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• Top 10 Record Stores In...

The 10 Best Record Stores in Paris

A renaissance in vinyl records over the last few years demonstrates that music lovers are looking for an authentic connection with music through vinyl. Parisian record stores are inseparable from the history of the city, and new shops look back to the golden decades of record retail, between the 1920s and 1930s. Below are 10 of our favorite record stores in the city.

2. Musiques Musiques

3. l’internationl records, 4. la silence du la rue.

5. Heartbeat Vinyl

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6. La Voie du Silence

Library, Store

7. Betino’s

8. Souffle Continu

9. la source, 10. la fabrique balades sonores.

Shop, Store

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A guide to Paris’ best record shops

Your essential companion to digging in the French capital.

As one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the world, Paris often labours under the weight of expectation as “the city of light”, but scratch the surface even slightly and there is a huge amount to discover, not least a fresh and exciting musical scene.

While the bulk of visitors come for the museums, the architecture or the food, densely packed micro-areas that have precious little in common with the Latin Quarter or the Champs Elysées often provide a complete change of atmosphere in just a few blocks.

Home to many disparate underground musics, from revolutionary jazz and psychedelic rock to a thriving house and techno scene- not forgetting its historic role as a production hub for large swathes of French-speaking African countries, the city’s musical DNA is reflected in its numerous record shops.

And while Paris is perhaps best known as a destination for second hand records, with numerous specialist shops and frequent markets, as the boundaries of the city expand away from the centre, there are plenty of shops, labels and collectives pushing a different agenda.

From radio stations like Le Mellotron and shops like the proudly alternative DDD to house stalwarts like La Mamie’s crew and the more eclectic Soukmachines and Ligne 15 outfits taking up residence in disused industrial spaces of the oft-dismissed ‘banlieues’, there has been a flowering of creativity and opportunity over the past decade, bringing Paris into line with other European capitals in the studio, and on the dance floor.

Here are a selection of the record shops that reflect this vibrant world.

Betino’s Records

Location: 32 Rue Saint-Sebastian, 75011 Paris / Metro: Saint Ambroise, Saint Sebastien Froissart, Chemin Vert

Go for: New 12”s, house, soul, disco, jazz, Latin and African

What’s the Story? Betino Errera is something of a local institution and has been supplying records to the people of Paris in one form or another since the mid ’80s. Initially starting out selling US imports at legendary boutique Radio Pygmalion in 1986 and working for Caramel distribution, he set up his own shop in 1999. Betino’s roots in the early days of house and the jazz funk scene are still evident today, and the shop gives equal weight to new 12” releases and a wide selection of second-hand jazz, soul, disco, Latin and African records. It also happens to be one of the friendliest shops in Paris.

Crocodisc / Crocojazz

Locations: 42 Rue des écoles 75005 (1), 40 Rue des écoles 75005 (2), 64 Rue de la Montaigne-Sainte-Geneviève 75005 (Jazz) / Metro: Maubert-Mutualité, Cluny-Sorbonne, St Michel

Go for: Rock, psych, French music, folk (Crocodisc 1) / Soul, funk, reggae, Latin, Caribbean and African (Crocodisc 2), Jazz (Crocojazz)

What’s the story? Right next to the Sorbonne University and not far from the touristic St Germain area, Crocodisc (and sister shop Crocojazz) will be celebrating 40 years in the business this December. Starting out in the original shop at 42 Rue des écoles, the early days saw owner Philippe travel across Europe and the UK, scouring distributors for cut-out stock and independent releases that weren’t easily accessible at the time. The shops retains that same ethos today, covering many styles in-depth that are not always well represented in Paris.

Now spread across three shops, Crocodisc covers pretty much all bases. The shop at number 42 has an enormous selection from the French Caribbean and Haiti as well as an enviable salsa section, while the original shop has deep racks of classic and obscure French records.

Les Balades Sonores

Address: 1-3 Avenue Trudaine, 75009 / Metro: Anvers

Go for: Rock, experimental, soundtracks, electronica, jazz, African and world

What’s the Story? Now with a sister shop in Brussels, Les Balades Sonores started out as a roving pop-up in 2004 before setting up at 1 Avenue Trudaine six years ago.

Overflowing with records, the original location covers rock, psych and French music, with new releases on the ground floor and a second-hand section in the basement that is particularly strong, unsurprisingly, on French releases.

The more recent extension next door is focused on jazz and music from around the world, as well as soundtracks, books and ephemera, with a 70/30 split between new and second hand releases and more than fair pricing. The shop hosts regular in-store performances on Thursdays and the first Sunday of the month.

Address: 26 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac, 75011 / Metro: Charonne, Voltaire

Go for: Soul, jazz, disco, rare house and techno 12”s

What’s the Story? Situated in the golden vinyl triangle of the 11th Arrondissement and named after a classic War track, Heartbeat Records – open since early 2016 – is small but well curated and has more in common with specialist shops in Shibuya than the larger second hand stores normally found in Paris.

Prior to opening the shop, owner Melik Bencheikh spent many years working in distribution in London and it shows. The selection is a painstakingly curated mix/range of jazz, soul, disco and funk rarities in tip top condition with a large selection of rare (and mint!) house and techno 12”s – informed as much by time spent at Plastic People in London as Paris’ more leftfield clubs. Perhaps one of the best places to find serious US disco 12”s in Paris, it’s a regular haunt of DJs like Dmitri from Paris.

Les Puces de St-Ouen

Address: 132-140 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen / Metro: Porte de Clignancourt

Go for: Second hand bargains and rarities across all genres

What’s the Story? The enormous puces (flea markets) extending from the northern péripherique (ring road) that circles Paris are some of the largest in Europe, selling everything from eye-wateringly expensive furniture and paintings to vintage clothes and cheap and cheerful knick-knacks. There are numerous records stands, stalls and dealers spread throughout the markets but some of the best can be found on the first floor of the large Marché Dauphine. Boasting 10 different shops stocking everything from classic rock, yéyé, French rarities, jazz, soul and world music, it’s often cheaper than the shops in the city centre and is a regular haunt for many of Paris’ ever-expanding horde of diggers.

Every stall has a different speciality and it’s easy to lose an entire afternoon doing the rounds but special mention must be given to Gemini Cricket (stand 267), Panorama Records (stand 227), French Connection (stand 268) – all for funk, soul, Jazz, African and reggae – while On the Ground (stand 269) and Rocket Records (stand 228) are great for rock, punk and French music.

DDD Records

Location: 12 Boulevard Saint-Martin, 75010 / Metro: République, Strasbourg Saint Denis

Go for: Techno, house, experimental, tribal

What’s the Story? Open since January 2017, DDD records combines an on-point selection of techno and house with a punk attitude, emerging out of owner Xavier’s DJ sets, where he sold records straight off the turntables. The shop also stays true to a more underground way of selling records – no shop frontage, small in-store events showcasing upcoming producers and DJs, and a related series of events at La Java nightclub.

As well as a selection of up-to-the-minute house and techno, the shop boasts some unexpected selections in its corridor-like space, hidden away in the Paris offices of Club Maté. Here you are as likely to find a stash of early ’90s Italian tribal 12”s or a batch of Caribbean zouk as you are the newest releases from labels like Berceuse Heroique or Don’t be Afraid.

The shop is set to move north to a bigger space in the 18th Arrondissement over the summer, combining forces with Parisian record dealer Vincent Privat to bring in more second hand stock, which is certainly something to look forward to.

Syncrophone Records

Location: 6 Rue des Taillandiers, 75011 / Metro: Bastille, Ledru-Rollin

Go for: Upfront house and techno

What’s the story? Opened by bosses Didier and Blaise in 2005, Syncrophone has long been a community hub for the French electronic scene and probably has the widest selection of house and techno 12”s in Paris. The shop also stocks a good selection of disco and jazz funk and is a regular stop-off point for DJs playing at nearby clubs like the Badaboum (located next door) and Concrete.

Le Silence de la Rue

Address: 39 Rue Faidherbe, 75011 / Metro: Charonne, Faidherbe Chaligny

Go for: Rock, Jazz, Soul, Blues – new releases and reissues.

What’s the story? Silence de la Rue has been open since 1989, initially in the 18th Arrondissement before moving to its present home in the 11th in 1998. Unlike near-neighbour Heartbeat, Le Silence de la Rue has an across-the-board ethos and owner Christophe works hard to keep the shop stocked with new independent releases that sometimes slip through the gaps elsewhere, often with the keenest pricing in the city.

Superfly Records

Address: 53 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth 75003 / Metro: République, Strasbourg Saint Denis, Temple, Arts et Metiers

Go for: Jazz, soul, funk, Latin, African

What’s the story? Opened by Paulo Goncalves and Manu Boubli in 2009, Superfly Records has installed itself as one of the top second hand record stores in Europe. The shop regularly brings in collections and deliveries from across the world, running the gamut from Japanese jazz to Venezuelan salsa, Nigerian boogie to independent American soul as well as a consistently strong selection of European jazz.

Beyond the high-ticket items and well curated selection of reissues, there are many boxes of €3 or €5 records that are always worth a thorough rummage. Paulo and Manu also helm an eponymous reissue label, producing limited runs of otherwise unaffordable rarities.

Le Souffle Continu

Address: 20-22 Rue Gerbier 75011 / Metro: Voltaire, Philippe Auguste

Go for: Experimental, rock, psyche, free jazz, krautrock

What’s the story? Opened by Bernard Ducayron and Théo Jarrier in 2008, a stones throw from the Père Lachaise cemetery with a mission to inject some energy into a then-stagnant record market, Le Souffle Continu (French for circular breathing) stands as a hub for what co-owner Théo calls “niche sounds”.

Initially focusing on CDs, the vinyl section has grown substantially over the years, with barely a handful of CDs left in the shop. The open, inquisitive attitude of the owners shows in the selection, covering everything from free jazz, krautrock, psych and all manner of improvised and experimental music that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Not content with simply running a record shop, Bernard and Théo launched the Souffle Continu record label in 2015 as a home for reissues of French experimental and jazz records – notably reissuing Barney Willen’s seminal and much sought-after 1972 album Moshi . The shop also hosts regular in-store performances and has a well-tended selection of books and magazines.

Photos by Bertrand Niquel.

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1. superfly records.

Courtesy of Superfly Records – Sourced from their website

practical information

Superfly records – 53 rue notre-dame de nazareth 75003, metro station: arts et metiers, opening hours: tuesday – saturday 12pm//8pm, 2. balades sonores.

Courtesy of Balades Sonores – Sourced from their Facebook

balades sonores – 1-3 avenue trudaine 75009

Metro station: anvers, opening hours: monday – saturday 12pm//8pm, 3. crocodisc.

Courtesy of Crocodisc – Sourced from their website

crocodisc – 42 rue des écoles 75005

Metro station: maubert-mutualité, opening hours: tuesday – saturday 11am//7pm.

courtesy of Walrus – Sourced from their website

walrus – 34 TER rue de dunkerque 75010

Metro station: gare du nord, opening hours:, tuesday 9am//6pm, wednesday – thursday 9am//9pm, friday 9am//11:30pm, saturday 11am//11:30pm, sunday 12pm//8pm.

Courtesy of Yoyaku – Sourced from their website

yoyaku record store – 74 rue des cascades 75020, Paris

Metro station: pyrénées, monday 12pm//8pm, tuesday – friday 11am//8pm, saturday 1pm//8pm, 6. patate records.

Courtesy of Patate Records – Sourced from their Facebook Page – Uploaded by them

patate records – 57 rue de charonne 75011, Paris

Metro station: charonne, opening hours: open daily 1pm//7pm, 7. ground zero.

Photo courtesy of Ground Zero – Sourced from their official website

ground zero record store – 114 rue du faubourg-poissonière 75010, Paris

Metro station: gare du nord or poissonière, tuesday – saturday 11:30am//7:30pm, monday 2pm//7:30pm, 8. gibert joseph paris 6 musique.

By Gibert Joseph 6 Paris Musique – Uploaded by them

gibert joseph paris 6 musique – 34 boulevard saint-michel 75006, paris

Metro station: saint-michel, opening hours: monday – saturday 10am//8pm, bonus: brocantes.

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My French Roots

Find your ancestors in France

Finding your ancestors in Paris

Paris is often considered as a “black hole” for French Genealogy: most people fear that if they find ancestors who were born in Paris, they will be stuck and unable to go further back in time.

This idea comes from the fact that many records burned in a fire in 1871. For this reason, it can be quite challenging to research Parisian ancestors. Most of the time, it will require hard work. But it will rarely be completely impossible: there are multiple resources where you can discover traces of your Parisian ancestors. And the good part is that more and more of these resources are available online.

The fire of 1871

After France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, popular riots broke out in Paris. And the government of Paris was taken over by a popular-led government called the Paris Commune . As a consequence, the official government gathered troops to repress the Commune and win back the leadership.

During the Bloody Week, in May 1871, fights escalated: members of the Paris Commune built barricades in the streets and decided to set some official buildings on fire.

Among these buildings were the two buildings which held copies of all civil records prior to 1860 : the town hall ( Hôtel de Ville ) and the law court ( Palais de Justice ). None of these records could be saved. Many other records were also destroyed while other buildings were burnt down (police records, financial records …). However, civil records from 1860 to 1871, which were kept by district town halls, were untouched by the fire.

This explains why, when you want to research Parisian ancestors, you will not find the same resources before and after 1860.

Finding your parisian ancestors before 1860

After the events of 1871, efforts have been made to reconstitute Parisian civil records, thanks to family papers, notary records and parish records. But only a third of all the civil records that burned could be recreated.

The records which were reconstituted were mostly from the 19th century, and concerning families which still had descendants in Paris.

All these reconstituted records have been sorted by date and by surname. They have later been microfilmed. They are now accessible both onsite in the Archives of Paris and online on FamilySearch (under the title “ Reconstitution chronologique des actes “. Note that there are different files for the different types of records).

However researching a record directly in these files can be quite long and almost impossible if you are not sure of its date and/or if you are not sure that it actually was reconstituted.

Fortunately, an index of these files has been made. This index is made of thousands of cards sorted by alphabetical order and by date. These cards were digitized and are accessible on the website for the Archives of Paris .

For example, if you are looking for Eulalie Roustan born in 1788 in Paris, the following steps will be necessary.

1. Thanks to index cards, you will find that her birth record was reconstituted and that her exact date of birth was May 4 th , 1788.

2. You can then look for digitized reconstituted birth records for 1788 on FamilySearch and browse them until you find the correct date, and then the correct surname.

This record was reconstituted thanks to parish records from Saint Eustache church. Thanks to this record, we can discover the name of Eulalie’s parents and we will be able to continue our research.

Finding your parisian ancestors after 1860

All records after 1860 were preserved and later digitized, so you should not have any trouble finding them online. Here is an overview of the records that you can find online on the website for the Archives of Paris:

• Birth records from 1860 to 1924;
• Marriage records from 1860 to 1945;
• Death records from 1860 to 1986.

The only difficulty is to know where to look – in other words, in which arrondissement the event was recorded. Paris is indeed divided in 20 arrondissements which each had their own registers.

If you do not know the arrondissement or the exact date of the record, you will have to use alphabetical tables. There is a table for each arrondissement and each type of record for 10-year periods ( tables décennales ). You can find them through this link .

Note: between 1933 and 1954, only annual tables exist. You can find them through this link .

Once you have found the exact date and arrondissement of the record, you can use this direct link to the Archives of Paris to look for the records.

For example, if you are looking for the death record for Françoise Lenoble who died around 1917 in Paris, you will go through the following steps.

1. Look through the alphabetical tables from 1913 to 1922 for each arrondissement, until you find her in the 18th arrondissement. This will give you her exact date of death: June 2nd, 1917.

2. Find her death record in the registers for the 18th arrondissement in 1917.

Some useful databases to find parisian records

To help you with your research in Paris, both before and after 1860, the following databases can also be useful:

• On Familles Parisiennes , you will find lists of records (mostly notary records) sorted by surname, with links to the pictures of the records.
• On Geneanet , you will find various indexed records from Paris, photographed by volunteers (most of them are the same as the records you can find on the previous website) and also a lot of online trees uploaded by users where you might find clues.
• On Filae , you will have access to indexed civil records between 1860 and 1900 (and even later for death records) and also some indexes of reconstituted records and marriage records from before 1860.

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17 thoughts on “ finding your ancestors in paris ”.

I knew the cards were created after a fire destroyed the records. I hadn‘t looked into the reason for the fire. Also it was interesting to learn there are actually reconstituted records which are available on FamilySearch. I have a few I need to look up. Thank you, Elise.

Un grand merci. J’ai déjà utilisé les fiches des AD de Paris, mais j’ignorais l’existence de ces relevés complets. Trouver cela dans un post en anglais : une belle surprise !

So informative, Elise. Am grateful to know that these efforts were made to reconstruct the records, and to have your clear directions to their access. Toujours…..

