Paris travel guide

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world: some of the planet's most important museums, historic districts made for walking, and an atmosphere that shifts from one arrondissement to the next. Most of the main sights are within walking or metro distance of the centre.

Best time to visit

Spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) bring the most pleasant weather and shorter museum queues than summer, when the city is at its busiest with tourists.

What to see and do

Eiffel Tower — go up to the top, or enjoy the view from Trocadéro with shorter queues and an equally great outlook.
Louvre Museum — impossible to see it all in a day, pick 2-3 sections to focus on beforehand.
Notre-Dame — reopened to the public in late 2024 after the restoration following the 2019 fire, and can be visited again today.
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur — the neighbourhood with the best view over the Paris rooftops.
Seine river cruise — an easy way to see many landmarks in about an hour, especially at sunset.

Indicative budget

Budget roughly €80-130 per day per person for food, accommodation and transport, flights excluded — Paris is among the pricier European capitals, especially for central accommodation.

Figures are purely indicative and do not represent real or guaranteed prices.

Getting around

The Paris metro is extensive and covers almost every corner of the city: a carnet of tickets or a weekly Navigo pass lets you move around without a second thought. The centre is also very walkable or bikeable (the Vélib' bike-share scheme is widespread), while driving isn't worth it given the traffic and scarce parking.

Where to stay

Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) is central, lively and full of places to eat; Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) is more elegant and quiet; Montmartre (18th) has real atmosphere at the cost of a few hills; the area around Bastille or Canal Saint-Martin is a good balance of price and connections.