France · Paris

Paris Travel Guide — 2026

Everything you need to plan the perfect Paris trip

From the Louvre to Montmartre, from corner boulangeries to Seine-side sunsets — Paris delivers. This guide covers every practical detail: what to book, where to stay, how much it costs, and the insider tips most travel sites skip.

Best time: April-June, September-October Currency: Euro (€) Avg cost: €100-200/day

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4.8

Traveler rating

€120–200

Per day / person

3–5 days

Ideal stay

180+

Tours available

2,400+

Hotels

Book Paris tours — skip-the-line Louvre, Seine cruise, Versailles day trip.

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Paris is the most-visited city in Europe and the one most likely to exceed expectations. Three days covers the essential sights; five lets you discover the neighborhoods. This page gives you everything: the best tours to book, a tested 3-day itinerary, where to stay by budget, and a cost calculator so there are no surprises.

When is the best time to visit Paris?

Late April through June and September through October are the best months. Temperatures are mild, gardens are in bloom or autumn color, and you avoid the August heat when many Parisians leave town and small shops close. Expect crowds at major sights year-round, but mornings are quieter.

How many days do you need in Paris?

Three full days is the practical minimum to see the major sights without rushing: one for the Louvre and the Île de la Cité, one for the Eiffel Tower and Musée d'Orsay, and one for Montmartre or a Versailles day trip. Five days gives you time for neighborhoods and a slower pace.

Is Paris safe for tourists?

Paris is generally safe, but pickpocketing is the main risk, especially on Métro line 1, around the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and the Louvre. Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets or a zipped bag. Violent crime against tourists is rare. Avoid empty Métro cars late at night.

How much does a trip to Paris cost?

Budget travelers spend around €80 to €120 per day on hostels, bakery meals, and Métro tickets. Mid-range trips run €150 to €250 per day for a small hotel, casual restaurants, and a museum or two. Luxury easily exceeds €400 per day. Flights and tours are extra.

Do you need to speak French in Paris?

No, but a few basic phrases go a long way. Most people in central Paris working in tourism speak English. Always start interactions with bonjour and merci — skipping the greeting is considered rude. Service in restaurants tends to warm up considerably once you make the effort.

Best Paris tours

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Bestseller

Skip-the-Line Louvre Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★ 4,821 reviews

From

€65

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Top rated

Eiffel Tower Summit Access by Lift

★★★★★ 3,102 reviews

From

€69

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Versailles Half-Day Trip with Skip-the-Line

★★★★☆ 2,847 reviews

From

€89

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Seine Evening Cruise

★★★★★ 1,544 reviews

From

€18

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Skip-the-line, private guides, day trips. Free cancellation on most.

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A deeper Paris itinerary

Day 1 Day 1 — Louvre, Île de la Cité & Seine

Morning Louvre Museum — book timed entry, head straight to Winged Victory

Afternoon Notre-Dame exterior + Sainte-Chapelle + Île Saint-Louis walk

Evening Seine cruise timed for the Eiffel Tower sparkle

Day 2 Day 2 — Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay & Left Bank

Morning Eiffel Tower — first 9AM slot, take the stairs to floor 2

Afternoon Musée d'Orsay — Thursday evening visit if possible

Evening Saint-Germain for dinner, duck confit at a classic bistro

Day 3 Day 3 — Montmartre, Marais & local Paris

Morning Montmartre — arrive at Sacré-Cœur before 9AM, walk rue Lepic

Afternoon Le Marais — the Picasso Museum, Rue des Rosiers falafel for lunch

Evening Aperitivo in the Marais, dinner at a Parisian wine bar

What are the best things to do in Paris?

Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel's 1889 iron lattice tower is 330 meters tall and remains the defining symbol of Paris. You can ride lifts to the second floor and the summit, or climb the 674 stairs to the second level for less than half the price. The tower sparkles for five minutes every hour after dark.

Entrance: €14.10 (lift to 2nd floor) to €29.40 (summit by lift); €11.30 stairs
Hours: 9AM-11:45PM daily; 9:30AM-11:45PM mid-Sep to mid-Jun
Getting there: Métro Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or Trocadéro (lines 6, 9) for the classic photo across the river

Insider tip: Book the first 9AM timed-entry slot on toureiffel.paris and take the stairs — you skip most of the lift queue and beat the tour groups by a full hour.

Louvre Museum

The world's most-visited museum holds the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and 35,000 other works across former royal palace wings. Even a focused two-hour visit only scratches the surface. Closed Tuesdays — the most common rookie mistake in Paris.

