Best Time to Visit
April to June and September to October (mild, fewer crowds, 15-25°C)
Language
French (English widely understood in tourist areas)
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Airport
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY)
Population
2.1 million (city proper), 12.3 million (metro area)
Climate
Oceanic, mild summers (20-25°C), cool winters (3-7°C), rain spread throughout the year
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) — watch for pickpockets at tourist sites
UNESCO Sites
Banks of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site (including Notre-Dame, Louvre, Eiffel Tower area)
Paris's 330-meter iron icon with three observation levels. Tickets: 29.40 EUR (~$32) for summit by elevator, 11.80 EUR for stairs to 2nd floor. Book online at tour-eiffel.fr weeks ahead — walk-up lines can exceed 2 hours. Open 9:30AM-11:45PM (summer), 9:30AM-10:30PM (winter). Best at sunset or when lit at night (sparkles on the hour).
World's largest art museum with 380,000 objects including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. Entry: 22 EUR (~$24), free first Saturday evenings and under-26 EU residents. Open 9AM-6PM (closed Tuesdays). Allow minimum 3 hours. Book timed entry online. Enter via the less crowded Passage Richelieu or Carrousel du Louvre entrances.
Bohemian hilltop village with the white-domed Sacre-Coeur basilica offering the best free panoramic view of Paris. Basilica: free entry, dome climb 7 EUR. Open 6:30AM-10:30PM. Wander Place du Tertre (artist square), visit Moulin Rouge from the outside, and explore the vine-covered backstreets. Allow 3-4 hours.
Impressionist masterpiece collection in a stunning converted railway station. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, and Cezanne all under one roof. Entry: 16 EUR (~$17). Open 9:30AM-6PM (Thursdays until 9:45PM), closed Mondays. Less crowded than the Louvre with a more focused collection. Allow 2-3 hours. The clock-face windows offer unique city views.
A hidden gem neighborhood — Paris's trendiest district with medieval architecture, independent boutiques, Jewish bakeries on Rue des Rosiers (try L'As du Fallafel, ~8 EUR), and the free Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square). Also home to the Musee Carnavalet (free, Paris history museum). Best on Sundays when shops stay open. Allow half a day.
See Paris from the water on a 1-hour cruise past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Musee d'Orsay. Bateaux Mouches: 16 EUR (~$17). Departures every 30 minutes from Pont de l'Alma. Evening cruises with dinner from 75 EUR. Alternatively, the Batobus water taxi (19 EUR day pass) is a hop-on-hop-off option hitting 9 stops.
A lesser-known Gothic chapel with 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows (the finest medieval glass in the world). Entry: 11.50 EUR (~$12.50). Open 9AM-5PM (winter), 9AM-7PM (summer). Much less crowded than Notre-Dame. On a sunny day, the light through 1,113 glass panels is transcendent. Allow 45 minutes. Combo ticket with Conciergerie available.
Arrive at CDG or Orly airport. Take the RER B from CDG (11.45 EUR, 35 min) or Orlyval + RER B from Orly (14.10 EUR). Stay in the Marais, Saint-Germain, or Montmartre for the best Parisian experience.
RER B from CDG to central Paris(45 minutes)
11.45 EUR. Buy a carnet of 10 Metro tickets (16.90 EUR) at any station for the week. Or get a Navigo Easy card
Montmartre evening walk(2.5 hours)
Metro to Anvers. Walk up to Sacre-Coeur (free entry) for the best sunset panorama of Paris. Wander Place du Tertre artist square, peek at Moulin Rouge from outside, and explore the vine-covered backstreets. The view from the basilica steps at golden hour is unforgettable
Dinner at Le Bouillon Chartier(1 hour)
A Belle Epoque dining hall serving classic French dishes at unbelievably low prices since 1896. Steak frites 12 EUR, entrecote 14 EUR. No reservations — queue outside but it moves fast. Near Grands Boulevards Metro
The world's greatest art museum in the morning, then see Paris from the water in the evening.