Bonjour, et comment allez vous? Je m’appelle Dana, et meme que j’ai etudie le francasi au lycee et a l’universite, je suis completement stupide quand je voudrais de rechere ma chere famille de France. J’habite aus etats unis, et me grand-grand-parents quittent le France dans l’environs de 1874 – juste apres le feu a l’hotel de ville! 🙂

Combien de vous chargez pour votre services? Je voudrais bien d’apprendre plus de mes ancestres. J’ ai 3 noms et 2 possible endroits de naissance – et beaucoup de feuilles official du Canada et Les EU.

Merci pour ce lire, et je suis desolee pour le francais terrible. On peut utilizer Google translate, maid ce n’est pas tres amusant, no? tant mieux.

Encore, merci bien pour votre cadeaux d’information ici sur votre website.

Bonjour, Merci pour votre message ! Si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez m’écrire sur mon adresse mail (en bas de cette page ), pour me dire plus précisément ce que vous savez sur vos ancêtres français, et ce que vous aimeriez découvrir sur eux. Elise

Hello, Ms. Lenoble ! My name is Mihaela Zrinski and I come from Slovenia. I am interested in your website, because I want to search for my french ancestors. A little backstory: My great-grandmother Kristina was working in France as a cook, between 1935-1948. On 15.4.1946 in Paris, she gave birth to a daughter, named Daniela Kristina. Great-grandmother said that the child’s father was French. His name was Jeanmon. My uncle and aunt also have his picture. If you need his picture I can send it to you. I will deeply appreciate your help!

With warm greetings, Mihaela Zrinski

I am just beginning to look at French birth records, on a seemingly hopeless quest. Trying to located any records of a birth ca. 11 August 1901, of a baby girl, in Paris. Likely born out of wedlock, perhaps to a German mother and and English father, although no certainty to the father. Mother’s name may have been Bruller, from Landau in Bavaria. No idea as to which arrondissement may have a record, if one even exists.

Realizing this is a very unusual case, any suggestions as to where I might make inquiries will be greatly appreciated. The young girl lived in Bavaria until brought to the USA in 1908 where she was adopted by a couple from Portland, Maine. She is my wife’s grandmother.

Hello, I think in this case, the best way to go would be to look through the 10-year tables (tables décennales) of each arrondissement between 1893 and 1902, with her maiden name. You can find them through this page: http://archives.paris.fr/s/7/tables-decennales/ ? Best regards, Elise

Hello, I am wondering if there are city directories for Paris before 1940. Do you know of any and if they are available online? Thank you!

Hello, I know that the Archives of Paris have city directories from 1932 to 2018. However, they are not available online.

Hello Elise,

Your website has been so helpful in simplifying a rather complicated archive searching process in Paris! I really appreciate all of links and resources you have shared. I have a question about finding ancestor’s naturalisation records in Paris between 1920-1940, is there an online resource/archive for that? My great grandparents were from Italy originally but we believe naturalised in Paris France some time around having my grandmother in 1925 as she was a French citizen. I have searched several links you have shared but no luck finding documents with naturalisation information.

Thank you for your comment. All naturalisation files are kept in the French National Archives in Pierrefitte (near Paris). They are not available online but here are a few ways to find information about naturalisation records: – naturalisation decrees were published in the Journal Officiel de la République or in the Bulletin des Lois (both available on Gallica) – some naturalisation records have been indexed on the National Archives website – some naturalisation records have been indexed by Filae siv. I hope you will find what you are looking for. Best regards, Elise

This is so useful for my academic research, thank you mille fois !

Hello Elise This is so helpful and interesting. Would you have any advice on where to start a search for birth and adoption records in Paris around 1930? We have no information except mother’s name and child’s name. Kind regards, Suzanne

Hello, the best way to start would be to search for the child’s name in the decennial tables of every arrondissement for the period 1923-1932. These tables are available online on the website of the Archives of Paris: https://archives.paris.fr/s/7/tables-decennales/ (unfortunately, after 1932 they are not online and you would have to go to the archives to search). Best regards, Elise

Thanks you so much for taking the time to respond. This is very much appreciated. Kind regards, Suzanne

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 107 Comments

Thinking about spending 3 days in Paris? Great choice! We think that’s the perfect amount of time to spend in one of our favourite European cities, giving you the chance to see many of the top sights and attractions and really get a feel for the city.

Of course, if you have longer, that’s even better, but three days in Paris is certainly enough to see a lot, and works well either as a long weekend, or as part of a longer Europe trip itinerary like this .

To help you with your planning, we’re going to share with you everything we think you need to know to spend three days in Paris. We’re going to give you a suggested itinerary, tips for getting around, advice on where to stay in Paris, our thoughts on when is best to visit and even some suggested ways to save money in Paris.

Let’s get started!

3 Day Paris Itinerary

This three-day Paris itinerary has you hitting all the major sites and attractions in the city. Naturally we suggest you use this as a guide, and add to or remove from it as necessary.

We also suggest you check the opening times and days for each attraction. For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so depending on when your trip to Paris is, you might need to re-order the days to get everything in.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 1

Eiffel tower.

What better way to start off your trip to Paris than with a visit to the Eiffel Tower . This is without doubt the most iconic landmark in Paris (if not France!), and a visit here is a must for any visit to Paris. When we visit Paris, we always visit at least once, and every time we are amazed at the sheer scale of this beautiful building.

There are a number of ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower. First, you can just enjoy the views of the tower, which we think are particularly good from the Trocadero Gardens across the river, or the Champ de Mars gardens behind the Tower.

You can also go up inside the Eiffel Tower to one of the different floors, for expansive views of the city. We do like the experience of going up inside, but we don’t think it offers the best view of the city – because the view from inside the Eiffel Tower is missing the most famous part of the skyline – the Eiffel Tower itself!

Still, if this is your first visit to Paris, we highly recommend the experience. We do suggest that if you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, that you book your tickets in advance from the official website . The queues here for tickets can be very long, and with a pre-booked ticket you can skip the wait.

Alternatively, if you are feeling fit, you can also take the stairs up to the first level. There is not usually a very long queue for the stairs, which have their own ticket line, and it is also slightly cheaper. See our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower to help you plan your visit.

There are other options for visiting as well. A guided climb of the Eiffel Tower is included on the Paris Pass . This runs in the middle of the day, so if you want to take advantage of this, you will likely want to switch the Eiffel Tower and Seine River Cruise around in this itinerary. It’s also included on the Paris City Card , with a choice of timeslots.

Finally, this tour includes a guided visit (with elevator) to the second floor with the option to visit the summit if you want. It also includes free cancellation, which the official ticket does not.

Seine River Cruise

Another must-do experience in Paris is a river cruise on the Seine. This is a very popular activity, with multiple operators offering cruises up and down the river.

We’ve actually written a post about the various Seine River sightseeing cruise options which goes through the majority of the operators. If you’d prefer a dinner cruise, check out our guide to the best Seine River dinner cruises .

We can definitely recommend the Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise . These depart from just next to the Eiffel Tower, so fit in nicely with this itinerary, and they are included for free if you pick up a Paris Pass or a Paris City Card .

The cruise takes in all the highlights from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, and there’s commentary included. So sit back, relax, and let the scenery roll by.

Hop on Hop off Bus

Talking of sitting back and relaxing, we find that a great way to get oriented in a new city and get an idea of the sights we want to see is to take a Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus tour.

Paris is no exception to this rule, and you can pick up a HOHO bus in Paris from right next to the Eiffel Tower, which will then take you around Paris’s key attractions.

There are multiple operators running different routes around the city. If you pick up a Paris Pass, it includes a 1 Day Big Bus Tour . We took this tour and enjoyed it – it’s both an easy way to get around the city, plus you can learn about many of the sights as you go.

However there are a few different HOHO options in Paris, so pick the one that works for you!

Paris Walking Tour

All this sitting around on buses and boats is great for getting oriented, but at some point you’re going to need to put your feet on the pavement! Paris is a wonderful city to explore on foot, and a guided walking tour is an excellent way to do that.

We think that if you are going to do a walking tour in a city, the first day is the best, as you can ask your guide for local recommendations such as their favourite places to eat or get a coffee, as well as get suggestions for hidden gems you might not find in the guidebooks.

There are lots of operators offering tours in Paris. We’ve taken a number of walking tours with Context Travel , and have always loved their detailed tours. They have a number of tours available in Paris, and you get 10% off with this link . We particularly enjoyed their Hemingway themed walking tour of Paris.

We also love Take Walks walking tours, and they have recently launched a number of Paris Tours . For example, they have a full day Paris tour , although this would require you to significantly alter this itinerary.

If you have a Paris Pass, it comes with a choice of free walking tours , which is worth looking into.

Tour Montparnasse

Last on our list for your first day in Paris is a trip up the Tour Montparnasse . I recommend this to everyone going to Paris, as it is, in my opinion at least, the location with the best view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

This is particularly the case at sunset, so if you can time your visit for sunset, you will get to witness a wonderful sunset across the Eiffel Tower, and then watch the city lights come to life.

The observation level is across two levels, one is inside and one is outside. The outside area is surrounded by glass, but there are cutouts so you can get reflection-free shots of the view. You can also bring a tripod up here! No wonder therefore that it’s on my list of favourite Paris photography locations .

There’s a fee to go up Tour Montparnasse, but it’s free for holders of the Paris Pass . You can also buy individual tickets online in advance  here .

Paris Itinerary:  Day 2

Our second day in Paris takes in some more iconic sites including some of Paris’s most famous museums and churches. It’s quite a full day, so do feel free to edit the itinerary to suit your particular interests, pace and needs!

Sainte Chapelle

It took me multiple visits to Paris before I finally made it to Sainte Chapelle . Now I urge everyone to make it a priority on their trip to Paris!

This is a relatively small chapel that is not too far from Notre Dame, but the interior, which consists of almost floor to ceiling stained glass, is absolutely outstanding. It will definitely take your breath away.

The 13th century Saint Chapelle is quite popular, and the small size and mandatory security checks mean that the line to get in can be long. This is why I have put it on my list as the first thing for your second day in Paris – you want to get here early, ideally get in line ten – fifteen minutes before the opening time. After all, no-one wants to spend their time standing in lines.

There’s a fee to enter Saint Chapelle, which is free to holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass .

You can also buy tickets online in advance here , which is highly recommended as it can get busy here. There’s also a combination ticket for Sainte Chapelle and the nearby Conciergerie here , which is worth visiting.

No more than ten minutes’ walk from Sainte Chapelle is Paris’s most famous religious building, known for her flying buttresses, twin towers and, of course, hunchback resident.

You will definitely see two out of those three when you visit Notre Dame , the major Catholic cathedral in Paris. Construction of this magnificent building took nearly two hundred years, and was completed in 1345.

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.

We certainly think it is worth visiting the facade, but as you can’t go inside at the moment, you might wish to visit another nearby attraction like the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned) as well. You can get a combined ticket for that and Sainte Chapelle here

Musee d’Orsay

If you like museums, Paris has definitely gotten you covered. Our next stop is the Musee d’Orsay , but before you get here, you’re going to take a walk along Paris’s iconic left bank, from Notre Dame to the Musee d’Orsay. This isn’t too far, but you’ll see the booksellers and get a feel for this part of town.

Paris’s museums are quite logically set up, with three main art museums covering three distinct time periods.

The Musee d’Orsay, first on our list, covers art dating from the middle of the 19th century up to the early 20th century, and is home to masterpieces from the likes of Duchamp, Kandinsky and Picasso, to name but a few.

The Louvre (see below), covers the time period before this, whilst the Centre Pompidou covers the time period afterwards, right up to the modern day. The Centre Pompidou isn’t on this itinerary, but you could fit it in if you wanted to of course!

The Musee d’Orsay is absolutely stunning. It’s set in what was once one of Paris’s main train stations, and the grand central atrium is gorgeous – almost worth visiting in of itself.

There’s a fee to get in here, but holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free entry as well as skip the line privileges.

You can also buy tickets and tours online in advance here or on the official site here .

If you only visit one museum in Paris, I can highly recommend making it the Louvre . This is one of the world’s most famous museums, and is home to an incredible collection of art, including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, to name but a few.

Obviously, seeing the Mona Lisa is on the wishlist for many visitors, but this museum, which covers art from ancient times up to the middle of the 19th century, has obviously got a great deal more to offer. True art lovers could lose themselves for days in the vast collection here!

Of course, if that’s you, you are welcome to do the same, although for the purposes of this itinerary we’d probably recommend you try and limit your time to two to three hours so you can fit more of Paris in.

We’d also highly recommend that you pick up either a Paris Pass , Paris City Card or a Paris Museum Pass , which will give you fast-track access to the Louvre.

Note that in the busy times, which tend to be the summer periods especially, the Louvre gets very busy. In summer 2019, there were multiple days when the museum actually sold 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 must 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.

Whichever ticket you buy, you will still have to queue for security, but the line for people with tickets is a lot quicker moving than the general admission line. In addition, when the Louvre sells out on its official website, tickets will usually not be sold on site, so you may not be able to just turn up and queue – only holders of advance tickets will be given entry.

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

Wine tasting

When you think of France, a few things likely come to mind, and I suspect that wine is likely one of them. So why not take a break from the sight-seeing and museums, and indulge in a little wine tasting.

Conveniently located just by the Louvre Museum, the Caves du Louvre  is a wine-tasting experience which will guide you through the French wine making process and introduce you to a number of different French wines. Which you get to drink.

The tour is set in an actual 18th century wine cellar which originally housed the wine collection of the French King. Not a bad setting to learn about French wine we think!

There’s a fee for the tour (which includes the wine tasting), and it is included for holders of the Paris Pass. You can also book it separately here .

If you aren’t into wine tasting, there are a number of nearby cafes and restaurants where you can refresh and revive.

We can recommend afternoon tea at Le Meurice , the Ritz or the Hotel de Crillon if you like afternoon tea (see our guide to the best afternoon tea in Paris if so).

For a shorter and less expensive experience, the hot chocolate at Angelina Cafe is also superb.

Arc de Triomphe

We’re going to finish off the second day of our three-day Paris itinerary with a visit to the Arc de Triomphe , another of Paris’s iconic landmarks. From the Louvre you can either take public transport here, or you can walk up the Champs Elysees, Paris’s most famous shopping street.

The Arc de Triomphe, built in memory of those who died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, is wonderfully photogenic.

From the top you get an excellent view of the city, which includes the roads spanning out into the distance and the Eiffel Tower.

As you journey up into the monument, you will also come to a museum which details some of its history. Below the monument, you will also find the tomb of the unknown soldier.

To get to the Arc de Triomphe, don’t try and cross the traffic roundabout. Head to one of the underpasses, and cross in safety.

Going up inside the Arc de Triomphe carries a fee, holders of the Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass get free access with skip the line privileges.

You can also book a ticket online in advance here , which is worth doing as the lines can get quite long.

Paris Itinerary:  Day 3

On the last day of our 3 day Paris itinerary we’re heading out of the city centre to take in one of Paris’s most famous Royal Palaces. We’re also including some extra sights in the city at the end if you can tear yourself away.

The really nice thing about having 3 days in Paris is that you have the flexibility to go a little further out of the centre. My suggestion for your third day is to visit Versailles , the incredible palace that was the seat of French political power and home to French Royalty, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

To truly appreciate Versailles, I would suggest allocating at least half a day of your third day in Paris, if not more. There is easily enough to see here to fill an entire day, which is why we don’t recommend coming here on our two day Paris itinerary .

We suggest starting off by touring the Palace. You’ll want to get here for opening time, as this is a really popular tourist attraction and it gets busier as the day goes on. Once you have toured the Palace and seen such highlights as the incredible Hall of Mirrors and the Kings Grand Apartments, you can head outside, where there is a great deal more to see.

A walk in the incredible (and vast!) gardens is a must. We particularity enjoyed heading over to Marie Antoinette’s estate, which is a slightly quieter part of the gardens, and home to a small model farm, tucked away temples, and walking paths.

It’s very easy to spend a whole day exploring Versailles and the grounds, and don’t feel bad if you do, it’s totally worth it.

Visiting Versailles is quite easy, you can get a train (RER C) from central Paris to the Gare de Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, and from the train station to the Palace it is a well sign-posted ten minute walk.

Fast-track entry to the Palace, Gardens and other Versailles attractions is included on the Paris Museum Pass – although you will still need to join the security line. You can also book tickets online here , or book a guided tour online here .

If you manage to tear yourself away from Versailles, my suggestion for finishing off your last day in Paris is to head to the Montmartre region. This is home to a large hill, atop which sits the glorious Sacre Coeur de Montmartre, another of Paris’s iconic buildings.

This area of Paris was particularly famous as being home to artists, and folks like Dali, Picasso and Hemingway all either lived or frequented this area.

