central Paris, excellent photo opportunities abound. You can buy a day or 3 day ticket and hop on and off the boat as needed. The boats take a circular route from the Eiffel Tower, down past the Louvre, Notre Dame, botanical gardens then back up the other bank past Musée d'Orsay. Batobus offers a regular shuttle service between the main tourist sights (closed Jan); other companies such as the famous Bateaux Mouches offer sightseeing cruises.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport and an excellent way to see the sights. Riding a bike anywhere in the city is far safer for the moderately experienced cyclists than almost any town or city in the United States. The French are very cognizant of cyclists, almost to a point of reverence. Paris hasn't always been the easiest place to get around by bike, but that is no longer the case. The city government has taken a number of steps in strong support of improving the safety and efficiency of the urban cyclist as well, in establishing some separated bike lanes, creating a bikesharing system, and allowing cyclists to share the ample bus lanes on most major boulevards. Paris also has many riverside paths which are perfect for cycling. The Paris bike network now counts over 150 km of either unique or shared lanes for the cyclist. In addition, the narrower, medieval side streets of the central arrondissements make for rather scenic and leisurely cycling, especially during off-hours of the day when traffic is lighter. Do remember to bring a good map, since there is no grid plan to speak of and almost all of the smaller streets are one-way.

While the streets of Paris are generally fairly easy on novice cyclists, there are some streets in the city that should be avoided by those who do not have sufficient urban cycling experience. Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Bastille, and Place de la Nation are particularly hairy, especially during weekdays and the Saturday evening rush, and should not be navigated by anyone not confident in their ability to cycle in heavy traffic. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place de l'Étoile, and voie Georges Pompidou (the lower-level express lanes along the banks of the Seine) should be avoided at all times.

You can find an excellent map of the bike network called Paris à vélo - Le bon plan [dead link] ) at the information centre in the Hôtel de Ville .

• Vélib' , ☏ +33 1 76 49 12 34 . In January 2018, the original Vélib' was replaced by a new system called Vélib' Métropole, that encompasses an ever larger area than the previous one. At first there were some technical issues, but by the end of 2018 it seems like they were mostly resolved. Bikes include a screen showing eg. how long a bike has been rented. Some electric bikes are also available (for an extra fee). €5 per day, first half hour free . ( updated Feb 2019 ) You can purchase the Vélib pass online. An app helps finding stations and available parking slots. Green Vélib bikes are normal bikes, blue Vélibs are ebikes.

By electric scooter [ edit ]

Like many cities, Paris was in 2018 more or less flooded with free-floating electric scooters which you can rent through an app. You'll find them whizzing around and standing nearly everywhere. Examples include Bird and Lime , but several other brands are also available. If you take one, make sure to park it in a place where it doesn't obstruct any other foot or motorized traffic.

By scooter or motorbike [ edit ]

Paris is an incredibly open city, with its many "Grands Boulevards" and monuments with large open spaces around make it a city perfect to be explored and viewed by scooter. Be warned that scooter/motorbike is by far the mode of transportation with the most casualties in Paris: half of victims of a collision were riding one, although they only account for about 2% of the traffic. When you're riding a scooter or motorbike in Paris, even if you see others doing so, it is not allowed to "lane-split" between the rows of cars waiting in traffic. At the red lights, even though a lot of scooter and motorbike drivers do not respect it, don't forget to pay attention to the bike designated area: you are not allowed to use them, and doing so is equivalent to failing to respect the red light (€135 fine). Parking-wise there are plenty of deux roues (two wheel) parking spots all over the city. Again, even though you may see plenty of scooters or motorbikes parked on the sidewalk, it is forbidden to do so. The city of Paris has dramatically increased the number of vehicles fined every day (€35), some of them even being towed away (at your own expenses).

• Paris By Scooter , (Scooter always delivered to your hotel) , ☏ +33 6 28 35 39 30 , [email protected] . 08:00-21:00 . All Vespa scooter rentals and Paris guided City tours include the collect and picked up from, your hotel in Paris. From €60 .  
• Left Bank Scooters ( Scooter delivered to your hotel ), ☏ +33 6 78 12 04 24 . 08:00-20:00 . Scooter rental that is delivered to, and picked up from, your hotel in Paris. All scooter are Vespas, 50cc or 125cc available. Must have a car license to rent the 50cc, and a motorcycle license to rent the 125cc. From €60 .  
• [formerly dead link] Ride'n'Smile ( Scooter delivered to your hotel ), ☏ +33 6 64 30 80 13 , [email protected] . 10:00-19:00 . City tours by 50cc Vespa scooters delivered and picked up from your hotel. Driving licence required for drivers. From €39 . ( updated Apr 2017 )

On skates [ edit ]

Paris is a hub for city skating. This is due to the large, smooth surfaces offered by both the pavements and the roads. Skating on the pavement is legal all around Central Paris (zone 1) and its suburbs (zones 2+).

In a word: don't . It is generally a very bad idea to rent a car to visit Paris. Traffic is very dense during the day, and parking is, on average, exceedingly difficult and expensive. This is especially true in areas surrounding points of interest, since many of these are in areas designed long before automobiles existed. A majority of Parisian households do not own cars, and many people who move to the city find themselves selling their cars within a month or two.

That said, driving may be an option for going to some sights in the suburbs such as Vaux-le-Vicomte castle or the castle and city at Fontainebleau , or for starting to other places in France. You may prefer to rent from a location outside Paris proper.

Traffic rules in Paris are basically the same as elsewhere in France, with the exception of having to yield to incoming traffic on roundabouts. However, driving in dense traffic in Paris and suburbs during commute times, can be especially strenuous. Be prepared for traffic jams, cars changing lanes at short notice, and so on. Another issue is pedestrians, who tend to fearlessly jaywalk more in Paris than in other French cities. Be prepared for pedestrians crossing the street on red, and expect similar adventurous behaviour from cyclists. Remember that even if a pedestrian or cyclist crossed on red, if you hit him, you (in fact, your insurance) will have to bear civil responsibility for the damages, and possibly prosecution for failing to control your vehicle. Note that the speed limit in Paris is 30 km/h in almost every street, besides a few large avenues clearly marked as such.

Paris has several orbital roads. There is a series of boulevards named after Napoleonic-era generals ( Boulevard Masséna , Boulevard Ney , and so forth), and collectively referred to as boulevards des Maréchaux . These are normal wide avenues, with traffic lights. Somewhat outside of these is the boulevard périphérique , a controlled-access road with grade separation. The périphérique intérieur is the inner lanes (going clockwise), the périphérique extérieur the outer lanes (going anti-clockwise). Despite the looks, the périphérique is not an autoroute : the speed limit is 70 km/h and, very unusually, incoming traffic has the right of way, at least theoretically (presumably because, otherwise, nobody would be able to enter during rush hour).

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are comparatively cheap especially at night when there are no traffic jams to be expected. There are not as many as one would expect, and sometimes finding a taxi can be challenging. In the daytime, it is not always a good idea to take a taxi, as walking or taking the metro ( See: Métro ) will often be faster. If you know you will need one to get to the airport, or to a meeting, it is wise to book ahead by phone.

The initial fare is €2.40 and the meter increases by around €1.10 each kilometer and around 50 cents each minute spent at red lights or in traffic jams. Fares are fixed by the city law and every driver complies with them. Fares vary according to the day of the week, the hour of the day and the area you're crossing.

If you call a taxi, the meter starts when you call and not when you get in. You should expect a €5 to €10 fare on the meter when the taxi arrives after you call it.

Remember if a taxi is near a 'taxi station', they're not supposed to pick you up except at the station where there may be people waiting for a taxi. Taxi stations are usually near train stations, big hotels, hospitals, and large crossings.

There are a number of services by which you can call for taxis or make a reservation in advance. The two largest fleet are Taxis G7 and Taxis Bleus:

• Taxis G7 , ☏ +33 1 47 39 47 39 .  
• Taxis Bleus , ☏ +33 891 70 10 10 .  

As in many other cities a taxi can be difficult to stop; you may have to try several times. When you do get a taxi to stop, the driver will usually roll down his window to ask you where you want to go. If the driver can't (or doesn't want to) go where you want, he might tell you that he's near the end of his work day & can't possibly get you where you want before he has to go off-duty.

There is a €6.40 minimum (2012) on all taxi rides, mandated by city law, but the meter does not show this amount, which can result in being asked to pay more than the metered amount on short rides. In Paris taxis are required by law to charge for the trip with a meter, charging a flat rate is illegal, except from/to Charles de Gaulle airport (€50 from the right bank of the Seine, €55 from the left bank) and Orly airport (€35 from the right bank, €30 from the left bank). Frequently the taxi driver will not want to drive you all the way to the doorstep, but will prefer to let you out a block or so away if there are one or more one-way streets to contend with. Try to look at this as a cost-savings rather than an inconvenience. You should pay while still seated in the cab as in New York and not through the front window London style.

The driver will not let you sit in the front seat (unless there are 3 or 4 of you, which is a rare case usually expedited by more money). Taxi-drivers come in all types, some nice, some rude, some wanting to chat, some not. Smoking in taxis is generally not allowed, however it might be that the taxi driver himself wants a cigarette in which case the rule might become flexible.

Many drivers prefer that you avoid using your cellphone during the ride; if you do have to, make an apologizing gesture & sound, and do make a short call.

• A tip is included in the fare price; If you're especially satisfied with the service, you can give something (basically 10%), but you don't have to.
• There is an extra charge for baggage handling.

If for any reason you wish to file a complaint about a Paris taxi, take note of the taxi's number on the sticker on the left hand backseat window.

Beware of illegal taxis (see the 'Stay Safe' section).

By chauffeur (Limo) [ edit ]

Known as car services or livery cabs, these cars are not allowed to cruise the street or airports for fares. You need to book them before they can pick you up. They are flat rate rather than metered ( ask for the fare before getting in ), and there are two types of licence: the "Grande Remise" that allows the car & driver to pick-up & drop-off passengers anywhere in France, and the "carte verte" that allows pick-up & drop-off in the department or region where the company is based. The Grande Remise cars have a GR on their front plate. They provide more service than a normal cab.

You can find two kinds of cab: private and shared.

• Shared shuttle: You have to share the shuttle with other customers. They can be delayed since the shuttle needs to pick up other customers and perhaps drop them off before you, but they are cheaper than a private shuttle.
• Private shuttle: Will pick you up on-time and drop you off directly to the address specified in the booking.

With children [ edit ]

• Metro and bus . The metro and buses are free for children under the age of 4. Older kids (4-9) can buy a carnet (a collection of 10 tickets) at half-price for discounted travel. Other passes, including the Paris-Vistes pass for unlimited travel over 1 to 5 days are also available at half-price for children below 9 years of age.
• Taxis . Parisian taxis tend to be standard cars (sedans or minivans) so almost all strollers will need to be folded and placed in the trunk. Be aware that taxi drivers are proud of their cars and keep them very clean and are not big fans of messy kids.
• VTC . All strollers will need to be folded and placed in the trunk. VTC provide you all the safety equipment for your children (baby seats and boosters)

Store your luggage

When you are visiting Paris, you may need to store your luggage. You can find luggage storage in every big railway station.

Talk [ edit ]

French ( français ) is of course the country's official language. Any native French person will speak French and it helps if you can speak a bit of it. In the parts of the city that tourists frequent the most, the shopkeepers, information booth attendants, and other workers are likely to answer you in English, even if your French is advanced. These workers tend to deal with thousands of foreign-speaking tourists, and responding in English is often faster than repeating themselves in French. This is not the case for the rest of the city.

For most Parisians, English is something they had to study in school, and thus seems a bit of a chore. People helping you out in English are making an extra effort, sometimes a considerable one. Parisians younger than 40 are much more likely to be fluent in English. Immigrants, often working in service jobs, are less likely to speak English. If it's your first time in France you will have some problems understanding what people are saying, even with prior education in French. Unlike most language education tapes, real Parisians tend to speak fast, use slang, and swallow some letters.

When attempting to speak French, do not be offended if people ask you to repeat, or seem not to understand you, as they are not acting out of snobbery. Keep your sense of humour, and if necessary, write down phrases or place names. And remember to speak slowly and clearly. Unless you have an advanced level and can at least sort of understand French movies, you should also assume that it will be difficult for people to understand what you are saying (imagine someone speaking English to you in an indiscernible accent).

When in need of directions what you should do is this: find a younger person, or a person reading some book or magazine in English, who is obviously not in a hurry; say "hello" or " bonjour " (bon-zhor); start by asking if the person speaks English, "Parlez-vous anglais?" (Par-LAY voo on-glay?) even if the person can read something in English, speak slowly and clearly; write down place names if necessary. Smile a lot. Also, carry a map (preferably Paris par Arrondissement ); given the complexity of Paris streets it is difficult to explain how to find any particular address in any language, no matter how well you speak it. If anything, the person may have an idea as to the place you are looking for, but may not know exactly where it may be, so the map always helps.

On the other hand, you will probably get the cold shoulder if you stop a random person in the métro, fail to greet them and say "where is place X or street Y".

Now, if you speak French, remember two magic phrases : "Excusez-moi de vous déranger" [ex-kuh-zay mwuh duh voo day-rawn-ZHAY] ("Sorry to bother you") and "Pourriez-vous m'aider?" [por-EE-AY voo may-DAY] ("Could you help me?") especially in shops; politeness will work wonders.

It is considered polite to always say "bonjour" (during the day) or "bonsoir" (at night) to employees when entering any type of shop even if you have no intention of buying anything. Upon leaving you should say "merci" to thank the shopkeeper for allowing you to browse and say "bonne journée" (bun zhur-nay) or "bonne soirée" (bun swa-ray) to wish them a good day or evening. "Bonne nuit" is only used when telling someone "goodnight" when going to bed.

Finally, if you speak a language other than English or French, and your French is limited or non-existent, offer to speak your second language with the phrase "Parlez-vous anglais ou XXXX?" (Par-LAY voo on-glay oo XXXX?) as this shows that you are making an effort to speak somebody else's language as well as your own.

See [ edit ]

The listings below are just some highlights of things that you really should see if you can during your visit to Paris. Detailed information can be found on each individual district page (click on the name of the sight).

Landmarks [ edit ]

• 48.858 2.2953 1 Eiffel Tower . No other monument better symbolizes Paris.  
• 48.8738 2.295 2 Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile . The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city.  
• 48.86967 2.30786 3 Champs-Élysées . Widely regarded to be one of the most recognizable avenues in the world ( updated Jun 2018 )

• 48.853 2.3498 4 Notre Dame Cathedral . Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame . Closed indefinitely due to the fire that occurred on 15 April 2019.  

• 48.886694 2.343 5 Sacré Coeur . A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists' area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city.  
• 48.871944 2.331667 6 Opera Garnier . Masterpiece of theatre architecture of the 19th century built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 housing the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV.  

• 48.83397 2.33245 7 Catacombes de Paris . Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery. The bones of more than 6 million bodies lie here.  
• 48.892778 2.235833 8 Grande Arche de la Défense . A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe.  
• 48.846111 2.345833 9 Panthéon . Underneath, the final resting place for the great heroes of the French Republic including Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie; above, a marvellous view of the city. ( updated May 2023 )
• 48.861944 2.394167 10 Père-Lachaise Cemetery . Unlike any cemetery in the world. Ornate grave stones, monuments set among tree lined lanes. See the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin, among many others.  
• 48.855369 2.345028 11 Sainte-Chapelle . Exquisite stained glass chapel. More beautiful interior than the gloomy Notre Dame Cathedral.  

Museums and galleries [ edit ]

All national museums and monuments are free for all every first Sunday of the month.

• 48.861089 2.33575 12 The Louvre . One of the finest museums in the world of art and culture. Home of the Mona Lisa and innumerable others. Enormous building and collection, plan at least two visits..  
• 48.86 2.326389 13 Musée d'Orsay . Incredible collection housed in a former railway station. Works by the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) including Monet's "Blue Water Lilies, Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette", van Gogh's "Bedroom in Arles", Whistler's "The Artists Mother", etc.  
• 48.855356 2.315819 14 Rodin Museum . Collection and archives dedicated to the sculptor Auguste Rodin, in a charming home with garden.  
• 48.859731 2.362439 15 Picasso Museum . Contains the master's own collection.  
• 48.859361 2.2675 16 Musée Marmottan-Monet . Over 300 paintings of Claude Monet. Also, the works of Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. "Impression Soleil Levant" by Monet is on display.  
• 48.863833 2.32225 17 Musée de l'Orangerie . [Jardin des Tuileries] Houses "The Water Lilies" (or "Nymphéas") - a 360 degree depiction of Monet's flower garden at Giverny. Also, impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Renoir, Rousseau, Soutine, Sisley and others.  
• 48.8546 2.3354 18 Musée Delacroix . Housed in the home of painter Eugène Delacroix.  
• 48.860653 2.352411 19 Centre Georges Pompidou . The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves.  

• 48.855 2.3125 20 Les Invalides . Very impressive museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today. Also contains the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.  
• 48.850556 2.343333 21 Musée national du Moyen Âge . A medieval museum exhibiting the five "The Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, housed in a part Roman, part medieval building.  
• 48.862783 2.334108 22 Musée des Arts Décoratifs . Showcasing eight centuries of French savoir-faire.  
• 48.8575 2.362222 23 Carnavalet . Museum of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free. Renovated 2017-2021..  
• 48.895556 2.388056 24 Cité des sciences et de l’industrie - La Villette . Science museum primarily for children.  
• 48.854846 2.356196 25 Mémorial de la Shoah . Paris's Holocaust Memorial Museum, in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l'Asnier. Free Entry, weekly guided tours. Second Sunday of the month there is a free tour in English.  
• 48.87543 2.31055 26 Jacquemart-Andre Museum . Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical 19th-century mansion.  
• 48.865278 2.293889 27 Guimet Museum . One of the largest collections outside Asia of Southeast Asian, Indian, Afghan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art.  

General tips [ edit ]

Planning your visits: several sites have "choke points" that restrict the number of visitors that can flow through. These include: The Eiffel Tower, Sainte-Chapelle, and the catacombs. To avoid lines, you should start your day by arriving at one of these sites at least 30 minutes before opening time. Otherwise, expect a wait of at least an hour. Most museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday. Examples: the Louvre museum is closed on Tuesdays while the Orsay Museum is closed on Mondays. Be sure to check museum closing dates to avoid disappointment! Also, most ticket counters close 30-45 min before final closing.

All national museums are open free of charge on the first Sunday of the month. However, this may mean long lines and crowded exhibits. Keep away from Paris during Easter week due to crowding. People have to queue up at the Eiffel Tower for several hours even early in the morning. However, this wait can be greatly reduced, if fit, by walking the first two levels, then buying an elevator ticket to the top. Entry to the permanent exhibitions at city-run museums is free at all times (admission is charged for temporary exhibitions).

Sightseeing passes [ edit ]

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass [dead link] , a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris (and the Palace of Versailles) and comes in 2-day (€52), 4-day (€66) and 6-day (€78) denominations (March 2022). These are consecutive days. The card allows you to jump lengthy queues, a big plus during tourist season when line can be extensive, and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, FNAC branches and all the main Métro and RER train stations. You will still need to pay to enter most special exhibitions. To avoid waiting in the first long queue to purchase the museum pass, stop to purchase your pass a day or more in advance after mid-day. The pass does not become active until your first museum or site visit when you write your start date. After that, the days covered are consecutive. Do not write your start date until you are certain you will use the pass that day and be careful to use the European date style as indicated on the card: day-month-year.

Also consider the ParisPass , a pre-paid entry card + queue jumping to 60 attractions including the Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe, as well as a river cruise and allows free metro & public transport travel.

Do [ edit ]

Sports [ edit ].

• 48.84716 2.24924 1 French Open ( Roland Garros ). One of the 4 Tennis Grand Slam tournaments. It is scheduled for two weeks from the last Sunday in May. The event, on clay courts, features the world’s top-ranked tennis players.  
• Football: 48.8414 2.253 2 Paris Saint-Germain play soccer in Ligue 1, the top tier, and often win it. But don't head for the central district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés! PSG play at Parc des Princes Stadium in the 16th arrondissement south of Bois de Boulogne. The club name derives from Saint-Germain-en-Laye 20 km west.
• 48.924438 2.360104 3 Stade de France ( RER train D ). France's national stadium has a capacity of 81,338, and hosts concerts and various events. Some football club teams sometimes play here when their home stadium is unavailable.  
• Rugby: two clubs play rugby union (15 a side) in Top 14, the French top tier. Racing play at La Défense Arena (or U Arena) in Nanterre. Stade Français play big games at Stade de France and others at Stade Jean-Bouin, next to Parc de Princes the PSG soccer stadium.

Events [ edit ]

It seems like there's almost always something happening in Paris, with the possible exceptions of the school holidays in August and February, when about half of Parisians are to be found not in Paris, but in the South of France or the Alps respectively. The busiest season is probably the fall, from a week or so after la rentrée scolaire or "back to school" to around Noël (Christmas) theatres, cinemas and concert halls book their fullest schedule of the year.

Good listings of current cultural events in Paris can be found in Pariscope or Officiel des spectacles , weekly magazines listing all concerts, art exhibitions, films, stage plays and museums. Available from all kiosks. Timeout is a good option for tourists, who don't speak French.

Even so, there are a couple of annual events in the winter, starting with a furniture and interior decorating trade fair called Maison & Object in January.

In February le nouvel an chinois ( Chinese New Year ) is celebrated in Paris as it is in every city with a significant Chinese and Vietnamese population. There are parades in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and especially in the Quartier Asiatique (Asian Quarter) in the 13th south of Place d'Italie. Also in February is the Six Nations Rugby Tournament which brings together France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

The International Agricultural Show ( Salon Internationale de l'Agriculture ) usually takes place over a week around the end of February/beginning of March at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre. It is unmissable (not just for tourists but also French politicians wanting to appear in touch with rural France), and showcases large numbers of domestic animals as well as selling speciality food products from all over France and its former colonies in Africa. Particularly recommended are the food stalls from the overseas territories where you can try regional specialities that are hard to come by even in Metropolitan France, and they will often also have performances from folk musicians/dancers. It's usually advised to buy tickets in advance as the queues for entry can be long.

The first of two Fashion weeks occurs in March: Spring Fashion Week , giving designers a platform to present women's prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) collections for the following winter.

In June, Rendez-vous au Jardin is an open house for many Parisian gardens, giving you a chance to meet real Parisian gardeners and see their creations. The Fête de la Musique celebrates the summer solstice (21 June) with this city-wide free musical knees-up. Finally on the 26th of June is the Gay Pride parade, featuring probably the most sincere participation by the mayor's office of any such parade on the globe.

The French national holiday Bastille Day on the 14th of July celebrates the storming of the infamous Bastille during the French Revolution. Paris hosts several spectacular events that day of which the best known is the Bastille Parade which is held on the Champs-Élysées at 10:00 and broadcast to pretty much the rest of Europe by television. The entire street will be crowded with spectators so arrive early. The Bastille Day Fireworks is an exceptional treat for travellers lucky enough to be in town on Bastille Day. The Office du Tourisme et des Congress de Paris recommends gathering in or around the champ de Mars , the gardens of the Eiffel Tower.

Also in July, Cinema en Plein Air is the annual outdoor cinema event that takes place at the Parc de la Villette, in the 19th on Europe's largest inflatable screen. For most of the months of July and August, parts of both banks of the Seine are converted from expressway into an artificial beach for Paris Plages . Also in July the cycling race le Tour de France has a route that varies annually, however it always finishes on the last Sunday of July under the Arc de Triomphe.

On the last full weekend in August, a world-class music festival Rock en Seine draws international rock and pop stars to the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud , just west of Paris.

During mid-September DJs and (usually young) fans from across Europe converge on Paris for five or six days of dancing etc. culminating in the Techno parade - a parade whose route traces roughly from Place de la Bastille to the Sorbonne , and around the same time the festival Jazz à la Villette brings some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz from around the world.

In the beginning of autumn the vine harvest fest takes place. The most famous is the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre , a food festival around the vine harvest of the Montmartre vineyard.

The Nuit Blanche transforms most of central Paris into a moonlit theme-park for an artsy all-nighter on the first Saturday of October, and Fashion Week returns shortly thereafter showing off Women's Prêt-à-Porter collections for the following summer; as we've noted winter collections are presented in March.

The third Thursday in November marks the release of Le Beaujolais Nouveau and the beginning of the Christmas season. This evening, the Christmas lights are lit in a ceremony on the Champs-Élysées , often in the presence of hundreds (if not thousands) of people and many dignitaries, including the president of France.

Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive event guides covering concerts, clubs, movies or special events. For theatre, movies and exhibitions pick up the Pariscope and L'officiel du Spectacle , available at newsstands for €0.40. For (especially smaller, alternative) concerts pick up LYLO, a small, free booklet available in some bars and at FNAC. There is no user-friendly online version of these guides.

Photography [ edit ]

Paris is considered by many as the birthplace of photography, and while one may debate the correctness of this claim, there is no debate that Paris is today a photographer's dream. The French capital offers a spectacular array of photographic expositions and opportunities to the beginner and the pro alike. It has photogenic monuments (e.g., Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, the obelisk at Concorde, and countless others); architecture (e.g., the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Museum of the Arab World) and urban street scenes (e.g., in the Marais, Montmartre and Belleville). When you tire of taking your own photos, visit one of the many institutions dedicated to photography. At these and other institutions, you can learn the about the rich history of Paris as the place of important developments in photography (e.g., the Daguerrotype) and as the home of many of the trade's great artists (e.g., Robert Doisneau, André Kertész, Eugene Atget and Henri Cartier-Bresson).

• Jeu de Paume , at the entrance of Tulerie Gardens, is one of the city's premier photography exhibition sites.
• Better Paris Photos , 32 Avenue de Suffren , ☏ +33 6 74 04 21 84 , [email protected] . By appointment, tours last from 4 hours . Better Paris Photos offers instructional tours and workshops that combine hands-on learning of essential photographic techniques with guiding to, and commentary about, the most photogenic spots of Paris. Led by English-speaking photographers and instructors, these tours are open to all skill levels and interest. From €195/half day; €290/full day .  
• Paris Photo, one of the world's most important art fairs, takes place in the autumn.

Movies [ edit ]

The Cinémas of Paris are (or at least should be) the envy of the movie-going world. Of course, like anywhere else you can see big budget first-run films from France and elsewhere. That though, is just the start. During any given week there are at least half-a-dozen film festivals going on, at which you can see the entire works of a given actor or director. Meanwhile, there are some older cult films like say, What's new Pussycat or Casino Royal which you can enjoy pretty much any day you wish.

Many non-French movies are subtitled (called " version originale " "VO" or "VOstfr" as opposed to "VF" for version française).

There are any number of ways to find out what's playing, but the most commonly used guide is Pariscope , which you can find at newsstands for €0.70. Meanwhile, there are innumerable online guides which have information on "every" cinema in Paris.

The Cinemathèque française and the Forum des Images are the two public film institutions that organize retrospectives, exhibitions and festivals.

Theatres [ edit ]

The 48.871944 2.331667 5 Paris Opera , as well as its associated ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet, are considered to be among the premier classical performance companies in the world.

If you are under 26, there is a flat rate of €10 for every private theatre of the town every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. This fare does not apply to public theatres nor opera.

Paris Mômes is a Parisian cultural guide with children's activities and events that comes out several times a year.

• Cité des enfants in the 19th , a museum for kids within the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, is interactive, fun, and educational. There are two separate sections for the 3-5 set and the 5-12 set. The tots section has simple exhibits designed to be pushed, prodded, and poked. The section for older kids is more sophisticated with scientific experiments and TV studios. Métro Porte de la Villete (7)
• Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th . It would be counted as a travesty not to take your under 10 year old to the Jardin du Luxembourg, long a favourite with Parisian children. With its world famous merry-go-round, a pond for sail boats, a puppet theater, pony rides, chess players, children's playground, it has something for every kid (with comfortable chairs for weary parents thrown in!). The marionettes du Luxembourg, the puppet theatre, stages classic French puppet shows in French but should be easy to understand. There are numerous places for a snack. RER Luxembourg (B) or Métro Odéon (4, 10)
• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th . Buttes-Chaumont is great for those with children that like to run, climb, and explore. Built on the site of an abandoned quarry, the park is roughly bowl-shaped with a 30-meter-tall peak situated in the middle of a pond at the park's center. There are trails up the rock, caves, waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and a small stone gazebo on the top of the rock with a 360-degree view. There is also a puppet theater and a playground. Métro Buttes-Chaumont (7bis), Botzaris (7bis), or Laumière (5)
• Parc Zoologique in the 12th . This zoo is different because of a 236-foot artificial mountain bang in its center. Take elevators to the top and enjoy the view or watch the mountain goats do their stuff on the sides. Lions, tigers, and everything designed to delight kids can be found in the zoo if the mountain doesn't do it for your kids. RER/Métro Gare d'Austerlitz (5, 10, C)
• The Jardin d'Acclimatation in the 16th has a number of rides, including pint-sized roller coasters suitable for children as young as three years, as well as a mini-zoo and the estimable Musée en Herbe . Métro Les Sablons (1)
• The Parc Floral , in the Bois de Vincennes, has different themed playgrounds, ping pong tables and picnic areas. During winter the entrance is free.

