The COMPLETE guide to everything you need to know about visiting Paris, France.
February 7, 2023
Paris will always be our favorite city. It was our home for a few years and we’ve visited multiple times — so we love helping people explore the city. In this Paris Travel Guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about visiting Paris — from what to see, where to eat, and the best neighborhoods to explore.
First things first… how much money do you need to visit Paris? Well, this city isn’t a cheap destination but it can still be somewhat of a budget-friendly destination if you’re careful about how you spend your time.
The average cost per day for budget travel will be around €80/day but frugal travelers might spend around €40/day. That said, you can easily spend a little less or quite a bit more depending on your travel style. Check out our Paris Travel Cost Guide to get a better estimate of travel costs.
I also highly suggest buying a local SIM Card so you have fast, reliable, and affordable mobile data for your phone. Check out my Guide To The Best SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in France
Paris is one of those cities that can’t be experienced in a day or two. You honestly need a minimum of four days but you can also spend well over a week and feel like you’re just scratching the surface.
Personally, we suggest you spend at least five days in Paris — this will let you experience a few different areas of the city without having to travel at a breakneck pace.
Paris does a lot of things extremely well but it’s not a perfect city. In this section, we’ll cover the best and the worst that you’ll experience when you visit Paris.
There is never a bad time to visit Paris as there is always something going on but each season does have its pros and cons. In this section, we’ll give you a brief overview of each season to help you choose the best time for your visit.
The summer is obviously the most popular time to visit because the weather is nice and the rain is light/infrequent. The average high temperatures from June to August is about 75 degrees but the city will have a few 80-90+ degree days each summer.
You’ll have to deal with all the crowds — which can get intense at the most popular attractions. Prices are also higher for accommodation and transportation (flights, trains, etc.). Also, August is traditionally a time when many Parisians take their vacations so some restaurants and independent shops might close down for 2-4 weeks (although this is becoming rarer).
Despite the crowds and elevated prices, summer is still a great time to visit. The streets are alive with activity, the cafes are buzzing, and the people watching can’t be beaten. It’s also a great time to spend hours in the city’s numerous parks and gardens.
September through early November is another great time to visit as the temperatures are still comfortable but the crowds aren’t at their summer peak. The average highs in September and October are still in the upper 60s and the rain doesn’t seem to really pick up until November.
And while the sidewalk cafes might not be as busy, inside the cafes still buzz with plenty of life.
If we had to choose, we’d visit in mid-September since it’s a nice balance between comfortable weather and fewer tourists.
Paris winters don’t tend to get too cold but they are usually fairly grey and rainy. Snow is rare. There might be a handful of below-freezing days but the high temperatures are usually in the low 40s or high 30s. You’ll want to pack for light rain and dress in layers.
November, January, and February are all slow months so you won’t have to fight the crowds. Prices are also lowest during these times.
Paris does get a bit busy during the Christmas season so prices will be higher than normal.
Be sure to dress properly. Check out these handy winter-packing articles:
During March through mid-May, the weather starts to warm up and the city comes back to life. The flowers start blooming and people are out and about. Tourism doesn’t really start picking up until the middle of May so it’s still a nice time to experience the city before things get too crazy.
The temperatures average in the mid to upper 50s but April and May do tend to be a bit rainy.
Paris is divided up into 20 Arrondissements (i.e. neighborhoods/districts) and each has its own personality. In this section, we’ll talk about a few of our favorite/must-see neighborhoods and this should hopefully help you decide where to explore and maybe stay in. By the way, check out our in-depth Paris Neighborhood Guide if you want a more detailed rundown on each of Paris’ 20 Arrondissements.
Don’t forget that Paris has an excellent public transportation system so traversing the city is quick and easy.
It’s hard to beat the uber-cool Marais — it’s centrally located, full of bars and restaurants, has a lot of great shopping, and it has great energy. It’s also the most LGBT-friendly neighborhood. Additionally, the Marais has historically been Paris’ Jewish neighborhood so it’s the place to grab a great falafel.
In general, the southern area of the Marais has a bigger concentration of bars and nightlife so it can be a little louder at night. Things get a bit quieter as you go north.
Neighborhood Highlights:
The Bastille has historically been a quiet working-class neighborhood but it’s recently become Paris’ new hip “it” neighborhood. These days young chefs are moving in and restaurants popping up every day. You’ll also find some nice budget-friendly nightlife around rue Oberkampf and the streets around the Place de la Bastille. Furthermore, every Sunday you’ll find the largest farmers market in the city.