It’s still popular with artists, and the Place du Teatre is the place in Montmartre is the place to go to get your portrait or caricature painted. Fans of Dali will also want to visit the Dali Exhibition , home of the largest collection of works by Dali in France.

Montmartre is a maze of cute little streets, cafes and shops. The Basilica is free to visit, if you get here in time, although there is a small fee if you want to climb the tower.

Montmartre is also a popular place to watch the sunset across the city, and what better way to finish your 3 days in Paris than by watching the sun set across this magical city from atop Montmartre?

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Map

To help you visualise our 3-day Paris itinerary we’ve put together this helpful map which shows the attractions for each day. You can access this on Google Maps here .

3 Days in Paris Itinerary Overview

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

Where to Stay in Paris

As you would expect from a major European capital city, Paris has no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. We’ve stayed in a variety of places, from hotels to homestays to apartments.

Ideally you want to be fairly central if you can, to minimise your travel time. Our suggestion is to take a look at the listings for Paris on booking.com . They’re our favourite booking engine when we travel, usually giving us the best choice and the best prices. They also have everything from apartments and hostels to high end hotels. Here are some options we suggest, depending on your budget.

• 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 .

When to Visit Paris

We’re actually happy to visit Paris at pretty much any time of year, and this Paris itinerary would work at any time of year.

Summer brings sunshine and warmth, although of course the city is a lot busier at this time of year, so if crowds aren’t your thing, you might want to skip the summer months.

We also love Fall and Spring in the city, when the temperatures are a bit cooler and the crowds less. In the run up to Christmas, the city is beautifully decorated and some of the stores in particular are worth visiting just to see the elaborate decorations they put up. After Christmas the city is a lot quieter, and of course temperatures are at their lowest.

Ultimately, we think Paris is worth visiting whenever you can, so just decide how busy you can handle, and if you’d prefer it to be warm or cold, and go from there!

How to Get to and From Paris

As the capital of France, Paris has multiple options for visitors looking to visit. There are three major airports in Paris. Charles de Gaulle is the main airport for international arrivals, with Paris Orly being the second most popular international airport. Both of these airports are easily reachable by public transport from the city centre.

Paris Beauvais-Tille airport is where you will likely arrive if you are flying with a budget airline. This is some way out of the city centre, but regular shuttle buses are available to take you into the city.

Paris is also connected to the high-speed French and European rail network, and there are a number of train stations in central Paris. You can even travel from the UK by train, taking the channel tunnel to do so. See our guide to getting from London to Paris for more suggested options.

Finally, of course, you can reach Paris by car from France and the rest of Europe. Our advice would be to park your car in a secure long stay car-park on the outskirts of Paris and take public transport to the centre.

We recommend against driving in the city centre, as public transport is cheap and fast, and a lot easier than stressing about driving around the crowded city streets, and trying to find a parking space.

How to Get Around Paris

Paris has an excellent public transport network, and in particular the Paris Metro system is really good, getting you around all the major parts of the city at minimum cost. There’s also a good bus network, as well as local trains.

For public transport, you can purchase t+ tickets which allow for one-off travel on the Paris bus, RER trains and metros. These are available at train and metro stations using the ticket machines. These machines accept both credit cards and cash, and can be configured for English language.

Each ticket can be used for a single journey of up to 2 hours on the metro (including transfers) and 90 minutes on buses (including transfers). For more information on these tickets, see the official page .

From 2019, the Paris transport system has introduced the Navigo Easy Card. This is a rechargeable card system which is designed to replace the cardboard T+ tickets. A card costs €2 to buy, but allow you to buy a discounted pack of 10 tickets which will save you money if you do quite a bit of travel.

Other than being electronically stored, the tickets work the same, so we would recommend visitors to Paris using the Navigo Easy system as the most cost-effectivee method of paying for transport as a visitor to Paris.

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.

Walking Tours of Paris

If you’d like to take a guided tour of Paris, the two companies we usually use are Take Walks and Context Travel . These both offer small group walking tours in Paris, which are a great way to learn about some of the sights and history of the city. Of course, if you decide to take a walking tour you will have to adjust the itinerary accordingly to suit.

If you were interested in a tour, Take Walks has this  Paris in a Day tour which includes a major Museum, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & a Seine River Cruise – an excellent introduction to the city!

Context travel offer a number of very focused tours of Paris , and these offer very specialised insights into particular subjects. We’d suggest maybe taking one of these for a specific area of interest that you really want to learn about, perhaps for Versailles . They also offer an introduction to Paris tour .

There are of course other options for various tours in Paris, including all the tours on this page , which offers a variety of things to do from different providers.

For example, there’s this delicious looking food tour ,  this in-depth tour of Hemingway locations in Paris or this tour of Montmartre .

So definitely check out the options to figure out what is best for you!

How to Save Money in Paris

Being a major European city, Paris is definitely not a budget destination. There are a few ways to save money of course, even on an itinerary as packed with attractions as this one is. Food is one way – rather than eating out for every meal for example, you could stay in an apartment or hostel that lets you cook your own meals.

If that’s not an option, consider having picnic lunches or breakfasts, and eating out in the evenings. Also, keep an eye out for the “menu du jour”, most restaurants offer a fixed lunch or evening menu which includes a number of dishes at a fixed price.

You can usually get a meal for between €12 & €25 which includes two or three courses, bread, and sometimes even wine or coffee. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Paris for lunch deals.

The cheapest way to get around Paris is to walk of course, followed by the excellent public transport system. We usually walk as much as we can, and then take the metro for the longer trips. Taxis can be convenient, but they will eat into your budget very quickly.

One of our favourite ways to save money when we visit a major city where we want to see a lot of sights is to invest in a city sightseeing pass. In Paris there are three main passes that we recommend, the Paris Pass ( buy yours from the official site here ), the Paris Museum Pass (buy here ) and the 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 December 2023 and links to book each attraction directly.

• 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 .
• Hop on Hop off bus (€45) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Paris Walking Tour (~€35) – various options included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Tour Montparnasse (€19) – included on Paris Pass. Book online here .
• Sainte Chapelle (€11.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Musee d’Orsay (€16) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Louvre Museum (€17) – included on 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 .
• Arc de Triomphe (€13) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .
• Versailles (€19.5) – included on Paris Pass and Paris Museum Pass. Book online here .

Adding all the above together and you are looking at around €270 in entry fees.

Our recommendation is to consider a 3-day Paris Pass.

We suggest the 3-day Paris Pass because it actually comes with a 2-day Paris Museum Pass.

With that, you get access to pretty much everything on our itinerary, as well as many more activities and attractions including more museums, walking tours, and even dining activities!

You just have to plan your itinerary so you visit the sites covered by the Paris Museum Pass on two out of your three days in Paris. Hint – we’ve already done that for you in our itinerary!

As of December 2023, a 3 day Paris Pass costs €194 for an adult, saving you around €75 per person if you do everything in our itinerary.

Of course, your individual situation will vary, and you might have different attractions you want to visit. In addition, you should be aware that if you are an EU citizen under the age of 26 that many attractions are free or discounted to visit (you need ID!).

Also, on the first Sunday of every month, many museums are free to visit – although very crowded as a result!

We think the Paris Pass can be good value for money ( click here to buy ), but do feel free to check out our detailed reviews of both the Paris Pass and the Paris Museum Pass , and come to your own decision as to what works for you!

You might also decide that purchasing individual tickets makes more sense. In that case, we highly recommend booking online in advance, especially for major attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, which can get very busy and even sell out a long time in advance.

Finally, we can also suggest checking out 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.

Practicalities for visiting Paris

Paris is a safe city in our experience, although it does have a reputation for being home to a number of scams. Most of these are easy to avoid once you know about them (read up on some of the common scams in Paris here ).

As with any major city, of course you need to keep your wits about you – keep your possessions in view all the time, keep your wallet or phone in a front pocket (with a zip if possible), and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do at home.

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.

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

US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter. As a general rule, we have found that laptops, phone and camera chargers and other small electronics are universal, whilst larger devices like hair dryers and hair straighteners are not.

Paris is part of the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro. You can get Euros from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted, and there is no need to carry large quantities of currency.

Internet Access

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.

Water 

The water in the taps in Paris is safe to drink unless otherwise indicated. 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

If you want to eat at one of the more popular restaurants in Paris , we recommend that you book 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 restaurants a breeze, especially if you don’t speak French. Check it out here to find reviews, sample menus and book a table.

Further Reading for your 3 Days in Paris

We have visited Paris on a number of occasions, and have written a good deal about our experiences in the city. To help you further plan your stay in Paris, here are some of our favourite posts and external resources.

• A detailed guide to 2 Days in Paris , should you be there for a shorter period or are looking for some alternative options
• We also have a guide to spending a day in Paris , if you’re on a really tight schedule and just want to focus on the highlights
• We have a detailed guide to attending the famous Moulin Rouge show in Paris
• Our guide to the  best photography locations in Paris , to help you get the best shots on your trip
• A guide to  choosing a Seine river cruise , choosing a Seine River dinner cruise , buying Paris opera tickets ,  attending a fashion show in Paris  and our tips for  the best restaurants in Paris for lunch .
• Our  review of the Paris Pass  and the Paris Museum Pass to help you decide if these might save you money during your time in Paris
• Galeries Lafayette is one of the most well known stores in Paris. However, there’s more to do here than shop! See our complete guide to visiting Galeries Lafayette for more information.
• A guide to  Airbnb Alternatives  to help you find the right accommodation
• If you like afternoon tea, check out our definitive guide to the  best afternoon tea locations in Paris
• If you are heading out of town, check out our itinerary for 2 Days visiting Normandy and the D-Day beaches
• We have reviewed many travel related products you might find useful. Check out our guide to the best travel routers , best travel cameras and best travel wraps to get started!
• If you want a book, we always like to recommend the Rick Steves guides – here’s the  Rick Steves Paris  edition

And that’s it for our guide to spending 3 days in Paris! As always if you have any feedback or questions, just let us know in the comments below.

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Deidre Smith says

22nd December 2023 at 6:04 pm

We arrive at the paris airport at 8am on a Sunday, will have to get our luggage and take it to our hotel. I was hoping to be to hotel by 10am. I thought of doing: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise, Hop on Hop off Bus, Notre Dame, Tour Montparnasse.

Monday: Sainte Chapelle, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Catacombs, Arc de Triomphe (do Tour Montparnasse this day if didn’t have time on Sunday)

Tuesday: Versailles in the morning, leave to go get our luggage at hotel at 3pm, get to hotel at 4pm, get to airport by 5pm for 7pm flight to Venice.

I had to move Notre Dame on your days to Sunday, since it’s closed Monday. So my question is, is this doable? Second, I was going to get the Paris Pass but it seems that wouldn’t work on Versailles if I use it on Monday at Notre Dame, so is there a better pass for me to buy. I was worried if I bought the paris pass, and then used it to book Versailles, it might not work since it’s not consecutive days.

Laurence Norah says

22nd December 2023 at 6:47 pm

So, Notre Dame itself is not due to re-open until the end of 2024. The only area you can currently visit is the Crypt, which you are correct, is closed on Mondays. So I just wanted to clarify that that was what you meant.

For the general timing, if you don’t mind having quite a long day on the Monday you should be ok. My main concern would be that the Hop on Hop off bus is likely going to take a while (it’s a sightseeing experience rather than a quick way to get around the city). Also if you plan on using the Paris Pass or similar pass, you should be aware that some attractions are visited with a guided tour, specifically the Eiffel Tower. Those tours only run at specific times.

Given your schedule with Versailles on the Tuesday and the fact that the Paris Pass only comes with a 2 day Paris Museum Pass, you are correct that this might not be the best pass for you as the 2 day Musuem Pass would expire by Tuesday. One option would be to just get a 2 day Paris Museum Pass and use it for the Monday / Tuesday attractions. From your list it should cover everything except the Catacombs I believe. Then you could just book individual tickets for the other sights. There are passes which include some of the sights on your list such as the Go City Explorer Pass . However I honestly don’t think that it is going to offer better value than just booking individual tickets for each attraction.

I hope this helps, have an amazing time in Paris and let me know if I can offer any more help!

Catrina says

24th November 2023 at 3:13 pm

My husband and I will be celebrating our 20 year anniversary in March and are planning a trip to Paris! I love the 3 day itinerary, giving us a couple days to visit Disneyland Paris. I am interested in a budget friendly-ish stay that allows for a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower as in your photo above. Any way to narrow down my hotel/apartment search? Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the info already given. Super excited for our trip 🙂

24th November 2023 at 4:47 pm

Congratulations and your anniversary and what a lovely way to spend it 🙂 So there are definitely quite a few hotels and apartments with views of the Eiffel Tower. The downside is that properties are aware that this is a desirable feature, so these rooms tend to cost a bit more. We actually have a complete guide to the Eiffel Tower which has a section on recommended hotels , with many of them offering views.

We cen definitely personally recommend the Pullman , which has lovely views from many of the rooms.

Otherwise, your best option is going to be to search properties in the region of the Eiffel tower (like this search I’ve set up for you ). Any hotel or apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower will definitely make that obvious in it’s description. You just want to be sure you book a room with a view of it, which should also be pretty clear in the room description!

I hope you have a wonderful time in Paris and if you have any more questions please let me know 🙂

Catrina Baugus says

28th November 2023 at 9:43 am

Thank you so much! This gives us a great place to start 🙂

G. Heartwell says

20th March 2023 at 4:32 pm

Thank you so much for the details on the 3 day Paris tour. Sounds perfect for starting a 7 day first visit.! My granddaughter and I are planning to go after the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris! Any helpful travel do s and don’ts for that time period?

24th March 2023 at 6:29 pm

It’s my pleasure. So the main advice I would give is to book any attractions you want to visit as far in advance as possible. This is especially the case for popular attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, which can book out months in advance at busier times of year. I’d also recommend picking a hotel with air-conditioning. It’s not always included, but summer in Paris can be hot so be sure to pick somewhere that specifically states it has A/C for a more comfortable stay.

Otherwise have a great time in Paris!

27th January 2023 at 12:07 am

Hello from snowy Toronto, Canada

My son (almost 18) and I would like to travel to France end of July for perhaps a week or so then on to England. With respect to France he wants to see the Eifel Tower and Louvre and from what I read a sunset river cruise would be great too. We can visit the Notre-Dame and anything else you suggest. I personally would then like to go south to Nice, Cannes etc. If we base ourselves in Paris for sites would you suggest base in Nice and branch from there to surrounding areas? Are Roven, Marselle and Carcassone (sp) worth visiting? Would you suggest other areas? Bordeaux looks beautiful but being that this isn’t a wine tour for myself I don’t want to visit this time. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

29th January 2023 at 9:21 am

It’s great to hear from you. So for Paris I think this guide should cover most of the highlights of what you want to see. For the south of France, it is definitely a good option to pick one or two locations as a base. However, it’s worth pointing out that France is quite a big country, so you will want to plan what you want to see. Carcassone is very pretty and definitely worth visiting, but it’s about 350 miles from Nice for example. So I think you would want to work out exactly what you wanted to see and then decide which location or locations makes the most logical sense. You will also want to figure out how you want to get around. The train network in France is very fast and good value, but it doesn’t go everywhere, so you might also consider hiring a car for example. With only a week total, I’d suggest picking one other location outside of Paris and focusing on that. Bordeaux would actually be a great option as it’s about 3 hours by fast train from Paris and there is plenty to see (lots of which doesn’t involve wine!).

Have a great trip 🙂

jacques Martial says

9th January 2023 at 3:26 am

Interesting site.. we have some friends visiting Paris for 3 days and we found your site.. Being a Parisian myself, I was surprised that you included Versailles and a Wine Tasting visit into your planning. Nothing against Versailles, it is a beautiful place but there is more to see in Paris that spending time in Versailles and tasting wine when you are not a drinker. Suggest that you give these visits as alternate. One suggestion: why don’t you have a Romantic 3 days in Paris planning? Many young couples may appreciate more for honeymoon, wedding anniversary or other. Thank you Jacques from Vancouver in Canada

11th January 2023 at 9:02 am

Hi Jacques,

Thanks for your input! We definitely appreciate that this itinerary will not work for everyone, and of course we always suggest folks adjust for their own personal interests and tastes. Many visitors to France do want to try French wine, hence the wine tasting. We also think Versailles is worth visiting with three days in Paris, but of course, everyone can make their own choice 🙂 Thanks for the idea about the romantic visit to Paris as well, we shall definitely consider that!

Marybeth says

5th January 2023 at 10:00 pm

Your information is fabulous! I will be traveling to France in June for a wedding. The wedding will take place in Provence. I plan on starting in Paris for at least 3 days. Then off to Lyon, Avignon and Provence. I am open to suggestions on what to see between Paris and Provence. Lastly, 3 or 4 days for Paris? My travel dates are a bit flexible. Thank you for any suggestions you may offer.

11th January 2023 at 9:32 am

Thanks Marybeth, and sorry for the slow response, we’re currently traveling in Uganda with limited internet!