Learn [ edit ]

• Alliance Française . One of the world's largest schools of French language, the Paris Alliance Française has a wide variety of courses for a visitor to choose from.  
• Ecole France Langue . France Langue have a variety of different courses, starting as short as one week up to long-term tuition. Classes are taught entirely in French, with students (who come from all parts of the world) discouraged from speaking in their native languages at all during lessons. The emphasis is more on speaking and listening rather than on writing and grammar. The school is spread over a number of locations around Place Victor Hugo in the 16 e .  
• Université Paris IV . Offers 'scholastic' as well as 'university' courses for foreigners in French language and culture, which start at various times of year.  
• American Graduate School in Paris , 101, boul Raspail , ☏ +33 1 47 20 00 94 , [email protected] . Graduate school in Paris specializing in international relations and business programs. Classes are taught in English with optional French classes.  
• Franglish , ☏ +33 7 60 47 30 20 , [email protected] . French/English Language Exchange event in Paris, 3 times per week in some of the best venues across Paris. Practice your French while having a good time meeting locals.  
• Schiller International University , 9 rue Yvart, 75015 , ☏ +33 1 45 38 56 01 . ( updated Jun 2017 )

Paris is the seat of other places to learn about a variety of topics.

• The American Library in Paris ( 5 min walking from the Eiffel Tower ). A great place to visit in Paris is the American Library, this is a non-profit institution entirely dependent on donations in order to keep its doors open. Visitors can purchase a day pass or other short term memberships. The Library has Wi-Fi and if you have your laptop then you can access the internet for no charge other than the day pass to use the library. It has excellent books, current issues of American magazines, and the occasional celebrity patron.  

Culinary [ edit ]

How better to get to know a culture than to learn the ins and outs of its native cuisine. After sampling your fair share of Macarons and Magret de Canard around Paris, you might enjoy taking an afternoon to learn how to make these delicacies yourself and take the recipes home with you. While there are many cooking schools around Paris, only a few offer classes in English.

• Le Foodist , 59 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, Paris 75004 , ☏ +33 6 71 70 95 22 , [email protected] . Register online, classes last 2-6 hours . In the Latin Quarter, Le Foodist is an cooking school that offers French Cooking, Pastry and Baking Classes, Wine Tastings initiations, Food Tours and Hosted Gastronomic Dinners. Led by French Chefs, courses are made in English, small classes, with the ambition of teaching both the technique and the history of traditional french recipes. Prices range from €35 for a Wine Tasting Initiation to €180 for a Market class .  
• Le Cordon Bleu Paris , 8 Rue Léon Delhomme, Paris 75015 , ☏ +33 1 53 68 22 50 , fax : +33 1 48 56 03 96 , [email protected] . Offering both long-term professional programs as well as short term hourly sessions, Le Cordon Bleu is one of the most famous culinary schools located in the heart of Paris. Le Cordon Bleu is considered to be the guardian of French culinary technique through its culinary programs that continue to preserve and pass on the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts that have been the cornerstone of French gastronomy for over 500 years.  
• La Cuisine Paris , 80 Quai de L'Hôtel de Ville, Paris 75004 , ☏ +33 1 40 51 78 18 , [email protected] . Register online, classes last 2-4 hours . La Cuisine Paris is an English-friendly culinary school located in the heart of Paris, right on the Seine that offers expert teaching of the essential techniques of cuisine française. Led by an international group of English-speaking chefs all trained in classic French cooking, these classes are open to all skill levels and tastes. Prices range from €69 for a two-hour Macaron class to €160 for a 4 hour Market class .  

Work [ edit ]

Work in Paris, especially for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, entails a very long and arduous process. Unless you possess one of a number of in-demand skills, it will almost certainly be necessary to obtain a job offer from an employer before arriving. Your employer, for their part, will have to have the offer approved by the relevant governmental authorities, as well. If you opt for unreported work, such as babysitting, you need not fret about going through the process to obtain a Carte de séjour , i.e., a formal visitor's identity card. However, if you do choose a change in location, it is advisable to obtain a Carte de séjour prior to finding any job whatsoever, as the process can be longer than expected. A Carte de séjour is often necessary to open a bank account and the like, and by extension for accomplishing any number of other tasks involved in modern life, so unless you're very comfortable transacting everything in cash you should probably bite the bullet and keep things on the up-and-up.

If you go to Paris for a conference, there's a very good chance you'll end up in a meeting or exhibiting at CNIT (Centre of New Industries and Technology). This conference and convention space is one of the oldest buildings in the La Defense area of Paris and still looks modern even though it's been eclipsed in height by surrounding buildings and hotels near the CNIT are mainly catered to those staying in the area on business.

Remember, the city of Paris has a huge network of immigrants coming and going, and it is always great to tap into that network. The city holds a great abundance of work ready to be found, even if the search feels nerve-wracking at first.

Buy [ edit ]

Paris is one of the great fashion centres of the Western world, up there with New York , London , and Milan , making it a shopper's delight. While the Paris fashion scene is constantly evolving, the major shopping centres tend to be the same. High end couture can be found in the 8th arrondissement. In summer, there is nothing better than browsing the boutiques along Canal St-Martin, or strolling along the impressive arcades of the historic Palais-Royal, with beautifully wrapped purchases swinging on each arm.

Le Marais is a mostly Jewish neighbourhood, most of the shops in Le Marais are open on Sundays. The stores in this area are intimate, boutique, "Parisian" style clothing stores. You will no doubt find something along each street, and it is always well worth the look.

Other great areas to shop around in are around the area Sèvres Babylone (Métro Line 10 and Line 12). It is in this area you will find the Le Bon Marché 7th , particularly rue de Cherche Midi 6th . The area boasts some of the major fashion houses (Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, etc.) and also has smaller private boutiques with handmade clothing.

In the Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés , you can find a handful of vintage clothing shops, carrying anything from couture early 20th century dresses, to 70s Chanel sunglasses. Walking along Boulevard Saint-Germain , you will find major brands. However, if in search of eclectic finds, opt to walk the northern side of the Boulevard, especially along rue Saint André des Arts , where you can always find a nice café to stop in. The area south of Saint-Germain is just as nice, and comes with a price tag to match.

In the artsy quarters of 1 and 4, there are many bargains to be had, once again, if you are prepared to look. Souvenirs are easily found and can be fairly inexpensive as long as you don't buy from the tourist sites. For cheap books of French connection, try the University/Latin quarter as they sell books in all languages starting from half a euro each.

Flea markets [ edit ]

Paris has 3 main flea markets, all on the outskirts of the central city. The most famous of these is the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (Porte de Clignancourt) (Clignancourt Flea Market), Métro: Porte de Clignancourt , in the 18th , a haven for lovers of antiques, second-hand goods, and retro fashion. The best days to go are Saturday and Sunday. There are particular times of the week when only antique collectors are allowed into the stalls, and there are also times of the day when the stall owners take their Parisian siesta , and enjoy a leisurely cappuccino for an hour or so. The best times to visit the flea markets are in the spring and summertime, when the area is more vibrant. In and around the metro station, you may find the area a little wild, but still safe.

The Marché aux Puce de Vanves in the 14th arrondissement is open on Saturday and Sunday from 7h-14h. The closes metro station is Porte de Vanves.

Musical instruments [ edit ]

Rue de Rome, situated near Gare St. Lazare, is crowded with luthiers, brass and woodwind makers, piano sellers, and sheet music stores. Subway station Europe. The area south of the metro station Pigalle is also packed with music shops (more oriented towards guitars and drums).

Artwork [ edit ]

For art lovers, be sure to check out Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés , which is renowned for its galleries, and it is impossible to turn a street without finding a gallery to cast your glance in. On Fridays, most open until late. Most even have the benefit of bottles of wine so you can wander in with your glass of wine and feel very artistique . Great roads to walk along are rue de Seine , rue Jacob , rue des Beaux Arts , Rue Bonaparte , and Rue Mazarine . Also, be sure to visit the historical district of Montparnasse and quartier Vavin where artists like Modigliani, Gauguin and Zadkine used to work.

Eat [ edit ]

Paris is one of Europe's culinary centres, where the haute cuisine has flourished since at least the French revolution. It may however come as a surprise that Paris isn't considered the culinary capital of French cuisine ; many people prefer the French cooking found in small rural restaurants, outside of the city, closer to the farms and with their focus on freshness and regional specialities. Even among French cities, Paris has long been considered by the French as second to Lyon for fine dining.

There have been other challenges in the last 20 years or so as restaurateurs in places like San Francisco and Sydney briefly surpassed their Parisian fore bearers, again with an emphasis on freshness of ingredients but also borrowings from other cuisines. Parisian cooks didn't just rest on their laurels during this time, rather they travelled, taught, and studied, and together with Paris's own immigrant communities, have revitalized the restaurant trade. Today you can find hundreds of beautiful restaurants with thoughtful (or just trendy) interior design and well-planned and executed cartes and menus offering a creative mélange of French and exotic foreign cuisines. It's safe to say that Paris is once again catching up with or edging ahead of its Anglophone rivals.

Of course there are also some traditional offerings, and for the budget conscious there are hundreds of traditional bistros, with their sidewalk terraces offering a choice of fairly simple (usually meat centred) meals for reasonable prices.

It is unfortunately possible to have a uniformly poor dining experience during a stay in Paris, probably because mass tourism attracts price gougers. It is frequent to hear people complaining of very high Parisian prices for very poor food and service. Since so many of the restaurants are sub-par, the best approach is to rely on a restaurant guide and personal recommendations. Do your research in advance if possible and be prepared to travel some distance. Don't just walk down the street expecting to find good food; you probably won't.

Many restaurants are tiny and have tables close together - square metres are at a premium and understandably restaurateurs need to make the most of limited space. In some cases when the restaurant is crowded, you may have to sit beside strangers at the same table. If that does not appeal to you, go to a more upscale place where you will pay for the extra space.

Trendy restaurants often require reservations weeks, if not months in advance. If you haven't planned far enough ahead, try to get a reservation for lunch which is generally easier and less expensive.

For an easy-to-manage eating budget while in Paris, consider: breakfast or "petit déjeuner" at a restaurant, possibly in your hotel, consisting of some croissants, coffee, and maybe a piece of fruit. Get a 'walking lunch' from one of Paris' many food stands—a panino in the centre of the city, a crepe from a crepe stand, a felafel pita or take-out Chinese in the Marais. Traiteurs serving Chinese and/or Vietnamese food are ubiquitous in the city and good for a cheap lunch and many pâtisseries sell inexpensive coffee and sandwiches. All these are cheap (about the same as breakfast), easy, and allow you to maximize your sightseeing and walking time while enjoying delicious local or ethnic food. For dinner, stroll the streets at dusk and consider a €20-40 prix-fixe menu. This will get you 3 or 4 courses, possibly with wine, and an unhurried, candlelit, magical evening. If you alternate days like this with low-budget, self-guided eating (picnicking, snacking, street food) you will be satisfied without breaking the bank.

If one of the aims of your trip to Paris is to indulge in its fine dining, though, the most cost-effective way to do this is to make the main meal of your day lunch. Virtually all restaurants offer a good prix-fixe deal. By complementing this with a bakery breakfast and a light self-catered dinner, you will be able to experience the best of Parisian food and still stick to a budget.

Self-catering [ edit ]

Budget travellers will be very pleased with the range and quality of products on offer at the open air markets (e.g. the biggest one on Boulevard Richard Lenoir (near the Bastille), Rue Mouffetard, Place Buci, Place de la Madeleine and over the Canal Saint-Martin in the 11th or in any other arrondissement). If your accommodation has cooking facilities you're set, especially for wine and cheese, a decent bottle of French wine will set you back all of about €3-5, while the fairly good stuff starts at around €7. Bottles for less than €3 are not recommended.

The small épiceries which open until late are more expensive than the supermarchés (Casino, Monoprix, Franprix, etc.) For wine, the price difference can be up to €2.

Buy a baguette, some cheese and a good bottle of wine and join the Parisian youth for a pique-nique along the Seine (especially on the Île Saint-Louis) or along the Canal Saint-Martin. The finest food stores are Lafayette Gourmet in the Galeries Lafayette or La Grande Epicerie in the luxury department store Le Bon Marché. They are worth discovering. You will find a large variety of wines there, otherwise try wine stores (cavistes) that are present everywhere in the city, and sell all kind of good French wine that you won't find in a supermarket. The owners usually know their wines and will be happy to help you choose among their huge selection. Some also sell good food. You can search for one online or ask a local. There are also some "wine supermarkets" such as Nicolas or Le Relais de Bacchus (all over the city) that sell more common wines.

Some specialities [ edit ]

For seafood lovers, Paris is a great place to try moules frites (steamed mussels and French fries) (better in fall and winter), oysters, sea snails, and other delicacies. Meat specialties include venison (deer), boar, and other game (especially in the fall and winter hunting season), as well as French favourites such as lamb, veal, beef, and pork.

Prices [ edit ]

Eating out in Paris can be expensive. However don't believe people when they say you can't do Paris on the cheap - you can! The key is to stay away from the beaten tracks and the obviously expensive Champs Elysées. Around the lesser visited quarters especially, there are many cheap and yummy restaurants to be found. The area around Fontaine Saint-Michel, the fountain facing Notre Dame is crowded by particularly tasty places to eat, with good ambiance, cheap prices and excellent service, with the advantage of being very centric of many places of interest. The key is to order from the prix-fixe menu, and not off the A la Carte menu unless you want to pay an arm and a leg. In many places a three course meal can be found for about €15. This way you can sample the food cheaply and is usually more "French". Ask for "une carafe d'eau" (oon karaaf doe) to get free tap water.

Kosher dining [ edit ]

Paris has the largest number of Kosher restaurants in any European city. Walk up and down Rue des Rosiers to see the variety and choices available from Israeli, Sushi, Italian and others. You will also find a wide assortment of Kosher restaurants in the 9th arrondissement of Paris near the rue Richer and rue Cadet areas. See the district guides for examples. Kosher restaurants and snacks usually display a big orange rectangle on their front, which ensure clients that they are Beth din certified.

Vegetarian dining [ edit ]

For vegetarians , eating traditional French food will require some improvisation, as it is heavily meat-based. That being said, it is far easier to be vegetarian in Paris than it is elsewhere in France. Paris has several excellent vegetarian restaurants, and many non-vegetarian restaurants will provide vegetarian dishes.

When eating in a traditional restaurant, be careful before ordering dishes labelled as "vegetarian". Many French people presume that fish and seafood are vegetarian dishes. This is a widely spread misunderstanding all around the country. Additionally, French people tend to confuse "real" vegetarians with vegans. When explaining that you're a vegetarian that won't eat fish, people will often presume that you don't eat milk or egg-based products.

Look for spots such as Le Grenier de Notre-Dame in the 5th . The 10th arrondissement also has quite a large variety of vegetarian restaurants, especially of Indian and East/South-East Asian fare. See the arrondissement pages for more listings. For fast food and snacks, you can always find a vegetarian sandwich or pizza, or indeed French tacos. Even a kebab shop can make you something with just cheese and salad, or perhaps falafel. And for healthier fare, it's not usually hard nowadays to find hipstery places that sell vegan poke bowls.

There are also lots of Italian, Thai, Indian, and Mezo-American places where you will have little problem. The famous South Indian chain Saravana Bhavan have their branch near Gare Du Nord. In Rue des Rosiers (4th arrondissement) you can get delicious falafel in the many Jewish restaurants. Another place to look for falafel is on Rue Oberkampf (11th arrondissement). Take away falafel usually goes for €5 or less.

Moroccan and Algerian cooking is common in Paris - vegetarian couscous is lovely. Another good option for vegetarians - are traiteurs, particularly around Ledru Rollin (down the road from Bastille) take away food where you can combine a range of different options such as pomme dauphinoise, dolmas, salads, vegetables, nice breads and cheeses and so on.

Lebanese restaurants and snack shops abound as well, offering a number of vegetarian mezze , or small plates. The stand-bys of course are hummas, falafel, and baba-ganouche ( caviar d'aubergine ). A good place to look for Lebanese is in the pedestrian zone around Les Halles and Beaubourg in the 1st and 4th .

Also look out for banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) places, especially around Rue Mouffetard in the 5th , where you can often get a tofu banh mi for less than a fiver.

Tourists and locals [ edit ]

When you are looking for a restaurant in Paris, be wary of those where the staff speak English a bit too readily. These restaurants are usually geared towards tourists. It does make a difference in the staff's service and behaviour whether they expect you to return or not.

Sometimes the advertised fixed price tourist menus (€10-15) are a good deal. If you're interested in the really good and more authentic stuff (and if you have learned some words of French) try one of the small bistros where the French go during lunch time.

Drink [ edit ]

The bars scene in Paris really does have something for everyone. From bars which serve drinks in baby bottles, to ultra luxe clubs that require some name dropping, or card (black Amex) showing, and clubs where you can dance like no one's watching, (although they will be). To start your night out right, grab a drink or two in a ubiquitous dive bar, before burning up the dance floor and spreading some cash, at one of the trendy clubs.

• Canal St Martin . Many cozy cafés and other drinking establishments abound around the Canal St Martin in the 10th .
• The Marais . The Marais has a large number of trendier new bars mostly in the 4th and to a lesser extent the 3rd with a few old charmers tossed into the mix. A number of bars and restaurants in the Marais have a decidedly gay crowd, but are usually perfectly friendly to straights as well. Some seem to be more specifically aimed at up-and-coming hetero singles.
• Bastille . There is a very active nightlife zone just to the northeast of Place de Bastille centered around rue de Lappe , rue de la Roquette , rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine (especially the amazing Club Barrio Latino) and rue de Charonne in the 11th . Many of the bars closest to Bastille have either a North, Central, or South American theme, with a couple of Aussie places mixed in for good measure, and as you continue up rue de Charonne the cafés have more of a traditionally French but grungy feeling.
• Quartier Latin - Odeon . If you're looking for the nouvelle vague (new wave) style, student and intellectual atmosphere of Paris in the 1960s and 70s, you'll find a lot of that (and more hip and chic) places in the quartier Latin and between place Odeon and the Seine. The neighbourhood is also home of many small artsy cinemas showing non-mainstream films and classics (check 'Pariscope' or 'l'officiel du spectacle' at any newspaper stand for the weekly programme).
• Rue Mouffetard and environs . The area in the 5th on the south side of the hill topped by the Panthéon has a little bit of everything for the nighthawk, from the classy cafés of Place de la Contrescarpe to an Irish-American dive bar just down the way to a hip, nearly hidden jazz café at the bottom of the hill.
• Châtelet . In some ways the Marais starts here in the 1st between Les Halles and Hôtel de Ville but with between all of the tourists and the venerable Jazz clubs on rue des Lombards the area deserves some special attention.
• Montmartre . You'll find any number of cozy cafés and other drinking establishments all around the Butte Montmartre in the 18th , especially check out rue des Abbesses near the Métro station of the same name.
• Oberkampf-Ménilmontant . If you are wondering where to find the hipsters ( bobos for bohemian-bourgeois), then this is where to look. There are several clusters of grungy-hip bars all along rue Oberkampf in the 11th , and stretching well into the 20th up the hill on rue de Ménilmontant . It's almost like being in San Francisco 's Haight-Fillmore district.
• Bagnolet . There are a cluster of bar/restaurant/nightclubs along the southern end of the Père Lachaise cemetery in the 20th including probably the best place in Paris for nightly local and touring punk rock.
• Rues des Dames-Batignolles . Another good place to find the grungy-chic crowd is the northern end of the 17th around rue des Dames and rue des Batignolles , and if you decide you want something a little different Montmartre is just around the corner.
• Port de Tolbiac . This previously deserted stretch of the river Seine in the 13th was reborn as a center for nightlife (and Sunday-afternoon-life) a few years ago when an electronic music cooperative opened the Batofar . Nowadays there are a number of boats moored along the same quai , including a boat with a Caribbean theme, and one with an Indian restaurant.
• Saint Germain des Prés . This area has two of the most famous cafés in the world: Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, both catering to the tourists and the snobs who can afford their high prices. This part of the 6th is where the Parisian café scene really started, and there still are hundreds of places to pull up to a table, order a glass, and discuss Sartre deep into the evening.

For individual bar listings see the various Arrondissement pages under Drink .

Of course there are lots of interesting places which are sort of off on their own outside of these clusters, including a few like the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz which are not to be missed in a serious roundup of Parisian drinking, so check out the listings even in those arrondissements we haven't mentioned above.

Some nightclubs in Paris that are worth it: Folies Pigalle (pl. Pigalle, 18th, very trashy, €20), Rex Club (near one of the oldest cinemas on earth, the Grand Rex, house/electro, about €15). You might also want to try Cabaret (Palais Royal), Maison Blanche, le Baron (M Alma-Marceau). Remember when going out to dress to impress, you are in Paris! Torn clothing and sneakers are not accepted. The better you look, the more likely you will get past the random decisions of club bouncers. Also important to remember if male (or in a group of guys) that it will be more difficult to enter clubs; try to always have an equal male/female ratio.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels [ edit ].

Being often declared the most popular travel destination in the world, Paris has far over a thousand hotels to choose from, and even more in the surrounding Ile-de-France region. The choice may be overwhelming, but should be made carefully. There are huge differences in standards and location is key to make your stay in Paris enjoyable and time used well. Be prepared to pay the price for Paris' popularity - even the cheap hotels are relatively expensive.

Despite the popularity with tourists, global hotel chains have relatively low penetration of the Parisian market. A notable exception is the French-based Accor, which boasts over 300 hotels in the Paris area, although with large swathes of central Paris largely uncovered. There is a fair amount of Best Westerns as well, but most international chains limit their presence to very few exclusive (and expensive) hotels in key locations. Travellers loyal to a particular brand may find their loyalty challenged, be forced to pay for it (rather than be rewarded) or unable to find their hotel brand of choice in Paris.

Hotels in the central arrondissements tend to be expensive, although very cheap ones can also be found. With few exceptions, they tend to offer small rooms - be aware of the fact that the difference in price between hotels can translate into difference in service, facility and appointment levels, but not necessarily room size. Rooms of 12-16 square metres (which is roughly half of standard hotels rooms e.g. in the USA) are the norm in central Paris, regardless of hotel standards.

Cheaper hotels in popular arrondissements tend to be older, less attractive properties, whose facilities and appointments may be very worn and outdated, far behind standards one would expect from the capital of all things pretty and fine. Even updated and restored hotels may exhibit wide variance in standards between room categories, and keep some of the rooms not refurbished or only minimally touched up to be able to offer attractive, eye-catching pricing for them and then upsell to more comfortable room categories. Always check out latest reviews, preferably with photos, to precisely determine what to expect from a given hotel and given room category.

Hotels outside of the city centre, or even outside of the Peripherique and Paris itself, can be far cheaper and better value for money than ones in central Paris, while still having good transit links via metro or RER. That said, you should check thoroughly how far from the metro / RER station the given hotel is, and whether the connection to the POIs you want to visit is direct, quick and easy. Do also factor in the added cost of transportation to outer zones, as well as the time spent to travel to and from the city and obviously resulting limitations.

Because of local preferences, a bathtub in the bathroom is a norm in most hotels, even if it means squeezing it into a very small bathroom, further limiting space. If you prefer a walk-in shower, you need to look for a hotel that specifically offers those (called " douche italienne " by the French), and you should generally look at newer, purpose-built properties.

Paris hotels, almost without regard to category or price, observe high and low seasons. These differ slightly from one hotel to another, but usually the high season roughly corresponds to late spring and summer, and possibly a couple of weeks around the Christmas season.

For individual hotel listings see the various Arrondissement pages.

Apartment rentals [ edit ]

For those staying for a week or more, renting a furnished apartment might be a more comfortable and money-saving option, especially for 3 or more adults. Furnished apartments can differ considerably in location and quality, offer different accommodations and selections of appliances and kitchen features, or may be well-above street level with no elevator. Expect apartment sizes to be modest. Access to local public transport can also vary widely. So choose carefully only after getting a full description of an interesting property.

Many websites will help you find rentals. Some do a more disciplined job of locating and describing properties and their locale. Most charge a commission of 10% or more; some offer insurance covering some risks. Some may offer a few apartments for shorter stays, usually at somewhat higher cost per day.

In late-spring and summer months, desirable properties may be in short supply. If your plans are fairly firm for those periods, you would be wise to "reserve" a unit well in-advance. Owners will often ask for a non-refundable deposit of up to 50% of the total cost of your stay. Means of payment can range from money order to PayPal or (occasionally) charge card. (Take great care of how and with whom you share any charge card account number.) You should send no payment to any post office box or similarly anonymous place or account...even after exchanging e-mails with a purported owner; most are no more than "blind" scams to take your money.

The city government has passed ordinances that require owners renting properties for short periods to collect a tax previously collected only by hotels. This substantial tax may not be collected by some owners, or may be demanded by them but not mentioned in their rates until you arrive. Tax enforcement and collection remain in a state of flux.

Some agencies, rental brokers or web sites, that seem amicable, attractive or claim reputations, do not abide by French law to carefully vet and select landlords and apartments they offer for rent. There are a certain number of guarantees, which are required in France before renting an apartment, and an insurance policy, which aims at protecting the tenants during their stay.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Crime [ edit ].

Despite what many naysayers might say or believe, Paris is still a relatively safe city. This does not stop it from being plagued by petty crime , especially pickpocketing , and muggings. Scams, of which there are many, are also prevalent, though the police are slowly cracking down on them. While not common, purse snatchings do happen. Violent crime is rare. However, watch yourself at ATMs and other places where your cash may be visible. Keep your money and your wallet in your front pockets, and avoid ATMs that are open to the outside, especially at night.

As a densely populated city with equally dense neighbourhoods, one would be remiss to generalise the safety of entire 'arrondissements' based on a few specific areas. Several arrondissements have their share of crime, however. The 18th, 19th, and 20th arrondissements are widely seen as the least safe areas of Paris, but safety levels vary dramatically from street to street. During the day, they're usually fine; you might have to watch out for pickpockets and scammers, but not much more. However, be on your guard at night. The 10th arrondissement (namely the areas bordering the 18th and 19th arrondissements) and the southeastern portion of the "périphérique" have also gained a reputation for being sketchy.

Several of the inner suburbs of the metropolitan area (commonly referred to as the banlieues ) such as La Courneuve, Saint-Denis , Sarcelles, and Pantin are notoriously 'rough' by European standards, and you should be cautious when visiting these places. Unrest in those areas has made global headline news (as did the somewhat heavy-handed reactions of various French governments).

The police can be reached by phone by dialling 17. Not all police officers speak English, but those found around touristy areas almost always will. They are usually friendly and perfectly approachable should you have to.

Theft in public transit [ edit ]

The métro and RER are also a popular place for pickpockets. Hold things tightly and be aware of your surroundings. While trains are usually crowded, if someone is insisting and hovers over you, they are probably going through your pockets. It is important to know that a majority of these belong to a gang. These gangs usually use young children as young as seven, with groups of them going around the metro stations pickpocketing tourists and locals alike. If there is a group of three or more suspicious looking people, be careful of your belongings. This is a notable occurrence on Métro line 13, tramways, and the RER B.

Common tactics are two of them blocking you as you try to board the subway, with two behind you quickly going through your bag. Seconds before the doors close, the two jump off, leaving you on the metro without even realizing what has happened. Take note of what locals do. If someone warns you to be careful, there are probably some suspicious types hoping to steal from you. Also be aware that phone-snatching is the most reported crime, and avoid using your cellphone on metro platforms and in the metro itself.

Pickpockets are active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle airport to downtown Paris, which passes through the poor suburbs of Seine-Saint Denis. Try to take the trains which are nonstop between the airport and Paris proper (Gare du Nord) - EKLI/EKIL from Paris to CDG and KRIN/KROL from CDG to Paris. These are faster and are less crowded than the alternative.

There have also been problems with thieves physically fighting people in order to steal their belongings. The most common targets are those with suitcases and backpacks, i.e. tourists. Thieves usually coin their acts with the closing of the doors. Newer trains have cameras everywhere, and thieves are much less likely to use them. Otherwise, stow luggage on the racks above the seat (which is not possible in newer trains) and hold on to your bags so no one can grab them and then run out. You are much less likely of being a victim if the train is crowded with locals headed to work, usually at rush hour.