The neighborhood isn’t touristy so you’ll get a real “local” feel when you stay there.
Neighborhood Highlights:
The Latin Quarter is classic Paris and there are parts that date back to the Middle Ages. It’s what people picture when they imagine visiting Paris so its one of the most popular areas to explore and stay. It’s full of tiny streets, cafes, shopping, and restaurants. It’s also home to many universities so there is a solid student population (although not many can afford to live there anymore).
Accommodation and food prices tend to be fairly expensive since so many visitors want to stay here — but it’s hard to blame them.
Neighborhood Highlights:
St. Germain is also classic, old-school Paris. It’s beautiful. It’s romantic. It’s the heart of Paris’ literary heritage. It’s also expensive. In fact, it’s probably one of the most expensive and most visited parts of the city. But you’re in the heart of everything (especially if you stay near the river).
Neighborhood Highlights:
Montmartre is one of the most unique, romantic, and charming parts of the city. It’s located on a large hill in the northern part of the city and it’s topped with the Sacré-Cœur Basilica — the city views from the top of the hill can’t be beaten. This area was its own village until the late 1800s so it has a different feel than the rest of Paris. It’s also very hilly and has lots of stairs so it’s not great for anyone with mobility issues.
Some parts of Montmartre are very touristy but accommodation tends to be a little cheaper than central Paris since it’s not in the “center” of the city.
Once you go a bit north of Montmartre the neighborhood becomes a little rougher so it’s not the most ideal place to stay. Paris’ Red Light District (including the Moulin Rouge) is located in the very southern part of Montmartre but it’s pretty tame.
Neighborhood Highlights:
Again, these are our favorite neighborhoods but there are plenty of other great neighborhoods in Paris that might be perfect for your travel style. Check out our Paris Neighborhood Guide to learn more about each neighborhood.
Alright, Paris has a handful of good, but not great, hostels. And unless you’re spending big bucks, plan on staying in a very small hotel room that costs $120-$200+/night.
The average nightly cost for a bed in a hostel is around €30-€42 in the summer and €20-€30 in the winter. Check Hostelworld to get exact prices for your dates and read our guide to the Best Hostels in Paris for more information.
Hotel prices are all over the place in Paris — from budget to five-star. We recommend searching on Booking.com to find hotels in your price range — plus they make it easy to filter searches based on location, price, and rating.
Paris has sooooo many things to see and do — it’s virtually impossible to cover everything (but we’ll do our best). In this section, we’ll cover the best and most popular things you’ll definitely want to consider checking out.
P.S. Don’t run yourself ragged trying to do it all. You’ll get burnt out. We’ve found they most people who didn’t like Paris were the ones who tried to “see it all.” Give yourself time to soak it all in. Consider picking up the Paris Pass so you can skip the lines and better utilize your sightseeing time.
Paris is the museum capital of the world but we recommend only visiting the ones that seem most interesting to you so you avoid museum burnout.
In our opinion, the Musee d’Orsay is the best museum in Paris. Sure, the Louvre is massive and more famous, but the d’Orsay shouldn’t be missed. It’s set in an old art nouveau train station and it contains an impressive collection — including one of the best collections of impressionist paintings from Renoir, Monet, van Gogh, and others.
The d’Orsay does get busy so get there early or visit later in the day on Thursday when it’s open until 9:45 pm. Visit Website.
The Louvre is easily the most famous museum in the world. It’s so huge that you can’t really see it all in one day — you wouldn’t want to try seeing it in a day anyway. It’s recommended to arrive early to beat the crowds or purchase your tickets online. Even if you don’t like art, you should still visit the grounds (Tuileries Gardens) to look at the impressive former palace.
Another tip is to visit on Wednesday or Friday night since it’s open late (9:45 pm). Visit Website.
The Centre Pompidou is Paris’ modern and contemporary art museum. It houses works from everyone from Dalí to Warhol. Almost equally impressive (and somewhat bizarre) is the exterior design of the museum so take some time to appreciate that. Furthermore, take the escalator to the top of the museum for some excellent city views. Visit Website.