Given your planned route from Paris to Avignon with a stop in Lyons, a few suggestions that might work for you are below. However, this depends on if you are driving or traveling by train.

Fontainebleau – most famous for Fontainebleau Palace. A nice quieter alternative to Versailles if you are not already visiting that on this trip.

Guédelon Castle near Treigny, France which is a 13th century castle they are building using traditional materials and methods

Dijon – heart of Burgundy region so lots of vineyards in area, city has a number of attractions like Musée des Beaux-Arts

Beaune – lovely walled town with cobblestones, distinctive tiled roofs and the Hôtel-Dieu Museum

3rd January 2023 at 3:09 am

Hi, Your itinerary is so great! Thank you for doing this as I plan to follow it. I’m going in February. I’d like to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up what’s the best time to get there? Thank you

3rd January 2023 at 4:46 pm

So the Eiffel Tower automatically lights up within 10 minutes of it getting dark. It’s an automated system that is based on the light. In February, the sunset in Paris is normally around 6pm (6.30pm at the end of the month), so anytime around then if you just want to see it lit up. It’s also worth noting that the tower also sparkles for five minutes every hour on the hour once it’s been lit up, so that would likely take place at 7pm when you are there. I’d definitely recommend watching that as well!

Have a great time in Paris, let me know if you have any more questions! We also have a detailed guide to the Eiffel Tower you might find useful 🙂

Andrej ands Heather says

5th July 2022 at 4:58 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica Norah

We were planning the Paris trip, actually a trip to Europe, with the first stop in Paris. We found your web blog, read it carefully and decided to follow your advice in the detail. We stayed for 4 days and used 3 days Paris pass, it is good value for the money we paid for. That was the best decision we made!

We create our own itinerary, we scheduled our trips and we made it even more than we predict. We bought a weekly Navigo on arrival( it is good to have two photos with) and travel all around by public transport, a lot of walking up and downstairs( we are 50 and 51), but we managed. We are extremely grateful for your work and effort. Thank you, guys!

5th July 2022 at 11:12 am

Hi Andrej and Heather,

I am so pleased that you had a good time in Paris (and Europe!) and that you found our sites useful. It is very kind of you to take the time to stop by and let us know, it is very much appreciated. Also for the tip on the Navigo. Here’s to many more years of adventures ahead!

All the best,

6th June 2022 at 11:03 pm

So can I upgrade the Eiffel Tower tour to an elevator one all the way to the summit with the Paris pass? That says guided climbing tour only to the second floor. Thanks

7th June 2022 at 11:45 am

This is a great question! I reached out to Experience First who handle the tour that comes with the Paris Pass, and they responded as follows:

You can First book your tour with Paris pass through: https://www.exp1.com/paris-tours/book-with-pass/

Then, after booking you will receive an email with a Booking reference number which you can use it to upgrade to summit.

To Upgrade after booking : https://upgrade.exp1.com/

So in summary, yes, you can upgrade to the summit access tour with the Paris Pass, although obviously this will be subject to availability.

Have a great time in Paris!

13th November 2021 at 7:57 pm

My husband and I will be visiting Paris in a couple weeks for 4 days (Sun – Wed). This is our first time visiting France and working on a draft itinerary. I plan on getting the Paris Pass for the 1st 2 days so to include all the museum visits. Also your thoughts on doing the river cruise at night (Bateaux Parisiens Seine River) instead of during the day one.

Sunday – Bus hop, Eiffel Tower and late afternoon head to watch the sunset…Arc de Triomphe and do Tour Montparnasse Monday – Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre, Wine tasting, River ride at sunset Tuesday – The catacombs or Montmartre then Versaille in the afternoon

Thanks in advance!

14th November 2021 at 11:10 am

Great to hear from you! Your plan sounds great to me. The only thing I’d mention, which might be obvious, is just to remember that in winter the sun sets around 5pm in Paris. I’m sure you factored that in, but just something to remember if you’re wanting to catch the sunset from the Tour Montparnasse.

It definitely sounds like you have arranged everything in a sensible order. I am not sure how busy Versailles is at the moment. In the old times visiting in the afternoon without a guided tour booked was a challenge due to the long ticket lines, but now they have timed tickets I suspect it’s less of an issue – we’ve not been since they introduced the time slots.

For the Seine River Cruise, we’ve done both day time cruises, sunset cruises and an evening dinner cruise. I think sunset is a good time as you get the mix of the city at day and at night, with the potential for a nice sky as well. If it was my first time, I’d probably not do a tour at night, just because it’s obviously dark and so harder to see everything. But that’s just my personal preference. Seeing everything lit up is lovely as well!

Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to help! Have a wonderful trip to Paris – we’re planning to be there at the start of January 😀

amanda Pimm says

31st October 2021 at 4:12 pm

Hi , my husband and I plan to take my daughter and her friend to Paris next may 2022 for her 16th birthday. We have never been before and can’t speak any French, will this be a problem. I also wondered what pass would be good to buy for our 3 day sight seeing please. Would be very great full for any advice.

31st October 2021 at 6:33 pm

Great to hear from you. Let me do my best to answer your two questions.

In terms of not speaking French, this shouldn’t be a major problem, especially in Paris. It’s a popular part of the world with visitors, and English is widely spoken. However, I would say that you will likely have a better experience if you learn a few basic phrases, such as hello (bonjour), thank you (merci) please (s’il vous plait), and do you speak English (parlez vouz anglais). The Parisians have developed a bit of reputation for being rude to foreigners, but in my experience, if you start off with a simple “bonjour”, they will pretty much instantly realise that you are not a native speaker, and nine times out of ten they’ll respond in English. However, if you start in English, they’ll be less receptive. I guess you could imagine the reception if it were reversed, and a French person arriving in the UK or USA and trying to start a conversation in French. So even learning “hello” can be a bit step in getting things off on the right foot!

For city cards, this will very much depend on what you want to see. For most visitors, a trip to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a Seine River Cruise are popular, so the Paris City Card is a good starting point as it includes those things. You then get a 10% discount for additional attractions you book through the site. If you plan to see more sights, then you might instead consider the Paris Pass , which includes a lot more attractions and activities, but it will definitely depend on what you plan to do to make sure it is good value. For example, if you plan to do most of the attractions in this itinerary, it will likely offer cost savings.

I hope this helps, have a great trip to Paris and let me know if you have any more questions!

21st April 2020 at 11:55 pm

Exploring the City of Love is such a dream come true! This 3-day Itinerary in Paris is such a great help to those who are planning to discover Paris. Thanks for sharing, nice article.

22nd April 2020 at 10:36 am

Thanks James!

rj digma says

11th February 2020 at 7:08 pm

Great site. Very helpful. One question, if I buy the paris museum pass but want to hire a private guide to take us to the museums and give us art history info, would you know someone.

11th February 2020 at 11:20 pm

Thanks very much! We don’t know any private guides personally, however we have regularly used Context Travel , who do provide private guides, so that would be worth looking into.

Good luck, and have a great time in Paris!

Veronica Webster says

1st February 2020 at 11:36 pm

Hi Laurence, We have already cleared doubts with Jessica about our London trip, and now we’re working on the Paris part. We will be visiting Paris from March 27th to April 1st. Arriving on Friday around 11:00 am. We know that being a weekend everything will be more crowded, but it is what it is. We have made our numbers and we’re thinking that the Museum Pass will work better, given that the Paris Pass 3 days only includes 2 days museums, and we have actually 4.5 days, so not really need to fit all museums in 2 days (and we’re visiting Versailles too) My question is: The delivery options for the Museum pass is pick up at arrival or Fedex (24euros to Canada). If we arrive on a Friday, if I want to reserve time slot for Louvre on Saturday, is there’s a risk I won’t find available the time I’m looking for? Same for Orsay on Sunday morning (we want to be there for both at 9:00 am) Given that we would be already saving time by avoiding lines and buying the tickets, the 24 euros fee to have the pass with us sooner and book weeks ahead sound like a reasonable option. Your thoughts please?

here’s a draft of our trip: Friday after 1 pm: Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise (we pay for those 2) Sat: Louvre (9am, museum pass), Hop OnOff (we pay) Champs E./Arc the T (mpass) Sun: Orsay (9am mpass) Montmartre Mo: Saint Chapelle (mpass), Notre Dame (just views), Pantheon (mpass), Invalides (mpass) Tu: Versailles (mpass) – We think Versailles will be less crowded on Tu, but we could switch this to Sunday.

Thank you in advance to you and Jessica! your blog has been very useful to plan this trip!!

2nd February 2020 at 3:32 pm

Hi Veronica,

Thanks for your comment. To answer your question, for the Louvre, it has become very popular, and if you want to guarantee a particular time for your entry, then paying for the delivery of the museum pass is definitely going to be the way to do that. You need the number on the pass in order to make the reservation, which obviously you will need the pass for. If you decide to do this, make sure you bring both the pass and proof of reservation with you, and then join the correct line at the Louvre for those with reservations.

Of course, Paris in March / April is not as busy as it is over the summer months, so it may be that the Louvre has plenty of availability. However, it’s all down to your personal risk preference 😉

For the Musee d’Orsay, as far as we know you can’t book in advance with this museum, you just turn up with your pass. This is the case for most of the museums in Paris, it’s only the Louvre that has the timed requirement due to its popularity.

For Versailles, the weekends are usually very busy, however, bear in mind that many sights in Paris are also closed on Tuesdays (like the Louvre), so this also means more folks head out to Versailles. We would urge you to arrive early at Versailles, as the lines can get very very long for entry. Again, March / April should not be *too* busy, but it is best to err on the side of caution in our experience!

You have done a great job with the itinerary, putting the busiest places first 🙂 Let us know if you have any more questions and we’ll try to help. Have a fantastic trip – do feel free to join our facebook group and share your experiences in our friendly facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelloversandphotography/ 🙂

Afitha says

31st August 2019 at 12:47 pm

Hi Laurence, Me and my husband will be going to paris-switzerland-italy for 11 days trip..pls gve me an advise regarding howmany days we will stay per country…eagerly waiting for ur reply..TIA

2nd September 2019 at 6:12 am

It really depends on which cities you want to visit and your personal interests. I haven’t visited Switzerland for a while but I would say if you were to do something like Paris for 3 days, then Switzerland for 3-4 days, then Italy for 4-5 days. I would suggest with that much time that you could visit 2 cities in Italy, so I’d say maybe Rome and Venice. You could also base in Rome and do day trips to places like Florence.

Have a great time!

19th August 2019 at 11:55 am

Hello Laurence and Jessica, I’m planning to go on a solo trip on January 2020 to Paris (and going to Italy). It will be my first time in Europe, and I’m very excited. I know it’s winter and it will be very cold, but I was wondering if you have any tips for a 21 year old solo female traveller? I’m planning to book an AirBnB so I can also cook some meals to be able to save some money. How much do you think I need for the three day sightseeing in Paris alone? I’m hoping to hear from you guys soon. Thank you.

19th August 2019 at 12:01 pm

So I will briefly answer your question on solo female travel. We definitely aren’t experts in that area as we usually travel as a couple, however, Paris is no more or less safe than other major western European cities, so if you practice the same sort of safety precautions that you would in your own home cities, then you shouldn’t have any problems.

For budget, January is not too busy in Paris so you should be able to find an apartment on AirBnb in the region of $60 – $100 a night. The other main costs will be food and sightseeing. For food, lunch is the best time to go out for meals generally as restaurants tend to have fixed price menus. So if you do choose to dine out during your stay, we’d recommend doing so at lunch. Otherwise we suggest croissants from a bakery for breakfast and there are lots of supermarkets for picking up supplies for cooking 🙂

Sightseeing will be your other major costs. The price will obviously vary depending on exactly what you want to do and see. If you plan on going inside many museums and attractions, then we recommend either the Paris Pass or Paris Museum Pass. The best one for you will depend on what you want to see. Note that neither of them includes Eiffel tower access. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, the cheapest way is to buy second floor tickets with stair access. You can do this online or in person – see our full Eiffel Tower guide for more on that.

https://independenttravelcats.com/eiffel-tower-paris-france/

Overall, I would say that if you budget $60 – $100 a day for accommodation, $20 – $50 a day for attractions and $15 – $30 a day on food that would be reasonable. Of course, you could go above or below these figures based on your own preference, but that is a ballpark.

Have a great time in Paris, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 4:15 am

I am looking into going to Paris July 3-5 2020. I have never traveled or anything else like that how would I go about making sure I had enough money. Thank you in advance.

29th July 2019 at 7:42 pm

Well, that’s quite a big question 🙂 It will depend a bit on your travel style (hostel – luxury hotel), what attractions you want to see and what sort of food you want to eat. Also how you get around, from walking -> taxis. The main costs will be your flight to and from Paris, your accommodation, and then your sight-seeing and food costs. It’s hard to give an exact number as everyone will be different, but if you take a look at my guide to the costs for travelling in the UK, this will give you an idea of what to estimate. Paris will be a bit more expensive, as capital cities often are, but you should at least get a rough estimate. You can see that guide here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/cost-travel-uk/

Let me know if you have any more questions!

29th July 2019 at 9:34 pm

Thank u so much I’ll check that link in just a few when I have a bit more time ????????

7th July 2019 at 3:57 am

Hi Laurence!

My husband and I will be going to Paris for six days in October. However, it’s our first time there, and I’m starting to think that we might have too many days in Paris and we might run out of activities.

Any suggestions or thoughts on that based on your experience?

9th July 2019 at 3:42 pm

You definitely won’t run out of things to do. I have just covered the major highlights in this post – there is so much more to the city! We usually visit for 5-7 days at a time, and have done so multiple times, and have never run out of things to do!

9th September 2019 at 11:13 pm

My sister and I who are in our 70 are going on a river cruise with Viking on Oct 6 an want to come in a few days early.. What hotel and tours . Is the show mon la rougue still there as I saw it 20 years and want to see it again.

11th September 2019 at 5:50 pm

Thanks for your e-mail. So the hotel you choose will very much depend on your budget, but we have some suggestions in this post for you to choose from. If you’d like to stay near the Eiffel Tower, we also have a lot of suggestions in our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower, which you can read here . Of course, you might want to find out where your cruise departs from so you are not too far away.

The Moulin Rouge is still very much in operation, and we visited quite recently. You do need to book in advance, I have a full guide to the Moulin Rouge here which you might find helpful.

Rupali says

25th June 2019 at 2:47 pm

Hi I really like the detailed itinerary. It very good to look if you are planning the trip to Paris in advance. I would like to know if the Paris pass includes guided tours or some discount on guided tours in the museums? Also, if now do you think it is worth to take the guided tours to know about the significance of that place.

25th June 2019 at 3:20 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 So some city passes do include discounts on walking tours. However, the Paris Pass does not include many discounted guided tours. Looking at the inclusions, it includes a Montmartre walking tour, as well as discounts on a Segway tour, cycling tour and Citroen 2CV tour. It also includes the guided Opera Garnier tour. You can see some of the tours it includes on this page – just filter by Paris tours.

So if you want to do a guided tour of the museums, or a guided tour in Paris in general, then you would want to book that separately. I do think that a guided tour is a good way to learn about the city, and I link to some suggested walking tours in the post. It’s really up to you though if you want to do that. If you take a full day walking tour of Paris, then you might not find the Paris Pass offers such good value as most tours include entry to a number of attractions.

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

9th June 2019 at 7:07 pm

Hi Laurence, We stumbled across your blog recently while planning for our trip to Paris in September this fall. We enjoyed reading it. We will be arriving Paris on a Wednesday morning and leaving by plane on a Saturday 5:50pm flight. On Thursday we’ve booked a Versailles morning tour that ends 1:45pm and on Saturday morning we’ve booked the Louvre tour that ends 12:45 pm, then we will retrieve our luggage from hotel and on to the airport. Questions: Should we stay at a hotel that is near the Louvre for our convenience of Saturday’s luggage retrieval before airport Or should we stay at a hotel that is a short walk to the Hop on Hop off bus route so we can visit most of the top attraction via the bus and not to let the luggage retrieval limit the hotel location ? Could you please give us a few hotels suggestions and what top attractions we can fit in our schedule?

9th June 2019 at 8:53 pm

Thanks for your comment!

So, I think it’s up to you in regard to the hotel location. However, as the Louvre is a popular location for visitors, most Hop on Hop off buses will have a stop close by. So you can do both – just pick a hotel close to the Louvre and it will also be close to the Hop on Hop off bus.