The train conductors are widely aware of these crimes and will usually wait a few seconds to leave the station after the doors have closed, just in case thieves have quickly jumped off with belongings. There are also emergency cords that one can pull if willing to chase after the attackers. People will usually be helpful and gladly call the police if you do not have a cell phone.

Theft in tourist hotspots [ edit ]

Pickpockets are most likely to be found working at crowded tourists hotspots, so keep your wallet and phone in your front pockets and hold your backpack tightly when in a crowd.

A common place for phone/camera/wallet snatching is in tourist friendly dining areas scattered all over Paris where exposed outdoor tables are commonly right on busy sidewalks. Common practice by many Western tourists is to leave an aforementioned item of value on the table (most commonly a smartphone) in front of them. Some of the criminals, working in groups of three to five people, approach your table and shove what appears to be a survey directly under your nose thus blocking your view of your valuable. While the gang members are yelling in a foreign language another one will slip a hand below your view and take your item of value from the table. This occurs very quickly (less than five seconds) and the perpetrators disappear around the corner just as quick as they arrived.

Key landmarks like the Louvre or the Eiffel tower have been plagued with gangs of pickpockets, which typically operate in groups of about five. As many as half a dozen of these gangs may be active at a particularly famous, crowded venue at any one time; occasionally there are fights between rival gangs of thieves. Asian visitors are often targeted due to a presumption that they are visiting from affluent nations. Venue staff have complained of being spat at, threatened, abused or assaulted by pickpocketing gangs; the Louvre closed briefly in 2013 (as did the Eiffel tower in 2015) due to worker protests of unsafe conditions due to criminal activity. Token attempts to deploy more police have not solved the problems.

Scams [ edit ]

At Sacré-Cœur, there are many men who will try to tie strings or bracelets on your finger (often called "string muggers"). Not only will they demand an obscene fee for the cheap trinkets (usually over €15), they will also try to pickpocket you or threaten you with force if you do not give them money. They are usually only at the base of the monument and can be avoided by taking the Funicular of Montmartre. Otherwise, you can quickly walk past them and ignore them, though they will readily grab people's arms and have even been known to target children of tourists. Yelling at them may cause unwanted attention and cause them to back off, but be careful. Sacré-Cœur appears to be the only area where they congregate, but they have been sighted also near the Eiffel Tower.

Besides them, you will notice many people walking around with cheap trinkets at touristy areas, especially the Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum. They are generally not rude, but buying things from them is illegal and hurts small businesses. Of course, they bolt at the sight of the police, and you may end up in the middle of a stampede!

Be careful around Barbès-Rochechouart and the bars near Moulin Rouge. A very common clip joint trick is played here which might cost you up to €500. The agents standing outside will force you to enter a bar and just have a look for 5 minutes. The moment you order a drink (about €5), a girl will approach you and start talking generally, and leave in 10–15 minutes. After a harmless conversation with the girls when you request a bill, you will encounter a charge of say €200-500 as 'service fees' for the services rendered by the girl! In case you resist paying, the bouncers will start intimidating you to try to extract money from your wallet. In such cases, threaten them that you are calling the police and informing the local embassy. Try to buy some time and start creating a ruckus. However, do not try to start a fight with the bouncers. This trick is common to many European big cities.

One scam involves a "helpful" local buying a ticket for you. Normally, tourists buy 1-day, 3-day or longer Paris Visite passes. They would tell you that your single trip ticket has expired and bring you to the ticketing machine to purchase day passes. Then they would select the 3 day pass for adults (even though you may be a student) and deliberately show you the price on the screen. Everything else is in French so you would not understand a thing. They would proceed to purchase with a credit card and while entering the PIN code, get you to turn your back on them. They then sneakily change the ticket to a single trip ticket and ask for payment for a 3-day ticket from you. Unsuspecting tourists would pay the full sum thinking it is a 1-day or 3-day pass when it is only a useless ticket. Buy the tickets yourself to avoid situations like these, as machines are available in English and other languages. If you feel threatened, call the police and don't physically handle the ticket if they forcibly purchase without your agreement.

Another common scam is found along the banks of the Seine river and involves a ring. This involves thieves "finding" a ring which they give to you. They then ask you if you own it. When you say no, they insist you keep it, saying it goes against their religion or they cannot wear rings. A few moments later, they ask you for money to buy something to eat, eventually following you and becoming more annoying. You can either yell at them or steer them towards an area where there are likely to be police present, at which point they will quickly run away.

The most common scam (besides pickpocketing) that has taken over Paris by storm since June 2011 involves women coming up to tourists with pledge sheets. They pretend to be deaf people collecting money for one charity or another. Once you are distracted with the petition, an accomplice pickpockets you and takes your belongings. In addition, once you sign, they point to a thing that reads "minimum ten euro donation." While they may at first insist on this, shaking your head and walking away will usually make them pester someone else. Otherwise, simply waving them off and a loud no should make them give up. If they are in a large group, as is common, be careful of your belongings! This is a ploy to pickpocket you as you are surrounded by them. At this point, yelling for the police will make them disperse quickly. This is most commonly found around major tourist sites, but has also been a problem at Gare du Nord, though this has gotten much better.

Never bet money on a 3-card game as you will always lose. This trick is played by con artists on some of the bridges on River Seine near the Eiffel Tower.

It is a good idea to steer clear of the suburb of Seine Saint-Denis, as this suburb is known for its gangs and poverty, though there is little of interest to tourists anyway (except the Basilique de Saint-Denis, but that is located near a métro station). You may want to avoid walking alone at night in the 18th and 19th arrondissements as well, as these can be a little shady at night. There is a large problem with youths from the depressed suburbs causing trouble with the police. If locals are moving away, it is most likely from a confrontation. While these groups rarely target people besides the police, be careful. Walk away from a situation that could lead to fights or worse.

In general, remember to be aware of pickpockets, as they act by trying to distract you. Avoid showing off expensive phones or a lot of money in public transportation or in open areas. Put your things in a money belt or your front pockets, but never in the back pockets.

Danger for identifiably Jewish people [ edit ]

Paris has the largest Jewish community in Europe and the 6th largest in the world. However, antisemitic acts have increased in France since the early 2000s, culminating with the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks targeting a local kosher supermarket. Attacks on Jews have since decreased and as of 2023, there have been no recent reports of attacks against tourists of Jewish faith. After 2015, the French government assigned thousands of soldiers to guard synagogues and Jewish schools. Still, fearing harassment or attacks, many of the local Jews no longer wear a kippa/yarmulke in the street or public transportation. So consider taking the advice of local Jews regarding your behavior. For example, if you wear a kippa, consider wearing it under a hat that is not identifiably Jewish.

Respect [ edit ]

Parisians have a reputation for being egocentric, rude and arrogant. While this is often only an inaccurate stereotype, the best way to get along in Paris still is to be on your best behavior, acting like someone who is " bien élevé " (well brought up). It will make getting about considerably easier.

Parisians' abrupt exteriors will rapidly evaporate if you display some basic courtesies. A simple " Bonjour, Madame " when entering a shop, for example, or " Excusez-moi " when trying to get someone's attention, are very important; say " Pardon " or better " je suis désolé " if you bump into someone accidentally or make other mistakes. If you speak French or are using a phrasebook remember to always use the vous form when addressing someone you don't know; this may transform the surliest shop assistant into a smiling helper or the grumpiest inhabitant to a helpful citizen. Courtesy is extremely important in France (where the worst insult is to call someone " mal élevé ", or "badly brought up").

If you only learn one long phrase in French a good one would be " Excusez-moi de vous déranger, monsieur/madame, auriez-vous la gentillesse de m'aider? " (pardon me for bothering you, sir/madam, would you have the kindness to help me?) - this level of extreme politeness is about the closest one can come to a magic wand for unlocking Parisian hospitality. If you know some French, try it! But remember, too, that Parisians have places to go and things to do, so if they have no time and don't answer you, don't take it personally. Many Parisians, given time, will go out of their way to help, especially if you make an effort to speak their language and act polite to them.

Most foreigners tend to ignore two basic rules of courtesy in metro and train transport in Paris. If the carriage is full and you're sitting on a folding seat, you should consider standing up. If you stand next to the door, you are expected to get down to the platform at a stop so that people inside can find their way out. Once they have got out, you can go back. However, don't always expect that others will do the same for you and, if the train is full, get ready to get down with enough time in advance. In a corridor, when pushing a door, you are expected to hold it for the next person, so that it won't close abruptly. This rule is strictly observed in the metro, and quite commonly everywhere else.

In addition, if you are traveling to or from the airport or train station and have luggage with you, make certain that you are not blocking the aisles in the train by leaving your bags on the floor. The RER B (which links both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to the city) has luggage racks above the seats (on the newer trains, there are no such racks above the seats, but racks dedicated to luggage in between some seats); it is best to use them so you do not block the path of a local who is getting off the train before the airport stop. On the métro and especially in the RER, don't take up extra seats with your luggage. There are luggage racks and spaces between the seats.

There are hefty fines for littering in Paris, especially with dog droppings (often you'll find free plastic bags dispensers around parks or playgrounds).

As of Sept 2021, Paris has 5G from all French carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places, transport, cafes and so on.

One helpful thing about having official and numbered districts in Paris is that you can easily tell which arrondissement an address is in by its postal code, and can easily come up with the postal code for a Paris address if you know its arrondissement. The rule is just pre-pend 750 or 7500 to the front of the arrondissement number, with 75001 being the postal code for the 1st and 75011 being the postal code for the 11th, and so on. The 16th has two postal codes, 75016 for the portion south of Rue de Passy and 75116 to the north; all other arrondissements only have one postal code.

Phone cards are available from most "tabacs" but make sure you know where you can use them when you buy them, as some places still sell the cartes cabines which are hard to use as cabines are rare.

Cope [ edit ]

Famous for its status as "fashion capital", Paris isn't as conservative in dress as one might think. Parisians will tolerate all kinds of clothes as long as they're worn "avec style" (with style). That's why men do not usually wear shorts shorter than above the knee outside of sporting events: it is not considered indecent but may stand out from the locals; shorts are for "schoolboys and football players" only.

Airlines [ edit ]

• Adria Airways , 94 r Saint Lazare 75009 . M-F 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-12:00 .  
• Air France , 30 av Léon Gaumont 75985 , ☏ +33 36 54 .  
• Air France Agence Opéra , 49 av Opéra 75002 , ☏ +33 36 54 .  
• Air France Agence Jardin du Luxembourg , 4 pl Edmond Rostand 75006 , ☏ +33 36 54 .  
• Air Tahiti Nui , 28 bd St Germain 75005 , ☏ +33 825 02 42 02 .  
• Croatia Airlines , Roissypôle Le Dôme Bât1 r de la Haye Tremblay en France BP 18913 95731 ROISSY CH DE GAULLE CEDEX , ☏ +33 1 48 16 40 00 .  
• Delta Air Lines , 2 r Robert Esnault Pelterie 75007 , ☏ +33 892 702 609 .  
• Finnair (Compagnie Aérienne de Finlande) , Roissy Terminal 2D 95715 ROISSY CDG CEDEX , ☏ +33 821 025 111 .  
• LOT Polish Airlines , 27 r Quatre Septembre 75002 , ☏ +33 800 10 12 24 . open daily .  
• Qatar Airways , 7 r Vignon 75008 , ☏ +33 1 55 27 80 80 .  
• Royal Jordanian airlines , 38 avenue des Champs Elysees Paris - 75008 , fax : +33 1 42 65 99 02 , [email protected] .  
• Royal Air Maroc , 38 av Opéra 75002 , ☏ +33 820 821 821 .  
• Royal Brunei Airlines , 4 r Fbg Montmartre 75009 , ☏ +33 826 95 31 21 .   ´
• Ryanair , Aéroport Beauvais - Tillé , ☏ +33 892 68 20 64 .  
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (Lignes Aériennes de l'Arabie Saoudite) , 34 av George V 75008 , ☏ +33 820 20 05 05 .  
• Singapore Airlines , 43 r Boissière 75116 , ☏ +33 821 230 380 .  
• Srilankan Airlines , 113 r Réaumur 75002 , ☏ +33 1 42 97 43 44 .  
• Syrian Arab Airlines , 1 r Auber 75009 , ☏ +33 1 47 42 11 06 .  
• TAM Airlines , 50 Ter r Malte 75011 , ☏ +33 1 53 75 20 00 .  
• TAP Portugal , ☏ +33 820 319 320 .  
• Turkish Airlines , 8 Place de l’Opera 75009 , ☏ +33 1 56 69 44 90 , fax : +33 1 45 63 10 80 , [email protected] . 09:30-17:30 .  
• Vietnam Airlines , 49 Avenue des Champs Élysées 75008 , ☏ +33 1 44 55 39 90 .  

Embassies [ edit ]

Go next [ edit ].

• Chantilly - Wonderful 17th-century palace and gardens (and the birthplace of whipped cream). 25 min train ride from Gare du Nord
• Chartres - The 12th-century cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is one of the highlights of Gothic architecture . 60-min train ride from Gare Montparnasse
• Disneyland Paris - In the suburb of Marne-la-Vallée , to the east of Paris, from where it can be reached by car, train, RER, or bus (the train/RER is probably your best bet).
• Fontainebleau - A lovely historic town south of Paris (55.5 km or 35 mi). A favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, it is renowned for its large and scenic forest, and for its château. 35 min train ride from Gare de Lyon
• Rambouillet - A royal palace surrounded by forest and historic town.
• Giverny - The inspirational house and gardens of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet are but a day-trip away. The gardens and its flowers are the most interesting part of the visit, so avoid rainy days.
• Lille - By bus 3½ hr (€5)
• The Loire Valley - a beautiful wine-making stretch of the river Loire that is chock full of renaissance châteaux, including Chambord , as well as medieval cities such as Blois , Orléans and Tours . Trains take 1–2½ hours from Gare Montparnasse and Gare d'Austerlitz .
• The Orient Express , which historically ran Paris- Istanbul , has been partially recreated as a seasonal luxury tourist train , but tickets are not cheap.
• Saint-Denis - On the northern edge of the metropolis, site of the Stade de France and St Denis Abbey, burial place of French royalty.
• Versailles - On the southwestern edge of Paris, the site of the Sun King Louis XIV's magnificent palace. 20-40 min train ride by RER (line C) from central Paris.

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• UNESCO tag to be fixed
• Previous Destinations of the month
• Has custom banner
• Huge city articles
• Huge cities with more than 10 districts
• Has mapframe
• Maps with static images
• Maps with non-default size
• Has map markers
• Airport listing
• Articles with dead external links
• Do listing with no coordinates
• Articles with formerly dead external links
• Listing without plain text name
• Listing with Wikipedia link but not Wikidata link
• Has routebox
• Has Geo parameter
• Île-de-France
• All destination articles
• Guide cities
• Guide articles
• City articles
• Cities with categories
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

The Ultimate 3 Days in Paris Itinerary

When you only have 3 days in Paris, you need to get your Paris itinerary just right.

With a nearly unlimited number of incredible things to do (and eat, and see) in the City of Light, it’s important to plan a short trip carefully.

Sure, y ou want to see as much as you can–but you’ll also want to prevent yourself from burning out and/or wasting too much time in transport bouncing all over the city .

As first-time visitors to Paris quickly learn, the city is enormous and quite spread out, and without a solid plan, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

That being said, Paris ranks among our absolute favorite cities in the world, and we want you to love it as much as we do !

After roughly 10 trips to Paris (and counting!), we’ve designed this itinerary for Paris in 3 days to cover the best of the city, fast.

Follow this travel itinerary to see a solid chunk of Paris’ best highlights, eat some delicious food, wander stunning neighborhoods, and make sure you travel home with a snapshot of Paris that leaves you dying to plan your next trip to the city.

Here’s exactly how to make the most of a few days in Paris, France!

Table of Contents

The Perfect 3 Days in Paris Itinerary

Where to stay in paris, more than 3 days in paris, france, getting around during your 3 day paris itinerary, the paris pass & paris museum pass: worth the money, when to visit paris for 3 days, staying safe during this itinerary for paris.

• What to Wear in Paris, France

What to Pack for Paris

Your 3 day paris itinerary map.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

Day 1: Classic Paris Highlights

Start your morning on île de la cité near notre dame..

What better way to start 3 days in Paris than to visit one of Paris’ most famous landmarks?

Even after the awful April 2019 fire , Notre Dame’s status as an icon of Paris and its convenient location in the center of the city still make it a great place to kick off your few days in Paris.

While you’re nearby, check out the view from the corner of Rue de la Cite and Quai de Montebello , near the Pont de Coeurs , where you can photograph the tops of the towers and some of the front of the cathedral looking semi-normal.

U nfortunately, though, the damage to the cathedral is extensive, and Notre Dame is not expected to reopen before 2024 .

I’m leaving our photos from the rooftop of Notre Dame in place in this 3 day Paris itinerary out of nostalgia, but scroll down for a look at the current view from the corner mentioned above for a more realistic take at the moment.

Step inside Shakespeare & Company.

5-minute walk from Notre Dame

Paris’ most famous bookstore is known as the former haunt of Lost Generation writers like James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the ever-present Ernest Hemingway (he knew all the good travel destinations before the rest of us).

What some don’t know is that the present Shakespeare & Company is a bit different than the original!

T he original location closed during the Nazi occupation, and this store was opened by new management in 1951, in order to nurture a new generation of writers–think Henry Miller, Ray Bradbury, and Langston Hughes.

I could wax poetic about bookstores forever, but I suggest you check out this great article from Vanity Fair if you’re interested in a thorough history of Shakespeare & Company.

Here’s what you need to know to visit: it’s delightful and beautiful, they’ll stamp any books you buy with their seal on the title page (which make wonderful souvenirs from Paris ), there’s a cat who lives upstairs, and the view from the second-floor window over the Seine and toward Notre Dame is divine.

Photos are forbidden inside, so you’ll just have to step across the Seine from Île de la Cité to see the beautiful interior for yourself!

I will note that we’ve after almost a decade of visiting this bookstore on the majority of our trips to Paris, we skipped it on our July 2022 visit because of the huge line in front–we had never seen one there before.

When we returned in December 2022, we were able to walk right in, but if you are planning to visit Paris during the high season, we recommend visiting as early in the morning as you can (Shakespeare & Company opens at 10:00 AM).

Grab a coffee and pastry from a beautiful Parisian cafe.

Having checked a tiny bit of Paris sightseeing off your list, it’s officially time for a traditional French breakfast of a delicious coffee and pastry.

Here are a few cafes nearby (and by nearby I mean practically hidden in plain sight) that you may want to check out.

Famous for its beautiful building nestled into the corner of a cobblestone street near Notre Dame, Odette is a lovely (and photogenic) choice for grabbing breakfast on your first morning in Paris.

Shakespeare & Co. Cafe

Surprisingly affordable and home to delicious coffee, if you want to keep your 3 days in Paris itinerary simple this morning, head next door to Shakespeare & Company for breakfast at their popular cafe by the same name.

(Odette is mere steps away from here, so if you’re a huge Parisian cafe lover, you could even visit both).

A. Lacroix Patissier

This cafe isn’t famous, but it is delicious, cozy, and boasts views of Notre Dame!

We’ve been eating here for years and can highly recommend it.

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole

This one is more for the photo snappers and late risers among us, as it doesn’t open until noon, but Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole is worth mentioning as an option here.

Famous for its gorgeous wisteria, this Parisian cafe is practically next door to Notre Dame, is quite well known among places to eat in Paris , and is incredibly charming.

Pay a visit to the oldest clock in Paris.

8-minute walk from Odette or Shakespeare & Company.

En route to Sainte-Chapelle during your 3 days in Paris, be sure to make your way past the Tour de l’Horloge on the side of the Conciergerie.

Here you’ll be able to take a peek at the oldest clock in Paris, which was installed in the 14th century, is still steadily ticking to this day, and also happens to be incredibly gorgeous.

Stroll over to Sainte-Chapelle.

6-minute walk from Shakespeare & Company

Sainte-Chapelle boasts one of my favorite church interiors in the world, but you likely won’t notice when you first enter: the first floor is rather typically decorated and quite dark.

Climb up to the second floor, though, and you’re in for quite a show: nearly every inch of the 50-foot walls (about 15 meters) are covered in elaborate stained glass.

It is colorful, magical, and absolutely beautiful–I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere else in the world , and it’s well worth fitting into your itinerary for Paris.

We recommend grabbing a skip-the-line in advance (for no extra fee!) to save time in lines and ensure that this (small and very popular) attraction doesn’t sell out.

Get your ticket for Sainte-Chapelle today to skip the ticket line!

Make your way to the Luxembourg Gardens.

15-minute walk from Sainte-Chapelle

Obviously, the Luxembourg Gardens are most impressive in the spring and summer, but they’re worth visiting regardless of time of year: the gardens feel distinctly Parisian and are a joy to visit.

The Luxembourg Palace sits to one side, and be sure to stop by to admire it.

If you want to take a peek at some of the garden’s hidden treasures, the Medici Fountain and Luxembourg Gardens’ very own beehives are both nearby.

If you’re trying to stay on a budget, this is a great place for a picnic lunch!

S imply pick up some Parisian staples (a baguette with cheese and fruit, perhaps) and bring them into the gardens to eat.

If you’d prefer a restaurant, the area surrounding the park is lousy with them (Le Prince Racine is close by and a favorite of ours, and Restaurant Polidor is both tasty and served as a Midnight in Paris filming location!).

During your 15-minute walk over from Sainte-Chapelle, a slightly longer route will also take you by the Pantheon if you’d like to stop by.

Walk toward the Louvre via St. Germain.

18+ minute walk from the Luxembourg Gardens.

Head to the Louvre through St. Germain, one of the most classically Parisian neighborhoods.

As you explore, you’ll pass by some beautiful boutiques, great restaurants, and gorgeous architecture .

Those classic Paris streets you see in photos? St. Germain is a great place to photograph them!

In addition to the restaurants mentioned above, we’ve also enjoyed eating at Eggs & Co. while here, which specializes in omelets.

The food is tasty, and the decor is adorable.

The walk from the Luxembourg Gardens to the Louvre is technically under 20 minutes, but depending on how much you want to meander around the neighborhood, it could take quite a bit longer!

Pay a visit to the largest art museum in the world.

The Louvre is a hard thing to budget time for–for people who aren’t very into art, an hour or 2 of checking out the most famous works might be enough.

For art and history lovers, weeks would be needed.

With only 3 days in Paris, we’d recommend booking timed entry skip-the-line tickets and spending around 2-3 hours in the Louvre, and doing a bit of research before you go.

If there are particular works you’re dying to see (say, the Venus de Milo or the Mona Lisa), make sure you plan accordingly and head in the right direction.

Alternatively, you can book a tour ( we absolutely loved this one ) to ensure you see the best of the Louvre in an efficient way!

We’ve now visited the Louvre three times and have seen almost none of the same exhibits on any of our visits !

Personally, one of my favorite things I’ve found in the Louvre is the Napoleon III apartments, which are an unexpected surprise amongst all of the paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts.

It took us a few trips to Paris before we splurged on a Louvre tour, but we’re  so  glad we did.

This tour was amazing and gave us great context for the pieces we saw in the museum, and we can heartily recommend it. For a different take, this tour is also well recommended.

Lines at the Louvre get notoriously long–plan ahead and book your visit to the Louvre today! You can get timed entry skip-the-line tickets here , book the same  amazing tour we took here , or book another  well-reviewed tour of the Louvre here .

Stop by the Colonnes de Buren or grab a hot chocolate at Angelina.

Once you finish exploring the Louvre, it’s time for a quick Paris sightseeing pitstop before heading off to the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re searching for popular Paris photo spots , this is a great time to stop by the Colonnes de Buren in the Palais Royale.

The columns are free to visit and fun to see in the evening, when there will be plenty of people hanging out (and even working out–we’ve seen everything from group lunges to kids playing soccer) nearby.

After you finish at the Colonnes de Buren, the Galerie Vero-Dodat is  just  around the corner and is another one of Paris’ beautiful covered passages, so you can consider swinging by there for a quick look as well.

If you’re done seeing the sights and simply want to sit down and indulge, famous Angelina is a short walk away, ready to serve you a steaming cup of their legendary hot chocolate.

Admire the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Gardens.

50-minute walk or 30-minute metro ride from the Louvre.

Are your feet killing you yet?

If so (and depending on the time), you may want to consider a metro ride at this point.

If not, we highly recommend the long walk along the Seine to the Trocadero Gardens, which will take you along some beautiful Paris views and past the famous Pont Alexandre III .

Regardless of how you get there, it’s safe to say that your first day spent visiting Paris isn’t complete without a picture-perfect view of the Eiffel Tower!

Head to the river to take a Seine river cruise before sunset.

To be perfectly honest, it took us many trips to Paris before we signed up for a Seine river cruise … and after taking one, we can’t believe that we waited so long!

Yes, they’re a bit touristy, but there’s nothing quite like admiring Paris and its many gorgeous monuments from the water.

Add in the possibility of a sunset, and the view is even better.

Many Seine river cruises leave from very close to the base of the Eiffel Tower, too, making taking one an easy addition to this 3 day Paris itinerary!

Want to splurge a bit for your first night in Paris?

You can even sign up for a full dinner cruise if a standard one-hour cruise doesn’t sound like quite enough time on the Seine.

Book your Seine river cruise today!

Day 2: The Elegant Side of Paris

Begin your day at the arc de triomphe..

What better way to kick off your second day in the City of Light than by admiring one of the best views in Paris?

Climb (all 284 steps of) the Arc de Triomphe for great views over Paris, including views of the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, La Defense, Montmartre , and more.

If you would like to zoom in (especially on faraway spots like Montmartre) it would be a great idea to pack travel binoculars so you don’t miss out on the details.

Be sure to stroll under the Arc de Triomphe as well–it is ornate and beautiful in a way that is hard to pick up from a distance.

Like most of Paris’ most famous attractions, the line to climb the Arc de Triomphe gets very long.

We love using skip-the-line tickets to walk right in–and there’s no extra charge for booking ahead!

Buy tickets to climb the Arc de Triomphe today!

Stroll down the Champs-Élysées.

The famous Champs-Élysées dead ends into the Arc de Triomphe, so after snapping photos both from the top of the monument and of the arch itself, continue your morning by heading down one of the most famous shopping streets in the world.

If you have time in your Paris itinerary (ie, depending on how early in the morning you got started!), consider continuing all the way to the Place de la Concorde before heading outside the city to enjoy one of the most iconic day trips from Paris !

Jump on the RER and spend most of the day at Versailles.

A day trip to Versailles is a perfect addition to 3 days in Paris: while some people do spend a whole day there, when trying to see Paris in 3 days, it makes more sense to squeeze in the Arc de Triomphe first.

(If you have no desire to visit the Arc de Triomphe, though, feel free to head right to Versailles after breakfast).

While at Versailles, be sure to tour the palace itself ( be sure to book tickets in advance if you’re not taking a tour ), and then head outside to the gardens for a long stroll.

Bear in mind that the property is the largest royal domain in the world and it is therefore predictably difficult to see absolutely everything !

The gardens alone take up 230 acres, and that’s without even considering attractions like Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Queen’s Hamlet.

Booking a tour is a great way to get a thorough oversight on your first visit!

After seeing the popular main gardens near the palace, which boast the opulent fountains of Versailles seen in so many photos, consider taking a 25-minute walk through the gardens to visit the other palaces on site (plus Marie Antoinette’s hamlet, of course) .

How to Get to Versailles from Paris

To get to Versailles from Paris, take the RER C line to Versailles.

Transit takes less than an hour, and bear in mind that the RER is separate from the metro.

Y ou’ll need to purchase an RER ticket to head to Versailles.

Be sure to validate your ticket before you travel!

Book your timed entry skip-the-line tickets or guided tour of Versailles today!

Day 3: Parisian Food, Art, and Grit

Start your morning with a parisian food tour..

It’s no secret that French food is some of the most delicious in the world–and before leaving Paris, it’s a great idea to take some time to learn all about it!

We absolutely loved our experience on the Paris Ultimate Food Tour with Devour Tours , which focuses on the trendy La Marais neighborhood.

Taste award-winning pastries and macarons, delectable meats and cheeses, a memorable soup, and much more on this delicious (and extremely filling) food tour.

Devour Tours is one of our favorite food tour companies in Europe, and one of the many reasons for that is the history and culture that is woven into every tour.

The fight for the survival of long-standing traditional markets, the history of the Jewish community in Le Marais, and how French food gets its various designations are just a few details that made their way into our tour, and we walked away very satisfied with the experience.

(As is usual for us, we paid our own way for this tour and told no one we were travel bloggers while there).

Book the Paris food tour we loved today!

Choose Your Own Parisian Adventure: Catacombs vs. the Musée d’Orsay

As your 3 days in Paris rapidly come to a close, it’s incredibly ambitious to try to fit both the catacombs and Musée d’Orsay into the itinerary, especially as they’re quite far apart!

