travel guide map paris

The Ultimate FREE Paris Tourist Map (Things to Do, Photo Spots & More!)

Last Updated: April 25, 2024

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Looking for a Paris tourist map that covers all the main sights?

Great news! Hi – I’m Christina, a shameless travel nerd who has already made one. WITH cute stamp icons… that are colour coded.

So yes, below, you’ll find a handy Google Map that you can use on your phone that includes…

Top Paris museums & sights
The prettiest photo spots and views in Paris
Paris food & drink recommendations
Fun shops to visit in Paris

I hope you find it helpful!

Save this Free Paris Map for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

My Free Paris Tourist Map

On mobile? Click this link here and the map should automatically open on your Google Maps app.

NOTE: Free sights are marked with a green background – be sure to expand the Map Legend to see the different layers and categories I’ve included!

Paris Travel Tips Video

First time in Paris? Here’s a video that explains some of the important must-knows to keep in mind before your trip.

More Paris Travel Resources

Finally, if you’re a bit more old school, then here are some articles and blog posts to help you out with your Paris planning!

Free Things to do in Paris
Paris Travel Tips
France Travel Tips
Paris to Disneyland Paris Day Trip Guide
Disneyland Paris Tips

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

Paris Tourist Map: your downloadable PDF map

You are planning an upcoming visit to the City of Light and you need a tourist map that you can easily access on your smartphone, your tablet, even without an internet connection? PARISCityVision offers you a PDF Paris tourist map you can download completely free of charge. This map lists museums, monuments and must-see destinations and is a useful tool, whether you are spending a few hours or several days in France’s most beautiful city.

Click here to download the plan

More than a simple downloadable map of Paris

We are offering you much more than a basic downloadable Paris offline map. You will find all the information you need to make your visit to the capital city an unforgettable experience , gathered on one unique map.

Among all the must-see tourist destinations, locate the most beautiful and most popular Paris tourist attractions within a few seconds. On the same map, you can find Paris most emblematic places : enjoy one of the greatest views of the capital city from the Eiffel Tower and dive into the history of Notre Dame de Paris . Discover the famous Arc de Triomphe on the Place de l’Etoile. To experience the perfect french experience, enjoy a show at the Palais Garnier Opera House . Take your time while visiting the infinite galleries of the Louvre Museum . Last but not least, climb the stairs of Montmartre to visit the Sacré-Cœur Basilica , a breathtaking place offering a wonderful panorama over the city.

The greatest museums of the city are also indicated: on your map, pinpoint the location of the Louvre or the Orsay museums on the banks of the Seine, find the Centre Pompidou in the heart of the Marais district, and locate the most beautiful cultural buildings of Paris.

Organize your visits of Paris tourist attractions

Here are some tips to schedule the visit of some of the main monuments of the city. The Eiffel Tower is probably one of the most visited places in the world. Each day, all year-long, thousands of visitors come to climb the 674 steps leading to the second stair of the Iron Lady. In order to try to avoid the crowd, we recommend you to go early , before 10:30 a.m. or on the contrary, at the end of the day , after 6:00 p.m. To discover the mysteries of the Louvre in a nice atmosphere, we advise you to schedule your visit out of the weekend. The Louvre is often crowded, but during the week , out of holidays, you might have the opportunity to enjoy a calmer atmosphere. to optimize your time, book your tickets online beforehand, so you don’t have to wait in line too much time. Last, some of Paris greatest places are free to visit , so don’t hesitate to look for hidden places and mysterious districts to truly dive into the Parisian atmosphere.

A tourist map which offers another view of Paris

Do you want to see a different side of Paris and visit hidden places, away from the major tourist sightseeing tours? Veritable gems await visitors who want to explore the authentic districts of the City of Light: covered passages around the Palais Royal , narrow streets and squares in the district of Montmartre. On our map, next to the most popular destinations, we spot other amazing tourist sites that will provide you with a unique travel experience. Our practical PDF map is always accessible. Are you looking for a Paris tourist map that you can print and slip into your pocket? Do you want to download a map to take with you and use, even when there is no internet connection? We will provide you with access to the best tourist attractions in Paris, free of charge , and all in one document! Gather all Paris tourist attractions on one map. Our Paris tourist map identifies the must-see destinations and tourist attractions : Museums

Orsay Museum
Centre Pompidou
Grévin Museum
Picasso Museum
Rodin Museum
Musée des Invalides
Cité Des Sciences
Eiffel Tower
Notre Dame Cathedral
Sacré-Cœur
Arc De Triomphe
Garnier Opera House
Moulin Rouge

Tourist areas

Palais Royal
Latin Quartier
Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Other downloadable tourist offline maps

Plan your trip in advance and download our different Paris offline maps on your smartphone or tablet:

Map of Paris monuments
Map of Paris museums
Map of Paris districts
Map of Montmartre

PARISCityVision provides you with the best information in order to facilitate your stay in the capital city of France. With our Paris offline maps, take the entire capital in your pocket and choose the places you are most interested in to schedule your visits . On our plateforme, you will also find a wide range of priority tickets to visit the most beautiful places of Paris, different types of tours to discover the city at your own pace, and unique experiences to suit all of your desires. With PCV, make each stay a memorable experience.

Visit the Sacré Coeur Church in Montmartre

Low-angle view of the Eiffel Tower, as seen from a Paris street.

©James O'Neil/Getty Images

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Eiffel Tower

There are different ways to experience the Eiffel Tower, from a daytime trip or an evening ascent amid twinkling lights, to a meal in one of its…

Paris, France - August 13, 2016: The Pompidou Centre is a complex building in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement. It houses the Public Information Library and the museum of Modern art.

Centre Pompidou

Home to Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art, Centre Pompidou has amazed and delighted visitors ever since it opened in 1977, not…

Sainte-Chapelle

Visit Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day when Paris’ oldest, finest stained glass (1242–48) is at its dazzling best. The chapel is famous for its stained…

September 2016 - Paris, France- Le Louvre museum in daytime

Musée du Louvre

It isn’t until you’re standing in the vast courtyard of the Louvre, with its glass pyramid and ornate façade, that you can truly say you’ve been to Paris.

Les Catacombes

It’s gruesome, ghoulish and downright spooky, but it never fails to captivate visitors. In 1785, the subterranean tunnels of an abandoned quarry were…

Grounds of Rodin Museum sculpture garden.

Musée Rodin

St-Germain & Les Invalides

Even if you're not an art lover, it is worth visiting this high-profile art museum to lose yourself in its romantic gardens.

JULY 30, 2012: Model sailing boats in the pool in front of Luxembourg Palace in Luxembourg Gardens.

Jardin du Luxembourg

This famous inner-city oasis of formal terraces, chestnut groves and lush lawns has a special place in Parisians' hearts.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 08, 2016 : French Mausoleum of Great People of France - the Pantheon in Paris. France.; Shutterstock ID 573291478; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Panthéon POI

Latin Quarter

Elegant and regal in equal measure, the massive neoclassical dome of the Left Bank's iconic Panthéon is an icon of the Parisian skyline. Louis XV…

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Musée d’Orsay

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Le Grand Rex

Blockbuster screenings and concerts aside, this 1932 art deco cinematic icon runs 50-minute behind-the-scenes tours (English soundtracks available) during…

Le Printemps

Famous department store Le Printemps encompasses Le Printemps de la Mode, for women’s fashion; Le Printemps de la Beauté et Maison, for beauty and…

Bar Hemingway

Black-and-white photos and memorabilia (hunting trophies, old typewriters and framed handwritten letters by the great writer) fill this snug bar inside…

Off Paris Seine

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Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Montmartre & Northern Paris

Buttes Chaumont is one of the city’s largest green spaces, with landscaped slopes hiding grottoes, waterfalls, a lake and even an island topped with a…

Les Résistants

Natural oak, marble and stone blend seamlessly with a profusion of over-sized wicker lampshades and green foliage at this wildly popular, contemporary…

Musée Marmottan Monet

This museum showcases the world’s largest collection of works by impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840–1926) – about 100 – as well as paintings by…

Arc de Triomphe

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Le Très Particulier

The clandestine cocktail bar of boutique Hôtel Particulier Montmartre is an entrancing spot for a summertime alfresco cocktail. Each cocktail (€10 to €16)…

Place des Vosges

Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville

Inaugurated in 1612 as place Royale and thus Paris' oldest square, place des Vosges is a strikingly elegant ensemble of 36 symmetrical houses with ground…

L'Avant-Poste

'Eco-responsible' is the tasty buzzword at the second outpost of Les Résistants, in a former wig shop in the earthy 10e. Fresh, seasonal produce is…

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Begun in 1875 in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the chaos of the Paris Commune, Sacré-Cœur is a symbol of the former struggle between the…

Musée de l’Orangerie

Monet’s extraordinary cycle of eight enormous Decorations des Nymphéas (Water Lilies) occupies two huge oval rooms purpose-built in 1927 on the artist's…

PARIS - JULY 13 : Palais-Royal (1639), originally called Palais-Cardinal, it was personal residence of Cardinal Richelieu in Paris, France on July 13,2012. Sculptures..; Shutterstock ID 110693474; Your name (First / Last): redownload; GL account no.: redownload; Netsuite department name: redownload; Full Product or Project name including edition: redownload

Jardin du Palais Royal

The Jardin du Palais Royal is a perfect spot to sit, contemplate and picnic between boxed hedges, or to shop in the trio of beautiful arcades that frame…

As if fashionistas needed any confirmation that northern Paris' 'nouveau quartier' Clichy-Batignolles is the place to be: iconic fashion brand Sézane has…

Galeries Lafayette

Grande-dame department store Galeries Lafayette is spread across the main store (its magnificent neo-byzantine stained-glass dome dates from 1912), its…

Chez Alain Miam Miam

Weave your way through the makeshift kitchens inside Marché des Enfants Rouges to find Alain, a retired baker sporting T-shirts with attitude, whose…

Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen

Spanning nine hectares, this vast flea market was founded in 1870 and is said to be Europe’s largest. Over 2000 stalls are grouped into 15 marchés …

Place de la Concorde

Paris spreads around you, with views of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and along the Champs-Élysées, when you stand in the city’s largest square. Its 3300…

Cire Trudon

Claude Trudon began selling candles here in 1643, and the company – which officially supplied Versailles and Napoléon with light – is now the world’s…

Marché des Enfants Rouges

Built in 1615, Paris’ oldest covered market is secreted behind an inconspicuous green metal gate. A glorious maze of 20-odd food stalls selling ready-to…

Le Perchoir Marais

Paris' original rooftop bar, run by the talented mixologists behind Le Perchoir in 11e, is a trendy sky deck languishing atop department store BHV. Seine…

Canal St-Martin

The tranquil, 4.5km-long Canal St-Martin was inaugurated in 1825 to provide a shipping link between the Seine and Paris' northeastern suburbs. Emerging…

Grande Arche de la Défense

La Défense’s landmark edifice is the marble Grande Arche, a cube-like arch built in the 1980s to house government and business offices. The arch marks the…

Le Mary Céleste

Snag a stool at the central circular bar at this eternally fashionable, brick-and-timber-floored cocktail bar or reserve one of a handful of tables online…

Opened in 2019, this hip cultural centre occupying a péniche (barge) off pont des Invalides brought an unexpected dash of coolness to an otherwise…

Le Pavillon Puebla

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Jardin des Tuileries

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Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Opened in 1804, Père Lachaise is the world's most visited cemetery. Its 70,000 ornate tombs of the rich and famous form a verdant, 44-hectare sculpture…

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

No trip to Paris is complete without strolling this broad, tree-shaded avenue lined with luxury shops. Named for the Elysian Fields (‘heaven’ in Greek…

Ducasse sur Seine

Launched by multi-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, 'floating restaurant' Ducasse sur Seine sails through the city past icons such as the Louvre at…

Le Perchoir

Sunset is the best time to hit this iconic, 7th-floor bar for drinks overlooking Paris' rooftops and – on Saturday night – on-trend DJ sets. Greenery…

Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé

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Arènes de Lutèce

The 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre Lutetia Arena once seated 10,000 people for gladiatorial combats and other events. Found by accident in 1869 when rue…

Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

Paris' top museum for kids has a host of hands-on exhibits for children aged two and up, the special-effects cinema La Géode, a planetarium and a retired…

Marché Mouffetard

Grocers, butchers, fishmongers and other food purveyors set their goods out on street stalls during this almost-daily market. Many stalls close from…

Parc Monceau

Marked by a neoclassical rotunda at its main bd Courcelles entrance, beautiful Parc Monceau sprawls over 8.2 lush hectares. It was laid out by Louis…

Parc de la Villette

Spanning 55 hectares, this vast city park is a cultural centre, kids playground and landscaped urban space at the intersection of two canals, the Ourcq…

Parc de Belleville

Atop a hill 128m above sea level, this lovely park unfolds over 4.5 hectares of urban greenery, with fountains, trimmed hedgerows, a gargantuan slide, a…

Cimetière du Montparnasse

This 19-hectare cemetery opened in 1824 and is Paris’ second largest after Père Lachaise. Famous residents include writer Guy de Maupassant, playwright…

Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

The permanent collection at Paris' modern-art museum displays works representative of just about every major artistic movement of the 20th and (nascent)…

Musée de la Vie Romantique

Framed by green shutters, this mansion where painter Ary Scheffer once lived sits in a cobbled courtyard at the end of a tree-shaded alley. The objects…

Promenade Plantée

The disused 19th-century Vincennes railway viaduct was reborn in 1993 as the world's first elevated park, planted with a fragrant profusion of cherry…

Musée Cernuschi

The recently renovated Cernuschi Museum comprises an excellent and rare collection of ancient Chinese art (funerary statues, bronzes, ceramics), much of…

Parc du Champ de Mars

Running southeast from the Eiffel Tower, the grassy Champ de Mars – an ideal summer picnic spot – was originally used as a parade ground for the cadets of…

Philharmonie de Paris

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Atelier Brancusi

Northwest of the main building of the Centre Pompidou, this reconstruction of the studio of Romanian-born sculptor Constantin Brancusi (1876–1957),…

Panoramic of Notre Dame at sunset, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

While its interior is closed off to visitors following the devastating fire of April 2019, this masterpiece of French Gothic architecture remains the city…

Marché d’Aligre

A favourite with chefs and locals, this chaotic street market's stalls are piled with fruit, vegetables and seasonal delicacies such as truffles. Behind…

Planning Tools

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Plan your visit to Paris with these top tips on etiquette, health and safety, and know what to do if something goes wrong.

Best Neighborhoods

Paris is made up of 20 different city districts (called arrondissements), each with their own distinct charms. Get to know them with our handy guide.

While it’s hard for anyone to leave Paris, these day trips offer bucolic nature, gorgeous cathedrals and more – all only an hour or so away.

Money and Costs

With savvy planning and a bit of local know-how, you'll find a wealth of ways to enjoy Paris without blowing your budget. Here are our top tips.

Transportation

Walking is the best way to explore Paris' individual neighborhoods, but you'll need the bus, metro and RER to go further afield.

Free Things to Do

Paris is rightfully known for being expensive but there are ways to squeeze more out of your budget. Here are our favorite free things to do in Paris.

Traveling with Kids

Whether you're traveling to Paris with babies, toddlers or tweens, we can help you find the right activities to keep the whole family happy.

Discover architectural jewelry, local design, vintage finds, and tiny treasures in Paris' independent shops and markets.

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What's On When You're Here

Airports & Transfers

Getting around paris, paris travel guide, paris essentials, train travel, paris arrondissements, the maps of paris & the paris guide books we like the most.

Ready to savor the city? Here we'll guide you to one guide we consider as well as a couple of lightweight, easy-to-carry maps. Let's start with this advice — a Paris tourist map or guide book is the right choice when you just want to see the sights and enjoy your time in Paris, but don't need to drill down to specific street numbers. If that's you, read on to learn about our favorite pocket guides.

Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

Frommer's paris day by day, 23 smart ways to see the city.

• Maps scale varies • 184 pages • Good Metro map • Includes fold-out map • 8.6 ounces

We're not big fans of mainstream guide books, but this pocket guide by Frommer impressed us. It has good sections with useful suggestions on walks, the Paris gardens, full day tour ideas, and so on. The Paris tourist maps that accompany each of the suggested itineraries are surprisingly good.

The front covers unfolds into a good Metro map , with a tourist map of Paris on the other side. The book also includes a small (that is, easy to handle) folded paper map as well.

Streetwise Paris Map

Laminated city center map.

• 1/14,000 • 2-sided accordion fold • Good Metro map • Weighs nothing!

Streetwise Paris is different from most folded maps. It has an accordion fold, making it easy to use on the street or Metro. It's laminated, making it waterproof and tear-proof, a real benefit. And, there's a very good Metro map in the classic style.

The Streetwise map covers the areas of Paris where most of the tourist action is. Streetwise is highly recommended by travelers, who consider it the ultimate tourist map of Paris. While we like it, our eyes tell us that the scale is a bit small for easy reading.

Our Most Popular Day Trips from Paris

Artwise paris, laminated museum map.

Based on the Streetwise map, Artwise Paris concentrates on things cultural like museums and art galleries, covering the city from Boulevard de Port Royal in the south to Boulevard Haussmann in the north.

The map index provide details on hours of operation, admission costs, addresses and phone numbers.

We like that the Metro stops are clearly indicated , and it also has a nice, separate Metro map.

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2 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Last updated: March 25, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 91 Comments

Paris is easily one of our favourite European cities, and one that we return to time and again. It has so much to offer, from beautiful views to world class museums to fabulous food. We’ve visited a number of times, both for short breaks like the 2 days in this Paris itinerary, as well as for more prolonged stays as part of a longer European itinerary .

Speaking of a shorter visit, we wanted to share with you an itinerary for 2 days in Paris that will get you to all our favourite sights.

Fair warning, this is a busy itinerary that covers a lot, so feel free to adjust it accordingly. However if you want to see as much as you can – this will help you do that. If you have slightly longer, you might want to check out our guide to spending 3 days in Paris .

This Paris itinerary is perfect for a first-time visitor, or even a returning visitor looking for a quick 2 days in Paris that includes most of the major attractions.

After the itinerary itself, we’ll share some tips and advice for visiting Paris, as well as some ideas for saving money on your trip. Now onto our suggestions of how to spend the perfect 2 days in Paris.

2 Day Paris Itinerary

Paris itinerary: day 1, sainte chapelle.

I have to admit, it took multiple visits to Paris before I actually visited Sainte Chapelle . Suffice to say, my mind was blown. This is without doubt one of the prettiest churches I’ve ever visited, and I can’t believe it took me so long to actually go inside.

With almost floor to ceiling stained glass windows, this 13th century gothic chapel will literally take your breath away when you walk inside. Don’t feel bad if you stand there, mouth agape with wonder. I certainly did, until I remembered myself and got to taking some pictures. It’s a truly wonderful place, and an absolute must in Paris.

Sainte Chapelle normally opens at 9am, and we highly recommend you get here by 9am sharp, if not a little earlier, in order to get in before the queues. It’s a relatively small attraction, and the security and ticket lines can be long, so arriving here when it opens will save you a lot of time.

There’s a fee for visiting, and it’s included on the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass (see our review of the Paris Pass here , and our review of the Paris Museum Pass here ).

You can also buy your ticket online in advance from GetYourGuide here , which is highly recommended as the ticket line can be very long.

A quick note on buying tickets online – you can normally do so via the official site or via a third party like GetYourGuide.

We nearly always opt for GetYourGuide because the tickets often come with free cancellation, unlike tickets sold via the official sites. This is very handy for peace of mind. However, you do always need to check and compare prices and policies for each ticket to be sure.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Just near Saint Chapelle is one of Paris’s most well know religious buildings – Notre-Dame Cathedral . With two huge towers and mighty flying buttresses, it’s not hard to see why this has become one of Paris’s iconic attractions, not to mention one of the most famous churches in the world.

2 Days in Paris - Notre Dame from behind

Completed in 1345 after nearly 200 years of construction, Notre Dame is a beautiful building that is well worth the visit.

Unfortunately, on April 15th 2019 a devastating fire seriously damaged Notre Dame. The cathedral will be closed for the foreseeable future as a result of this tragic incident. Whilst you can still see the inside, the interior is not currently accessible.

We would suggest that instead you add a nearby attraction like the Conciergerie to your list. This an excellent place to learn all about the French Revolution, and was where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned prior to her execution.

You can get a combined ticket that includes Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie here which will save you a bit of money.

From Notre Dame it’s a 20-minute walk (or 15-minute metro ride) to one of Paris’s most famous museums – the Louvre .

This is of course home to the Mona Lisa (which many visitors make a bee-line for!) and the Venus de Milo, but the largest and most visited art gallery in the world has a great deal more to offer than these two sights, from Islamic art to Greek antiquities.

You could spend a whole day (or more!) just exploring the Louvre, but that would restrict the rest of your Paris sightseeing, so try and limit yourself to two or three hours if you can!

Also, you should be aware that the Louvre is one of Paris’s most popular attractions, and lines can get long. Usually there are two main entry lines outside the glass pyramid, one fast track security line for those with advance tickets, and one slower line for people without an advance ticket.

On some exceptionally busy days, entrance is only permitted with an advance purchase ticket, and we definitely recommend you buy yours in advance of your visit so as not to miss out. This will also normally save you time as the line for those with tickets is normally a lot quicker.

We’d definitely encourage you to save money and time by either getting a fast-track ticket in advance, or buying a pass that gives you access to the fast-track line.

For example, both the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass offer free entry to the Louvre with fast-track access. It’s also included on the Paris City Card . See more at the end of the post on which pass is going to best for this two-day itinerary.

Note that in the busy times, which tend to be the summer periods especially, the Louvre gets very busy. In fact, the museum often sells out, and only holders of advance purchase tickets or timed reservations were able to enter the museum.

If you have a Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass , you need to reserve your entry online on the official website . This is mandatory for holders of these passes in order to guarantee entry, and we highly recommend you do this in advance. If you do not reserve your slot in advance, you are not guaranteed entry even with the pass.

If you have a Paris City Card , you’ll book the timeslot you want when you book the card.

If you do not have a pass, you can buy your ticket and reserve your entry time either on GetYourGuide here (where we normally get our tickets ), or online on the official website here .

We’ve sometimes found that GetYourGuide has availability even when the official site is out, so it’s always worth checking if you want to visit and can’t find tickets on the official site.

Finally, you can also book a walking tour of the Louvre like this . This is a great option if you want to learn more about what you are seeing, as well as if you can’t get tickets any other way!

We’d suggest using Take Walks for this – we’ve taken a lot of walking tours with them in cities all around the world, and love the knowledgeable guides and small group sizes. See our suggested Louvre walking tour with Take Walks here .

Note the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. See opening times and more on the official site here .

Wine Tasting

Depending on how much time you spend at the Louvre, you might have time for a spot of wine tasting afterwards. Note that this activity is one that we suggest you skip though if you feel this itinerary is a bit busy for you.

France is known the world over for wine, so after you’ve sated your cultural curiosity at the Louvre, why not relax a bit over a glass of wine whilst learning all about the art of French wine making. Sound good?

Well, conveniently, right next door to the Louvre you’ll find the “ Caves du Louvre ”, a relatively new wine tasting experience set in an 18th century wine cellar, formerly home to the wine collection of the King of France himself.

Here, over the period of about an hour, you’ll try three different French wines, whilst learning all about grape varieties and the factors that go into the making of a French wine.

It’s a fun experience, and you can either do it as a self-guided tour using an app, or with a tour leader. There’s a charge for the tour, but it is free for holders of the Paris Pass . You can also book online here .

If you’re not keen on drink, or you’re travelling with children, you might instead want to pop along to the nearby Angelina Café for a divine cup of hot chocolate. Or if you’re into tea, check out Jess’s guide to the best afternoon tea locations in Paris .

Eiffel Tower

This entry is an absolute must when in Paris – the Eiffel Tower . You will have already seen this magnificent construction looming over the skyline as you wandered around Paris, but I promise you, nothing really compares to standing underneath her and looking up.

You can experience the Eiffel Tower in a number of ways. Good views can be had from the Trocadero, on the opposite bank of the Seine.

You can also get a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower at sunset from the Champ de Mars – the landscaped gardens that run to the southeast of the tower. This is a popular spot for the sunset in Paris, and many people bring a picnic to sit outside and enjoy the view in the warmer months, often with a glass of wine in hand.

If you want to climb the tower, we very much recommend that you book your tickets in advance. This will save you from queuing in the often very long lines at the ticket offices. Tickets can be purchased directly from the official website , which usually has the best prices although note that they are non-refundable.

Another option is the Go Paris Explorer Pass or the Paris Pass , both of which include the Eiffel Tower. It’s also included on the Paris City Card , with a choice of timeslots. These passes can be a cost-effective way for sight-seeing as well – see our guide to saving money in Paris further on in the post for more information.

We would say that going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is definitely something to experience, and something everyone should do at least once.

There are also restaurants in the tower , which would make for a romantic spot for your evening meal. If you do choose to do this, we’d definitely recommend researching which restaurant you want to visit (prices vary), and booking in advance so as not to be disappointed. Alternatively, you can do an evening river cruise on the Seine with a meal!

See our complete guide to visiting the Eiffel tower for more tips, and to help you plan your visit.

Seine River Cruise

One thing many people look forward to when visiting Paris is taking a Seine River Cruise. These let you see a good many Parisian sights from a unique perspective, often whilst listening to a commentary.

Most tours last around an hour, and are a nice way to see a lot without too much effort. Just sit back, relax, and let the views roll on by.

Jess has written a detailed post to choosing a Seine River Cruise to help you decide between the various operators. There are a lot of options, and even though the view and route will largely be the same, various factors like commentary and boat size should be considered.

Some also offer a meal, which would be a lovely way to end your day! If that’s of interest, see our guide to the best Seine River dinner cruises which has lots of great options at various price points.

One tip – if you buy the Paris Pass or Paris City Card , a Seine River Cruise is included. This is a good option, and we nearly always use a pass like this when we visit Paris as it usually saves us money.

Alternatively, you can buy a Seine River Cruise ticket in advance here , and one with dinner in advance here .

There are a number of operators offering Seine River Cruises with departure from right next to the Eiffel Tower, which would be our recommendation for this itinerary.

Arc de Triomphe

There are a number of places in Paris that I think offer fantastic views of the city, and the Arc de Triomphe is one of my favourites.

Found at the western end of the Champs Elysees, this fifty metre high monument to those who died for France in both the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars is a must-see when visiting Paris.

You can of course admire the arch from below, and be amazed at the efforts of the traffic to get around this monumental roundabout. But to be honest, for the best experience, you need to climb the steps to the top (or take the lift) and enjoy the magnificent views of the city. Note – to cross to the Arch, take the pedestrian underpass. Don’t try and cross the traffic roundabout!

From the top of the Arc de Triomphe you get wonderful views of the Parisian skyline, including the Eiffel Tower, and the business district La Défense.

I’d also add, if you take the stairs on your way out, there’s a nice photo opportunity as you look down the stair well from the top of the stairs spiralling down. If you’re interested in more good photo opportunity ideas in Paris, check out my guide to the best photography locations in Paris .

Climbing the Arc de Triomphe does incur a fee. It’s included with the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass.

Alternatively, buy your skip the line ticket in advance here . The Arc de Triomphe is open late, so those of you who still have the stamina for sightseeing will be able to visit this too!

Paris Itinerary: Day 2

Sacre coeur.

Your second day in Paris has you starting at the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. This beautiful basilica is found at the summit of Montmartre hill, the highest summit in the city. As you would imagine therefore, there are excellent views on offer from up here.

The Basilica is relatively new, with construction being completed in 1914. Its white domes are instantly recognisable, and you can climb to the top for a fantastic view of the city. Entry to the Sacre Coeur itself is free, although there is a fee for accessing the towers.

Montmartre itself is an area which has long been popular with artists, and many famous artists of the Belle Époque era had their studios in this area. Today, you can get your portrait, caricature or silhouette painted at the famous Place du Tertre, a short walk from the Basilica.

Note that the steps of the basilica are particularly popular with “bracelet makers”, folks who will try to encourage you to accept a free bracelet from them. Except once they’ve starting tying your wrist with the free bracelet, they’ll expect some money in return. For tips on avoiding this and other common Paris scams, check out our guide to avoiding scams in Paris .

Dalí Museum

Whilst you are up in the Montmartre area, we suggest you might want to take in the Dalí Museum – Dalí Paris . For fans of the artist, who was a part of the Surrealism group that was headquartered in Montmartre in Paris, this museum is a joy.

This isn’t an essential visit though, so if you would prefer to just get on with your day, this one can easily be skipped.

With over three hundred original artworks on display, this is the only permanent museum in Paris dedicated to the artist. There are sculptures, drawings, watercolours and more on display, and the attached gallery even has some of his artwork for sale.

There’s an entry fee, and it is included for holders of the Paris Pass.

Opera Garnier Tour

From the Dali Museum it’s around a half hour stroll, or half an hour by public transport, to the next stop on our two day Paris itinerary – the Opera Palais Garnier .

We’re not actually going to the Opera though, although that is of course an option for an evening activity. Instead, we suggest that you take a self-guided tour of this spectacular building, which served as the inspiration for the play “Phantom of the Opera”.

The self-guided tour will give you full access to many parts of this gorgeous building, including the 2,000 seat theatre, the gorgeous grand staircase, the incredible seven tonne chandelier, and the balcony. You can book a self-guided tour here .

If you’d prefer a guided tour, these are also available. These tours last for approximately ninety minutes, and are offered in English. You can check times and availability and book on the official website here .

If you are interested in attending a performance at the Opera Garnier, read Jess’s detailed post to booking tickets for the Paris Opera here .

Musee d’Orsay

From the Opera Garnier we’re going to head to another of Paris’s famous museums – the Musee d’Orsay . Found in a former train station on the south bank of the River Seine, this spectacular building picks up where the Louvre finishes off, with a focus on artworks dating from 1848.

2 day Paris itinerary - Musee Orsay Paris

We think that the building itselfmakese this museum worth the visit alone. What was formerly the main platform area is now a huge exhibition space which looks stunning, and the beautiful station clocks are seriously photogenic.

Of course, the museum has no shortage of art either, with works from Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Renoir all on display, to name but a few.

Free entry with skip the line privileges is provided to Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass holders. You can also purchase ticket and guided tours online here or on the official site here .

Stroll along the Left Bank

Paris is a romantic city, and one of our favourite romantic things you can do in Paris is take a wander along the “Left Bank”.

In case you were wondering where the left bank is, it’s the south side of the river Seine. It’s called the Left Bank because it’s the left side of the river as you look downstream.

From the Musee d’Orsay, it’s a nice stroll along the left bank, if you head in an easterly direction, with views of the Louvre, the Pont des Arts and ultimately, if you keep going, spectacular views of the soon to be restored Notre Dame.

Sunset at Tour Montparnasse

The last two entries on our two-day itinerary can be switched around, depending on what time of year you visit. This is because sunset will vary depending on when you visit, and I’d suggest that the Tour Montparnasse is absolutely best experienced at sunset.

The Tour Montparnasse is the second tallest skyscraper in Paris, and from its rooftop observation deck you get what we think are the best views of Paris. From here you can see all the way to the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse and La Defense.

At sunset, the view is truly magical, as the sun lights up the sky, and the city lights start to come on. Then – the pièce de résistance – the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower herself.

Access to the Tour Montparnasse viewing deck is free for holders of the Paris Pass . You can also buy a ticket online in advance here .

Centre Pompidou

Last on our list of attractions for our two-day Paris itinerary is the Centre Pompidou . This is home to a number of things, but we think you’ll be most interested in the Musée National d’Art Moderne – Europe’s largest Museum of Modern Art.

This completes the trilogy of art museums in Paris – the Louvre spanning up to 1848, the Musée d’Orsay covers the 19th and early 20th century, with the Centre Pompidou holding the the masters of modern twentieth century art. I’m talking Picasso, Warhol, Kandinsky, and Duchamp.

Conveniently, the museum is open until 9pm, which means you’ll be able to visit either before or after your sunset at Tour Montparnasse. Don’t miss the “view of Paris”, a balcony which offers one of the better view of Montmartre in the city.

There’s a fee to visit the Centre Pompidou and you can book tickets online here . It’s free for holders of the Paris Museum Pass.

Again, this is not a “must-see” in Paris, so feel free to skip this one if you don’t want to feel rushed.

2 Days in Paris Itinerary Map

To help you visualise all the above, we’ve put the attractions onto a map so you can see where you need to be for each day of your Paris visit. You can see this map here on Google .

