Paris Travel Guide
The French capital is one that has been drawing visitors for centuries. From its wonderful historic monuments to its exceptional cuisine, it is a destination unlike any other. Wander in and out of museums, cafes, farmers markets, beautiful gardens and enjoy the romance of the city.
Paris is one of the most important and influential cities in the world. In terms of tourism, Paris is the second most visited city in Europe after London. In this travel guide, you’ll find out about the city’s top attractions, as well as useful travel advice on how to get to Paris.
Things to do
Louvre Museum
Most famous for being the home of Da Vinci’s masterpiece the ‘Mona Lisa’, the Louvre is one of the most impressive museums in Europe. Check the spectacular collection of art and sculptures.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Louvre served as the royal palace for French kings. It became an art museum when the French king Louis XVI moved his residence to Versailles. During the French Revolution, the Louvre became a public museum. … The most famous painting in the Louvre is Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa
There are plenty of good reasons to visit the Louvre! So many works of art to discover in this fabulous museum that used to be a palace! If you want more insight into the famous artworks, you can sign up for a guided tour of the museum.
Check out our in-depth guide here
Click here to purchase a timed entrance ticket via Get Your Guide
Eiffel Tower
Built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) has become the main symbol of Paris. It is also the most-visted attraction in the world.
The Tower is made of wrought iron and stands 1,063 ft (324 m) tall.
While there is a cost for going up to the viewing platform, the views back over the city from this landmark are truly impressive. You can also admire this landmark from the nearby parks which are great places for a picnic!
Check out our in-depth guide here
We recommend you purchase tickets in advance. Click here to purchase our recommended ticket.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the oldest Gothic Cathedrals in the world and one of the best-known. The cathedral has two towers standing 226 ft (69 metres) tall on its facade. Visitors can climb to the top and, apart from the magnificent views of Paris, you can visit the bell tower, where the Hunchback of Notre Dame lived, and see the cathedral’s multiple gargoyles.
It may not currently have a hunchback, but it is an amazing example of French Gothic architecture that has been at the heart of religious life in the country ever since it was completed in 1345.
The cathedral is set to reopen in 2024!
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is an emblematic symbol of the capital of France and it represents the various victories of the French army under Napoleon, who commissioned its construction.
The Arc de Triomphe is, along with the Eiffel Tower, one of the main symbols of Paris. It stands 146 ft (50 metres) tall, 148 ft (45 metres) wide and 72 ft (22 metres) deep.
Designed by Jean-François Chalgrin, the Arc took thirty years to build. It was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 at the end of the battle of Austerlitz and inaugurated by King Louis-Philippe.
Head up the spiral staircase to experience a 360 view of Paris.
We recommend you purchase your tickets prior to your visit – We recommend skip-the-line tickets
Check out our in-depth guide here
The Pantheon
The Panthéon was the first major monument in Paris. It was built before the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, and was the first building that offered a panoramic view over France’s capital. It is located in the Latin Quarter, very close to the Jardin du Luxembourg.
The Panthéon was built between 1764 and 1790, firstly designed by Jacques Germain Soufflot and later by Jean Baptiste Rondelet. The Panthéon was created with the intention of combining the simplicity of the gothic architecture with the stateliness of the Greek architecture.
Head up to the roof for a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower.
Entry is Free
Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris are a network of tunnels that are used as an ossuary for millions of people from various periods. It was opened to the public in 1874.
It is thought that the Catacombs hold the remains of over 6 million people buried along one of its 186 mi (300 km) tunnels.
Head inside! Don’t get scared!
We recommend buying your tickets prior to your visit as it gets extremely busy – Purchase here
Check out our in-depth guide here
Pont Alexandre III (Bridge Alexander III)
The River Seine runs along Paris separating the city into several parts. Along the 8 miles of waterway there are over 30 bridges and footbridges: from the most ancient built of stone to the most futuristic and recent made of metal.
Pont Alexandre III is the most fascinating bridge in Paris. The overpass, opened for the Exposition Universelle (World Exhibition) of 1900 in Paris, is located between L’Hôtel des Invalides and the Grand and Petit Palais.
The bridge is made from a single span steel arch, an incredible engineering masterpiece of the period.
The bridge’s decoration is simply spectacular thanks to its four 55 ft (17 m) columns, with golden winged horses in the top part in the opposite ends of the structure.
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is an imposing royal palace with over 1974.84 acres of garden. The Château de Versailles combines history and culture and is one of the most popular destinations near Paris.
Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO over thirty years ago, thePalace of Versailles is one of the most famous palaces worldwide. Travelers are not only drawn to see its magnificent architecture and its endless gardens, but to discover a palace that was so significant during the history of France.
Get your FULL ACCESS tickets here
Accommodation
Paris is very spread out and its top attractions are far apart. If you want to find accommodation in the most elegant parts of the city, the best options are Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, and Opéra Garnier. If, on the other hand, you prefer a lively neighbourhood and want to enjoy the city’s nightlife, we recommend the Latin Quarter.
