Paris Travel Guide
Paris earns its reputation as the City of Light with grand boulevards, world-defining art and a cafe culture that turns lingering into an art form. Beyond the icons lie village-like quarters, hidden gardens and patisserie windows that make simply walking a joy.
Paris — Highlights in photos
Top things to do
Eiffel Tower
The 330-meter wrought-iron icon offers views across the city from three levels, with a champagne bar at the summit. Book timed tickets online in advance and consider sunset, when the tower sparkles on the hour after dark.
The Louvre
The world's most visited museum holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and endless masterpieces behind its glass pyramid. It's vast, so choose a wing or two and pre-book a timed entry to skip long lines.
Notre-Dame & Ile de la Cite
The Gothic cathedral, reopened after its devastating fire, anchors the island where Paris was born. Even from the outside, its flying buttresses and rose windows are magnificent; stroll to the nearby Sainte-Chapelle for stained-glass glory.
Montmartre & Sacre-Coeur
This hilltop village of winding lanes, artists' squares and cabarets is crowned by the white-domed Sacre-Coeur basilica with sweeping city views. Come early to enjoy the quiet streets before the crowds and portrait painters arrive.
Champs-Elysees & Arc de Triomphe
Stroll the grand avenue up to Napoleon's triumphal arch, whose rooftop gives one of the best views in Paris. Climb the steps at dusk to watch the avenues radiate out and light up.
Musee d'Orsay
Housed in a beautiful former railway station, it holds the world's finest Impressionist collection, from Monet to Van Gogh. The great station clock and top-floor galleries are highlights not to miss.
Seine Riverbanks & Latin Quarter
Wander the UNESCO-listed riverbanks past bouquiniste bookstalls into the lively student streets of the Latin Quarter. It's ideal for an evening of bistros, bookshops and riverside strolling.
Palace of Versailles
A short train ride from the city, this opulent royal palace dazzles with the Hall of Mirrors and vast formal gardens. Go early and pre-book, especially in summer when the fountains play to music.
Museums & entry info
The Louvre
The world's largest art museum, spanning antiquities to the Mona Lisa across three wings. Admission is around €22, typically open 9am-6pm and closed Tuesdays, with late Friday hours. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Musee d'Orsay
The premier home of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in a grand former station. Tickets are roughly €16, open most days about 9:30am-6pm and closed Mondays. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Centre Pompidou
A bold inside-out building housing modern and contemporary art and a top-floor city view. Admission runs around €15, generally open daily except Tuesday; note it may undergo major renovation, so verify. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Musee de l'Orangerie
Best known for Monet's immersive Water Lilies panels in oval rooms, plus an intimate Impressionist collection. Tickets are around €12-13, open most days and closed Tuesdays. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Musee Rodin
A mansion and sculpture garden displaying The Thinker and The Kiss amid roses. Admission is roughly €13-14, generally open Tuesday-Sunday around 10am-6pm. Check the official website for current prices and hours.
Signature experiences
Seine River Cruise
A sightseeing boat glides past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and the Louvre, magical after dark when monuments are lit. Standard cruises cost around €15-20, with dinner cruises priced considerably higher.
A Classic Cafe or Patisserie Stop
Lingering over an espresso or a pain au chocolat at a sidewalk cafe is essential Parisian ritual, not a rushed refuel. A coffee runs roughly €3-5, more on a famous terrace.
Cabaret Show
The Moulin Rouge and Lido offer glittering, feathered revues rooted in Belle Epoque Paris. Tickets typically start around €90-120 and rise steeply with dinner packages.
A Food or Wine Tasting Tour
Guided tours through a neighborhood's fromageries, boulangeries and wine shops reveal the city's edible soul. Expect to pay roughly €60-100 for a few hours of tasting.
What to eat
Paris is a shrine to good eating, from humble bakeries to grand bistros. Seek out these classics and eat them where locals do.
Late spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) offer mild weather, blossoming or golden parks and manageable crowds. August sees many locals leave and some shops close, while December glows with festive lights.
The dense Metro is fast and cheap, complemented by buses and the RER regional trains, all payable with a Navigo pass or paper tickets. Charles de Gaulle links by the RER B train, while Orly connects via the Orlyval and the new Metro line 14 extension.
Traveler tips
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Bonjour' on entering; politeness goes a long way in Paris.
- Watch for pickpockets around major sights and on the Metro, especially near the Eiffel Tower.
- Tipping is optional as service is included, though rounding up is appreciated.
- Book major museums and monuments online with timed slots to avoid long queues.