In terms of specific hotels, it’s hard to give advice without a budget. I’d suggest using this link to start , and then narrowing your filter by price, date and what type of accommodation you are looking for. I’d generally also suggest looking for properties with a good review score, ideally an 8 or higher 🙂

PS – sorry about the slow response, we’ve been travelling for the past few days with limited internet 😀

Angela B says

9th June 2019 at 3:30 pm

Laurence & Jessica, Such an amazing and thorough explanation. My daughter (13) and I will be arriving into Paris next Sunday (16th) to watch USA play in the World Cup. My husband will be working the Paris Air Show, so my daughter and I have 3 days (17-19) to ourselves, meeting my husband at night for dinner and sightseeing. I think we will do the 3 day tour with Versailles on the last day. Based on this itinerary, does the 3 Day Paris Pass still make the best option? I am guessing it does since it includes travel, entrance, and skipping lines. We are sooooo excited!!!!! Angela

9th June 2019 at 8:57 pm

Thank you so much Angela – sounds like you’ve got a great trip coming up!

So I would say that the Paris Pass would make sense if you intend on using the various additional features it offers like the Seine Cruise, transport and so on. The one thing to be aware of is that whilst the pass is three days, it only includes a 2 day museum pass. And that pass is what you will use for places like the Louvre, Versailles and so on.

I have structured this itinerary to account for that, however, if you want to move things around, it might make less sense, and instead you might consider the 4 day Paris Museum Pass, and then a separate travel card. Of course, it’s up to you.

We have a full review of both types of pass if you would like some further reading to help you decide! They are at the following links:

https://independenttravelcats.com/tips-buying-using-paris-museum-pass/ https://independenttravelcats.com/buying-paris-pass-review-worth-it-tips/

Sumona says

30th May 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much for writing this. Really helpful and very well written!

30th May 2019 at 5:38 pm

Thank you very much Sumona – have a wonderful trip to Paris and do let us know if you have any questions 🙂

17th May 2019 at 4:52 pm

Hi Laurence and Jessica! I am travelling to Paris soon and your elaborate writing and practical tips is what exactly I was looking for. Brilliant! Thanks : )

17th May 2019 at 5:53 pm

Thank you very much Jasma – have a wonderful time in Paris! Do let us know how you enjoy the city 🙂

17th May 2019 at 7:27 pm

I will sure have a good time in the City of love . Also, Your expert advice on the accommodation pls- the place I am planning to stay is at Courbevoie. Per the owner it says 10 mins to Paris. Do you think during my stay at Paris for 3-4 days this place will be in proximity to the list you had advised in your blog. Thanks Jasma

17th May 2019 at 7:33 pm

It’s hard to tell as Courbevoie is a little bit outside the city centre, and so it will depend on which metro or train station you are near, and how far it is to the metro station. In a best case scenario it will be 10 minutes to the Arc de Triomphe, in a worse case scenario, more like 40 minutes. The Arc de Triomphe is the closest attraction in our itinerary though to Courbevoie, other attractions are further away. So it is definitely not the most convenient location, but it will work. However, if you can find somewhere more central it might work out more easily for you.

18th May 2019 at 3:33 pm

Thanks a million Laurence. You are doing a great job and I truly appreciate it. Regards, Jasma

Godfrey says

29th March 2019 at 8:41 pm

You guys are amazing..just about saved me hours of research into finding things to do in 3 days…This is exactly what fits within our 3 day visit..Keep up the great work!

30th March 2019 at 12:12 am

Thanks Godfrey – we will certainly try! Have a lovely trip to Paris and let us know if we can be of any help!

22nd February 2019 at 5:50 pm

hi! I like your blog,it’s very informative and easy to follow. but can I just know, roughly how much do we need to prepare? I mean if Im a big spender how much money will I probably spend for the tours? excluding the food. I would really appreciate if you could give me the figure so we can save for it. thanks! ☺️

23rd February 2019 at 7:25 am

It’s really hard to give figures as budgets vary greatly between people. So you can see from the tours I have suggested what they cost, and also if you buy one of the passes then many of the attractions will be included. So then your other costs will be accommodation and food. For this itinerary, including food and accommodation, you would probably be looking in the region of €500 – €1000 per person, but that would vary hugely depending on your tastes and accommodation quality.

I hope this helps a bit!

Anjana says

12th February 2019 at 11:17 pm

Hello. I liked the itinerary you suggested. We are planning to be there by mid April. Can you please guide us for weather. Also, I am an artist and wish to visit art gallary, can you please suggest?

13th February 2019 at 9:05 pm

The weather in Paris in April will be fairly warm, like around 17 – 22C. It might be cooler in evenings. Rain is always a possibility, but you would be unlucky if it rained a lot.

If you want to visit an art gallery, I would suggest the Louvre, or the Centre Pompidou if you prefer modern art!

12th February 2019 at 4:52 pm

How to get Paris Pass and the bus passes. Required details about the inclusions and exclusions of the Paris Pass .

12th February 2019 at 5:28 pm

You can buy the Paris Pass with this link .

You can see the inclusions here .

Enjoy your time in Paris!

12th February 2019 at 5:31 pm

Thank you so much.. I will sure be in touch with you if i require any more details .

Regards Shree

13th February 2019 at 7:45 am

Hi Is it mandatory to get the paris pass before hand or the same can be availed after reaching the destination as well..

13th February 2019 at 7:09 pm

You can buy the pass in Paris as well, but they don’t offer sales as they sometimes do online,

Amanda Che says

19th December 2018 at 3:09 am

If I want to visit Montparnasse will I need to purchase tickets if I have the Paris pass? Or do we just show up and they will let us in at whatever time?

19th December 2018 at 8:03 pm

If you have the Paris Pass the Tour Montparnasse is included, so you can just turn up at any time and they will let you in. It’s best at sunset if you can make it them!

Have a great trip

19th December 2018 at 10:02 pm

Thank you for responding!! I’m glad I got he passes! Does this apply to the wine tasting as well?! I’m just not sure about the places that have specific times that need reservations when visiting.

19th December 2018 at 11:10 pm

My pleasure! The wine tasting was the same when we used the Paris Pass – we just turned up and it was fine. However, if you have any doubts you can always reach out to either the attraction or Paris Pass folks to confirm 😀

24th October 2018 at 9:29 pm

Thank you so much for making my life easy!!! You have the best detailed itineraray in Paris. I purchased the 3 day Paris Pass. 🙂 I’m so excited to visit next month!

25th October 2018 at 8:13 pm

Thanks so much! Have an awesome trip 😀

Evelyne says

23rd October 2018 at 10:23 am

Hello, I am a Parisian and I read your post. I think this itinerary is very heavy (espécially days 2) unless you don’t visit the museums and just shoot the buildings. It is just an accumulation of monuments to visit but it does not give the feel of what is Paris. Fortunately, Paris is not just an opan air museum.

23rd October 2018 at 1:03 pm

Hey Evelyne!

Thanks for your feedback. I definitely make that clear at the beginning that this is a very busy itinerary, and people should adjust to suit their own pace 🙂 We usually visit Paris for no less than seven days at a time when putting these posts together, but we know not everyone has that luxury, so we try to fit everything in that people might want to see, based on our conversations with folks planning a trip 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

kunal gupta says

30th September 2018 at 10:45 am

After having read so many posts, I felt this is the best post. It has all the tips, recommendations and anecdotes that I was looking for to create an itinerary. I am visiting Paris next month and will surely provide you guys my feedback on the experience.

Any tips on finding Indian or vegetarian lunch/dinner will be extremely helpful too !

1st October 2018 at 2:26 pm

Thanks Kunal! I’m not personally an expert on vegetarian dining, but the search engine happycow.net lists vegetarian restaurants around the world, so that would be a good place to look 🙂 Have a great trip!

Kritika says

13th September 2018 at 8:22 am

Hi, Your blog is one simple answer to all the queries I had while planning for my trip. 🙂 We are a couple visiting Paris from 29 Sept to Oct1. We would like to visit a vineyard and taste wine over there. Do you have any information regarding any vineyard nearby and how to commute? Also, We would be going to Lyon for a day. Can you suggest me a short itinerary for the same?

Regards Kritika

13th September 2018 at 11:47 am

Hi Kritika!

Thanks very much, we are happy to have been of help 🙂 We would suggest that the closest wine region to Paris is going to be the Champagne region, and the easiest way to get there would be to take a tour from Paris, which will save you figuring out transport. Plus someone else will drive, leaving you to enjoy the wine 🙂 I found this one which has good reviews so that would be my suggestion, although there are sure to be other options!

For Lyon, we haven’t visited there yet, so I can’t make any recommendations unfortunately 🙁

Have a great trip!

9th September 2018 at 7:25 am

Hi! Just read your wonderful article helps out a lot we are a family of 6..would metro\bus be cheaper or renting a car..staying in a hotel near cdg since all the good/affordable ones are taken near the center….and how I the weather in the end of September? 6 days all Together and Disneyland is included please let me know confused about driving and or bus thanks 🙂

9th September 2018 at 11:38 am

I would recommend against hiring a car as driving in Paris is not so much fun, plus you will have to spend time finding parking and paying for it. Instead I would recommend either taking the metro, or hiring a taxi to take you in. For a group of people, you would have to find the right size of taxi of course, but it should be possible. For Disneyland, the easiest way is the RER from Paris.

The weather in Paris in September should be quite good, not too hot but not too cold, I would say around 12 – 22C, so you will want to have some warmer clothes for the evenings. There is always the possibility of rain as well, so a rain jacket or umbrella would be wise 🙂

Hope this helps!

Susan Morris says

30th August 2018 at 4:14 am

Hi, I have just read your 3-day itinerary for Paris, and I thought it was awesome. Very clear and easy to follow. I look forward to following it when we head to Paris next year! My husband is also keen to visit the area of the D-Day landings at Normandy (Omaha Beach I believe). Do you have any similar itineraries or advice for a 1 or 2 day visit to that area? Many thanks

30th August 2018 at 10:50 am

Thanks very much Susan. We certainly do, we have a two day itinerary which we think you should find useful 🙂

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/normandy-2-day-itinerary-d-day-beaches-mont-st-michel/

24th August 2018 at 9:15 pm

Hi I am traveling to Paris in second week of oct 18… what would be the climate that time? Do I need to carry a lot of winter clothing?

24th August 2018 at 9:26 pm

October in Europe varies. I’d say the best option is to bring layers, and to have sufficiently warm clothes for cold weather and rain in particualr. The temperature will likely be between 5 degrees C and 15 degrees C, although if it is windy it might feel a lot colder. So it’s not like visiting Iceland or Finland in winter, but you’ll want to be prepared.

I don’t have a guide for Paris, but we do have a packing list for London at any time of year, which should help a bit:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/london-packing-list-what-to-pack-for-london-and-the-uk-at-any-time-of-year/

Qinwan says

22nd July 2018 at 1:02 pm

Hi Laurence, I am planning my visit to Paris in Oct 2018, the blog of 3 days itinerary is very much helpful and perfect for my plan. Where do you recommend to proceed after Paris for a 10 day Europe trip?

22nd July 2018 at 9:31 pm

Awesome! Well, if this if your first time in Europe, I’d probably recommend some of the other capital cities, like London or Rome, and then maybe Barcelona, depending on how much time you want to spend in each location. You can easily spend three or four days in both Rome and London. From Paris to London it’s an easy journey, as you can take the train direct. Then there are mutliple flights from London to Rome. If you like the sound of Barcelona, there’s an overnight train from Paris straight to Barcelona. Another idea might be to do Paris – > London, Edinburgh and then a bit of Scotland as well.

I’d definitely suggest not trying to see too much, and spending a bit longer in each location. Three days is a nice amount of time to see a city 🙂

Have an awesome trip!

Elizabeth Higgins says

22nd July 2018 at 5:26 am

This post is just so detail-oriented, Laurence! Any reader would not be having a difficult time browsing because you have also included hyperlinks to the sub-sections. Everything has just been written so wonderfully that I felt spoon-fed with information, in a really great way. I am so glad to find your blog! Thank you so much!

22nd July 2018 at 8:54 pm

Hi Elizabeth – thanks so much! It’s always wonderful to hear that people are finding our posts helpful! Hopefully you have a great trip, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Laurence

Tisaygwapa says

9th July 2018 at 9:56 am

Hi, I am a fan of your blog. My planning for my euro trip makes it easier. I have an inquiry though, can you tell me what is the difference between and Paris Pass and a Paris Explorer pass? What airport is near to the attraction on day1?

We will be in Paris for 3 days.

9th July 2018 at 10:03 am

Hi Tisaygwapa 🙂

Thanks very much! The Paris Explorer Pass is a much more limited pass, and instead of giving you free access to all the attractions, it lets you choose from 3, 5 or 7 attractions. For our itinerary, we definitely suggest either the Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass for cost saving.

For airports, Paris has three major airports. The two closest to the city and that most people arrive at are Paris Orly and Paris Charles De Gaulle.

From Paris Orly to the Eiffel tower you can take the Ouibus, it only takes around 16 minutes: https://www.ouibus.com/routes/paris-paris-orly-sud-airport

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is a little further away, you can take the RER train from the airport – it’s probably more like an hour.

Shashank says

20th June 2018 at 5:11 pm

Hi, would like to know if we can walk in directly to Bateux Parisiens any time with the Paris Pass? Do we need to reserve online even if we have the Paris Pass?

20th June 2018 at 7:03 pm

Hi Shashank!

In our experience you can just walk up and show your pass at the ticket booth, no reservation required 🙂

Hope this helps – have a great trip!

18th June 2018 at 9:29 am

I would like to know more details of 3 day Itinerary . In the mentioned Places , how long it will take? that is regarding time span we can spent there comfortably .Can u pls suggest

20th June 2018 at 7:10 pm

IT’s really up to you and your interests as to how long you want to take. The itinerary as laid out is doable, but if you spend four hours at each location, obviously not so much 🙂 So my advice would be to look at each location and decide how much time you would like to spend their. As an example, Sainte Chapelle is quite small, so 15 – 20 minutes would be fine. The Louvre is gigantic, so will take a bit longer! But it’s really up to you 🙂

Karuna says

11th June 2018 at 5:31 pm

Thanks a lot, we are planning to visit Paris, and Italy for 12 days of vacation and this is very helpful for Paris. Can we have an advice on Hotels where we can stay like 4* hotels work walk around to these attractions if possible or nice evening walks?

And can we have an itinerary for Italy for 9-10 days trip,

Thanks a lot

11th June 2018 at 11:29 pm

Thanks very much! In the post I do link to a centrally located 4* hotel, under the accommodation section. The hotel is this one, but I’m sure you can find some other options 🙂

http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/dress-code-amp-spa.html?aid=385205&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1&label=FTU3DaysinParis

I will update the post in the next few weeks with some more specific recommendations. For the Italy guide, I will add an itinerary to the to do list, you should subscribe to the blog so you get notified of future posts and don’t miss out.

Sunil Chawla says

31st May 2018 at 8:44 am

I will be travelling to Paris with my wife in the month of August. This detailed information will surely be helpful to plan our trip Thank you very much Sunil Chawla India

31st May 2018 at 7:23 pm

Thanks Sunil! Have a great trip 🙂

Chitra Shah says

16th May 2018 at 8:36 pm

I am travelling with my husband and 2 kids ( 7 years and 1 year) to Paris in June. This is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks you. Do you think Paris is stroller – friendly or you recommend a baby carrier.

17th May 2018 at 9:26 am

Thanks Chitra! I must preface my response by saying that we don’t have kids, so haven’t faced this problem 😉 Certainly, part of Paris would be stroller friendly, but things like the metro for example are definitely not easy for stroller access as there are often only stair entrances and exits. So a baby carrier might be easier, depending on how you want to get around the city. I hope this helps a bit – have a great trip!

3rd May 2018 at 7:51 pm

This is one of the best, well elaborated and detailed article. Thank you for putting up so much effort and sharing your experience. It is indeed a great help!

3rd May 2018 at 8:35 pm

Thank you very much 😀

Nitin Bansal says

21st April 2018 at 7:15 pm

That’s a brilliant detailed summary of 3 day Paris itinerary. I am travelling to Paris soon although for a short time and will be looking forward to cover most of the places from your list here.

22nd April 2018 at 10:17 am

Thanks very much Nitin – have a great trip 😀

kristin says

28th March 2018 at 2:25 pm

I envy you guys living in Edi and being able to jet away for so many long weekend trips for cheap! I was pricing Europe from Nashville this summer, and I can’t find anything for under $1000, no matter the hub I fly into =/

29th March 2018 at 9:49 am

We are lucky on that front for sure 😀

Matheresa says

21st March 2018 at 7:49 pm

To go through in u’ll article/blogging i find it very informative and the easiest way for me to make my itinerary,,, specially i saw the Spain article but i didn’t leave a comment there coz of wanted to check for paris too,,, Spain features was fantastic keep it up LOVERS all the best in your Wanderlust started to following u’ll…

22nd March 2018 at 9:19 am

Thanks very much Mathresa 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!

kazim Gurmani says

19th March 2018 at 1:53 pm

The amazing place for the lovers. You guys are so lucky enjoying all this

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13 amazing Weekend Getaways from Paris by Train!