2 Day Paris Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Sainte Chapelle, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Louvre, Wine Tasting, Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Arc de Triomphe
Day 2: Sacre Coeur, Dalí Museum, Opera Garnier, Musee d’Orsay, Left Bank, Tour Montparnasse, Centre Pompidou

When to Visit Paris

Paris is a city that is good to visit throughout the year. As with most European cities, it is particularly busy in the summer months, and lines for attractions in July and August can be long. The summer months do however promise the best weather.

If you want reasonable weather with less people, then the months of May and September will offer some solace. We also love visiting Paris in both fall and winter, when the leaves on the trees turn golden, and the city lights itself up for Christmas.

Basically, we think you’ll have a good time whenever you visit Paris, but just bear in mind that some months are much busier than others.

How to Get Around Paris

Paris is very easy to get around, with a comprehensive underground (the Metropolitan) as well as buses and local trains. Naturally there are also taxis and private hire cars available.

There are currently two main ways to buy tickets for public transport in Paris as a visitor. The traditional cardboard tickets as shows in the image below, and then there’s the new Navigo Easy plastic system.

The Navigo Easy system was introduced in the summer of 2019, and is a rechargeable plastic card that can be pre-loaded with tickets. The goal is for this to replace the cardboard version of the tickets at some point.

The Navigo Easy card costs €2 to buy, and you then top it up with single tickets or as packs of 10, known as a carnet.

Currently, the most cost-effective way to buy tickets in Paris is to buy tickets in packs of 10 on the Navigo Easy system, which represents a fairly significant discount on buying them individually.

Tickets can be bought at pretty much every metro station from the ticket machines, which accept cash and cards, as well as coming with an English language option.

For more on getting around Paris, see our detailed guide to how to get around Paris , which should help you plan all your transport in the city.

How to Save Money on Your Paris trip

The Paris itinerary above packs a lot into two days, and many of the sights and activities have an associated fee. At time of writing, if you chose to do everything in the above list, you’d be looking at spending just under €200 per person.

The good news is that you can save money on your visit to Paris. The answer is to invest in a Paris city passes, like the Paris Museum Pass , Paris Pass , Go Paris Pass , or Paris City Card .

Calculating if a pass is worth it for you will of course depend on exactly which attractions you want to visit.

From our itinerary, here’s what’s included on which passes, as well the cost of individual tickets as of November 2023 and links to book each attraction directly.

Sainte Chapelle (€11.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
Louvre Museum (€17) – included on Paris Pass, Paris Museum Pass and Paris City Card. Book on GetYourGuide here , or on the official site here .
Wine Tasting (€35) – included on Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
Eiffel Tower (€38 for guided tour, €11.30 for standard stair access ticket) – tour included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book tickets on the official website here
Seine River Cruise (€18) – included on Paris City Card, Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
Arc de Triomphe (€13) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
Sacre Coeur (€6) – not on any passes we are aware of, in-person tickets only.
Dali Museum (€14) – included on Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
Opera Garnier Tour (€14) – not on any passes we are aware of. Book online here.
Musee d’Orsay (€16) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
Tour Montparnasse (€19) – included on Go Paris Pass and Paris Pass. Book online here .
Centre Pompidou (€15) – included on Paris Pass Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .

Total attraction entry for all the above would cost you around €216.5

As you can see, none of the passes we recommend include all the attractions in our itinerary.

Assuming you planned on visiting all the attractions in our itinerary, then either a 2-day Paris Pass or a 2-day Paris Museum Pass would definitely save you money on the attractions it covers.

The 2-day Paris Pass actually includes a 2-day Paris Museum Pass, and then adds on things like the Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise and Wine Tasting. So depending on what you plan on doing, one or the other is likely to save you some money on your visit to Paris.

You can purchase a Paris Pass here .

You can buy a Paris Museum Pass from the official site here or on GetYourGuide here .

Another option to is the Go Paris Pass . This lets you pick a number of top attractions in Paris, and covers many of the attractions listed in this post.

If you aren’t planning on visiting every attraction in this list, then the Go Paris Pass might be a good option, as you can pick from 3, 5 or 7 major attractions, and save on visiting those.

Finally, consider the Paris City Card . This includes a guided Eiffel tower ticket, Seine River cruise and access to the Louvre. It also comes with an audioguide to Paris, as well as a further 10% discount on other Paris attractions.

This is a good option if you aren’t planning on visiting everything in our itinerary. It also has the advantage that you book the timeslots for the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower when you book the card, so can be convenient.

As well as the above, you should be aware that on the first Sunday of every month, access to most museums in Paris is free – although be aware that popular museums like the Louvre get incredibly busy on these days.

In addition, some locations will give you free entry if you are an EU citizen under 26 – you’ll need ID to prove this of course.

Finally, always check opening days for attractions before buying a pass, as you don’t want to be disappointed to discover a museum is closed on the day you plan to visit it.

Our personal favourite card for Paris is the Paris Pass, however it won’t work for everyone. You can read our full review of the Paris Pass here to see if it will be a good investment for you.

Where to Stay in Paris

We’ve stayed at a variety of locations in Paris, from hosted apartments through to hotels and homestays.

There’s a massive choice, and prices are generally reasonable considering this is a capital city. We’d advise picking somewhere within easy walking distance of a metro so that you can easily get around all the sights in this itinerary.

Our favourite way to find the best deals on accommodation is booking.com. They’re easy to use, usually have the best prices, and have everything from hotels to apartments.

Hotel Dress Code & Spa , a highly reviewed centrally located 4 star hotel right a few hundred yards from the opera house
Hôtel Eiffel Turenne , a well rated 3* hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
Ateliers de Montmartre , an apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacre Coeur
The People – Paris Marais , a well-reviewed hostel in the Marais, one of our favourite parts of Paris to stay
Hotel le Compostelle , a highly rated 3* hotel centrally located near the Louvre Museum

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide or Vrbo .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, including a beautiful apartment in Paris with spectacular Eiffel Tower views. See their listings for Paris here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find here .

Practicalities for visiting Paris

Safety in paris.

We’ve not had any problems in Paris, although there are a few scams to be aware of – check our guide to avoiding common Paris scams so you are prepared in advance.

Power in Paris

Electricity is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need an adapter like this , and US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

Currency in Paris

Paris is part of the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro. You can get these from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted.

Internet Access in Paris

Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online. You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

Alternatively, consider an eSIM service like Airalo .

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options. We also have a guide to picking the best travel router , which can help you extend a weak WiFi network and share it across multiple devices.

Drinking Water in Paris

The water in the taps is safe to drink unless otherwise posted. If you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available. We usually recommend you travel with a re-usable water bottle like one of these to save on having to buy water bottles.

We love our Klean Kanteen water bottles for travel as they are lightweight, easy to clean and the company is a certified B-Corp.

Eating in Paris

Paris has no shortage of excellent dining options to choose from. Whilst we generally don’t recommend specific restaurants as they can change so quickly, we do have a guide to some of our favourite restaurants in Paris here for inspiration.

We suggest that if you do want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants in Paris that you consider booking in advance.

We recommend and use La Fourchette (the fork), which is the most popular online restaurant booking website in France. It’s easy to use and makes booking a breeze, especially if you don’t speak French. Check it out here to find reviews, sample menus and book a table.

Walking Tours of Paris

If you would like to do a guided tour in Paris for part of your stay, then we suggest you take a look at Take Walks . We’ve used them for walking tours in cities around the world, and have never been disappointed. They focus on small group tours, led by experts, and they have a number of walking tours in Paris we can recommend. These are:

A full day walking tour of Paris which includes many of the highlights in our post, including a major art museum, the Eiffel Tower, and a Seine River Cruise
A three hour tour that includes Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame
They also have more tours in Paris, see all the options here

Of course, there are other operators running tours in Paris, such as this delicious looking food tour , this in-depth tour of Hemingway locations in Paris or this tour of Montmartre .

As you can see, there are lots of good options for walking tours in Paris, whatever your interests!

There are 91 comments on this post

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Michelle says

10th March 2023 at 9:12 pm

Hi Laurence, thanks for the great information you provide in your posts. I have enjoyed reading your London and Paris tips and itineraries for months to help plan. My sister and I are visiting Paris as a part of our European getaway to London, Paris and Amsterdam from June 16-27th. We will be in Paris from June 21st to the 24th. We have purchased the 2 day Paris Pass because we will be arriving by train from London around 13:00. We are staying at Hotel Duquesne Eiffel. What should we do first after settling in on our first day? Also, is following your 2-day itinerary realistic from our hotel? Do you suggest any possible changes? How can I incorporate afternoon tea at a hotel? Thanks for any advice.

Laurence Norah says

12th March 2023 at 7:49 am

Hi Michelle,

It’s our pleasure! So first, obviously you will want to adjust the itinerary based on your specific interests. Your hotel is definitely well located, you should be able to do the itinerary as laid out. The only thing you will want to check is the timing for the Eiffel Tower tour that is included on the Paris Pass, as that might affect your itinerary. As you are so close to the Eiffel Tower, you may want to do the Eiffel Tower / Seine River cruise first, and then the rest of the days activities following on from that. Otherwise though, yes, you should be fine following the itinerary from the hotel.

For your first day (when you arrive) you could definitely do the afternoon tea if you wanted, most afternoon teas in Paris are available fairly late. You are not too far from the Four Seasons George V which is one of my favourite afternoon tea locations in Paris. Alternatively, you could see if there are any activities not included on your Paris Pass that you want to do. Finally, you might just like to take a walk perhaps up to the Seine and then along to the Eiffel Tower.

Have a great time in Paris and let me know if you have any more questions!

Lisa Gonçalves says

15th November 2022 at 4:57 pm

Hi! We will be in Paris from 7-10th of December with 2 teenagers (15 and 13 years olds), was wondering if the Paris Pass is worth buying for them as some of the attractions are free for under 18. Is there anything that you recommend at this time of the year? I am also a little confused. I have tried to buy eifel tour tickets on the oficial site, but there are none available for the dates we are in Paris. But the site states that for stairs tickets you can book 15 dyas before, does this mena that I may still be able to book 15 days before or as they are not showing on the site, this will never be a possibility? Many thanks, Lisa.

15th November 2022 at 5:07 pm

It’s lovely to hear from you, it sounds like you a have a fun trip coming up! So the Paris Pass is likely not going to be great value for your teenagers as most of the museums are free as you say. I would also add that you need to check exactly what is included on the Paris Pass currently, even if buying for adults. Normally it comes as a two part pass, but they have been having inventory issues with the Paris Museum Pass component so it has not been including that for some of the versions recently. You might instead consider one of the Paris City Cards , they come in different versions and account for under 18 access being free.

Normally we would always recommend a Seine River Cruise (just bring warm clothing!) and of course the Eiffel Tower. The Galleries Lafayette department store should also be nicely decorated at this time of year.

For the Eiffel Tower, I think it is unlikely the stairs will have sold out this far in advance, so I think it is likely not showing availability because it is too far out. You’ll want to come back 14 days before your trip which is when sales should show.

Let me know if you have any more questions, we’re happy to help!

Tina Mills says

1st September 2022 at 12:01 am

I will be visiting Paris in November for my daughter’s 21st birthday. We will be coming from London on a Monday and will be leaving back to London on Wednesday. I enjoyed reading Paris in two days and will be using it for our trip. We will be staying at a hotel in the rue Casimir Delavigne. Is that a central location? I would love to take a dinner siene river cruise and a do a photo shoot. Do you think we will have time and where would be a great place to shoot. My daughter also loves food. Is there any cooking class around that we could fit in our schedule? Thanks in advance! Tina

1st September 2022 at 10:20 am

I would say that yes, Rue Casimir is definitely in a central location, you are about 10 minutes walk from Sainte Chapelle / Notre Dame and the highlights of that area. You are also about 30 minutes metro ride to the Eiffel Tower.

You can easily take a dinner Seine river cruise in the evening of one of these days. We have a guide to Seine River cruises here which includes a section on dinner cruises. Some of these depart from near the Musee d’Orsay so would be easy to reach from your apartment.

We have done the Macaron making class at the Galleries Lafayette, that was a lot of fun and you should be able to fit that into the schedule, perhaps instead of the wine tasting. Alternatively, you could do it on the second day. It will depend a bit on your priorities and what you really want to see. You can see more cooking classes here .

In terms of photography, I personally think the Trocadero opposite the Eiffel Tower makes for a good location as you can get lovely photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any more questions!

RAJA CHIALAKAMARRI says

23rd March 2022 at 11:09 am

Hi Laurence, Best wishes. Excited to find your website is very informative. Would you help our family first trip to Europe. We vegetarians and like to find a place safe and comfortable for around $100-150 per night. Hotel stay is preferred but Ainbnb is also an option. We 3 adults are thinking for flying in on Tuesday April 26th by noon. We take train to Amsterdam on 28th evening. One evening our son 24year old youth may be curious to spend a few hours night life. What we should see? How we can go around? any minor details like holidays, timings and buying in advance ( passes or booking tickets) Would you suggest for Madrid (4 full days) and Amsterdam(2 full days) too? Our entire trip is between April 22-May1st. Thanks in advance Regards raja

23rd March 2022 at 11:19 am

Thanks for your comment! So we don’t currently offer personalised itinerary planning services. In terms of where to stay, if the recommended options don’t work for you, I’d recommend using the booking.com filter system to find something that suits. I like to filter by rating (usually 8+) and then you can filter by price. I’ve put that search together for you here . It currently shows around 8-10 properties (it will change based on availability). One option to consider is the Hotel Du Lion , which has good reviews and is quite well located.

In terms of what to see and do, as you are in Paris for two days this guide should cover everything you need to know, including the pass options and how to get around. If you have specific questions I am happy to help, but I think most of your current questions are answered in this guide. We haven’t visited Madrid but we hear it is very nice. I have visited Amsterdam and it is a lovely city, very pretty, although we haven’t written any guides yet as we have not visited for a while.

Have a great trip!

Jenny Smith says

24th April 2021 at 4:59 am

Admiring the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you provide.

24th April 2021 at 1:10 pm

Thanks Jenny!

24th February 2020 at 12:01 pm

Hi Laurence,

I need some help, for Day 2 – I want to cover below attractions : 1. Opera Garnier, 2. Musee d’Orsay, 3. Left Bank, 4. Tour Montparnasse, 5. Stroll around Champs-Élysées avenue 6. Moulin Rouge at night (not to attend the show)

I have booked my stay in the 14th ARR. so it’s a bit far and hence the confusion. I wanted help to plan above attractions at best possible time of the day, can you please help me?

I also don’t want to miss the Tour Montparnasse sunset view. 🙂

24th February 2020 at 12:46 pm

So this should be easy enough to do in a day. The only thing is I don’t know when you are visiting exactly, as some attractions have specific closures. So you should definitely check when each attraction is open specific to your visit.

The Opera Garnier has some closures on certain days and also some days it’s only open in the morning or afternoon. You can see that here: https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/visits/palais-garnier

The Musee d’Orsay is closed on Mondays.

Personally I think the Tour Montparnasses is best at sunset as you can see Paris going from day to night which is really lovely to watch. However, sunset varies depending on time of year, so again this will depend on when you visit. If you’re in the 14th, this will be the closest attraction to you.

Assuming you are visiting when everything is open, I’d suggest starting with Musee d’Orsay. Then Opera Garnier (self guided tour). If you want to do a guided tour, you’ll have to adjust your plan as these only run at certain times, and not every day of the week depending on the time of year.

Then I’d go to Champs Elysees, across to the left bank, and down to the Tour Montparnasse. Finally up to the Moulin Rouge.

This is definitely heading around a bit, but that’s kind of inevitable. I’d also say that you are really close to the Paris Catacombs in the 14th, so you might want to check those out too.

Let me know if I can be of any more help!

25th February 2020 at 9:17 am

Thanks Laurence 🙂

I am travelling to Paris in June and would be considering this schedule for Sunday. I just checked the Opera Garnier would be closed for Sunday morning – so it would be open around 2.00 PM

thanks again for your detailed answer 🙂 you really helped me a lot!

25th February 2020 at 12:38 pm

My pleasure – have an amazing time in Paris!

20th February 2020 at 10:32 am

Hi Laurence, Jessica,

Your post helped me a lot in planning in our 2 days in Paris 🙂 Thank you for writing this!

20th February 2020 at 12:38 pm

Our pleasure Minal – thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know, it means a lot! Have a great time in Paris and let us know if you have any questions 🙂

Jennifer says

17th February 2020 at 5:22 am

Hi, The itinerary that you have provided is so helpful to give me the top sights to see in the most efficient way. I’m looking at the 3 day Paris pass because I will be arriving on a Monday late afternoon, 4 pm and departing on Wednesday at 2 pm. Is it better to get the 2 day or 3 day pass because of the dates and time? I also saw that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and not sure how to accommodate the itinerary as to when best to fit that in. Thanks Jennifer

17th February 2020 at 12:02 pm

Hi Jennifer!

So I would recommend getting the 2 day Paris pass. The reason being that the pass is made up of two components, a Paris Pass and a Paris Museum Pass. They cover slightly different things, and they can actually be activated separately. In addition, there is no 3 day Paris Museum Pass, so the 3 day Paris Pass only comes with a 2 day Paris Museum pass anyway!

Now, on to your itinerary conundrum. So you have a little less than two full days due to your arrival time, and because the Louvre is closed on Tuesday, you might not get absolutely everything in. Based on your timings, I would probably suggest something like the following:

Monday – Eiffel Tower (it opens late, but reserve your ticket in advance online to skip the lines!), Seine River Cruise, Left Bank. Only activate the Paris Pass for the Seine River Cruise. Tuesday – Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame (optional as it is closed but you are close so might as well take a peep), wine tasting, Sacre Coeur, Dali Museum, Opera Garnier, Tour Montparnasse, Centre Pompidou. Use both Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass.

Now, honestly it is going to be a lot to try and do all that. You might want to skip the wine tasting, or the trip out to Montmartre, depending on your specific interests. I’m also not quite sure where to put the Arc de Triomphe. If you just want to view it that would be on your first day, however if you want to climb it you’d have to do it with the Museum Pass on day 2 or 3.

Wednesday – the Louvre, Musee D’orsay. Could also do the Arc de Triomphe if you are feeling quick!

I hope this helps. Happy to help you hone this a bit more if you let me know any “must-see” sights, or things you don’t mind skipping 🙂 Finally, don’t forget the 2 day version of the pass only comes with a 2 day travel card, which is valid for consecutive days rather than a 48h period. So if you start that at 4pm on the Monday, it will stop working at 5.30am on the Wednesday (they are valid for 5.30am -5.30am, regardless of which time of day you activate them).

5th March 2020 at 6:50 am

Thanks so much for responding and giving me great suggestions. Really awesome.

5th March 2020 at 12:52 pm

My pleasure – have a great trip 😀

12th February 2020 at 9:29 pm

This is a great breakdown! Thank you very much for sharing your expertise. My husband and I will be visiting for the first time at the end of March. We will have some time on arrival day, but figured we would be jet-lagged, but after reading your blog, I’m thinking we should still get a 3-day Paris Pass and after possibly a small nap on our first day, try and visit some of the sights. We then would have two full days to explore before returning home on the following day. Should we rule out the Palace of Versailles on this short trip as I hear it can take much of the day? We will be staying in the Saint Germain area. Also, would you recommend bringing Euros with us or getting them there in Paris? Again, thank you very much!

13th February 2020 at 11:10 am

Hi Michelle!

Sounds like a plan! Just be aware that the 3 day Paris Pass only comes with a 2 day Paris Museum Pass. The two passes can however be used and activated separately. So my tip if you do as you plan would be to visit only those attractions on the Paris Pass itself. That would include things like a Seine River Cruise, wine tasting and a walking tour, which would all be good options for your first day.

For Versailles – obviously this is up to you, but yes, to make the most out of a visit you will want to give it most of a day, especially to explore the gardens and out to the Marie Antoinette area, which is my favourite part. So I’d say as this is your first visit you might want to focus on the main sights in the city itself.

For Euros, this will depend very much on what credit / debit cards you have. Some banks will let you withdraw euros fee free from foreign ATMs, whilst others will charge a hefty fee. So you should check with your bank, and maybe look into getting a card which doesn’t charge fees. Usually if you can order euros in advance before you travel you will get a better rate. Just avoid money exchange at the airport as the rates are going to be dire 🙂

Have a great trip – let me know if you have any more questions!

Chanchal says

25th January 2020 at 5:14 pm

Your post is really good to understand the each and every aspect of paris tour.

I would be really keen to know if you can put tentatively time on each place for 2 days itinerary so that i can plan my start time and end time of these two days.

3rd February 2020 at 2:54 pm

Hi Chancal,

Sure thing!

Sainte Chapelle, opens at 9am. I recommend arriving around 8.30am to get to the front of the line. Leave by 9.45am Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris – this is closed, so a brief photo stop only. Done by 10am. Louvre 10.30am – 12.30 WIne Tasting, 12.30 – 1.30 Arc de Triomphe, 2 – 2.30 Eiffel Tower, 3 – 4.30 Seine River Cruise 5pm +

Day 2: Sacre Coeur opens at 8.30am, so be here then 🙂 allow an hour. Dalí Museum, opens at 10am. allow 45min – 1 hour Opera Garnier, 11.30 – 12.30 Musee d’Orsay, 1 – 3 Left Bank, 3 – 4 Tour Montparnasse 5 – 6 (although recommend you adjust timing to be here for sunset) Centre Pompidou – either before or after Tour Montparnasse. It’s open until quite late usually.

I hope this helps – obviously adjust timings to suit but you should get an idea.

7th December 2019 at 5:10 pm

Hi there, I hope you are doing fine. I want to know your idea whether it is OK to visit paris on 31th Dec to 2nd Jan. Cheers, Hamid

7th December 2019 at 5:13 pm

Thanks for your message. So the main issue with this is that nearly every attraction in Paris will close on New Years Day (1st January). So you should expect many attractions to be closed on the 1st, and possibly close early on the 31st December.

So if there are specific attractions you want to visit, you will want to check their websites to see when they are open.

In addition, hotel accommodation tends to be more expensive over the New Year period, so you will want to consider that as well.

I hope this helps! I wouldn’t say not to visit, but just to be prepared in advance and have a plan 🙂

johnmark says

19th November 2019 at 9:18 am

My wife and I really enjoyed our 4 days in Paris with the Paris Pass. It was very helpful and saved a lot of money. Thank you!

20th November 2019 at 2:49 pm

Our pleasure!

20th November 2019 at 2:52 pm

Our pleasure 😀

27th August 2019 at 5:36 pm

Hi, What are options available for vegetarian traveller? (No egg, meat, seafood).?

27th August 2019 at 7:51 pm

I believe there’s a wide range of vegetarian options, most restaurants will have vegetarian or vegan options to choose from 🙂

KULKARNI says

13th July 2019 at 6:19 am

Hi. I am quite impressed with your itinerary for 2 days in Paris. I just want to to know are there tour operator’s available who can fulfill this itinerary? If so please share this information, if you can. Regards U S KULKARNI

13th July 2019 at 4:21 pm

Hi Kulkarni,

I’m not sure to be honest – our itineraries are designed for independent travellers. The closest I can suggest are the walking tours we list in the article, the full day Paris tour by Take Walks is likely your best option if you want a guided experience. However if you want the full two days with accommodation you would need to talk to a travel agent I think.

Melanie Burgess says

6th July 2019 at 2:21 am

Hi there Awesome itinary I’m going to take on the 2 day one and see how far I will come. I’ve been up the eiffel Tower so will skip the trip up. I’ll be staying in Mont martre and I would like to know if the Paris pass covers that area for transport. Many thanks Melanie

9th July 2019 at 3:44 pm

Hi Melania!

It covers zones 1-3 if I remember correctly, which includes Montmartre 🙂

Enjoy your time in Paris!

Lisa Duncan says

25th June 2019 at 12:29 am

Hi Laurence, This is a fantastic resource and was exactly what I was looking for to help plan my visit to Paris, including the photography tips ( my hobby). I will also be looking at your London itinerary. We are coming from a stay in Disneyland Paris and will be coming to the city to stay for 2 nights and then heading to CDL. Can you recommend the train station that is closest to the attractions on your Day 1 itinerary? I am also looking for a centrally located place to stay that will be close enough to drop off luggage and then start our day. Are their special precautions when carrying my professional camera throughout Europe. Should I try and find an anti theft camera strap?

Thank you so much

25th June 2019 at 1:32 am

Thanks very much 🙂

So I would say probably Gare Montparnasse, but Gare du Nord is not too far away either. For your camera, my suggestion is to get a sling strap that goes across your body like this Peak Design strap , which is what I use. Holding your camera across your body means it’s a lot harder to grab, and it’s also more comfortable. I cart my full frame Canon cameras around on these straps in cities throughout Europe and have never had a problem (touch wood!)

26th June 2019 at 12:19 am

Thank you for the advice. One more question- we are going to stay in the Disneyland area for our entire stay and take the train into Paris for our sightseeing days. If I buy the 2 day Paris Pass with the metro option. Can I use it from the RER at the Disneyland station? The Paris pass appears to be the best deal to see most of the tips attractions listed on your itinerary. Thank you again.

26th June 2019 at 12:58 am

The Paris Pass doesn’t include transport from Disneyland – it’s just for Zones 1 – 3. That covers pretty much everywhere on our itinerary, but not all the way out to Disneyland. So the best option would be to buy tickets at the RER train station for the journey to and from Paris.

Gabrielle says

17th June 2019 at 8:48 pm

Hi there! Thanks for your recommendations. I’m trying to find information on how to deal with rental cars while in Paris. Do you know if there’s parking availability in certain areas to leave vehicles? Any input is most appreciated!

19th June 2019 at 4:19 pm

Hi Gabrielle,

There are plenty of paid parking structures, but not many free locations. We’d generally advise against driving in Paris though, it’s not very quick!

22nd May 2019 at 10:42 pm

Thank for very much for the guidance.Very informative to novice travellers. Really appreciate taking time to build this website. Can you please suggest us a good/safe place to stay (Hotel) close to Eiffel tower for a family of 4. thanks Krish

23rd May 2019 at 10:58 am

My pleasure 🙂 So we actually have a full guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower which also has a number of hotel recommendations. I’d suggest checking that out as there are a wide range of options listed 🙂 You can see that here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/eiffel-tower-paris-france/#Where-to-Stay-in-Paris-Near-the-Eiffel-Tower

Carrie says

13th May 2019 at 8:28 pm

Hi Laurence, Great information! I plan on using several of your suggested itineraries when we travel to Europe for a month in June. Technically, we will be in Paris for 2 days, but it’s stretched across 1 full day and two half days: arriving on a Friday around 2pm and departing on Sunday at 1:30pm. Do you think this itinerary is still doable across this split? How would you suggest we go about it? Also, I think the Paris Pass would work for us, as we want to visit most everything you have listed (if we can!). Thank you!

13th May 2019 at 8:50 pm

Thanks very much! So I think this will be doable. I would perhaps suggest the following:

Friday arrival: Seine River Cruise Eiffel Tower Walk along the left bank Tour Montparnasse for sunset

Saturday: Saint Chapelle Notre Dame Opera Garnier Tour Louvre Musee d’Orsay Arc de Triomphe

Sunday: Dali Museum Sacre Coeur Centre Pompidou Wine tasting

The Opera Garnier Tour runs every day at 11am and 2.30pm, so you would need to figure out where to put this, I suspect the Saturday would be the best day.

For the Paris Pass this has to be used on consecutive days. So if you activate it on the Friday, it would only be valid until the Saturday evening. So you would need the three day Paris Pass in this case.

Let me know if I can help any more!

Thang Bui says

26th April 2019 at 3:45 pm

Hi Laurence

Love the writing, very insightful. Can i ask: does Paris Explorer Card include public transportation in Paris and 2 ways transport to airport?

Thanks much Thang

27th April 2019 at 7:03 pm

Thanks very much! The Paris Explorer Pass does not include public transport in Paris or transport to the airport. It’s just for attractions and sightseeing. This pass ( https://paris.ticketbar.eu/en/discountcards/paris-online-city-pass-/ ) includes one airport transfer and public transport, but you then have to decide on the attractions. So everything has a bit of a compromise!

28th April 2019 at 1:59 pm

Thanks Laurence, much appreciated Thang

Olaniyi Olatunji says

15th April 2019 at 8:56 am

I will be in Paris on 30 – April to 3 – May 2019.

Considering it will be my first time in Europe, I was hoping to find a partner we can take this tour with. I don’t know if i can achieve all of these alone as i do not know anywhere.

15th April 2019 at 11:48 am

Hi Olaniyi!

we’ve never looked for a partner to travel with, however, I have asked around, and folks recommend trying the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forums or the Couchsurfing community. You could also try Nomadic Matt’s Nomadic Network facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/nomadicnetwork

As always, practice safety and caution when arranging meet ups and arrangements with strangers 🙂

Louise Garrett says

5th April 2019 at 11:26 am

We’ve only got a few days free in the school summer holidays due to my work so thought Paris would be a good place to take our 13 & 16 year old what do you think? Also do you think we could add on Disneyland at the end? Your blog is so well written and as an adult it sounds great just wondering if a teenager would enjoy it? Thanks

Hey Louise!

So we don’t have children of our own, so the only experience I can give is that that when I was a teenager my parents took me on an adventure across Europe, and it’s still one of the best trips I remember having. Jess also visited Paris for the first time when she was 16 and had a wonderful time.

However, everyone is different, so our experiences aren’t of course guaranteed!

That said, Paris is a pretty special place, and I think anyone would love the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and so on.

I definitely can’t speak to Disneyland as I’ve never been, but I have heard good things.

I’m not sure this has helped too much, but hopefully it has been of some use! Have a wonderful trip, whatever you decide to do!

3rd February 2019 at 2:17 am

Great itinerary unfortunately I see no way to do this in two days. We attempted this itinerary in early January when there should have been smaller crowds and had no luck given the lines to get into the various venues. We even had the Paris pass that supposedly got us into venues fast, with no luck.

I would say that you could potentially do all this in three days. By the way, those venues we did get into including LaSalle cathedral were amazing.

3rd February 2019 at 11:22 am

Thanks for the feedback, that is much appreciated. It is certainly a busy day, but the first day in particular is perhaps a bit optimistic. As such, I’ve updated the text to make it clearer which I’d suggest skipping if you don’t want to feel too rushed. I’m pleased you had a good time though and were able to see everything you wanted!

Maynel Alvarez-Requejo says

4th January 2019 at 8:21 am

Hello, I stumbled across this while looking for the major things to do during a short stay in Paris. We are doing England and Ireland for my 40th birthday in June and doing a quick side trip to París from London. This is exactly the type of guidance I was hoping to find and thank you so much for being so detailed ans helpful.

Any similar itinerary recommendations for London and southern / central England and southern / western Ireland? Going for almost 3 weeks in June

4th January 2019 at 9:51 am

Certainly, we have quite a few guides to help you out on both our sites 🙂

We have a 6 day London itinerary and a 2 day London itinerary

We have a 1 week , 10 day and 2 week UK itinerary .

We also have content on Ireland 🙂 You can see all our UK content here and our Ireland content here 🙂

Shakerra Joseph says

24th October 2018 at 5:22 pm

I stumbled across your blog today, looking for a pretty good Paris itinerary and I have to say that I am so impressed. This was so well written and gave so much great information. I was so unsure about purchasing the Paris Pass, but after reading your post, I might end up buying it! Thanks so much. – From a new reader!

25th October 2018 at 8:13 pm

Thanks Shakerra! I hope the itinerary helps – if you do visit Paris, do come back and let us know how your trip was 😀

20th October 2018 at 5:03 pm

Hi Laurence and Jess, I am taking my husband on a surprise weekend trip to Paris next month and am so glad to come across your blog. I have never seen a travel blog so extensive, thorough, flexible and enjoyable!! You guys are super talented. Thank you so much!

20th October 2018 at 5:06 pm

Gosh Elly, that is so kind of you. Also, you have a very lucky husband obviously – to be surprising him with such a lovely trip 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, it means a great deal! Have a fabulous time!

anna chana Weinberg says

6th October 2018 at 8:24 pm

thank you so much for this post!! we just got back from our 2 day vacation in Paris and had such an amazing time because of all of your advice!!

10th October 2018 at 4:56 pm

Hi Anna! Thanks so much for letting us know! We’re thrilled we were able to help you have a great trip 😀

16th September 2018 at 4:48 pm

Me and my colleague will be coming to Paris from Brussels on Thursday lunch time and will be leaving on Saturday morning (around eleven). Will come by train and will fly out. What can be the area for stay in Paris? We are okay with some b&b options. Also one of us have flight at Saturday night. So after checkout in the morning can he dump the luggage somewhere (some cloak room facility) and roam around for the day?

