Paris Travel Guide

Overview

Paris needs no introduction, yet it still manages to surprise. Beyond the postcard silhouette of the Eiffel Tower and the graceful arches of the Seine's bridges lies a living, breathing city of 2.1 million Parisians who take their coffee, their bread, and their art very seriously. Each arrondissement has its own personality: the literary Left Bank, the bohemian Marais, the grand Haussmann boulevards of the 8th, and the multicultural energy of Belleville.

The cultural wealth is staggering. The Louvre alone could occupy a week, but Paris also houses the Musee d'Orsay's Impressionist masterpieces, the Centre Pompidou's modern art provocations, and dozens of smaller gems like the Musee de l'Orangerie and the Rodin Museum. Yet the city's greatest gallery is its own streetscape: Art Nouveau metro entrances, zinc-topped cafe terraces, and hidden courtyards that open into secret gardens.

And then there is the food. Paris invented the modern restaurant and continues to set global standards, from Michelin-starred tasting menus in the 7th to a perfect jambon-beurre sandwich from a corner boulangerie. The city's wine bars, fromageries, and patisseries make every meal an event, whether you spend five euros or five hundred.

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Best Time to Visit

April to June & September to October

Spring brings blooming gardens and comfortable temperatures (15-20C). Early autumn has warm days, fewer tourists than summer, and the grape harvest season. July-August is peak tourist season with some local closures. Winter is magical for holiday markets but cold and gray.

Top Attractions

Eiffel Tower

Stairs: $12; Elevator to top: $28

The 330-meter iron icon of Paris, offering panoramic views from three levels. Book tickets in advance to skip the notoriously long ground-level queues.

Musee du Louvre

$19; free first Sunday of the month (Oct-Mar)

The world's largest art museum housing 38,000 works including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace across 72,735 square meters.

Musee d'Orsay

$17

A converted Beaux-Arts railway station showcasing the world's finest Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection: Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Degas.

Sacre-Coeur & Montmartre

Free (dome access: $7)

The white-domed basilica crowning Montmartre hill, with sweeping city views, cobblestone artist streets, and the storied Place du Tertre.

Palace of Versailles

$21 palace; $28 with gardens on fountain days

Louis XIV's breathtaking royal residence 30 minutes from Paris, featuring the Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette's estate, and 800 hectares of formal gardens.

Seine River Cruise

$16-$20

A one-hour boat cruise past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, particularly magical at dusk when monuments illuminate.

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Local Food

Croissant au Beurre

$1.50-$3

The quintessential Parisian breakfast: a shatteringly flaky, butter-laminated crescent from an artisan boulangerie, best eaten warm and fresh.

Steak Frites

$18-$35

Bistro-cut steak (often bavette or entrecote) with a peppercorn or bearnaise sauce, served alongside crispy thin-cut fries. A Parisian institution.

Croque Monsieur

$10-$16

Grilled ham and Gruyere sandwich topped with creamy bechamel sauce and broiled until golden. Add a fried egg on top for the Croque Madame.

Duck Confit

$20-$35

Slow-cooked duck leg preserved in its own fat until the meat falls from the bone, served with roasted potatoes and a frisee salad.

Macarons

$2-$4 each

Delicate almond-meringue sandwich cookies with ganache or buttercream filling. Laduree and Pierre Herme are the legendary purveyors.

Budget Guide

Budget

$70-$110/day

Hostels or budget hotels ($30-$55/night). Bakery breakfasts, market picnics, and prix-fixe lunch menus ($14-$18). Use Navigo Easy pass for metro ($2.15/ride). Free museum days and park visits.

Mid-Range

$180-$300/day

3-star hotels or boutique stays ($100-$180/night). Bistro lunches and wine-bar dinners. Museum passes ($57 for 2 days). Occasional taxi or river cruise.

Luxury

$500-$1200+/day

Palace hotels like Le Meurice or The Ritz ($500-$1000/night). Michelin-starred dining, private museum tours, chauffeured cars, and champagne at rooftop bars.

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Travel Tips

Buy a carnet of 10 metro tickets or use the Navigo Easy card to save on transit. The metro covers the entire city efficiently.
Learn basic French greetings: always say 'Bonjour' when entering a shop and 'Merci, au revoir' when leaving. It transforms the service you receive.
Restaurants typically serve lunch 12-2pm and dinner 7:30-10pm. Arriving outside these hours limits your options to cafes and brasseries.
Pickpockets operate heavily around tourist hotspots, on the metro, and near ATMs. Use a crossbody bag and stay alert.
Tap water is free and safe. Ask for 'une carafe d'eau' at restaurants instead of paying for bottled water.
Many museums are closed on Tuesdays (Louvre, Pompidou). The Musee d'Orsay closes on Mondays. Plan accordingly.