🗺 Tourism Information
Paris, France's capital, is a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral. The city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques. It has drawn waves of immigrants, expatriate artists and intellectuals, and global traders for centuries, attracting by virtue of its vibrant economy, rich political and artistic history, many tourist sites, outstanding architecture and cultural life, and overall high standard of living. Visiting the city of Paris isn't cheap, but it's one of those cities with the "wow factor" present in so many ways! Planning your visit is essential, the times, season and your stay to be in good reach of transport. So come to Paris to enjoy the culture, the french flair, the monuments, the cuisine and the night life... there is a lot to keep you occupied!
The weather for Paris during the summer is usually hot and dry. This being the peak season as well, but it's more pleasant to visit Paris in the springtime or the Autumn to avoid the crowds. Additionally, the autumnal shades of trees lining the boulevards add a new dimension to the city's beauty.
Spring, from March to May, is the driest season in Paris but rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the other seasons. It is best to have an umbrella with you in Paris no matter what the season, but the rain showers are usually as brief as they are sudden.
During the winter, it can get quite cold with December and January being the coldest months with temperatures around 5°C. Snow is rare nowadays with climate change.
During the peak season, Summer (June to August) temperatures are warm, with average highs of 28°C and occasional heat waves,
Transport
Paris could not be visited if it was not for a great infrastructure of metro, RER, (Réseau Express Régional or Regional Express Rail) bus, night busses, tramway and trains all perfectly linked to access every corner of the city by public transport. It takes time to adjust to the amount of lines and transport modes in Paris. However, it's quite easy to follow when you have a schematic map at hand and after a few rides you will get familiar with it. Download the PDF maps below for ease of use when you travel in Paris and locate your destinations always before you start your ride to plan the best route. Taking the metro is simple, either buy single tickets €1.90 or use the Navigo Pass. (see tip below).
When arriving to Paris by air you have two airports. The main airport in Paris is Charles de Gaulle (CDG) (International Airport and main hub for Air France) and Orly (ORY) (Secondary airport for low cost airlines and other airlines mostly):
Arriving to Charles de Gaulle there are numerous ways of getting to the city centre, however the most convenient and practical way is to take the RER (line B) which stops at Denfert-Rochereau, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Châtelet-Les-Halles or Gare du Nord. You can interchange with the metro at all those stations. It costs €11.40 (from 2018) for the one way ride which takes 35 min to the centre at Gare de Nord. Alternatively you can purchase other transport cards and passes before you get on to save money. (see below). If you are looking to travel by bus from the airport you can take bus 350 to Gare de L'Est for €6. There are other busses which commute travellers to Disneyland or to the other airport, Orly. (see map).
❗Attention: When taking RER line B make sure you take a fast train and NOT the local train. Local trains are older, don't have luggage compartment, lack of air conditioning and are slower, be aware as well that they stop at less affluent areas where pick-pocketing and scams are more targeted on travellers and tourists.
Arriving to Orly Airport there is also RER connection via the Orlyval Shuttle train. Take the shuttle to Antony station where you can take the RER (line B) to Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Châtelet-Les-Halles or Gare du Nord for central Paris connections. Price is €12.10. Alternatively buy other passes or the Navigo card before you board. (see tip below).
When arriving by train, the main station in Paris is Gare du Nord, where most international services can be found travelling from Europe. It is possible to travel from Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne and London direct to Paris Gare du Nord. When you arrive you have multiple connections possible to link up with the RER B (airport line) D and E lines, Metro 2,4 and 5 lines as well as local busses. There is also information points, travel tours and police station at hand.
✔️Tip: If you are staying in Paris 3, 4 or up to 7 days then consider buying the weekly pass "Navigo". This electronic system is the Paris integrated card for easy access for all modes of transport within the Paris region and zones. It's also valid to take from the airports, Disneyland and other outskirt areas. One week costs €22.80, plus a €5 card fee. This is much cheaper than buying the RER twice, plus metro or bus rides individually. For more info on the Navigo card click on this link.
Paris offers to the visitor an unlimited number of cultural, historical, artistic and entertainment options! There are dozens of places to visit and monuments to see. It's recommended that you plan a little your visit as not to miss what is important to you. Paris is one of the cities with the greatest diversity of museums in the world! One hundred or so Parisian museums showcase paintings, sculpture, photography, contemporary art, science and collections on a whole range of subjects. There is so much to see! You can also visit the famous Chateaux (palaces), relax in the many parks and gardens and if you are not tired yet, in the evening enjoy the many gastronomic offerings in the city as well as watching a cabaret at the famous Moulin Rouge! To help you choose and not miss out on some of the best spots in Paris we have put an essential list of places to visit during your stay. However for a more in depth description of more things to see, museums and places of interest in Paris, you can visit Parisinfo.com.
