City Guides

Complete Paris Travel Guide

Everything you need for the perfect Paris trip — where to stay, eat, explore and how to avoid the crowds.

Sophie Laurent

European Travel Editor

2025-08-01·15 min read

Overview

Paris is simultaneously the world's most visited city and one of its most rewarding. Beyond the tourist clichés — the Eiffel Tower selfie, the café crème — lies a city of extraordinary depth: 130 museums, 1,800 parks and gardens, a neighbourhood food culture that makes the rest of the world feel underfed, and an architectural beauty that stops you in mid-sentence. This is how to experience Paris properly.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

Louvre and Musée d'Orsay — book skip-the-line tickets in advance
Eiffel Tower at dusk and the city light show
Versailles Palace and gardens — full day required
Bistronomie lunch in the 10th or 11th arrondissement
Seine riverboat cruise at sunset (Bateaux Mouches)
Montmartre morning walk and Sacré-Cœur

🗼 When to Visit

Paris is magnificent year-round but each season has its character. Spring (April–June) brings chestnut blossoms, long golden evenings and the Paris Marathon. Summer is crowded but the parks, open-air concerts and long days are wonderful. Autumn (September–November) is culturally rich — fashion week, gallery openings, and the city glowing amber. Winter has the Christmas markets, lights and far fewer queues at major attractions.

Pro Tip

Avoid the first two weeks of August — many independent restaurants and shops close as Parisians take their annual holiday.

🏨 Where to Stay by Neighbourhood

Le Marais (4th arr.) is the best all-rounder — central, beautiful, with excellent restaurants and galleries. Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) is quintessentially Parisian and close to the Luxembourg Gardens. Montmartre (18th) is bohemian and beautiful but steep — excellent for first-time visitors who want the iconic Paris atmosphere. Avoid hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon unless you need the train access.

Pro Tip

Book accommodation in central arrondissements (1st–8th) at least 2 months ahead for spring and autumn visits.

🏛️ The Essential Sights

The Louvre houses 35,000 works and requires a minimum of half a day — focus on the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. The Musée d'Orsay (Impressionism, in a stunning converted railway station) is actually more rewarding. The Eiffel Tower is best visited at dusk for the city views and light show at night. The Palace of Versailles deserves a full day — take the RER C train.

Pro Tip

Book Louvre tickets online at louvre.fr. The Wednesday and Friday evening openings until 9:45pm are significantly less crowded than daytime.

🥐 Eating Like a Parisian

The key to eating well in Paris is ignoring tourist traps near major sights. A bistronomie (bistro + gastronomie) lunch menu — entrée, plat, dessert — at €25–35 in the 11th or 10th arrondissement will outperform a €90 tourist-menu dinner near Notre-Dame. Learn these words: formule (set menu), plat du jour (today's main), and pichet (house wine carafe). Breakfast is a croissant and café at a zinc-countered neighbourhood café.

Pro Tip

Never order a café crème after midday in Paris — it marks you immediately as a tourist. Café noir (espresso) or allongé (long black) is what Parisians drink in the afternoon.

🚇 Getting Around

The Paris Métro is excellent — 16 lines, frequent service, and a day pass (Navigo Jour) covering all zones costs around €20. Vélib' bike share stations are everywhere for short journeys. Walking between arrondissements is feasible and rewarding — central Paris is surprisingly compact. Taxis are expensive; Uber is cheaper and more convenient for late-night returns.

Ready to explore?