Entrance: €22 online timed-entry; free first Friday evening and on Bastille Day
Hours: 9AM-6PM; until 9:45PM on Fridays; closed Tuesdays
Getting there: Métro Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (lines 1, 7); use the Carrousel du Louvre entrance to skip the pyramid line

Insider tip: Buy a timed ticket on louvre.fr a week ahead. The Denon wing (Mona Lisa) is bedlam by 11AM — go straight there at opening, then double back to the calmer Richelieu wing.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The 12th-century Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité reopened to the public in December 2024 after the 2019 fire. The restored interior, vaulted ceiling, and rose windows are again accessible. Tower climbs reopen in stages — check the official site before visiting.

Entrance: Free entry to the cathedral; tower climb separately ticketed
Hours: 8AM-7PM most days; check notredamedeparis.fr for current schedule
Getting there: Métro Cité (line 4) or Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (RER B and C)

Insider tip: Free timed-entry reservations on the official Notre-Dame app are released two days in advance — book at midnight Paris time. Walk-up lines move but are long.

Arc de Triomphe

Napoleon's 50-meter triumphal arch stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle roundabout, where twelve avenues meet. Climb the 284 steps for one of the best views in Paris — the Champs-Élysées stretching one direction, La Défense skyline in the other.

Entrance: €16 adults; free first Sunday of the month Nov-Mar
Hours: 10AM-10:30PM daily (Apr-Sep); 10AM-10PM (Oct-Mar)
Getting there: Métro Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (lines 1, 2, 6, RER A). Use the underground passage — never cross the roundabout on foot.

Insider tip: Go at sunset. You watch the city light up and see the Eiffel Tower start its hourly sparkle from a perfect angle with no obstructions.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The white-domed basilica crowns Montmartre, the highest natural point in Paris at 130 meters. The interior holds one of the largest mosaics in the world, and the dome climb offers a 360-degree city view. The steps in front are a gathering spot at sunset.

Entrance: Free for the basilica; €8 for the dome climb
Hours: Basilica 6:30AM-10:30PM daily; dome 10:30AM-8:30PM (May-Sep)
Getting there: Métro Anvers (line 2), then ride the funicular (covered by a regular Métro ticket) up the hill

Insider tip: Skip the front steps, which are jammed with vendors and scammers tying friendship bracelets on your wrist. Climb the quieter side staircase from rue Foyatier instead.

Musée d'Orsay

A converted 1900 Beaux-Arts railway station holding the world's greatest Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection: Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and an entire floor of Van Gogh. The building itself is as impressive as the art inside.

Entrance: €16 online; free first Sunday of the month
Hours: 9:30AM-6PM; until 9:45PM on Thursdays; closed Mondays
Getting there: RER C Musée d'Orsay; or Métro Solférino (line 12)

Insider tip: Visit Thursday evening after 6PM. The crowds thin dramatically, the late light through the giant clock window is spectacular, and the upstairs Van Gogh room is finally walkable.

Centre Pompidou

Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers' inside-out 1977 building holds Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art: Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Warhol. Note: closed for major renovation from late 2025 through 2030 — verify current status before visiting.

Entrance: €15 when open; check schedule for partial closures
Hours: 11AM-9PM; closed Tuesdays (verify with centrepompidou.fr)
Getting there: Métro Rambuteau (line 11) or Hôtel de Ville (lines 1, 11)

Insider tip: Even when galleries are closed, the rooftop view from Georges restaurant on the sixth floor is one of the best in Paris and free to enter via the express lift.

Sainte-Chapelle

A 13th-century royal chapel inside the Palais de la Cité whose upper level has 15 stained-glass windows reaching 15 meters high — over a thousand biblical scenes in glowing color. It is the single most beautiful room in Paris, full stop.

Entrance: €13; €20 combined ticket with the Conciergerie next door
Hours: 9AM-7PM (Apr-Sep); 9AM-5PM (Oct-Mar)
Getting there: Métro Cité (line 4); the entrance is inside the Palais de Justice security check

Insider tip: Visit on a sunny morning around 11AM — the eastern windows glow brightest with the sun behind them. Classical concerts in the chapel most evenings April–October are worth every euro.

Musée du Louvre Pyramid

I.M. Pei's 1989 glass and metal pyramid serves as the main entrance to the Louvre. At night it glows from within and reflects in the courtyard fountains. The inverted pyramid in the underground Carrousel mall is the quieter, faster way into the museum.

Entrance: Included with Louvre ticket
Hours: Same as Louvre
Getting there: Métro Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre (lines 1, 7)

Insider tip: For the classic pyramid photo without 200 tourists in frame, arrive before 8:30AM or after 9PM when the courtyard is mostly empty but the pyramid is lit.