✔️Tip: If you are visiting during the low season, (1st November to 31st March). every first Sunday of the month, many of Paris official buildings, landmarks, some palaces and museums are free of charge! Check below for more details!
La Tour Eiffel: The most iconic monument in Paris, and one of the most renowned architectural wonders of the world ever built! A not-to-be-missed monument and symbol of the capital, the Eiffel Tower stands 324 m tall, and weighs 10,100 tons. Created in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, it was built for the Exposition Universelle of 1889.
You can go up the Eiffel Tower by the stairs or by lift. (see table). On the completely refurbished 1st floor, you can find a few shops. The 2nd floor is the main viewing platform where to admire the great views of Paris! You will also find souvenir shops, and if you can afford it, treat yourself to a gastronomic meal at the famous Jules Verne restaurant, 125 metres above ground! Finally on the 3rd floor is the summit, where you have a bird view of Paris at 360°! Booking: online on www.tour-eiffel.fr . Closest metro station is École Militaire (line 8) and Trocadero. (line 6&9)
✔️Tip: Book in advance online to ensure the best times and avoid queues for tickets at the entrance. However the Eiffel Tower has lengthy times to pass the several security inspections. Arrive 30 min before your booked ticket time, specially at weekends, high season and if going up by lift.
Notre-Dame de Paris: (closed at present due to a fire burning the roof of the Notre Dam in April 2019). A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, is one of the most visited monument in France. It was built in the Middle Ages, at the far end of the Île de la Cité. Work started in the 13th century and finished in the 15th century. Badly damaged during the French Revolution, the cathedral was restored in the 19th century by the architect Viollet-le-Duc. In 2013, Notre-Dame is celebrated its 850th anniversary. For this occasion, many events were organized and the cathedral renewed its bells with the arrival of eight new bells as well as a new great bell. Road distances from Paris in France are calculated from point 0 on the cathedral forecourt. At the top of 422 steps inside the towers of Notre-Dame cathedral, visitors are rewarded with one of the most stunning panoramic views of Paris. Before you climb up, the tour is marked by three not-to-be-missed stops: upstairs has amazing gothic architecture and vaulted warheads; the chimera galleries allow you to get close to the famous gargoyles, including the famous Stryge; and a few steps from the top, stop and admire the belfry, church bells and the famous 13-tonne Emmanuel great bell.
✔️Tip: To visit the main building is free, only at ground level. But if you want to go up remember to book your time slot online to visit the Notre-Dame Tours or on the mobile application "Jefile" (available free on Google-play or Appstore).Please note: These slots are subject to availability.If you don't have access to a smartphone, it is advised that you arrive at Notre-Dame when it opens to make your reservation on a terminal there. Entry cost is €10 per adult. Free entry first Sunday of each month, from November to March.Free for under 18 years old and residents in the EU between 18 and 25 years old. Closest Metro station: Cité (line 4).
from a panoramic view of Paris, during the day and at night, and two viewpoint indicators. A museum retracing the history of the Arc de Triomphe, situated within the structure, completes the visit. Prices are €12 per adult. It's free every first Sunday of the month in the low season only. (1st November to 31st March). Closest metro station is George V (line 1).
Place de la Concorde: is situated at the end of the Champs-Elysées. Today it is famous for the Luxor Obelisk (a 3,300 year old Egyptian obelisk erected on the square in October 1836), the surrounding prestigious hotels, and the two monumental fountains (Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves). Created in 1772, Place de la Concorde was originally known for having been an execution site during the French Revolution. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette (among others) were guillotined here. Between 1836 and 1846 the architect Jacques-Ignace Hittorf redesigned the square to become what it is today. Closest Metro station is Concorde (line 1,8,12).
Musée-du-Louvre: The best and most important museum in Paris. It is a must see whilst in Paris to discover the wealth of treasures it contains. The museum houses western works of art dating from the Middle Ages to 1848, in addition to collections of ancient oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations, as well as graphic and Islamic arts. From room to room, the former royal palace reveals its masterpieces to the public: the Mona Lisa, The Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. In total, there are 35,000 works to be discovered or re-discovered! With its eight hundred year old history, the Louvre has been influenced by numerous architectural trends, from the medieval fortress of the 12th century to the glass pyramid by Pei (1989). The latest addition, housing the Islamic arts section, was designed by architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. The undulating glass canopy covers the Visconti courtyard, flooding the 2,800 m² new wing with light. A visit to the museum is particularly pleasant at night: the Louvre is less crowded and visitors can enjoy stunning night-time views of Pei’s glass pyramid, the Cour Carrée and the Seine. The museum opens from 9am to 5.45pm except on Wednesdays and Fridays till 9.45pm. (Tuesday's the Museum is closed). Tickets cost €17. Closest Metro station Louvre–Rivoli(line 1).