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Living in Paris and craving weekend getaways from the City? Or maybe you’re visiting and want to spend a weekend exploring beyond Paris? Discover these fantastic weekend getaways easily accessible by France’s efficient railroad system.

When day trips from Paris just don’t suffice, these escapes offer the perfect solution.

Experience everything from Normandy’s misty fields to Provence’s charming towns, explore various wine regions, or even hop over to a nearby country. This post has a weekend trip tailored to every taste and interest.

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Take a memorable weekend getaway from Paris by train

To be honest, even after 16 years of living in France, I still can’t wrap my head around how amazing train travel in France is. Taking a TGV (the French high-speed train) is in fact very often the quickest and most convenient way of transportation and one of my favorite travel tips for the region.

Salut, I am Lena – Travel Planning Expert and parisienne since 2006 🩷

Can you even imagine that it takes only 2 hours to travel the 600 km from Paris to Bordeaux ? There are so many easy trips from Paris.

It opens up so many possibilities on overnight trips from Paris, that it’s hard to make a choice about where to travel next. My first-weekend getaway was from Paris to Étretat , a destination I can absolutely recommend, but there is so much more.

The South of France? Well, just bring one of the best underwater cameras to take lots of pictures at the beach. Wine tasting in Bordeaux? Or maybe Christmas shopping in London? Read on to know more about the best Paris weekend trips!

If you have less time, also take a look at our list of fantastic day trips from Paris by train .

CHECKLIST for your Paris Trip

✔ Hotel booked?

• Budget: Hotel France Albion (8.6)
• Midrange: Hôtel des Arts (9.6)
• Upscale: Millésime Hôtel (9.2)
• Luxury: La Demeure Montaigne (9.1)
• My Favorite: Hôtel Monte Cristo

✔ Tickets booked?

• Eiffel Tower ( book here )
• Paris City Pass ( book here )
• Louvre ( book here )
• Arc de Triomphe ( book here )
• Hop On Hop Off Bus ( book here )

Paris Survival Tips

• Buy your SIM card in advance
• Get a Travel Adapter
• Book your airport transfer
• Download the free survival guide

Fun Activities

• Explore the Covered Arcades
• Discover the quaint Bookstores
• Find Paris Hidden Cocktail Bars
• Take an easy Day Trip by train

France – Weekend Trips from Pari s

Everyone needs short breaks from Paris from time to time, and this is the best occasion to explore more of France and to get to know the country. A weekend getaway from Paris by train is easy to organize and easy to take, especially if you are looking for quick trips from Paris.

Thanks to the high-speed train, you can even travel to the south of France just for a short weekend break from Paris. I asked around fellow France lovers and assembled this wonderful list of weekend trips from Paris. Which one is your favorite?

#1 Aix-en-Provence

Check out the most popular activities in Aix-en-Provence right away:

• wine tastings and visits to the most beautiful Provencal villages – click here for info
• visit the famous lavender fields of Provence – click here for more info
• explore the scenic Verdon Canyon – click here for more info

Distance and location: 3 hours 5 minutes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Best for: art, dining, wine, a “South-of-France-feeling”, and lavender fields

Where to stay:  Maison Alberta  – refurbished apartment right in the center of the old town with balcony, kitchenette, and Wi-Fi

Book your train ticket to Aix-en-Provence here

Meander down the streets of Aix-en-Provence and you will understand why this is one of the best weekend getaways from Paris. This charming town is full of impressive town-house style palaces, and manicured trees. The town is also known as the ‘City of a Thousand Fountains’ , as beautifully carved stone fountains can be found on every corner.

Aix-en-Provence was also once the seat of power and aristocracy in Provence, giving it an opulent character. Sensational farmer’s markets come to life in the streets of Aix-en-Provence throughout the year.

You will find rows of fresh produce, olive products, cheese, bread, flowers, linens, antique finds, and many more. If you’d like to try out a local delicacy , pick yourself up a box of calissons , a diamond-shaped sweet made from almonds and candied melons, covered in icing.

The markets are also a good place if you are looking for budget things to do in Provence because they are wonderful to pick up reasonably priced lunch items and snacks.

Keen on exploring more of the beautiful Provence region? Why not join a Luberon Market & Village tour?

The famous 19th-century post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne called Aix-en-Provence home. He is a point of pride for the Provencal locals. Visit the Atelier Cezanne where you can view the living conditions of Cezanne’s original house, and how he lived.

As a frequent visitor of Le Terrain des Peintres , Cezanne often used this garden for inspiration. Grab a picnic basket, buy a few ingredients and nibbles at the farmer’s market, and spend the day musing in the park.

Located in the center of Aix-en-Provence is Maison Alberta . This self-catered apartment comes with one spacious bedroom and bathroom, a kitchenette, and free Wi-Fi. Explore everything this beautiful town has to offer right outside your door.

Suggested by Haley of Haley Blackall Travel

Click here to book your entrance tickets for the most beautiful castles in the Loire Valley!

Distance and location: 1 hour and 40 minutes, Centre-Val de Loire

Best for: castles, wines, cycling

Where to stay: Clos d’Amboise – located in a 17th-century mansion with a large landscaped garden and a pool, in the center of Amboise.

Book your train ticket to Amboise here

It takes only a short train ride from Paris to Amboise in the Loire Valley. From the train station, just cross the bridge over the Loire River that leads to the charming town of Amboise.

Amboise is immediately recognizable by the château atop a steep hill that rises above the town. Visiting the UNESCO World-Heritage site Château Royal d’Amboise is a must – it has an intriguing history of royalty, death, and deceit and is the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.

Da Vinci’s home in Amboise , Château du Clos Lucé is another must-see destination in this lovely Loire river town. Interestingly, both castles are connected by an underground tunnel, crossing the Parc Leonardo Da Vinci.

Tip : Save some time and purchase your tickets in advance: Clos Lucé and Château Royal d’Amboise (click the links to get to the vendor’s site)

Amboise also has a large Farmer’s Market, Marché Dominical d’Amboise , in which foodies can easily spend two hours. It’s a great place to try some items from your French food bucket list ! There are also many other castles, an old Clock Tower ( Tour De L’Horloge ), chapels, and old stone churches.

A very popular activity in Amboise is visiting a local wine cave to enjoy a wine tasting with paired food .  If you’re looking for a stay in the Loire Valley for a few days, then Amboise is also a wonderful base for exploring nearby castles such as Château Chenonceau and Château de Chambord. Click here to get more information on this great Loire Valley castle tour!

Thank you, Monique at Trip Anthropologist

Distance and location: 3 hours and 5 minutes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Best for : medieval architecture, sightseeing, South-of-France-flair

Where to stay: Le Magnan – for its colorful rooms, the nice garden, and its great location right in the center of the old town of Avignon

Book your train ticket to Avignon from Paris here

Avignon is charmingly set on one of the longest rivers in France – the Rhone. Avignon is almost 700 km away from Paris, so It’s hard to believe that by train, the trip only takes 2.5 hours. The Avignon Train Station is located 10 minutes away from the town center, and busses are running all the time. Once you arrive in Avignon, there are plenty of things to do and see to make your trip worthwhile!

The old town of Avignon has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beauty and historical importance. It’s filled with historic buildings like the Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), which dates back to the 13th century when it was home to seven different popes over 130 years. There are also tons of smaller attractions like Saint Pierre Cathedral , one of the most beautiful churches in the south of France.

If you’re in the mood for food and wine, the La Fourchette restaurant is a must. They specialize in quality regional French cuisine and have lovely decor, plus Michelin recognizes them for their good cooking.

Avignon is also a great base to explore the beautiful Provence region, with its small villages, vineyards, and magnificent lavender fields.

Thank you, Ania from The Travelling Twins

#4 Bordeaux

Distance and location: 2 hours 7 minutes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

best for: wine, museums, more wine, and architecture

Where to stay:  Hotel Mercure Centre Ville – to be within walking distance from all the attractions and many restaurants

Book your train ticket to Bordeaux from Paris here

Bordeaux is an extremely underrated city in France and should be at the top of your list of places to see from Paris by train. The journey takes around 2,5 hours and is convenient and easy. Bordeaux is a city that is rich in history and culture, which makes it almost the best weekend trip from Paris.

There is a lot to see and do in this beautiful city, and you’ll fall in love with the incredible architecture and historic buildings that make this city so popular among locals and tourists.

Of course, Bordeaux is known for its world-famous wines . The little town of Saint Emilion is one of the most famous wine areas in the world and is located just outside the city of Bordeaux. You can easily reach it by train, and it’s one of the best places to visit to try wines and learn all about the unique wine-making process. For your convenience, you can also simply join a wine tasting tour to Saint Emilion from Bordeaux. Click here for the most popular offers!

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced and centrally located hotel in Bordeaux, check out the Hôtel Mercure Bordeaux Cité Mondiale Centre-Ville . You’ll be within walking distance from all the attractions like the Place de la Bourse or the Quais de Bordeaux and close to lots of different restaurants and bars. Don’t forget to try the delicious Canneles de Bordeaux which are little pastries that are absolutely addicting. 

Thank you, Victoria from Guide Your Travel

Distance and location: 1 hour and 58 minutes, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

best for: gastronomy, street art, sightseeing, roman ruins

Where to stay:  Fourviere Hotel – a delightful boutique hotel with a spa area and sauna and amazing views over Lyon. For a cheaper place to stay, check the Hotel Lyon Charité , very central and full of charme.

Book your train ticket to Lyon here

Lyon is often bypassed by visitors heading from Paris to Provence. Yet, it’s halfway between the two and a world-class city when it comes to beauty and history, and there are many things to do in Lyon . It is one of the easiest short trips from Paris.

Lyon is France’s gastronomical capital, and you could visit for the food alone. It is home to the famous Les Halles Paul Bocuse , and a range of restaurants, from its 17 Michelin-starred establishments to the city’s 22 “official” bouchons, or traditional eating establishments (not to mention all the other restaurants and outdoor markets).

If you are keen on combining a nice sightseeing activity with a foodie experience, check out the Rhône lunch and dinner cruises . They are very popular!

If you’re not a foodie, you can seek out some of the more than 100 giant murals of Lyon , explore the Old Town, take the funicular up to the Fourvière Basilica for a spectacular view from above, check out some of the best museums in Lyon , or discover the city’s “traboules”, the obscure little passageways once used by the city’s silk workers to carry their bolts of cloth to the ships along the river below. Lyon, once the capital of silk, keeps that heritage alive through museums and workshops.

Two more attractions that mustn’t be missed in Lyon: the ultra-modern Musée des Confluences ( click here for tickets ), all about human culture, and at the other end of time, the city’s impressive Roman ruins.

Thank you, Leyla Alyanak from Offbeat France! 

Click here for the reasonably priced Nantes City pass that covers as good as every sight in Nantes!

Distance and location: 1 hour 56 minutes, Loire-Atlantique

Best for sightseeing, history, fun

Where to stay:  Le Pérouse Hotel – for affordable luxury in the heart of the city

Book your train from Paris to Nantes here

One of the most unexpected weekend getaways that are easily accessible from Paris and yet many miss in favor of more popular destinations is the city of Nantes. Located in Western France and not far from the crashing waves of the coast of Brittany, the city is best seen over the course of several days due to the plethora of activities to see and do there.

Check out the Nantes City Card Pass – it’s not too expensive and grants free admission to most of Nantes’ top attractions.

During the Middle Ages, the city was home to the Dukes of Brittany, and today, vestiges of the past can be found throughout the city. One of the most notable landmarks is that of the medieval Château des Ducs de Bretagne. Head to the château to wander around the historic ramparts for one of the best views that Nantes has to offer.

Elsewhere in the city, the district that houses the Machines de l’Ile à Nantes is a fun area for all ages on account of the fact that it’s here where visitors will discover fantastical oversized machines that look like giant animals. For a small fee, there’s even the possibility to ride on the back of a mechanical elephant. Other highlights of Nantes include checking out all of the eateries in the largely pedestrianized Bouffay district and snapping photos of the luxurious Passage Pommeraye.

The number of things to do plus the laid-back vibe makes Nantes one of the best 2-day trips from Paris.

The nicest place to stay in Nantes is the four-star Le Pérouse hotel , which offers affordable luxury in the heart of the city.

Thank you, Sophie Nadeau of solosophie.com

Distance and location: 2 hours and 30 minutes, Brittany

Best for: beach, seafood, outdoor activities

Where to stay:  La Maison des Armateurs – perfectly located in the old town of Saint-Malo

Book your train from Paris to Saint-Malo here

St. Malo is a medieval town, rebuilt after World War II, on the northern coast of Brittany . From Paris, it’s easy to get there by train. Depending on the train you catch, it can be a ride as short as two hours thirty from the Montparnasse station.

Located on a strategically important part of the French coast, St. Malo was the place where corsairs and privateers plied the water, searching for treasure in the 16th century and applauded by the king. Walking in the old town, it’s possible to walk the wide ramparts , visit the two forts, Solidor Tower, and of course the spectacular cathedral and beaches.

When the tide is out, it’s popular to walk across two of the nearby islands, Grand Be and Petit Be . Just be sure to head back to town when the alarm sounds, so you don’t get stranded. Other popular things to do include a state-of-the-art Aquarium (get your tickets here ), boat trips to Dinard, or ferries to the British Isles of Guernsey and Jersey . As well as wandering the streets and looking for oysters or galettes (savory crepes) which are famous in this area.

Whether you are just stopping over or spending a few days, you will never forget St. Malo. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in France , with its proximity to wonderful beaches and fishing towns, its views from the ramparts, and its amazing culinary tradition. You will love it.

Thank you, Corinne Vail

#8 Strasbourg

Distance and location: 1 hour 50 minutes, Alsace

Best for: sightseeing, Christmas markets, wine

Where to stay:  Okko Hotels Strasbourg – modern design hotel at the old harbor of Strasbourg, close to historical center

Book your train ticket to Strasbourg here

Strasbourg is without a doubt a perfect place to spend a weekend getaway from Paris. There’s easy enough to do to spend multiple days in this city, and it’s so charming that you’ll instantly feel like on holiday!

During its history, Strasbourg has been part of both France and Germany and therefore, you can clearly see these influences in the city. It is an absolute must to take your time to stroll around the old city center, as the buildings are just so magnificent here! Also, make your way to Neustadt where you can clearly see the German influences in the architecture.

Other great activities are visiting Barrage Vauban , walking around Grande Île, and visiting the impressive gothic cathedral. Strasbourg is also known for its magical Christmas market, the city is even called ‘the Capital of Christmas’! And there’s a good reason for that because the Christmas market of Strasbourg is huge, and the whole city is wonderfully decorated to convey the Christmas atmosphere. You might experience this incredible event when planning your getaway to Strasbourg in December .

During your visit, you can’t go wrong by staying at Okko Hotels S trasbourg Centre. This modern hotel is located in the old harbor of Strasbourg, which has recently been transformed into a hip neighborhood. From there, it’s only a short walk to the city’s historical center, or you can just take the tram which stops next door.

Thank you, Emma from Emma’s Roadmap

Belgium – Weekend Trips from Paris

If you are looking into exploring more of Europe, Belgium is a good start. It’s a great destination if you want to take weekend trips from Paris to other countries and pick some cool Belgium souvenirs . It is actually the closest country to Paris and has many exciting destinations to offer if you are looking for the best overnight trips from Paris.

Distance and location: 2 hours 2 minutes, Flemish Region

best for: art, shopping, architecture, Belgian beer, and fries

Where to stay:  Hampton by Hilton – big rooms centrally located close to the station and with a good breakfast included

Book your train ticket to Antwerp here

Antwerp, the diamond capital of the world , is one of the best weekend getaways from Paris. Located within 400 km, one can easily reach this Belgian city from Paris by train in as few as two hours. The diamond district of Antwerp is where 220 million dollars worth of diamonds is traded daily. But besides being such an important trade hub, Antwerp has a unique multicultural landscape and a rich history.

The best places to explore in Antwerp for free are the Steen Castle, Schedlt river bank, Diamond District, Mier market, and the exquisitely beautiful Antwerp Central station.  These can easily be covered in one day in Antwerp on foot, either on your own or by joining a walking tour through Antwerp.

Antwerp’s busy skyline is dominated by the 123-meter-tall tower of the Cathedral of our Lady of Victory and various sculptures related to Antwerpian folklore. These include the Brabo’s fountain in the central square and brabo’s hand among others. Besides, one of the best things to do in Antwerp is to visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and St Paul’s church. Take a stroll in the Stadspark and eat your heart out on the foodies’ street.

There are several amazing hostels in the city of Antwerp thanks to the student population. However, one of the best hotels to stay at in Antwerp is Hampton by Hilton  situated near the Antwerp Central station.

Thank you, Sinjana!