After years of being closed for renovations, the Picasso Museum is finally open. It’s the largest collection of Picasso’s works and it spans from his early life to the end of his career — it’s interesting to see how his style evolved. Visit Website.
The Rodin Museum has a nice collection of small Rodin sculptures housed in his former home but the real star is the beautiful sculpture garden — which showcases many of his famous works like The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. We recommend visiting on a nice day so you can spend an hour or two wandering the gardens. Visit Website.
This expansive museum chronicles France’s long and extensive military history. It’s also where you’ll find Napoleon’s opulent and gold-domed tomb. Visit Website.
The Musée Carnavalet chronicles the rich history of Paris. It’s a free museum so feel free to give it a quick look. NOTE: The museum is closed for remodeling until sometime in 2019.
The Musée National du Moyen Âge is France’s national museum of the Middle Ages and it’s housed in an impressive medieval mansion. In this impressive museum, you’ll find a collection of weapons, artwork, artifacts, tapestries, and Roman bath ruins. Visit Website.
There is more than just European art in Paris — enter the Quai Branly Museum. Here you’ll find non-European art with a strong focus on indigenous African, Oceania, and some South East Asia and American. Tip: Visit the rooftop terrace for amazing panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower and the rest of the city. Visit Website.
Everyone already knows about the Eiffel Tower — it is the most famous landmark in the world, after all. Everyone needs to see it at least once. If you can, see it during the day and then again at night. P.S. The tower sparkles every night on the hour.
You should always buy your tickets ahead of time if you plan on going up the tower as the ticket lines get insane.
Spend a day exploring the hilly Montmartre neighborhood in the northern part of Paris. This bohemian neighborhood is ultra charming and offers some of the most breathtaking views of Paris. At the very top of Montmartre, you’ll find the iconic white Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The area around the Sacré-Cœur is touristy (it’s hard to find a good meal at a reasonable price) but it’s still a can’t miss destination.
Notre Dame Cathedral is easily one of the most famous churches in the world. It’s currently under construction after the devastating fire but you can still walk around to see the renovations of the exterior.
Sainte-Chapelle may not be the biggest church in Paris but it has some of the most impressive stained glass windows in the world. The chapel, which dates back to 1248, always draws a crowd so get there early if you want to avoid the lines and the hoard of people inside.
Note: Sainte-Chapelle is located near Notre Dame so their visits can easily be combined.
The Opéra Garnier isn’t on most people’s list of things to see but the decorations inside are truly amazing. It’s seriously some of the most opulent decorations we’ve ever seen. We highly recommend booking a guided tour so you can check it out — it was one of our favorite things we’ve done in Paris.
No visit to Paris is complete without strolling along the Champs-Elysées as you head toward the iconic Arc de Triomphe. Yes, the Champs-Elysées is about as touristy as it gets but you should see it at least once (all its restaurants are way overpriced, btw). You can also visit the top of the Arc de Triomphe for some great city views.
Yes, there is more to Paris than the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, and Notre Dame. In this section, we’ve listed a few of our favorite activities that you’ll find interesting.
We always recommend taking some kind of tour since it’s an excellent way to learn about the city. There are multiple free walking tours and even more paid tours. We’ve also done a bike tour and thought that was a great way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.
Central Paris only has one skyscraper — the Montparnasse Tower. Parisians hated it so much that they banned skyscrapers after it was built. We agree that it’s ugly and out of place… but the views from the top-floor observation deck are unbelievable. It’s a great way to see the city and it offers the best views of the Eiffel Tower.
One of the best things about Paris is simply strolling its streets but it becomes even more magical at night when all the monuments and buildings are illuminated. For the most beautiful walk, we recommend strolling along the Seine as it passes many of the city’s architectural highlights.
As Paris expanded the city realized that cemeteries might not be the best use of space… so they dug up the bones of nearly 7 million Parisians and arranged them inside the city’s many miles of underground quarry tunnels. And now you can take a tour of these piles of bones. Yeah, it’s a bit bizarre and kinda creepy but it’s a very popular attraction. Note: They limit the number of people who can visit so the lines can get very long — it’s highly suggested that you arrive early.
Parisians love the beach so much that every summer the city brings in tons of sand and turns the road that runs along the Seine River into a manmade beach — complete with beach chairs and umbrellas. So pack your most skimpy bathing suit and soak up the Parisian sun between early July and September.