Louvre Museum(3.5 hours)
22 EUR, book timed entry at louvre.fr weeks ahead. Enter via Passage Richelieu (less crowded than the pyramid). See the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo. Don't try to see everything — focus on 2-3 wings. Open 9AM-6PM, closed Tuesdays
Lunch at a boulangerie near Palais Royal(45 minutes)
Grab a jambon-beurre sandwich (4-6 EUR) and eat in the Jardin du Palais Royal — a hidden oasis of calm. The black-and-white striped Buren Columns in the courtyard are fun photo spots
Walk through the Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde(45 minutes)
Free. The formal garden connects the Louvre to the Champs-Elysees. The octagonal fountain and avenue of chestnut trees are classic Paris
Seine River cruise at sunset(1 hour)
Bateaux Mouches from Pont de l'Alma, 16 EUR. Pass Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower. Evening departures offer the most magical light as monuments illuminate
Paris's most iconic landmark, the world's best Impressionist collection, and the literary Left Bank.
Eiffel Tower(2 hours)
Book at tour-eiffel.fr weeks ahead — walk-up lines exceed 2 hours. Summit by elevator: 29.40 EUR. Stairs to 2nd floor: 11.80 EUR. Best at sunset or when it sparkles on the hour after dark. Alternatively, go to the Trocadero esplanade across the river for the best free photo viewpoint
Walk along Rue Cler(45 minutes)
The most Parisian market street — fromagers, boulangeries, patisseries, and flower shops. Pick up a baguette, cheese, and wine for a picnic on the Champ de Mars
Musee d'Orsay(2.5 hours)
16 EUR. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne in a stunning converted railway station. Open 9:30AM-6PM (Thursdays to 9:45PM), closed Mondays. The clock-face windows offer unique city views. Less crowded than the Louvre
Evening stroll through Saint-Germain-des-Pres(1.5 hours)
The literary Left Bank. Browse the legendary Shakespeare & Company bookshop near Notre-Dame (free), sit at Cafe de Flore where Sartre and de Beauvoir debated (espresso 5.50 EUR, worth it for the atmosphere), and walk the narrow streets of the 6th arrondissement
Paris's trendiest neighborhood and the island where it all began 2,000 years ago.
Sainte-Chapelle(45 minutes)
11.50 EUR. 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows — the finest medieval glass in the world. On a sunny day, the light through 1,113 panels is transcendent. Open 9AM-5PM. Much less crowded than Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame exterior and Ile de la Cite walk(45 minutes)
The cathedral is still under restoration after the 2019 fire but the exterior, Square Jean XXIII garden behind it, and the Ile de la Cite atmosphere are still beautiful. Free to walk around
Le Marais exploration(3 hours)
Paris's trendiest district. Walk Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square, free), browse independent boutiques, and eat at L'As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers (~8 EUR for the best falafel in Paris). Visit Musee Carnavalet (free, Paris history museum)
Dinner at Breizh Cafe in Le Marais(1.5 hours)
The best crepes and galettes in Paris — buckwheat galettes with artisanal fillings (12-16 EUR) and proper Breton cider. Reserve ahead
Sleep in, then take the RER C to the Palace of Versailles for an afternoon of royal excess.
Leisurely morning and cafe breakfast(2 hours)
Find a neighborhood cafe, order a cafe creme and croissant (5-7 EUR total), and watch Parisians. This IS the activity
RER C to Versailles(40 minutes)
4.60 EUR each way from central Paris. Get off at Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche
Palace of Versailles(4 hours)
21 EUR with Paris Museum Pass, or 21 EUR standalone. Book timed entry online. The Hall of Mirrors, Marie Antoinette's Hamlet, and the gardens (free except on fountain show days) are the highlights. Allow at least 3 hours for palace + gardens. Fountain shows April-October cost 10 EUR extra and are spectacular
Return to Paris for dinner(1 hour)
Eat near your hotel. Try a classic bistro — Le Comptoir du Pantheon in the Latin Quarter does an excellent set menu (25 EUR for 3 courses at lunch, dinner more)
Beyond the tourist trail — Paris's hippest neighborhoods with street art, craft coffee, and multicultural energy.