16th September 2018 at 6:11 pm

We would advise staying in central Paris if you can. You could try this hotel , it is well rated and fairly central. Otherwise you might want to try AirBnB to see what you can find.

In terms of luggage storage, most hotels will let you leave your luggage. if you choose an AirBnb, then you can take your luggage to the train stations, all of the major train stations have left luggage facilities in Paris, for a fairly reasonable fee.

I hope this helps!

18th July 2018 at 6:37 am

Hi, My husband and I will be in Paris for 2 1/2 days. We will arrive on a Sunday after a 15 hour flight. I’d love to wander some of the flea markets on that day. Any suggestions on a good one? On our two full days we would like to go to Giverny one morning. This will take up 5 hours, arriving back in Paris around 1:15 p.m. We are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower at 9:00 p.m., on one of the days and, of course want to go to the Louvre. So many of the places on your 2 day itinerary sound like must dos, but I’m afraid our visit to Giverny is going to cut in to things. Do you have any suggestions as to what we might cut out and any thoughts on how to maximize our time. It’s kind of a blur to me as to how to organize our time. Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

18th July 2018 at 8:35 pm

The most famous fleamarkets in Paris are the Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, on a Sunday they will be open until 6pm. So that would be my suggestion. I’ve actually drafted a one day itinerary for Paris that will be going live in the next few weeks, which would probably help clarify your thinking, depending on when you go. But my must-do’s would probably be Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River Cruise, and Montmartre. Beyond that it really depends on your interests 🙂

Hope this helps a bit – happy to provide more direction if I can!

18th July 2018 at 10:43 pm

Thank You!!

Philip says

13th May 2018 at 8:56 am

Hi … really nice write up…I’ve not stumbled upon such a great guide to Paris… extensive and super informative… I was actually lost …abt how to plan out 2 days in Paris. We reach 18th May evening 19.00hrs. and leave on 20th evening 16.30 to Brussels. We are a family with 2 kids 7 &4 yrs….was wondering how to go about…what would be interesting for them and amount of walking they can do… We maynot be able to cover a lot as per your iterinary… As you have been there multiple times…can I have your thoughts on it… Thanks a ton again for the great write-up ..it does make a big difference to first-timers like us…

Regards Philip

13th May 2018 at 9:28 pm

Thanks very much! I have to say it’s a bit hard to provide specific advice – partly because we don’t have children, but mostly because everyone’s interests are difference – including kids 🙂 So I’m not sure exactly what they might be into. My suggestion would be to pick those items on the list that you think you and your kids would both enjoy, for example, everyone enjoys the views from the Eiffel tower, and a seine river cruise can be a nice way to let your feet relax and take a break- whilst the Louvre might not be quite so appealing 🙂

Generally, I’d suggest cutting the itinerary in half at least to give you lots of time to rest and take breaks and not be too rushed when travelling with younger people, so this might be a good rule of thumb. Then a mix of activities for everyone. I hope this helps a bit!

Annemarie Hood says

27th April 2018 at 7:27 pm

My boyfriend and I are excited to be spending a day and a half in Paris in early October. It is the last leg of a trip to Scotland and Ireland and we arriving early afternoon on a Friday and have all day Saturday in Paris.

Your 2-day itinerary was so helpful in deciding what we want to do — just wondering if what we have come up with is doable in a day and a half?

Day One – Notre Dame / Dinner on the Seine River / walk on Left Bank

Day Two – Champs Elysees / Arc de Triomphe / Eiffel Tower / Latin Quarter / The Louvre / Marais / Dinner in Bastille

28th April 2018 at 5:44 pm

Hi Annemarie!

That does sound do-able yes! Your second day will be quite busy, but certainly manageable 😀 Definitely for the Eiffel Tower make sure you book your tickets in advance so as not to have to waste time queuing. You can do it on the official website 🙂 Same with the Louvre, although you might find a 1 day Paris pass or 1 day paris museum pass will help – although I’m not sure if you’re going to be seeing enough to make the savings too great – you’ll have to do the math and figure it out 🙂

Have a wonderful trip!

Sharen says

23rd April 2018 at 6:25 pm

Hi there, this is great info. THANK YOU. I will be travelling to Paris in May with my 14 year old daughter. We are both EU citizens. Do I need to purchase a Paris Pass for her? If I purchase one for myself will she be able to go through the Fast track lane with me?

24th April 2018 at 10:27 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 As your daughter is under 26 and an EU citizen, she won’t need to pay to access the majority of Paris’s attractions – just make sure you bring your passport with you 🙂 In terms of fast track access, I’ve done some research and can’t find a definitive answer, but I think if she is with you then you should be ok to use the fast track lane together.

Melanie says

5th April 2018 at 2:05 am

My husband and I are hopping up from San Sebastián next week and will only have 2 days so this itinerary is perfect and full of great advice! Wouldn’t have thought to see Saint Chapelle. Would be curious to know your thoughts on dining? Thanks again for putting together such an informative blog!

5th April 2018 at 10:17 am

Hi Melanie! To be honest we usually just google the local restaurants to wherever we are and find options with high recent reviews, or wander around the neighbourhood we’re staying at and check out the menus of the day. We find that restaurants can change in quality so much that recommendations can be a bit hit and miss. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

25th March 2018 at 8:50 pm

Hi – great writeup ! My first time to Paris with my husband and teenage daughter. Your writeup helped me come up with my itinerary of two days. I was wondering why have you not included Palace of Versailles? I am planning to opt out of few attractions for second day especially Sacre Coeur and Musee d’Orsay. Can I include Palace of Versailles instead? Is it doable?

25th March 2018 at 8:56 pm

Thanks very much! For two days, I thought that Versailles would be a challenge (it’s on my three day itinerary: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/3-day-paris-itinerary/ ).

However if you wanted to opt out of some of the other attractions, you could definitely do Versailles – it’s your trip so it’s important you do what you want 😀 Just be aware it’ll take you around half a day, and you definitely want to get there early – plan to arrive as soon as it opens so you can make the most of your day.

Have a wonderful time in Paris!

25th March 2018 at 12:58 pm

Hello! This itinerary is amazing! Thank you so much for all the work that went into it! Our questions is…we are thinking about going in Nov. 2018…to celebrate my 5oth birthday and our 20th anniversary. We would fly on a Friday but not get in until Saturday mid morning. We would leave on a Wed. Monday is Veteran’s Day and although that won’t be a factor in Paris, we read that many things are closed on Mondays anyway. Our question is…is there a way to split up the 2 day Paris Pass and use it on non-consecutive days? That way we could relax on Saturday, tour on Sunday, relax on Monday and use the pass again on Tuesday?

Thanks so much for your help. 🙂

25th March 2018 at 1:09 pm

Hi Jennifer! Thanks very much and congratulations on your milestones 😀

Great question! So, the “easy” answer is that no, you can’t split up the pass as it is for consecutive days, and once activated can’t be paused. So you have a couple of options. The easiest of course would be to buy a longer pass, which comes with longer travel cards and would be easier to manage.

The other options is to get a bit creative. The Paris Pass actually comes as two different passes, which can in fact be activated separately. These are the Paris Museum Pass, and the Paris Attractions Pass. These cover different attractions, and you could activate these separately from each. Of course, the travel pass will only last for two days from activation date, so plan your timing on that based on your transport needs.

So, going through the itinerary, the following attractions are covered by the Paris Museum pass:

Saint Chapelle Cathedrale Notre Dame towers / crypt Louvre Arc de Triomphe Musee d’Orsay Centre Pompidou

And the Paris Attractions Pass covers:

Wine tasting Seine River Cruise Dali Museum Opera Garnier Tour Tour Montparnasse

It also includes the hop on hop off bus, which you could do on one of your days.

The Eiffel Tower isn’t on any pass, neither is the Sacre Couer tower.

So my suggestion would be to split up your days in Paris across the attractions, and see the different attractions for the correct passes. I’d also suggest maybe taking one of the days and visiting Versailles, which is wonderful. That’s included on the Paris Museum Pass. For more ideas, check out my 3 day Paris itinerary here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/3-day-paris-itinerary/

Also, just for reference, here’s a handy listing of days that different sites are open: https://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-see-in-paris/info/guides/weekly-closing-days-of-cultural-sites-in-Paris

18th March 2018 at 4:40 pm

Going to Paris in the first week of April for 3 days Staying in and area called Boulouge.

Got a few places would like to visit, How do you recommend we do this ?

19th March 2018 at 11:00 am

My suggestion would be to check out my just published 3 Day Paris itinerary 🙂 https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/3-day-paris-itinerary/

If you could be more specific about what help you need I will try to help out!

8th March 2018 at 10:52 am

Gosh…. the city of Love ? I am going next month and your pictures are making me excited to go there soon! Can’t wait!!

8th March 2018 at 11:10 am

have a wonderful trip!

6th March 2018 at 11:13 am

Hi Laurence , Are all the Museums open on Saturday and Sunday as well ?

6th March 2018 at 9:26 pm

The majority of museums are open on Saturday / Sunday – Monday is a more common day for museums to close in Paris 😉

here’s handy list to save you looking through museums individually:

https://en.parisinfo.com/what-to-see-in-paris/info/guides/weekly-closing-days-of-cultural-sites-in-Paris

25th February 2018 at 1:44 pm

Me and my girlfriend will be traveling in Paris around 1st week of May. Just a question the Paris pass (2 day) will give you unlimited access to transportation as well?

25th February 2018 at 1:52 pm

Yes, the Paris Pass includes free transport for the duration of the pass. It actually comes as a 2 day metrocard ticket, which is good for zones 1-3. So you can’t use it to get to the airport, or outside of those zones (Versailles for example is not included), but everywhere in this itinerary is covered. You can see more here:

https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101lbZC/pubref:FTU2DayParis/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.parispass.com%2Fparis-transport%2F

Melanie Moore says

5th February 2018 at 3:18 pm

I was just in Paris in December and had only 24 hours! Luckily, it was my third visit so I didn’t feel like I had to squeeze everything in. (I wrote about what I did here: mywanderlustblog.me) I am making note from your post to see Saint Chapelle on my next visit. Wow, looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!

6th February 2018 at 6:31 pm

24 hours is a short time but I’m pleased you saw a lot still. And yes, definitely make time for Saint Chapelle next time!

Christine says

10th January 2018 at 2:42 am

Thanks for all the tips! I’ll be visiting Paris for the first time in March! I’ll be sure to read the other posts mentioned.

10th January 2018 at 9:30 am

My pleasure! Paris is one of our favourite cities – have a wonderful time!

Paris Travel Guide

Courtesy of James Farley | Getty Images

32 Best Things to Do in Paris, France

If it's your first visit to Paris, you'll probably want to spend some time at the world-renowned Eiffel Tower , the Louvre (home of the "Mona Lisa") and the Notre-Dame. Don't miss out on other notable city jewels either, such as the Musée

All Things To Do
1-Day Itinerary
2-Day Itinerary
3-Day Itinerary

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

U.S. News Insider Tip: For the best photo opportunities of the Eiffel Tower, head to Place du Trocadéro. (Just expect to contend with some crowds!) – Nicola Wood, Senior Editor

Designed and constructed for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (the World's Fair), the Eiffel Tower was always meant to be a temporary structure, but it has skirted demolition twice. The first time, in 1909, the tower was kept around because of its potential as a transmission tower (an antenna was installed atop the tower). Gustav Eiffel, chief architect of the Eiffel Tower, had a variety of scientific experiments tested on the tower with the hope that any discoveries would help prolong its lifespan. One of these included a wireless transmissions test, which the tower passed with flying colors. During World War I, the Eiffel Tower's transmission capabilities enabled it to intercept communications from enemies as well as relay intel to troops on the ground. The second time the Eiffel Tower was almost destroyed was during the German occupation of France during World War II. Hitler planned to get rid of the tower, but never ended up going through with his plan.

Musée du Louvre Musée du Louvre

U.S. News Insider Tip: The Louvre is free for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m. (except in July and August), and all day on Bastille Day (July 14). – Laura French

If you only had time to visit one museum in Paris, it should undoubtedly be the Musée du Louvre. That's because the Louvre is not only widely considered to be one of the best art museums in Europe, but one of the best in the world. The museum first opened its doors in 1793 and features more than 35,000 works of art on display. Here, you can get up close to a variety of art from different time periods and cultures. The Louvre features everything from Egyptian mummy tombs to ancient Grecian sculptures (including the renowned Winged Victory of Samothrace and curvaceous Venus de Milo). There are also thousands of paintings to peruse as well. Masterpieces such as "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugene Delacroix, "The Raft of the Medusa" by Théodore Géricault and Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," the museum's biggest star, can be found here.

Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris) Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris) free

Note that the cathedral sustained significant damage as a result of a fire on April 15, 2019. Its wooden roof and spire collapsed during the fire. The interior of the cathedral remains closed to the public until further notice. It is set to reopen in December 2024. In the meantime, visitors can peruse a new exhibit that debuted in March 2023. It's located in an underground facility in front of the cathedral, the free exhibit highlights the ongoing construction work at the site, including the expertise of the workers, as well as some remains from the fire and works of art from the cathedral. There are also free, volunteer-led informational tours around the outside of the cathedral select days of the week. Consult this online calendar to see when English tours are offered.

Like the Eiffel Tower , the Notre-Dame Cathedral is seen as a Parisian icon. Located along the picturesque River Seine , the Notre-Dame Cathedral is considered a Gothic masterpiece and is often regarded as one of the best Gothic cathedrals of its kind in the world. Construction of the famous cathedral started in the late 12th century and final touches weren't made until nearly 200 years later. Once you get an eyeful of the cathedral yourself, you'll start to understand why it took so long.

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Champs-Élysées Champs-Élysées free

Musician Joe Dassin once sang "Il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Élysées," which translates to "There's everything you could want along the Champs-Élysées." And he's right. Paris' most famous boulevard – stretching more than a mile from the glittering obelisk at Place de la Concorde to the foot of the Arc de Triomphe – is a shopper's mecca. Along its wide, tree-lined sidewalks, you'll find such luxury stores as Louis Vuitton and Chanel rubbing elbows with less-pricey establishments like Adidas and Zara.

While the Champs-Élysées is no doubt a shopping paradise, recent travelers noticed the price tags at most stores can be pretty high. And the more affordable options are constantly swamped with people. The Champs-Élysées itself is no different. Because this is such a famous street in Paris, expect there to be crowds galore, both during the day and the nighttime. Still, many travelers enjoyed taking in the Champs-Élysées' bustling atmosphere and observing both locals and tourists come and go. Some recent visitors said a trip to the Champs-Élysées is not complete without a stop at Ladurée, the city's famous macaron shop.

Arc de Triomphe Arc de Triomphe

Situated at the western end of the Champs-Élysées , the towering Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoléon to honor the Grande Armee during the Napoleonic Wars. The arch, which is the largest of its kind in the world, is adorned with several impressive, intricately carved sculptures. Underneath the arch, travelers will find the names of the battles fought during the first French Republic and Napolean's Empire, as well as generals who fought in them. Travelers will also find the famous tomb of The Unknown Soldier. The unknown soldier currently buried there is meant to represent all the unidentified or unaccounted for soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. The flame that was lit when the soldier was laid to rest has not extinguished since it was initially lit in the 1920s, and is rekindled every night at 6:30 p.m. by a member of the armed services.

Aside from admiring the arch, visitors can climb to the top and take in the Parisian panorama. Most visitors are wowed by the immense size of the structure and recommend ascending to the top for the spectacular Paris views. Visitors caution that you'll have to wait in line to get to the top and the climb, which is made up of hundreds of stairs, can be a serious workout. Others strongly cautioned against trying to cross the roundabout to get to the Arc. Instead, take the underground tunnel near the metro that leads directly to the base of the structure.

Latin Quarter Latin Quarter free

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you're in the area, check out the Grand Mosquée de Paris, next to the Jardin des Plantes. It's a beautiful mosque with a hidden-away courtyard, and there's an atmospheric tearoom attached that serves Middle Eastern sweet treats. – Laura French

Architecture lovers should not miss the Latin Quarter. Also known as the 5th arrondissement, the Latin Quarter is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. Its narrow cobblestone streets, winding whimsically through the larger city grid, recall its medieval history. Why does this densely packed neighborhood of attractions, shops and restaurants retain this unique character? It escaped Baron Haussmann's planning reform of the city, thus retaining a more ancient ambience.

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Seine River Seine River free

You won’t have much trouble finding the Seine, as it flows directly through the heart of Paris. The river is perhaps one of the most famous waterways in the world and an attraction in itself. It's also useful for more practical reasons: It flows from east to west, dividing the city into the Left Bank and the Right Bank. Knowing where you are in relation to the Seine can help you find your way around during your trip.

For tourists, the waterway mostly serves as a photo backdrop, but it is a lifeline for locals. It's a reliable water supply, a major transportation route and vital for many kinds of commerce. It has also served as a source of sustenance for many fishermen dating back to the third century. In 1991, the Seine River was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its cultural significance in both the past and the present.

Musée d'Orsay Musée d'Orsay

U.S. News Insider Tip: Visit on the first Sunday of the month for free entry (when it’s also free to enter the Centre Pompidou, Musée de l'Orangerie, Musée du Rodin, Musée Picasso and several other attractions). – Laura French

Although the extensive Louvre may appear to get most of the Parisian limelight, recent travelers seem to enjoy the Musée d'Orsay more. Travelers say the museum is much more manageable than the often-overwhelming Louvre and note that there are also significantly fewer crowds here. Many visitors confidently report that you can easily get through this museum in a few hours. As for the art, travelers loved the museum's colorful collection of paintings as well as the building itself, with many calling the Belle Epoque architecture of the d'Orsay a work of art on its own.

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Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Pick up picnic provisions at a nearby farmer's market, such as Marché Raspail, to enjoy in the gardens. – Ann Henson, Assistant Managing Editor

A warm-weather oasis that offers the simplest of pleasures, the Luxembourg Gardens provide ample green space (60 acres) for sun-soaking and people-watching, plus there are plenty of activities to keep kids entertained. When the city bustle becomes too overwhelming, meander around the paths and formal gardens, or just relax with a picnic. Kids can float sailboats at the Grand Basin, ride ponies, take a spin on the merry-go-round, or catch a puppet show at the on-site Theatre des Marionnettes. Adults might delight in the on-site Musée du Luxembourg, the first French museum that was opened to the public. Though with 106 sculptures to its name, including a replica of the Statue of Liberty, the Luxembourg Gardens could easily be considered an open-air museum itself.

Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur) Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur) free

Rising high above Paris, the Sacré-Coeur (meaning "Sacred Heart") looks more like a white castle than a basilica. Towering over the eclectic neighborhood of Montmartre (once a hangout for Paris' bohemian crowd), this Roman-Byzantine, 19th-century masterpiece is easily recognized by its ornate ivory domes. As blanched as it may appear on the outside, the basilica's interior is a sight worth beholding: The ceilings glitter with France's largest mosaic, which depicts Jesus rising alongside the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc.

You'll also likely be left in awe with the panoramic views found from atop the Sacré-Coeur's outdoor staircase. But for an even better photo-op, climb all 300 steps to the top of the dome. The dome is accessible to visitors every day from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mass is held multiple times a day every day.

Centre Pompidou Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou is one of the most visited cultural sites in Paris. But keep this in mind – and recent travelers attest to this – if you're not a fan of modern art, you probably won't enjoy this museum. The Pompidou is all modern and contemporary art (think cubist, surrealist and pop art, among others). Even its exterior is a little "out there," with its insides (piping, plumbing, elevators, escalators, etc.) exposed on the outside.

Inside the inside-out museum, you'll find one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in the world (more than 120,000 pieces of art are in its complete collection). The most notable attraction within is France's National Museum of Modern Art, which features works from 20th and 21st-century artists. Here, you can find big names such as Matisse, Picasso and even Andy Warhol. Also within the Centre Pompidou is additional exhibition and entertainment spaces as well as a library, rooftop restaurant and cinemas.

Jardin des Tuileries Jardin des Tuileries free

U.S. News Insider Tip: While you’re here, don’t miss Angelina, just across the street on Rue de Rivoli. This historic, belle epoque-style salon de thé opened in 1903 and serves excellent French delicacies and pastries alongside its famous, indulgently rich hot chocolate. – Laura French

Centrally located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, the Jardin des Tuileries is a free public garden that spans approximately 55 acres. Though it was initially designed solely for the use of the royal family and court, the park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1991 (as part of the Banks of the Seine) and has been open to the public since the 17th century.

Sainte-Chapelle Sainte-Chapelle

Nowhere in Paris does stained-glass windows quite as well as Sainte-Chapelle. The panes – dating back to the chapel's construction in the 13th century – depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible in vivid color. Sainte-Chapelle, which took just seven years to build, is a treasured example of French Gothic architecture and originally held Christian artifacts acquired by Louis IX. The building underwent a rigorous restoration between 2008 and 2014 and now welcomes visitors every day of the year except Christmas Day, New Year's Day and May 1 (France's Labor Day). Admission costs 13 euros (about $14) per person ages 18 and older. Audio guides are available in English (among other languages) for an additional 3 euros (about $3.50).

Recent travelers say the chapel is a true masterpiece and not to be missed, though some visitors did note it was smaller than they anticipated. Still, they say it's worth taking your time to have a closer look at each of the stained-glass windows, as they all tell a different story. Some travelers also recommended touring the Conciergerie next door, a palace turned prison that was erected in the 14th century. If you plan to tour both sites, consider purchasing a joint ticket for 20 euros (about $22).

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Pantheon Pantheon

Situated in the Latin Quarter – or the 5th arrondissement – of Paris, the Panthéon is a large church and burial ground with a storied history. The structure was completed in 1790 at the start of the French Revolution, and it served as a mausoleum, a church and an art gallery throughout its early years. In 1851, scientist Leon Foucault installed the Foucault pendulum within the building to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. The pendulum was removed and replaced a number of times, and a replica was installed in 1995 and is still in operation today. The Panthéon also contains a crypt where a number of important historians, philosophers, scientists and writers are buried, including Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Marie Curie.

Most recent travelers loved seeing the museum's noteworthy gravesites and Foucault's pendulum. They also recommended taking a dome tour for exceptional views of Paris; you’ll see the Eiffel Tower from the top, as well as many other well-known landmarks. Still, some visitors said the admission fee is too high.

Palais Garnier - Opera National de Paris Palais Garnier - Opera National de Paris

A masterpiece of architectural opulence, the Opéra Garnier – also known as the Palais Garnier – still exudes the opulence it radiated in the late 1800s. This palpable sense of intrigue and mystery that permeates the opera is due in part to its awe-inspiring Old-World interiors as well as Gaston Leroux, the author of "Phantom of the Opera," for which the Garnier served as his inspiration. Leroux claimed the phantom was indeed real, successfully incorporating real life opera occurrences (such as the chandelier falling and killing a bystander) into his fiction. The Garnier's lack of a robust historical record, as well as Leroux's writing talents, have left many wondering if there really was a dweller that lurked beneath the opera. Staff have claimed otherwise, but say with the opera's very real underground "lake" (water tank), it's easy to see how the story could be so convincing. Without Napoleon III, who was responsible for commissioning the opera, Leroux's tale may never have never come to fruition.

The best way to fully experience the Palais Garnier is by purchasing a ballet or opera ticket. Remember to book your tickets several months in advance, as performances are highly coveted. If you won't be in town for a performance or aren't up for forking over the oftentimes high price of a performance, you can explore the building's magnificent interiors on your own.

Le Marais Le Marais free

U.S. News Insider Tip: On Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest square, you’ll find the former house of Victor Hugo, which is now a museum that’s free to enter. – Laura French

Straddling the 3rd and 4th arrondissements (districts), Le Marais is one of Paris' oldest and coolest districts – so cool, in fact, that French writer Victor Hugo (author of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Les Misérables") called it home. With all of its cobblestone streets, stately stone architecture and tucked away courtyards, it's easy to feel as if you're strolling through medieval Paris. Back in the day, Le Marais housed some notable French royalty. King Henry IV was the one responsible for the construction of the Place des Vosges, Paris' oldest square. And Louis XIV called this neighborhood home for a while until he decided to move his family and court to Versailles . Much of Le Marais also survived the destruction of the French Revolution.

Versailles Palace (Chateau de Versailles) Versailles Palace (Chateau de Versailles)

U.S. News Insider Tip: In summer, the palace hosts weekend fountain shows in the gardens, featuring music and special effects; come on a Saturday night to see the best, with grounds lit up to magical effect and a firework display at the end. – Laura French

The Château de Versailles, the sprawling palace and former seat of power, is located 10 miles southwest of Paris in Versailles. Every year, nearly 10 million travelers make the trek from Paris to bear witness to the chateau's world-famous grandeur in person. But between all of the gold figurines, dramatic frescoes and cascading crystal chandeliers you'll no doubt find in bulk throughout the chateau, you might be surprised to learn that King Louis XIV's extravagant former residence had pretty humble-ish beginnings.

Musée Rodin Musée Rodin

A hidden jewel in the city, the Musée Rodin is actually the former residence of famed 19th-century sculptor Auguste Rodin. But in the place of furniture and kitschy lawn ornaments are Rodin's emotive sculptures, including The Walking Man, The Kiss and The Thinker, among many more. In addition to the sculptures, the museum houses 8,000 of the artist's drawings in its collection – a fraction of those are on display – as well as an area dedicated to the work of his muse and mistress, artist Camille Claudel. Visitors will also get to view pieces from the Rodin's personal art collection, including paintings by Van Gogh.

Recent travelers found Rodin's sculptures to be nothing short of stunning, and highly recommend a visit even if you don't consider yourself an art buff. Another big favorite, and for some visitors as much of a highlight as the art, were the beautiful on-site gardens. To travelers, the gardens, in combination with the museum's manageable size, created a serene and peaceful atmosphere not easily found at other top Parisian museums.

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Saint-Germain-des-Prés Saint-Germain-des-Prés free

The arts abound in Paris. Although visual art gets the most attention here, the city is also a historic literary center. Saint-Germain, in the 6th arrondissement, is known as a 19th- and 20th-century intellectual hub. Here, great writers, thinkers and artists mixed and mingled in their homes and nearby establishments. Anyone battling writer's block will want to spend an afternoon wandering its picturesque streets, stopping by famous literary cafes or enjoying one of the museums located in the neighborhood's borders.

After filling your mind at the Musée Delacroix, Musée du Luxembourg or Musée de Mineralogie, unwind at Les Deux Magots or Café de Flore. The former was visited by everyone from Ernest Hemingway, Simone de Beauvoir, James Joyce, Jean-Paul Sartre, and more recently, Julia Child. Nearby Café de Flore opened in the 1800s as well, and claims visitors from Leon Trotsky to Albert Camus to Picasso. Sartre worked from here – using the space as a historical Starbucks – while New Wave celebrities like Bridget Bardot or fashionista Karl Lagerfeld graced its seats later on, in the 1960s. There are plenty of mouthwatering pastry shops and bridge views, too. Recent visitors noted that this is a perfect neighborhood for strolling, shopping or staying – there are plenty of upscale hotels . Many of the best Paris tours also include guided walks through the neighborhood.

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann free

Whether or not you plan to shop, the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann department store is a sight to be seen. What started as a small novelty shop in 1893 has since grown into an approximately 750,000-square-foot megastore containing hundreds of brands, from budget-friendly options like Levi's and Carhartt to high-end labels like Prada and Cartier. And while you might be dazzled by the unending collection of fashionable goods, don’t forget to look up. The pièce de résistance of the luxury bazaar is the stunning neo-Byzantine glass dome 141 feet above the ground. There's also a glass walkway on the top floor of the building that allows the bravest of visitors to stand above all the action below.

Several recent visitors called Galeries Lafayette the most beautiful shopping center in the world, pointing out that even if you aren't there to buy luxury products, the stunning building is a destination in itself. They also recommend going up to the roof of the complex (accessible from the eighth floor), which is open to visitors free of charge, to take in breathtaking views of the city below. From the roof, you'll be able to spot the Eiffel Tower , Sacré Cœur and Notre Dame .

Paris Catacombs (Les Catacombes de Paris) Paris Catacombs (Les Catacombes de Paris)

Not every inch of Paris is as romantic as you think – in fact, the Catacombs are downright chilling. Prior to the creation of the Catacombs in the late 18th century, Parisians buried their dead in cemeteries. But as the city continued to grow, burial grounds ran out of space, graves started to become exposed and stunk up surrounding neighborhoods. The limestone quarries located 65 feet beneath Paris eventually became the solution, providing ample and safe space for the city's deceased loved ones. It took years to move millions of bodies from all the Parisian graves.

Today, the solemn, skull-and-boned lined tunnels weave beneath the heart of the City of Love, beckoning to visitors with an interest in the departed. The catacombs stretch for miles all over the city, but visitors are only allowed to access about a mile's worth for 45 minutes at the Denfert-Rochereau (lines 4,6 and RER B) metro station. Trying to access the catacombs at any other entrance throughout the city is illegal. You'll want to wear sturdy footwear as the paths inside are full of gravel, uneven and even slippery in some sections. What's more, you'll have to descend 131 steps and climb 112 steps back up. As such, the catacombs are not wheelchair-accessible. And because of the attraction's unique nature and popularity, expect a queue.

Pere-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise) Pere-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise) free

A cemetery as a tourist attraction? If any city can pull it off, it's Paris. Covering nearly 110 acres of the 20th arrondissement (district), the Père-Lachaise Cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. It's also Paris' largest green space. Père-Lachaise is a maze of cobblestone pathways lined with leafy, cascading trees which perfectly shade the striking 19th-century burial chambers that permeate the grounds. Aesthetics aside, Père-Lachaise is one of the world's most famous burial grounds: Everyone from Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison to Edith Piaf and Gertrude Stein can be found here. Make sure to pick up a map before you venture in, there are more than 100,000 burial plots here (exact estimates vary dramatically).

Travelers admitted the main reason they made the trek to Père-Lachaise was to visit the famous faces buried here, though after discovering the enchanting grounds, they were happy to stay and wander. Visitors found the architecture of the individual tombstones and burial chambers to be stunning, especially with the many dramatic statues included with the plots. Others particularly appreciate the overall peaceful atmosphere of Père-Lachaise. Because the cemetery is so big, visitors say it's unlikely you'll be sharing lots of space with fellow visitors or tourists at any given time.

Bateaux Mouches Bateaux Mouches

For those who want to cruise down the Seine River , hopping on one of the six Bateaux-Mouches boats is a go-to option. Just about any meal you can think of is offered as you glide along the river – or as the company puts it, Paris's "most beautiful avenue." There are also hourlong cruise-only trips, for those who want to efficiently view some of the city's most iconic sights, including Notre Dame and the Musée d'Orsay . These cruises are among the best Paris tours . Combo tickets that include a bus tour or a cabaret show are also available.

Travelers who recently took a cruise loved the views from the boat and the informational nature of the tour. Many people took a night cruise, which was frequently lauded for its romantic atmosphere. However, a few visitors expressed disappointment with meal portions and the check-in process.

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Musee de l'Orangerie Musee de l'Orangerie

An extension of Musée d'Orsay , Musée de l'Orangerie features a wide selection of impressionist and post-impressionist art. It is best known for its enlarged "Water Lilies" paintings by Claude Monet. The eight massive paintings are divided across two oval rooms that are filled with natural light from a glass roof. Monet increased the size of these paintings with the intention of fully immersing viewers in their beauty, especially after the hardships of World War I. Beyond the "Water Lilies" series, Musée de l'Orangerie houses the Jean Walter-Paul Guillaume collection, which features works by artists like Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse and more.

Museum visitors – especially Monet fans – said this gallery is a must-see. They were pleased to discover it was a relatively small building, meaning it can be seen fairly quickly if you short on time. The smaller space also translates to less crowds, which many museumgoers appreciated.

Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck

U.S. News Insider Tip: Walk about 10 minutes around the corner and you’ll find the Montparnasse Cemetery – a fascinating alternative to Père Lachaise , home to the burial places of artists and intellectuals, including Jean-Paul Sartre, Samuel Beckett, Guy de Maupassant and Charles Baudelaire. – Laura French

The Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck claims to have the best views in Paris – and once you reach the top, it's easy to see why. The lower deck stands more than 650 feet high and overlooks major attractions, like the Eiffel Tower , through floor-to-ceiling windows. Travel another 32 feet upward to the rooftop terrace, and you'll find panoramic vistas of the City of Lights 365 days a year. On a clear day, you can see as far as 25 miles in every direction.

