FR
Paris
The City of Light
The City of Light
Book the summit online at least two weeks ahead in summer — walk-up queues are brutal. The tower is best at dusk when it glows amber, and on the hour after dark when it sparkles for five minutes. Trocadéro gardens give the best angle.
💡 Pre-book the summit at toureiffel.paris — at least two weeks ahead in summer, walk-up queues run 2–3 hours. Stay until dusk: the tower glows amber, then sparkles on the hour after dark.
35,000 works across three wings. The Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo are in the Denon Wing; the building itself — a royal palace wrapped around I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid — is the real spectacle. Book timed entry; arrive at opening.
💡 Wednesday and Friday evenings (open until 9:45pm) are far less crowded than any weekend morning. Head straight to the Denon Wing for the Mona Lisa — then work backwards through the less-visited rooms.
Climb the steps at 9am before the tour groups arrive. From the dome, the whole city opens up. Montmartre rewards wandering: cobbled lanes, a working vineyard, artist studios, and a 19th-century carousel at Place du Tertre.
💡 Arrive before 9am to have the steps and the dome view largely to yourself. The vineyard on Rue Saint-Vincent and the back lanes near the Lapin Agile are quietest on weekday mornings.
Reopened December 2024 after the 2019 fire — the restored Gothic nave reveals medieval stonework hidden for centuries. Free entry to the cathedral; paid ticket for the tower climb (332 steps). Queue early or book online.
💡 Tower climb (332 steps) books out fast in summer — reserve at notredamedeparis.fr or queue by 8:30am. The west facade at golden hour is the finest angle of the restored cathedral.
Paris invented the modern restaurant. The brasserie — large, mirrored, zinc-topped — is the working heart of Parisian dining. Order steak-frites, sole meunilère or duck confit; drink the house Bordeaux. A three-course brasserie lunch (€18–24) is far better value than dinner at the same table.
The natural wine bistro is now the city’s defining format: chalk menus, biodynamic bottles, serious cooking from young chefs. The 11th arrondissement around Oberkampf is the epicentre — book well ahead. For pastry: Du Pain et des Idées (10th). For the best food market: Marché d’Aligre (12th, Tue–Sun mornings).
The Métro (16 lines) reaches every neighbourhood. The Navigo Day pass (€8.65) gives unlimited Métro, RER, bus and tram — worth it from four journeys. Paris is also walkable: Le Marais to Saint-Germain is 25 minutes along the river. Vélib’ bike-share (day pass €5) works well for flat riverside routes.
Spring (April–June) is Paris at its most beautiful: cherry blossoms, 18–22°C days, long golden evenings. September and October are the second-best season — warm, amber-lit, the city back to its workaday self after the August exodus.
Paris is France’s most expensive city, but it rewards those who know where to look. The numbers below are per person per day — excluding flights — assuming you’re travelling as a couple.
The €4 baguette sandwich from a neighbourhood boulangerie is a Parisian staple — better than most café lunches at twice the price.
A 3-star in Le Marais puts you within walking distance of everything. The Navigo Day pass (€8.65) covers unlimited métro, RER and bus — far better value than buying single tickets.
Paris palaces (Le Bristol, Ritz, George V) start around €700–800 per night. A table at Septime in the 11th — the best-value Michelin experience in the city — costs around €90 for the tasting menu. Book three months ahead.
The Marais, the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre are essential — but so is a day outside the city. Versailles by RER is 40 minutes and worth every minute of it.
Arrive, walk Le Marais — Place des Vosges, Rue des Rosiers, the Pompidou façade. Cross to the Île de la Cité for Notre-Dame. Evening stroll along the Seine.
💡 The evening walk along the Seine from Notre-Dame to Pont des Arts takes 30 minutes and is one of the finest in the city — especially at golden hour.
Eiffel Tower at 9am (pre-booked). Walk to the Musée Rodin and its sculpture garden. Late afternoon at Trocadéro for the best golden-hour view of the tower.
💡 The tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour after dark until 1am. The 10pm display from the Trocadéro is worth staying up for.
Louvre opens 9am; allow four hours. Lunch in the Tuileries Garden. Walk to the Palais Royal arcades. Evening cocktails at a bar in a covered passage.
💡 Wednesday evenings the Louvre stays open until 9:45pm — significantly quieter than Saturday morning, same collection.
Montmartre at 9am before the crowds. Sacré-Cœur, the vineyard, artist studios. Afternoon: Canal Saint-Martin, its iron footbridges and café terraces.
💡 Canal Saint-Martin is best on Sundays when the towpath roads close to traffic. Rent a Vélib’ from any docking station and cycle the full length (4km; flat).
RER C to Versailles (40 min, €7.20 return). Book the Palace and Trianon gardens two days ahead. Return for dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
💡 Book the Palace and the Trianon gardens online together. The Versailles garden fountains run on weekends Apr–Oct — worth timing your visit around.
The Eiffel Tower and Louvre sell out weeks ahead in summer. Book online with a timed entry — walk-ups wait 2–3 hours.
Most national museums are free on the first Sunday of each month (Oct–Mar for the Louvre and Orsay). Busy, but worth planning around.
Pickpockets concentrate at the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur and on Métro lines 1 and 6. Use a cross-body bag and front pocket for your phone.
Many Paris restaurants close on Sunday and Monday. Kitchens typically close at 10pm. A reservation is essential for a good bistro after 8pm.
At €8.65 for unlimited travel within Paris, it breaks even at four journeys. Available at all Métro ticket windows.
Paris tap water is among the best in Europe. Ask for a carafe d’eau (free) at any restaurant. Wallace fountains throughout the city for refills.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask before visiting Paris.
No — English is widely understood in hotels, tourist attractions, and most restaurants. That said, a simple bonjour when entering a shop and merci on the way out is warmly received and genuinely appreciated.
Paris is generally safe. The primary risk is pickpockets — particularly on Métro lines 1 and 13, around the Eiffel Tower, and at busy street markets. Keep bags zipped and in front, avoid displaying your phone at night, and you’ll have no issues.
Three days covers the essentials: the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and Montmartre. Five days adds Versailles, the Musée d’Orsay, and Le Marais at a relaxed pace. Seven days if you want to slow-travel.
Yes — especially the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, where walk-up queues can exceed two hours in peak season. Book timed tickets online at least a week ahead. The Eiffel Tower summit also sells out quickly in summer.
April–June for mild weather (15–22°C), blooming parks, and long evenings. September–October is equally beautiful with noticeably thinner crowds. July–August is hot and busy but the city stays lively.
Real-time Métro, RER and bus journey planner with live disruption alerts and walking alternatives.
Free
Book TGV and Transilien trains for day trips to Versailles, Lyon, Bordeaux or beyond. Manage bookings offline.
Free
Official booking for 14 City of Paris museums including Carnavalet and Petit Palais. Many are free; skip the ticket queue.
Free
Restaurant reservations across Paris. Essential for popular natural wine bistros in the 11th and Oberkampf area.
Free
Paris city bike-share. Day pass €5 for unlimited 45-minute rides. Ideal for flat Seine and Canal Saint-Martin routes.
Free
Download the Paris offline map before you arrive. Invaluable for navigating Le Marais backstreets and Métro exits.
Free
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