For that reason, I’ll leave your next stop up to you.

Travelers looking for something funky, offbeat, and unusual will love the catacombs.

Art lovers (especially impressionist lovers) will delight in the Musée d’Orsay .

Here’s what to love about each!

Option 1: See a different side of Paris at the Catacombs.

50-minute walk or 25-minute metro ride from the end of the Paris Ultimate Food Tour.

Technically an ossuary and not catacombs, this Paris highlight is a bit spooky and unusual, but a fascinating place to visit while in Paris for 3 days (unless you get freaked out by bones, that is).

Skip-the-line tickets are essential here, or you can even sign up for a guided tour to learn more about the (absolutely wild) history.

Set in Paris’ former quarries, the catacombs hold millions of former Parisians… but they didn’t start their time in the afterlife there.

From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, many of Paris’ cemeteries were emptied out due to health concerns, and the skeletons were relocated to the catacombs.

Artfully arranged and complete with cemetery-appropriate art (Bible verses and such, but also a sign saying “Stop! This is the empire of the dead” over the entrance, so, there’s that), the catacombs are a bizarre mix of fascinating, creepy, historical, and artistic.

The catacombs themselves go on for over 200 miles/320 kilometers, and we have loved each of our visits–and also loved staring down the dark paths that are not intended for tourists to visit.

Fair warning: it’s easy to get lost down there and people have died by breaking in and then getting too lost to find their way out. Stick to the path!

Even during our January visit, the line for the catacombs was still more than 2 hours long! Book your  skip-the-line tickets here or epic in-depth guided tour here !

Option 2: Enjoy Paris’ second-most-famous art museum, the Musée d’Orsay.

40-minute walk or 25-minute metro ride from the end of the Paris Ultimate Food Tour.

Many first-time visitors to Paris walk away saying that the Musée d’Orsay , not the Louvre, is their favorite museum in Paris.

We wouldn’t go quite that far (we love both too much), but it’s easy to see what draws people in.

Not only is the Musée d’Orsay home to some incredible art, including iconic works by Monet and Van Gogh, but the building itself is a bit of an attraction.

The Musée d’Orsay is set in a gorgeous former train station built at the end of the 19th century, complete with the famous clock on the top floor that provides a unique view of Paris.

In addition, the Musée d’Orsay is much smaller than the Louvre, and therefore less overwhelming and easier to visit without getting turned around.

Book your timed entry skip the line ticket for the Musée d’Orsay today!

Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening in Montmartre.

25-minute metro ride from the Paris catacombs or 20-minute metro ride from the Musée d’Orsay .

Your last afternoon and evening in Paris are dedicated to a neighborhood that’s not quite as old or as stately as some Parisian neighborhoods… but it is delightfully fun and very well known.

Montmartre is home to Sacré Coeur, the Moulin Rouge , the famous Place du Tertre, and some incredibly adorable streets, squares, bakeries, cafes, and bars .

Once the haunt of artists and Bohemians, and today the haunt of travelers seeking out some of the prettiest streets and best views in Paris, Montmartre is a beloved favorite among Parisian neighborhoods for good reason.

This area is great for taking iconic Parisian photos, we take our Sony a7R III along with us and end up using it constantly.

While you’re there, be sure to visit Sacré Coeur (the 300 steps to the top of the dome are worth it), see the artists at the Place du Tertre, and duck into the art shops along the nearby side streets .

The steps of Sacré Coeur are one of the most popular sunset spots in Paris, and a wonderful place to watch the light disappear from your last full day in Paris (though the top of the dome is even better–you can see the Eiffel Tower from there!).

If you feel like sticking around for the evening, Montmartre is the perfect place to find nightlife in Paris, too.

W hether you want to go crazy and see a show at the Moulin Rouge (which is just downhill from Montmartre in the Pigalle area) or find a quieter bar to settle down at, you’ll have plenty of options.

Shop tickets to shows at the Moulin Rouge !

Say goodbye to Paris.

Three days in Paris go by so fast: it’s already time to say goodbye.

As you head back to your hotel on your last night in Paris, you may be able to squeeze in one more experience off your Paris wish list.

There are a million worthy options, but one reliably magical one is to grab a warm street crepe and admire the Eiffel Tower twinkling at night.

In our opinion, t here’s no better image to end your trip to Paris with than that one.

In a city as large and dense as Paris, deciding where to stay can be quite daunting!

Paris is famously divided into 20  arrondissements , or neighborhoods, that are named via a number system that starts with 1 in the center of the city (where you’ll find the Louvre) and circles outward like the shell of a snail.

After roughly 10 trips to Paris, we’ve stayed in many neighborhoods spread across the city, from Montmartre ( we loved this aparthotel ) to the Bastille area (an underappreciated place to stay, and this hotel was wonderful ).

And, while everyone has their own opinions about where to stay in Paris (there’s no one right answer) we love and highly recommend Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement ) or the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement ) to travelers visiting Paris for the first time and frequently choose to stay there ourselves.

In these areas, you’ll be within walking distance of attractions like Île de la Cité (home of Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle), the Seine, the Luxembourg Garden, the Louvre, and many more.

And, by choosing a hotel near a metro stop, you’ll also have the rest of Paris at your fingertips!

Here are a few hotels we’ve personally stayed in and loved in the 5th and 6th, arranged more or less from most budget-friendly to most luxurious (though if it’s Parisian charm you’re after, this one is the clear winner).

Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain (Centrally Located & Cozy)

We love this cute boutique hotel in Paris, mostly because of its truly unbeatable location less than a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame and therefore an easy walk away from much of the attractions of Île de la Cité (and a metro stop, of course).

Despite the super central location, the streets outside were still quiet at night, a huge benefit, and the views during the day were lovely.

The customer service was excellent, the bed cozy, and the room, while still very small by global standards, was a bit roomy compared to what we’ve gotten used to in Paris.

We’d be happy to stay again!

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain!

Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris  (Classic Parisian Charm)

Located on a quiet street less than a block from the Seine and Île de la Cité, Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris  offers all the advantages of a central location while maintaining its peace and quiet.

… and it does all that while still managing to have one of the most charming interiors we’ve experienced in a Paris hotel!

The ceilings, wallpaper, and overall decor never let you forget that you’re in the City of Light, and we loved every second.

The breakfast is also delicious, served at the table, and includes a generous selection of pastries as well as fruit, cheese, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Check rates & book your stay at Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris!

Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris (Modern Amenities + Kitchens on the Seine)

Located right on the Seine in one of the most convenient locations in Paris, the crisp and modern Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris offers ease at every turn.

And, that includes the fact that studios and apartments here include kitchens or kitchenettes!

If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from sightseeing in Paris, a chance to enjoy an occasional dinner of cheese and baguette you picked up at the market, and a bit more elbow room than is traditional in the City of Light, this is the place for you.

We loved our stay here–and, thanks to the hotel being pet-friendly, so did Ranger.

Check rates & book your stay at Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris!

Paris is a city that can occupy a lifetime and still not be fully discovered–no matter how much time you have in Paris, you will never leave feeling that you’ve unturned every stone.

After about 10 trips to Paris and counting, we still find ourselves discovering new gems every time we visit!

A few things to consider adding to your Paris itinerary if you have longer than three days in the city include a visit to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, or heading to the top of Montparnasse Tower (this tower is generally reviled for disrupting Paris’ beautiful skyline, but it does have quite the view at the top!).

You could also splurge on a Michelin Star meal, take a class on learning how to bake macarons or croissants (we did the macarons and adored it!), tour the Paris Opera House, duck into a smaller museum like the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of our favorites)… you get the picture.

Our gigantic Paris bucket list and/or our guide to the hidden gems of Paris are great blog posts to peruse if you’re looking for fun ideas to round out your itinerary for Paris!

There are plenty of hidden gems in Paris that lurk in plain sight, from the former home of Nicholas Flamel to lesser-known but interesting churches like the Church of Saint Sulpice to fascinating flea markets, all of which are worth seeking out if you have more than a few days in Paris.

If you’re looking to head out of town on one of your additional days in Paris, popular day trips other than Versailles include the town of Rouen, the castle of Fontainebleau, and Giverny to experience the water gardens that inspired Monet.

Paris is a large city, but it is surprisingly easy to get around.

As I mentioned above, the City of Light is made up of 20 arrondissements , or districts, starting with the 1st in the center (this is where you’ll find the Louvre), and spiraling outward from there.

When deciding where to stay in Paris, try not to put too much stock in being near any particular attraction.

Paris’ main sights are spread far and wide in its arrondissements (a few examples: the Eiffel Tower is in the 7th, the Louvre in the 1st, Montmartre in the 18th, and Notre Dame in the 4th), and wherever you end up staying, you’ll be traveling through the city during your stay.

Here’s how to get around during your itinerary for 3 days in Paris!

Paris’ metro system is extremely dense and developed.

O ther than walking, we recommend using it as your main method of transportation while in Paris.

The easiest way to purchase tickets is as a carnet, or group of 10 tickets at a time, and replenish as you run out.

However, if you happen to purchase the Paris Pass , access to the bus, metro, and RER systems are all included, so you won’t need to purchase separate tickets.

Taxis & Uber

Taxis and Uber are both prevalent in the city, though high prices and heavy traffic make them a less attractive option than the metro.

Lyft is not available in Paris.

Walking is our absolute favorite way to get around Paris, which is part of why this 3 days in Paris itinerary includes the option to walk so much.

Not only do you save money and work off the copious amounts of pain au chocolat you’re probably consuming, but you also get to discover Paris at its very best!

Meandering through a dorable side streets, sampling cute cafes, admiring gorgeous buildings, enjoying the enormous dog population, and more, are all part of the essential Parisian walking experience.

Do not rent a car in Paris.

Parking is an expensive nightmare, driving is difficult and traffic-laden, and the metro system is extensive and functional.

R enting a car in Paris is far more trouble than it is worth, and that’s without even including the cost of doing so as a factor. Just don’t do it.

If you follow this 3 days in Paris itinerary, a full Paris Pass likely won’t be worth the money unless you are going to be using a lot of transportation.

If you want access to benefits like a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour , you may want to consider it.

The Paris Museum Pass , though a better fit for this 3 day Paris itinerary than the Paris Pass is, still isn’t likely to be worth the money as compared to buying tickets individually.

In 2022, with so many tickets easily available for online purchase in advance, a lot of the convenience of city passes and museum passes has been left behind, leaving only monetary benefit as a reason to buy one.

If you have your heart set on visiting several other small museums in Paris not covered on this itinerary that are included with the pass (check the list carefully, as what is included and excluded can be a bit surprising), you may be able to get a good deal.

Please note that if you do purchase a Paris Museum Pass , you’ll still need to sign up for a timed entry reservation for the Louvre.

There is no bad time of year to spend 3 days in Paris.

In the spring, you’ll see beautiful flowers (and if you’re lucky , even cherry blossoms!), and get to see the city in full bloom.

In the summer, Paris is at its sunniest and warmest, and it’s the perfect time of year for long evenings spent outside of adorable cafes.

In the fall, the autumn foliage is stunning.

In the winter, you can experience Paris at its emptiest and with its lowest prices (but it’s all relative–this is still Paris).

It doesn’t typically snow in Paris, but December does offer the bonus of Christmas decorations and decor!

We’ve now been lucky enough to visit Paris during most months of the year, and haven’t had a bad trip yet.

Whenever you have a chance to visit, go: no matter what time of year it is, it is the perfect time to be in Paris.

Traveling in Paris is generally a very safe activity, but like in all large cities (and especially large cities crawling with tourists), scams and petty crime run rampant.

Beware anyone approaching you asking you to sign a petition, offering you a rose or “friendship bracelet”, or enticing you to buy a “gold” ring that they “found”.

In general, keep an eye on your belongings, watch out for pickpockets (especially in crowds), and avoid getting overly intoxicated  (especially alone or late at night).

In other words: use common sense.

Generally speaking, the riskiest places for encountering potential scams or pickpockets are in the areas most dominated by tourists–near the Eiffel Tower, for example, or in front of the Louvre.

Keep your wits about you, but there’s no reason to be overly worried: millions of people safely visit Paris each year, and we’ve never had any trouble.

An anti-theft purse or backpack can help add a layer of protection from petty theft, though of course you’ll still need to be vigilant.

We’ve happily used this anti-theft backpack for years, and a couple of our friends swear by this one .

If you’re not used to traveling in large cities, you could also consider using a money belt during your Paris vacation.

This is up to you: we no longer use one, and thieves are certainly aware of them, but if you’re more comfortable having your valuables more secure than they are in your pockets while exploring, it’s an option.

What to Wear in Paris , France

Our general rule of traveling is that we never expect to (or try to) pass as locals, but we aim to look like ex-pats or frequent travelers that at least know what we’re doing… and, okay, in Paris, we want to look somewhat good.

It is Paris, after all.

The big key to blending in and looking fashionable in Paris? Less is more.

Think lots of dark colors (I swear, 90% of Parisian women we saw on our most recent winter trip were wearing a black coat), fashionable jeans or pants, and cute dresses.

Flats or boots for women depending on the season and casual loafers or boots for men are just fine–much more important than the exact shoe is that they’re very comfortable and well broken in.

For men, think fitted slacks or jeans, and fitted shirts. Not particularly fancy or dressed up, but not sloppy, either.

We generally consider the whole “Europeans don’t wear jeans!” rule to be either complete fiction or at least wildly outdated, but Parisians certainly don’t tend to wear ill-fitting, or worn-out ones, either.

Bottom line?

Don’t worry too much about what to wear in Paris–we find that people tend to overthink it.

Pack clothes you’re comfortable in, leaning toward classic, basic styles, and dark colors, and you’ll blend right in (as much as any tourist can).

And hey, if you get there and feel completely out of place in your wardrobe, Paris is a pretty fantastic place to shop!

Travel Insurance  — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.

Travel Adaptors for France — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll definitely need adaptors for your electronics.

Swiss Army Knife   — AKA, your handy baguette-and-cheese-slicer plus wine bottle opener all in one–it’s a Parisian essential!

Pacsafe    — We bring this with us everywhere these days. Simply place your important belongings inside before you leave for the day, string the safe around the sturdiest thing in the room (the base of the toilet or a pipe under the sink is a good option), and voila! You’re good to go.

Travel Journal — I personally love the One Line a Day Journal that covers 5 years–you write one sentence a day, and every date is on the same page through the years (so, for example, you can easily see what you were doing on all the April 18th’s).

I adore the concept (I’m currently on my second volume), and a quick sentence each day is about all I can commit to in a journal!

Camera — This one comes from personal experience: on our first trip to Paris in late 2013, we took all of our photos on our cell phones, and we definitely regret it.

While phone photography has come a long way in the last decade, if you’re even the tiniest bit into photography as a hobby, definitely bring the camera.

We recently upgraded to our Sony a7R III and absolutely love it, but whatever camera you’re comfortable with works–just make sure you have something with you to preserve your memories! 

They’re incredibly handy and we recommend adding one to your packing list. We’ve been carrying ours for years and it never stops coming in handy!

Reusable Water Bottle  — Even in fashionable cities like Paris, we always prefer to keep water with us—it saves both money and plastic as compared to buying water bottles along the way.

Hand Sanitizer — We’ve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag.

Money Belt   — This is up to you: we no longer use one, but if you’re more comfortable having your passports with you at all times in Paris, you can consider bringing one.

We used to use this one   and had no complaints. These days, we prefer just to leave valuables in our Pacsafe during the day.

Take This Map With You! Click each highlight to pull up the name of the destination. To save this map to “Your Places” on Google Maps, click the star to the right of the title. You’ll then be able to find it under the Maps tab of your Google Maps account! To open the map in a new window, click the button on the top right of the map.

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

53 thoughts on “The Ultimate 3 Days in Paris Itinerary”

Your itinerary seems to cover all the major attractions of Paris in a tightly packed schedule. I’m bookmarking this for future reference for whenever I finally manage to make my way down to Paris. Nice photos, I particularly enjoyed the ones taken from the gargoyles’ perch.

Thanks, Denny! We love the gargoyle photos too.

I never say no to a trip to Paris, even though I’ve been many times. Still haven’t seen Saint Chappelle or the Luxembourg Gardens though! Those stained glass windows are stunning. Looks like I have to make it back for trip no. 5!

There’s no such thing as too many trips to Paris! 😉

That’s a great itinerary for a short trip! I loved all the crepe vendors, I ate one too many banana Nutella crepes while there. Did you have a chance to go to Angelina? Best hot chocolate ever!

We did not–something to add to the list for our next trip! We’d love to make it back to Paris again in 2018– we shall see.

Angelina’s is divine. We will be back in Paris in Sept, and getting so excited. Looking for some new neighborhoods to explore off the main attractions path.

September is such a wonderful time to go!

You might like this post on getting off the beaten path in Paris–some of these spots are in quieter neighborhoods, and some are hidden in plain sight: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/secret-paris-off-the-beaten-path/

I have never been to Paris so this guide is just perfect for me! You curated the itinerary very thoughtfully. It has a mix of touristy as well as offbeat things to do! I love walking and public transport, so this guide feels like it is tailor made for me!

Thank you, Abhinav! 🙂

I have been to Paris many many times before so i was curious if your list has something that I havent seen yet and indees there are two things! The galery Lafayette although I knew its existence. However, the catacombs is new to me! But if I am not wrong, they made a horror movie about or inspired about this? The title is “Upside…” something.

Ha, yes there is! It’s called “As Above, So Below”. It came out a year or so after we first visited the catacombs, so of course we had to go see it. It was only an okay movie, but the shots of Paris and the catacombs were more than enough to keep us entertained.

What a fantastic itinerary! I love how you’ve planned each day out. It would be an exhausting three days, but it would be worth it!

When we were in Paris, we never made it over to Versaillas. I hope to do that next time we’re there, plus visit in the spring for those beautiful cherry blossom in front of the Eiffel Tower pics! 🙂

I hear you on the Eiffel Tower pictures!! Both of our visits have been in winter so far (technically this one was at the beginning of spring, but Paris’ flowers hadn’t bloomed yet), and I want those iconic cherry blossom views!!

What a comprehensive itinerary for visiting one of my favorite cities. Love all your suggestions and it makes me yearn to return.

Thanks, Sue! I hear you on wanting to return–I think I said “I miss Paris” out loud at least a dozen times while writing this post. 🙂

This is such a great itinerary for Paris. I made it to several of your suggestions during my visit but missed a few. Seeing you with that crepe made my mouth water. I loved the banana/nutella/strawberry crepes-amazing!!

Haven’t actually tried that combo yet–next time I’ll need to! The one I’m holding is a butter & sugar–so simple and yet so tasty.

I love Paris!! We visited last May and couldn’t wait to go back again! There are a few spots we missed like Musee d’Orsay and Luxembourg Garden. Definitely need to go back when we’re in the city next time. I don’t know about the catacombs though 😛

Ha, you’re not the only one! Some people aren’t into the whole bones thing… we find it completely fascinating, though. 😛

This post is SO thorough! One of the best I have read on Paris.

Thank you, Natalia! That was the goal. 🙂

This is a perfect itinerary for me. I am keeping it for my future visit to Paris. Wow Paris is still a dream. I am sold on the Sainte-Chapelle. Its such a stunning architecture. Someday I will make to to this destination. I loved your guide for the clothing. Great post.

Sainte-Chapelle is amazing–easily one of the most memorable houses of worship we have been in.

We are planning to visit Paris in July. Such a gorgeous place and there is so much to see and do there. can’t wait to explore and take some pretty pictures for sure 🙂

I hope you have an amazing trip! You will definitely come home with pretty pictures. 🙂

Excellent guide, I’ve been to Paris twice, the first time I had about 8 days and the 2nd time was only over a weekend so this itinerary would have been helpful! I was there in the middle of summer though and it was stinking hot. I love the French fashion and style but it was hard to dress in style with such heat! Excellent advice in this piece.

I’ve heard the heat can be killer! Hoping to make it in the summer one of these days to feel it for myself–worth it to see all the beautiful gardens in bloom, hopefully. 🙂

One of the best destination! It’s also known for its French architecture and mouthwatering variety. Thanks for the reminder that it doesn’t matter how long you wait until traveling, just that everybody can start once.

Thanks, Chi! Glad to have you stopping by.

I’ll be in Paris in the next few weeks and this is definitely helpful in planning my trip!

I stumbled on your site while planning a trip to Italy (Florence and Rome), Monte Carlo, Paris and London in July 2019. I loved all of your itineraries for Florence, Rome and Paris. I’ve been to Paris (but that was 30 years ago), and visited all the spots you mention. That being said, I’m eager to see them all again. Thanks for your suggestions on what to see in 2 or 3 days in each of these cities. You definitely helped me plan out our days so they make the most sense. I cannot wait until we get there!

Thank you so much, Melissa! The detailed trip itineraries are honestly some of my favorite things to write, and nothing makes me happier than hearing that other people found them useful.

Your trip sounds fantastic–hope that you have an amazing time in July!

Hi Kate, I, like many others here, stumbled across your site while planning our 1st trip to Paris coming up May 2019. My husband and I will be in Paris for 3.5 days. So this itinerary seems perfect. Since I am a planner and wanting to make sure I can plan and purchase tickets to the museums and such ahead of time, I don’t want to feel so committed as well in case we change our minds or want to see something (like the Eiffel Tower) at night rather than mid day. I certainly do not want to spend hours in lines to purchase tickets and then another hour in line to view the museums. Any suggestions on pre-arrival planning and do some of the tour companies offer cancellations up to a day in advance? Thank you for this great information. I will be using it as a guideline for our trip. We will be headed to Barcelona after… have you been?

We use Get Your Guide for buying all our tickets and tours in Paris–you can buy skip-the-line passes to things like the Arc de Triomphe through them and then just show the ticket on your phone at any time that day (we just did that one personally last August). In Paris, we normally book our tickets for whatever we want to do that morning before heading out for the day and download them to our phones, so we stay pretty flexible while also having our tickets ready to go and avoiding lines during the day.

This is perfect for museum entrances, visiting the Palais Garnier and Versailles, etc. Where it becomes an issue is with the Eiffel Tower (which is a special case requiring a time slot) and guided tours–if you’re looking for a guided tour of the Louvre, for example, that will be time-sensitive and we really recommend booking at least a few days in advance (especially in May, which is a popular time to visit Paris).

What I’d recommend in your case is to book any timed experiences (food tours, Eiffel Tower climb, guided tours) ahead of time and then using those to structure the rest of your trip. Pretty much everything else can be bought day-of, though we definitely still recommend buying skip-the-line tickets online to avoid lines. Cancellation policies will be a company-by-company thing, but I know Get Your Guide usually allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

We have not been to Barcelona yet, but would love to go soon! We thought about going this April, actually, but getting back to Italy again won out (as it so often does with us).

Hope you have an amazing trip!

I am taking my husband and 2 children to Paris in July 2020. We are also going on to Rome and Florence. I have been to Paris for work. My family has never been. We are thinking 3 days in Paris. Should we go for 4 and reduce our time in Italy, or can we see enough in Paris?

I would say it depends on how long you have to spend in Rome and Florence. Ideally, I’d say the minimum number of days to spend in each city is 3 days in Paris, 3 in Rome, and 2 in Florence–though you could easily triple the time in any of them and still leave with lots left to do!

They happen to be 3 of our favorite cities in the entire world–we visit all of them regularly–so in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with extra time in any of them.

Hello, thank you for the comprehensive and interesting itinerary!

However, the day that I’m arriving happens to be on a Tuesday, which I heard that Louvre would be closed. May I know how I can switch my itinerary around?

Sure thing! Of course there are a million ways to do so, but the easiest would be to swap the Louvre and Montmartre on your itinerary–so see Montmartre the afternoon of day one and the Louvre the afternoon of day three. 🙂

Hope you have a great time!

Hi,loved your article. I am an armchair traveller and My son is on his first backpacking trip to Europe ,I read through lot of articles and found yours the best,sent him the links and he followed them almost to the the T, except doing Louvre in the evening as after 6 pm,as it’s open for students. Thanks a lot.

Thanks so much, Asiya! So glad your son had a great time–we love visiting the Louvre at night as well, it has such a nice atmosphere in the evenings.

WOW!! What a great itinerary, practically covered with many, if not all the places you should definitely know if you want to go to Paris, I would love to be able to take my girlfriend for a journey to know Paris, I will definitely take into consideration these places, I would like the idea of being able to visit the catacombs, however she is very scary, so I think she won’t be interested much hehe

Thanks, Mauel! Hope you and your girlfriend have the chance to visit Paris soon. 🙂

This is such detailed guide to Paris and saving it up for next travel to Europe.

Thanks so much, Mayuri! Hope you enjoy your next Europe trip!

Hi Kate, Your itinerary for Paris is as good as it gets. I am planning a trip to Europe in June 2020 with Paris as the first stop. Stay will be for 3 days which is perfect as per the itinerary. However, the only glitch is that our arrival will most probably be at 14:20 LT in Paris. Which means that after checking in at the hotel, we may make it for the evening cruise only. Our arrival will be most probably on 1st June and will leave Paris on 04th June. Will it be enough or should I add one more day?

Thanks, Sanjeev! To do absolutely everything on this Paris itinerary you might need another day, but if it doesn’t fit into your trip, no worries at all! You can still have a great trip and just either hurry through the sights a bit or cut whichever 1-2 things appeal to you the least–whichever fits your travel preferences more.

You mention hiking 3 towers in one day, but did I miss it…I didn’t see anywhere that you reviewed the Eiffel Tower? I only saw Arc De Triomphe and Sacre Coeur? I wanted your input on Eiffel Tower? Heard it’s not worth the amount of time spent to go to top? How about second floor? Worth it?? Thank you.

Apologies, that must be left over from years ago when this itinerary also included climbing Notre Dame. I’ll get it updated.

We’ve never gone to the top of the Eiffel Tower due to the number of friends who have told us it’s not worth it. Personally, it has never appealed to us as much as other monuments–I like having the Eiffel Tower in my Paris skyline photos!

We keep saying we’ll go up one day just so we can offer a first-person review–maybe this will finally be the year we do. 🙂

I would love it if there was a schedule with approximate times for each attraction!! Is there something like that <3 ? Thanks anyways 🙂

We don’t include any specific times since everyone moves at their own pace and starts at different times of the day (some families love to start sightseeing at 7, others at 9–and the itinerary can easily be adapted for both).

Have a wonderful time in Paris!

I really like this article as a fan of literature, I would really like to visit the Shakespeare and company. And the itinerary was so well plan and detailed. I will be bookmarking this for future references. Thank you for this post!

Thanks, John!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 107 Comments

Thinking about spending 3 days in Paris? Great choice! We think that’s the perfect amount of time to spend in one of our favourite European cities, giving you the chance to see many of the top sights and attractions and really get a feel for the city.

Of course, if you have longer, that’s even better, but three days in Paris is certainly enough to see a lot, and works well either as a long weekend, or as part of a longer Europe trip itinerary like this .

To help you with your planning, we’re going to share with you everything we think you need to know to spend three days in Paris. We’re going to give you a suggested itinerary, tips for getting around, advice on where to stay in Paris, our thoughts on when is best to visit and even some suggested ways to save money in Paris.

Let’s get started!

3 Day Paris Itinerary

This three-day Paris itinerary has you hitting all the major sites and attractions in the city. Naturally we suggest you use this as a guide, and add to or remove from it as necessary.

We also suggest you check the opening times and days for each attraction. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so depending on when your trip to Paris is, you might need to re-order the days to get everything in.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 1

Eiffel tower.

What better way to start off your trip to Paris than with a visit to the Eiffel Tower . This is without doubt the most iconic landmark in Paris (if not France!), and a visit here is a must for any visit to Paris. When we visit Paris, we always visit at least once, and every time we are amazed at the sheer scale of this beautiful building.

There are a number of ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower. First, you can just enjoy the views of the tower, which we think are particularly good from the Trocadero Gardens across the river, or the Champ de Mars gardens behind the Tower.

You can also go up inside the Eiffel Tower to one of the different floors, for expansive views of the city. We do like the experience of going up inside, but we don’t think it offers the best view of the city – because the view from inside the Eiffel Tower is missing the most famous part of the skyline – the Eiffel Tower itself!

Still, if this is your first visit to Paris, we highly recommend the experience. We do suggest that if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, that you book your tickets in advance from the official website . The queues here for tickets can be very long, and with a pre-booked ticket you can skip the wait.

Alternatively, if you are feeling fit, you can also take the stairs up to the first level. There is not usually a very long queue for the stairs, which have their own ticket line, and it is also slightly cheaper. See our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower to help you plan your visit.

There are other options for visiting as well. A guided climb of the Eiffel Tower is included on the Paris Pass . This runs in the middle of the day, so if you want to take advantage of this, you will likely want to switch the Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise around in this itinerary. It’s also included on the Paris City Card , with a choice of timeslots.