To summarize, we recommend finding accommodation on both sides of the Seine, from the Île de la Cité to the Eiffel Tower. These areas are safe, central and ideal to stay in.
If you want to spend less on accommodation and don’t mind spending a little more time on the metro every morning to get to the city centre, there are a variety of cheaper hotels in the suburbs.
Hotels in Paris
According to the latest statistics, the average price per night in Paris is over € 100 (£ 86.50). However, it is possible to find good hotels for € 70 (£60.50) – € 90 (£ 77.80) a night. If you’re looking to spend less, there are bargains for a little over € 50 (£ 43.20).
To find the best deals, we recommend our favourite hotel search engine, where you’ll find the best price guaranteed and discounts of up to 75%.
- Booking.com – find the best deals online.
How to get to Paris
As the second most visited capital of Europe, Paris is very well connected and accessible. The easiest way to get to the capital of France is by plane, train, bus or by car.
Traveling from the U.S.
American citizens will find direct flights from most U.S. cities to Paris.
Some examples of trans-Atlantic airline companies:
- Norwegian: From New York JFK, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale to Paris.
- American Airlines: From New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, San Francisco, etc to Paris.
- Air France: Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles to Paris.
- Flight search engine – Find and compare cheap flights online
Traveling from Canada
Canadian citizens will find non-stop flights from Canada to Paris.
Some examples of trans-Atlantic airline companies:
- Air Canada: From Toronto to Paris
- American Airlines: From Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary to Paris.
- Flight search engine – Find and compare cheap flights online
Traveling from Australia
There are no airlines that fly directly from Australia to Paris. However, there are numerous charter airlines such as Emirates, Air France, Delta, British Airways, etc. that fly to Paris with stop-overs in different countries.
Traveling from Europe
Thanks to the numerous low-cost airlines that fly to Paris, flying has become the easiest and quickest way to get to this destination. If you book in advance, you can easily find return tickets from different European cities to Paris for around 50€.
Low-cost airlines that fly to Paris:
- Vueling
- Ryanair
- Easyjet
- Flight search engine – Find and compare cheap flights online
Getting to Paris from Charles de Gaulle
Airport transfer service
The easiest and most relaxing way to get to the city centre is booking an airport transfer service. The driver of the car will be waiting for you at the arrival terminal with a sign with your name on it and will take you to your hotel in the shortest possible time.
We recommend using our partner airport transfer service. Click here to purchase
Taxi
A taxi from Charles de Gaulle to Paris takes approximately half an hour and costs between € 50 (£ 43.20) and € 55 (£ 47.50). There is an extra charge of 15% from 5 pm until 10 am. This supplement also applies on Sundays and public holidays.
RER
The line B of the RER train (Paris’ express train) connects Charles de Gaulle Airport with the city centre in half an hour. The most important stops include Gare de Nord (25 minutes), Châtelet-Les-Halles (28 minutes), and Denfert-Rochereau (35 minutes). A train leaves the airport every 10 – 15 minutes.
A single-journey from Charles de Gaulle to Paris costs € 10 (£ 8.70) (zones 1-5). This ticket is also valid if you need to take the metro (subway) from one of the train stations to get to your hotel.
Bus
Two local buses connect this airport with the city centre:
- Bus 350: From Charles de Gaulle to Gare de l’Est.
- Bus 351: From Charles de Gaulle to Place de la Nation.
Both buses take over an hour to get to Paris and they leave the airport every 15 – 35 minutes.
Bus 350: Charles de Gaulle to the centre: 6 am to 10:30 pm
City centre to Charles de Gaulle: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
Bus 351: Charles de Gaulle to the centre: 5:30 am to 8:20 pm.
City centre to Charles de Gaulle: 7 am to 9:30 pm.
A one-way costs € 6 (£ 5.20) if the tickets are purchased on board.
Money-Saving Tips for Paris
There are numerous ways to save money while visiting Paris, as well as booking your flights and hotel in advance. These are some of the easiest and most effective ways to save money in the City of Lights:
It is a known fact that Paris is a pricey city to visit. If you want to discover the capital’s top attractions, find accommodation in a good area and eat in renowned restaurants, it will be expensive. Nevertheless, if you plan in advance, it is possible to save money on your trip. This is our advice:
Book your flight and hotel in advance
Booking your flights and accommodation in advance is one of the easiest ways of saving. Use our Favourite hotel search engine, you’ll be able to find great deals. Furthermore, in most cases it is possible to cancel just 24 hours before your arrival date and you won’t have to pay until you get to the hotel.
Save on admission tickets to museums and monuments
Since 2009, all National museums and monuments offer free entry for European Union citizens less than 26 years old. Museums and monuments are also free for all those under 18, regardless of where they are from.
Tourist Cards
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
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Checkout our other guides to France:
Have you ever been to Paris or is it on your list? We look forward to your comment.
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