Travel guide · France
Paris travel guide
World-class museums, café terraces and walkable riverside quarters
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Paris packs the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower into a compact city of 20 arrondissements spiralling out from the Seine. Most first-time visitors base themselves in the central 1st–7th arrondissements and get around on foot and by Métro, which reaches almost every sight within 30 minutes. Beyond the landmarks, the city rewards slow time: a morning market, a long lunch, an evening walk along the river. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- France
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- CDG, ORY, BVA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Café culture and Pastries
Why visit Paris
- Three of the world's great art collections — the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Orangerie — sit within a 20-minute walk of each other.
- Neighbourhoods such as Le Marais, Saint-Germain and Montmartre each feel like a different city, and all are walkable.
- Food culture runs from €1.50 baguettes and covered markets to classic bistros and some of Europe's most celebrated restaurants.
- Versailles, Giverny and Champagne country are all reachable as day trips by train.
- Free pleasures are everywhere: the Seine quays, the Luxembourg Gardens, Sacré-Cœur and Père Lachaise cost nothing.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
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Landmark · 7th arrondissement
Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel's 330-metre iron tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and is the city's defining view.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the summit
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Museum · 1st arrondissement
Louvre Museum
The world's most-visited museum holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace in a former royal palace.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · 7th arrondissement
Musée d'Orsay
Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station, the Orsay has the world's best collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Île de la Cité
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Paris's Gothic cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the restoration that followed the 2019 fire, with its cleaned stone and rebuilt spire.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Montmartre
Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre
The white basilica crowns the highest hill in the city, and the steps below it are one of the best free viewpoints in Paris.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
Napoleon's triumphal arch stands at the top of the Champs-Élysées above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where a flame is rekindled every evening.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Where to stay
Le Marais is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and nightlife
Le Marais
Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, luxury and culture
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Literary cafés, art galleries and elegant Left Bank streets in the 6th
$$ · Best for budget, first-timers, solo travellers and families
Latin Quarter
Student energy, the Sorbonne and cheap eats in the 5th
$$ · Best for couples, budget and culture
Montmartre
Hilltop village, artists' square and the white dome of Sacré-Cœur in the 18th
What to eat
- Croissant and pain au chocolat — A good Paris croissant shatters when you bite it and tastes clearly of butter; look for 'croissant au beurre' on the label.
- Baguette tradition — The 'tradition' is the protected-recipe baguette made with only flour, water, salt and yeast, with a crisp crust and creamy crumb.
- Steak frites — A seared steak (often entrecôte or bavette) with thin fries and a sauce such as béarnaise or pepper is the defining bistro meal.
- Croque-monsieur — Toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich topped with béchamel and grilled Gruyère; the croque-madame adds a fried egg.
- Cheese — Paris fromageries sell hundreds of French cheeses, from Brie de Meaux made just east of the city to aged Comté and soft goat's cheeses from the Loire.
- Macarons — Almond-meringue shells sandwiched with ganache or buttercream, in flavours from pistachio to salted caramel.
When to go
The best times to visit Paris are April to early June and September to October, when days are mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July. Winter (November to February) is the lowest-priced and quietest season for museums, while December adds Christmas lights and markets.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom in the gardens, café terraces reopening and comfortable walking weather, with showers and busy Easter and May bank holidays. |
| Summer | June–August | Long evenings, open-air festivals and Paris Plages, but the most crowded and expensive season, with occasional heatwaves and some August closures. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September weather, cultural events and autumn colour; it turns damp and grey by November, when prices fall. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and short days, but quiet museums, low prices outside the holidays, festive lights in December and the January sales. |
Getting there and around
From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B train reaches Gare du Nord and Châtelet in about 30–35 minutes; Orly is linked to the centre by Métro line 14 and the Orlyval shuttle. Taxis charge fixed flat fares to the Right and Left Banks. Beauvais is about 85 km away and served mainly by coach.
Central Paris is compact and best explored on foot, with the Métro filling the gaps: 16 lines with stations rarely more than 500 metres apart. The RER suburban trains cross the centre and serve the airports, Versailles and Disneyland.
Plan your days
Three full days covers the headline museums, the Eiffel Tower and two or three neighbourhoods. A fourth day lets you add Versailles or slow down; a week leaves room for Giverny, Champagne and lesser-known museums.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public Wallace fountains provide free drinking water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included in French restaurant prices by law.
Paris is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing is common on the Métro, at major sights and around big stations. Watch out for petition and 'found ring' scams near monuments, and keep phones out of reach on café tables.
Flights to Paris
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Paris?
Three full days covers the headline museums, the Eiffel Tower and two or three neighbourhoods. A fourth day lets you add Versailles or slow down; a week leaves room for Giverny, Champagne and lesser-known museums. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Paris?
The best times to visit Paris are April to early June and September to October, when days are mild, gardens are at their best and crowds are lighter than in July. Winter (November to February) is the lowest-priced and quietest season for museums, while December adds Christmas lights and markets.
+What is Paris known for?
Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Café culture, Pastries, Fashion, Impressionist art and Seine riverbanks. Three of the world's great art collections — the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Orangerie — sit within a 20-minute walk of each other.
+Is Paris expensive?
Paris is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Paris?
No. Driving and parking in Paris are slow and expensive; public transport and walking cover everything, and car hire only makes sense for exploring rural France beyond the day trips.