Finally, this tour includes a guided visit (with elevator) to the second floor with the option to visit the summit if you want. It also includes free cancellation, which the official ticket does not.

Seine River Cruise

Another must-do experience in Paris is a river cruise on the Seine. This is a very popular activity, with multiple operators offering cruises up and down the river.

We’ve actually written a post about the various Seine River sightseeing cruise options which goes through the majority of the operators. If you’d prefer a dinner cruise, check out our guide to the best Seine River dinner cruises .

We can definitely recommend the Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise . These depart from just next to the Eiffel Tower, so fit in nicely with this itinerary, and they are included for free if you pick up a Paris Pass or a Paris City Card .

The cruise takes in all the highlights from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, and there’s commentary included. So sit back, relax, and let the scenery roll by.

Hop on Hop off Bus

Talking of sitting back and relaxing, we find that a great way to get oriented in a new city and get an idea of the sights we want to see is to take a Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus tour.

Paris is no exception to this rule, and you can pick up a HOHO bus in Paris from right next to the Eiffel Tower, which will then take you around Paris’s key attractions.

There are multiple operators running different routes around the city. If you pick up a Paris Pass, it includes a 1 Day Big Bus Tour . We took this tour and enjoyed it – it’s both an easy way to get around the city, plus you can learn about many of the sights as you go.

However there are a few different HOHO options in Paris, so pick the one that works for you!

Paris Walking Tour

All this sitting around on buses and boats is great for getting oriented, but at some point you’re going to need to put your feet on the pavement! Paris is a wonderful city to explore on foot, and a guided walking tour is an excellent way to do that.

We think that if you are going to do a walking tour in a city, the first day is the best, as you can ask your guide for local recommendations such as their favourite places to eat or get a coffee, as well as get suggestions for hidden gems you might not find in the guidebooks.

There are lots of operators offering tours in Paris. We’ve taken a number of walking tours with Context Travel , and have always loved their detailed tours. They have a number of tours available in Paris, and you get 10% off with this link . We particularly enjoyed their Hemingway themed walking tour of Paris.

We also love Take Walks walking tours, and they have recently launched a number of Paris Tours . For example, they have a full day Paris tour , although this would require you to significantly alter this itinerary.

If you have a Paris Pass, it comes with a choice of free walking tours , which is worth looking into.

Tour Montparnasse

Last on our list for your first day in Paris is a trip up the Tour Montparnasse . I recommend this to everyone going to Paris, as it is, in my opinion at least, the location with the best view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

This is particularly the case at sunset, so if you can time your visit for sunset, you will get to witness a wonderful sunset across the Eiffel Tower, and then watch the city lights come to life.

The observation level is across two levels, one is inside and one is outside. The outside area is surrounded by glass, but there are cutouts so you can get reflection-free shots of the view. You can also bring a tripod up here! No wonder therefore that it’s on my list of favourite Paris photography locations .

There’s a fee to go up Tour Montparnasse, but it’s free for holders of the Paris Pass . You can also buy individual tickets online in advance  here .

Paris Itinerary:  Day 2

Our second day in Paris takes in some more iconic sites including some of Paris’s most famous museums and churches. It’s quite a full day, so do feel free to edit the itinerary to suit your particular interests, pace and needs!

Sainte Chapelle

It took me multiple visits to Paris before I finally made it to Sainte Chapelle . Now I urge everyone to make it a priority on their trip to Paris!

This is a relatively small chapel that is not too far from Notre Dame, but the interior, which consists of almost floor to ceiling stained glass, is absolutely outstanding. It will definitely take your breath away.

The 13th century Saint Chapelle is quite popular, and the small size and mandatory security checks mean that the line to get in can be long. This is why I have put it on my list as the first thing for your second day in Paris – you want to get here early, ideally get in line ten – fifteen minutes before the opening time. After all, no-one wants to spend their time standing in lines.

There’s a fee to enter Saint Chapelle, which is free to holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass .

You can also buy tickets online in advance here , which is highly recommended as it can get busy here. There’s also a combination ticket for Sainte Chapelle and the nearby Conciergerie here , which is worth visiting.

No more than ten minutes’ walk from Sainte Chapelle is Paris’s most famous religious building, known for her flying buttresses, twin towers and, of course, hunchback resident.

You will definitely see two out of those three when you visit Notre Dame , the major Catholic cathedral in Paris. Construction of this magnificent building took nearly two hundred years, and was completed in 1345.

Unfortunately, on April 15th 2019 a devastating fire seriously damaged Notre Dame. The cathedral will be closed for the foreseeable future as a result of this tragic incident.

We certainly think it is worth visiting the facade, but as you can’t go inside at the moment, you might wish to visit another nearby attraction like the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned) as well. You can get a combined ticket for that and Sainte Chapelle here

Musee d’Orsay

If you like museums, Paris has definitely gotten you covered. Our next stop is the Musee d’Orsay , but before you get here, you’re going to take a walk along Paris’s iconic left bank, from Notre Dame to the Musee d’Orsay. This isn’t too far, but you’ll see the booksellers and get a feel for this part of town.

Paris’s museums are quite logically set up, with three main art museums covering three distinct time periods.

The Musee d’Orsay, first on our list, covers art dating from the middle of the 19th century up to the early 20th century, and is home to masterpieces from the likes of Duchamp, Kandinsky and Picasso, to name but a few.

The Louvre (see below), covers the time period before this, whilst the Centre Pompidou covers the time period afterwards, right up to the modern day. The Centre Pompidou isn’t on this itinerary, but you could fit it in if you wanted to of course!

The Musee d’Orsay is absolutely stunning. It’s set in what was once one of Paris’s main train stations, and the grand central atrium is gorgeous – almost worth visiting in of itself.

There’s a fee to get in here, but holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free entry as well as skip the line privileges.

You can also buy tickets and tours online in advance here or on the official site here .

If you only visit one museum in Paris, I can highly recommend making it the Louvre . This is one of the world’s most famous museums, and is home to an incredible collection of art, including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, to name but a few.

Obviously, seeing the Mona Lisa is on the wishlist for many visitors, but this museum, which covers art from ancient times up to the middle of the 19th century, has obviously got a great deal more to offer. True art lovers could lose themselves for days in the vast collection here!

Of course, if that’s you, you are welcome to do the same, although for the purposes of this itinerary we’d probably recommend you try and limit your time to two to three hours so you can fit more of Paris in.

We’d also highly recommend that you pick up either a Paris Pass , Paris City Card or a Paris Museum Pass , which will give you fast-track access to the Louvre.

Note that in the busy times, which tend to be the summer periods especially, the Louvre gets very busy. In summer 2019, there were multiple days when the museum actually sold out, and only holders of advance purchase tickets or timed reservations were able to enter the museum.

If you have a Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass , you must reserve your entry online on the official website . This is mandatory for holders of these passes in order to guarantee entry, and we highly recommend you do this in advance. If you do not reserve your slot in advance, you are not guaranteed entry even with the pass.

If you have a Paris City Card , you’ll book the timeslot you want when you book the card.

If you do not have a pass, you can buy your ticket and reserve your entry time either on GetYourGuide here (where we normally get our tickets), or online on the official website here . We’ve sometimes found that GetYourGuide has availability even when the official site is out, so it’s always worth checking if you want to visit and can’t find tickets on the official site.

Whichever ticket you buy, you will still have to queue for security, but the line for people with tickets is a lot quicker moving than the general admission line. In addition, when the Louvre sells out on its official website, tickets will usually not be sold on site, so you may not be able to just turn up and queue – only holders of advance tickets will be given entry.

Note the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. See opening times and more on the official site here .

Wine tasting

When you think of France, a few things likely come to mind, and I suspect that wine is likely one of them. So why not take a break from the sight-seeing and museums, and indulge in a little wine tasting.

Conveniently located just by the Louvre Museum, the Caves du Louvre  is a wine-tasting experience which will guide you through the French wine making process and introduce you to a number of different French wines. Which you get to drink.

The tour is set in an actual 18th century wine cellar which originally housed the wine collection of the French King. Not a bad setting to learn about French wine we think!

There’s a fee for the tour (which includes the wine tasting), and it is included for holders of the Paris Pass. You can also book it separately here .

If you aren’t into wine tasting, there are a number of nearby cafes and restaurants where you can refresh and revive.

We can recommend afternoon tea at Le Meurice , the Ritz or the Hotel de Crillon if you like afternoon tea (see our guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris if so).

For a shorter and less expensive experience, the hot chocolate at Angelina Cafe is also superb.

Arc de Triomphe

We’re going to finish off the second day of our three-day Paris itinerary with a visit to the Arc de Triomphe , another of Paris’s iconic landmarks. From the Louvre you can either take public transport here, or you can walk up the Champs Elysees, Paris’s most famous shopping street.

The Arc de Triomphe, built in memory of those who died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, is wonderfully photogenic.

From the top you get an excellent view of the city, which includes the roads spanning out into the distance and the Eiffel Tower.

As you journey up into the monument, you will also come to a museum which details some of its history. Below the monument, you will also find the tomb of the unknown soldier.

To get to the Arc de Triomphe, don’t try and cross the traffic roundabout. Head to one of the underpasses, and cross in safety.

Going up inside the Arc de Triomphe carries a fee, holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free access with skip the line privileges.

You can also book a ticket online in advance here , which is worth doing as the lines can get quite long.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 3

On the last day of our 3 day Paris itinerary we’re heading out of the city centre to take in one of Paris’s most famous Royal Palaces. We’re also including some extra sights in the city at the end if you can tear yourself away.

The really nice thing about having 3 days in Paris is that you have the flexibility to go a little further out of the centre. My suggestion for your third day is to visit Versailles , the incredible palace that was the seat of French political power and home to French Royalty, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

To truly appreciate Versailles, I would suggest allocating at least half a day of your third day in Paris, if not more. There is easily enough to see here to fill an entire day, which is why we don’t recommend coming here on our two day Paris itinerary .

We suggest starting off by touring the Palace. You’ll want to get here for opening time, as this is a really popular tourist attraction and it gets busier as the day goes on. Once you have toured the Palace and seen such highlights as the incredible Hall of Mirrors and the Kings Grand Apartments, you can head outside, where there is a great deal more to see.

A walk in the incredible (and vast!) gardens is a must. We particularity enjoyed heading over to Marie Antoinette’s estate, which is a slightly quieter part of the gardens, and home to a small model farm, tucked away temples, and walking paths.

It’s very easy to spend a whole day exploring Versailles and the grounds, and don’t feel bad if you do, it’s totally worth it.

Visiting Versailles is quite easy, you can get a train (RER C) from central Paris to the Gare de Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, and from the train station to the Palace it is a well sign-posted ten minute walk.

Fast-track entry to the Palace, Gardens and other Versailles attractions is included on the Paris Museum Pass – although you will still need to join the security line. You can also book tickets online here , or book a guided tour online here .

If you manage to tear yourself away from Versailles, my suggestion for finishing off your last day in Paris is to head to the Montmartre region. This is home to a large hill, atop which sits the glorious Sacre Coeur de Montmartre, another of Paris’s iconic buildings.

This area of Paris was particularly famous as being home to artists, and folks like Dali, Picasso and Hemingway all either lived or frequented this area.

It’s still popular with artists, and the Place du Teatre is the place in Montmartre is the place to go to get your portrait or caricature painted. Fans of Dali will also want to visit the Dali Exhibition , home of the largest collection of works by Dali in France.

Montmartre is a maze of cute little streets, cafes and shops. The Basilica is free to visit, if you get here in time, although there is a small fee if you want to climb the tower.

Montmartre is also a popular place to watch the sunset across the city, and what better way to finish your 3 days in Paris than by watching the sun set across this magical city from atop Montmartre?

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Map

To help you visualise our 3-day Paris itinerary we’ve put together this helpful map which shows the attractions for each day. You can access this on Google Maps here .

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick day by day breakdown of all the sights this itinerary covers:

• Day 1 : Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Paris Walking Tour, Tour Montparnasse
• Day 2 : Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, Arc de Triomphe
• Day 3: Versailles, Montmartre

Where to Stay in Paris

As you would expect from a major European capital city, Paris has no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. We’ve stayed in a variety of places, from hotels to homestays to apartments.

Ideally you want to be fairly central if you can, to minimise your travel time. Our suggestion is to take a look at the listings for Paris on booking.com . They’re our favourite booking engine when we travel, usually giving us the best choice and the best prices. They also have everything from apartments and hostels to high end hotels. Here are some options we suggest, depending on your budget.

• Hotel Dress Code & Spa , a highly reviewed centrally located 4 star hotel right a few hundred yards from the opera house
• Hôtel Eiffel Turenne , a well rated 3* hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
• Ateliers de Montmartre , an apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacre Coeur
• The People – Paris Marais , a well-reviewed hostel in the Marais, one of our favourite parts of Paris to stay
• Hotel le Compostelle , a highly rated 3* hotel centrally located near the Louvre Museum

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide or Vrbo .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, including a beautiful apartment in Paris with spectacular Eiffel Tower views. See their listings for Paris here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the  best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find  here .

When to Visit Paris

We’re actually happy to visit Paris at pretty much any time of year, and this Paris itinerary would work at any time of year.

Summer brings sunshine and warmth, although of course the city is a lot busier at this time of year, so if crowds aren’t your thing, you might want to skip the summer months.

We also love Fall and Spring in the city, when the temperatures are a bit cooler and the crowds less. In the run up to Christmas, the city is beautifully decorated and some of the stores in particular are worth visiting just to see the elaborate decorations they put up. After Christmas the city is a lot quieter, and of course temperatures are at their lowest.

Ultimately, we think Paris is worth visiting whenever you can, so just decide how busy you can handle, and if you’d prefer it to be warm or cold, and go from there!

How to Get to and From Paris

As the capital of France, Paris has multiple options for visitors looking to visit. There are three major airports in Paris. Charles de Gaulle is the main airport for international arrivals, with Paris Orly being the second most popular international airport. Both of these airports are easily reachable by public transport from the city centre.

Paris Beauvais-Tille airport is where you will likely arrive if you are flying with a budget airline. This is some way out of the city centre, but regular shuttle buses are available to take you into the city.

Paris is also connected to the high-speed French and European rail network, and there are a number of train stations in central Paris. You can even travel from the UK by train, taking the channel tunnel to do so. See our guide to getting from London to Paris for more suggested options.

Finally, of course, you can reach Paris by car from France and the rest of Europe. Our advice would be to park your car in a secure long stay car-park on the outskirts of Paris and take public transport to the centre.

We recommend against driving in the city centre, as public transport is cheap and fast, and a lot easier than stressing about driving around the crowded city streets, and trying to find a parking space.

How to Get Around Paris

Paris has an excellent public transport network, and in particular the Paris Metro system is really good, getting you around all the major parts of the city at minimum cost. There’s also a good bus network, as well as local trains.

For public transport, you can purchase t+ tickets which allow for one-off travel on the Paris bus, RER trains and metros. These are available at train and metro stations using the ticket machines. These machines accept both credit cards and cash, and can be configured for English language.

Each ticket can be used for a single journey of up to 2 hours on the metro (including transfers) and 90 minutes on buses (including transfers). For more information on these tickets, see the official page .

From 2019, the Paris transport system has introduced the Navigo Easy Card. This is a rechargeable card system which is designed to replace the cardboard T+ tickets. A card costs €2 to buy, but allow you to buy a discounted pack of 10 tickets which will save you money if you do quite a bit of travel.

Other than being electronically stored, the tickets work the same, so we would recommend visitors to Paris using the Navigo Easy system as the most cost-effectivee method of paying for transport as a visitor to Paris.

For more on getting around Paris, see our detailed guide to how to get around Paris , which should help you plan all your transport in the city.

Walking Tours of Paris

If you’d like to take a guided tour of Paris, the two companies we usually use are Take Walks and Context Travel . These both offer small group walking tours in Paris, which are a great way to learn about some of the sights and history of the city. Of course, if you decide to take a walking tour you will have to adjust the itinerary accordingly to suit.

If you were interested in a tour, Take Walks has this  Paris in a Day tour which includes a major Museum, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & a Seine River Cruise – an excellent introduction to the city!

Context travel offer a number of very focused tours of Paris , and these offer very specialised insights into particular subjects. We’d suggest maybe taking one of these for a specific area of interest that you really want to learn about, perhaps for Versailles . They also offer an introduction to Paris tour .

There are of course other options for various tours in Paris, including all the tours on this page , which offers a variety of things to do from different providers.

For example, there’s this delicious looking food tour ,  this in-depth tour of Hemingway locations in Paris or this tour of Montmartre .

So definitely check out the options to figure out what is best for you!

How to Save Money in Paris

Being a major European city, Paris is definitely not a budget destination. There are a few ways to save money of course, even on an itinerary as packed with attractions as this one is. Food is one way – rather than eating out for every meal for example, you could stay in an apartment or hostel that lets you cook your own meals.

If that’s not an option, consider having picnic lunches or breakfasts, and eating out in the evenings. Also, keep an eye out for the “menu du jour”, most restaurants offer a fixed lunch or evening menu which includes a number of dishes at a fixed price.

You can usually get a meal for between €12 & €25 which includes two or three courses, bread, and sometimes even wine or coffee. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Paris for lunch deals.

The cheapest way to get around Paris is to walk of course, followed by the excellent public transport system. We usually walk as much as we can, and then take the metro for the longer trips. Taxis can be convenient, but they will eat into your budget very quickly.

One of our favourite ways to save money when we visit a major city where we want to see a lot of sights is to invest in a city sightseeing pass. In Paris there are three main passes that we recommend, the Paris Pass ( buy yours from the official site here ), the Paris Museum Pass (buy here ) and the Paris City Card .

Calculating if a pass is worth it for you will of course depend on exactly which attractions you want to visit.

From our itinerary, here’s what’s included on which passes, as well the cost of individual tickets as of December 2023 and links to book each attraction directly.

• Eiffel Tower (€38 for guided tour, €11.30 for standard stair access ticket) – tour included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book tickets on the official website here
• Seine River Cruise (€18) – included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Hop on Hop off bus (€45) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Paris Walking Tour (~€35) – various options included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Tour Montparnasse (€19) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Sainte Chapelle (€11.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Musee d’Orsay (€16) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Louvre Museum (€17) – included on Paris Museum Pass and Paris City Card. Book on GetYourGuide here , or on the official site here .
• Wine Tasting (€35) – included on Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Arc de Triomphe (€13) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Versailles (€19.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .

Adding all the above together and you are looking at around €270 in entry fees.

Our recommendation is to consider a 3-day Paris Pass.

We suggest the 3-day Paris Pass because it actually comes with a 2-day Paris Museum Pass.

With that, you get access to pretty much everything on our itinerary, as well as many more activities and attractions including more museums, walking tours, and even dining activities!

You just have to plan your itinerary so you visit the sites covered by the Paris Museum Pass on two out of your three days in Paris. Hint – we’ve already done that for you in our itinerary!

As of December 2023, a 3 day Paris Pass costs €194 for an adult, saving you around €75 per person if you do everything in our itinerary.

Of course, your individual situation will vary, and you might have different attractions you want to visit. In addition, you should be aware that if you are an EU citizen under the age of 26 that many attractions are free or discounted to visit (you need ID!).

Also, on the first Sunday of every month, many museums are free to visit – although very crowded as a result!

We think the Paris Pass can be good value for money ( click here to buy ), but do feel free to check out our detailed reviews of both the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass , and come to your own decision as to what works for you!

You might also decide that purchasing individual tickets makes more sense. In that case, we highly recommend booking online in advance, especially for major attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, which can get very busy and even sell out a long time in advance.

Finally, we can also suggest checking out the Paris City Card . This includes a guided Eiffel tower ticket, Seine River cruise and access to the Louvre. It also comes with an audioguide to Paris, as well as a further 10% discount on other Paris attractions.

This is a good option if you aren’t planning on visiting everything in our itinerary. It also has the advantage that you book the timeslots for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower when you book the card, so can be convenient.

Practicalities for visiting Paris

Paris is a safe city in our experience, although it does have a reputation for being home to a number of scams. Most of these are easy to avoid once you know about them (read up on some of the common scams in Paris here ).

As with any major city, of course you need to keep your wits about you – keep your possessions in view all the time, keep your wallet or phone in a front pocket (with a zip if possible), and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do at home.

We’ve not had any problems in Paris, although there are a few scams to be aware of – check our guide to avoiding common Paris scams so you are prepared in advance.

Electricity in Paris is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need an adapter like this . See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter. As a general rule, we have found that laptops, phone and camera chargers and other small electronics are universal, whilst larger devices like hair dryers and hair straighteners are not.

Paris is part of the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro. You can get Euros from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted, and there is no need to carry large quantities of currency.

Internet Access

Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online. You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

Alternatively, consider an eSIM service like Airalo .

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options. We also have a guide to picking the best travel router , which can help you extend a weak WiFi network and share it across multiple devices.

Water 

The water in the taps in Paris is safe to drink unless otherwise indicated. If you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available. We usually recommend you travel with a re-usable water bottle like one of these  to save on having to buy water bottles.

We love our Klean Kanteen water bottles for travel as they are lightweight, easy to clean and the company is a certified B-Corp.

Eating in Paris

If you want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants in Paris , we recommend that you book in advance. We recommend and use La Fourchette (the fork), which is the most popular online restaurant booking website in France.

It’s easy to use and makes booking restaurants a breeze, especially if you don’t speak French. Check it out here to find reviews, sample menus and book a table.

Further Reading for your 3 Days in Paris

We have visited Paris on a number of occasions, and have written a good deal about our experiences in the city. To help you further plan your stay in Paris, here are some of our favourite posts and external resources.

• A detailed guide to 2 Days in Paris , should you be there for a shorter period or are looking for some alternative options
• We also have a guide to spending a day in Paris , if you’re on a really tight schedule and just want to focus on the highlights
• We have a detailed guide to attending the famous Moulin Rouge show in Paris
• Our guide to the  best photography locations in Paris , to help you get the best shots on your trip
• A guide to  choosing a Seine river cruise , choosing a Seine River dinner cruise , buying Paris opera tickets ,  attending a fashion show in Paris  and our tips for  the best restaurants in Paris for lunch .
• Our  review of the Paris Pass  and the Paris Museum Pass to help you decide if these might save you money during your time in Paris
• Galeries Lafayette is one of the most well known stores in Paris. However, there’s more to do here than shop! See our complete guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette for more information.
• A guide to  Airbnb Alternatives  to help you find the right accommodation
• If you like afternoon tea, check out our definitive guide to the  best afternoon tea locations in Paris
• If you are heading out of town, check out our itinerary for 2 Days visiting Normandy and the D-Day beaches
• We have reviewed many travel related products you might find useful. Check out our guide to the best travel routers , best travel cameras and best travel wraps to get started!
• If you want a book, we always like to recommend the Rick Steves guides – here’s the  Rick Steves Paris  edition

And that’s it for our guide to spending 3 days in Paris! As always if you have any feedback or questions, just let us know in the comments below.

Enjoyed this post? Why not share it!

There are 107 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

Deidre Smith says

22nd December 2023 at 6:04 pm

We arrive at the paris airport at 8am on a Sunday, will have to get our luggage and take it to our hotel. I was hoping to be to hotel by 10am. I thought of doing: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Notre Dame, Tour Montparnasse.

Monday: Sainte Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Catacombs, Arc de Triomphe (do Tour Montparnasse this day if didn’t have time on Sunday)

Tuesday: Versailles in the morning, leave to go get our luggage at hotel at 3pm, get to hotel at 4pm, get to airport by 5pm for 7pm flight to Venice.

I had to move Notre Dame on your days to Sunday, since it’s closed Monday. So my question is, is this doable? Second, I was going to get the Paris Pass but it seems that wouldn’t work on Versailles if I use it on Monday at Notre Dame, so is there a better pass for me to buy. I was worried if I bought the paris pass, and then used it to book Versailles, it might not work since it’s not consecutive days.

Laurence Norah says

22nd December 2023 at 6:47 pm

So, Notre Dame itself is not due to re-open until the end of 2024. The only area you can currently visit is the Crypt, which you are correct, is closed on Mondays. So I just wanted to clarify that that was what you meant.

For the general timing, if you don’t mind having quite a long day on the Monday you should be ok. My main concern would be that the Hop on Hop off bus is likely going to take a while (it’s a sightseeing experience rather than a quick way to get around the city). Also if you plan on using the Paris Pass or similar pass, you should be aware that some attractions are visited with a guided tour, specifically the Eiffel Tower. Those tours only run at specific times.

Given your schedule with Versailles on the Tuesday and the fact that the Paris Pass only comes with a 2 day Paris Museum Pass, you are correct that this might not be the best pass for you as the 2 day Musuem Pass would expire by Tuesday. One option would be to just get a 2 day Paris Museum Pass and use it for the Monday / Tuesday attractions. From your list it should cover everything except the Catacombs I believe. Then you could just book individual tickets for the other sights. There are passes which include some of the sights on your list such as the Go City Explorer Pass . However I honestly don’t think that it is going to offer better value than just booking individual tickets for each attraction.

I hope this helps, have an amazing time in Paris and let me know if I can offer any more help!

Catrina says

24th November 2023 at 3:13 pm

My husband and I will be celebrating our 20 year anniversary in March and are planning a trip to Paris! I love the 3 day itinerary, giving us a couple days to visit Disneyland Paris. I am interested in a budget friendly-ish stay that allows for a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower as in your photo above. Any way to narrow down my hotel/apartment search? Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the info already given. Super excited for our trip 🙂

24th November 2023 at 4:47 pm

Congratulations and your anniversary and what a lovely way to spend it 🙂 So there are definitely quite a few hotels and apartments with views of the Eiffel Tower. The downside is that properties are aware that this is a desirable feature, so these rooms tend to cost a bit more. We actually have a complete guide to the Eiffel Tower which has a section on recommended hotels , with many of them offering views.

We cen definitely personally recommend the Pullman , which has lovely views from many of the rooms.

Otherwise, your best option is going to be to search properties in the region of the Eiffel tower (like this search I’ve set up for you ). Any hotel or apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower will definitely make that obvious in it’s description. You just want to be sure you book a room with a view of it, which should also be pretty clear in the room description!

I hope you have a wonderful time in Paris and if you have any more questions please let me know 🙂

Catrina Baugus says

28th November 2023 at 9:43 am

Thank you so much! This gives us a great place to start 🙂

G. Heartwell says

20th March 2023 at 4:32 pm

Thank you so much for the details on the 3 day Paris tour. Sounds perfect for starting a 7 day first visit.! My granddaughter and I are planning to go after the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris! Any helpful travel do s and don’ts for that time period?

24th March 2023 at 6:29 pm

It’s my pleasure. So the main advice I would give is to book any attractions you want to visit as far in advance as possible. This is especially the case for popular attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, which can book out months in advance at busier times of year. I’d also recommend picking a hotel with air-conditioning. It’s not always included, but summer in Paris can be hot so be sure to pick somewhere that specifically states it has A/C for a more comfortable stay.

Otherwise have a great time in Paris!

27th January 2023 at 12:07 am

Hello from snowy Toronto, Canada

My son (almost 18) and I would like to travel to France end of July for perhaps a week or so then on to England. With respect to France he wants to see the Eifel Tower and Louvre and from what I read a sunset river cruise would be great too. We can visit the Notre-Dame and anything else you suggest. I personally would then like to go south to Nice, Cannes etc. If we base ourselves in Paris for sites would you suggest base in Nice and branch from there to surrounding areas? Are Roven, Marselle and Carcassone (sp) worth visiting? Would you suggest other areas? Bordeaux looks beautiful but being that this isn’t a wine tour for myself I don’t want to visit this time. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

29th January 2023 at 9:21 am

It’s great to hear from you. So for Paris I think this guide should cover most of the highlights of what you want to see. For the south of France, it is definitely a good option to pick one or two locations as a base. However, it’s worth pointing out that France is quite a big country, so you will want to plan what you want to see. Carcassone is very pretty and definitely worth visiting, but it’s about 350 miles from Nice for example. So I think you would want to work out exactly what you wanted to see and then decide which location or locations makes the most logical sense. You will also want to figure out how you want to get around. The train network in France is very fast and good value, but it doesn’t go everywhere, so you might also consider hiring a car for example. With only a week total, I’d suggest picking one other location outside of Paris and focusing on that. Bordeaux would actually be a great option as it’s about 3 hours by fast train from Paris and there is plenty to see (lots of which doesn’t involve wine!).