✔️Tip: The museum is free every first Sunday of the month in the low season only. (1st November to 31st March). It is advised that you buy your tickets online, as they work per slot time. Buy your tickets here via the official page. Also arrive 30-45 min before your planned visit, security checks, build up many queues.
its permanent collections, internationally renowned exhibitions are organized every year on the top floor, where visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Paris and its rooftops. Ticket entrance is €14 for the museum plus rooftop or €5 for the rooftop access only. It is free every Sunday of the month. Closed on tuesdays. Closest Metro station is Rambuteau (line 11).
Musée de l'Orangerie: In impressively-sized rooms, this museum houses a series of large Water Lilies paintings which are masterpieces offered by Monet himself to France in 1922. The basement houses the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collections which are dedicated to the great names of the 20th century: Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Soutine etc. Entrance fee is €9, except the first Sunday of every month. Closest Metro station is Concorde (line 1,8,12).
Park and Gardens Bois-de-Boulogne: A former hunting ground for the Kings of France, the Bois de Boulogne has become the largest spot for relaxation in the west of Paris. With a surface area of 850 hectares, one of the ‘lungs’ of the capital encompasses the Parc de Bagatelle, the Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil, the Pré-Catelan and the Jardin d'Acclimatation. It offers numerous walkways, 28 km of bridleways and 15 km of touristic cycle routes. There are numerous facilities, which have been designed to suit everyone, such as playgrounds for children, the Musée en Herbe, picnic areas, bicycle hire and boat hire on the Lac Inférieur, the Auteuil and Longchamp racecourses, restaurants and the Théâtre de Verdure. When you need some open space to disconnect from the city noises, relax, unwind and get close to nature this park is what you are looking for! Closest Metro station Neuilly Porte Maillot (line 1 or RER C), Gare Avenue Foch (RER C) Porte Dauphine / Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny (line 2), Gare d'Avenue Henri Martin (RER C), Porte d'Auteuil (line 10) or Les Sablons (line 1).
World famous by it's castles, princess stories and Mickey Mouse and friends characters this entertainment park is one like no other! With 2 Disney parks®, more than 50 attractions, shows and parades, Disneyland® Paris promises a unique day with friends or family. Suitable for all ages, whether you are a Disney fan or not, this park definitely has the magic factor and staying till the end is well worth it to see the final firework display at 23h to mark the best ending to your adventure day!
The Park offers 5 themed worlds, the Parc Disneyland® is a dream place for kids as well for big kids on the lookout for magic and lots of fun! Feel the adrenaline exploring the far reaches of space or the remains of an abandoned temple whilst you meet with your favourite Disney characters to take pictures and engage with them!
Next door, the Walt Disney Studios Park® offers many adventures and thrills: defy gravity in a plummeting elevator, live a 100% Rock 'n' Roll adventure with bends and looping or enjoy Remy's mad adventure! The shows and parades run from opening until well into the night! Entrance tickets are expensive and unfortunately few or non two for one vouchers are available unlike other types of parks. In order to get a cheaper ticket always buy online in advance via an authorised retailer for Disneyland® or the official site: Disneylandparis.com. Prices are generally around €65-70 for one day pass with access to the two parks or you can get a two day pass for €130.
Getting to Disneyland® is easy from central Paris thanks to a direct rail line, take the RER A (A4 branch) line to Marne-la-Vallée - Chessy Disneyland® Park, the trip takes around 45 minutes. Note the last trains to come back leave at 00.10am back for central Paris.
✔️Tip: When planning your visit to the park it's recommended you arrive as the park opens to take advantage of the "fast pass" which allows you to reserve a specific time on many of the attractions and rides. The park is always busy with many tourists and visitors especially during the weekends and the Summer holidays where long queues must be expected, sometimes hours. Arriving early will also guarantee you see as much as possible and enjoy the shows, meet the Disney characters and spend the most between the two parks. Although note that the parks are quite big and riding all rides and seeing all shows is really hard in one day, if not impossible, so planning is essential.
When you arrive take a map and plan your times according to your preferences and make sure you are near to the castle around 22.30 to take a good place to watch the fireworks-music and light display to end the adventure! Enjoy!
Paris's nightlife has a reputation extending back for hundreds of years. While most tourists won't venture beyond the crowded and overpriced bars of the Champs Elysées, there are many bustling nightlife districts in Paris worth exploring.