Luxembourg Gardens

The 25-hectare formal garden of the French Senate is the city's living room. Parisians come to read, play chess, sail toy boats on the central pond, and watch their kids at the marionette stage. The Medici Fountain is hidden in the eastern grove.

Entrance: Free
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, varies seasonally
Getting there: RER B Luxembourg; Métro Odéon (lines 4, 10)

Insider tip: The free metal chairs near the central pond are first-come first-served. Grab one with a coffee from a nearby boulangerie around 10AM and you've got the perfect Paris morning.

Seine River Cruise

An hour on a glass-roofed bateau-mouche is the easiest way to see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Île Saint-Louis from the water. Evening cruises catch the Eiffel Tower's hourly sparkle. Skip the dinner cruises — the food is forgettable.

Entrance: €15-20 standard cruise; €60+ with dinner
Hours: Roughly 10AM-10:30PM, every 30 minutes in peak season
Getting there: Bateaux Parisiens at Pont d'Iéna (Eiffel Tower side) or Vedettes du Pont-Neuf at Île de la Cité

Insider tip: Sit on the upper open deck, river-right side going east — you get the Eiffel Tower full-length and direct sun on Notre-Dame. Buy tickets online; walk-up prices are €3-5 more.

Musée de l'Armée

France's military history museum inside Les Invalides, capped by the golden dome housing Napoleon's tomb. The World War collections are genuinely excellent, and the courtyard alone — ringed with cannons — is worth the stop even without going inside.

Entrance: €15
Hours: 10AM-6PM daily; closed first Monday of each month
Getting there: Métro La Tour-Maubourg (line 8), Invalides (line 13)

Insider tip: Most visitors beeline for Napoleon's tomb and skip the WW1 and WW2 floors entirely. Those floors are some of the best military history exhibits in Europe — give them at least an hour.

Petit Palais

A Beaux-Arts gem across from the Grand Palais, housing the city's fine arts collection from antiquity to 1900. The permanent collection is free, the inner garden courtyard has a café, and the building's mosaic floors and painted ceilings rival anything on the walls.

Entrance: Free permanent collection; €10-15 for temporary exhibitions
Hours: 10AM-6PM; until 9PM Fridays for temporary exhibitions; closed Mondays
Getting there: Métro Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau (lines 1, 13)

Insider tip: This is the best free museum in Paris and almost nobody goes. On a rainy afternoon when the Louvre line stretches to the street, walk in here in under two minutes.

Musée du quai Branly

Jean Nouvel's striking building near the Eiffel Tower houses indigenous arts from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The vertical garden facade is a landmark in itself. The rooftop restaurant, Les Ombres, has one of the best Eiffel Tower views in the city.

Entrance: €13
Hours: 10:30AM-6:30PM; until 9PM Saturdays; closed Mondays
Getting there: Métro Alma-Marceau (line 9), Iéna (line 9)

Insider tip: Walk the museum's riverside garden before or after your visit — it's open and free even without a ticket, and it's one of the quietest green spaces near the Eiffel Tower.

Montmartre

The hilltop village neighborhood was once home to Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh. Cobbled lanes wind past the last working windmill, the pink La Maison Rose, and the artist-packed Place du Tertre square below Sacré-Cœur. Touristy at the top, authentically local two streets down.

Entrance: Free to wander
Hours: Always open
Getting there: Métro Abbesses (line 12) and walk uphill, or Anvers (line 2) for the funicular

Insider tip: Skip the caricature artists in Place du Tertre — they quote one price, then triple it. Walk five minutes north to rue des Abbesses for a more authentic café scene and the best crêpe in the arrondissement at Crêperie Brocéliande.

Best hotels in Paris

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Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais

Le Marais · Boutique · Rating 9.1

Most characterFree cancellation

€220

per night

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Hôtel des Marronniers

Saint-Germain · Classic · Rating 8.8

Best locationBreakfast included

€165

per night

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Hôtel Particulier Montmartre

Montmartre · Boutique · Rating 9.3

Most romanticFree cancellation

€260

per night

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Trip budget calculator

How much will my Paris trip cost?