Have a great trip 🙂

jacques Martial says

9th January 2023 at 3:26 am

Interesting site.. we have some friends visiting Paris for 3 days and we found your site.. Being a Parisian myself, I was surprised that you included Versailles and a Wine Tasting visit into your planning. Nothing against Versailles, it is a beautiful place but there is more to see in Paris that spending time in Versailles and tasting wine when you are not a drinker. Suggest that you give these visits as alternate. One suggestion: why don’t you have a Romantic 3 days in Paris planning? Many young couples may appreciate more for honeymoon, wedding anniversary or other. Thank you Jacques from Vancouver in Canada

11th January 2023 at 9:02 am

Hi Jacques,

Thanks for your input! We definitely appreciate that this itinerary will not work for everyone, and of course we always suggest folks adjust for their own personal interests and tastes. Many visitors to France do want to try French wine, hence the wine tasting. We also think Versailles is worth visiting with three days in Paris, but of course, everyone can make their own choice 🙂 Thanks for the idea about the romantic visit to Paris as well, we shall definitely consider that!

Marybeth says

5th January 2023 at 10:00 pm

Your information is fabulous! I will be traveling to France in June for a wedding. The wedding will take place in Provence. I plan on starting in Paris for at least 3 days. Then off to Lyon, Avignon and Provence. I am open to suggestions on what to see between Paris and Provence. Lastly, 3 or 4 days for Paris? My travel dates are a bit flexible. Thank you for any suggestions you may offer.

11th January 2023 at 9:32 am

Thanks Marybeth, and sorry for the slow response, we’re currently traveling in Uganda with limited internet!

Given your planned route from Paris to Avignon with a stop in Lyons, a few suggestions that might work for you are below. However, this depends on if you are driving or traveling by train.

Fontainebleau – most famous for Fontainebleau Palace. A nice quieter alternative to Versailles if you are not already visiting that on this trip.

Guédelon Castle near Treigny, France which is a 13th century castle they are building using traditional materials and methods

Dijon – heart of Burgundy region so lots of vineyards in area, city has a number of attractions like Musée des Beaux-Arts

Beaune – lovely walled town with cobblestones, distinctive tiled roofs and the Hôtel-Dieu Museum

3rd January 2023 at 3:09 am

Hi, Your itinerary is so great! Thank you for doing this as I plan to follow it. I’m going in February. I’d like to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up what’s the best time to get there? Thank you

3rd January 2023 at 4:46 pm

So the Eiffel Tower automatically lights up within 10 minutes of it getting dark. It’s an automated system that is based on the light. In February, the sunset in Paris is normally around 6pm (6.30pm at the end of the month), so anytime around then if you just want to see it lit up. It’s also worth noting that the tower also sparkles for five minutes every hour on the hour once it’s been lit up, so that would likely take place at 7pm when you are there. I’d definitely recommend watching that as well!

Have a great time in Paris, let me know if you have any more questions! We also have a detailed guide to the Eiffel Tower you might find useful 🙂

Andrej ands Heather says

5th July 2022 at 4:58 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica Norah

We were planning the Paris trip, actually a trip to Europe, with the first stop in Paris. We found your web blog, read it carefully and decided to follow your advice in the detail. We stayed for 4 days and used 3 days Paris pass, it is good value for the money we paid for. That was the best decision we made!

We create our own itinerary, we scheduled our trips and we made it even more than we predict. We bought a weekly Navigo on arrival( it is good to have two photos with) and travel all around by public transport, a lot of walking up and downstairs( we are 50 and 51), but we managed. We are extremely grateful for your work and effort. Thank you, guys!

5th July 2022 at 11:12 am

Hi Andrej and Heather,

I am so pleased that you had a good time in Paris (and Europe!) and that you found our sites useful. It is very kind of you to take the time to stop by and let us know, it is very much appreciated. Also for the tip on the Navigo. Here’s to many more years of adventures ahead!

All the best,

6th June 2022 at 11:03 pm

So can I upgrade the Eiffel Tower tour to an elevator one all the way to the summit with the Paris pass? That says guided climbing tour only to the second floor. Thanks

7th June 2022 at 11:45 am

This is a great question! I reached out to Experience First who handle the tour that comes with the Paris Pass, and they responded as follows:

You can First book your tour with Paris pass through: https://www.exp1.com/paris-tours/book-with-pass/

Then, after booking you will receive an email with a Booking reference number which you can use it to upgrade to summit.

To Upgrade after booking : https://upgrade.exp1.com/

So in summary, yes, you can upgrade to the summit access tour with the Paris Pass, although obviously this will be subject to availability.

Have a great time in Paris!

13th November 2021 at 7:57 pm

My husband and I will be visiting Paris in a couple weeks for 4 days (Sun – Wed). This is our first time visiting France and working on a draft itinerary. I plan on getting the Paris Pass for the 1st 2 days so to include all the museum visits. Also your thoughts on doing the river cruise at night (Bateaux Parisiens Seine River) instead of during the day one.

Sunday – Bus hop, Eiffel Tower and late afternoon head to watch the sunset…Arc de Triomphe and do Tour Montparnasse Monday – Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, River ride at sunset Tuesday – The catacombs or Montmartre then Versaille in the afternoon

Thanks in advance!

14th November 2021 at 11:10 am

Great to hear from you! Your plan sounds great to me. The only thing I’d mention, which might be obvious, is just to remember that in winter the sun sets around 5pm in Paris. I’m sure you factored that in, but just something to remember if you’re wanting to catch the sunset from the Tour Montparnasse.

It definitely sounds like you have arranged everything in a sensible order. I am not sure how busy Versailles is at the moment. In the old times visiting in the afternoon without a guided tour booked was a challenge due to the long ticket lines, but now they have timed tickets I suspect it’s less of an issue – we’ve not been since they introduced the time slots.

For the Seine River Cruise, we’ve done both day time cruises, sunset cruises and an evening dinner cruise. I think sunset is a good time as you get the mix of the city at day and at night, with the potential for a nice sky as well. If it was my first time, I’d probably not do a tour at night, just because it’s obviously dark and so harder to see everything. But that’s just my personal preference. Seeing everything lit up is lovely as well!

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help! Have a wonderful trip to Paris – we’re planning to be there at the start of January 😀

amanda Pimm says

31st October 2021 at 4:12 pm

Hi , my husband and I plan to take my daughter and her friend to Paris next may 2022 for her 16th birthday. We have never been before and can’t speak any French, will this be a problem. I also wondered what pass would be good to buy for our 3 day sight seeing please. Would be very great full for any advice.

31st October 2021 at 6:33 pm

Great to hear from you. Let me do my best to answer your two questions.

In terms of not speaking French, this shouldn’t be a major problem, especially in Paris. It’s a popular part of the world with visitors, and English is widely spoken. However, I would say that you will likely have a better experience if you learn a few basic phrases, such as hello (bonjour), thank you (merci) please (s’il vous plait), and do you speak English (parlez vouz anglais). The Parisians have developed a bit of reputation for being rude to foreigners, but in my experience, if you start off with a simple “bonjour”, they will pretty much instantly realise that you are not a native speaker, and nine times out of ten they’ll respond in English. However, if you start in English, they’ll be less receptive. I guess you could imagine the reception if it were reversed, and a French person arriving in the UK or USA and trying to start a conversation in French. So even learning “hello” can be a bit step in getting things off on the right foot!

For city cards, this will very much depend on what you want to see. For most visitors, a trip to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a Seine River Cruise are popular, so the Paris City Card is a good starting point as it includes those things. You then get a 10% discount for additional attractions you book through the site. If you plan to see more sights, then you might instead consider the Paris Pass , which includes a lot more attractions and activities, but it will definitely depend on what you plan to do to make sure it is good value. For example, if you plan to do most of the attractions in this itinerary, it will likely offer cost savings.

I hope this helps, have a great trip to Paris and let me know if you have any more questions!

21st April 2020 at 11:55 pm

Exploring the City of Love is such a dream come true! This 3-day Itinerary in Paris is such a great help to those who are planning to discover Paris. Thanks for sharing, nice article.

22nd April 2020 at 10:36 am

Thanks James!

rj digma says

11th February 2020 at 7:08 pm

Great site. Very helpful. One question, if I buy the paris museum pass but want to hire a private guide to take us to the museums and give us art history info, would you know someone.

11th February 2020 at 11:20 pm

Thanks very much! We don’t know any private guides personally, however we have regularly used Context Travel , who do provide private guides, so that would be worth looking into.

Good luck, and have a great time in Paris!

Veronica Webster says

1st February 2020 at 11:36 pm

Hi Laurence, We have already cleared doubts with Jessica about our London trip, and now we’re working on the Paris part. We will be visiting Paris from March 27th to April 1st. Arriving on Friday around 11:00 am. We know that being a weekend everything will be more crowded, but it is what it is. We have made our numbers and we’re thinking that the Museum Pass will work better, given that the Paris Pass 3 days only includes 2 days museums, and we have actually 4.5 days, so not really need to fit all museums in 2 days (and we’re visiting Versailles too) My question is: The delivery options for the Museum pass is pick up at arrival or Fedex (24euros to Canada). If we arrive on a Friday, if I want to reserve time slot for Louvre on Saturday, is there’s a risk I won’t find available the time I’m looking for? Same for Orsay on Sunday morning (we want to be there for both at 9:00 am) Given that we would be already saving time by avoiding lines and buying the tickets, the 24 euros fee to have the pass with us sooner and book weeks ahead sound like a reasonable option. Your thoughts please?

here’s a draft of our trip: Friday after 1 pm: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise (we pay for those 2) Sat: Louvre (9am, museum pass), Hop OnOff (we pay) Champs E./Arc the T (mpass) Sun: Orsay (9am mpass) Montmartre Mo: Saint Chapelle (mpass), Notre Dame (just views), Pantheon (mpass), Invalides (mpass) Tu: Versailles (mpass) – We think Versailles will be less crowded on Tu, but we could switch this to Sunday.

Thank you in advance to you and Jessica! your blog has been very useful to plan this trip!!

2nd February 2020 at 3:32 pm

Hi Veronica,

Thanks for your comment. To answer your question, for the Louvre, it has become very popular, and if you want to guarantee a particular time for your entry, then paying for the delivery of the museum pass is definitely going to be the way to do that. You need the number on the pass in order to make the reservation, which obviously you will need the pass for. If you decide to do this, make sure you bring both the pass and proof of reservation with you, and then join the correct line at the Louvre for those with reservations.

Of course, Paris in March / April is not as busy as it is over the summer months, so it may be that the Louvre has plenty of availability. However, it’s all down to your personal risk preference 😉

For the Musee d’Orsay, as far as we know you can’t book in advance with this museum, you just turn up with your pass. This is the case for most of the museums in Paris, it’s only the Louvre that has the timed requirement due to its popularity.

For Versailles, the weekends are usually very busy, however, bear in mind that many sights in Paris are also closed on Tuesdays (like the Louvre), so this also means more folks head out to Versailles. We would urge you to arrive early at Versailles, as the lines can get very very long for entry. Again, March / April should not be *too* busy, but it is best to err on the side of caution in our experience!

You have done a great job with the itinerary, putting the busiest places first 🙂 Let us know if you have any more questions and we’ll try to help. Have a fantastic trip – do feel free to join our facebook group and share your experiences in our friendly facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/ 🙂

Afitha says

31st August 2019 at 12:47 pm

Hi Laurence, Me and my husband will be going to paris-switzerland-italy for 11 days trip..pls gve me an advise regarding howmany days we will stay per country…eagerly waiting for ur reply..TIA

2nd September 2019 at 6:12 am

It really depends on which cities you want to visit and your personal interests. I haven’t visited Switzerland for a while but I would say if you were to do something like Paris for 3 days, then Switzerland for 3-4 days, then Italy for 4-5 days. I would suggest with that much time that you could visit 2 cities in Italy, so I’d say maybe Rome and Venice. You could also base in Rome and do day trips to places like Florence.

Have a great time!

19th August 2019 at 11:55 am

Hello Laurence and Jessica, I’m planning to go on a solo trip on January 2020 to Paris (and going to Italy). It will be my first time in Europe, and I’m very excited. I know it’s winter and it will be very cold, but I was wondering if you have any tips for a 21 year old solo female traveller? I’m planning to book an AirBnB so I can also cook some meals to be able to save some money. How much do you think I need for the three day sightseeing in Paris alone? I’m hoping to hear from you guys soon. Thank you.

19th August 2019 at 12:01 pm

So I will briefly answer your question on solo female travel. We definitely aren’t experts in that area as we usually travel as a couple, however, Paris is no more or less safe than other major western European cities, so if you practice the same sort of safety precautions that you would in your own home cities, then you shouldn’t have any problems.

For budget, January is not too busy in Paris so you should be able to find an apartment on AirBnb in the region of $60 – $100 a night. The other main costs will be food and sightseeing. For food, lunch is the best time to go out for meals generally as restaurants tend to have fixed price menus. So if you do choose to dine out during your stay, we’d recommend doing so at lunch. Otherwise we suggest croissants from a bakery for breakfast and there are lots of supermarkets for picking up supplies for cooking 🙂

Sightseeing will be your other major costs. The price will obviously vary depending on exactly what you want to do and see. If you plan on going inside many museums and attractions, then we recommend either the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass. The best one for you will depend on what you want to see. Note that neither of them includes Eiffel tower access. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, the cheapest way is to buy second floor tickets with stair access. You can do this online or in person – see our full Eiffel Tower guide for more on that.

https://independenttravelcats.com/eiffel-tower-paris-france/

Overall, I would say that if you budget $60 – $100 a day for accommodation, $20 – $50 a day for attractions and $15 – $30 a day on food that would be reasonable. Of course, you could go above or below these figures based on your own preference, but that is a ballpark.

Have a great time in Paris, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 4:15 am

I am looking into going to Paris July 3-5 2020. I have never traveled or anything else like that how would I go about making sure I had enough money. Thank you in advance.

29th July 2019 at 7:42 pm

Well, that’s quite a big question 🙂 It will depend a bit on your travel style (hostel – luxury hotel), what attractions you want to see and what sort of food you want to eat. Also how you get around, from walking -> taxis. The main costs will be your flight to and from Paris, your accommodation, and then your sight-seeing and food costs. It’s hard to give an exact number as everyone will be different, but if you take a look at my guide to the costs for travelling in the UK, this will give you an idea of what to estimate. Paris will be a bit more expensive, as capital cities often are, but you should at least get a rough estimate. You can see that guide here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

Let me know if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 9:34 pm

Thank u so much I’ll check that link in just a few when I have a bit more time ????????

7th July 2019 at 3:57 am

Hi Laurence!

My husband and I will be going to Paris for six days in October. However, it’s our first time there, and I’m starting to think that we might have too many days in Paris and we might run out of activities.

Any suggestions or thoughts on that based on your experience?

9th July 2019 at 3:42 pm

You definitely won’t run out of things to do. I have just covered the major highlights in this post – there is so much more to the city! We usually visit for 5-7 days at a time, and have done so multiple times, and have never run out of things to do!

9th September 2019 at 11:13 pm

My sister and I who are in our 70 are going on a river cruise with Viking on Oct 6 an want to come in a few days early.. What hotel and tours . Is the show mon la rougue still there as I saw it 20 years and want to see it again.

11th September 2019 at 5:50 pm

Thanks for your e-mail. So the hotel you choose will very much depend on your budget, but we have some suggestions in this post for you to choose from. If you’d like to stay near the Eiffel Tower, we also have a lot of suggestions in our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower, which you can read here . Of course, you might want to find out where your cruise departs from so you are not too far away.

The Moulin Rouge is still very much in operation, and we visited quite recently. You do need to book in advance, I have a full guide to the Moulin Rouge here which you might find helpful.

Rupali says

25th June 2019 at 2:47 pm

Hi I really like the detailed itinerary. It very good to look if you are planning the trip to Paris in advance. I would like to know if the Paris pass includes guided tours or some discount on guided tours in the museums? Also, if now do you think it is worth to take the guided tours to know about the significance of that place.

25th June 2019 at 3:20 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So some city passes do include discounts on walking tours. However, the Paris Pass does not include many discounted guided tours. Looking at the inclusions, it includes a Montmartre walking tour, as well as discounts on a Segway tour, cycling tour and Citroen 2CV tour. It also includes the guided Opera Garnier tour. You can see some of the tours it includes on this page – just filter by Paris tours.

So if you want to do a guided tour of the museums, or a guided tour in Paris in general, then you would want to book that separately. I do think that a guided tour is a good way to learn about the city, and I link to some suggested walking tours in the post. It’s really up to you though if you want to do that. If you take a full day walking tour of Paris, then you might not find the Paris Pass offers such good value as most tours include entry to a number of attractions.

Let me know if I can be of any more help!

9th June 2019 at 7:07 pm

Hi Laurence, We stumbled across your blog recently while planning for our trip to Paris in September this fall. We enjoyed reading it. We will be arriving Paris on a Wednesday morning and leaving by plane on a Saturday 5:50pm flight. On Thursday we’ve booked a Versailles morning tour that ends 1:45pm and on Saturday morning we’ve booked the Louvre tour that ends 12:45 pm, then we will retrieve our luggage from hotel and on to the airport. Questions: Should we stay at a hotel that is near the Louvre for our convenience of Saturday’s luggage retrieval before airport Or should we stay at a hotel that is a short walk to the Hop on Hop off bus route so we can visit most of the top attraction via the bus and not to let the luggage retrieval limit the hotel location ? Could you please give us a few hotels suggestions and what top attractions we can fit in our schedule?

9th June 2019 at 8:53 pm

Thanks for your comment!

So, I think it’s up to you in regard to the hotel location. However, as the Louvre is a popular location for visitors, most Hop on Hop off buses will have a stop close by. So you can do both – just pick a hotel close to the Louvre and it will also be close to the Hop on Hop off bus.

In terms of specific hotels, it’s hard to give advice without a budget. I’d suggest using this link to start , and then narrowing your filter by price, date and what type of accommodation you are looking for. I’d generally also suggest looking for properties with a good review score, ideally an 8 or higher 🙂

PS – sorry about the slow response, we’ve been travelling for the past few days with limited internet 😀

Angela B says

9th June 2019 at 3:30 pm

Laurence & Jessica, Such an amazing and thorough explanation. My daughter (13) and I will be arriving into Paris next Sunday (16th) to watch USA play in the World Cup. My husband will be working the Paris Air Show, so my daughter and I have 3 days (17-19) to ourselves, meeting my husband at night for dinner and sightseeing. I think we will do the 3 day tour with Versailles on the last day. Based on this itinerary, does the 3 Day Paris Pass still make the best option? I am guessing it does since it includes travel, entrance, and skipping lines. We are sooooo excited!!!!! Angela

9th June 2019 at 8:57 pm

Thank you so much Angela – sounds like you’ve got a great trip coming up!

So I would say that the Paris Pass would make sense if you intend on using the various additional features it offers like the Seine Cruise, transport and so on. The one thing to be aware of is that whilst the pass is three days, it only includes a 2 day museum pass. And that pass is what you will use for places like the Louvre, Versailles and so on.

I have structured this itinerary to account for that, however, if you want to move things around, it might make less sense, and instead you might consider the 4 day Paris Museum Pass, and then a separate travel card. Of course, it’s up to you.

We have a full review of both types of pass if you would like some further reading to help you decide! They are at the following links:

https://independenttravelcats.com/tips-buying-using-paris-museum-pass/ https://independenttravelcats.com/buying-paris-pass-review-worth-it-tips/

Sumona says

30th May 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much for writing this. Really helpful and very well written!

30th May 2019 at 5:38 pm

Thank you very much Sumona – have a wonderful trip to Paris and do let us know if you have any questions 🙂

17th May 2019 at 4:52 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica! I am travelling to Paris soon and your elaborate writing and practical tips is what exactly I was looking for. Brilliant! Thanks : )

17th May 2019 at 5:53 pm

Thank you very much Jasma – have a wonderful time in Paris! Do let us know how you enjoy the city 🙂

17th May 2019 at 7:27 pm

I will sure have a good time in the City of love . Also, Your expert advice on the accommodation pls- the place I am planning to stay is at Courbevoie. Per the owner it says 10 mins to Paris. Do you think during my stay at Paris for 3-4 days this place will be in proximity to the list you had advised in your blog. Thanks Jasma

17th May 2019 at 7:33 pm

It’s hard to tell as Courbevoie is a little bit outside the city centre, and so it will depend on which metro or train station you are near, and how far it is to the metro station. In a best case scenario it will be 10 minutes to the Arc de Triomphe, in a worse case scenario, more like 40 minutes. The Arc de Triomphe is the closest attraction in our itinerary though to Courbevoie, other attractions are further away. So it is definitely not the most convenient location, but it will work. However, if you can find somewhere more central it might work out more easily for you.

18th May 2019 at 3:33 pm

Thanks a million Laurence. You are doing a great job and I truly appreciate it. Regards, Jasma

Godfrey says

29th March 2019 at 8:41 pm

You guys are amazing..just about saved me hours of research into finding things to do in 3 days…This is exactly what fits within our 3 day visit..Keep up the great work!

30th March 2019 at 12:12 am

Thanks Godfrey – we will certainly try! Have a lovely trip to Paris and let us know if we can be of any help!

22nd February 2019 at 5:50 pm

hi! I like your blog,it’s very informative and easy to follow. but can I just know, roughly how much do we need to prepare? I mean if Im a big spender how much money will I probably spend for the tours? excluding the food. I would really appreciate if you could give me the figure so we can save for it. thanks! ☺️

23rd February 2019 at 7:25 am

It’s really hard to give figures as budgets vary greatly between people. So you can see from the tours I have suggested what they cost, and also if you buy one of the passes then many of the attractions will be included. So then your other costs will be accommodation and food. For this itinerary, including food and accommodation, you would probably be looking in the region of €500 – €1000 per person, but that would vary hugely depending on your tastes and accommodation quality.

I hope this helps a bit!

Anjana says

12th February 2019 at 11:17 pm

Hello. I liked the itinerary you suggested. We are planning to be there by mid April. Can you please guide us for weather. Also, I am an artist and wish to visit art gallary, can you please suggest?

13th February 2019 at 9:05 pm

The weather in Paris in April will be fairly warm, like around 17 – 22C. It might be cooler in evenings. Rain is always a possibility, but you would be unlucky if it rained a lot.

If you want to visit an art gallery, I would suggest the Louvre, or the Centre Pompidou if you prefer modern art!

12th February 2019 at 4:52 pm

How to get Paris Pass and the bus passes. Required details about the inclusions and exclusions of the Paris Pass .

12th February 2019 at 5:28 pm

You can buy the Paris Pass with this link .

You can see the inclusions here .

Enjoy your time in Paris!

12th February 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much.. I will sure be in touch with you if i require any more details .

Regards Shree

13th February 2019 at 7:45 am

Hi Is it mandatory to get the paris pass before hand or the same can be availed after reaching the destination as well..

13th February 2019 at 7:09 pm

You can buy the pass in Paris as well, but they don’t offer sales as they sometimes do online,

Amanda Che says

19th December 2018 at 3:09 am

If I want to visit Montparnasse will I need to purchase tickets if I have the Paris pass? Or do we just show up and they will let us in at whatever time?

19th December 2018 at 8:03 pm

If you have the Paris Pass the Tour Montparnasse is included, so you can just turn up at any time and they will let you in. It’s best at sunset if you can make it them!

Have a great trip

19th December 2018 at 10:02 pm

Thank you for responding!! I’m glad I got he passes! Does this apply to the wine tasting as well?! I’m just not sure about the places that have specific times that need reservations when visiting.

19th December 2018 at 11:10 pm

My pleasure! The wine tasting was the same when we used the Paris Pass – we just turned up and it was fine. However, if you have any doubts you can always reach out to either the attraction or Paris Pass folks to confirm 😀

24th October 2018 at 9:29 pm

Thank you so much for making my life easy!!! You have the best detailed itineraray in Paris. I purchased the 3 day Paris Pass. 🙂 I’m so excited to visit next month!

25th October 2018 at 8:13 pm

Thanks so much! Have an awesome trip 😀

Evelyne says

23rd October 2018 at 10:23 am

Hello, I am a Parisian and I read your post. I think this itinerary is very heavy (espécially days 2) unless you don’t visit the museums and just shoot the buildings. It is just an accumulation of monuments to visit but it does not give the feel of what is Paris. Fortunately, Paris is not just an opan air museum.

23rd October 2018 at 1:03 pm

Hey Evelyne!

Thanks for your feedback. I definitely make that clear at the beginning that this is a very busy itinerary, and people should adjust to suit their own pace 🙂 We usually visit Paris for no less than seven days at a time when putting these posts together, but we know not everyone has that luxury, so we try to fit everything in that people might want to see, based on our conversations with folks planning a trip 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

kunal gupta says

30th September 2018 at 10:45 am

After having read so many posts, I felt this is the best post. It has all the tips, recommendations and anecdotes that I was looking for to create an itinerary. I am visiting Paris next month and will surely provide you guys my feedback on the experience.

Any tips on finding Indian or vegetarian lunch/dinner will be extremely helpful too !

1st October 2018 at 2:26 pm

Thanks Kunal! I’m not personally an expert on vegetarian dining, but the search engine happycow.net lists vegetarian restaurants around the world, so that would be a good place to look 🙂 Have a great trip!

Kritika says

13th September 2018 at 8:22 am

Hi, Your blog is one simple answer to all the queries I had while planning for my trip. 🙂 We are a couple visiting Paris from 29 Sept to Oct1. We would like to visit a vineyard and taste wine over there. Do you have any information regarding any vineyard nearby and how to commute? Also, We would be going to Lyon for a day. Can you suggest me a short itinerary for the same?

Regards Kritika

13th September 2018 at 11:47 am

Hi Kritika!

Thanks very much, we are happy to have been of help 🙂 We would suggest that the closest wine region to Paris is going to be the Champagne region, and the easiest way to get there would be to take a tour from Paris, which will save you figuring out transport. Plus someone else will drive, leaving you to enjoy the wine 🙂 I found this one which has good reviews so that would be my suggestion, although there are sure to be other options!

For Lyon, we haven’t visited there yet, so I can’t make any recommendations unfortunately 🙁

Have a great trip!

9th September 2018 at 7:25 am

Hi! Just read your wonderful article helps out a lot we are a family of 6..would metro\bus be cheaper or renting a car..staying in a hotel near cdg since all the good/affordable ones are taken near the center….and how I the weather in the end of September? 6 days all Together and Disneyland is included please let me know confused about driving and or bus thanks 🙂

9th September 2018 at 11:38 am

I would recommend against hiring a car as driving in Paris is not so much fun, plus you will have to spend time finding parking and paying for it. Instead I would recommend either taking the metro, or hiring a taxi to take you in. For a group of people, you would have to find the right size of taxi of course, but it should be possible. For Disneyland, the easiest way is the RER from Paris.

The weather in Paris in September should be quite good, not too hot but not too cold, I would say around 12 – 22C, so you will want to have some warmer clothes for the evenings. There is always the possibility of rain as well, so a rain jacket or umbrella would be wise 🙂

Hope this helps!

Susan Morris says

30th August 2018 at 4:14 am

Hi, I have just read your 3-day itinerary for Paris, and I thought it was awesome. Very clear and easy to follow. I look forward to following it when we head to Paris next year! My husband is also keen to visit the area of the D-Day landings at Normandy (Omaha Beach I believe). Do you have any similar itineraries or advice for a 1 or 2 day visit to that area? Many thanks

30th August 2018 at 10:50 am

Thanks very much Susan. We certainly do, we have a two day itinerary which we think you should find useful 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/normandy-2-day-itinerary-d-day-beaches-mont-st-michel/

24th August 2018 at 9:15 pm

Hi I am traveling to Paris in second week of oct 18… what would be the climate that time? Do I need to carry a lot of winter clothing?

24th August 2018 at 9:26 pm

October in Europe varies. I’d say the best option is to bring layers, and to have sufficiently warm clothes for cold weather and rain in particualr. The temperature will likely be between 5 degrees C and 15 degrees C, although if it is windy it might feel a lot colder. So it’s not like visiting Iceland or Finland in winter, but you’ll want to be prepared.

I don’t have a guide for Paris, but we do have a packing list for London at any time of year, which should help a bit:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/london-packing-list-what-to-pack-for-london-and-the-uk-at-any-time-of-year/

Qinwan says

22nd July 2018 at 1:02 pm

Hi Laurence, I am planning my visit to Paris in Oct 2018, the blog of 3 days itinerary is very much helpful and perfect for my plan. Where do you recommend to proceed after Paris for a 10 day Europe trip?

22nd July 2018 at 9:31 pm

Awesome! Well, if this if your first time in Europe, I’d probably recommend some of the other capital cities, like London or Rome, and then maybe Barcelona, depending on how much time you want to spend in each location. You can easily spend three or four days in both Rome and London. From Paris to London it’s an easy journey, as you can take the train direct. Then there are mutliple flights from London to Rome. If you like the sound of Barcelona, there’s an overnight train from Paris straight to Barcelona. Another idea might be to do Paris – > London, Edinburgh and then a bit of Scotland as well.