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge

If you're looking for the famed Parisian nightlife experience, Moulin Rouge will likely fit the bill. The legendary cabaret club opened in 1889, wowing crowds with dazzling dancers, free-flowing Champagne and outrageous elements like a gigantic model elephant in the garden. With its rich history and extravagant performances, Moulin Rouge has become an important staple in the City of Lights.

On a night at the Moulin Rouge, visitors can be wined and dined while watching talented burlesque dancers adorned in feathers, rhinestones and sequins. (The costumes are known to be a bit risqué, so travelers should note that the venue may not be the most suitable for children.) While many recent travelers felt that the show was a spectacular must-see while vacationing in Paris, others felt it was overhyped and overcrowded. However, those who opted for the dinner show said the food was fantastic with top-notch service to match.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont Parc des Buttes-Chaumont free

Paris is home to many beautiful public parks, where visitors and locals alike relax in grassy squares during periods of pleasant weather. Parc de Buttes-Chaumont's 61 acres boasts this – plus a lake, a suspension bridge and walking paths – and a dark history. Its name comes from the bare hill once occupying the site. Stone was mined here, sewage dumped and even horse carcasses discarded. When Napoleon III renovated Paris in the 19th century, it was selected as a large park site, and the artificial lake created. That transformation also washed away its medieval reputation as a gallows. Known as Gibbet of Montfaucon at that time, the bodies of people executed in the city were sometimes displayed here for months on end.

If you can put that history behind you, cross the Gustave Eiffel-designed suspension bridge, or ascend the hill with the Temple de la Sybille for beautiful views of Montmartre. Inside the hillside, quarrying created a cavern. Napoleon's park builders took the opportunity to add a human-made waterfall to the 65-foot-tall space. Summer visitors will especially enjoy the misty reprieve from Paris's heat and humidity.

Conciergerie Conciergerie

Located next to Sainte-Chapelle , the Conciergerie was once a royal residence for various French leaders. At the end of the 14th century, King Charles V and the rest of the palace's inhabitants moved to new residences at the Louvre . The abandoned building was then turned into a new parliament and office space for the kingdom. However, during the French Revolution (and for many decades thereafter), the Conciergerie served as a prison compound to hold both political and common criminals. Most famously, it held Marie Antoinette, the fallen queen of France, in the weeks before she was executed by guillotine in October 1793. In the 19th century, Antoinette's cell was transformed into a chapel, and in 1914 the entire building was deemed a historic monument and opened to the public.

Recent travelers said the site is a delight for history buffs. Still, others noted that if you aren’t particularly interested in the French Revolution or Marie Antoinette, you may find the empty jail cells and barren halls a bit dull. All visitors are given a "HistoPad" (available in six languages) to help enhance their experience. The iPad allows visitors to see what the rooms would've looked like centuries ago with the help of augmented reality, 3D reconstructions and interactive functionalities.What everyone seemed to agree on was the medieval architecture, which is said to be stunning both inside and out.

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Rue de Rivoli Rue de Rivoli free

One of the most famous shopping streets in Paris, the elegant Rue de Rivoli is lined with neoclassical buildings housing designer boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants built into historic arcades. Named after Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Rivoli and stretching from Place de la Bastille in the east to Place de la Concorde, it's where you'll find the Louvre , the Jardin des Tuileries , Hôtel de Ville (Paris's elaborate city hall) and other attractions. It's also home to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville – an elaborate department store founded in 1856. Other shops range from affordable brands like Sephora, L'Occitane and Mango to high-end designer stores and local French boutiques.

Recent travelers highly recommended strolling along the street to browse its historic arcades and shops, and many were impressed by the elaborate architecture. They also enjoyed the quiet atmosphere; the street went car-free in 2020, with only pedestrians, cyclists, buses and taxis now allowed here (its former lanes have been turned into a wide bike path, so it provides a welcome respite from the city's at-times hectic traffic). Others said it was a great spot for people-watching, although some said the shops can feel a little commercial.

Bois de Vincennes Bois de Vincennes free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Come in the summer to catch the Paris Jazz Festival, when the Parc Floral hosts performers from Paris and beyond. – Laura French

Used as a royal hunting ground from the 12th century, this scenic, easterly refuge is Paris's biggest park, sprawling nearly 2,500 acres (making it nearly three times larger than New York's Central Park , and slightly bigger than its westerly sister, the Bois de Boulogne). It's home to verdant woodland as well as the Parc Floral, a botanical garden with its own mini golf course and various other family-friendly attractions. You'll also find four artificial lakes in the park – boats are available to rent on the Lac Daumesnil – alongside the Parc Zoologique de Paris, several cafes and restaurants and the Château de Vincennes, a lavish former royal residence built in the medieval era.

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen free

Set on the northern edge of Paris and home to the highest concentration of antiques dealers in the world, this famous flea market is a must for anyone looking to browse and buy vintage treasures. Spread across twelve covered markets and five streets, the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen houses everything from 17th-century furnishings to vintage jewelry, designer clothes, art, books and beyond. When your feet need a break, there are also a handful of restaurants.

At its heart is the Marché Vernaison, an eclectic mishmash of nearly a million objects, spread across nearly 100,000 square feet and selling pretty much anything you can think of. Equally unmissable is the Marché Dauphine, which sells books, vintage records, clothes and more in a huge pavilion, and the Marché Paul Bert Serpette, an upmarket spot specializing in avant-garde interior design that's seen everyone from Julia Roberts to Mick Jagger grace its floors.

Louis Vuitton Foundation Louis Vuitton Foundation

Open to the public since October 2014, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is the brainchild of the LVMH Group (which owns luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton) and famed American architect Frank Gehry. In addition to the art gallery, Gehry also designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles , among other renowned museums, university buildings and residences. Outfitted with curved panels of glass and smooth concrete, the foundation's daring and modern design stands out among Paris' abundance of centuries-old buildings. Inside, you'll find collections of modern and contemporary art housed in both permanent and temporary exhibits. The museum's goal is to promote art and culture on the outskirts of Paris, and it succeeds by attracting more than 1 million visitors each year.

Though the museum is a bit off the beaten path in the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement, visitors loved taking in the architectural wonder and its surrounding gardens, as well as the unique exhibits inside. One common criticism was that the building was a bit far from the nearest metro station (about a 15-minute walk), so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

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Paris, capital of France , 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 and how to save money whilst traveling .

Paris Travel Guide

General Information
Top Attractions
Getting to Paris
Money-saving tips
Where to Eat
Where to stay in Paris
2-Day Paris Itinerary

Why Visit Paris?

The capital of France seems to have been designed specifically for the enjoyment of its visitors . Its streets, squares , buildings, gardens , and monuments beckon tourists to return, and indeed, many do.

Some of the most memorable things to do in Paris include visiting the Eiffel Tower , the Arc de Triomphe , and Notre Dame Cathedral . During the evening, experiencing one of the legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret shows, strolling through some of the most picturesque neighborhoods , like Montmartre , or climbing the Montparnasse Tower is a must.

It's always a good time to visit Paris. Depending on where you fly from, you can either make the most of the low-cost airlines flying into the city from other European cities or take one of its direct flights from further away destinations. If you have children, why not surprise them with a trip to Disneyland ?

How to Organize Your Trip?

Before traveling to this unique city, we suggest reading a little about its history and discovering useful information about Paris, which will certainly help you organise your stay.

Once you find out about the top attractions in Paris , the must-see museums , the best areas to stay, and the typical French cuisine , all you’ll have to do is pack your suitcase and prepare to discover one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Need Accommodation?

If you still don't have accommodation booked, we recommend you visit our search engine, where you’ll find all types of hotels, hostels, and apartments with the best rates guaranteed (with up to 75% discount). Besides, in most cases, you'll only have to pay once you get to your destination.

Hotels in Paris - Find the best deals online

top activities

Seine River Cruise Drift down the Seine River on a sightseeing riverboat during the day or at night—an unforgettable experience that offers unparalleled views of Paris .

Paris Hop On Hop Off Bus, Big Bus A Paris Big Bus tour is one of the most comfortable & enjoyable ways to explore the city. Discover the city hopping off & back on at any of its stops .

Mont Saint Michel Day Trip Visit Mont Saint Michel : a UNESCO World Heritage site, place of pilgrimage and one of France’s most popular and emblematic landmarks.

Dinner Cruise on the Seine Admire the remarkable monuments of Paris lit up while you savor a gourmet dinner on a panoramic Seine cruise – an unforgettable experience!

Arc de Triomphe Ticket Visit one of the most emblematic monuments in Paris with the official-price ticket to the Arc de Triomphe . You'll have access to the viewpoint and exhibition !

Tour of the Palace of Versailles Discover Versailles , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s most famous palace on this half-day trip from Paris. See the iconic palace gardens!

Seine River Cruise from the Eiffel Tower + Lunch Get ready for a Seine River cruise that starts right at the Eiffel Tower , enjoy delicious French cuisine, and see Paris from an unbeatable vantage point.

Ticket to the Musée d'Orsay Manet, Renoir, Monet... Buying a ticket to the Musée d'Orsay will give you the chance to see some of the most famous impressionist paintings in the world.

Opera Garnier Ticket By booking a ticket to the Opera Garnier in Paris , visitors will explore the interior of this beautiful Neo-Baroque building at their leisure– a must-see!

Free Walking Tour of Paris Immerse yourself in "The City of Lights" with a guided tour around the French Capital , discovering the Louvre, the Seine and Notre Dame. What's more, it's free!

Montmartre Free Walking Tour Take a free tour through the narrow streets of the most cultural and artistic of Paris' districts , where Picasso and Van Gogh sought out inspiration.

3 Day Trip to Normandy, Mont Saint Michel & Loire Valley Discover the highlights of Normandy like Mont Saint Michel and the Loire Valley including its famous Châteaux on a three-day trip from Paris.

Paris Pantheon Ticket Discover the fascinating Paris Pantheon, the final resting place of Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas and other distinguished French citizens.

Palace of Versailles Day Trip + Train Tour the halls of France's most famous palace with this Palace of Versailles Day Trip + Train. The guide will also show you around the impressive gardens.

Moulin Rouge Official Tickets Experience the glamour of Moulin Rouge with tickets to the spectacular Féerie show . Enjoy French champagne and dazzling performances at this world-class venue.

Centre Pompidou Tickets With your Centre Pompidou tickets , you'll see one of the best collections of modern and contemporary art in the world. Dive into Paris' rich art culture!

Access the Eiffel Tower and admire breathtaking views over Paris . You'll be able to go up to the 2nd floor and take in the immense beauty of this city!

Paris Open-Top Big Bus Night Tour On this open-top Big Bus night tour of Paris , you'll have a spectacular view of the City of Light. You'll see the city's most iconic monuments lit up!

Aura Invalides Ticket Looking for a unique experience in Paris ? With your Aura Invalides ticket , you'll enjoy a journey of light and sound beneath the iconic Invalides Dome !

Day Trip to Bruges Bruges is the most visited city in Belgium and one of the most fascinating medieval cities in Europe . Discover the city on a walking tour and on a canal cruise.

Eiffel Tower 3rd Floor Entrance This entrance to the 3rd floor of the Eiffel Tower gives you access to one of the best viewpoints in Paris. You'll get spectacular views of the City of Light .

In this perfume workshop in Paris , we'll teach you how to make your own Eau de Toilette following the techniques of Fragonard experts.

Eiffel Tower Tickets and Seine Cruise With priority access , climb directly to the Eiffel Tower’s observation decks and admire breath-taking views over Paris and then enjoy a relaxing cruise.

Paris Bike Tour Spend a fun-filled day cycling through the French capital and discover the City of Lights’ most emblematic landmarks on this bike tour of Paris .

Paris Crazy Horse Cabaret Ticket Be enthralled by an unforgettable show and book your Paris Crazy Horse Cabaret Ticket. You'll experience Paris' most famous and glamorous cabarets.

How to Become a Parisian in 1 Hour Show Ticket With this ticket to the show How to Become a Parisian in an Hour? you'll enjoy a monologue performed by the comedian Olivier Giraud .

Private Tour of Paris By booking our private walking tour of Paris, a professional guide will be exclusively at the service of you and your friends or family.

Louvre Museum Guided Tour Explore the most-visited museum in the world and find out about its greatest artworks with a professional English-speaking guide.

Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie Ticket Visit two of the most beautiful monuments in Paris on the same day and save money with this ticket to the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie .

Paris City Tour, Seine Cruise & Eiffel Tower Admire Paris’ most famous landmarks during a panoramic city bus tour, a one-hour scenic cruise along the Seine and skip the line access to the Eiffel Tower.

Montparnasse Tower Ticket Want an incredible 360º view of Paris? View the French capital from the top of Montparnasse Tower, 200 metres from the ground and right in the city centre.

Vincent Van Gogh Walking Tour On this guided tour you'll walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh . We'll visit Auvers-Sur-Oise to discover the place where the painter spent his final year .

Conciergerie Ticket A royal medieval palace turned into a prison during the French Revolution : discover the history of the Conciergerie during your visit!

Eiffel Tower Climb There's a reason the Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world : climb up more than 700 stairs to enjoy unforgettable views of Paris!

Paris Archaeological Crypt Ticket Learn about Notre Dame and venture underneath the church to explore the remains of the Île de la Cité with this Paris Archaeological Crypt Ticket !

Paris Mysteries & Legends Free Tour On this Paris Mysteries & Legends Free Tour , you'll learn about the city's countless squares and alleyways that have witnessed murder, plagues and war!

Paris Gourmet Bus Tour Sample the local cuisine and visit the must-see sights of the city of lights with this Paris Gourmet Bus Tour. Explore the French capital on a luxurious bus.

Claude Monet's House & Gardens in Giverny Tour Giverny is a picturesque village located one hour away from Paris. Visit Claude Monet’s house and beautiful garden and dive into the Impressionism movement.

Sacré-Coeur Basilica Guided Tour Discover one of the most iconic landmarks in Paris , located in Montmartre, with this Sacré-Coeur Basilica Guided Tour. An architectural work of art awaits!

Emily in Paris Free Tour On this free tour of Emily in Paris , we'll see some spots where this popular Netflix show was filmed, such as Gabriel's restaurant and the Offices of Savoir .

Paris Hop-On-Hop-Off Boat Sail along the Seine River on board a Batobus , Paris’ hop-on hop-off boat, and disembark and embark as many times as you wish for 24 or 48 hours .

Le Marais Free Tour Do you want to discover Medieval Paris ? For this, take this free tour of Le Marais , one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in the French capital .

Disneyland Day Trip Discover the magical world of Disneyland Paris on this day trip from Paris! The tour includes return transportation and entry to 1 or 2 of the parks .

Go City Paris All-Inclusive Pass The Go City Paris Pass gives you access to more than 70 Paris attractions, including Versailles , the Louvre Museum , a cruise on the Seine , and the Eiffel Tower .

Notre Dame Guided Tour Discover what happened in the Notre Dame fire, explore the interior of its "little sister" and tour the Ile de la Cité, the oldest part of Paris.

L'Orangerie Museum Ticket With this ticket to the L'Orangerie Museum you'll admire an impressive collection of impressionist paintings, including some of Monet's best-known works .

Lunch Cruise on the Seine Enjoy a delectable 3-course meal and admire the panoramic views of Paris from the Seine. The perfect way to discover this romantic city.

Loire Valley Castles Day Trip Visit three of the Loire Valley’s most-famous castles: Château de Chambord, Château de Cheverny, Château de Chambord and experience life during the Renaissance.

Louvre & Eiffel Tower Tour This full tour of Paris includes a cruise on the Seine , a skip-the-line entry to the Louvre Museum and a climb to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.

Normandy D-Day Beaches Day Trip Immerse yourself in the history of the Second World War, visiting key battle locations and memorials on this day trip to the D-Day Beaches of Normandy .

Stade de France Tour This Stade de France tour takes you to Saint-Denis, where you can find this icon of sport which has played host to World Cup finals in both Football and Rugby.

Grevin Museum Paris Ticket At the Grevin Museum in Paris, you will find wax figures of Kylian Mbappe, Emmanuel Macron, Jean-Paul Gaultier and other famous celebrities.

Saint German des Prés Classical Music Concert Enjoy the best classical music with a concert in the church of Saint Germain des Prés , located in the heart of the historic centre of Paris.

Galeries Lafayette Fashion Show Ticket Paris is one of the world's top fashion capitals . At this fashion show at Galeries Lafayette , you'll get to experience the world of fashion for yourself!

Hard Rock Cafe Paris Lunch or Dinner Enjoy a delicious experience at one of the most popular places in the French capital with this Hard Rock Cafe Paris Lunch or Dinner, near the Opera Garnier.

Ticket for the Ballon de Paris Generali With your ticket to the Ballon de Paris Generali , you'll enjoy the best views of the French capital from a tethered balloon anchored in the André Citroën Park

Lunch at Madame Brasserie, The Eiffel Tower's Restaurant At this lunch at Madame Brasserie you'll enjoy an exquisite menu in the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower , with Paris at your feet!

Chapelle Expiatoire Ticket Dedicated to Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, the Chapelle Expiatoire is an incredible place to visit when in Paris. Discover these locations!

Basilica of Saint-Denis Ticket Discover the first example of Gothic architecture in the world: explore the magnificent Medieval Basilica of Saint Denis located just outside of Paris.

Père Lachaise Cemetery Tour Take our fantastic tour of Pere Lachaise Cemetary, the resting place for many notable figures from the past, such as Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf.

Chateau de Vincennes Ticket Discover the fascinating history of Château de Vincennes , one of France's magnificent medieval treasures , when you buy this ticket.

Paris Layover Tour Take advantage of your airport wait to explore the City of Love with this Paris Layover Tour. Discover the most famous locations around the French capital.

Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour Find about the Parisian art of living with this Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour. You'll enter a traditional wine cellar to learn how to taste the best French wines.

Montmartre: Paris Lost Lovers Quest On this Lost Lovers Puzzle Hunt in Montmartre , you'll solve puzzles on an app that'll take you on a walking tour through the bohemian district of Paris!

2 Day Trip to Normandy, Saint Malo & Mont Saint Michel Set off on a 2-day tour and discover the magnificent landscapes of Normandy including the region's must-sees like Saint-Malo and the iconic Mont Saint Michel .

Enjoy a night on the town in the city of lights , allowing yourself to be carried along by the rhythm of the music, and the shots, of course!

Versailles Bike Day Tour Explore the magnificent Palace of Versailles , the main residence of the French Royal Family from 1682 until 1789, on a full day-tour by bike!

Paris Tour for Families Our family tour of Paris is the perfect way to explore the essential landmarks of French capital if you have young children.

UNESCO Headquarters Guided Tour Discover the history of the United Nations agency with this UNESCO Headquarters guided tour . Explore its conference rooms, courtyards, gardens and corridors!

Dinner at Madame Brasserie, the Eiffel Tower's Restaurant This dinner at Madame Brasserie provides for an unforgettable evening as you see Paris illuminated from the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower .

Bel Canto Dinner + Opera Show Looking for different plans in Paris ? At this dinner with an opera show at Bel Canto you'll be treated to a delicious menu while enjoying opera performances!

Classical Music Concert in Paris: La Madeleine Enjoy a classical music concert in one of the most famous churches in Paris : La Madeleine! Choose between any of the concerts on our programme list.

Traditional French Bakery Tour Do you know the boulangeries of Paris ? In this visit to a typical French bakery , we'll discover one of these places that characterise the capital.

Fontainebleau Forest Hiking Tour Venture into the heart of the Fontainebleau Forest on this 8-mile hike . You'll discover the unique biodiversity of one of the largest forests in France!

Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Ticket With this ticket to the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac , you'll visit one of the most outstanding anthropological collections in Paris!

Tootbus Sustainable Bus Tour During this sightseeing tour of Paris , you can enjoy the city's iconic landmarks on board the eco-friendly Tootbus . Hop on or off whenever you want!

Choco-Story Paris Museum Ticket Delve into the rich history behind the cacao bean at the Choco-Story Paris Museum ! With your ticket , you can explore interactive exhibits and sample sweets .

2 Day Trip to Mont Saint Michel & the Loire Valley Castles Travel back in time to the Middle Ages and Renaissance period on a 2-day trip to Mont Saint Michel and visit the impressive Loire Valley Castles .

Paris Segway Tour Ever been on a Segway? Spend a fun-filled two hours discovering the City of Lights on a two-wheeled electric vehicle with a guide.

Paradis Latin Dinner and Cabaret Let the glamour of the French CanCan seduce you as you enjoy Paradis Latin , a grand cabaret in the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris .

Quartmaster's Apartments Hôtel de la Marine Ticket With this ticket to the Hôtel de la Marine , you'll visit a spectacular 18th-century palace located in the central Place de la Concorde in Paris

Eiffel Tower Professional Photoshoot Capture lasting memories in Paris with a private photo shoot against the iconic Eiffel Tower backdrop. Let us preserve your special moments in this iconic spot.

Paris Vintage Sidecar Tour Explore Paris' top attractions in a fun retro motorcycle & sidecar tour , experiencing the City of Light in a truly captivating way.

Musée de l'Armée Ticket With this ticket to the Musée de l'Armée or the Army Museum , you'll visit the exhibition Hôtel National de des Invalides , an architectural jewel in Paris.

Marie Antoinette Pass The Marie-Antoinette Pass will give you access to 4 symbolic monuments in Paris connected to the French monarchy's past. Plus you'll save money!

Come and discover the Yves Saint Laurent Paris Museum before it opens to the public , for an exclusive guided 1 hour and 15 minutes tour.

Macaron Workshop at Galeries Lafayette Do you love baking? Join this macaron-making workshop at Galeries Lafayette and learn how to make these sweets in Paris' most famous department store!

Belleville Neighborhood Food Tour If you like trying local products , this food tour through the Belleville neighborhood is for you! We'll sample Parisian specialities and see significant sites!

Paradox Museum Paris Ticket Looking for something different to do in Paris? With this ticket to the Paradox Museum , your mind will be blown by incredible optical illusions .

Giverny Monet + Shopping Day Trip Leave Paris behind on this day trip to Giverny and visit the Monet House & Gardens . Learn about impressionist paintings and shop at the McArthurGlen outlet !

Rodin Museum Ticket With this ticket to the Rodin Museum in Paris , you can see The Thinker , The Kiss and other iconic sculptures in Hôtel Biron and its beautiful gardens .

Paris Citroën DS Tour Do you want to discover the French capital differently ? On this Paris tour in a Citroën DS, we'll discover the city of lights in a vintage vehicle .

Day Trip to Brussels and Bruges Join us on a captivating day trip to Brussels and Bruges , where we'll delve into the picturesque charm of the Belgian capital and the "Venice of the North".

Night Bike Tour Spend an unforgettable evening contemplating the beautifully lit landmarks of Paris on this 4.5-hour bike tour , including a boat cruise along the River Seine.

Paris Helicopter Tour Flying over Paris is a unique way to discover the French capital. Unforgettable views of Versailles, the Bois de Boulogne and the Eiffel Tower from a helicopter

Paris Christmas Bike Tour Merry Christmas! Or as the French would say, Joyeux Noël! Explore the city of light during the most special time of year with this Paris Christmas bike tour .

Christmas Bus Tour in Paris On our Christmas Bus Tour in Paris , you'll discover how the City of Light decks the halls for the most magical time of the year.

Classical Music Concert at Saint-Sulpice Don't miss this classical music concert at the Church of Saint-Sulpice . Listen to an incredible repertoire in one of the most outstanding temples in Paris!

Roland Garros Stadium Tour On this guided tour of the Roland Garros stadium, you'll be able to take look inside this iconic site where so many tennis champions have made history .

Galeries Lafayette Guided Tour On this guided tour, you'll visit Paris' most famous department store , Galeries Lafayette , outside of its opening hours. It dates back to 1912!

Paris Pedicab Tours This bike cab tour of Paris will take you around the French capital aboard an environmentally friendly means of transport, the greenest way to discover Paris !

Paris Duck Boat Tour Explore Paris in a unique way on our duck boat/bus tour ! You'll discover Paris's iconic landmarks both on land and in the water . An absolute must!

Saint-Louis en l'Île Classical Music Concert Immerse yourself in the world of classical music at the enchanting Saint-Louis en l'Île church in Paris , nestled on the picturesque island of Saint-Louis .

The most complete guide of Paris

This guide gives you an overview of what to see and do in Paris during your stay . It also provides historical background, and other useful information, as well as our opinion, advice, and suggestions on how to make the most of your holidays in Paris .

The information provided in this guide was updated in October 2022 . If you find a mistake or would like to make a suggestion, please do not hesitate to contact us .

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A Guide to Paris Arrondissements: Map & Getting Around

TripSavvy / Lisa Fasol

Many Paris travel guides will tell you where a certain hotel, attraction or restaurant is located by listing its arrondissement . But what exactly does the term mean, and how can it help you to get around the capital more easily?

Arrondissement is a French term that refers to a district and administrative unit of Paris. The city is divided into 20 of these, beginning with the 1st arrondissement at the city center and spiraling out-- in clockwise fashion-- to the 20th and final district in the northeast.

See the map above to visualize how they're laid out, with the Seine River cutting through the middle and dividing the city into right and left banks (rive droite and rive gauche, respectively. The 1st through 4th arrondissements are on the right bank, while the 5th through 7th spiral downward south of the Seine, to the left bank, and so on.

The Difference Between "Arrondissements" and "Neighborhoods"

While some arrondissements correspond to single, well-known neighborhoods-- for example, the 5th arrondissement wholly covers the popular district known as the Latin Quarter- - some neighborhoods, like the Marais , comprise two or more arrondissements.

This can be a bit confusing for visitors who try to make sense of Parisian neighborhoods exclusively through the arrondissement system. For example, a traveller already familiar with the Marais might assume that since a café or restaurant is listed as being in the popular neighborhood, it must be in the 4th arrondissement.

But several key attractions in the neighborhood, including the Picasso Museum and the trendy, café and restaurant-lined square known as Temple, are actually in the 3rd arrondissement.

Our advice? Learn how to read addresses the Parisian way. Any address you look up will have a post code at the end, beginning with "750" and ending with the arrondissement. For example, the Louvre Museum is located in the 1st arrondissement and its postcode is 75001. Shakespeare and Company, the famous English-language bookshop, is located in the 5th arrondissement; its postcode is 75005.

Another way to easily figure out what city district you're in is to look for the blue, white and green street signs that are affixed to the sides of buildings on pretty much every corner of the city. In addition to telling you what street you're on, the plaques also show the arrondissement.

Once you understand these two local quirks, you can better orient yourself and get around the city more easily. We strongly recommend you either use an app like Google Maps or a traditional. printed Paris par Arrondissement city guide with detailed maps for each of the 20 districts. In fact, since phone batteries can so easily drain on a long day out, it's prudent to have both on hand.

Key Arrondissements to See & Stay In

We think every district is worth seeing. But if you're on a debut trip to the capital or have only a short amount of time. you'll probably want to prioritize certain areas over others, especially when you have an ambitious plan to hit lots of big-ticket sights and attractions.

If this is your first vacation to Paris, you'll probably want to be located near the Seine, where there is a larger concentration of things tourists come to Paris to see and do. Experienced travelers suggest the 1st, 4th, 5th, or 6th Arrondissements for easy access to the city's most-popular tourist attractions and useful transport lines.

On the other hand, if you're after a more authentic and local experience of the city, or have visited before and are looking for a more off-the-beaten-path neighborhood to explore, consider staying in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th or 18th arrondissements.

See our complete guide to the 20 arrondissements of Paris for full details on what to see and do in each one, as well as tips on how to choose which areas to focus your attention on during your stay.

In the meantime, here's an overview of some of the city's more significant and well-known arrondissements:

The 1st arrondissement harbors a number of major tourist attractions, including the Musée du Louvre , Tuileries Gardens and the Palais Royal. In addition, it's a great district for shopping in Paris, with boutiques of all kinds clustered along and in the Rue Saint Honoré, Rue de Rivoli and the sprawling Les Halles shopping complex.

The 4th is a large arrondissement that spans many different neighborhoods, including "Beaubourg" around the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Marais and the Ile St-Louis , an idyllic area between the right and left banks of the Seine that affords beautiful views of the water and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Other attractions include the picturesque Place des Vosges and the Musée Carnavelet, dedicated to the history of Paris.

The 5th arrondissement consists of the historic heart of the Latin Quarter , with attractions like the Pantheon, the Sorbonne University and the botanical gardens known as the Jardin des Plantes. Wonderful local bakeries, winding, picturesque streets and small courtyards are among the discoveries here, while the area is also well endowed with museums and cinemas.

The 6th includes the neighborhoods called Luxembourg (with the garden and museum of the same name at its heart) and the traditionally intellectual but now ultra-chic Saint-Germain-des-Prés. If you like medieval history, old cafés where philosophers and writers once convened, and fantastic bakeries, the 6th might just be for you.

Meanwhile, the 7th and 8th arrondissements stretch across the left and right banks and bring you to attractions such as the Eiffel Tower , the Musée d'Orsay (both in the 7th), the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Grand Palais and the Arc de Triomphe (all in the 8th). This is a traditional, decidedly tourism-focused side of Paris with posh residential streets, but many locals consider it to be less authentic and rather staid.

More on Getting to & Around Paris

Want to learn how to get around like a pro? Paris is served by a highly efficient public transportation system, including an extensive metro network comprising 14 different lines, dozens of bus lines, light rail and trams. For travel within the city of Paris, you'll want to peruse the Complete Guide to Paris Transportation .

To get to or from other destinations in Paris, you can easily take local or national rail. There are six train stations in Paris, which you'll find located on our Paris Train Stations Map . The map shows the main stations and the arrondissement they occupy.

You can also see Paris via hop-on, hop-off tour buses, or take a commented cruise down the Seine river. These are great options when you want to get a good overview of the city, particularly on a first trip.

A Guide to the 4th Arrondissement in Paris

Top 15 Monuments and Historic Sites in Paris

Paris' Pont des Arts: The Complete Guide

The 10 Most Beautiful Bridges in Paris

Guide to the 2nd Arrondissement in Paris

Luxury Shopping in Paris Boutiques and Stores

10 Things to Do in Paris For €10 or Less

18 Best Free Things to Do in Paris

Guide to the 16th Arrondissement in Paris

Paris Guide: Planning Your Trip

What to See in Paris by Arrondissement (District)

Top 15 Things to Do at Night in Paris

A Self-Guided Tour of Parisian Architecture

Guide to the 11th Arrondissement in Paris

Guide to Paris Food Markets by Arrondissement

Getting Around Paris: Guide to Public Transportation

Paris Travel Guide

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Long considered the paragon of style, Paris is perhaps the most glamorous city in Europe. It is at once deeply traditional – a village-like metropolis whose inhabitants continue to be notorious for their hauteur – and famously cosmopolitan.

What to do in Paris

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The city’s reputation as a magnet for writers, artists and dissidents lives on, and it remains at the forefront of Western intellectual, artistic and literary life. The most tangible and immediate pleasures of Paris are found in its street life and along the banks and bridges of the River Seine. Cafés, bars and restaurants line every street and boulevard, and the city’s compactness makes it possible to experience the individual feel of the different quartiers .

Paris street with view on the famous Eiffel Tower © Neirfy/Shutterstock

In terms of where to go in Paris, you can move easily, even on foot, from the calm, almost small-town atmosphere of Montmartre and parts of the Quartier Latin to the busy commercial centres of the Grands Boulevards and Opéra-Garnier or the aristocratic mansions of the Marais . The city’s lack of open space is redeemed by unexpected havens like the Mosque and the place des Vosges , and courtyards and gardens of grand houses like the Hôtel de Soubise . The gravelled paths and formal beauty of the Tuileries create the backdrop for the ultimate Parisian Sunday promenade, while the islands and quaysides of the Left and Right banks of the River Seine and the Quartier Latin’s two splendid parks, the Luxembourg and the Jardin des Plantes , make for a wonderful wander.