Distance and location: 2 hours 36 minutes, West Flanders

Best for:  canals, chocolate, waffles, history

Where to stay:  Hotel Ter Brughe – located along a canal with incredible views of the water

Book your train ticket to Bruges here

Bruges in Belgium is another great destination if you are looking for trips from Paris by train.  Known for its colorful gingerbread houses that dot the historic square of the city, it is easily one of the most picturesque places to see in Europe. Full of medieval buildings, beautiful canals, and cathedrals , Bruge is perfect for a weekend getaway from Paris.

Start your time in Bruges by strolling around Market Square, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a traffic-free zone in the city, so it is ideal to amble around without a plan and to take in the unique architecture of Bruges. The iconic Belfry tower is also situated here. You can climb the 366 steps to the top and get a unique bird’s eye perspective of the Old town. Next, located a few steps away, is another historic site called Burg Square . This is where you will find the Bruges City Hall, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and an Old Civil Registry. This Basilica houses Michelangelo’s only sculpture that left Italy before his death. It is a truly noteworthy sight for art lovers.

Located right next to Burg Square, is Go.fre, a popular shop selling Belgian waffles on a stick. They offer many creative toppings and presentations. There are also many chocolate and other waffle shops nearby. The Hotel Ter Brughe is only a few minutes walking distance from this area and a good place to stay in Bruges.

Thanks for the recommendation, Charu from Travel with CG

#11 Brussels

Distance and location: 1 hour 22 minutes, Capital Region

best for: museums, Belgium beer, and chocolate, comic books, and murals

Where to stay:  Hotel Indigo Brussels – beautifully decorated hotel with spacious rooms in an excellent location

Book your train ticket to Brussels from Paris here

Brussels is the easiest capital in Europe to reach by train from Paris, which makes it a great weekend getaway destination or a fantastic part of your one-month Europe itinerary . It’s just a short trip from Paris. But apart from its conveniently close location to Paris, Brussels is also a great destination because of its beautiful attractions and delicious beer and food scene. Click here if beer and food sound interesting to you !

There are so many things to put on your Brussels weekend itinerary . You can marvel at the beautiful buildings in Grand Place, visit the popular Manneken Pis , shop in the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, see the Royal Palace, and explore your favorite European cities in the Mini Europe Museum .

Once you’re done with sightseeing, an incredible beer, and food scene awaits you. Belgium is known for its many delicious things such as strong golden beer, fluffy warm waffles, and tasty Moules Frites (Mussels with fries), which you can find all over Brussels. So, you’ll have plenty of rainy day activities in Brussels .

Apart from the many attractions and things to eat in Brussels, it’s also a great city to just go get lost in. Brussels city center is full of cobblestone streets, old churches, and several viewpoints, so it will take you more than a weekend to run out of new things to see. To make sure not to miss anything, plan ahead and sign up for one of the popular walking tours through Brussels . You can take the Thalys train directly from Gare du Nord to Bruxelles-Midi in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Just make sure to book your weekend getaway ahead because it’s a popular route that tends to sell out.

Thank you, Cecilie from Worldwide Walkers

Are you looking for things to do in Brussels? Those are the most popular activities:

• 2.5-Hour Belgian Beer Tasting Experience – click here for more info
• Chocolate Workshop and Guided Walking Tour – click here to know more
• Brussels Mini Europe – book your ticket here

United Kingdom – Weekend Trips from Paris

Visiting the UK for a short weekend is probably one of the most exciting weekend trips from Paris by train that you can take. Thanks to the Eurostar train that is crossing the channel, it is unbelievably easy to visit London and explore the UK from there.

Distance and location:  2 hours 19 minutes, England

best for: sightseeing, shopping, museums

Where to stay:  Shangri-La The Shard for a truly amazing experience and once-in-a-lifetime view over London. Alternatively at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tower of London (midrange) or at the Ibis Styles Southwark on the budget range

Book your train ticket for the Eurostar from Paris to London here

London is hands down one of the best weekend trips from Paris by train, simply because in just 2.5 hours, you’ll be in a completely different country. From Paris, take the Eurostar from Gare du Nord, which will take you directly to London’s St. Pancras International Station .

London has a wide variety of activities to offer any traveler ( click here to get an idea ). If you enjoy museums, the Natural History Museum is a must-see and has tons of educational and engaging exhibitions. They also have a photography gallery filled with intriguing wildlife shots.

If you love relaxing in cafés, there are plenty of cute ones around town, from Peggy Porschen to Elan Cafe. If you are an art and theater enthusiast, there are tons of musicals to choose from, from the comical Book of Mormon to the sentimental Come From Away.

Of course, no trip to London would be complete without stopping by the iconic Tower Bridge, Big Ben, or Buckingham Palace , which is the official London residence of the royal family. These landmarks aren’t far from Soho, one of the best foodie neighborhoods in town. Be sure to stop by Palomar or Dishoom to get a taste of the wide range of international cuisine in town and for great evening entertainment, visit one of the secret bars in London !

If you have more time in London or are familiar with the top sights already, there are also many unusual things to do in London. For example, a visit to the Barbican Observatory or what about the Museum of Brands?

If you’re planning a longer trip, there are also plenty of amazing places to visit near London , such as the Cotswolds, Canterbury, and Dorset. For some of the best views in town, stay in Shangri-La The Shard and enjoy dining in the sky.

Thank you, Jiayi from The Diary of a Nomad

The Netherlands – Weekend Trips from Paris

Thanks to the Thalys train, which connects Paris with cities in Belgium, Germany but also the Netherlands, overnight trips from Paris to the Netherlands are a nice option for a getaway.

#13 Amsterdam

Distance and location: 3 hours 19 minutes, capital of the Netherlands

best for: Museums, coffee, and tea houses, canals, cycling

Where to stay:  Ibis Amsterdam Centre – for affordable comfort in the heart of Amsterdam

Book your train ticket to Amsterdam from Paris here

The capital of the Netherlands is a great destination for a weekend getaway from Paris. The beautiful city is just over 3 hours from Paris by train, making it a quick journey perfect for a long weekend. Amsterdam has plenty to do  to keep you busy during your getaway.

The city has some of the best museums in the world, and you should add at least one to your Amsterdam bucket list. The Rijksmuseum is home to many works by Rembrandt, and the Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of famous artists’ works in the world. History buffs shouldn’t miss the Anne Frank House , where you can visit the actual house where Anne and her family hid during World War II.

With its picturesque canals and unique architecture, Amsterdam is one of the prettiest cities in Europe. You can easily spend hours roaming around the city, admiring the canals and historic buildings. For a unique perspective of the city, consider taking a canal tour , where you’ll learn more about the history of Amsterdam while cruising along its waterways. Click here for more information on schedules and prices.

Amsterdam is the perfect city to sample Dutch Cuisine. The Albert Cuyp Market is a great place to try all kinds of different foods, including raw herring, poffertjes, and fresh, warm stroopwafels. Getting to Amsterdam from Paris is simple – just take the Thalys from Paris Nord to Amsterdam Centraal. The Ibis Amsterdam Centre  is a great budget-friendly hotel close to Amsterdam’s top attractions.

Thank you, Sydney from A World in Reach

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PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris

• 20 Arrondissements in Paris (Quick Guide + Map)
• Paris hidden gems: 80+ well kept secrets you shouldn’t miss
• What NOT to do in Paris -23 (costly) Paris Mistakes you need to avoid!
• 14 Hotels with stunning Eiffel Tower views- for (almost) every budget!
• Your Perfect 2 Days in Paris! Itinerary & Insider Tips
• 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
• Scams in Paris! How to avoid the most common cons

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Paris Travel Tips: 50 Important Things To Know Before Going To Paris

Are you planning a trip to the French capital? This post will give you all the useful Paris travel tips to make your trip fun and much easier.

Oh, Paris! The thought of walking through its beautiful streets , visiting its famous landmarks one after the other, tasting all its delicious foods , and finally climbing the Eiffel Tower , a trip to Paris is a dream come true!

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, it must be extremely exciting knowing that you’ll be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Disclaimer:  This post might contain affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using one of our links. It’s okay – We love all of the products we recommend anyway, and you will too! Also, that commission helps us keep this awesome free blog up to date! You can read our  full disclosure here  for more details!

However, as you prepare for your visit, whether you’re going to Paris for the first time or have been there countless times, there are a number of Paris travel tips that will help you have a fun, safe, and seamless trip.

As someone who lives in the city, I’ve experienced Paris countless times and have found myself in various circumstances that have given me the immense experience to share practical tips for visiting Paris.

So, before you go, make sure that you read these Paris travel tips.

Before You Go, Here’s How to Plan Your Visit To Paris: Practical Quick Tips

WHERE TO STAY Best Eiffel Tower Views:  Hôtel Le Walt  (9.0) Luxury stay:  Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel  (8.2) Mid-range stay:  Hôtel Eiffel  (8.7) Budget Stay:  People – Paris Bercy  (8.9) Apartment Rental:  Résidence Charles Floquet  (9.1)  

BEST GUIDED TOURS Louvre Museum guided tour : (4.5/5) Seine River Dinner Cruise : (4.7/5) Montmartre Walking Tour : (4.8/5) Le Marais Walking Food Tour : (4.5/5) Versailles Guided Tour : (4.8/5) Eiffel Tower Guided Tour : (4.4/5) 

• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
• Prepare your trip extensively with this Paris Travel guidebook .
• Don’t forget a universal travel adapter , a travel neck pouch , and comfortable walking shoes .
• Consider getting either the museum pass or the Paris city pass if you plan to visit many attractions. The city pass comes with free transportation and access to the hop-on-hop-off bus. You can read my Paris museum pass review to see if it’s right for you.
• Book this private transfer from CDG airport to Paris to avoid the hustle of figuring out how to get to Paris.

Paris Travel Tips: Things To Know Before Visiting Paris

Whether it’s choosing the right time to visit, tips on navigating public transportation, how to dress in Paris, tips to fully get the most when visiting attractions, or mistakes to avoid, here are the best Paris tips for travelers.

For easy navigation, I’ll be categorizing this article into; general travel tips for Paris, money tips for visiting Paris, transportation travel tips for Paris, safety tips for traveling to Paris, and food & restaurant tips for Paris travelers. Now, let’s dive in.

General travel tips for Paris

1. choose the time to visit paris that is best for you.

The first thing to consider when planning a trip to Paris is to choose the best time to visit that works for you. There is no one answer that fits all as we all have different things going on in our lives.

But if you keep other factors constant and base your decision on what’s happening in Paris, or the weather, here is a brief to help you decide.

Paris in Spring is one of the best times to visit Paris. The temperatures are warm, the flowers are blooming and there are not huge crowds yet.

On the other hand, Paris in summer has the most pleasant weather (if there is no heat wave), and the days are long to enjoy the city to the max, however, it sees the biggest crowds of tourists and airplane fares, attractions, and hotels are at their highest.

For an in-between, opt to visit Paris in the fall . The weather is chilly, the streets are covered in fall colors, the crowds are reduced, especially towards the beginning of winter, and the general cost of travel starts to fall.

If you don’t want to deal with huge crowds, you can opt to visit Paris in winter . During this time, the crowds disappear, (though they creep back in during the Christmas season ), and the cost of flights and accommodation is lower, but you’ll have to brave the cold temperatures and short days.

I hope the breakdown of the season helps you choose but if personally I had to choose, I would say towards the end of spring and the beginning of fall are the best times to visit Paris.

The temperatures are still pretty warm, the crowds are not that much and the cost is not that high too.

2. Don’t Skimp on Travel Insurance

One of the best tips for traveling to Paris is not to forego travel Insurance. In fact, before traveling anywhere, whether it’s Paris or not, make sure that you have travel insurance.

So many things can happen on the road! You could lose your valuable travel accessories, you may need expensive urgent care, and if you don’t have travel insurance, it will get expensive pretty quickly yet insurance could have covered everything if you had spent just a few bucks on it.

Though there are countless travel insurance companies out there, the one I trust and recommend is World Nomads Travel insurance . They operate in over 130 countries, so it’s easy to request a quote and the claim process is not a rat race.

However, if you’re a digital nomad or a long-term traveler, you can also check out Safety Wings Travel insurance as they offer great deals for long-term travelers.

3. Don’t visit only the famous landmarks

It’s obvious the first places you’ll have on your Paris travel bucket list are the famous attractions like the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe, the Orsay Museum, and others.

Instead of just visiting only those ones, venture into other non-touristy things to do in Paris and go off the beaten path. This way, you’ll be able to explore Paris beyond what is in the guidebooks .

Some of the hidden gems of Paris worth checking out include parks like Parc Manceau, the covered passages of Paris , Les Arènes de Lutèce, the windmills in Montmartre , Paris Sewer Museum, Paris pet cemetery, and many others.

4. Buy skip-the-line tickets in advance to avoid wasting time in queues

One of the most useful tips when visiting Paris is to buy skip-the-line entry tickets to attractions in advance.

Paris is one of the most visited cities in Europe , so you can expect long queues at its popular attractions. At places like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, or even Arc de Triomphe, you can easily spend 2-3 hours just in lines to access them.

While this may not be a big issue if you have a long time in the city, but if you’re visiting Paris for a weekend or even 1 day , you’ll lose so much time in queues instead of visiting other attractions.

The best way to avoid this is by purchasing skip-the-line tickets online. Some of the skip-the-line tickets you can buy in advance for popular attractions include;

• This Eiffel Tower skip-the-line ticket to the summit
• The Louvre museum skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide
• The Orsay museum skip-the-line ticket
• This Arc de Triomphe skip-the-line ticket
• Versailles Palace skip-the-line entry ticket to the palace and gardens
• And many others.

You can also check out my complete list of skip-the-line entry tickets to popular landmarks all in one place.

Pro tip* Instead of buying each individual ticket, you can choose to buy this Paris pass that will give you access to over 80 attractions for free while also skipping the long lines. Alternatively, if you intend to visit a number of museums, you’re better off buying this Paris museum pass . You can get more details about the museum pass by reading my detailed Paris museum pass review here .

5. Choose your accommodation in the central districts of Paris

If you have a few days in Paris, the last thing you want to do is waste time on long commutes by staying outside Paris or even in arrondissements that are a bit far from everything.

Instead of staying in the 20th district which is a bit far from the major attractions, choose to stay in either the 7th, 8th, or even the 1st. The bigger the number, the further away it is from central Paris.

You can read my post about where to stay in Paris according to arrondissements to get a general idea of the best area to stay in while in Paris.

6. Book your Hotel/Apartment rental way in advance

Courtesy of Hotel Audran / Booking.com

While still on the topic of booking in advance, another useful Paris travel tip is to book your accommodation in advance, especially in the summer since they book out fast.

This may not happen at all hotels/apartments but the one that suits your particular needs may be booked out if you don’t book in advance.

To help you choose the perfect hotel, I’ve written numerous articles about accommodation. You can click on the links below to go to a particular accommodation post that suits your need.

• Best Hotels with Eiffel Tower views
• Coolest Airbnbs and Apartment rentals with Eiffel Tower views
• Best Paris Hotels with Swimming Pools
• Top Hotels in Montmartre
• Budget-friendly Apartment rentals in Paris
• Best Hotels Near the Louvre museum
• Luxury Apartment vacation rentals in Paris

Alternatively, you can book my expert-selected hotels below if going through the above articles seems like a lot of work.

This is the best hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower, this is the hotel I recommend for a luxury stay, this one for mid-range travelers, and this one for budget travelers. If you prefer an apartment rental, you’ll love everything about this aparthotel .

7. Take advantage of free museums

If you’re traveling on a budget or just want to save money for something else, one of the best tips for traveling in Paris is to take advantage of free museums.

There are so many free museums in Paris that are worth visiting including; Petit Palais, Musée Carnavalet, Maison De Victor Hugo, Musée De La Vie Romantique, and many others.

The best part is that since most people flock to the famous Paris museums , these ones are usually less crowded, yet interesting to visit and above all free.

8. Don’t just stick to Paris! explore the nearby cities Too

Paris is incredibly beautiful — there is no denying that! However, instead of just visiting the city and leaving the country, you should also explore nearby cities and towns.

You can plan a weekend getaway from Paris or even a day trip to places like Strasbourg, Monet’s garden, Provins, Mont Saint Michel , Chantilly, or any of these cute cities near Paris .

This will help you escape the non-stop life of Paris for a while as you enjoy the beauty of other parts of France.

9. Don’t try to see everything in a short amount of time

It’s not uncommon to want to fit in as many activities as you can in a short amount of time.

But the truth is, it’s quite impossible to see everything in one visit and quite frankly, I’ve not seen everything in Paris myself. Sometimes I find myself discovering new gems while randomly walking.

Trying to see everything will just create travel burnout since you’ll be running from one attraction to another instead of trying to immerse yourself and fully enjoy the experience.

10. Try to dress like Parisians

When it comes to what to wear in Paris, strive to dress like the locals! And how do locals dress, you may ask?

Parisians like to keep things chic and they always look like they put thought into what they’re wearing without going overboard. Not the runway kind of thing, but they always look well put together.