Travelers 2 people

Nights in Paris 4 nights

Hotel style Mid-range

Estimated trip cost: €1,700

Based on mid-range hotels (€165/night) + €130/day activities and food per person

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Practical tips for Paris

transport

The Métro is the fastest way around. Buy a Navigo Easy card (€2 once) and load carnets of 10 tickets at €17.35 — far cheaper than single €2.15 tickets. Buses and trams use the same ticket. Uber works but is pricier; Bolt is sometimes cheaper.

tipping

Service is included by law (service compris) on every bill. Round up or leave a euro or two for good service in a café or restaurant; nothing is expected. For taxis, round to the nearest euro.

etiquette

Always say bonjour when you walk into a shop and merci when you leave — this is non-negotiable. Speak quietly in restaurants. Don't put your feet on Métro seats. Dress slightly more formally than you would in the US.

emergency

112 (general emergency), 15 (medical/SAMU), 17 (police), 18 (fire). For 24-hour pharmacies: Pharmacie Européenne at Place de Clichy or Pharmacie des Champs-Élysées (84 avenue des Champs-Élysées).

wifi sims

Free public Wi-Fi at most cafés, museums, and parks via PARIS WI-FI. For data, an Orange Holiday eSIM (€20 for 14 days, 30 GB) is the easiest option for visitors from outside the EU.

Where to eat in Paris

Paris food is best when you eat where Parisians eat — neighborhood bistros, corner boulangeries, and the covered markets. Avoid restaurants with multilingual menus and waiters chasing you in from the sidewalk.

Must-try dishes

Steak frites at a classic bistro like Le Relais de l'Entrecôte
A real croissant from Du Pain et des Idées or Cédric Grolet
Duck confit and a glass of Bordeaux at a 7th arrondissement bistro
Fresh oysters at Huîtrerie Régis in Saint-Germain
Bistro classics: soupe à l'oignon, escargots, blanquette de veau
An éclair from L'Éclair de Génie or a kouign-amann from Maison Georges Larnicol

Best food neighborhoods

Rue Montorgueil (2nd) — pedestrian market street with bakeries, cheese shops, and small bistros
Le Marais (4th) — falafel on rue des Rosiers, modern bistros, and natural wine bars
Rue Cler (7th) — classic Parisian market street near the Eiffel Tower
Belleville (20th) — the city's best Chinese, Vietnamese, and North African food

Tip: Lunch is much cheaper than dinner — most bistros offer a formule (starter + main, or main + dessert) for €18-24 between noon and 2:30PM. Always reserve dinner at popular places at least a day ahead.

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Frequently asked questions

January, February, and early November are consistently the cheapest months for transatlantic flights to Paris, often 30-40% below summer fares. Book 2-4 months ahead, fly Tuesday or Wednesday, and use Google Flights' calendar view to spot the cheapest dates.

The 4th (Le Marais) and 6th (Saint-Germain) are the best for first-timers. Both are central, walkable, well-connected by Métro, and packed with restaurants. The 4th is livelier and more design-forward; the 6th is quieter and more classically Parisian.

Yes, for the lift. Book a timed ticket on toureiffel.paris at least one to two weeks ahead, especially for sunset slots. The stairs option (cheaper, much shorter line) can usually be bought on arrival even in summer.

Yes for most lines until midnight, when the Métro closes (2AM on Friday and Saturday). Avoid empty cars, watch for pickpockets on line 1 and around the Châtelet hub. Lines 4 and 13 see more incidents. Use Uber or Bolt after midnight.

The RER B train is the fastest and cheapest at €11.80, taking 30-40 minutes to Châtelet-Les Halles. The Roissybus is €16.60 and goes to Opéra in 60 minutes. A flat-rate taxi to the Right Bank is €56, the Left Bank is €65.

Many state museums (Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, Centre Pompidou) are free on the first Sunday of each month, October through March. Permanent collections at city-run museums (Petit Palais, Musée Carnavalet) are free year-round.

Stay in a hostel in the Latin Quarter, eat lunch at bistros (the formule runs €18-24), buy a Navigo Easy carnet of 10 Métro tickets, and time your visit for the first Sunday of the month when major museums are free. Parks and churches cost nothing.

Yes, Paris tap water is safe and high-quality. Restaurants will bring a free carafe d'eau if you ask. Sparkling water (eau gazeuse) and still bottled water (eau plate) cost extra. Wallace fountains throughout the city provide free drinking water.

Yes. Crowds drop sharply from mid-November through February, hotel prices fall, and you can walk into the Louvre without a queue. Bring layers and a waterproof coat — it rains often but rarely snows. Christmas lights along the Champs-Élysées in December are spectacular.

Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets or a zipped bag, never in a backpack pocket. Be most alert on Métro line 1, around the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sacré-Cœur. Ignore anyone asking if you speak English on the street — it's usually a distraction setup.

Almost all of them, including small bistros and bakeries — tap-to-pay is universal. Some open-air markets and very small cafés may have a €15-20 minimum for cards. Carry €20-30 in cash for those situations.

The Paris Museum Pass (€62 for 2 days, €77 for 4 days) is worth it if you're hitting 4+ major museums and want skip-the-line entry. The full Paris Pass with transport add-ons rarely pays off — buy individual tickets instead.