Paris’s architectural spirit resides in the elegant streets and boulevards begun in the nineteenth century under Baron Haussmann. The mansion blocks that line them are at once grand and perfectly human in scale, a triumph in city planning proved by the fact that so many remain residential to this day. Rising above these harmonious buildings are the more arrogant monuments that define the French capital. For centuries, an imposing classical style prevailed with great set pieces such as the Louvre , Panthéon and Arc de Triomphe , but the last hundred years or so has seen the architectural mould repeatedly broken in a succession of ambitious structures, the industrial chic of the Eiffel Tower and Pompidou Centre contrasting with the almost spiritual glasswork of the Louvre Pyramide and Institut du Monde Arabe . Paris is remarkable, too, for its museums – there are nearly 150 of them, ranging from giants of the art world such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Pompidou Centre to lesser-known gems such as the Picasso, Rodin and Jewish museums – and the diversity of entertainment, from cinema to jazz music, on offer.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for France, created by local experts

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An active walking tour out of the way in France

Your trip starts with an in-depth introduction to France in Paris: several unique day excursions connect you with local Parisians to show you their city and way of life. Afterwards continue south to start a few days walking journey through Southern France before ending around Avignon.

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Southern France – Walks in the Alpilles and Lavender fields

Start your tour in the coastal city of Marseille, exploring Cassis on the way. Around the Alpilles in Provence, you will be provided with detailed walking materials to explore the area on foot, from both Les Baux and St Remy. End your tour in famous Avignon.

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A delicious yet active journey through Eastern France. Start your trip in Lyon with some unique food tours before setting off on a 4-day walk across the Beaujolais region. Almost every day ends with a wine tasting in your guesthouse, soothing for body and soul.

1. Climb the Eiffel Tower

It may seem familiar from afar, but close up the Eiffel Tower is still an excitingly improbable structure; an ascent to the top is an unforgettable experience. You can skip the line with priority access .

2. Wander around the Parc Rives de Seine or take a cruise on the Seine

Join the joggers and cyclists, have a picnic or just soak up the wonderful views on the Parc Rives de Seine, a scenic riverside loop that takes in both the Right and Left banks. Better still, enjoy a cruise on the river itself.

3. Marvel at Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle 's stunning stained-glass windows rank among the greatest achievements of French High Gothic.

4. See amazing art at the Museé Picasso

A fabulously restored Marais mansion is the setting for this unrivalled collection of Picasso's paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics. Book priority entrance to bypass the queues.

5. Discover the Musée d'Orsay

France's greatest collection of Impressionist (and pre- and post-Impressionist) art is found at the Musée d'Orsay , housed in a beautiful converted railway station.

6. Check out cutting-edge modern art at the Centre Pompidou

The Pompidou 's radical "inside-out" architecture looks just as ground-breaking as it did when it first opened in the 1970s, and its modern art museum is a knockout.

7. Appreciate stunning sculptures at the Musée Rodin

Rodin's stirring sculptures are shown off to their best advantage in the sculptor's elegant eighteenth-century mansion and garden .

8. Love the Louvre

You could easily spend a whole day (and more) exploring the world-class Louvre 's collections, including famous Italian Renaissance paintings and ancient Greek and Roman sculpture.

9. Explore the Foundation Louis Vuitton

Frank Gehry's astonishing "cloud of glass" in the Bois de Boulogne holds an inspiring collection of contemporary art. Premium access will allow you to use a separate entrance and covers entrance to temporary exhibitions.

10. Take the train to Versailles

The ultimate French royal palace, awesome in its size and magnificence, and boasting exquisite gardens that are free to visit. Go by train for a stress-free trip.

11. Take a boat trip in Paris

Most tourists are keen, rightly, to take a boat trip on the Seine. One good option is the Batobus; otherwise Bateaux-Mouches is the best-known operator. Leaving from the Embarcadère du Pont de l’Alma on the Right Bank in the 8e, boats take you past the major Seine-side sights, such as Notre-Dame and the Louvre, complete with commentary. Night-time cruises use dazzling lights to illuminate the streetscapes – much more fun for people on board than passing pedestrians. The pricey lunch and dinner trips are best avoided. Bateaux-Mouches has many competitors, all much of a muchness, including Bateaux Parisiens , Vedettes de Paris and Bateaux-Vedettes du Pont-Neuf.

Another option, which takes you past less-visited sights, is to take a canal boat trip . Canauxrama offers a number of narrated cruises on the St-Martin, Ourcq and St-Denis canals, along with the Seine and the River Marne. Paris Canal is the company to offer cruises that ally the charm of Canal Saint Martin, and its locks, to the majesty of the major monuments on the Seine. With Paris Canal, you can Cruise Paris differently, from Musée d’Orsay to Bassin de la Villette.

Paris has an awesome emotional gravity: Parisians rarely want to escape, while most visitors find themselves yearning to return. Its power derives from the city’s rare beauty, of course, and its celebrated style and romanticism, but also from its unique history as the beating cultural heart of Europe over much of the last thousand years.

As such, the best places to visit in Paris range from grand monuments to exquisite, secretive little nooks and defined communities revolving around the local boulangerie and café. There are nearly 150 art galleries and museums on offer, brasseries and restaurants line the streets, and after dark, the city’s theatres, concert halls and churches host world-leading productions of theatre, dance, cinema and classical music.

Lying in its shallow river basin, Paris is still confined within its historic city limits and divided into twenty arrondissements, centred on the royal palace and museum of the Louvre , which spiral outwards in a clockwise direction. At its widest point, the city is only about 12km across – roughly two hours’ walk.

At the hub of the circle, in the middle of the River Seine, is the island from which all the rest grew: the Ile de la Cité , defined by its Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame .

On the north or Right Bank ( rive droite ) of the Seine, which is the more bustling and urban of the city’s two halves, the longest and grandest vista of the city runs west from the Louvre: this is La Voie Triomphale – comprising the Tuileries gardens, the glamorous avenue of the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe .

North of the Louvre is the commercial and financial quarter, where you can shop in the department stores on the broad Grands Boulevards, in the little boutiques of the glass-roofed passages, or in the giant, underground mall of Les Halles.

East of the Louvre, the elegant Marais and Bastille quarters are alive with trendy shops, cafés and bars. Further east, the Canal St-Martin and Ménilmontant are good places to go for cutting-edge bars and nightlife.

The south bank of the river, or Left Bank (rive gauche), is quieter and less commercial. The Quartier Latin is the traditional domain of the intelligentsia – from artists to students – along with St-Germain , which becomes progressively more chichi until it hits the grand district of ministries and museums that surrounds the Eiffel Tower . As you move south towards Montparnasse and the southern swathe of the Left Bank, however, high-rise flats start to alternate with charming bourgeois neighbourhoods.

Back on the Right Bank, many of the outer arrondissements were once outlying villages. Hilly Montmartre , with its rich artistic associations and bohemian population, is the most picturesque, but Belleville and Passy, have also retained village-like identities – working-class in the east, wealthy in the west.

Central Paris has lots of wonderful gardens, notably the Jardin du Luxembourg , but the best big parks are the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne, at the eastern and western edges of the city, respectively.

The region surrounding the capital, beyond the boulevard périphérique ring road, is known as the Ile-de-France. It’s dotted with cathedrals and châteaux. Nearby sights, such as the Gothic cathedral at St-Denis and the astonishing royal palace at Versailles , out in the suburbs, are easy to get to, while full day-trip destinations include the stunning cathedral town of Chartres and Monet’s lovely garden at Giverny .

An equally accessible outing from the capital, and practically a must-see if you are travelling with children, is that most un-French of French attractions, Disneyland Paris .

The entertainment nexus of Montparnasse , with its evocative literary and artistic associations, divides the well-heeled opinion-formers and powerbrokers of St-Germain and the 7e from the relatively anonymous populations to the south. The three arrondissements to the south of Montparnasse have suffered from large-scale housing developments, most notably along the riverfronts to both east and west, but villagey areas such as rue du Commerce in the 15e, Pernety in the 14e and the Buttes-aux-Cailles in the 13e are worth a foray. On the fringes of the city proper, hard up against the périphérique ring road, are three fantastic parks : André Citroën, Georges-Brassens and Montsouris.

Montparnasse

Like other Left Bank quartiers , Montparnasse trades on its association with the wild characters of the interwar artistic and literary boom. Many were habitués of the cafés Select , Coupole , Dôme , Rotonde and Closerie des Lilas . The cafés are all still going strong on boulevard du Montparnasse , while the glitterati have mostly ended up in the nearby Montparnasse cemetery . The quarter’s artistic traditions are maintained in a couple of fascinating art museums, while elsewhere you can ascend the Tour Montparnasse , Paris’s first and ugliest skyscraper, and descend into the bone-lined catacombs .Paris Guide - The 12e arrondissement

South of Bastille, the relatively unsung 12e arrondissement offers an authentic slice of Paris, with its neighbourhood shops and bars and traditional markets, such as the lively Marché d’Aligre . Among the area’s attractions are the Promenade Plantée , an ex-railway line turned into an elevated walkway running from Bastille to the green expanse of the Bois de Vincennes , and Bercy , once the largest wine market in the world, its handsome old warehouses now converted into cafés and shops.

A symbol of revolution since the toppling of the Bastille prison in the 1789, the Bastille quarter was a largely working-class district up until the construction of the new opera house in the 1980s. Since then, it has attracted artists, fashion folk and young people, who have brought with them stylish shops and an energetic nightlife, concentrated on rue de Lappe and rue de la Roquette.

The Beaubourg quartier centres on the Centre Pompidou , one of the city’s most popular and recognizable landmarks and one of the twentieth century’s most radical buildings. The area around the Centre Pompidou is home to more contemporary art. Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint-Phalle created the colourful moving sculptures and fountains in the pool in front of Église St-Merri on place Igor Stravinsky . This squirting waterworks pays homage to Stravinsky – each fountain corresponds to one of his compositions ( The Firebird , The Rite of Spring and so on) – and shows scant respect for passers-by. To the north are numerous commercial art galleries , occupying the attractive old hôtels particuliers on pedestrianized rue Quincampoix , while to the west is the rather less alluring Les Halles underground shopping and leisure complex.

Centre Pompidou

The opening of the Centre Pompidou in 1977 gave rise to some violent reactions; since then, however, it has won over critics and public alike. Architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers freed up maximum space inside by placing all infrastructure outside: utility pipes and escalator tubes, all brightly colour-coded according to their function, climb around the exterior in crazy snakes-and-ladders fashion. The transparent escalator on the front of the building, giving access to the Musée National d’Art Moderne , affords superb views over the city. Aside from the hugely popular museum there are two cinemas, performance spaces, a library, the excellent Galerie des enfants on the first floor, which stages regular exhibitions and workshops, and the new, free Galerie de Photographies on the basement level, which organizes three exhibitions a year drawn from the centre’s archive of photographs.

Musée National d’Art Moderne

The superb Musée National d’Art Moderne presides over the fourth and fifth floors of the Centre Pompidou, with the fifth floor covering 1905 to roughly the years 1970–1980, while the fourth floor concentrates on contemporary art. Thanks to an astute acquisitions policy and some generous gifts, the collection is a near-complete visual essay on the history of twentieth-century art and is so large that only a fraction of the 50,000 works are on display at any one time. Since the opening of the museum’s sister site in Metz in 2010 and a new “pop-up” gallery in Málaga, Spain, many more of the museum’s holdings have been brought out of storage and put on display.

Fifth floor

On the fifth floor, Fauvism, Cubism, Dada, abstract art, Surrealism and abstract expressionism are all well represented. There’s a particularly rich collection of Matisses, ranging from early Fauvist works to his late masterpieces – a standout is his Tristesse du roi , a moving meditation on old age and memory. Other highlights include a number of Picasso’s and Braque’s early Cubist paintings and a substantial collection of Kandinskys, including his pioneering abstract works Avec l’arc noir and Composition à la tache rouge . A whole room is usually devoted to the characteristically colourful paintings of Robert and Sonia Delaunay, contrasting with the darker mood of more unsettling works on display by Surrealists Magritte, Dalí and Ernst.

Fourth floor

The fourth floor is given over to contemporary art , featuring installations, photography and video art, as well as displays of architectural models and contemporary design. Established French artists such as Annette Messager, Sophie Calle, Christian Boltanski, Daniel Buren and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster often feature, alongside newer arrivals such as Anri Sala.

Atelier Brancusi

On the northern edge of the Pompidou Centre, down some steps off the sloping piazza, in a small separate building, is the Atelier Brancusi , the reconstructed home and studio of Constantin Brancusi. The sculptor bequeathed the contents of his workshop to the state on condition that the rooms be arranged exactly as he left them, and they provide a fascinating insight into how he lived and worked. Studios one and two are crowded with Brancusi’s trademark abstract bird and column shapes in highly polished brass and marble, while studios three and four comprise the artist’s private quarters.

Commonly referred to as the Beaux Quartiers , Paris’s well-manicured western arrondissements, the 16e and 17e, are mainly residential and have few specific sights, the chief exceptions being the Musée Marmottan , with its collection of late Monets, and Frank Gehry’s extraordinary new building, the Fondation Louis Vuitton contemporary art centre, set in the Bois de Boulogne. Bordering the area to the west is the Bois de Boulogne , with its trees, lakes, cycling trails and the beautiful floral displays of the Parc de Bagatelle. Further west still bristle the gleaming skyscrapers of the purpose-built commercial district of La Défense , dominated by the enormous Grande Arche.

One of the most scenic stretches of the river, between the Musée du Quai Branly and Musée d’Orsay, was recently made into an attractive promenade known as the Berges de Seine ; it's particularly appealing on weekends in the warmer months, where you can eat out on a sunny terrace, listen to occasional concerts, play a game of chess over a cup of coffee or simply relax in a deckchair and enjoy some of the best views the city has to offer. A busy programme of activities includes free exercise classes, tai chi and various workshops, while children (and grown-ups) can draw on a huge slate wall with chunky chalks, plus there’s a kids’ climbing wall and Velib’ bikes for all ages. Near the Pont de l’Alma are five small floating gardens , each on a different theme: one is an “orchard” planted with apple trees; another is planted with meadow grasses. Picnic tables and benches are dotted all along the promenade, and riverside restaurant-bars offer a good selection of food and drink. For more information, see paris.fr/berges .

Traditionally working class, with a history of radical and revolutionary activity, the gritty eastern districts of Paris, particularly the old villages of Belleville and Ménilmontant , are nowadays among the most diverse and vibrant parts of the city, home to sizeable ethnic populations, as well as students and artists, attracted by the low rents. The main visitor attraction in the area is the Père-Lachaise cemetery , final resting place of many well-known artists and writers. Visiting the modern Parc de Belleville will reveal the area’s other main asset – wonderful views of the city below. Another park well worth seeing is the fairy-tale-like Parc des Buttes-Chaumont .

Père-Lachaise cemetery

Père-Lachaise cemetery , final resting place of numerous notables, is an atmospheric, eerily beautiful haven, with little cobbled footpaths, terraced slopes and magnificent old trees which spread their branches over the tombs as though shading them from the outside world. The cemetery was opened in 1804, after an urgent stop had been put to further burials in the overflowing city cemeteries and churchyards. The civil authorities had Molière, La Fontaine, Abelard and Héloïse reburied here, and to be interred in Père-Lachaise quickly acquired cachet. A free map of the cemetery is available at all the entrances or you can buy a more detailed one at shops on boulevard de Ménilmontant. Among the most visited graves is that of Chopin (Division 11), often attended by Poles bearing red-and-white wreaths and flowers. Fans also flock to the grave of Jim Morrison (Division 6), lead singer of The Doors, who died in Paris at the age of 27, and to Oscar Wilde ’s tomb (Division 89), which is topped with a sculpture by Jacob Epstein of a mysterious Pharaonic winged messenger. You can also visit the graves of Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Corot, Balzac and Modigliani.

In Division 97 are the memorials to the victims of the Nazi concentration camps and executed Resistance fighters . Marking one of the bloodiest episodes in French history is the Mur des Fédérés (Division 76), the wall where the last troops of the Paris Commune were lined up and shot in the final days of the battle in 1871.

The Bassin de la Villette and the canals at the northeastern gate of the city were for generations the centre of a densely populated working-class district, whose main source of employment were the La Villette abattoirs and meat market. These have long gone, replaced by the huge complex of La Villette, a postmodern park of science, art and music.

The Villette complex stands at the junction of the Ourcq and St-Denis canals . The first was built by Napoleon to bring fresh water into the city; the second is an extension of the Canal St-Martin built as a short cut to the great western loop of the Seine around Paris. The canals have undergone extensive renovation, and derelict sections of the quais have been made more appealing to cyclists, rollerbladers and pedestrians. A major new arts centre, Le 104 , has also helped to regenerate the area.

In terms of climate spring is deservedly the classic and best time to visit Paris, with bright days balanced by rain showers.

Paris in high summer is usually hot and can be uncomfortably humid, especially between mid-July and the end of August, when many Parisians flee south, leaving the city to the tourists.

In autumn things can be pleasingly mild and gratifyingly uncrowded (except during the autumn fashion show and trade-fair season, when hotels fill up early), but on overcast days – all too common – it can feel very melancholy.

Winter can be harsh, with icy winds cutting down the boulevards and snow not uncommon; the winter sunlight, on the other hand, is the city’s most flattering light.

Paris has an extraordinarily vibrant festival schedule; just a few are listed here. For details of the following and more, check at tourist offices or parisinfo.com .

Festival de Films des Femmes - Held at the Maison des Arts in Créteil, just southeast of Paris (M° Créteil-Préfecture).
Festival Jazz à St Germain - Big names and new talent from around the world, performing in all manner of venues, in late May.
Festival Chopin - Chopin recitals by candlelight or on weekend afternoons from mid-June to mid-July in the lovely setting of the Bois de Boulogne’s Orangerie.
Fête de la Musique - Free concerts and street performers all over Paris to coincide with the summer solstice (June 21).
Gay Pride - Held on the last Sat of June.
Bastille Day - July 14 is celebrated with official pomp in parades of tanks down the Champs-Élysées, followed by firework displays; the evening before there is dancing on the place de la Bastille.
Paris Quartier d’Été - A programme of free music, theatre and cinema events around the city from mid-July to mid-Aug.
Tour de France - The race finishes along the Champs-Élysées on the third or fourth Sun of July.
Festival du Cinéma en Plein Air - Free films in the Parc de la Villette from end July to end Aug.
Rock en Seine - Three-day music festival in late Aug in a lovely Seine-side park on the western edge of the city.
Festival d’Automne - Major festival of contemporary theatre, music, dance and avant-garde arts, held from Sept to Dec in around 25 city venues.
Nuit Blanche - In early Oct, the “sleepless night” persuades Parisians to stay up all night for a stunning programme of arts events and parties.
Festival les Inrocks - International indie rock – in all its forms, from folk to electronica – with big names playing a range of venues in early Nov.

Even outside the Michelin-starred temples to high cuisine, of which the city has many, a huge number of Parisian restaurants remain defiantly traditional, offering classic cuisine bourgeoise based on well-sauced meat dishes, or regional French cuisines.

You can find a tremendous variety of foods, from Senegalese to Vietnamese, however, while the so-called bistronomy movement sees accomplished chefs rejecting over-fussy concoctions in favour of more experimental cuisine, focusing on fresh flavours – and even, shockingly, giving a starring role to vegetables – usually served in less elaborate settings and at lower prices.

Where to eat

Luxurious, hushed restaurants decked with crystal and white linen; noisy, elbow-to-elbow bench-and-trestle-table joints; intimate bistros with specials on the blackboard; grand seafood brasseries with splendid, historic interiors; artfully distressed boho cafés – Paris has them all.

And today, many of the city’s most talked about restaurants are the relatively relaxed so-called neo-bistros, where the focus is very much on creative food, not on traditional service or old-school decor, while a new breed of hipster coffee houses, akin to those you’d find in east London or Brooklyn, has cropped up to serve the needs of caffeine heads not satisfied with the city’s characteristically bitter brews.

Eating out in restaurants tends to be expensive, with three-course evening meals rarely costing less than €45. Lunchtime set menus (known as menus or formules ) can still cost as little as €15, however. The big boulevard cafés and brasseries, especially those in more touristy areas, can be significantly more expensive than those a little further removed.

Reservations

For the more upmarket or fashionable places, and at weekends, it’s wise to reserve. Generally you will only need to do this a day or so in advance, but the most renowned places may require booking up to several weeks (or in some cases, months) ahead.

Traditionally Paris’s gastronomic reputation was largely lost on vegetarians , who had to subsist on salads, omelettes and cheese-filled baguettes. Nowadays, however, most places will often offer at least one or two non-meaty dishes, and some of the new breed of chefs are turning their attention to the fresh flavours and possibilities of vegetables.

There are a number of exclusively veggie restaurants, along with salons de thé , coffee houses and tapas bars offering lighter dishes; neo-bistros and hipper restaurants, along with the ethnic places, are also a good bet. Useful French phrases are Je suis végétarien(ne) (“I’m a vegetarian”) and Il y a quelques plats sans viande? (“Are there any non-meat dishes?”).

Many of Paris’s most historic market streets, such as rue Mouffetard (5e) and rue des Martyrs (9e) are lined with food shops, now, not stalls, but this is still one of the world’s great cities for outdoor food shopping. A few of the more classic or unusual markets are recommended below; for a full list, arranged by arrondissement, see the town hall site, paris.fr , under “Marchés Parisiens”.

Marché d’Aligre Place d’Aligre, 12e; M° Ledru-Rollin. Historic street and covered food market in the square; one of the cheapest and most popular in Paris. Tues–Sat 9am–1pm & 4–7.30pm, Sun 9am–1.30pm.
Marché Bastille Bd Richard Lenoir, 11e;M° Richard Lenoir. Huge, authentic street market, with lots of regional produce. Thurs & Sun 7am–2.30pm.
Marché Belleville Bd de Belleville, 11e;M° Belleville. Lively, noisy neighbourhood market selling a good range of fresh ethnic food. Tues & Fri 7am–2.30pm.
Marché Edgar-Quinet Bd Edgar-Quinet, 14e;M° Edgar-Quinet. A vast range of fresh produce, from artisan cheese to fresh crêpes. Wed & Sat 7am–2.30pm.
Marché des Enfants Rouges 39 rue de Bretagne, 3e;M° Filles-du-Calvaire. Covered food market abounding in eating outlets and produce. Tues, Wed & Thurs 8.30am–1pm & 4–7.30pm, Fri & Sat 8.30am–-1pm & 4–8pm, Sun 8.30am–2pm.
Marché Monge Place Monge, 5e;M° Place Monge. Fabulous (and quite pricey) produce set around the pretty Monge fountain; organic stalls on Sundays. Wed, Fri & Sun 7am–2.30pm.
Marché Montorgueil Rue Montorgueil 1er;M° Etienne-Marcel. Market stalls, artisan produce and gourmet food stores spread along this foodie street. Tues–Fri, plus Sat & Sun mornings.
Marché Raspail / Marché Bio Bd Raspail, 6e;M° Rennes. The city’s main organic market, also selling herbal remedies and artisan produce. Sun 9am–3pm.

The Parisian love of style and fierce attachment to small local traders have kept alive a wonderful variety of speciality shops. The nineteenth-century arcades, or passages , in the 2e and 9e arrondissements, are particularly rich in intriguing boutiques, while the square kilometre around place St-Germain-des-Prés is hard to beat for anything from books to shoes, and from antiques to artworks.

Other atmospheric and rewarding places for browsing include the aristocratic Marais, the trendy Bastille quartier, the quirky Abbesses quarter of Montmartre, and the broadly bohemian Oberkampf and Canal Saint-Martin areas of northeastern Paris. For haute couture the traditional bastions are avenue Montaigne, rue François 1er and the upper end of rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré in the 8e.

The traditional shopping heart of the city, Les Halles, is very commercial, and mostly downmarket. The most atmospheric places for book shopping are the Seine quais , with their rows of mostly secondhand bookstalls perched against the river parapet. The quartier Latin is the home of most of the city’s best independent bookshops.

If you’re looking for a one-stop hit of Paris fashion, the department stores are probably the place to go. For more picturesque browsing, make for the streets around St-Sulpice métro , on the Left Bank: you’ll find rich pickings if you wander down rues du Vieux Colombier, de Rennes, Madame and du Cherche-Midi – the last is particularly good for shoes. The home of couture and designer labels is the wealthy, manicured “ golden triangle ” off the Champs-Élysées, especially av François 1er, av Montaigne and rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré. Younger designers have colonized the lower reaches of the latter street, between rue Cambon and rue des Pyramides. On the eastern side of the city , around the Marais, Canal St Martin and Bastille, the clothes, like the residents, are younger, cooler and more relaxed. Chic boutiques cluster on rue Charlot, rue du Poitou and rue Saintonge in the Haut Marais , and young, trendy designers and hippy outfits congregate on Bastille streets rue de Charonne and rue Keller. There’s also a good concentration of one-off designer boutiques around the foot of Montmartre – try rue des Martyrs, and the streets around rue des Trois-Frères. For more streetwise clothing, the area surrounding the Forum des Halles is a good place to browse; Rue Etienne Marcel and (pedestrianized) rue Tiquetonne are good for clothes with a young, urban edge.

Paris is one of Europe’s great centres for gay men, with the scene’s focal point in the Marais, the “pink triangle” around rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie. Lesbians have fewer dedicated addresses, but the community is becoming more energetic and visible.

The high spots of the festival calendar are the annual Marche des Fiertés LGBT, or gay pride march, which normally takes place on the last Saturday in June, and the Bastille Day Ball – open to all – held on the quai de Tournelle, 5e (M° Pont-Marie) on July 13. For information, check Têtu ( tetu.com ), France’s main gay monthly magazine.

Paris’s fame as the home of decadent, hedonistic nightlife has endured for centuries, and today the city has a vibrant bar and club scene and a world-class live music programme. World music and jazz are particularly strong, with gypsy jazz being very popular, but you’ll find everything from house and electro-lounge to home-grown indie rock and chanson .

Pariscope is the traditional first port of call for listings , and the online lylo.fr offers a pretty good run-down of gigs, searchable by genre. For more detail, try parisbouge.com and the arts and music magazine Nova ( novaplanet.com ). To find the latest club nights pick up flyers – or word-of-mouth tips – in the city’s trendier shops, music stores, bars and cafés.

Other than online, the best place to get tickets is Fnac ( fnac.com ) – there are branches in the Forum des Halles (Porte Pierre-Lescot, 1er; Mon–Sat 10am–8pm;M° Châtelet-Les Halles) and on the Champs-Élysées (74 av des Champs-Élysées, 8e; Mon–Sat 10am–11.45pm, Sun noon–11.45pm;M° Franklin-D.-Roosevelt). It can also be worth checking billetreduc.com for cut-price tickets at the more mainstream venues.

Paris’s history has conspired to create a sense of being apart from, and even superior to, the rest of the country. To this day, everything beyond the capital is known quite ordinarily as province – the provinces. Appropriately, the city’s first inhabitants, the Parisii , a Celtic tribe that arrived in around the third century BC, had their settlement on an island: Lutetia, probably today’s Île de la Cité. The Romans conquered the city two centuries later, and preferred the more familiar hilly ground of the Left Bank. Their city, also called Lutetia, grew up around the hill where the Panthéon stands today.

This hill, now known as the Montagne Ste-Geneviève, gets its name from Paris’s first patron saint, who, as legend has it, saved the town from the marauding army of Attila in 451 through her exemplary holiness. Fifty years later Geneviève converted another invader to Christianity: Clovis the Frank, the leader of a group of Germanic tribes, went on to make the city the capital of his kingdom. His newly founded Merovingian dynasty promptly fell apart under his son Childéric II.

Power only returned to Paris under Hugues Capet , the Count of Paris. He was elected king of France in 987, although at the time his territory amounted to little more than the Île de France, the region immediately surrounding Paris. From this shaky start French monarchs gradually extended their control over their feudal rivals, centralizing administrative, legal, financial and political power as they did so, until anyone seeking influence, publicity or credibility, in whatever field, had to be in Paris – which is still the case today. The city’s cultural influence grew alongside its university , which was formally established in 1215 and swiftly became the great European centre for scholastic learning.

The wars and plagues of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries left Paris half in ruins and more than half abandoned, but with royal encouragement, the city steadily recovered. During the Wars of Religion the capital remained staunchly Catholic, but Parisians’ loyalty to the throne was tested during the mid-seventeenth-century rebellions known as the Frondes, in which the young Louis XIV was forced to flee the city. Perhaps this traumatic experience lay behind the king’s decision, in 1670, to move the court to his vast new palace at Versailles . Paris suffered in the court’s absence, even as grand Baroque buildings were being thrown up in the capital.

Parisians, both as deputies to the Assembly and mobs of sans-culottes, were at the forefront of the Revolution , but many of the new citizens welcomed the return to order under Napoleon I. The emperor adorned the city with many of its signature monuments, Neoclassical almost-follies designed to amplify his majesty: the Arc de Triomphe, Arc du Carrousel and the Madeleine. He also instituted the Grandes Écoles, super-universities for the nation’s elite administrators, engineers and teachers. At the fall of the Empire, in 1814, Paris was saved from destruction by the arch-diplomat Talleyrand, who delivered the city to the Russians with hardly a shot fired. Nationalists grumbled that the occupation continued well into the Restoration regime, as the city once again became the playground of the rich of Europe, the ultimate tourist destination.

The greatest shocks to the fabric of the city came under Napoléon III. He finally completed the Louvre, rebuilding much of the facade in the process, but it was his Prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann , who truly transformed the city, smashing through the slums to create wide boulevards that could be easily controlled by rifle-toting troops – not that it succeeded in preventing the 1871 Commune , the most determined insurrection since 1789. It was down these large boulevards, lined with grey bourgeois residences, that Nazi troops paraded in June 1940, followed by the Allies, led by General Leclerc, in August 1944.

Although riotous street protests have been a feature of modern Parisian life – most famously in May 1968 , when students burst onto the streets of the Quartier Latin – the traditional barricade-builders have long since been booted into the depressing satellite towns, known as la banlieue, alongside the under-served populations of immigrants and their descendants. Integrating these communities, riven with poverty, unemployment and discontent, is one of the greatest challenges facing the city and is one that a new administrative entity, the Métropole du Grand Paris , incorporating some four million people from the immediate suburbs and due to come into effect in 2016–17, hopes to address. Meanwhile, the city’s Socialist and first woman mayor, Anne Hidalgo , is continuing the green policies of her popular predecessor, Bertrand Delanoë , creating a more cycle-friendly environment, and planning to reclaim for pedestrians more of the riverbank, as well as the city’s famous squares, place de la Bastille and place de la Nation. In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in January 2015 – when seventeen people, including well-known journalists of the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, were shot dead by three self-confessed jihadists from the Paris area – the city experienced a renewed sense of unity and solidarity, which prompted the mayor to put the city forward as a candidate to host the Olympic Games in 2024.

Top image: Sainte Chapelle © Jan Willem van Hofwegen/Shutterstock

This page contains affiliate links; all recommendations are editorially independent.

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Walking in Paris — 5 perfect walks through Paris with maps

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: November 27, 2023

The quaint cobblestone streets, winding alleys and Haussman buildings — the ones with the stone facades and wrought iron railings — that you picture when you think of a Paris postcard are all very much real. Walking through Paris is definitely the best way to explore those scenes.

While Paris is incredibly walkable, it’s also quite big. To help narrow the scope, we’ve put put together a few walking routes that will guide you through some of the best parts of Paris. In this guide, we’ll explore Paris on foot with the help of five detailed maps.

These walking routes are designed with first-time visitors it mind. They offer a self-guided walking tour through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods, most popular tourist attractions and most charming streets in Paris.

Wander … but within reason

The French have a term — Flâner — which means to wander aimlessly through a city. There’s no similar word in English, and I would argue that’s because we’re bad at it. And by “we,” I guess I mean Americans.

I recently moved to New York and there is no wandering here. Even in Central Park, everyone has somewhere to be. And they’re not just trying to get there , they’re usually working out the next five places they need to be, too.

Neither is inherently better. Simply a difference in speed and lifestyles from two sides of the pond.

But what happens when a New Yorker goes to Paris and all the tips say to wander aimlessly but their Type A brain simply cannot do that? What about the people who want to wander, but within reason?

Enter this post. We’re here for the people who need a little direction more than “Just explore!”

On these maps, we’ve plotted the city’s top attractions, noted some of the most beautiful streets and flagged our favorite stops along the way. But from there, you can amble through nearby alleys, pop into hidden cafes and discover your own favorite spots to really make the journey your own.

We’ve drawn the box but you can color inside and outside the lines however you choose.

Paris walking routes explored in this post

Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts — A must-do for first time visitors
Latin Quarter & the isles — A balance of city energy and quiet streets
Le Marais — A trendy neighborhood in a historic setting
Montmartre — A beloved and beautiful art district on a hill with great views
Eiffel Tower & the Seine — A charming walk through a Paris postcard

Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts Walking Guide

This is my favorite way to start a trip to Paris. Whether this is your first time in Paris or you’re a repeat visitor, this walk is a great way see many of Paris’ iconic sights in one long stretch. It features the city’s most famous boulevard, a beautiful park, iconic views and shopping galore.