Here’s a chance to see Paris on wheels… no, not a bike, but skates. Every Friday night the city of Paris closes a handful of streets (complete with police escorts) so rollerbladers can skate through the city in large groups. You can rent skates here: www.roulezchampions.com
Paris has one of the first and most advanced sewer systems in the world and you can tour it. It’s certainly a unique, and maybe a little stinky, way to see the city.
Yes, these are uber-touristy but Paris is such a beautiful city that they’re kind of fun. The open-top bus tours give you a great overview of the city so they’re great to take at the start of your visit.
And a river cruise gives you a unique perspective of the city — we recommend taking one at night because all the buildings are beautifully illuminated.
Paris is one of the greenest cities in Europe so it’s not too difficult to find a way to get a little fresh air.
There is a reason Parisians flock to the Luxembourg Gardens all year long. It’s simply beautiful — especially in the spring and summer when the flowers are in full bloom. On a nice day, you’ll find hundreds of visitors, locals, and university students enjoying a nice picnic or bottle of wine. See On Google Maps.
No visit to Paris is complete without strolling through the Tuileries Garden. This pristine urban garden stretches from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde and it’s filled with fountains, sculptures, and you even have a decent view of the Eiffel Tower. See On Google Maps.
Parc Monceau isn’t a huge park but that doesn’t mean it’s not an impressive and beautiful part of central Paris. This “English” style park features plenty of leafy trees, a rolling lawn, winding walking paths, a small pond, statues, and interesting architectural elements. It’s a great place for a picnic or summer nap. See On Google Maps.
Not many tourists venture to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont but it’s a charming, romantic, and hilly park in the 19th arrondissement that has nice views of the Sacre Coeur. It features an impressive grotto, an iron bridge, and a high cliff with a waterfall. It’s worth checking out if you’re in the area and especially on a nice day. See On Google Maps.
Père Lachaise is a massive and leafy cemetery inside Paris that’s now home to many of the city’s most wealthy and famous citizens — including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Chopin, Édith Piaf, Proust, Gertrude Stein, and more. It’s a very beautiful cemetery so it’s a peaceful place to stroll for an hour or two. See On Google Maps.
These two massive parks are known as the “lungs” of Paris. While we wouldn’t suggest visiting them if you’re only in Paris for a few days, we still think they’re both good places to explore for experienced/long-term visitors.
The Bois de Boulogne is the second-largest park in Paris. It was originally a hunting ground for royalty but these days its home to English gardens, an impressive greenhouse (Le Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil), lakes, lawns, botanical gardens, playgrounds, and tennis courts. It’s also a popular spot for prostitutes so don’t be surprised if you see a few working.
The Bois de Vincennes is the largest park in the city (twice the size of Central Park), and it’s located on the eastern edge of Pairs. It features multiple lakes, gardens, botanical gardens, arboretums, lawns, walking trails, greenhouses, theaters, horse racing tracks, and more.
Jardin des Plantes: Originally created as a royal herb garden in 1626, this is now the largest botanical garden in Paris. The Jardin des Plantes is located on the 5th and it’s a short walk from the Seine. It’s best enjoyed during the Spring/Summer since that’s when the flowers are in bloom. See On Google Maps.
Parc de Belleville: This small neighborhood park is located way off the beaten path near the edge of Paris’ 20th arrondissement. Its best feature is its city and Eiffel Tower views. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to explore the diverse and up-and-coming Belleville neighborhood. See On Google Maps.
Parc de la Villette: This is another off-the-beaten-path park that even a lot of Parisians have never visited — probably because it’s located on the far northeastern edge of the 19th arrondissement. The park is full of post-modernist architecture and sculptures so it feels way different than other parks you’ve experienced. See On Google Maps.
Promenade Plantee: This three-mile stretch of abandoned elevated railroad tracks has been transformed into a peaceful plant-lined walking path. It’s popular with locals but still undiscovered by visitors. See On Google Maps.
Albert Kahn Museum Gardens: Just outside central Paris you’ll find the Albert Kahn Museum and its impressive gardens. This former home of banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn features a beautiful garden that is divided into multiple sections that are each modeled after different traditional gardens from around the world. See On Google Maps.
The best way to experience Paris is by living life like the Parisians. Below are some things you should do
Find a cute sidewalk cafe, order a drink, and watch the world go by for an hour or two. It doesn’t get any better than that.