I’d definitely suggest not trying to see too much, and spending a bit longer in each location. Three days is a nice amount of time to see a city 🙂

Have an awesome trip!

Elizabeth Higgins says

22nd July 2018 at 5:26 am

This post is just so detail-oriented, Laurence! Any reader would not be having a difficult time browsing because you have also included hyperlinks to the sub-sections. Everything has just been written so wonderfully that I felt spoon-fed with information, in a really great way. I am so glad to find your blog! Thank you so much!

22nd July 2018 at 8:54 pm

Hi Elizabeth – thanks so much! It’s always wonderful to hear that people are finding our posts helpful! Hopefully you have a great trip, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Laurence

Tisaygwapa says

9th July 2018 at 9:56 am

Hi, I am a fan of your blog. My planning for my euro trip makes it easier. I have an inquiry though, can you tell me what is the difference between and Paris Pass and a Paris Explorer pass? What airport is near to the attraction on day1?

We will be in Paris for 3 days.

9th July 2018 at 10:03 am

Hi Tisaygwapa 🙂

Thanks very much! The Paris Explorer Pass is a much more limited pass, and instead of giving you free access to all the attractions, it lets you choose from 3, 5 or 7 attractions. For our itinerary, we definitely suggest either the Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass for cost saving.

For airports, Paris has three major airports. The two closest to the city and that most people arrive at are Paris Orly and Paris Charles De Gaulle.

From Paris Orly to the Eiffel tower you can take the Ouibus, it only takes around 16 minutes: https://www.ouibus.com/routes/paris-paris-orly-sud-airport

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is a little further away, you can take the RER train from the airport – it’s probably more like an hour.

Shashank says

20th June 2018 at 5:11 pm

Hi, would like to know if we can walk in directly to Bateux Parisiens any time with the Paris Pass? Do we need to reserve online even if we have the Paris Pass?

20th June 2018 at 7:03 pm

Hi Shashank!

In our experience you can just walk up and show your pass at the ticket booth, no reservation required 🙂

Hope this helps – have a great trip!

18th June 2018 at 9:29 am

I would like to know more details of 3 day Itinerary . In the mentioned Places , how long it will take? that is regarding time span we can spent there comfortably .Can u pls suggest

20th June 2018 at 7:10 pm

IT’s really up to you and your interests as to how long you want to take. The itinerary as laid out is doable, but if you spend four hours at each location, obviously not so much 🙂 So my advice would be to look at each location and decide how much time you would like to spend their. As an example, Sainte Chapelle is quite small, so 15 – 20 minutes would be fine. The Louvre is gigantic, so will take a bit longer! But it’s really up to you 🙂

Karuna says

11th June 2018 at 5:31 pm

Thanks a lot, we are planning to visit Paris, and Italy for 12 days of vacation and this is very helpful for Paris. Can we have an advice on Hotels where we can stay like 4* hotels work walk around to these attractions if possible or nice evening walks?

And can we have an itinerary for Italy for 9-10 days trip,

Thanks a lot

11th June 2018 at 11:29 pm

Thanks very much! In the post I do link to a centrally located 4* hotel, under the accommodation section. The hotel is this one, but I’m sure you can find some other options 🙂

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/dress-code-amp-spa.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DaysinParis

I will update the post in the next few weeks with some more specific recommendations. For the Italy guide, I will add an itinerary to the to do list, you should subscribe to the blog so you get notified of future posts and don’t miss out.

Sunil Chawla says

31st May 2018 at 8:44 am

I will be travelling to Paris with my wife in the month of August. This detailed information will surely be helpful to plan our trip Thank you very much Sunil Chawla India

31st May 2018 at 7:23 pm

Thanks Sunil! Have a great trip 🙂

Chitra Shah says

16th May 2018 at 8:36 pm

I am travelling with my husband and 2 kids ( 7 years and 1 year) to Paris in June. This is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks you. Do you think Paris is stroller – friendly or you recommend a baby carrier.

17th May 2018 at 9:26 am

Thanks Chitra! I must preface my response by saying that we don’t have kids, so haven’t faced this problem 😉 Certainly, part of Paris would be stroller friendly, but things like the metro for example are definitely not easy for stroller access as there are often only stair entrances and exits. So a baby carrier might be easier, depending on how you want to get around the city. I hope this helps a bit – have a great trip!

3rd May 2018 at 7:51 pm

This is one of the best, well elaborated and detailed article. Thank you for putting up so much effort and sharing your experience. It is indeed a great help!

3rd May 2018 at 8:35 pm

Thank you very much 😀

Nitin Bansal says

21st April 2018 at 7:15 pm

That’s a brilliant detailed summary of 3 day Paris itinerary. I am travelling to Paris soon although for a short time and will be looking forward to cover most of the places from your list here.

22nd April 2018 at 10:17 am

Thanks very much Nitin – have a great trip 😀

kristin says

28th March 2018 at 2:25 pm

I envy you guys living in Edi and being able to jet away for so many long weekend trips for cheap! I was pricing Europe from Nashville this summer, and I can’t find anything for under $1000, no matter the hub I fly into =/

29th March 2018 at 9:49 am

We are lucky on that front for sure 😀

Matheresa says

21st March 2018 at 7:49 pm

To go through in u’ll article/blogging i find it very informative and the easiest way for me to make my itinerary,,, specially i saw the Spain article but i didn’t leave a comment there coz of wanted to check for paris too,,, Spain features was fantastic keep it up LOVERS all the best in your Wanderlust started to following u’ll…

22nd March 2018 at 9:19 am

Thanks very much Mathresa 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!

kazim Gurmani says

19th March 2018 at 1:53 pm

The amazing place for the lovers. You guys are so lucky enjoying all this

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let me know when there's a reply to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise!)

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips. This also makes you eligible to enter our monthly giveaways!

We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. To do this, we store your data as outlined in our privacy policy . Your e-mail will not be published or used for any other reason other than those outlined above.

May 3, 2023 / Paris

The Ultimate Paris Itinerary: 8 Days of Sightseeing, Food and Fun

Some say that Paris is overrated but we beg to disagree. In fact, one week wasn't even enough for us to see everything the city has to offer, and we wished we could have stayed longer. During our 8 days in Paris, we discovered that this vibrant city has something for everyone, whether you're a fan of history, art, food, or just strolling around beautiful neighborhoods.

Check out our daily itinerary with awesome photos by @jpphotography

• 1 .1 Day 1: Stroll in the Latin Quarter and the Pantheon
• 1 .2 Day 2: Free and Paid Walking Tours
• 1 .3 Day 3: A Magical Day at Disneyland
• 1 .4 Day 4: Relax and Marvel at the Eiffel Tower
• 1 .5 Day 5: A Full Day at the Louvre Museum
• 1 .6 Day 6: Day Trip to Versailles
• 1 .7 Day 7: Fine Dining and Sightseeing
• 1 .8 Day 8: Walk around St. Germain and Enjoy Crepes
• 2 Where to Stay
• 3 Useful Travel Tips

8 Days Itinerary

Day 1: stroll in the latin quarter and the pantheon.

After arriving in Paris from Manila, we took a nap at our cute boutique hotel and then headed out to explore the Latin Quarter.  It was easy because the hotel was just right next to the metro which you will be using a lot while in Paris.

The Latin Quarter's lively neighborhood is known for its narrow streets, colorful buildings, and bohemian vibe. We had an hour to visit the Pantheon, but unfortunately we were too late to climb to the top for a breathtaking view of the city.

Day 2: Free and Paid Walking Tours

We started our second day in Paris with a free walking tour with SANDEMANs. These tours are a great way to discover the city and learn about its history and culture from knowledgeable local guides. It's a free tour, but it's always appreciated if you can tip your guide to help sustain the service.

In the afternoon, we took their paid walking tour of Montmartre, the famous hilltop neighborhood known for its bohemian history and stunning views of the city. We ended the day with dinner at Le Moulin de la Galette , a popular restaurant in Montmartre due to its old windmill.

Alternative: If you want a more unique experience while also indulging in the local cuisine, I recommend the Paris Food Walking tour by Secret Food Tours . You can choose to either explore and eat at Montmartre or Notre Dame neighborhood

Day 3: A Magical Day at Disneyland

We spent an entire day at Disneyland. You need an entire day at least, some people even buy multi-day tickets to really try every attraction. The theme park located just outside Paris but is easily accessible by metro. With its rides, shows, and characters, Disneyland is a perfect destination for kids and adults alike.

.rsme-embed .rsme-d-none { display: none; } .rsme-embed .twitter-tweet { margin: 0 !important; } .rsme-embed blockquote { margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; } .rsme-embed.rsme-facebook-embed .fb-post iframe { width: 100% !important; } .rsme-embed.rsme-facebook-embed .fb-post span { width: 100% !important; } .rsme-spinner { border: 3px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.75); border-right-color: transparent; border-radius: 50%; animation: rsme-spin 1s linear infinite; } @keyframes rsme-spin { 0% { transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { transform: rotate(360deg); } } View post on Instagram  

Tip: Buy ticket online to save time queuing. They only sell tickets when the park opens so it doesn't matter how early you get. And people are already there hours before opening time!

Day 4: Relax and Marvel at the Eiffel Tower

On our fourth day in Paris, we took it easy and walked around the Eiffel Tower. In the evening, we had dinner at Le Bistrot du Peintre  (google maps), a local restaurant recommended to us by some friends.

Good to know: The Eiffel tower sparkles at the start of each hour for 5 minutes at night and the tower is lit until before midnight (this was in May). Time may change depending on season.

Day 5: A Full Day at the Louvre Museum

On day 5, we spent a full 7 hours inside the Louvre Museum, one of the world's most famous art museums. With its vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art, the Louvre is a must-see for any art and history lover visiting Paris. 

Most tourists only stop by to see the Mona Lisa but there's much to see in this huge museum. And if you're a museum lover, you can easily spend the whole day inside the Louvre. It's not just the collection but the glamorous interiors will also get your attention.

If you want to make the most of your time and learn more then you can join this highly rated 2-hour guided tour that already includes the ticket .

After the Louvre, we took advantage of the "Museum Night" event and visited the Fondation Louis Vuitton for free.

Day 6: Day Trip to Versailles

On day 6, we took a day trip to Versailles, the magnificent palace and gardens located just outside Paris. The palace is a testament to the opulence and grandeur of the French monarchy, and the gardens are a stunning example of French landscape design. We spent the entire day exploring the palace and gardens, and it was well worth the trip. You need a full day here.

Day 7: Fine Dining and Sightseeing

On our seventh day in Paris, we tried our luck at reserving a table at a one-star Michelin restaurant in the country where the guide originated. All the restaurants were fully booked, but we were able to secure a table at PavYllon. 

However, my opinion about this restaurant has changed after trying other Michelin star and Michelin guide restaurants in other parts of France (especially Dijon!) and other parts of Europe. I would say that this is my least favorite Michelin star restaurant. It wasn't bad but you would find better for their price range (€150 per person). You may just have to book ahead especially in Paris.

After lunch, we walked around the Champs-Élysées and visited the Arc de Triomphe. The top of the arch has really good views of the city and you can also see the Eiffel tower from here.

Extra: We also passed by the Louvre museum and it was less crowded than the area near the Eiffel. It looks more romantic at night. And from this area, you can see the Eiffel tower too. And of course, we waited for the Eiffel tower sparkle!

Day 8: Walk around St. Germain and Enjoy Crepes

On our final day in Paris, we spent some time strolling around the neighborhood of St. Germain, which is known for its art galleries and a less touristy atmosphere.

We also discovered a great creperie called Creperie Little Breizh , where we had some delicious galettes (savory crepes made with buckwheat flour) and crepes (sweet crepes made with wheat flour). It was a nice way to end our trip to Paris and enjoy some of the city's famous culinary delights.

Where to Stay

During our stay in Paris, we had the pleasure of staying at La Belle Ville , a charming mid-range hotel located in the heart of the city. It was newly opened when we were there in May 2022. At €130 per night, the hotel is definitely a great value by Paris standards.

The room was spacious and modern, and we loved the high-quality toiletries provided by the brand Respire. The hotel also provided a variety of snacks, coffee, and tea, which was a nice touch.

One of the things we appreciated most about La Belle Ville was its convenient location – it's just steps away from a metro station, which was very useful for us as we relied on the metro to get around Paris. The staff at La Belle Ville were also incredibly friendly and helpful, and they went above and beyond to make sure we had a comfortable and memorable stay. If you're planning a trip to Paris and want a comfortable and convenient base for exploring the city, we highly recommend checking out La Belle Ville – we think you'll love it as much as we did!

Useful Travel Tips

• To save money and time, consider getting a one week metro pass. The pass costs €22 + €5 for the card, and it allows you unlimited rides on the metro. Just be sure to bring a 3.5x2.5cm photo to attach to the pass.
• To avoid long queues at popular attractions, book tickets online at the official sites (such as the Louvre, Versailles, and Disneyland). Avoid booking through blog sites, as some of them are sold through agencies at higher prices.
• If you're an EU national under 26 years old, you may be eligible for discounts (such as at Versailles) or free admission to museums and monuments in France.
• Keep in mind that restaurants in Paris are usually closed between 2pm and 5pm (times may vary). Some restaurants are open all day, but they may only serve drinks during the day. If you get hungry during these hours and missed lunch, you can find some good baguette sandwiches at bakeries.
• Consider learning some basic French before your trip to Paris. While most people who work in the tourism industry do speak English, making an effort to communicate in French can be appreciated and help you get the most out of your trip. Even a few key phrases can go a long way in helping you navigate the city and connect with locals.
• As with any big city, take precautions to protect your belongings against pickpockets. This is just a reminder to be vigilant. We felt very safe the entire time.
• If you're looking for a mid-range hotel in Paris, we recommend La Belle Ville . It's a newly opened hotel that is very clean and cute, and it's located next to a metro station. The price is €130 per night, but be aware that prices can vary depending on the season. This price was in May 2022 before the summer peak season.

I hope these revised tips are helpful for your readers planning a trip to Paris. Bon voyage!

Germany Visa Application Cover Letter Template

&lt;Date&gt; Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany 25/F Tower II, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave 1200 Makati City, Metro Manila Subject: Visit Visa Application for Unmarried Couple Dear Madam/ Sir, 1st paragraph: Introduce yourself (provide full name as written in passport), purpose of letter, name of partner, requested number of days with dates,

How I got a Two-Year Multiple Entry Schengen Visa on my 3rd Application

This has been an overdue post and I am glad to finally write it. I have been wanting to share my visa experience but I honestly do not know why the German embassy decided to give me a longer visa validity. I also haven't found official rules on granting multi-year visas. I read unofficial Schengen blogs saying that you need to have obtained and use

Affordable Travel Health Insurance for Schengen Tourist, Visit, Student & Au Pair Visa I Germany

One of the most common questions I get regarding Schengen visa application is getting the right insurance. Why? Because the wrong insurance can lead to a visa denial. (Ouch!) A Schengen visa application requires you to get an insurance that meets their requirements such as having a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, an insurance that would be availabl

Tips to Get a Schengen Visa for First Timers with No Strong Ties | Germany - Unmarried Couple VV

The visit visa for unmarried couples that I applied for in November 2020 was a new visa category created in response to the Love is Not Tourism campaign. This allowed binational couples with a German partner to reunite in their home country despite travel restrictions. UPDATE 2022: The post below is for first time applicants but I still applied the

13 min read

Ultimate 3 Days in Paris Itinerary (With Hidden Gems)!

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you!). Read the full disclosure policy here .

Share it here!

Spending 3 days in Paris is an absolute dream. Streets full of sidewalk cafes, the famed Eiffel Tower, and world-renowned art museums make Paris one of the most amazing cities in the world. 

Seriously, you could just spend your 3-day break in Paris by wandering the streets and popping into various charming places, and you’d have a great time. But, if you’re coming all the way to Paris, it definitely helps to have a plan. It is a rather large city after all. 

After having lived in France and visited Paris numerous times, it was definitely hard to narrow down my absolute favorite spots for your 3 days in Paris itinerary, but I’ve come up with the perfect plan for your trip. 

Without further ado, let’s get into the best 3 day trip to Paris! 

Best 3 Days in Paris Itinerary

For the best way to see Paris in 3 days, here is a quick guide:

Day 1: Main Sights and Impressionists

• Croissants at Maison d’Isabelle
• Eiffel Tower
• Lunch at Relais de l’Entrecote 
• Musee de l’Orangerie
• Dinner at Dame Nation

Day 2: Food and a Hidden Gem

• Coffee at Le Pelaton Cafe
• Walk along Seine
• Le Marais Food Tour
• Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
• Bar Perruche
• Dinner at La Jacobine
• Drinks at Castor Club

Day 3: Sculptures and Montmartre

• Breakfast at Les Deux Magots
• Musee Rodin
• Lunch at L’As du Fallafel 
• Explore Montmartre
• Dinner at La Boite aux Lettres

Now that you have a quick guide to the best of Paris in 3 days, here are more details below! 

Three Perfect Days in Paris Itinerary

From gorgeous museums to amazingly delicious restaurants, this is how to spend a 3 day trip to Paris. 

Kick off the very first day of your Paris itinerary with some famous places but also some hidden gems . And, if you’re familiar with my itineraries on my other blog, World Wide Honeymoon , you know I even put food recommendations in here too! 

Start your morning off pretty early with a stop at Maison d’Isabelle for one of the best croissants of your life. Seriously, this award-winning boulangerie has some tasty bread and croissants. 

So be sure to pick up a few things and hop on the metro for 30 minutes to Paris’ most famous landmark: the Eiffel Tower . 

Of course, you definitely want to hang out in the Jardin de la Tour Eiffel . This is a great place to set up your breakfast picnic of all the goodies you just purchased at Maison d’Isabelle. 

Thankfully, as you’re starting the day earlier, you’ll not have to worry about the crowds. But if you want to get other neat glimpses of the Eiffel Tower for the ‘gram or just for fun, here are a few spots to check out nearby:

• Rue de l’Universite
• Place de la Varsovie
• Champ de Mars
• Quai Branly
• Pont d’Iena

There are so many other great places to capture photos of the Eiffel Tower, but it is fun to wander around and enjoy the Eiffel Tower from her many flattering angles. 

And if you would like to go up the Eiffel Tower, be sure to book tickets ahead of time ! 

After exploring the Eiffel Tower, it is time to wander along the Seine on a 45-minute walk to France’s most iconic art museum: the Louvre . On the way, you’ll even have the chance to walk through the lovely Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde . 

This former palace turned museum now houses art ranging from antiquities and ancient Egypt to the Renaissance. It can take hours and hours to go through it if you really want to. However, I have found that about 3 hours is more than enough time to get the gist of the museum. 

After that amount of time, it can be a bit repetitive with the Renaissance art especially. Yes, they are absolutely magnificent, but they can easily become overwhelming after several hours. So spend a few hours in the Louvre, spotting the Mona Lisa, and definitely exploring the art from around the globe before lunch! 

The Louvre is certainly a bucket list Paris activity for first timer’s !

PS- Be sure to snag skip-the-line tickets to the Louvre ahead of time. Lines can be crazy long, and there is no time to waste during your three perfect days in Paris! 

Lunch & a Smaller Art Museum 

After all of that walking and exploring some famous Parisian sights, it is time for lunch. I have just the place, and it’s only about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre. Le Relais de l’Entrecote in Saint-Germain-des-Pres is a lovely spot for lunch. This place is well-known for its steak frites. 

This is the place where you sit down and the server will ask you if you like your steak rare or medium-rare. Once you answer your preference, you’ll be served a salad with walnuts, followed by a tasty steak and a mound of crispy fries. 

Oh, and it is slathered in a delicious sauce. Now while that sounds filling, once you finish your steak or fries they’ll just load it back up. 

It is so much fun to spend part of your afternoon lazily watching the world go by as you eat a copious amount of fries and steak. Heaven. 

After that, it is time to head back across the Seine and wander over to Musee de l’Orangerie . 

Now most people who visit Paris in 3 days will certainly visit the Louvre and perhaps the Musee d’Orsay. That is, after all, where some of the famous impressionist pieces are held. But after visiting such a large art museum, I love how intimate Musee de l’Orangerie is. 

Also, as a bonus, it happens to be where you’ll find the gigantic Monet Water Lily paintings! 

This smaller museum is across the Tuileries from the Louvre and a 20-minute walk from the restaurant. This museum has plenty of incredible impressionist paintings as well as a special exhibition. 

Hands-down this is my favorite art museum to visit in Paris, so it is well worth a stop during your Paris plan! 

After all of that walking around and seeing some of the top things to do in Paris, it is time to head to dinner. DAME NATION is the place to go! This is about 30 minutes by metro from the museum. If you finish up at the museum earlier in the evening, you can wander around the nearby area. 

Check out Rue Cremieux , the colorful street in the 12th arrondissement, before walking to the tucked away DAME NATION. 

This quiet bistro is super charming, and the food is amazing! They have a couple of Norman-style dishes like Norman veal or sirloin, and they offer other unique things on their menu that makes it a great restaurant to visit during your 3-day itinerary for Paris! 

Just be sure to make reservations ahead of time! You can do that online ! 

After all of the delicious food, exciting sights, and all that walking, it may be a good idea to head to bed after this and prepare for day 2 in Paris! 

Information For Day 1 in Paris:

• Maison d’Isabelle: Open Tuesday-Saturday 6 am-8 pm and on Sunday from 6 am-6 pm. 
• Eiffel Tower: Open daily from 9 am-midnight from mid-June to early September. Open daily 9:30 am-11 pm the rest of the year. Book your ticket here!  
• Louvre: Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am-6 pm. Open on Friday from 9 am-9:45 pm. Book tickets here!
• Relais de l’Entrecote: Open Monday-Friday from 12-2:30 pm and 6:45-11 pm. Weekends and holidays open from 12-3 pm and 6:45-11 pm. 
• Musee de l’Orangerie: Open Wednesday-Monday from 9 am-6 pm.  Book tickets here!
• DAME NATION: Open Monday-Saturday from 11:30 am-4 pm and 6-11 pm.

Day 2 of Your 3 Day Trip in Paris: Food and a Hidden Gem

After a nice night of sleep, it is time to welcome the day with some coffee. You don’t have to get up early today, but when you do, stroll on over to Le Peloton Cafe for a flat white and a pastry before strolling along the Seine or around the Ile Saint-Louis for a bit. 

Then, start moseying up to where your food tour starts in the Le Marais neighborhood! 

This food tour of the Le Marais is such a fun tour in one of the best foodie neighborhoods in Paris! The tour makes stops at a local bistro, a spot for cheese and wine tasting, a chocolate shop, and more! Book the tour that starts at 10:30 am. It lasts for 3-4 hours. 

Trust me, you’ll definitely be full afterward with all the delicious French treats!  Book it here!

After your tour, you’re heading to a hidden gem. If you’re a fan of the movie Midnight in Paris, you may recognize this place: Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen . It’s about a 30-minute metro ride to get here, but this is known as the Paris Flea Market! 

Now it isn’t just a few dusty old records and rickety chairs. We’re talking about taking a step back through time with several shops and stands selling silverware and dishes, furniture, paintings and sculptures, and even old postcards. 

It feels like its own museum, only if you have the money, you can certainly purchase the goods! Spend the remainder of your afternoon exploring this hidden gem spot in Paris and perhaps purchase a few mementos from times gone by! 

Drinks & Dinner & Drinks Again…

Once you’ve finished exploring the flea market, it is time to enjoy a fantastic view of Paris, from the top of a shopping mall! 

About 30 minutes back down into downtown Paris, Bar Perruche is a fantastic rooftop bar at the Printemps mall. Head here for a fun late afternoon drink as you enjoy the sights of the city, including the Eiffel Tower! 

After a fun cocktail at Bar Perruche, it is time to take a nice long walk past the Palais Garnier, across the Seine, and over to the Odeon area for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Paris: La Jacobine . 

This adorable tiny restaurant is tucked in a small passageway and is instantly charming. Their onion soup is literally the best soup I’ve ever tasted, and the coq au vin and duck confit will wow you. For typical French cuisine in a cozy atmosphere, this is definitely the place to go! 

Just be sure to make reservations! It is small and books up fast! 

Alright, after dinner, why not check out a fun cocktail club nearby? This is a great time to head to Castor Club . With great vibes, good music, and even better cocktails, this place is a fun way to end a night on the town! 

Information For Day 2 in Paris:

• Le Peloton Cafe: Open Monday-Friday from 8 am-5:30 pm and on the weekends from 8 am-6 pm. 
• Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen: Open Friday from 8 am-12 pm, Saturday-Sunday from 10 am-6 pm, and Monday from 11 am-5 pm. 
• Bar Perruche: Open daily from 12-3 pm and 7 pm-2 am. On weekends, lunch is from 12:30 pm-4 pm. Reservations are recommended but for drinks it’s a bit more casual. Closed between October-April.
• La Jacobine: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 12-11 pm and on Monday from 6:30-11 pm. 
• Castor Club: Open Tuesday-Wednesday from 7 pm-2 am and Thursday-Saturday from 7 pm-4 am. 

I couldn’t let you leave Paris without checking out one of its most famous neighborhoods! So today, you’ll be exploring an iconic cafe, a dreamy museum, and the beautiful neighborhood of Montmartre. 

Start your morning with breakfast at Les Deux Magots . This is one of my favorite cafes in Paris, not only because the people watching is amazing, and it is in the charming Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood, but it is a famous cafe that was a former haunt of the Lost Generation. 

Known for the likes of Hemingway, Picasso, and more, this cafe has seen a lot in its time. So it is a neat place to grab breakfast. But another thing I love about Les Deux Magots is its ancient hot chocolate. 

This is one of my favorite places for hot chocolate, and Paris is well-known for its hot chocolate! This creamy, melted candy bar-esque hot chocolate is the stuff of dreams and something you’ll want to try during your visit to Paris in 3 days. 

After a scrumptious breakfast, you can then walk on over to the Eglise de Saint-Germain-des-Pres . It is just across the street from Les Deux Magots and is one of my favorite churches in Paris. It’s small and quiet, and far less crowded than other churches. 

This is a fun quick stop on your way to Laduree nearby for its famous macarons. Grab a few to go and then walk 20 minutes to the Musee Rodin . 

This hidden gem of a museum is full of sculptures from the famed artist, including The Thinker . But it also feels like a little oasis in the middle of the city, with gorgeous gardens tucked behind the walls of the museum. 

On a warm summer day, it is lovely to spend the morning frolicking amongst the statues and flowers, watching the ducks swimming in the water. So take some time to enjoy the interior and exterior of the museum! 

After that, you can either walk or take the metro over to one of the best lunch spots in the Le Marais: L’As du Fallafel . This place is seriously incredible. With heaping falafel sandwiches, fluffy pita, and creamy hummus, you’ll definitely want to split a few things and try as much as possible! 

Now I will warn you that around lunchtime this place is packed. Like line wrapping around the block. Don’t worry too much, as this place quickly serves. The last time I visited Paris I noticed that the line to eat inside the restaurant was faster than the takeout line, so if all else fails try that! 

Regardless, you won’t regret the wait, it is worth it! 

Explore Montmartre 

Post-falafel, the afternoon is all about visiting Montmartre . This is definitely one of the Paris places to visit in 3 days! 

If you’re in no rush, feel free to walk the hour to get there, but just be warned: it is hilly to get to the top of the Sacre Coeur church! But if you’re up for the challenge go for it! 

You could also take the metro and funicular to get to the top as well. Start exploring Sacre Coeur and admiring the view from the top of the hill. 

While you could go inside Sacre Coeur if you please, there is also a hidden gem church just on the other side of the church called Paroisse Saint-Pierre de Montmartre , which dates back to the 12th century! 

After that, I recommend visiting the Love Wall (or Le Mur des Je t’aime). This wall has “I Love You,” written in 250 languages. It is a romantic place to visit during your 3 days in Paris, and a place where many couples will pose for a photo or even get engaged! 

Other places you’ll want to wander around to see in Montmartre include the Montmartre Museum with information about the history of the neighborhood and is next to Montmartre Vineyard, explore the Montmartre Cemetary with famous gravestones, spot the Moulin Rouge , and stroll down Paris’s most beautiful street: Rue de l’Abreuvoir . 

You can easily spend the rest of your day exploring the charming Montmartre neighborhood. And to wrap up your 3 days in Paris itinerary, have dinner at La Boite aux Lettres .

While located a bit of a hike up the hill, it is well worth it for some of the best food in Paris. Enjoy delicious French cuisine that is completely bursting with flavor here!

Alright, now I know this has been a packed itinerary including great places to eat, drink, explore, and muse about, but if you’re feeling up to it on your last night, you may want to head back to the Eiffel Tower just to see it lit up at night .

It’s a stunner any time of day, but at night during its light show, it really is magical. The sparkling happens for 5 minutes on the hour every hour from dusk until 11 pm. The lights turn off completely at 11:45 pm.