This walking route in full is about 3 miles. If you were walking straight through, it would take about an hour. We don’t recommend that, though. There are so many things you can see and do along this walk that you could easily fill an entire day if you wanted.

Arc de Triomphe

Champs-élysées.

Tuileries Gardens
Pont de Arts

A few quick tips for using this map.

To view the map in Google Maps, click the expand icon on the top right corner.
Click the star icon to save the map to your Google account for later.
To access the map next time, open Google Maps > click the Saved tab > click Maps.

Tips for this walk

Don’t start too early. Most of the stores at the start of this walk don’t open until 10 or 11 AM. Take some time to enjoy breakfast and coffee before you head out for the day.
Book tickets in advance. If you want to visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe or go inside the Louvre , it’s best to book a timed ticket in advance. Popular dates and times can book up days in advance.
The Louvre deserves an entire day . That said, if you’d like to go inside the Louvre we’d recommend doing it on a different day and arrive when they open if possible. It’s a huge museum and it gets very crowded, especially in the afternoon. On this walk, we recommend just stopping by the pyramid and maybe the shops below.
Eat along the way. There are plenty of cafes and street food vendors along this route. I don’t specifically call out many throughout this post because there are options everywhere. I’d personally recommend picking up small bites everytime you pass something yummy, like a crepe from a street vendor in Champs-Élysées Gardens, an appetizer at a bar off Saint-Honoré and ice cream in Tuileries Garden.

The view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Self-guided walk from Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts

This walk begins at Arc de Triomphe. The best way to get there will usually be by train, but it may vary based on your exact hotel location. The nearest Metro strops are Kléber station which serves the 6 train and George V or Argentine which serves the 1 train.

Arc de Triomphe is located in the center of a busy traffic circle. Do not attempt to walk to the monument from street level. There is a pedestrian tunnel with access points (marked in yellow below) on Champs-Élysées and Grande Armée streets that will lead you to the base of the Arc de Triomphe. This is where the entrance to the monument is located, but you can also visit the base at street level for free.

You can go inside and to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Timed entry tickets are required and cost €13 for adults. Everyone under 18 is free. The views from the top are incredible and it’s a great alternative to going to the top of the Eiffel Tower .

Even if you aren’t going inside the moment, it’s still worth seeing it from the street. The best views are on Champs-Élysées, which is convenient because that’s where we’re heading next.

One of the most famous, most filmed and most beautiful streets in Paris is Champs-Élysées. It’s akin to Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Oxford Street in London and Fifth Avenue in New York.

The street is lined with trees, which are stunning all the time but even more so in autumn and Christmastime. There’s tons of shops and stores, ranging from Zara to Louis Vuitton. Whether you’re shopping or window shopping, you are likely to be dazzled along the way.

Some of my favorite shops along Champs-Élysées are:

Disney Store: They have always have a line up of Paris-specific Disney merchandise and lots of toys that kids will love to look at (and ask for).
Galeries Lafayette: This is a great indoor mall to warm up in the winter or cool off in the summer.
Nike House of Innovation: This store is a fusion of Nike Store and science museum. It’s a fun stop for the athlete and/or toddlers in your family.
Ladurée : This pastry shop is famous for their macarons. They have many locations all over Paris (and the world). This location has a full sit-down restaurant (reservations recommended), but they also have a separate line to get treats to go.

Champs-Élysées Gardens

At the south-east end of Champs-Élysées, the shops give way to a garden. It’s lovely to walk thought, but it’s not the best for siting and staying awhile. (We’ve got an even more beautiful garden coming up in a bit.)

There are several theaters throughout the gardens. Along the way, you’ll also pass the Grand Palais and Petit Palais (museums) and Élysée Palace (official residence of the French president).

At the end of the garden you’ll run into Place de la Concorde. The plaza is basically a really busy traffic intersection with an Egyptian obelisk in the center. My recommendation? Skip it. Instead, turn left on Rue Royale and walk a block to Rue Saint-Honoré.

Rue Saint-Honoré

This street is your high-end fashion street. Designer brands like Hermès, Versace, Fendi and Christian Louboutin all have storefronts on Rue Saint-Honoré between Avenue de Marigny and where the street ends near the Louvre.

Even if $1,500 shoes are out of your budget, the window shopping alone is worth even a short stroll down this street. Plus, like I said, a detour down this street is better than crossing the traffic puzzle at Place de la Concorde.

If you’re looking to wander, this is a good area to do it. There are lots of side streets in this area that lead to unique shops, fancy hotels and swanky cafes and bars.

One of the most famous stops around here is Angelina, which is famous for their decadent hot chocolate. It’s a high-end, sit-down restaurant though, so dress accordingly. Because it’s so famous, reservations are recommend because they get very crowded. (Be sure to book early, too. They book up well over a month in advance.)

There’s also several places for fancy cocktails in cozy, immaculately decorated bars. Some of the most popular picks in the area are Bar Hemingway (inside the Ritz Paris), Bar 8 (inside the Mandarin Oriental) and Harry’s New York.

I buy designer things so infrequently that I take photos marking it as a life event

Tuileries Garden

After some shopping and maybe some light day-drinking, cut back to Tuileries Garden. This is one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris. If you were looking for a green space to relax, maybe have a picnic or let the kids play for a bit, this is the spot. (By the way, if you’re visiting Paris with kids be sure to check out this post for all our best tips.)

You don’t have to walk down every pathway in the park, but try a few different ones! You’ll find outdoor cafes, several ponds and fountains, and interesting sculptures. The grounds are immaculately landscaped with beautiful trees, flowers and bushes which really shine in the spring and fall. There’s also a great playground, which the kids will love.

At the southeastern end of the garden, you’ll run into what looks like the Arc de Triomphe. Don’t worry. You didn’t find a wormhole and travel back two miles to where you started your day. This is a second and slightly smaller monument called Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and it was designed at the same time as the Arc de Triomphe.

Louvre Museum

Just beyond Tuileries Gardens is the world famous Louvre art museum. The iconic glass pyramid is in an open plaza above the entrance to the museum. The plaza is a popular place for photos, souvenir shopping from street vendors, and just general relaxing with a view.

Below the plaza is Carrousel du Louvre, which is an indoor shopping mall with a food court. To get down there, look for one of the stairways around the edge of the plaza. A lot of people don’t know is that there’s also an inverted glass pyramid below ground, and this is where you’ll find it. Pretty cool!

Now, if you’re planning to visit the museum, you could certainly do that in the afternoon after making this walk. Alternatively, you could flip this walk and start at the Louvre and do the rest in reverse order. However, we don’t think it’s worth trying to smoosh the Louvre into an otherwise busy day.

The Louvre is gigantic and it’s hard to see everything even with a full day. If you want to go inside, we recommend getting the earliest entry time you can and spending a relaxing, long day there.

Pont des Arts

Exit the Louvre and head towards the Seine. Look for the Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge. It’s between Pont du Carrousel (a car traffic bridge) and Île de la Cité (an island in the middle of the river).

The bridge offers excellent views all around. You can see the Eiffel Tower in one direction and Pont Neuf on the either. There are benches along the way to relax after a long day.

If you’re heading home after Pont des Arts, the nearest Metro stop is Pont Neuf, which serves the 7 train.

View of Pont Neuf from Pont des Arts

Continue your Journey

Peruse used books and art prints at the bouquinistes, the iconic green box stalls along the Seine
Enjoy a meal or a coffee at a classic cafe in Saint Germain, maybe Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots
Start your next walk through Latin Quarter & the isles

Latin Quarter & the isles Walking Tour

The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris, dating back more than 2,000 years. It has winding streets and tiny alleys that are filled with lively cafes, very old buildings and bookshops galore. It’s a mesh of tourist traps and authentic history, dotted with museums and gardens for good measure. The district is home to Sorbonne University, and the student population keeps the area young.

The isles refer to Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis, which are literal islands in the middle of the Siene. They comprise quaint shopping streets, famous churches and maybe the best ice cream in Paris. It’s a bit quieter than the banks on either side, but they’re delightful neighborhoods for a stroll.

This walk isn’t short and clocks in at just under 4 miles. But with breaks for meals and coffee along the way, it actually fills a day quite nicely.

Shakespeare & Company

Île Saint-Louis

Rue Mouffetard

Luxembourg Gardens

As a reminder, here are some quick tips for using this map.

Plan this walk on a Saturday . In order to feel the energy of this area, you want to visit when it’s got some life to it and that’s typically the weekend. The Rue Mouffetard market closes on Sunday afternoon, which is why we suggest Saturday specifically. Do note that many places are closed on Mondays.
Bring cash (Euros) . Most restaurants and cafes in this area will take credit cards, but most street vendors don’t. Cash will be helpful for other odds and end purchases too, like renting a tiny sail boat to float around the pond in Luxembourg Gardens.
The gardens are best in the summer. During the summer months, the gardens in Paris are alive . Not only are they the most beautiful during that time, but they’re also a social hub for tourists and locals alike. In the later fall and winter months, they can feel quite desolate.
If you have little ones, split this walk over two days. This is a long walk and will wipe out most adults. I originally planned this walk with our toddler, but they totally crashed half way through. If you’re co-travellers have little legs, make this one a two-day journey.
Skip Jardin des Plantes if you have to. If this walk is too long or you’re short on time and have to cut something, cut Jardin des Plantes. It’s out of the way and not a must see, so it’s a good way to shorten this day up a bit. That might mean skipping Rue Mouffetard, too.

Self-guided walk through Latin Quarter & the isles

This walk begins at at Pont Neuf, which is a famous bridge that passes through Île de la Cité. Ideally you would take the 7 train and get off at Pont Neuf. However, depending on where you’re staying, you could also take the 4 or 10 trains to Odéon. From there you could walk back to Pont Neuf or just skip the bridge and head straight to Fontaine Saint-Michel.

If you walked across Pont des Arts pedestrian bridge as part of the previous walking route, you’ll have already gotten a great view of Pont Neuf.

This stone bridge was first opened for use in 1604 and is the oldest bridge over the Seine that’s still in use today. There are 381 stone masks, or mascarons, carved into the bridge which represent mythical divinities. There’s also a large statue of Henry IV where the bridge crosses Île de la Cité.

After crossing the bridge to the Left Bank, walk along the south side of the Seine. Peek at the many bouquinistes, which are the little shop stalls in the green boxes. They sell art prints, books, little souvenirs and other odds and ends. It’s hard to believe something so cute and notoriously French actually exists in real life.

Fontaine Saint-Michel

In a couple blocks you’ll come to a second bridge, Pont Saint-Michel. Turn right (away from the Seine) and you’ll run into Fontaine Saint-Michele.

This is a stone fountain in a square, which was constructed in 1860. The square around it is often bustling with tourists passing through. There’s not much seating, so people will sit along the base of the fountain itself. You can usually see a street musician or dance troupe performing in front of it.

You don’t need to stay long here, but it’s a great entry point to the Latin Quarter.

Rue de la Huchette

Just across Boulevard Saint-Michele from the fountain is Rue de la Huchette. This two block street is one of the oldest in Paris. It’s famous for having the highest concentration of restaurants in the city — none of them particularly good.

The tiny pedestrian street is cramped with souvenir shops, pubs and creperies. Lining the street are many old buildings with their own stories to tell. One dates back to the 1600s. Another is said to have been a residence of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The street is very touristy, but that’s okay! Most people reading this are tourists and you shouldn’t feel bad about doing popular things. Get a Nutella crepe and let yourself go.

While you’re in this area, it’s a good time explore some of the side streets. I’d recommend popping south a few blocks to the The Abbey Bookshop.

Shakespeare and Company

Just past the end of Rue de la Huchette is Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore opened in 1951 and quickly became a literary beacon for English writers in Paris. Today, there’s often a line out the door to get into the cramped bookshop.

Fun story. The owner, inspired by his own experience with the kindness of strangers, always allowed creatives to sleep for free in the book shop. The invitation was open to writers, artists and other intellectuals, and there were three rules. Each guest had to read a book a day, help the shopkeep for a couple hours, and write a one-page autobiography. Today, thousands of biographies have been collected and archived in the shop.

You should actually read the history of the founder and the bookshop, which is told much more eloquently here .

Attached to the bookstore is a cafe by the same name. I can’t come to Paris and not stop here for a cappuccino and this Paris institution.

Right across the river from Shakespeare & Company is Notre Dame cathedral.

I have been to almost 50 countries and have visited houses of worship in all of them. Nothing hit me quite like walking into Notre Dame on my first visit in 2017. I know that’s probably the most cliche favorite church to have, but it’s mine.

Unfortunately, the inside of Notre Dame is still closed after a fire in 2019 burned much of the cathedral. You can still access the courtyard in front of it and see the church and the famous gargoyles from the outside.

Pass around the back of Notre Dame and cross over Pont Saint-Louis onto Île Saint-Louis. Step onto the island and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time and maybe teleported to a small French village. It’s quaint and quiet, but don’t read that as boring. There are darling boutiques, amazing restaurants and somehow less crowds than the rest of Paris.

Focus your attention on Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, the main street that runs through the heart of the island. In a few blocks you’ll hit Berthillon ice cream shop. People argue it’s the best ice cream in all of Paris. The shop’s been around and run by the same family since the 1950s. I must confess, we haven’t actually tried it! The timing just didn’t work out for us, but it’s on our bucket list for sure.

When you’re done exploring the island, cross back to the Left Bank via Pont de la Tournelle or Pont de Sully.

Tino Rossi Garden & Jardin des Plantes

Now it’s time to relax with a bit of nature. The next part of this walk starts at Tino Rossi Garden. It’s a wonderful transition from the bustle of the city to the serenity of Jardin des Plantes.

Jardin des Plantes is a huge botanical garden. About half the garden space is a ticked zoo, which costs €10-13 per person. For the sake of time during this busy day though, we’d suggest skipping the zoo. Instead, follow the paths that cuts straight through the southern portion of the gardens.

Now we’re back to shopping and eating. After Jardin des Plantes, head toward Square Saint-Médard. There are a few ways to get there and any will work. This square has an open air market which is open most days except Sunday afternoon and Monday.

After the market, head north on Rue Mouffetard. The street is so charming and beautiful, from the shops to the buildings themselves. It’s another one of the oldest streets in Paris and its said to have been the main inspiration for Victor Hugo when he wrote Les Miserables.

When Rue Mouffetard hits Rue Clovis, turn left and head to Luxembourg Gardens. Be sure to take note of the Pantheon as you pass by. This is also a popular attraction to visit, but this long walk doesn’t leave time to go inside.

Luxembourg Gardens is my favorite park in all of Paris. In the summer, the flowers are stunning, while in the fall the changing leaves steal the show. Take some time wandering through the gardens, but be sure to take some time to sit near the pond in front of Luxembourg Palace.

In the summer, there’s a small stand near the pond where you can rent wooden boats to sail on the pond in the summer. Theres a great story about the boats, which you can read here .

Visit the observation deck at Montparnasse Tower and enjoy a cocktail on the roof with views of the entire city at sunset
Continuing your shopping spree on Boulevard Saint-Germain
Get a glass of wine at a charming local bar like Chez Georges or Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
Start your next walk through Le Marais

Le Marais Walking Guide

The Marais has so much personality. It’s historic but trendy. Religious but LGBT friendly. Urban but quaint.

My desire to explore Le Marais is what inspired me to write this entire post. Everything I read about the neighborhood said “just go and walk around” or “it’s a great place to get lost.” I do not do well with these types of directions. I always end up on the wrong streets and wasting time in places that honestly aren’t that great.

So if you also want to explore Le Marais, but want to know just where to explore, I’ve got you covered. This route passes through some of the main shopping streets, landmarks and squares in the heart of Le Marais. With some basic landmarks flagged, you’ll feel empowered to take a few extra turns along the way as you Flâner .

Saint-Jacques Tower

Rue de rivoli, place des vosges, jewish quarter, marché des enfants rouges, square du temple.

Get coffee first. Not far from start of this walk is Motors Coffee. It’s a great coffee shop with killer banana Nutella bread. Start here.
Start in the afternoon . This neighborhood is slow to wake up. Come in the afternoon for the best energy. It’s also a good place to be in the evening, as there’s a wide array of bars and restaurants.
Consider a guided tour . There’s a lot of really deep and interesting history in Le Marais. If you’re into that sort of thing, there are several free walking tours through the area, like this one .
Wander within reason . I’ve noted the high streets and notable sights on this map, but I’ve also noted a larger general area that represents the heart of Le Marais. If you have time and interest, wandering down any of these streets will serve you well.

Self-guided walk through Le Marais

This walking tour begins at Saint-Jacques Tower. To get there by train, take the 1, 4, 7, 11 or 14 trains to Châtelet station.

The tower you see today is all that remains of a 16th century church that was destroyed during the French Revolution. For €12, you can climb 300 steps to the top of the tower. It’s usually not too crowded. The tower is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM – 6 PM.

Even if you don’t go inside, the tower is beautiful to look at and surrounded by a lovely and quaint garden. There’s a small playground on one side for children, too.

Continue east down Rue de Rivoli. This is a one of the mail thoroughfares that cut through Le Marais and it’s lined with lots of big-box and thrift stores and also restaurants. There are lots of cool buildings along the way, including one you literally can’t miss, Hôtel de Ville. This massive building primarily serves as a government building, but they do occasionally have public exhibitions and guided tours.

Consider a detour off this main street to see Saint-Gervais church, Rue des Barres or Mémorial de la Shoah holocaust memorial. There are cute boutiques and some really interesting, really old buildings in this area.

Try to make it back to Rue de Rivoli by Saint Paul Station. If you have little ones, there’s a small carousel ride that might quickly become their favorite thing about their Paris trip.

Next up is the main square in Les Marais, Place des Vosges. It’s a perfectly square park that even has square trees! It’s a popular square that’s great people watching and relaxing.

Many reviews I read said that Place des Vosges was too crowded and to seek out less popular squares like Place Sainte-Catherine. I disagree. I think the energy at Place des Vosges is why you should go there.

Exit the park onto Rue des Francs Bourgeois, which another main shopping street. This one is features more high end designers and boutiques like Maje and Ted Baker.

Turn left onto Rue Pavée and then right on Rue des Rosiers and you’ll have found the soul of the Jewish Quarter. This short street is filled with jewish restaurants, bookshops and synagogues. There is so much history in this area if you know where to look. I’d highly recommend this article which talks about the history in much more depth.

If you’re hungry, this is a good place to pick up some falafel. L’As du Fallafel is the most popular pick.

Rue Vieille du Temple

Rue des Rosiers and the Jewish quarter ends at Rue Vieille du Temple. This is another photogenic shopping street with high-end boutiques and charming cafes.

Some of the cutest portions of this street are actually to the left between the Jewish Quarter and Rue de Rivoli. If you have time, walk a few blocks out of your way through that section. Alternatively, you can just turn right and head north right off the bat for an abridged version of this street.

When you run into a large 6-way interchange, turn left onto Rue de Bretagne. This street will lead you to Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest food market in Paris.

This market has vendors selling fresh produce and meats, but also full restaurants with bar and table service. It’s a popular place to get a meal in a unique setting.

Personally, this market didn’t do it for me. It was smaller than I expected (much smaller than Borough Market , which is what I was picturing) and nothing really stood out to me to try (granted, I’m a vegetarian). Instead of waiting for a table at the cramped restaurants, we walked a bit up the road and got pizza at a cafe. (Also uninspired, I know, but at least we were comfortable.)

Round out your time in Le Marais with a visit to Square du Temple. It’s a beautiful garden with a memorial to Elie Wlesel, playground and pond.

We actually had to cut our day a little short and didn’t make it all the way here, but I’d prioritize it next time.

Visit a museum such as the National Archives Museum, Picasso Museum or the Museum of the Art and History of Judaism.
Get cocktails! This area is known for it’s nightlife, but even an early drink in the area is fun. Try Candelaria (speakeasy) or read this list for best bars in the area.
Head over La Coulée Verte Paris, an elevated garden on an old train line (similar in concept to the High Line in New York City)
Start your next walk through Montmartre

Montmartre Walking Guide

Montmartre is often people’s favorite place in Paris and with good reason. It has winding cobble stone streets, artists painting portraits, views over most of Paris, and it’s literally topped off with a breathtaking basilica.

This is another area that can get a bad rap for being “too touristy,” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. This walking route will guide you through the main areas of the neighborhood, which yes, includes the tourist attractions along the way.

Montmartre isn’t just about the attractions, though. The best way to enjoy the area is simply to spend time there. By that I mean sit on the steps for awhile. Plan to get a meal at a street-side cafe. Go into the shops and stores. If you’re just checking off sights, the neighborhood will just pass you by.

For that reason, this walk is much shorter in distance than the first three. It’s just over a mile. The neighborhood isn’t that big, so even if you wander off the path, which is encouraged, you still won’t be covering too much distance. This walk can be covered in about half a day.

Montmartre Funicular

Sacré-cœur, place du tertre, rue de l’abreuvoir, le bateau-lavoir, moulin rouge.

Dine at a charming cafe. Montmartre is dripping with Instagrammable cafes. Le Consulat, La Maison Rose, La Taverne de Montmartre and Le Potager are all highly rated and beautiful restaurants in the area.
Take a mini Picasso tour . The renowned painter Pueblo Picasso lived and painted in Montmartre for many years. You can see his house, studio and favorite spots in the neighborhood. Here’s a great guide that details the history and exact locations of all things Picasso in Montmartre.
Come during different times on different trips . During your first trip to Paris, I’d suggest visiting in the early afternoon when it’s the most busy, but then try different times during subsequent visits. Come in the evening and watch the sunset from the steps of Square Louise Michel. If you want to get a portrait, come around 11 when they set up for the best pick of artists.
Plan your route wisely. If you look at Google maps, it’s easy to feel like you can move around the district pretty quickly. Be warned! The neighborhood of Montmartre has a huge hill in the middle, which is what Sacré-Cœur sits atop. I’d suggest taking the funicular up, seeing everything at the top at once, then working your way down as you explore the rest of the neighborhood.

Self-guided walk through Montmartre

This route begins in the center of the Montmartre neighborhood at the Abbesses subway station, which serves the 12 train. Alternatively, you could take the 2 train to Pigalle station and walk up Rue des Martyrs to Rue Yvonne le Tac.

Walk along Rue Yvonne le Tac and then Rue Tardieu till you reach the base of Square Louise Michel. Just about everyone will be making the same walk between Abbesses and the square, so the street is always lively.

A funicular is a type of cable-based train that is usually used on very steep hills, and Montmartre has one. There are several different stair cases that lead up the hill, including the notable steps up Square Louise Michel, but the funicular is the easiest way to get to the top.

The base of the Montmartre funicular is located here in the southwest corner of Square Louise Michel. You can use a Paris Metro travel card or single ride ticket to ride the funicular. There is a ticket kiosk near the entrance to the funicular where you can purchase a ticket if you don’t already have one. You cannot tap to pay with a credit card on Paris Metro transportation, including the funicular.

It’s a short trip to the top and a car departs every few minutes. The funicular just makes one stop, which is at the top of the hill here . When you exit, turn right and you’re just steps away from Sacré-Cœur.

Sacré-Cœur is the basilica at the top of Montmartre. The church was consecrated in 1919. It was initially proposed as a way for France to seek religious redemption for kidnapping the pope under Napoleon. (You can read about that wild story here .)

Sacré-Cœur is free to enter and is open daily from 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM. Inside there are several statues, stained glass windows, and an immaculate pipe organ built by the same person who built the organ for Notre Dame. The organ is played on Sundays during mass and evening prayer at 4PM. For a small fee — for which they accept credit cards or cash — you can light a prayer candle inside the church.

You can also go to the top of the dome at Sacré-Cœur. The dome is open everyday from 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM and costs €7 for adults. There is no elevator to the top, so you’ll need to be able to climb 300 steps. I’ve never actually been to the top of the dome because the views from the ground are so good.

Square Louise Michel

The basilica sits at the top of Square Louise Michel. Before you continue with this walk, take a short break on the steps here and enjoy the view.

The square is lined with steps which are always filled with people enjoying the sweeping views of Paris. There’s often street performers and hawkers selling beers right from the cardboard case. The cops will always come and shut them down, but they always come right back. It’s a fun dance.

This is one of my favorite views in Paris. It’s also a great place to see the sun set if you’re here in the evening.

Pass the church and make your way to Place du Tertre. The small streets along the way have lots of souvenir shops, food vendors like creperies and ice cream shops, and a couple small art galleries. I’d suggest walking, but there’s also a cute little train that you can take.

Place du Tertre has capitalized on the artsy past of this neighborhood. Today it’s filled with artist painting portraits and selling their work. The outside of the square is all open-air cafes filled with people sipping wine and people watching.

If you’re looking to get a portrait drawn, come around 11 when they’re setting up. The best artists can get lines quickly. If you’re just coming to observe, come in the afternoon when it’s the most crowded.

Leave (some of) the crowds behind and make your way down to Rue de l’Abreuvoir. This means taking a steep walk down the hill on Rue des Saules until you see the unmissable pink and green La Maison Rose restaurant.

If you go straight past it, you’ll actually see Clos Montmartre. It’s the oldest operating vineyard in Paris; not something you’d expect to find in the middle of a city. It is not typically open to the public (minus a few special tours throughout the year), but you can see the vines from the street.

Back at our pink restaurant, though, turn onto Rue de l’Abreuvoir.

This street is beautiful. There are stone walls dripping with ivy, charming Parisian buildings and cobblestone sidewalks. It’s a delightful stroll and photographer’s dream. It’s a short street and it ends at the statue of the boobs (aka Buste de Dalida).

Just around the corner you’ll hit Square Suzanne Buisson. If you need a break and/or if the kids want to play, make a pit stop here. It’s a small square, but it’s a good respite.

Next, make your way toward Place Émile Goudeau. The route in my map above will take you down a tiny alley, which may feel like the wrong way but isn’t. Just keep going and you’ll soon hit the cobblestone square.

The square looks out onto Le Bateau-Lavoir, which was the studio rented by Picasso when he moved to Paris. The original studio was destroyed, and the building today is the the renovated version. To this day, the building serves as an artists’ residence. It is not open for tours.

Even if you are not interested in art history, it’s still a cool place to say you’ve been. And at the very least, it’s a good signpost on your journey through the neighborhood.

Rue des Abbesses

As your Montmartre walking tour comes to an end, make your way back to the main street of Rue des Abbesses. You should arrive on the street not far from where you started at the train station. This time you’re going to go the other way. This section of the street has — you guessed it — shops and restaurants.

This stretch feels a bit less touristy than the other direction and is more practical stores versus souvenir shops. It’s a good place to get an ice cream or a glass of wine. Otherwise, this walk can probably be done briskly as you’re out of the more classical Montmartre area at this point.

While you’re in the area, it’s worth it to finish your day at Moulin Rouge. Yes, that Moulin Rouge.

The venue has been hosting shows and performances since 1889, and today operates as a dinner theater. For about €200 a person, you can enjoy a full meal and performance at this iconic theater.

Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth it to see the marquee and legendary red windmill. There is a median in the middle of street where you can safely stand and take photos.

Continue exploring Clichy Street, which is famous for its countless sex shops
Walk over the suspension bridge at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. To get there, take the 2 train from Blanche station across from Moulin Rouge to Colonel Fabien and then walk about 10 minutes to the park.
Get cocktails at Lulu White, voted one of the best cocktail bars on Paris .
Start your next walk around the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower & the Seine Walking Guide

We’ve made it to the Eiffel Tower, and this walk is truly all about the Iron Lady. This section focuses on getting to the Eiffel Tower and enjoying all the best views of it. It’s a good idea to pair this walk with your visit to the Eiffel Tower, otherwise you may find portions of this walk redundant.

Technically, this walk in full is about 4 miles. That said, you can certainly make it much shorter by cutting down the portions on Rue Saint-Dominique and/or along the Seine.

Rue Saint-Dominique

Champ de mars, eiffel tower, trocadéro gardens, pont alexandre iii.

Have a plan for getting Eiffel Tower tickets . If you’d like to go up into the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon or evening, be sure to book your ticket in advance. Tickets go on sale 60 days in advance and book up quick, especially for the summit. Otherwise, plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the tower opens in the morning to beat the crowns.
Start at Bleu Olive . This coffee shop is conveniently located near the start of Rue Cler. It’s a good option for breakfast to begin your day or for a coffee to take with you. Note: they’re closed on Sundays and don’t open till 10 AM on Saturday.
Avoid Mondays. Many stores are closed on Mondays, which will make parts of this walk less fun.
Take this walk in reverse . The walk along the Right Bank (north side) of the Seine offers stunning views of the Eiffel Tower. If you flip this route, you’ll be approaching the Eiffel tower and can enjoy the view the whole time.
Bring a blanket. If you have a small packable picnic blanket , bring it on this walk. It’ll be nice to have if you spend time sitting on the grass at Trocadéro Gardens.
Enjoy this walk in the evening . If you start around 2 or 3 PM (Tuesday – Saturday), you’ll enjoy a bustling market on Rue Cler and a lovely early evening at the Eiffel Tower. Watch the sun set from Trocadéro Gardens and then enjoy the City of Light by night as you walk along the Seine. Perfection.

Self-guided walk around the Eiffel Tower

The best place to start this walk is the La Tour-Maubourg station which serves the 8 train. If that’s not convenient, you can also take the 13 train to Varenne station. Head west on Rue de Grenelle until you reach Rue Cler.

Rue Cler is often said to be the most beautiful street in Paris. The market street is only one block long, but it’s jam packed with shops selling the freshest produce, local meat, French cheese, wine, pastries and more. It’s like it was made to build the perfect picnic basket to take to Champ de Mars.

Tuesday through Saturday the shops are open from 8 or 9 AM till about 7 PM. The market is only open until 2 PM on Sundays and nearly all the shops are closed on Mondays.

At the end of Rue Cler you’ll hit Rue Saint-Dominique. This street is lined with traditional Hausmann buildings, which is probably what you picture when you think of Paris. It’s a popular shopping street with Eiffel Tower views.

Most of the shopping is to your right, but the Eiffel tower is to your left. If you really are not interested in shopping or are pressed for time, you can turn left after Rue Cler and enjoy a smaller segment of this beautiful street. But if you have extra time, I’d recommend turning right so you get a bit more out of it. Continue walking until you hit Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg. Then turn around and head back down Rue Saint-Dominique until you hit Champ de Mars.

Champ de Mars is iconic, but to be honest, it’s never what I want it to be. I always pictured it to be an open, flat park when you can have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. However, there’s actually lots of trees and I feel like there’s always construction. I’d suggest walking through it, but if you’re looking for a place to sit I’d argue Trocadéro Gardens is better.

What Champ de Mars does offer, though, is a great approach to the Eiffel Tower. She looms large from this angle and you will be itching to visit the summit.

Ah yes. We’ve made it 7,000 words into this post before finally making it to the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re planning to go inside, be sure to check out my complete visitor guide to the Eiffel Tower . It has tips for where to enter, how to avoid lines, best floor order to visit the tower and more.

If you’re not planning to go to the top of the tower, you can still technically walk underneath it. To get there, you will need to pass through the security. Follow the signs for visitors who do not yet have tickets. After security, you’ll have access to the plaza at the base of the tower and can see it right up close. If you’re not going up, just skip the lines for the ticket office and proceed to an exit.

If you aren’t interested in passing underneath the Eiffel tower, you can simply walk around the outer perimeter and carry on to Pont d’Iéna. There’s also a carousel right by bridge, which is a highlight for children and Instagrammers alike.

If you ask me, the best views of the Eiffel Tower are from Trocadéro Gardens. This is the garden I picture when I think of picnics in front of the Eiffel Tower. From this hill, you’re treated to the best views of the tower, plus the Seine and its bridges. It has a great view of the tower any time, but one of my favorite times to come here is in the early evening when the sun sets and the tower starts to light up.

There’s lots of grass space to sit, so it’s nice to have a blanket. There’s also food vendors at the base of the gardens, so pick up a crepes or drink before you head up the hill. You’ll also usually find hawkers unofficially selling Champagne and beer, which can actually be quite nice. It’s technically illegal to drink in Paris parks, but police are generally very lenient with beer and wine.

NOTE: In the provided map, Google does not think you can cross Avenue de New York at near the Eiffel Tower, but you can. There is a pedestrian walk sign at the street light here. So you can ignore that detour.

