Paris Travel Guide

Thinking of central Paris as one long walk is the first planning mistake. Split the Louvre–Tuileries–Opéra; Île de la Cité–Latin Quarter–Saint-Germain; Marais–Canal Saint-Martin; Eiffel Tower–Invalides; and Montmartre clusters across separate half or full days. That way each day carries only one major timed reservation, there are fewer metro changes, and there's time left for the evening character of the neighbourhoods.

For a first visit, four full days is the minimum and five days is more balanced. Don't squeeze the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay into the same day, or the Eiffel Tower and Versailles into the same half day. Turning a whole rainy day over to museums looks tempting; because everyone has the same idea, you need both a timed ticket and a flexible outdoor alternative.

Don't see Paris only as its central monuments. Putting one neighbourhood stop such as Rue des Martyrs, Canal Saint-Martin, the Marché d'Aligre, Buttes-Chaumont or Batignolles into your plan brings cafés, markets and everyday life into view. If you are devoting the fifth day to Versailles, accept it as a genuine full day for the palace, the gardens and the Trianon estate.

For Charles de Gaulle (CDG), RER B is the direct rail link towards Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles and Saint-Michel. You may need to walk from your terminal to the station and take the free CDGVAL; your ticket must cover the airport fare. As routes can change on maintenance or strike days, check Île-de-France Mobilités and Paris Aéroport notices on the morning you travel. For taxis, use only the official rank and ask which bank of Paris the fixed fare applies to.

From Orly, Metro 14 is the simplest option towards the centre; an airport ticket is not the same product as a standard central ticket. The Orlyval + RER B alternative can work depending on your hotel's location or line disruptions. On a late-night arrival, factor the last connection, changing with luggage and the distance from the metro exit to your hotel into the total cost.

Beauvais (BVA), despite having Paris in its name, is outside the city. Check the current Paris stop of the bus that runs according to flight times, and its return departure, on Beauvais Airport's official channel; don't assume the same transport arrangements as a CDG or Orly ticket. Compare the cheap flight together with the time lost and the two-way transfer.

In summer 2026, tapping a contactless bank card on a Paris metro or RER gate is not a general payment method. Open payment is being rolled out gradually on some buses and at limited points; transfer rights and prices may differ from a standard ticket. For the typical visitor, Navigo Easy, a compatible phone/wallet or a suitable ticket loaded in the Île-de-France Mobilités app is the safer arrangement.

Metro–train–RER tickets and bus–tram tickets are different products; airport access is also a special fare. Each passenger must carry their own fare, and be aware that a wrong transfer after exiting the gates may require a new ticket. If you board the RER in the centre and travel out to the suburbs, specifically confirm your ticket's coverage for Versailles, Disneyland or the airport.

If you use a magnetic paper ticket at a station, keep it separate from your phone and coins; don't throw it away, as you may need it at the exit. Metro stairs are tiring with luggage, and lift access varies from station to station. For real-time maintenance and strike information, use Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP alongside Google Maps.

Buy your Louvre ticket from ticket.louvre.fr or the official channel the museum directs you to. The museum is closed on Tuesdays; from 1 July to 31 August 2026, timed reservations are compulsory for all visitors. Check on your ticket and the current museum plan that the pyramid entrance is not the only option. Choose two collections on one floor; don't mistake the Mona Lisa queue for the whole visit, and don't assume re-entry is allowed after exiting.

The inside of Notre-Dame Cathedral is free. The official website may release free access slots on the same day or shortly beforehand; booking is optional but reduces waiting. Don't mistake a third party selling paid 'fast entry' for a cathedral ticket. The tower visit is run separately and requires its own reservation; the worship schedule and security arrangements can change access.

The Musée d'Orsay needs at least half a day for Impressionism; the Orangerie is smaller and focused around Monet's Water Lilies. The Paris Museum Pass gives access to the included sites, but it doesn't let you skip the queue everywhere and doesn't remove the need for timed reservations; the Eiffel Tower is generally ticketed separately. Work out the pass not by the number of days but by the current total for the institutions you will actually use.