Phew! After all of that, it is time to head back to your hotel and say goodbye to your amazing visit to Paris in 3 days! 

Information For Day 3 in Paris:

• Les Deux Magots: Open daily from 7:30 am-1 am. 
• Eglise de Saint-Germain-des-Pres: Open Monday and Sunday from 9:30 am-8 pm and Tuesday-Friday from 7:30 am-8 pm. Saturday from 8:30 am-8 pm.
• Laduree (Saint-Germain): Open daily from 8:30 am-7 pm. 
• Musee Rodin: Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-6:30 pm.  Book tickets here!
• L’As du Fallafel: Open Sunday-Thursday from 11 am-11 pm, Friday from 11 am-3 pm.
• Sacre Coeur: Open daily from 6:30 am-10:30 pm. 
• Paroisse Saint-Pierre de Montmartre: Open Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-12 pm and 3-6 pm, and Saturday from 10 am-12 pm and 3-7 pm. Sunday from 3-6 pm.
• Montmartre Museum: Open daily from 10 am-7 pm. 
• La Boite aux Lettres: Open Monday-Saturday from 12-2:30 pm and 7-10:30 pm.

If You Have More Than a Three Days in Paris Itinerary

If you happen to have more time in Paris, you’re in luck! There is still plenty to see and do in the city! I have a 4-day Paris itinerary , a 5-day itinerary , and a 7-day itinerary to help you out!

Here are some other ideas:

• Visit many parks like Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Jardin du Luxembourg, or even the Bois de Vincennes
• Visit other museums like Musee d’Orsay, Musee National Picasso-Paris, Musee de la Vie Romantique, Musee Gustave Moreau, and Musee des Arts Forains to name a few
• Explore the lovely Canal Saint-Martin area
• Take the time for a cruise along the Seine
• Explore the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe 

The ideas are never-ending! There are also ample day trips from Paris you could take too. Here are a few ideas:

• Versailles bike tour 
• Loire Valley for castles and wine
• Champagne tour
• D-Day Beaches of Normandy
• Mont St Michel
• Giverny for Monet’s Gardens
• Visit Fontainebleau

Where to Stay in Paris

During your 3 day trip to Paris, there are definitely a ton of hotel options! I even have a whole guide about where to stay in Paris based on your travel style ! 

However, here are some great hotel ideas based on your budget: 

Budget: Libertel Canal Saint-Martin

If you’re on a budget in Paris, this hotel has A/C, clean, comfortable rooms, and great views of the Canal Saint-Martin area. 

Book it here! 

Mid-Range: Au Manoir Saint Germain Des Pres

With opulent fixtures, and beautiful views, and is located in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres neighborhood, you can’t go wrong with this hotel.

Luxury: Grand Hotel du Palais Royale

This is within walking distance to the Louvre and many attractions nearby! This luxury hotel has a Turkish bath, chic rooms, and great terraces to enjoy the views.

Getting to Paris & Getting Around 

Getting to Paris is easy, as you can fly to either Paris airport: Charles de Gaulle or Paris-Orly. If you’re flying from the US or further away, chances are you’ll land in Charles de Gaulle, whereas if you’re flying a discount airline in Europe, you’ll likely end up at Paris-Orly. 

Check flight prices on Skyscanner !

From Charles de Gaulle, you can either take a taxi, Uber, bus, or train. From Orly, you can take a taxi or Uber, or you’ll need to catch the Orlyval metro to the Antony Train Station. Then, from there, you’ll take line RER B. There is also the Orlybus that goes from the airport to downtown. 

And if you’re coming from elsewhere in France or nearby countries, you can even take the train! This is much more convenient as the train stations in Paris are much closer to the hotels than the airport! 

Once you’re in Paris, it is very easy to get around. For starters, it is a pretty walkable city. There are times when taking the metro is best, but you can also walk to many places. 

Aside from walking, there are bike rentals, buses, and the metro. You can even download the Bonjour RATP app to find the best routes. 

Other Tips For Visiting Paris

Before you land in the City of Lights, here are some other tips to know:

• When is the best time to visit? Luckily, I have a whole guide to help you decide ! But I have visited in winter , spring, summer , and fall and have enjoyed my stay! 
• Be sure to wear some comfortable shoes. These shoes are very popular and super comfortable for walking around all day. For more on what to wear in Paris, check out my guide here !
•  If you’re planning to see and do a lot in the city, opt to purchase the Paris Museum Pass . It includes admission to 60+ museums and monuments in the city. 
• Be sure to attempt a little bit of French . At the very least, know how to say “Hello” (“Bonjour” if before 5 pm and “Bonsoir” if after 5 pm) and say this when you enter a shop. It is rude not to, and don’t expect much help from employees if you don’t say it. 
• Only have a day in Paris? We have a whole blog post to help you maximize your time! And here is an itinerary if you have 2 days in Paris .

These are definitely the top things to do in Paris in 3 days. From exciting museums to romantic locales, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Paris. 

I hope this Paris travel guide helps you plan your perfect trip to Paris! Let me know about your favorite place in Paris! 

Check out more Paris & France content here!

• Best Weekend Trips From Paris
• Ultimate Guide on How to Solo Travel in Paris
• 17 Best Things to do in Lyon
• Ultimate France Bucket List
• Most Beautiful Cities in France
• How to Spend a Weekend in Dijon
• Ultimate Annecy in Winter Guide
• 1 Day in Annecy Guide
• Top Things to do in Grenoble
• Best Cheeses in France
• Best Day Trips From Annecy
• Top Things to do in Beaune
• Best French Gifts For Francophiles
• Only South of France Itinerary You’ll Ever Need
• Best Things to do in Cassis
• 1 Day in Avignon
• Best Alsace Christmas Markets
• Ultimate Luberon Villages Guide
• 1 Day in Nice
• Ultimate 5-Day French Riviera Itinerary
• Best Things to Do in Deauville
• Ultimate Normandy Cider Route Guide & Itinerary
• 3 Days in Cannes
• 1 Day in Strasbourg
• How to Spend 10 Days in France
• Ultimate Paris 2024 Olympics Travel Guide
• 1 Day in Cannes
• 1 Day in Colmar
• Best Things to Do in Epernay
• Top 15 France Road Trips
• Ultimate Guide to Champagne Tasting in Reims
• Strasbourg Christmas Market Guide
• Best French Pharmacy Beauty Products
• Colmar Christmas Market Guide
• Ribeauville Christmas Market Guide
• Obernai Christmas Market Guide
• Kaysersberg Christmas Market Guide
• Riquewihr Christmas Market Guide
• 31 Top Paris Gifts
• Ultimate 7-Day Normandy Road Trip

Follow the journey!

Signup for exclusive travel tips for France!

Thanks for subscribing! Be sure to check your email to confirm your subscription.

Pin it here!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Private Tour Guide
• Tour with Private Driver
• Paris First Visit Tour
• Top Monuments Tour
• Historical Districts Tour
• Church King and Republic
• Legendary Writers
• Parisian Philosophers
• Movie TV Series Tour
• Food Tour for Foodies
• Best Place Shopping Tour
• Luxury Shopping Tour
• Paris Trip Planner
• Paris Tour Package
• Itinerary with booking
• Activities to do in Paris
• Private Driver Service
• Paris During Layover
• Hotel Recommendation
• Airport Hotel Transfer
• Parisian Restaurants
• Gourmet Dinner
• Honey Moon in Paris
• Paris Marriage Proposal
• Paris to Champagne Tour
• From Paris to Normandy
• Paris to Loire Valley
• French Riviera from Paris
• Joan of Arc Tour
• Impressionism Art
• Monet in Giverny
• Van Gogh in Auvers
• Art Gallery Paris
• Paris by Night
• Unusual Things to Do
• Landmarks Sightseeing
• Art and Museums

French Cuisine

• Paris Shopping
• Parisian Icons
• Paris Sacred Places
• Romantic Paris

Historical Paris

• Green Paris
• Outside Paris
• Couple and People in Love
• Family with Children
• Friends Small Group
• LGBT+ Welcome to Paris
• Christian Traveler
• Highschool College University
• Solo Traveler
• Business Travelers
• First Time in Paris
• Top Paris Art Museums
• Museum Paris Pass
• Must See in Paris
• Best time to visit Paris
• Cost of a trip to Paris
• Paris Travel Warnings
• Paris Hotels Hints
• Paris Metro Tips
• Paris Airport Overview
• About PARIS BY EMY
• PARIS BY EMY 10 Themes
• Planning a Trip with Emy
• Custom Tours by Locals
• Tours in Paris in English
• All inclusive and pricing

Paris Travel Planner

Paris Trip According to Your Aspirations

Like a wedding planner, PARIS BY EMY creates a tailor-made trip for each clients’ personal preferences and interests. Whether you are solo, a couple, a family or a group, make the most of your time: discover iconic landmarks, explore hidden gems, embrace French culture, try local cuisine, enjoy recreational activities, experience spiritual sites and go off the beaten track. Be receptive to different perspectives, cultural discovery is an enriching experience.

Personalized Tours and High Standing Services

Paris-based within a fabulous network, let me enhance your travel journey by a wide array of custom-made tours, services and packages such as: personalized itinerary, private tour guide with optional private driver, airport hotel transfer, hotel and restaurant recommendations, leisure activity booking, luxury shopping tour, visiting Normandy, Champagne… Your trip is personalized with expertise and efficient management according to your aspirations.

Be Cosseted Ongoing Support and No Platform

PARIS BY EMY provides a travel experience for each client based on ongoing support before and during your stay through genuine human exchange: no platform, no already-made. Be cosseted and enjoy a stress-free travel. Each moment, interaction, and discovery contributes to a personalized adventure that is exclusively yours within a Parisian network. We will optimize every aspect of your journey, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the City of Lights.

From Friday July 26 to Sunday August 11, 2024, the Olympic Games will be held, then from August 28 to September 8, 2024 the Paralympic Games. During this period, roads and public transport will be very busy, this will impact your travel.

Inspiring Travelers

Emy is my American nickname. I lived 5 years in the United States of America in my twenties (study, graduate and work). Having friends from the US visiting Paris, it gave me the idea of PARIS BY EMY. In addition to living 5 years in the US, I travelled to many corners of the world such as : Europe, Africa, North America & the Middle East.

• To explore Paris with tailor-made tours
• To share thought, culture and lifestyle
• To provide personalized services

With a master’s degree from the Sorbonne Business School, and a corporate background of 15 years in SMB and industrial group, I became an entrepreneur in 2018. After 8 months in an incubator, I have decided to create PARIS BY EMY, a company dedicated to planning vacation packages with private tours and personalized services.

Tailor Made Paris Itinerary

Itinerary for 3 days or more : Enjoy a custom itinerary with booking and personalized services. Paris based, we set iconic Parisian tours. Each itinerary is custom made according to your aspirations for each day of your stay. We optimize your time with our local network that others may not have

Custom Paris Tour Package

Paris Trip Package : All inclusive vacation custom package, we recommend hotels, restaurants, museums with booking, boutiques, leisure activities, and set custom itinerary, airport hotel transfer, private tour guide with private driver, special event organization such as marriage proposal

Private Tour Guide with Optional Driver

Personal Tour Guide Paris : Hotel pick up by local private guide, for a tailor made tour according to your aspirations, historical Paris, iconic sightseeing, off the beaten track, leisure activities, luxury shopping, Normandy, Champagne, with private driver in option within or around Paris

Hotel recommendations

Best places to stay in Paris verified by PARIS BY EMY, we recommend hotels among 1,500 Parisian hotels according to your criteria. We identify the perfect hotel’s features and greatest locations. Paris based, we recommend hotels from 3 to 5 star. From your hotel, we set a custom itinerary

Restaurant recommendations

Paris as the “City of Love,” is equally the city of food lovers. From traditional bistros, charming bakeries, delicatessen stores, famous brasseries to Michelin-starred establishments, PARIS BY EMY offers you an experience among 13,000 restaurants, according to your buds and preferences

Leisure activity recommendations

No matter of who you are, a family, a couple, a group of friends, a teacher with students, we set private city tour, according to your desires and profile : Parisian icons, historical Paris, French Cuisine, art & museums, sacred places, shopping, entertainment, landmarks, Green Paris, Outside Paris

Follow Paris By Emy :

Paris Art and Museums

Paris Landmarks and Sightseeing

Paris Entertainment

Benjamin Franklin in Paris

| The American Revolution Story : Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Marquis de Lafayette | As a cornerstone in world history, the American Revolution stands for the birth of a new nation and…

Les Invalides Napoleon Tomb

|Hotel des Invalides Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb| Les Invalides Napoleon Tomb : A prominent sight in the Parisian landscape thanks to its famous gilded Dome, the Hôtel National des Invalides is…

Visiting Versailles

|Versailles what to see| Visiting Versailles is a journey back in time to the era of kings and queens, where lavishness knew no bounds. Let’s explore the must-see within the palace walls and the…

History of Impressionism

|150th Anniversary of Impressionism in 2024| History impressionism : 150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, the first impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. “Hungry for independence”, Monet, Renoir,…

Macaron in Paris

|The Macaron’s Origin in Paris|   Macaron in Paris : The macaron, a delicate and iconic French pastry, has a history that traces back centuries. While its precise origin is debated, it is…

Paris During Christmas Holidays

|What to Do in Paris During Christmas Holidays ?| Paris, the City of Lights, transforms into a magical wonderland during the Christmas holidays. The crisp winter air is filled with the scent of…

WhatsApp us

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Paris to Paris

Paris & the Heart of Normandy

• From $2,499
• 6 Guided Tours
• Dates & Pricing
• 2024 2025 2026

Paris & the Heart of Normandy Map

Enjoy Paris & Norman treasures

Dock in the heart of Paris, admiring views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from your ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture. Explore Giverny and the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting inspiring many of his masterpieces. This voyage celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.

SPRING SALE

Viking Inclusive Value

All you need included, with no surprises or hidden fees

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Your Stateroom Includes:

River-view stateroom

Bottled water replenished daily

110/220 volt outlets

Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Plush robes & slippers (upon request)

40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more

Telephone, safe, refrigerator

Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

From $799 | 3 Nights

Pre: Paris Premium

From $1,499 | 3 Nights

Post: Paris

Post: Paris Premium

Post: Oxford & Highclere Castle

From $1,699 | 3 Nights

Post: Lille & Bruges

From $1,599 | 4 Nights

Post: Brussels

From $649 | 2 Nights

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Special Offers
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises

Recherchez des hôtels à Paris

Indiquez vos dates afin de voir nos derniers tarifs et nos offres pour des hôtels à paris, filtrer par :, note des commentaires.

HotelF1 Paris Saint Ouen Marché Aux Puces

Doté d'une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite dans l'ensemble de ses locaux, l'HotelF1 Le Paris Saint Ouen Marché Aux Puces Rénové propose des chambres avec une télévision à écran plat.

citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon

Le citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon vous accueille dans le 12ème arrondissement de Paris. Offrant une vue sur la Seine, il est situé à proximité de la gare de Lyon.

B&B HOTEL Paris Porte des Lilas

Situé dans le 19ème arrondissement de Paris, le B&B Hôtel Porte des Lilas possède une réception ouverte 24h/24, une bagagerie et une terrasse.

ibis Styles Paris Bercy

Situé en face de l'Accor Arena, à 200 mètres de la station de métro Bercy et à 500 mètres de la gare de Lyon, l'ibis Styles Paris Bercy propose une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite.

ibis Budget Paris La Villette 19ème

L'ibis Budget Paris La Villette 19ème est situé à 2 minutes à pied du bassin de la Villette et à 2,1 km de la place de la République.

Hotel Campanile Paris-Bercy Village

Le moderne Hotel Campanile Paris-Bercy Village vous accueille à Paris, dans le quartier de Bercy, à seulement 2 minutes du cinéma, des boutiques et des restaurants du centre commercial Bercy Village.

Hotel de l'Europe

Situé à 450 mètres de la Porte d'Orléans et à 750 mètres du parc Montsouris, l'Hôtel de l'Europe propose un restaurant français et un bar.

Grand Hôtel De L'Europe

Le Grand Hôtel de L'Europe vous propose des chambres avec une salle de bains privative, une télévision à écran plat et une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite.

Hôtel Paris Vaugirard

L'Hotel Paris Vaugirard est situé à Paris, à 50 mètres de la porte de Versailles et de l'entrée principale du parc des expositions. Il propose une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite.

Motel One Paris-Porte Dorée

Situé à Paris, dans le 12ème arrondissement, le Motel One Paris-Porte Dorée dispose d'un bar et d'un jardin.

Les hôtels les plus réservés à Paris le mois dernier

Populaire auprès des clients qui réservent des hôtels à Paris

ibis budget Paris Porte De Montmartre

B&B HOTEL Paris 17 Batignolles

B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème

hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon

Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 15ème

Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel

Les meilleurs hôtels avec petit-déjeuner à paris.

Philéas Lazare & Spa

Installé dans le 9e arrondissement de Paris, à seulement 10 minutes à pied de l’opéra Garnier et des Galeries Lafayette, le Philéas Lazare & Spa Hotel propose un hammam, une salle de sport, une...

Everything & especially tea time! A lovely touch!

Le 123 Sébastopol - Astotel

Situé dans le 2e arrondissement de Paris, à seulement 150 mètres de la station de métro Réaumur-Sébastopol, l’établissement Le 123 Sébastopol - Astotel dispose d’une terrasse, d’une bagagerie et d’une...

More hooks to hang items and a place to dry towels

Hôtel Le Relais des Halles

L'Hôtel Le Relais des Halles vous accueille dans une rue piétonne du centre de Paris, à 500 mètres du musée Georges Pompidou.

Very kind reception comfortable beds no noise super clean

Le Basile Hôtel

L'Le Basile Hôtel se trouve à 2 minutes à pied de la Place de la Madeleine et à 600 mètres de l'Opéra Garnier, dans le 9ème arrondissement de Paris.

Great hotel, great location, great breakfast, and friendly helpful staff

Hôtel Molière

Situé au cœur de Paris, l'Hotel Moliere propose des chambres climatisées au décor parisien élégant, à 2 minutes à pied du Louvre et du jardin des Tuileries.

very nice and professional staff and briljant location

La Maison Favart

L'établissement La Maison Favart est situé à 5 minutes à pied de l'opéra Garnier et du quartier des Grands Boulevards à Paris.

Excellent location, friendly staff and beautiful rooms

Le 12 Hôtel

Installé dans le 8e arrondissement de Paris, le tout nouvel Hotel Le 12 est à seulement 15 minutes de marche de l’opéra Garnier ainsi que des grands magasins Galeries Lafayettes et Printemps du...

Location is perfect. And the rooms are clean and pretty.

Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne

L’Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne est un établissement raffiné proposant des hébergements climatisés en plein centre de Paris, à 5 minutes de marche du Louvre et à 1 km de la cathédrale Notre-Dame.

Location is fantastic, clean and beautiful room, friendly staff

Hôtels à bas prix à Paris

Ibis Budget Paris porte de la Chapelle - Aréna

Situé à Paris, à 3,4 km du stade de France, l'ibis Budget Paris porte de la Chapelle - Aréna propose un hébergement avec un jardin, un parking privé, un salon commun et une terrasse.

Clean, comfortable beds, the breakfast was superb.

Hotel Europe BLV

L'Hotel Europe BLV propose un hébergement dans le centre de Paris, à 150 mètres de la station de métro Belleville et à 15 minutes de marche de la place de la République.

Really nice place and the family who is running it

Hipotel Paris Bastille Saint Antoine

Le Hipotel Paris Bastille Saint Antoine vous accueille dans le 12ème arrondissement de Paris, à 4 minutes à pied de la place de la Bastille et à 1 km du quartier du Marais.

L'emplacement, le personnel et la propriété de la chambre

Situé dans le 14e arrondissement de Paris, à 4 km du jardin du Luxembourg, l'hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon propose une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite dans l'ensemble de ses locaux.

A very reasonable price for Paris. Good value for money.

Cheap prices. Surprisingly nice view. Good travel links

Hotel De La Poste

L'Hotel De La Poste est situé dans le 18ème arrondissement de Paris, à 1 km du quartier animé de Montmartre et à 1,2 km de la gare du Nord. Il propose une réception ouverte 24h/24.

Though it was a good location Good for the cost of the room

ibis budget Paris Porte de Vincennes

Situé à Paris, l'ibis budget Paris Porte de Vincennes se trouve à 20 minutes à pied du château de Vincennes.

The hotel was very clean and check in was simple to do

ibis Paris La Villette Cité des Sciences 19ème

Doté d’un bar et d’une réception ouverte 24h/24, l’hôtel ibis Paris La Villette Cité des Sciences 19ème vous accueille au bord du canal de l’Ourcq, à 400 mètres de la Cité des sciences et de...

Friendly and helpful staff, loved the lounge area.

Hôtels à Paris situés dans le centre

Cheval Blanc Paris & Dior Spa Cheval Blanc Paris

Doté d’un bar, le Cheval Blanc Paris & Dior Spa Cheval Blanc Paris vous accueille à Paris, en Île-de-France, à 400 mètres du musée du Louvre et de la Sainte-Chapelle.

There’s nothing not to like. It’s luxury to the next level.

Les Rives de Notre-Dame

Situé dans le Quartier Latin, en face de la Sainte-Chapelle, Les Rives de Notre-Dame propose un hébergement traditionnel de style parisien dans le centre romantique de Paris.

Beautiful interior design, lovely staff and stunning room

Hôtel D'Aubusson

L'Hôtel D'Aubusson occupe un hôtel particulier du XVIIe siècle au cœur du Quartier latin, à seulement 350 mètres de la station de métro Odéon.

Perfect location. Great facilities. The best bar

Le Grand Mazarin

Situé à Paris, à moins de 700 mètres du Centre Pompidou, l'établissement Le Grand Mazarin propose un service de concierge, des chambres non-fumeurs, une terrasse, une connexion Wi-Fi gratuite dans...

Location perfetta, personale squisito e camere da sogno!

Hôtel Le Presbytère

L'Hôtel Le Presbytère vous accueille dans un ancien presbytère. Il est situé dans le centre de Paris, à seulement 300 mètres du célèbre Centre Pompidou et à 350 mètres du centre commercial des Halles.

Clean , good location .All the staff were delightful .

Relais Christine

L'hôtel de caractère Relais Christine occupe un manoir du XVIIe siècle au cœur de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, à seulement 700 mètres de la cathédrale Notre-Dame.

Gorgeous setting, beautiful decor and lovely staff

Millésime Hôtel

Situé au cœur du quartier de Saint-Germain-des-Prés, le Millésime Hôtel propose des chambres climatisées et une cour avec jardin, dans un bâtiment du XVIIe siècle, à 10 minutes à pied du Louvre.

Great location, rooms were big enough and very clean.

Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris

Le Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris est un établissement de caractère, situé dans le centre de Paris, près de la Seine, de la place Saint-Michel et de la cathédrale Notre-Dame.

Rooms are cool. Location is class. Staff very friendly

FAQ sur les hôtels à Paris

Combien coûte une nuit dans un hôtel à paris , combien coûte une nuit dans un hôtel à paris pour ce week-end , combien coûte une nuit dans un hôtel à paris pour ce soir , parmi les hôtels à paris, lesquels sont parfaits pour les familles , quels sont les meilleurs hôtels à paris près de : tour eiffel , quels sont les meilleurs hôtels à paris près de l'aéroport (aéroport de paris - roissy - charles-de-gaulle) , quels sont les meilleurs hôtels à paris , quels hôtels à paris proposent un excellent petit-déjeuner , parmi les hôtels à paris, lesquels sont parfaits pour les couples , parmi les hôtels à paris, lesquels offrent de belles vues , une ville empreinte d’amour, de culture et de gastronomie.

Symbole d’amour et ville la plus visitée du monde, la magnifique Paris a vraiment tout pour plaire ! Les cafés romantiques de Montparnasse, les bistrots animés du Quartier latin et les boutiques de haute couture luxueuses des Champs-Élysées attendent seulement de se dévoiler sous vos yeux.

Vous pourrez admirer la vue depuis l’emblématique tour Eiffel, vous amuser à Disneyland ou vous plonger dans l’atmosphère artistique de Montmartre. Ne manquez pas de visiter le Louvre pour tenter de serrer la main à la Vénus de Milo et de percer le mystère du sourire de Mona Lisa.

Le soir, le célèbre Moulin Rouge propose des spectacles de cabaret passionnants, tandis que l’Opéra Garnier, datant du XIXe siècle, vous invite à vous installer confortablement dans ses fauteuils opulents. La cuisine française, de renommée mondiale, vous sera servie dans les innombrables bistrots, brasseries et restaurants parisiens !

Grâce à l’excellent réseau de transports en commun de la ville, quel que soit l’aéroport international auquel vous arriverez, Orly ou Charles de Gaulle, tous les sites touristiques sont facilement accessibles. Que vous cherchiez une chambre offrant une vue sur Notre-Dame, un hôtel design à l’intérieur chic ou un appartement confortable, Booking.com a ce qu’il faut pour répondre à vos besoins de vacances.

• 2349 attractions
• 231 lieux d'intérêt
• 34 quartiers

Vous découvrirez ce que vous économiserez en vous abonnant

Ce que les clients ont pensé de Paris :

Malgré nos préjugés, nous avons passé un très agréable..., ayant vécu trente ans à paris, j'ai trouvé que la ville....

Je serai toujours fans de paris pour y avoir vecu.

Ville devenue très sale et insalubre (selon les quartiers)..

Habitué de Paris depuis plus de 25 ans, c'est toujours une...

personnel attentif, hygiène parfaite, petit déjeuner copieux...

Découvrez des avis sur les hôtels à Paris

Hotel Archetype Etoile

Abieshomes Wien Messe Prater

Hôtel Paris Voltaire

ibis Paris 17 Clichy-Batignolles

Hôtel Ambre

Royal Saint Michel

Kyriad Paris 18 - Porte de Clignancourt - Montmartre

Hôtel Saint Pierre

Timhotel Paris Gare de Lyon

Recherchez, précisez et sélectionnez des éléments pour l'ensemble de votre voyage.

Ajoutez votre établissement

• Version mobile
• Votre compte
• Modification de votre réservation en ligne
• Aide du Service Clients
• Booking.com for Business
• Sites d'intérêt 
• Hébergements indépendants
• Appartements
• Complexes hôteliers
• Auberges de jeunesse
• B&B/Chambres d'hôtes
• Maisons d'Hôtes
• Des hébergements uniques
• Commentaires
• Découvrir les séjours au mois
• Offres de voyage saisonnières
• Traveller Review Awards
• Location de voitures
• Comparateur de vols
• Réservations de restaurant
• Booking.com pour les Agents de Voyage
• FAQ sur le coronavirus (COVID-19)
• À propos de Booking.com
• Aide aux partenaires
• Actualités presse
• Centre des ressources en matière de sécurité
• Relations avec les investisseurs
• Conditions générales d'utilisation
• Réclamation partenaires
• Fonctionnement de notre site
• Charte de confidentialité et informations sur les cookies
• Cookie Settings Gérer les paramètres relatifs aux cookies

Recommandations personnalisées

Nous fournissons des recommandations personnalisées d'après votre activité sur notre plateforme. Si vous préférez, vous pouvez désactiver cette option. Veuillez noter que l'option sera uniquement désactivée sur l'appareil utilisé. Vous devrez donc mettre à jour la configuration sur chacun de vos appareils pour refléter votre préférence.

• Contacts de l'entreprise
• Règles relatives aux contenus et signalement

Booking.com fait partie de Booking Holdings Inc., le leader mondial des voyages en ligne et services associés.

Commentaires authentiques de véritables clients.

Nous disposons de plus de 70 millions de commentaires sur nos établissements, tous rédigés par de vrais clients .

Comment ça marche&nbsp;?

Tout commence par une réservation.

La seule façon de laisser un commentaire est d’effectuer une réservation. Ainsi, nous sommes sûrs que nos commentaires ont été rédigés par de véritables clients ayant séjourné dans l’établissement.

Puis un séjour

Pendant leur séjour, les clients évaluent l’insonorisation de la chambre, l’accueil du personnel de l’établissement et bien plus encore.

Et enfin, un commentaire

À leur retour, les clients nous racontent leur expérience. Nous vérifions l'authenticité de chaque commentaire et supprimons les grossièretés, avant de les afficher sur notre site.

Si vous avez effectué une réservation sur notre site et souhaitez laisser un commentaire, veuillez d'abord vous connecter.

Faites de belles économies à Paris

Accédez par e-mail à des offres exclusives réservées aux membres.

Seulement pour une durée limitée

Erreur : Veuillez saisir une adresse e-mail valide

Erreur : Nous sommes désolés mais une erreur s'est produite.

Super, votre inscription est confirmée !