Canal Saint-Martin morning walk(1.5 hours)
The photogenic canal with iron footbridges and tree-lined banks. Start at Republique Metro and walk north. Stop at Ten Belles coffee (3.50 EUR espresso) or Du Pain et des Idees bakery (the pain des amis is legendary, 5.50 EUR)
Marche d'Aligre(1 hour)
The most authentic Parisian market — less tourist-focused than Rue Mouffetard. Open daily except Monday. Covered market + outdoor stalls. Cheese, produce, and a great atmosphere near Ledru-Rollin Metro
Lunch at Le Servan in the 11th(1.5 hours)
Modern French-Filipino bistro. Set lunch 22 EUR. Michelinplated flavors at bistro prices. Reserve ahead
Belleville and Pere Lachaise Cemetery(2.5 hours)
Belleville is Paris's most multicultural neighborhood — Chinese, North African, and hipster all blended. Walk up to Parc de Belleville for a panoramic view rivaling Sacre-Coeur but with zero tourists. Then to Pere Lachaise (free) to find the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Chopin
Farewell dinner in Le Marais(1.5 hours)
End at Chez Janou for the legendary chocolate mousse (served from a massive bowl, help yourself). Main courses 18-26 EUR. The terrace is charming. Reserve ahead
Final morning for last-minute souvenirs and one more perfect croissant.
Best-croissant mission(1 hour)
Du Pain et des Idees (Canal Saint-Martin) or Cedric Grolet Operaion (Grands Boulevards) for a world-class viennoiserie. A pain au chocolat (2.50-3.50 EUR) from a proper boulangerie is the ideal Paris farewell
Last-minute souvenir shopping(1 hour)
Merci concept store in Le Marais for curated French design. Le Bon Marche for gourmet food gifts. Paris print shops along the Seine bouquinistes (book stalls) for vintage posters
RER B to CDG or Orlyval to Orly(45-60 minutes)
CDG: RER B, 11.45 EUR, 35 min. Orly: Orlyval + RER B, 14.10 EUR. Allow 3 hours before international flights
US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens can enter France visa-free for up to 90 days within 180 days (Schengen area). Indian citizens need a Schengen visa — apply through VFS Global or the French consulate (processing: 2-4 weeks, ~80 EUR). Starting 2025, non-EU visitors may need ETIAS authorization (7 EUR, 3-year validity).
Paris Metro has 16 lines covering the entire city. Single ticket (t+): 2.15 EUR. Buy a carnet of 10 (16.90 EUR) or use the Navigo Easy card. CDG to city center: RER B train (11.45 EUR, 35 minutes). Orly to city center: Orlyval + RER B (14.10 EUR). Avoid taxis from CDG — they charge a flat 55 EUR to Right Bank, 62 EUR to Left Bank.
The Paris Museum Pass (55 EUR for 2 days, 70 EUR for 4 days) covers 60+ museums including the Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, and Sainte-Chapelle with skip-the-line entry. If you plan to visit 3+ museums, it pays for itself. Buy at any participating museum or online at parismuseumpass.com.
Skip sit-down lunch (expensive) and do what locals do: grab a jambon-beurre sandwich (4-6 EUR) from a boulangerie and eat in a park. Set lunch menus (formule/menu du jour) at bistros are great value: 15-20 EUR for 2-3 courses. Supermarkets like Monoprix sell excellent prepared food. Avoid restaurants directly facing major monuments — tourist traps with inflated prices.
The number one mistake tourists make in Paris: not greeting people. Always say 'Bonjour' when entering any shop, cafe, or restaurant, and 'Au revoir' when leaving. Not doing so is considered genuinely rude and will noticeably affect the service you receive. Even a basic 'Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?' opens doors.
Service is included in French restaurant bills by law (service compris). Tipping is not required but rounding up or leaving 5-10% for excellent service is appreciated. At cafes, leaving small change (50 cents to 1 EUR) on the table is common. Never tip in cash at fancy restaurants — add it to the card payment.
Professional pickpocket teams operate at the Eiffel Tower, Metro lines 1 and 4, Sacre-Coeur steps, and around the Louvre. Common tactics: clipboard petition distraction, 'gold ring' scam, and crowding at Metro doors. Use a crossbody bag with zippers, keep phones in front pockets, and be extra vigilant on crowded trains.
TipsThe money-saving museum pass, the boulangerie breakfast hack, and the spots that Parisians actually love.
Travel GuidesThe museum pass math, the cappuccino-after-11AM myth, and 12 other things every first-time Paris visitor needs to know.
StoriesI abandoned the museum checklist, bought a 6-euro sandwich, and sat in the Tuileries for two hours. That's when Paris clicked.