Bastille has a mixture of noisy nightclubs and bars best suited to twenty-somethings. Oberkampf was the place to be in the 1990s, and still buzzes with hipster-filled cafes.
The area around the Louvre is home to some of the most upmarket, and expensive, bars in Paris, including the Ritz's Hemingway Bar in Place Vendome, a piano bar frequented by the writer in the 1940s.
Montmartre is the home of the famous (or infamous) Moulin Rouge cabaret, which still presents glittering extravaganzas on a nightly basis, though the price tag is a bit higher than when it started in 1889. Nearby Pigalle is a bit seedy, but offers some good rock music venues. Marais also boasts a good selection of bars and cafes, with a thriving gay and lesbian scene.
There is no end to the live music possibilities in Paris. Nouveau Casino hosts a variety of bands on most nights, and La Flèche d'Or is known as an indie-rock venue. Belleville's La Java hosts an eclectic mix of artists in the venue where Edith Piaf debuted.
For a more sedate music experience, the Cité de la Musique hosts classical, jazz and traditional concerts in a network of concert halls. Paris is of course an opera paradise. You'll find symphonies and operas at the Opéra Bastille, lighter opera at the Opéra Comique, and you might even spot the phantom of the opera at the grand Opéra Garnier, the home of the Ballet de l'Opera National de Paris.
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ghtlife has a reputation extending back for hundreds of years. While most tourists won't venture beyond the crowded and overpriced bars of the Champs Elysées, there are many bustling nightlife districts in Paris worth exploring.
Bastille has a mixture of noisy nightclubs and bars best suited to twenty-somethings. Oberkampf was the place to be in the 1990s, and still buzzes with hipster-filled cafes.
The area around the Louvre is home to some of the most upmarket, and expensive, bars in Paris, including the Ritz's Hemingway Bar in Place Vendome, a piano bar frequented by the writer in the 1940s.
Montmartre is the home of the famous (or infamous) Moulin Rouge cabaret, which still presents glittering extravaganzas on a nightly basis, though the price tag is a bit higher than when it started in 1889. Nearby Pigalle is a bit seedy, but offers some good rock music venues. Marais also boasts a good selection of bars and cafes, with a thriving gay and lesbian scene.
There is no end to the live music possibilities in Paris. Nouveau Casino hosts a variety of bands on most nights, and La Flèche d'Or is known as an indie-rock venue. Belleville's La Java hosts an eclectic mix of artists in the venue where Edith Piaf debuted.
For a more sedate music experience, the Cité de la Musique hosts classical, jazz and traditional concerts in a network of concert halls. Paris is of course an opera paradise. You'll find symphonies and operas at the Opéra Bastille, lighter opera at the Opéra Comique, and you might even spot the phantom of the opera at the grand Opéra Garnier, the home of the Ballet de l'Opera National de Paris.
Finding reasonable hotels in Paris is very difficult since the city is known for its popularity with travellers, business and fashion which push prices always up. When staying in Paris it's advised to look for hotels away from the city centre, with easy access by metro or night busses.
Anything which is outside from the inner city, (see image with blue perimeter) will be substantially cheaper when on a budget. Alternatively choose to stay close to an RER line where trains are quick into the city and you can save on nightly rates. In general central Hotels in Paris can be as expensive as €150-300 per night but it's possible to find also hotels at €50-70 if you go down in stars. If you are on a tight budget, then Hostels can cost around €15-20 for shared accommodation in central Paris. Airbnb is also a popular option to stay with local people or cheaper when you stay for longer periods of time.
A recommended Hotel chain in Paris, is Ibis budget. There are a few dotted around the city which gives you good choice where to stay. Prices are reasonable, at €40 per night, with private bathroom and 24h reception. There is one at Porte de Montreuil, west Paris, easy access to metro (5 min walk), next to a shopping centre, supermarket and shops nearby, also good if visiting Disneyland.
For a first time visitor to Paris, you will be amazed of the amount of things to see and do in the city. It takes time to visit so many attractions, sights and museums therefore coming to Paris is not a quick affair! Planning your visit is recommended to maximise your time but if you are on a tight budget and want to see only the most important sights and monuments, then 2 or 3 nights would be ideal. Avoiding the weekends and high seasons (summer time July/August, Christmas or Easter Holidays) is also advised to miss the long queues which build up to get into everywhere. Although Paris is now subject to much more security, so expect to queue which ever the time of year. For a complete visit of Paris, including some Palaces, parks or gardens, time for shopping and watching a cabaret show at Moulin Rouge give yourself a week to comfortably fit it all in!