Walk along the Seine

After you’ve enjoyed a good long sit at Trocadéro Gardens, continue your walk along the Seine for even more beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower. I like to the follow the north side of the river, which eventually becomes Jardin d’Erivan. This riverside garden is lined with trees which become truly stunning in the fall.

At each bridge you pass, turn around to get another epic view of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll pass three, counting Debilly Footbridge, before you get to Pont Alexandre III.

This decorative bridge was built in the late 1800s. It’s a lovely bridge, but mostly I note it here as one final amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. You can still see it from the next bridge too, but it really starts to hide at that point.

If you cross this bridge, you’ll head into Esplanade des Invalides which leads right back to where this walk began. Alternatively, if you turn left and head away from the river, you’ll pass between the Petit and Grand Palais and on to Champs-Élysées. And just like that, our walks have come full circle.

Continue walking along the Seine, passing Tuileries Garden and onward toward the isles
Take a boat cruise along the Seine and see Paris from a new perspective
For a family dinner, get pizza at the hip and delicious Mokus l’Écureuil near Trocadéro Gardens

Paris Travel Guide

SD › Paris Travel Guide Updated: August 8, 2023 By Santorini Dave

Luxury hotel with view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

View of Eiffel Tower from the Four Seasons Hotel in Paris, France.

The City of Light, Paris is France’s capital, the historic hub of the Age of Enlightenment, and a global leader in all things food and fashion. Famous for its iconic landmarks and artistic works, elegant architecture, luxury hotels , romantic atmosphere, and charming neighborhoods , Paris is an ideal destination for all types of travel most any time of the year. The Paris Travel Guide Skip to our Paris FAQ Paris Basics Where to Stay in Paris Best Time to Visit Paris Paris with Kids Best Books about Paris Paris Hotels Best Hotels in Paris Best Hotels in Paris for Families Best Boutique Hotels in Paris Best Cheap Hotels in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotels Paris Hotels with Swimming Pools New Hotels in Paris Paris Hotel Map Paris Activities Best Things to Do in Paris Best Restaurants in Paris Best Bars in Paris Best Paris Tours Best Shops & Markets in Paris Best Patisseries & Chocolatiers Visiting Versailles from Paris Paris Trip Planning London to Paris by Eurostar Train Latest Articles & My Travel Newsletter Travel Guides & Newsletter Frequently Asked Questions about Paris Where is Paris? Paris is the chic and cosmopiltan capital of France, located in the north of the country. The nearest major cities to Paris are Brussels (300 km, or 3.5 hours via car) and London (470 km), which can be easily reached by Eurostar train (3.5 hours) or by car (6 hours), via the Chunnel, the tunnel that spans the English Channel. Paris has a land area of 105 km² and a population of 2.16 million. When is the best time to go to Paris? The best months for a trip to Paris are from April, May, June, October, and early November. During these times, the weather is warm (but not hot) and the tourist crowds are thinner than in the height of the summer travel season. The very best month to visit Paris is June, just before high season when the weather is glorious and the gardens are in full bloom. The Tuileries Garden and the Louvre on a sunny day in October. The cheapest months to visit Paris are early December, January, and February; the weather may be cloudy and cool, but museums and attractions will be less crowded and good deals can be found on airfare and hotel rates. You’ll also find good deals in Paris shops during this time; sales in France are state-regulated, and retail discounts are allowed only twice yearly, during two six-week periods known simply as Les Soldes (The Sales). Winter Sales generally run from early January through mid-February, with summer Soldes taking place from late June through July. We do not recommend visiting Paris in August when the weather is hot and summer crowds are at their thickest. Additionally, there can be a distinct lack of local flavor during this time; many Parisians flee to the coast during August and smaller shops and restaurants are likely to be closed. What are the best areas to stay in Paris There are so many great neighborhoods spread across the city that it’s difficult to think of any one best area to stay in Paris . For first-time visitors, we recommend staying in a central location near(ish) the Seine, as these are very safe and will be walkable to the most notable tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping, and famous landmarks. That said, as long as you’re staying near a metro stop, it’s always pretty easy to get where you want to go. Haussmann-style buildings in the elegant Marais district on Paris’ Right Bank. As a general rule, neighborhoods on Paris’ Left Bank (south of the Seine) are associated with classic architecture and Hemingway haunts, while Right Bank neighborhoods (north of the Seine) tend toward the hip and trendy. A few of the most popular neighborhoods in Paris are the posh Marais on the Right Bank and classic Saint-Germain on the Left Bank, both centrally-located and highly walkable. A little further out, but easily accessible by metro is the charming hilltop neighborhood of Montmarte, home to Sacre Coeur basilica. A classic corner brasserie in the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank. Two great neighborhoods to stay in Paris with a more local neighborhood feel are the Marais in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and South Pigalle, up near Montmartre. The Marais is a charming neighborhood filled with restaurants, bars, markets, and local shops. South Pigalle is a bit quieter, with fashionable boutiques, cafes, and a thriving restaurant and bar scene.

Map showing the best places for visitors to stay in Paris

What are the best things to do in Paris? Any trip to Paris should include at least a couple of these must-dos: a visit to the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower, a trip up to the Montmarte district to see the beautiful Sacre Coeur basilica and its magnificent views, and a cruise down the river Seine – especially lovely at dusk when the architecture is lit from below and the Eiffel Tower sparkles. Some of the very best things to do in Paris are of a more pedestrian nature, however; Paris is experienced best by simply walking the streets and exploring the city’s great neighborhoods , shops and markets , restaurants and bars , and of course… pastries . Visiting beautiful Sacre Coeur basilica is a highlight of any trip to Paris. One of the best ways to experience Paris is through a guided walking or food tour . It’s fun to learn about the city’s history and architecture while also getting a taste of local life from an insider’s view. Cheese display in the Marché des Enfants Rouge. One of the best ways to experience Paris is through a food tour. With loads of parks and family-friendly activities (and seemingly a pastry shop on every corner), Paris is a great city to visit with kids. The Natural History and Science Museums are always a hit, and even the most imposing attractions like the Louvre can be enticing to kids when you book a private family tour . Even many of the fanciest hotels in Paris welcome children, but here are kid-friendly hotels in Paris for every budget. How long should I stay in Paris? Paris is filled to bursting with museums, gardens, cathedrals, historic landmarks, outdoor markets, and tree-lined pedestrian streets – and that’s not to mention spectacular day trips to the surrounding areas, like Versailles . The major highlights can be seen in 2 or 3 absurdly busy days, but to get a real feel for the city it’s best to stay for 6 full nights (more if you have time, of course). The Louvre alone requires 3 hours minimum, and even then, you won’t be able to see it all. No matter how much time you decide to spend, taking a tour is an excellent way to see the city’s highlights and gain insight into Parisian culture. The longer you spend in Paris, the more time you’ll have to enjoy the sights of the city beyond the Tower and the Louvre, like the charming 19th-century covered shopping passages. What is an arrondissement? The French word “arrondissement” translates to “borough” or “district.” Paris is divided by the Seine into Right (north) and Left (south) Banks, and subdivided into 20 numbered arrondissements . Starting in central Paris at the Seine (near the Louvre), the arrondissements spiral out in a clockwise direction, ending at the 20th in eastern Paris, home to the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery. The best arrondissements for visitors to Paris are generally those along the banks of the Seine, as well as the charming 18th.

Map showing the arrondissements of Paris

1st : Louvre Museum, Tuileries Garden, Palais Royal, Place Vendome 4th : Notre Dame Cathedral, Ile Saint-Louis, Hotel de Ville, Marais District, Centre Pompidou, Place des Vosges 5th : The Latin Quarter, National History Museum, Cluny Museum, Shakespeare & Company bookstore, The Sarbonne 6th : Luxembourg Garden, The Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Saint-Sulpice Church 7th : Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Rodin Museum, Les Invalides, Quai Branly Museum 8th : Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Arc de Triomphe, Parc Monceau, luxury shopping 16th : The Trocadero, Palais Galiera (fashion museum), Yves Ste Laurent Museum, Arc de Triomphe 18th : Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, Pigalle, Moulin Rouge The Shangri-La Hotel, one of the very best hotels in Paris , is located in the 16th arrondissment. Which Paris airport should I use? Paris is served by four airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Paris Beauvais-Tillé (BVA), and Paris Châlons Vatry (XCR). Most travelers will fly in and out of CDG or ORY, since they are the closest, offer the most flights, and are better-connected to the city than BVA or XCR. Aerial view of Paris. Most travelers will fly in and out of Paris via Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Charles de Gaulle is the largest and busiest international airport; the train to Paris’ Gare du Nord station leaves from Terminal 3 every 3 to 12 minutes and takes about 30 minutes to reach the city; driving the same distance takes 30 to 40 minutes. Paris Orly is a smaller, less chaotic airport than CDG, easier to navigate with children and luggage, and quicker to get through immigration when flying internationally. Trains leave ORY for Paris frequently, but require a transfer; the whole trip takes around 40 minutes. Driving the same distance takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Paris Beauvais-Tillé and Paris Châlons Vatry are both pretty far from Paris and not recommended for a smooth, easy transfer. BVA is the budget airport; it could be worth the hassle getting to and from Paris through this airport if your plane ticket is cheap enough. XCR is ridiculously far away, 3.5 hours by train or 2 hours by car; avoid this option. Is Paris safe? Paris is a very safe city, especially considering its size and popularity as a tourist hub, with plenty of pedestrian streets, ample streetlights, and a buzzy atmosphere late into the night. The main crime travelers should be on the lookout for is pickpocketing, especially on the metro, at train/metro stations, and at popular sights, like the Eiffel Tower. At night, the areas near some train stations (especially Gare du Nord, Barbes Rouchechouart, and Chateau Rouge) can feel unwelcoming, though there is very little real danger. More recently, a few areas of Paris have become like makeshift refugee camps with larger encampments popping up around the metro Stalingrad, a section near the Colonel Fabian metro station, and at the Halle Pujol market area in the 18th. Again, though they may look unappealing, these areas are generally safe. Paris is an overall safe city, even at night. Streets in Paris tend to be well-lit and lined with sidewalk cafes, restaurants, and bars lively with people into the wee hours. What currency is used in Paris? France is part of the European Union, so the currency used in Paris is the euro (€). Most restaurants, museums, tours, and sights in Paris accept credit cards, but it’s best to keep some cash on hand for train tickets, food and souvenirs from outdoor markets, bus tickets, taxi fare, and small snacks. ATMs are easy to find throughout Paris. Though most brick and mortar businesses accept credit cards, many stalls in the outdoor markets, like Marche Anvers here, accept cash only. Though there is a tipping culture in Paris, a tip is not seen as obligatory, so there is some wiggle room regarding how much to tip. At a restaurant, tipping is not based on a percentage of the bill; instead rounding up the bill is common or even leaving 5 to 10 euros if you’re at a nicer establishment. Large groups should always tip at restaurants. At cafés, leaving change in the tip jar is the norm. Always tip tour guides, hotel porters, and hotel maids. For longer taxi rides, it is common (but not mandatory) to round up the taxi fare.

About Santorini Dave

Paris Travel Guide and Map 12+

Trip planner, offline city map, kulemba gmbh, designed for ipad.

4.7 • 342 Ratings

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Offline Maps and much more! Discover new places and insider tips. Collect, save and organize them as you like. And have the best trip ever! With us, traveling got easier and even more fun. Here’s what you get – the shortest possible version: • Free offline maps – no roaming, no hustle • Insider tips and places to discover • Multifunctional lists to plan and organize your trip We let you discover new places, beautiful spots and insider tips at the touch of a button. Collect your personal best-of and save it for later. You will experience your best journeys yet with detailed offline maps and in-depth travel content on your mobile travel companion. And here’s why 5+ million travelers love our apps: CLEAR AND CONCISE MAPS Never get lost again. See your location on the map via GPS, no internet connection is required. Find streets, addresses or attractions and get pointed in the walking direction. IN-DEPTH TRAVEL CONTENT You’ll never have to buy another guide book. Our Guides features pictures as well as comprehensive and up-to-date information is available for thousands of places and attractions. SEARCH AND DISCOVER Search a specific place by name or browse by categories like restaurants, architecture, hotels, shops, bars, etc. PLAN TRIPS AND CUSTOMIZE MAPS Book the hotel for your next city tour right within the app. Remember and save all the places you would like to visit. Create new or individual ones. Mark them with different colors or add notes to them. SAVE ROAMING FEES Maps and guide content are stored on directly your device so you can access them at any time even without an internet connection. An internet connection is of course required for initial downloading of data or booking hotels. BACKUP AND SYNC Create a user account and login from any of your iOS devices. So all your personal content is right where you want it to be.

Version 21.0

We added "Sign in with Apple" as authentication method and fixed some bugs!

Ratings and Reviews

342 Ratings

Highly recommended!

If you are going to visit Paris (and surrounding areas) then you need this app! So basically, you get a map that looks a lot like Google Maps. It's complete with locations, road names, and even the entire metro system which was extremely useful for me! You are also able to create a "list" of restaurants, attractions, custom locations, etc, and save it all so that you know exactly where you're going in advanced. My ONLY problem with this app is that it won't show you turn by turn directions which shouldn't be an issue if you're good with directions. It also gives you recommendations of places to check out based on categories you can choose from like night clubs, shopping, the best food, and stuff like that. All in all, I heavily relied on this app during my week in Paris (It was literally my bible) and I couldn't have been happier with how it turned out. It didn't drain my battery either! Thank you to the creators, I truly love this app. PS: if you ever get lost, your smart phone should still show your gps location on the maps app even without service. It should be easy to use this app once you find yourself. Also, the metros will take you to almost every landmark in Paris with minimal walking so I'd invest in a "carnet" of 10 tickets at the metro.

Paris Lifeline

This app is AMAZING!!! We used it the entire time we were in Paris since it gave me real-time gps walking/navigation location so I could figure out directions - offline. Seriously, this app was a LIFE SAVER! We intended on using the Metro during most of our stay, which this app also give “closest metro stops” to sites, however with the strikes going on we basically walked the city. We couldn’t have done it without the help of this app. Before our trip I downloaded it & starred/saved all our points of interest we planned on visiting. While we were in Paris, I remained offline -didn’t use my data - and this app was still able to locate me on the map. Thank you for this app!!

Great for Identifying Places to Visit

I started using this app to locate restaurants I wanted to try while on vacation. Then I added historic places. Then I added museums, chocolate shops, etc. Then I realized I could add notes to all these places. All of these are found on a the map by icon. And are also identified in different lists that I've named so it means something to me. Now my map looks like a myriad of different icons and colors and I've got about 7 different lists. A fabulous app to make sure you at least try to see everything you want to see and experience.

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Plan Your Trip to Paris
Guide Books

Best Paris Travel Guide Books - 2024

Planning a trip to Paris? Travel guide books give you a quick, easy way to find all the information you need about the top attractions, fun and historic neighborhoods to explore, best hotels to stay in, places to eat, and even interesting things to do with kids if you're traveling as a family.

Some also include excellent Paris city maps, others provide insights into Paris culture and history, and still others may inspire you with their gorgeous color photos of everything Parisian from the Eiffel Tower to steak-frites.

But with so many appealing choices available, what is the best guide book for planning your trip to Paris?

Well, that depends because everybody is different. Maybe you love details - or maybe you just want highlights. Maybe you want to find out about "hidden secret" spots as well as famous bucket list attractions - or maybe a quick list of the 10 best things to see and do, top hotels and restaurants in a few price ranges, and few travel tips is more your style.

The good news: there's something for everybody. This article provides our top picks in a variety of categories:

Best Paris Travel Guides for Planning your Trip
Paris Guides to Walking Tours & Getting Around
Guides to Hidden Paris
Guides to Paris Culture & Special Places
Books about Paris Markets & Food

Guides to Paris History & Architecture

Paris travel & guide books to buy in paris.

Top photo: Paris guide books in a local bookstore

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Best Comprehensive Guide Books for Planning Your Paris Trip

Essential Paris guidebooks for comprehensive city and travel information

Looking for the best Paris guide book for planning all aspects of your trip?

Here's where to start:

Rick Steves' Paris Travel Guide

By Rick Steves, Steve Smith, & Gene Openshaw

Rick Steves' love of travel and enthusiasm for making it accessible to everyone comes through loud and clear in the 700+ pages of this comprehensive guide. Despite the size of this book, the thin but surprisingly sturdy pages make it light enough to pack and bring with you without worrying about the weight.

If you're a first-time visitor, you'll appreciate his focus on on top attractions such as the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, and Pere Lachaise Cemetery and his recommendations about what to see at each site.

If you're a return traveler, check out his recommendations for the best hidden gems.

In addition, Rick Steves' Paris provides a thorough "orientation" to Paris, including tips on getting around, shopping, and dining. If you're planning a family trip, you'll find lots of good tips in his suggestions about things to do with kids in Paris. A foldout map is a nice plus.

Recommended for: First time and return travelers to Paris, especially if you want get the most out of your time and money without breaking the bank.

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Want an even more compact version? Check out Rick Steves Pocket Paris - it's packed with trip-planning tips, itineraries, suggested walks and tours, a pull-out map, and lots more.

The Rough Guide to Paris

UK publisher Rough Guides honed its reputation by providing straightforward information to budget-minded travelers on the younger end of the demographic scale, and The Rough Guide to Paris reflects that.

You'll find decent recommendations for bars, clubs, and other entertainment venues (just beware that Paris nightlife constantly evolves, so no doubt some of the information will be out of date).

Sections on Paris neighborhood attractions include areas that most other guides don't mention: La Villette (home to the newish Philharmonie de Paris concert hall, a huge science and technology museum focused on kids and teens, and a top exhibition hall), Passy (cool market street plus other attractions in the 16th), Belleville (awesome street art, which the guide book doesn't mention, and the spectacular Parc des Buttes-Chaumont), and Ménilmontant (Pere Lachaise Cemetery and the Edith Piaf Museum). You'll also find a section of some of the interesting but often overlooked suburbs.

Otherwise, The Rough Guide to Paris covers all of the top attractions (sometimes with a "chilled out" twist on how to visit), favorite neighborhoods, and general travel advice that you'd expect and want in a comprehensive guide. There are quite a few useful maps, plus nice photos.

And finally, if you're interested in lesser-known Paris locations (a.k.a. "hidden gems"), it's clear that the author has ventured fairly off the usual beaten tourist paths and discovered some cool spots that other publications generally miss. (We felt rather sad to see a few of our favorite unknown-to-most-visitors spots revealed.)

Recommended for: Budget-minded Paris visitors who want to do and see the city's top attractions but also explore the nightlife and wander a bit from the touristic center. And if you're already a Rough Guide fan, you're sure to love this one.

DK Eyewitness Paris Travel Guide

If you're the type of traveler who draws inspiration from gorgeous photos paired with just enough text to let you know what you're looking at, DK Eyewitness Paris may be your top choice guide book planning your trips.

Details take a back seat to inspiration in the first sections of this book but don't be deceived: DK Eyewitness Paris packs a hefty amount of interesting facts, useful tips, and logistical details into the guide's later chapters. Beautifully detailed drawings, diagrams, and even timelines make the information interesting and accessible.

Recommended for: Anyone who wonders why Paris is worth visiting, wants ideas about what to see and do, or simply enjoys gazing at photos that capture the beauty and magic of this special city will find a lot to love in this book. The fact that you'll also learn a lot about the City of Light is a bonus.

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris

If you love lists, you may find DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris hard to put down once you start looking through it. With "top 10" lists for everything from top attractions to museums to places to eat near the Eiffel Tower, this small almost pocket-sized guide book contains a huge amount of useful information as well as a laminated pull-out map.

"Top 10 things to see" lists for each of the top 10 Paris attractions such as the Louvre Museum and Army Museum give you useful information to make sure you don't miss anything.

Annual updates keep the recommendations on point, and plenty of small photos, drawings, and maps mean you still get the rich visual images that make DK Eyewitness guides stand out from the competition. A small section with practical information about getting around the city, etc, and recommendations for around 80 hotels based on price range and style round out the guide.

Recommended for: Anyone who loves lists and/or wants a small-format (4" x 7.5"; 10cm x 19cm) guide book filled with useful information.

Insight Guides Explore Paris

If you're looking for the perfect combination of detailed Paris travel information, a large number of excellent photos, and a few maps and diagrams, Insight Guide's Paris City guidebooks may be the perfect fit for your needs.

As you might expect in a comprehensive guide book, topics such as "Chic Shopping" and "Paris After Dark" give you a good overview of things to do in the city. But you'll find some of Paris City Guide's best information in the coverage of specific things to do and see in 10 neighborhoods including not only those with the best known tourist attractions (Ile de la Cité, the Latin Quarter, etc) but also interesting but less well known areas such as Bastille, East Paris, and Montparnasse. Don't miss the useful section on Paris Disney and other day trip destinations.

There's also a smaller Pocket Edition of this guidebook. It's not as comprehensive but if you're packing as little as possible, it's definitely worth considering.

Recommended for: First time and return Paris visitors who want a comprehensive guide packed with useful details.

Please note: As of early 2024, neither of these Insight guides has been updated since 2019, so some information may be out of date. The books still contain lots of useful information and offer lots of value. If you're considering buying one or both of them, consider buying a cheap used copy.

Lonely Planet Paris

Although Lonely Planet's guide books originally earned their reputation by highlighting off-the-beaten-trail attractions, the current Lonely Planet guide to Paris focuses primarily on popular attractions and experiences - but it does that very well by packing in a lot of information within a lively framework.

Starting with brief descriptions of top Paris highlights, itineraries, and top events each month, Lonely Planet Paris then provides detailed information for important attractions in eight central Paris neighborhoods before ending with brief sections on topics such as family travel, architecture, and food and wine.

What makes this guide book a standout, though, is the balance between the 50 or so maps (marked with walking routes), color photographs, diagrams, and "Don't Miss" pages that help you focus on the most important attractions.

Another big plus: The pull-out "Just Landed" card with wifi, ATM, and Paris transportation information provides everything you need to go to get from the airport to your hotel or apartment.

Recommended for: First time and return visitors who like to get comprehensive travel information in a well-organized, lively, easy-to-digest format.

Blue Guide: Paris

By Delia Gray-Durant

When you want the most in-depth information possible in a comprehensive Paris guide book, Blue Guide: Paris is where to turn. For example, it devotes almost 60 pages to detailed descriptions of the most important pieces in the Louvre's collections, along with site plans. As a bonus, the lively writing style brings the art to life with its vivid descriptions.

Also impressive is how Blue Guide: Paris provides detailed descriptions to small attractions as well. The little-known but fascinating National Marine Museum (Musée National de la Marine), which many guide books don't even mention, gets almost 3 pages including a photo and by the time you finish reading them, you'll know exactly what to look for and expect in the museum's model ship collection.

For each neighborhood, Blue Guide: Paris also suggests walking tours (with maps) and places to eat nearby. A small section at the end contains a nicely curated list of hotels in three price categories.

Recommended for: Anyone who wants detailed information about things to see in Paris museums, historic churches, concert halls, and other cultural and important institutions.

Please note: This book hasn't been updated since 2015. If you want detailed and comprehensive information about places that don't change much (such as the Louvre), this book is still totally worth getting. But it's astonishing that the publisher (Blue Guides) hasn't produced a more recent editition about Paris, one of the world's most-visited cities.

But a couple of caveats: information about any site that's undergone a recent renovation, such as the National Marine Museum mentioned above, may be out of date, and you should also (mostly) disregard the restaurant and hotel information. For the best value, look for a cheap used copy.

Michelin's Paris: The Green Guide

Michelin guide books are known for their comprehensive coverage and numerous details, and their Paris: The Green Guide is no exception. Color photos, site plans, maps (with walking routes), and diagrams help bring the text to life.

Starting with the first four Paris arrondissements, the guide includes descriptions of the top attractions in the arrondissements' major neighborhoods. In the often overlooked 13th, 14th, and 15th arrondissements, for example, the section on the Javel-André-Citroen neighborhood includes brief descriptions of several themed gardens in Parc André-Citroen, the Beaugrenelle complex (although strangely, there is no mention of the shopping center), the huge Aquaboulevard water park. Just like Michelin does with restaurants, this guide assigns 0-3 stars to each attraction. You may or may not always agree with them.

Paris: The Green Guide also includes small sections on getting around, Paris history, contemporary Paris culture, shopping, where to stay, and where to eat - although for restaurants, you may prefer to get the latest edition (2021, in French) of their Paris restaurant guide if you can read French well enough to glean at least the basics.

Please note: This guide has not been updated since 2018. However, as long as you disregard pricing and similar details, it delivers lots of useful still-timely information.

Michelin Green Guide Short Stays: Paris Travel Guide

This Michelin Guide "Short Stays" guidebook to Paris is packed with useful, mostly evergreen (luckily, since the last update was in 2020) information about Paris neighborhoods, things to do, and itineraries. Like the regular Green Guides, this guidebook uses Michelin's star-rating system for most of the categories it reviews.

Travel tips, though brief, are to the point. And restaurant and hotel recommendations are solid, because the guide sticks with the "classics" that don't change much over time. You won't find the newest and trendiest places to eat or stay, but you'll find enough in this book to do 90% of your trip planning.

Small maps of specific location and appealing photographs add to the book's appeal.

How does Michelin's "Short Stay: Paris" book compare with the regular Green Guide for Paris?

If you're planning a first or return trip, you'll probably find this "Short Stays" version much easier (and more interesting, thanks to the photos, format, and writing style) to use.

If you want to do a deep-dive into the history and details about a particular site, then go for the regular Michelin Green Guide (or Blue Guide's Paris book, which includes even more details).

What you should ignore this book are the pricing and cost details - although surprisingly, they haven't changed by a huge margin.

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Paris Guides to Walking Tours & Getting Around the City

Paris travel guides with walking tours and information about getting around the city

Paris in Stride: An Insider's Walking Guide

By Jessie Kenelos Weiner & Sorah Moroz

Delightful watercolors and maps with walking routes illustrate each of Paris in Stride's 10 chapters devoted to showing you the best places to visit in a specific Paris neighborhood. Of course you'll find areas popular with tourists such as the Marais, Montmartre, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, but equally fascinating and perhaps even more interesting to explore are lesser-known areas such as Rue de Charonne/Place d'Aligre and the corner of the 16th arrondissement dubbed "Museum Hub" by the authors.

In addition to all the places you'd expect to find profiled, you'll also discover (perhaps) new-to-you concept stores, chocolatiers, galleries, and places to eat and drink in Paris in Stride. Each chapter also contains bonus how-to sections with useful information for you use during your walk: how to navigate an open-air street market, how to "apero" (ie, the Parisian tradition of enjoy a glass or two of wine or an apéritif accompanied by snacks or small plates during the early evening hours, and incidentally, a short list of the best natural wine specialists in the city), and how to choose cheese in a fromagerie.

Recommended for: Everyone who's planning to walk around Paris and explore, eat, and drink along the way. (Warning: This book may make you hungry - so if you're reading this book at home while plotting your trip to Paris, be kind to yourself and have a glass of wine, some chocolates, and ideally a few macaroons close at hand.)

Moon MapGuide Paris

By Aurelia d'Andrea

Ten fold-out maps at the beginning of MapGuide Paris cover popular neighborhoods from the Latin Quarter to Grand Boulevards to Canal Saint-Martin, each with location markers for top choices in a half-dozen categories: sights, restaurants, nightlife, shops, arts and leisure, and hotels.

Following the maps, sections devoted to each of these categories provide descriptions, addresses, and other pertinent information for attractions marked in each map, from Map 1 to Map 10. Although MapGuide Paris doesn't recommend specific walking routes, you can easily do this yourself after you pick out exactly what you want to see in each neighborhood. Although almost every page of this handy guide features small photos, the maps are the real stars.

Recommended for: Paris visitors who love a methodical approach to planning and like the idea of plotting your own walking route based on your own specific interests.

Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local

If you like the detailed maps of Moon MapGuide Paris but would prefer pre-defined walks along with commentary about what you'll see and experience plus detailed fold-out maps, Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local may be the guide book for you.

Although Paris Walks includes only six routes, each one covers two or more distinct neighborhoods, such as Walk 1: Batignolles & Montmartre, or Walk 6: Belleville, Canal Saint-Martin & Ménilmontant. And as you can see from these examples, several of the walking routes introduce you to interesting lesser-known neighborhoods where you can see more of the "real" Paris. But don't worry, others such as Walk 5: Eiffel Tower, Invalides & Champs-Elysees cover all the famous attractions.

You could certainly cover any of these six walking routes in a day or perhaps less if you don't linger over lunch - but Paris Walks designs them so that you can pick the segments of most interest to you and do a leisurely exploration.

Recommended for: Paris first time and return visitors who want to follow defined walking routes.

National Geographic's Walking Paris: The Best of the City

By Pas Paschali and Brian Robinson

National Geographic's Walking Paris: The Best of the City combines "whirlwind tour" walking guides designed for a day, a weekend, fun, and a weekend with kids with more detailed walking guides for nine different Paris neighborhoods.

Each section has its own map marked with a walking route plus information about the attractions you'll see, interspersed with gorgeous color photos. One of Walking Paris's strengths is its contextual information in each section about history, culture, architecture, cuisine, street markets, and more.

The final part of the book provides basic travel information and recommendations for about 60 hotels.

Recommended for: Paris visitors and return visitors who want walking routes through the city's best-known neighborhoods.

Guides to Secret Gardens & Special Places

Paris travel guides to secret gardens and other hidden places

Secret Paris

By Thomas Jonglez

Want to know about truly obscure secret places and sights in Paris?

Esoteric and unusual suggestions pack this compact Secret Paris guide book, such as where to see a chunk of French King Philippe-Auguste's 12th century city wall in an underground parking garage, where to visit a hidden Zen garden, where to find a little-known church in the 7th arrondissement with a 14th century Italian Renaissance masterpiece by Tintoretto of the Last Supper.

And you definitely should not miss the wine-making firefighters or the war-wounded palm trees. (Yes, Paris really does have palm trees - more than you might expect!)

Secret Paris also includes numerous high-quality color photographs, maps, and suggestions about other secret places to visit near the major sites covered, plus a wealth of other details, tips, and information. In the "hidden Paris" genre, this book stands out!

Recommended for: You, if you like to explore and discover interesting things beyond the usual tourist attractions when you travel.

Hidden Gardens of Paris

By Susan Cahill

The 40 or so gardens covered in Hidden Gardens of Paris include well-known parks such as Luxembourg Garden and Champ de Mars as well as less obvious spots such as the garden at Musée Zadkine and Musée de la Vie Romantic, where Chopin and writer George Sand used to hang out in the 19th century.

Hidden Gardens of Paris includes color photos along with the descriptions of what you might see and experience in these gardens, but as a bonus also includes "nearby" suggestions for each destination. This is where you'll find truly hidden city Edens, such as the gorgeous rose-filled (and fairly hard to find) Jardin Saint-Gilles Grand Veneur and the lovely formal flower beds and orange trees in the garden behind Hotel Sully near Place des Vosges.

Recommended for: Everyone who loves parks, gardens, and the thrill of discovering places off the well-worn tourist track in Paris.

Hidden Parks of Paris

By Gregory Ross with Julian Darius

Part memoir, part travel guide, and part ode to a lost love named Caroline, Hidden Parks of Paris contains short but evocative descriptions of over 100 of Paris's almost 500 parks, public gardens, and green spaces accompanied by black and white photos.

You'll find useful suggestions related to well-known places such as Jardin des Plantes and the magnificent Musée Rodin garden, but this book's strength comes from descriptions of what do see and do at obscure and hidden spaces such as Square de Santiago du Chili, Square Roger-Stephane, and Square Boucicaut, all in the 7th arrondissement.

Recommended for: Anyone who likes travel memoirs and enjoys discovering less known and hidden places in the middle of Paris.

Where to Buy? Unfortunately, this book is out of print, so you'll need to look for a used copy. Goodreads provides some links for you to search.

Guides to Paris Culture, Special Places, & Hidden Treasures

Paris books exploring Parisian culture and cool places you should visit

Stuff Parisians Like

To get a taste of contemporary Parisian culture and perspectives, you can't find a better introduction than this fun book of very short essays by Parisian Olivier Magny (who, incidentally, also owns the popular Ô Chateau wine bar/bistro in the 1st arrondissement).

Stuff Parisians Like covers everything - tongue in cheek, of course - from why Parisians like the sun to their love affair with "le burger." In between, you'll find out why Parisians like to go to the movies on Sundays, why young Parisians are more likely to spend their time hanging out with friends at house parties instead of bars, and lots, lots more. "Useful Tips" and "Sound like a Parisian" sections at the end of each chapter are priceless.