Official Eiffel Tower tickets are sold through ticket.toureiffel.paris. The stairs, the lift to the second floor and access to the top are not the same product. The top can close because of weather, technical issues or crowds; don't assume a guaranteed view just because it says summit. There is no left-luggage for large suitcases; go light for the security check and check which pillar entrance is on your ticket.

Trocadéro is not the only photo spot. You can see the tower at different times of day from the Bir-Hakeim Bridge, the Champ de Mars and the banks of the Seine. If you want an open deck on an evening boat tour, read up on the weather and seating arrangements in advance, and on dinner cruises the table position; don't mistake a river cruise for short-hop city transport.

In Montmartre, rather than just climbing the Sacré-Cœur steps from Anvers and heading back, walk via Abbesses, Rue des Abbesses, the area around the Musée de Montmartre and the Lamarck side. The funicular is part of the city transport network but requires a valid ticket. On Place du Tertre, agree the total price for a portrait before it starts; politely but firmly keep walking when approached with bracelets and petitions.

The 1st–4th arrondissements are central and walkable for a first visit; prices, small rooms and tourist crowds are all high. The 5th and 6th are a safe first base with classic Left Bank atmosphere, while the 9th is a strong option for Opéra connections, restaurants and more balanced prices. The 11th arrondissement highlights food, drink and nightlife; you need a short metro ride to the Louvre area every day.

Within the 10th arrondissement, Canal Saint-Martin and the area around Gare du Nord are not the same experience. In the 18th, the upper parts of Abbesses/Montmartre are romantic and hilly; Barbès and the station area are busier and vary street by street. Rather than labelling a neighbourhood simply 'good' or 'bad', look at a well-lit walk from the last metro to your hotel, the floor of your room and night-time reviews.

The 14th arrondissement is calmer and can be comfortable for families or long stays. 'Paris' in a hotel's name doesn't mean it's within the city limits; an affordable room in the suburbs can mean a transfer every night and the cost of late returns. On the map, check the line number of the nearest stop, lifts that are out of service and the taxe de séjour that may be added to the room price.

Start the morning at a good boulangerie: the words 'artisan boulanger' indicate that the bread is made on site. Croissants, pain au chocolat, jambon-beurre and tarts make a quick meal; choose before your turn comes rather than deliberating at length in front of the display. At a neighbourhood market, buy cheese, charcuterie and seasonal fruit for a picnic, but follow the park's alcohol/litter rules.

At a bistro, the lunchtime formule or menu du jour often offers better value than à la carte in the evening. Don't treat onion soup as the sole Parisian benchmark; oeuf mayonnaise, poireaux vinaigrette, steak-frites, confit, seasonal fish and daily desserts give a broader repertoire. A galette is savoury and made with buckwheat, while a crêpe is mostly sweet; at a Breton spot, don't treat them as the same thing.

Menu prices include tax and service; tipping is not a mandatory percentage. Ask for une carafe d'eau for a free jug of tap water with your meal. A waiter not bringing the bill unprompted is not bad service; say 'l'addition, s'il vous plaît'. Small restaurants may close on Sundays–Mondays, and evening kitchens may take orders only within a set time window.

On the metro, the RER and around major monuments, don't carry your phone and wallet in a back pocket; snatching as the doors close, the signature/petition trick, the 'found' ring and the Sacré-Cœur bracelet are well-known scenarios. If someone spills something on you, move away without putting your belongings down. A multilingual picture menu at a restaurant is not proof of poor quality on its own; but if the prices, portions and extras are unclear, don't order.

Versailles should not be added to a Paris programme as a two-hour palace visit. The RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche is one of the options; check for line works on the day you travel. Set aside a full day for timed palace entry, the gardens, the Trianon and the walk back. The palace is closed on Mondays; garden events or fountain show days can change access/ticket coverage.

You don't need to go up to every paid terrace for a city view. The Galeries Lafayette rooftop, Parc de Belleville or open spaces in Montmartre can be alternatives if the schedule and weather allow. Accept that a rooftop that looks free may be inaccessible because of events, security or private closures; don't hang your main plan on a single social-media video.