Even better: When you arrive in Paris, stop by Ô Chateau (68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau) for a drink and perhaps some charcouterie, and if Olivier happens to be behind the bar that day, you can tell him how much you like his book. You can also sign up for one of their special wine-tasting experiences while you're there (or reserve a spot in advance before you travel).

Recommended for: Paris visitors who want light-hearted (but serious) tips at understanding Parisians and their unique social culture.

Want more from Olivier Magny? Get his latest book, WTF?! (which stands for What the French, vs what you may have thought), packed hilarious insights about modern France and its various idiosyncrasies.

Paris, paris: Journey into the City of Light

By David Downie

Each of the short essays in Paris, paris: Journey into the City of Light focus on places and people observed by writer and long-time Paris resident David Downie during his rambling walks around his adopted city.

A view of Rue Saint-Martin from Centre Pompidou's rooftop terrace starts his musings about how this road predates the Romans, which then leads more thoughts about historic sites along other ancient Paris roads (and a 3-month trek with his wife along Roman roads criss-crossing France, although that's another story). A glass of white wine on a spring night turns into an exploration of the boat people of the Seine. And so on. Each essay in Paris, paris transports you to places, people, and information you might not discover on your own - information that will enrich your own experience of this ever-fascinating city.

Recommended for: Anyone who loves to be transported beyond their own experiences - and of course anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the strands of history and people who make up Paris.

300 Reasons to Love Paris

By Judith Ritchie

Even if you plan to focus your first trip to Paris on visiting iconic attractions such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum, it's still fun to squeeze in a hour or two each day to explore a hidden garden, indulge in a superb but out-of-the-way pastry shop, shop along a quintessentially Parisian market street, stop by the latest trendy juice bar or wine bar, shop at the below-the-radar outlet stores for famous Paris designers, gaze at the best historic jewelry collections by world-famous jewelers, make your own custom perfume, dine at at hip rooftop bar, and have a drink in the city's coolest underground bars.

That's what 300 Reasons to Love Paris is about - an insider's list of secret or little-known places as overlooked pleasures at better-known attractions that most tourists never discover on their own, especially on a first visit. Need more inspiration? Numerous color photos and detailed location maps make finding these places easy!

Recommended for: First-time and return visitors who want to experience a bit of the "real" Paris.

Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart

By Janelle McCulloch

The beautifully designed Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart focuses on all things related to creativity in Paris - and yes, that covers a lot of ground.

Neighborhood strolls in a dozen arrondissements form the heart of Paris: An Inspiring Tour. In the Montorgueil neighborhood which crosses the 2nd and 9th, that means a look at the popular bars and bistros, bakeries and pastry shops, produce and cheese sellers along the famous market street as well as detours into 19th century covered passages and the design showrooms such as Pierre Frey on Rue Montmartre/Rue du Mail.

In Bastille (11th) and Canal Martin (10th), you'll learn about trendy boutiques, artisan workshops lining the labyrinth of passages and courtyards, the Viaduc des arts arcade, and bars and nightspots you shouldn't miss. And finally, toward the book's end, you'll find useful addresses: where to buy great lingerie, fabrics, Chanel's latest collection, ballet flats, and so forth - plus a curated list of tea rooms, bistros, bakeries, and gourmet food markets.

Recommended for: Anyone who wants to learn about and explore Paris's hubs of creativity - or even just find the best bakeries, jewelry makers, antique and vintage shops, tea salons, and ice cream. This is also a fabulous book for when you want to curl up in a comfy chair, look at lush photos, and dream about your future trip to Paris.

111 Places in Paris That You Shouldn't Miss

By Sybil Canac, René Grimaud, Katia Thomas

The three authors of the somewhat quirky, always fascinating 111 Places in Paris That You Shouldn't Miss have dug deep to come up with secret places and hidden treasures, and as a result, you'll learn about some very cool things here. For example, a Japanese-inspired cat cafe for when you crave feline company with you café au lait. Or the oldest fountain in Paris, when you can find near Centre Pompidou (and stop by the wonderful Stravinsky Fountain while you're there. Or in the hills of Montmartre, a secret staircase in Passage de la Sorcière ("The Witch's Passage) which is close to the public but, as the book reveals, there are two ways you might get in.

One or two photographs accompany each place described in 111 Places, plus the authors recommend other things to do and see nearby. One thing to be aware while a few of the cafes and bars have closed or moved on, other recommendations have evolved. For example, Place #48, Halle Pajol, is still a great suggestion and nearby Marché de la Chapelle is still a wonderful market, but there's now more to see and do in the neighborhood: the Rosa Luxembourg Garden and on the other side of the railroad tracks, the large modern Eole Garden (which is more like a park). Watch for an updated edition!

Recommended for: First time Paris visitors who want to visit a couple of "hidden treasures," and return visitors who want to see the "real" Paris, and everyone else who likes to seek out cool things.

Books about Paris Food & Markets

Sundays in Paris

By Yasmin Zeinab

Sundays in Paris grew out of a curated list of the best places to eat on Sundays started by the author years ago when she first arrived in Paris from Lyon and discovered that some places close on that day. Although she includes her recommendations for places to enjoy coffee, brunch, and dinner and drinks in almost all 20 Paris arrondissements (strangely, she omits the 15th, a mostly upscale residential district with tons of good places open on Sundays), she also devotes almost the second half of the book to cultural attractions, gardens, shopping areas, and markets for you to visit on Sundays.

Dip into Sundays in Paris at any point in the book, and you're sure to find a mouth-watering description of food or cultural experiences. Some are well-known, like Gregory Marchand's Frenchie bistro on Rue de Nil in the 2nd district, but others like the hidden terrace at Ralph's, the extension of the Ralph Lauren store on the Left Bank, may be a surprise.

Recommended for: Everyone who wishes for a Parisian friend willing to share her favorite addresses for food, culture, and shopping on a leisurely Sunday.

The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs

By Elaine Sciolino

Rue des Martyrs runs for about half a mile from Montmartre through the heart of SoPi , the newly trendy neighborhood south of Pigalle in the 9th arrondissement. Lined with unassuming butchers, fruit shops, bakeries, wine sellers, cafes, and an assortment of other businesses, it harkens back to an older working-class Paris, even as cute clothing boutiques and modern bistros catering to newly arrived bobos ("bourgeois-bohemians") threaten to erode its authenticity.

In The Only Street in Paris, former New York Times Paris bureau chief and Rue des Martyrs resident Elaine Sciolino, brings the street to life with stories about the neighborhood's history, merchants and residents, and most all all its food. Read the book before you travel, and once you arrive, stroll down the rue and savor its pleasures for yourself.

Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys mesmerizing travel writing that brings a place and its people to life.

The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen

Written by Clotilde Dusoulier

You may already know Clotilde Dusoulier's fresh perspective of French cuisine from her popular Chocolate and Zucchini blog (chocolateandzucchine.com), where she writes about cooking and shares recipes for (mostly) simple dishes based on fresh ingredients straight from the markets of Paris.

In The French Market Cookbook, Dusoulier shares 90 new vegetarian recipes such as an asparagus buckwheat tart and peach, almond, and cardamom clafoutis. Best of all (unlike many recipes posted on the web by people who you suspect have never actually made the dishes because when you do, the results are, let's just say, not great), these recipes are virtually foolproof and produce delicious results.

Why, you may be wondering, is a cookbook included in an article about Paris guide books? Simple - if you rent an apartment for your stay in Paris, you'll have the opportunity to shop in Paris' wonderful markets for fresh produce, cheese, and other ingredients and then use them to prepare meals in your apartment's kitchen. This cookbook and its mouth-watering photographs will give you lots of inspiration!

Recommended for: Anyone who loves to cook and wants to make contemporary French vegetarian cuisine - either in your own home kitchen or in your apartment in Paris.

Markets of Paris

By Dixon Long & Marjorie R. Williams

Planning to visit any of Paris's wonderful markets?

If so, Markets of Paris will be an essential resource for you as you decide which markets to visit. In 20 chapters, one for each of Paris's 20 arrondissements, the authors provide details about the district's open-air and covered food markets (the stars of this book), as well as other markets: flea markets, a bird market, book markets, antiques markets and dealers, the booksellers (les bouquinistes) along the Seine, arts and crafts markets, and even the historic covered passages and arcades.

Lush color photos will make you a) feel really hungry, and b) wish you were in Paris RIGHT NOW! As a bonus, the authors include a list of their favorite restaurants in each district, which will make you feel a) even hungrier, and b) even more impatient to be there.

Recommended for: Everyone who plans to shop in any of Paris's huge spectrum of traditional markets.

Join a Paris Food Tour

Some of these food tours typically involve trips to markets:

Guides to Paris Architecture & History: "Paris, City of Dreams," "The Architecture of Paris," and "The Making of Paris"

Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris

By Mary McAuliffe

If you're interested in learning (while also being entertained) about how Paris made the transition from a dank, congested, and smelly medieval center to the beautiful metropolis with broad boulevards and excellent sewer and transportation systems of today, you may be too fascinated by Paris, City of Dreams to put it down once you start reading.

Paris, City of Dreams focuses on the years between 1848 and 1871 when Napoleon III and his right-hand person, Baron Haussmann, transformed the metropolis during the Second Empire. But although this book provides plenty of interesting details about their efforts and successes in remaking the city, the descriptions of the upheavals taking place in Paris society, art, theater, and even banking that will keep you riveted.

Why read this book? You'll not only get an appreciation for Napoleon III and Haussmann's profound contributions to the Paris of today, but you'll also get a much deeper understanding for the foundations of modern Parisian society.

The Architecture of Paris

By Andrew Ayers

Paris is unquestionably one of the world's most beautiful cities, packed with breathtaking medieval jewels, modern masterpieces, and everything in between. The overall effect is harmonious, but once you start looking at specific buildings, you'll become aware of the incredible variety and richness of detail. Every building has a story - and The Architecture of Paris is the book to turn to when you want to find out what it is.

In the 400+ pages of The Architecture of Paris, you'll find detailed descriptions of the history and architectural details of the most important and interesting buildings (and sometimes fountains and other structures) in each of the city's 20 arrondissements, nearby suburbs including Versailles and Fontainebleau. There are even short sections on 19th century covered arcades, Seine River bridges, and "street furniture" - lamps, trash bins, and other city street furnishings.

Occasional black and white photos break up the tightly packed text but the value of this book is the information conveyed by the written content. Fortunately, Ayers' writing is succinct but never dull or boring.

Who will get the most enjoyment from this book? You, if you want to know the history and architectural details behind Paris's most important buildings, either while you're there or before you visit.

The Making of Paris

By Russell Kelley

History and architecture share center stage in The Making of Paris, a fascinating look at how Paris has evolved during the past 2,000+ years from a tiny fishing village on the banks of the Seine River to the beautiful, exciting, and people-friendly city of today.

Numerous black and white drawings and vintage photos as well as timelines bring the book's factual content to life. The special strength of The Making of Paris, aside from Kelley's lively writing style, is focusing on places such Notre Dame, the Vendôme Column, and the city's famous open air markets and covered arcades that you'll see as you walk around the city today. Thanks to this book, you'll also know and appreciate their backstory.

Why you should read this book: It's a fun read while you're planning your visit to Paris, and you'll absorb lots of interesting details that will add to your appreciation and enjoyment when you see the city's famous monuments, buildings, bridges, and other features.

Useful and interesting books about Paris for you to buy once you're in Paris

Why wait to buy these guides when you're in Paris instead of before you travel?

Simple - they are published in France and may not be available in your home country, at least not at a reasonable price.

The two books in the middle, Paris Pratique and Paris Districts (this is an English-language version; the French version is called Paris Arrondissements ), contain detailed maps of each arrondissement, an index which lists every street, park, and other places and tells you the page and coordinates where you can find it in the book, and metro, train, RER, and bus maps. They are invaluable for when you need better views than you can get on your phone - and also for when you don't want to use up your data supply or can't get a connection.

Of the two, Paris Districts is thinner, smaller, and lighter weight, so it is the best one to carry with you. It costs about 9€, which is a bargain considering how useful it is. Almost every news kiosk in the city used to carry them before mobile phones and cheap data became so ubiquitous, but now they're a little harder to find - but worth the search. The one in the photo above came from the news kiosk on Champs-Elysees.

Paris Plage - sand and beach umbrellas along the Seine River

If you can't find the Paris Districts arrondissements map book, Paris Pratique is an excellent second choice, although slightly larger and 2-3 euros pricier. You can find it (or other similar arrondissement map books) in most bookstores and also in many Paris Fnacs. - try the one at 74 Champs Elysees. (Fnac is a popular French chain known for its electronics, books, toys, and household appliances.)

Some cheese shops (fromageries) sell Les 54 Fromages, which will tell you everything you need and want to know about the most important French cheeses. It's a fun souvenir, plus a great gift.

Look for Paris Visite Guidée in Pavillon de l'Arsenal (21 Boulevard Morland, 4th arr). It's a wonderful book that details the history of Paris from an urban planning and architectural perspective, starting with the "enclosed" city of 1190, continuing through Baron Haussmann's modernization of Paris in the 1850s, and ending with the continued renovations, re-imaginings, and planned developments of today. Despite the title, the book is in English.

Pavillon de l'Arsenal, by the way, combines a center for urban planning and architecture, a related museum, and a fabulous bookstore (free admission to all). Most books are in French, but you'll find a small but interesting selection of titles in English, German, Spanish, and Italian. It's close to the Seine (and the Sully-Morland metro station) and well worth a visit.

Fun Ways to Tour Paris

More articles about planning your trip to paris.

Why Visit Paris?
Top 10 Paris Attractions
Get acquainted with Paris arrondissements
Should you get travel insurance? (Hint: the answer is yes!)
What to expect in Paris hotels

Need a Paris Hotel or Apartment?

Planning to visit Paris soon? Use this Paris hotel and apartment booking map to find accommodations and make your reservations:

Check out the newest Paris hotels

Top Attractions & Tours

Eiffel Tower - Enjoy sweeping views of Paris
Louvre Tour - Soak up art & see the Mona Lisa
Palace of Versailles - Best way to see the famous Chateau
Paris Museum Pass - Choose 2, 4, or 6 days
Paris Disneyland - Get express tickets & transport from Paris

Happening in Paris

January in Paris

The famous Paris winter sales, concerts, new museum exhibits

February in Paris

Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year Parades

March in Paris

Mardi Gras, Fountain Shows at Versailles, French Open

April in Paris

Paris Marathon, Easter concerts, spring flowers

May in Paris

Mother's Day, jazz festival, concerts

June in Paris

Summer sales, Pride week, music fests, air show

July in Paris

Bastille Day, Tour de France, beaches

August in Paris

Free concerts & movies, Rock En Seine

September in Paris

European Heritage Days, Fashion Week

October in Paris

Wine festival, Halloween, Motor Show

November in Paris

Armistice Day, Salon du Chocolat

December in Paris

Christmas, New Year's Eve

Hanukkuh in Paris

Menorah lightings

Christmas in Paris

Holiday celebrations & decorations

Christmas Markets

Gifts, holiday food, mulled wine, and Santa

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Book Your Paris Hotel

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Deals & Discounts

How to save on your Paris hotel

Plan Your Paris Trip

Why visit Paris?
Best Paris guide books
Find cheap flights to Paris
Choose your Paris hotel
7 Reasons why you need travel insurance
Electric adapters and converters
Best ways to get Euros
Check out 10 top Paris attractions
How to skip the ticket lines
Paris Museum Pass: Should you get one?
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Guides And Tips

Guides And Tips about Paris

Making the most of a week in paris.

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A Millennial’s Guide to Le Marais, Paris

The Wishlist: Solo Travel in Paris

The Wishlist: A Culture Vulture’s Guide to Paris

The Wishlist: An Arty Guide to Paris

The Wishlist: A Foodie Guide to Paris

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How To Spend a Day on the Champs-Élysées, Paris

A Parisian Adventure: Planning the Perfect Day Trip From Paris

Craving a taste of French countryside, medieval history, or artistic inspiration? A day trip from Paris unlocks a world of possibilities

Camilla Amadi • Apr 29, 2024

Beyond the Eiffel Tower lies a treasure trove of destinations waiting to be discovered. Craving a taste of French countryside, medieval history or artistic inspiration? A day trip from Paris unlocks a world of possibilities and you can return to the City of Lights with renewed energy and unforgettable memories.

5 Day Trips From Paris

If you have some extra time, there are many charming towns and villages waiting to be explored. We’ve compiled five enticing escapes, all perfect for a single-day adventure from Paris. Here are a few of our favorites:

Home to the iconic Palace of Versailles, Versailles is a must-see for any history buff. The palace was the seat of French royal power for over a century, and its opulent gardens and staterooms are a testament to the grandeur of the French monarchy.

Things to do: Visit the Palace of Versailles, explore the Hall of Mirrors, stroll through the meticulously manicured gardens, rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal, visit the Marie-Antoinette’s Estate, and attend the famous Musical Fountain Shows (seasonal).

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Versailles is during the spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) when the weather is mild, and the gardens are in full bloom, avoiding the peak summer crowds.

Where to stay : Experience luxury at its finest by staying at the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, offering elegant rooms and impeccable service just steps away from the Palace of Versailles.

This small village in Normandy is best known as the home of Claude Monet, the founder of Impressionism. Monet’s home and gardens, which he immortalized in many of his paintings, are now a popular tourist destination.

Things to do: Explore Claude Monet’s House and Gardens, wander through the flower garden and water garden, visit the Museum of Impressionisms, and take a leisurely walk around the picturesque village.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Giverny is from April to October, especially during late spring to early summer when the flowers are in full bloom, and the gardens are at their most colorful.

Where to stay : Enjoy a peaceful countryside retreat at the Le Jardin des Plumes , a charming boutique hotel located close to Monet’s gardens, featuring stylish rooms and a gourmet restaurant with garden views.

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its dramatic tidal variations, with the surrounding bay experiencing some of the highest tides in Europe. During high tide, the island is completely surrounded by water, creating a magical and isolated atmosphere.

Things to do: Explore the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, walk along the ramparts for panoramic views, visit the historic village, wander through narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants, and take a guided tour to learn about the island’s fascinating history.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Mont Saint-Michel is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) to avoid the large crowds of summer while still enjoying pleasant weather.

Where to stay : Immerse yourself in the magic of Mont Saint-Michel by staying at the La Mère Poulard , an iconic hotel and restaurant within the medieval walls, offering cozy rooms and panoramic views of the bay.

The city of Chartres is famous for its magnificent cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France, and its stained glass windows are some of the most beautiful in the world.

Things To Do: Visit the Maison Picassiette, a unique mosaic-covered house created by local artist Raymond Isidore, using broken glass and pottery. You may also walk the labyrinth located inside Chartres Cathedral, a symbolic journey representing the spiritual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Chartres is during the spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) when the weather is mild, and the city is less crowded.

Where to stay : Indulge in the historic ambiance of Chartres by booking a stay at the Best Western Plus Hotel Le Grand Monarque , ideally situated near the cathedral and featuring comfortable rooms and a traditional French brasserie.

This medieval town is located in Seine-et-Marne, about an hour east of Paris. Provins is known for its well-preserved city walls, its underground passages, and its annual Rose Festival, which takes place in September.

Things to do: Explore the medieval ramparts and gates, visit the Underground Galleries of Provins, attend a medieval festival or reenactment, explore the Grange aux Dîmes, and visit the Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church.

Best time to travel : The best time to visit Provins is during the summer months (June to August) when the weather is pleasant for exploring outdoor attractions and when various festivals and events take place, celebrating the town’s medieval heritage.

Where to stay : Step back in time at the Maison d’Hôtes Stella Cadente , a unique boutique hotel located within the medieval walls of Provins, offering themed rooms inspired by fairy tales and a whimsical atmosphere that transports guests to another era.

Plan Your Itinerary

Crafting a well-rounded itinerary ensures you make the most of your time away from Paris. Consider the following tips:

Early Start: Begin your day trip early to maximize exploration time and avoid crowds, especially at popular attractions like Versailles or Mont Saint-Michel.

Transportation : Research transportation options, whether by train, bus, or organized tours, and book tickets in advance for a seamless journey.

Highlight Attractions: Prioritize must-see attractions while allowing flexibility for unexpected discoveries and leisurely moments.

Local Cuisine: Sample regional delicacies at quaint cafes or charming bistros, savoring the flavors of each destination.

Pack Essentials: Prepare for a day of adventure by packing essentials tailored to your chosen destination.

Comfortable Attire : Dress appropriately for the weather and activities, whether exploring palace grounds, hiking nature trails, or wandering cobblestone streets.

Map and Guidebook : Arm yourself with maps and guidebooks to navigate unfamiliar terrain and gain insights into local history and culture.

Camera : Capture the beauty and memories of your day trip with a camera or smartphone to immortalize scenic vistas and cherished moments.

Snacks and Water: Stay energized and hydrated throughout the day with snacks and water, especially if venturing to remote areas.

Embrace the Experience

Venturing beyond Paris’s borders unveils a world of wonders waiting to be explored. Whether you seek history, art, nature, or gastronomy, a day trip from Paris promises an enriching experience. Whichever destination you choose, you’re sure to have a memorable day trip from Paris. As you embark on your day trip from Paris, embrace the sense of adventure, engage with the locals and soak in the sights and sounds that comes with exploration. Bon voyage!

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Nick Schroeder’s perfect day includes a show in South Paris and vintage shopping in Biddeford

The communications manager for Space and member of Mad Horse Theatre Company would also make Rockland and several Portland shops part of the itinerary.

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Nick Schroeder, 42, of Portland, is communications manager and multidisciplinary programmer for Space, a nonprofit arts venue in Portland. He’s also an actor, director and ensemble member with Mad Horse Theatre Company in South Portland. A native of Old Orchard Beach, he’s worked as a journalist and editor at several local publications.

As much as I like bopping around the state by myself, I’ll spend my perfect Maine day with my partner, Mallory, and our nearly 3-year-old toddler. The kid’s in the stage of life where she asks why to just about everything, and that question makes for good conversation.

Getting dressed (finding pants, socks, etc. and negotiating their deployment) can take a while in my house, so we’ll put on WMPG to keep the energy loose. I’ll pour a good cup of coffee, Speckled Ax Early Riser preferred , in my clunky travel mug. Then we’ll get things cracking at that one real good climbing tree in the park for a little proprioceptive rinse. The branches are real low to the ground and I don’t have to worry about my kid taking any nasty falls.

The Palace Diner in Biddeford. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Will Zu Bakery still have croissants by now, or is that too much morning meandering? The neighbors tend to swarm the little West End spot – how is it this good? – and it can quickly sell out. If that’s the case, we’ll drive south. Actually, scratch that – Mallory will drive this leg, and I’ll bike. Our destinations will be the same, Palace Diner (in Biddeford). I’ll have the omelet du jour and those great big potatoes, and maybe a bite of my kid’s pancake – the dad handbook clearly states that you must eat your children’s leftovers. We’ll all poke our heads inside Biddeford Vintage Market and see what new vendors they’ve got (my aunt Barb runs the place with some friends) before making a quick spin into Color.Sound.Oblivion to check their newly stocked records.

The Basico – an arepa stuffed with chicken, cheese and pico de gallo – with a side of pan de bono and a cup of verduritas (spicy green sauce) from Maiz in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

With family who live nearby, I’ll be able to ditch the bike and hop into the car, heading north. We’ll stop in Portland to grab a couple of arepas for the road from the outrageously good Colombian food restaurant Maïz, and head to South Paris. In this fantasy, the Celebration Barn has a perfectly timed matinee show, and true to form, it’s equally enchanting for kids and adults.

The Celebration Barn in South Paris. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

After that, we’ll drive to Rockland (here’s where the kid naps) and head to a beach (any beach) before I pop into Curator , one of few consignment shops that bothers to stock nice stuff for tall fellas. Then it’s over to Rock City Cafe for a refill and a poke around Hello Hello Books behind the cafe. Last time, I found a nice used paperback of a Judy Chicago biography. Will I get this lucky again?

A stack of books at Print: A Bookstore in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Returning to Portland, we’ll have had our fill of driving and Raffi sing-alongs. It’s time for our A-list East End retail trifecta – Ferdinand for handmade wonders, Starry Eyes for snazzy kids’ stuff, and Print: A Bookstore (more books!).

For dinner, the ideal is Asmara , the great Eritrean gem, where we as a family can share big communal plates of colorful food using only our hands as utensils. After we put the kid to bed, I’ll text a friend, and if his kid’s asleep, too, we can sneak out for a little nightcap at the Continental and discuss the news.

How would you spend your perfect Maine day? Send your itinerary, in 500 words or less, with a little about yourself, to [email protected] .

A Belhaven beer, a Negroni and a pint of Guinness at The Continental in Portland. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

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The Ultimate FREE Paris Tourist Map (Things to Do, Photo Spots & More!)
So yes, below, you'll find a handy Google Map that you can use on your phone that includes…. Top Paris museums & sights. The prettiest photo spots and views in Paris. Paris food & drink recommendations. Fun shops to visit in Paris. I hope you find it helpful!
Paris Tourist Map: downloadable map
PARISCityVision offers you a PDF Paris tourist map you can download completely free of charge. This map lists museums, monuments and must-see destinations and is a useful tool, whether you are spending a few hours or several days in France's most beautiful city. Click here to download the plan.
Map of Paris
Icons on the Paris interactive map. The map is very easy to use: Check out information about the destination: click on the color indicators. Move across the map: shift your mouse across the map. Zoom in: double click on the left-hand side of the mouse on the map or move the scroll wheel upwards. Zoom out: double click on the right-hand side of ...
The Best Maps For Visitors
Michelin 62: Paris par Arrondissement Even with the good maps now available for mobile devices, sometimes we still like to use a map book. We know, we know — old fashioned and all that! Or maybe it's simply nostalgia. Michelin is the name in Paris maps,and has been for well over 100 years.Michelin 62, the recent edition of their Paris map, is essentially a mini-atlas covering all 20 ...
Paris travel
Paris. France, Europe. Check out this year's Best in Travel winners. Paris' monument-lined boulevards, museums, classical bistros and boutiques are enhanced by a new wave of multimedia galleries, creative wine bars, design shops and tech start-ups. Best Time to Visit.
The Best Tourist Maps & Guidebooks
23 Smart Ways to See the City. • Maps scale varies. • 184 pages. • Good Metro map. • Includes fold-out map. • 8.6 ounces. We're not big fans of mainstream guide books, but this pocket guide by Frommer impressed us. It has good sections with useful suggestions on walks, the Paris gardens, full day tour ideas, and so on.
4 Days in Paris Itinerary (With a Map!) (2024)
The Palace of the City (Palais de la Cite) is a beautiful complex composed of the Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, and the Palace of Justice. Admission: If you buy the tickets to the Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle together, you get a discount. Free entrance with Paris Pass. Opening hours: Every day 9.30 am - 6 pm.
3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary + Map and Tips!
Here's a quick day by day breakdown of all the sights this itinerary covers: Day 1: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Paris Walking Tour, Tour Montparnasse. Day 2: Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, Arc de Triomphe. Day 3: Versailles, Montmartre.
2 Days in Paris: The Ultimate Paris Itinerary + Map and Tips!
The 2-day Paris Pass actually includes a 2-day Paris Museum Pass, and then adds on things like the Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise and Wine Tasting. So depending on what you plan on doing, one or the other is likely to save you some money on your visit to Paris. You can purchase a Paris Pass here.
32 Best Things to Do in Paris, France
The Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck claims to have the best views in Paris - and once you reach the top, it's easy to see why. The lower deck stands more than 650 feet high and overlooks ...
Paris Travel Guide by Rick Steves
Paris — the City of Light — has been a beacon of culture for centuries. As a world capital of art, fashion, food, literature, and ideas, it stands as a symbol of all the fine things human civilization can offer. Paris offers sweeping boulevards, riverside book stalls, world-class art galleries, and farmers markets. Sip un café crème with deconstructionists at a sidewalk café, then step ...
Paris
Paris. Paris, capital of France, 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 and how to save money whilst ...
A Guide to Paris Arrondissements: Map & Getting Around
Arrondissement is a French term that refers to a district and administrative unit of Paris. The city is divided into 20 of these, beginning with the 1st arrondissement at the city center and spiraling out-- in clockwise fashion-- to the 20th and final district in the northeast. See the map above to visualize how they're laid out, with the Seine ...
Paris Travel Guide
10 days / from2411 USD. Southern France - Walks in the Alpilles and Lavender fields. Start your tour in the coastal city of Marseille, exploring Cassis on the way. Around the Alpilles in Provence, you will be provided with detailed walking materials to explore the area on foot, from both Les Baux and St Remy.
Paris Travel Guide
Welcome to Paris Discovery Guide, an independent travel website (www.parisdiscoveryguide.com) with everything you need to plan a memorable trip to Paris. Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you. Learn more.
PARIS by The MICHELIN Guide
Welcome to Paris, the City of Light, which we invite you to discover in all its glory with Paris by The MICHELIN Guide! Showcasing the 'best of the best' among Paris's restaurants and hotels, this Guide includes daily recommendations from our experts. From all the central neighbourhoods to the suburbs of Greater Paris, our selection is ...
Walking in Paris
Paris walking routes explored in this post. Arc de Triomphe to Pont de Arts — A must-do for first time visitors. Latin Quarter & the isles — A balance of city energy and quiet streets. Le Marais — A trendy neighborhood in a historic setting. Montmartre — A beloved and beautiful art district on a hill with great views.
The ULTIMATE Paris Travel Guide
12 locations pin-pointed on Google Maps below!Paris, ahhh... a slice of heaven. It's the 2nd most visited city in the world, with 19 million visitors annuall...
Paris Travel Guide
The very best month to visit Paris is June, just before high season when the weather is glorious and the gardens are in full bloom. The Tuileries Garden and the Louvre on a sunny day in October. The cheapest months to visit Paris are early December, January, and February; the weather may be cloudy and cool, but museums and attractions will be ...
Paris Itinerary: A Complete 5D4N Guide For First-Timers!
The Catacombs of Paris comes with a dark history — the reason why there are over 6 million human remains in this underground tunnel is due to the cemeteries in the 18th century overflowing with bodies. The relocation of the remains aided in combating 2 of the city's biggest problems simultaneously: the spreading of diseases, as well as the ...
Paris Travel Guide and Map 12+
Collect, save and organize them as you like. And have the best trip ever! With us, traveling got easier and even more fun. Here's what you get - the shortest possible version: • Free offline maps - no roaming, no hustle. • Insider tips and places to discover. • Multifunctional lists to plan and organize your trip.
Best Paris Travel Guidebooks 2024
Hidden Parks of Paris. By Gregory Ross with Julian Darius. Part memoir, part travel guide, and part ode to a lost love named Caroline, Hidden Parks of Paris contains short but evocative descriptions of over 100 of Paris's almost 500 parks, public gardens, and green spaces accompanied by black and white photos.
7 of the Best Paris Travel Apps for iOS and Android
Paris Travel Guide. The best thing about Paris Travel Guide is its useful mishmash of features. On the most basic level, you can find your location on a user-friendly map, identify nearby attractions like restaurants or monuments, and navigate to various sites. What really makes it unique, however, is the personalization.
Guides And Tips about Paris
Explore Paris's hidden gems with our expert guides for an authentic journey—culinary delights, off-the-beaten-path wonders, and cultural landmarks await! ... The Wishlist: Solo Travel in Paris. Orientation - Itineraries by time period. The Wishlist: A Culture Vulture's Guide to Paris.
A Parisian Adventure: Planning the Perfect Day Trip From Paris
A day trip from Paris unlocks a world of possibilities and you can return to the City of Lights with renewed energy and unforgettable memories. 5 Day Trips From Paris. If you have some extra time, there are many charming towns and villages waiting to be explored. We've compiled five enticing escapes, all perfect for a single-day adventure ...
Nick Schroeder's perfect day includes a show in South Paris and vintage
Nick Schroeder, 42, of Portland, is communications manager and multidisciplinary programmer for Space, a nonprofit arts venue in Portland. He's also an actor, director and ensemble member with ...

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Paris Travel Guide

32 Best Things to Do in Paris, France

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

Musée du Louvre Musée du Louvre

Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris) Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris) free

Popular Tours

Champs-Élysées Champs-Élysées free

Arc de Triomphe Arc de Triomphe

Latin Quarter Latin Quarter free

18 Best Paris Tours of 2024: Food, Versailles & More

Seine River Seine River free

Musée d'Orsay Musée d'Orsay

Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) free

Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur) Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre (Sacre-Coeur) free

Centre Pompidou Centre Pompidou