It’s hard to find Parisians wearing sports clothes to walk on the streets (except if they’re actively working out), or even sweatpants.

You can check out my article on what not to wear in Paris to know exactly what to leave home if you want to look like a Parisian.

11. Pack the right clothes for Each season

Before leaving the subject of clothes, another Paris travel tip to note is to pack clothes for the right season.

I have a couple of articles to help you with this depending on the season you’re visiting.

For the months of March to May, here is what to wear in Paris in springtime , what to wear in Paris in the summer if you’re traveling between June to August, what to wear in Paris in the fall if you’re visiting between August to November, and finally what to wear in Paris in the winter if your trip falls between December to February.

With those articles, you’ll know exactly the right clothes to pack for each season!

12. Go to vantage points to take in the views of the city

Paris is beautiful when seen from below but it gets even more magical from above. As you explore the city, get some time to take in the stunning views of Paris from various vantage points.

Some of the places to get stunning views of Paris include the top of the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Ard de Triomphe, Butte Chaumont, Montparnasse Tower, Galeries Lafayette, and more. You can also enjoy the views of the Iron lady from these Eiffel Tower view spots .

13. Learning a little French goes a long way

You may hear some people say that English is widely spoken in Paris but I am here to tell you that that’s not true.

In fact, it’s more surprising to find a person who speaks English than one who doesn’t. Of course, people in the tourism industry will speak English but don’t be surprised to go to a store and no one speaks English.

This goes to say that, as you plan to visit Paris, you can learn a few basic French words to help you get around. It doesn’t have to be much but it’s always nice to try.

Some of the French words you can learn include;

• Bonjour = Hello
• Au revoir = Goodbye
• s’il vous plaît = Please
• Merci = Thank you
• De rien = you’re welcome
• Pardon = Pardon me
• Monsieur = Sir
• Madame = miss
• Une carafe d’eau, s’il Vous plaît = tap water, please
• l’addition s’il Vous plaît = The check/bill, please
• A emporter s’il vous plaît = Take away, please
• Je ne parle pas Français, désolé = sorry, I don’t speak English
• Parlez-vous anglais? = Do you speak English?
• Ou est…., s’il vous plaît? = Where is…., please?

14. Paris is not just romance and glamour

Paris is no doubt one of the most romantic places in the world. In fact, one of its nicknames is the city of love .

Yes, there are so many romantic things to do in Paris and it’s probably the number one proposal destination for couples.

But as romantic and charming as it is, it’s not just romance! It has an ugly side to it. Yes, pickpockets will try to take your stuff, scammers will try to scam you, you’ll see a few homeless people and beggars on the stress, and you be welcomed by the smell of Piss in some metro stations.

I am telling you this so that when you come, you don’t get struck by the Paris Syndrome many tourists face, especially those from Japan.

15. Check the opening hours for attractions before you visit

Another one of my favorite Paris travel tips is to check the opening hours of attractions before you visit.

Don’t just assume that all places are open at the same time or stay closed on the same days! Also, opening hours can change due to the season, so be sure to confirm before you go.

16. Create an itinerary but be open to adjusting it

Since Paris has a lot of things to see and do, the best way to see a number of them is by creating a realistic itinerary.

However, try not to follow it religiously. Leave some time in between to do spontaneous activities.

If a visit to one place leads you to another that was not on your itinerary but you’re interested in seeing it, you can just adjust your itinerary because the best experiences come unplanned — at least in some cases.

17. Most Museums in Paris close on Monday, not Sunday

It’s easy to assume that museums would be closed on Sundays but not in Paris. Most big (actually even the small ones) close on Mondays.

In fact, some restaurants too and shops close on Monday instead of Sunday. This is to make sure that people who work Monday – Friday can access certain services on Sunday.

This in turn means that people who worked on Sunday close on Monday. So, don’t just assume, check if the museum is open before your visit.

18. Explore Paris on Foot

Paris is a city best explored on foot. Most of the city’s major landmarks are not far from each other and you discover much more when you walk instead of taking the metro all the time.

For example, you could easily walk from the Opera area to Montmartre without even realizing it. While you can take the metro to reach there, you can easily walk as there are so many hidden gems to uncover along the way.

In fact, you’ll find most travelers say they walked much more in Paris than in other major European cities. This is usually common for some tourists from the US where walking is not as much as in Europe.

19. Carry Comfortable Walking shoes to Paris

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that this is one thing I say all the time. Paris’s streets are covered in cobblestones and it will be hard to walk in high heels.

And if you’re going to explore the city on foot as mentioned above, you’ll want to leave your stilettoes and wedges at home and opt for comfortable walking shoes like sneakers or boots.

20. Try exploring Paris on a bike

Another way to explore Paris is to try biking. Since the world p*ndemic, Paris has put more bike lanes in place to ensure that it becomes more bike-friendly.

It’s easy to rent a bike in Paris as there are many stations all over the city where you can rent a Velib bike from without even talking to anyone.

When you’re done biking, you don’t have to take it back to where you picked it from, but rather at any other bike station you find along the way.

You can go biking along the Seine (nothing more romantic than that), along Canal Saint-Martin, and more.

21. Never forget to say bonjour when you enter a shop

While this may not be the norm back in your country, in Paris, it’s considered rude to not say Bonjour when you enter a shop.

In fact, even when you’re leaving the shop, saying goodbye is considered good manners. You can say au revoir which means “goodbye” or bonne journée for “have a good day”.

22. Carry your student id

In Paris, students are usually offered a discounted rate at major attractions, so if you’re a student, carry your valid student ID to take advantage of the reduced rates.

23. Refrain from shopping at every shop you see

Paris is a shoppers’ haven and if you’re a shopaholic, you may want to pop into every store you see to buy something.

The truth is that most shops in Paris are appealing and it’s like every single one is calling your name.

If you can resist the temptations, window shopping can do the trick, otherwise, you might just spend all your money buying luxury French brands in Paris.

24. Do not speak too loud

Another way to avoid looking like a tourist (and avoid making yourself a target by scammers and pickpockets) is by not speaking too loud.

French people in general don’t speak loud in public and always give an eye to tourists who speak like they’re addressing the entire room. Just keep the voice lower, at least until you leave Paris.

25. Explore Some of the beautiful parks in Paris

Beyond the famous landmarks, Paris is endowed with beautiful parks and gardens worth exploring. These green patches offer an escape into nature to a rather bustling city.

Whether it’s taking a leisurely walk to enjoy the cherry blossoms (if you visit in spring) or wanting to experience a Parisian picnic , there are a number of parks to choose from.

Some of the best Parisian parks not to miss include; Jardin des Plantes, Luxembourg gardens, Butte Chaumont, Parc Monceau, Tuileries gardens, Trocadero gardens, and more.

26. Plan alternative activities to do in case it rains

Regardless of the time of the year you visit whether it’s summer or winter, it’s likely to rain in Paris. But a rainy day doesn’t mean that you should just stay in your hotel room doing nothing.

There is plenty of things to do in Paris on a rainy day that you can choose from so that you don’t waste a day of sightseeing.

Plan to do activities like visiting museums or exploring the covered passages of Paris on the day it rains.

27. Be prepared for the rain

In the same way, don’t just plan out activities for a rainy day but also plan outfits and accessories for such days.

Make sure that you carry a windproof travel umbrella like this and/or this lightweight waterproof rain jacket .

28. Wake up early at least once to catch a sunrise

Imagine the sun rising above the Eiffel tower! Magical, right? If you’re in Paris for a few days, one thing you shouldn’t miss out on is taking in the beauty of the city with the first lights of the day.

You can go to any of these Paris sunrise spots and I guarantee you that compromising your sleep early in the morning will be so worth it.

29. Or stay for the sunset

If you’re not a morning person or you just prefer sunsets, ending your day with a beautiful sunset in Paris will be a memorable one.

You can go to places like Montparnasse Tower, Sacre Coeur, or the Seine cruise to watch a magical sunset.

30. Beware That Most Things close on Sunday

Like most cities, you’ll find Paris calm and quiet on Sundays. Most shops, bakeries, and even some restaurants stay closed on Sunday.

Though you’ll be able to visit some museums since they close on Monday as mentioned above, you may need to plan how to spend your Sunday well in Paris.

Tips for Paris Travel: Food & Restaurants

31. take a food tour while in paris.

Another way to fully immerse yourself in French culture is by taking a food tour. You’ll be able to not only learn more about French food but also taste it. Below are the 3 food tours I recommend in Paris.

• Le Marais Walking Food Tour: This food-guided tour will take you through the vibrant neighborhood of Le Marais. You’ll taste some wine and cheese, some pastries, and any other French delicacies that may be in during that season.
• Montmartre Cheese, Wine, and Pastry Tour: If you’d rather discover the neighborhood of Montmartre, then this is the best food tour for you. Just like the above, you’ll taste some cheese, wine, pastries, and Charcuterie. The tour is fun and informative and the guides are very friendly.
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Walking Tour: If you have a sweet tooth, then this guided pastry tour is what I recommend. You’ll taste different types of chocolates, bread, and other French pastries during your tour while admiring all the beautiful bakeries in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood.

32. Try as much French food as you can

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of the place you’re visiting is to try their local food and Paris is no different.

French cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the world and it would be a huge mistake not to try as much as you can.

Some of the French foods you can try include; Raclette (if you visit in the colder months), Crêpes, Croque Monsieur & Croque Madame, or Jambon-Beurre but don’t be afraid to try traditional French foods too like Escagorts, Frog Legs, or Couilles De Mouton (Mutton Testicles).

33. Don’t eat near famous attractions unless you have the budget for it

Unless you have the budget for it, I would refrain from eating at restaurants near popular places.

They’re usually expensive yet just a few minutes away you could get the same exact things (or even better) for less.

34. Make reservations at restaurants ahead of time

Just like at attractions, you’ll need to make reservations at restaurants, especially fancy ones like these restaurants with a view of the Eiffel Tower .

While you can just arrive at smaller cafes and bistros, some restaurants require making a reservation. You can’t just walk in and expect to be seated.

For some, you can make a reservation that very day while others require making a reservation up to 3 months in advance as they book out fast.

One example is Jules Verne , a restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. It’s almost impossible to find availability if you book 1 week or 2 in advance, even a month would be late. Try 2 or 3 months in advance to reserve a table.

So, before you go to Paris, make sure you make reservations if you plan to eat at such restaurants.

35. There is no need to tip At Parisian Restaurants (though appreciated)

While tipping is a big deal in most countries, it’s not the case in Paris. In Paris, the service fee is usually included in the overall price of the meal at restaurants, so don’t feel compelled to tip.

On the other hand, if the service you received was phenomenal and you want to tip your server, you can ask them to include an amount you want to tip to your bill but the best option is to leave a cash tip.

36. Drink tap water instead of buying bottled one

Water in Paris is safe to drink! Locals drink it and you too can. So, instead of wasting money on bottled water, you can just drink tap water from your hotel room.

In fact, even if you’re out exploring, you can still access tap water from the many water fountains (known as Wallace fountains) dotted around the city. Some even have sparkling water if that’s what you prefer.

These fountains are hard to miss as some are historically built but for ease of access, you can check this page for the exact locations in each arrondissement.

Just make sure to carry a reusable travel water bottle like this so that you refill it every time it runs dry.

This won’t only save you money but it’s also great for the environment as it reduces plastic usage.

37. Request for Tap Water at Restaurants too

While still on the topic of water, ask for tap water at restaurants. Most Parisian cafes and restaurants have made it a habit to always put a bottle of tap water on every table.

However, if the restaurant you go to doesn’t do it automatically, feel free to ask for tap water and it will be offered to you for free.

Travel tips for Paris Transporation

38. the metro is the best way to get around.

Paris’s metro system is very well connected and it’s easy to get around no matter where you are. It’s easy to use, you won’t be stuck in traffic, and it’s also the cheapest form of transportation in Paris.

The other options are buses, trams, taxis, or Uber. The downside with buses is getting stuck in traffic and the same applies to taxis/Uber except that the latter is a bit more expensive compared to buses or the metro and the train.

39. Renting A Car In Paris Is A Bad Idea

One of the things to know before traveling to Paris is that renting a car is a very bad idea.

As I mentioned above, public transportation in the city is very effective and cheap compared to hiring a car.

Renting a car will mean being stuck in traffic most time and you’ll have to deal with the crazy Parisian drivers, plus, it’s very expensive. So, save yourself from that pain but choosing not to hire a car. It’s really not needed!

40. Buy A Carnet Of Metro Tickets Instead Of One Every Time

If you plan to ride the metro a number of times (this is inevitable if you’re spending more than 3 days in the city), you’ll be better off buying a carnet of metro tickets.

A carnet is a bundle of 10 tickets and it’s cheaper than buying 10 individual tickets. It will also save you time instead of going to a ticket machine every time you need a new ticket.

41. Don’t Throw Away Your Metro/Train Ticket Just Yet

While still on the topic of tickets, one of the important Paris tips and tricks is to not trash your metro ticket before you fully exit the station at the end of your trip.

If the ticket control team finds you without a ticket, chances are high that you’ll be fined — which is 10 times more than the ticket price.

Plus, the ticket will help you exit the metro/train station. Without it, you may need to buy another one just to exit.

42. Beware of the metro working hours before going out to party late at night

Paris nightlife is fun and vibrant and you should enjoy it at least once. But as you plan to go out, be mindful of the metro working hours.

Is there a metro running on the line you take to go to your hotel (check if there are ongoing strikes)?

What time do they stop working on the day you want to go out? Check all this ahead and plan when to go back if you want to use the metro. Check the Ratp website to stay updated on the metro working hours.

43. You can also download the Bonjour RATP app

Besides just checking the website, you can download the Ratp app to stay updated on all the public transportation in Paris.

With the Bonjour RATP app , you’ll know when a metro line is closed, where to take the metro from, find the closest bus line, Velib stations, RER, the night bus, and more.

Think of it as a one-stop shop for all public transportation around Paris.

44. Avoid taking the metro during rush hours (if possible)

The metro can be something during rush hour, usually between 8 AM to 9 AM and then from  6 PM to 7:30 PM. They’re heavily packed and everyone seems to be in a rush for some reason.

As a tourist, it may not be the best moment to take the metro, especially if you can avoid it.

To give you a rough picture, you may not get where to seat, people will be pushing you (it will be person to person), and on some lines, you may not even be able to get onto the metro because it’s just too packed.

So, if you can avoid taking the metro during rush hours, do it.

45. Make city mapper your friend

One of the best apps to use in Paris is city mapper. I use it all the time for literally anything.

Besides the usual direction which I find more accurate than google maps sometimes, they give metro and train live updates.

You just type in where you want to go and it will show you the best metro/train to take, where to stop, which exist to take, and the best car on the metro/train to sit in.

Though google maps can do some of this, I find Citymapper much more accurate every time!

Money Tips for Traveling in Paris

46. you don’t have to spend a lot in paris.

Paris is ranked as one of the most expensive cities to visit! And while that is true, it doesn’t mean that people traveling on a budget can’t make it work at all.

There are so many free things to do in Paris that will save a couple of bucks, like visiting free museums as we talked about earlier.

You can also sign up for free walking tours and instead of eating out every day, make your own meals if you booked an apartment rental with a kitchen.

47. Cards a widely accepted but some places have a minimum amount they accept

One of the other Paris tourist tips you should know is that cards are widely accepted in most places. However, some places, usually small bars, bakeries, and some shops require a minimum amount to be able to pay by card.

It can be anywhere from a minimum spend of 3€ to 6€. For anything below that, you’d be required to pay by cash.

Actually, at times you’ll come across places that don’t accept cards at all. So, as you visit Paris, try to always carry some cash with you however little it may be.

48. Always carry a few coins for public toilets

Paris is one of those cities where you have to pay to access public toilets, so carry a few coins, (usually 1 Euro) for La Dame Pipi or the lady seated near the toilet collecting money.

However, in some public toilets, credit/debit cards work, so you can use the no-contact payment with ease.

Safety Travel Tips in Paris

49. look out for paris travel scams.

Unfortunately, scams are very rampant in Paris, especially in the areas near the Eiffel Tower and other crowded places.

As you explore, be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. Some of the scams to look out for include;

Someone coming to you with some written documents  and asking you to sign and support their cause.

Don’t fall for this because as soon as you sign, they’ll demand money aggressively and since you may want to get out of that uncomfortable situation pretty soon, you will be tempted to just give them money and leave.

If anyone (usually women) comes to you with stuff like this, just say No, thanks, and move on.

Another scam is the friendship bracelet scam . This one usually happens around Sacre Coeur with someone coming towards you in a friendly way with a bracelet. They’ll try to put it on your wrist and then force you to pay for you. Just move away from anyone trying to be friendly with a bracelet.

50. Be Aware Of Pickpockets

Unfortunately, this is one of the vices that seem to never go away in Paris. Pickpockets are usually in crowded places, in the metro and also the subway.

The only way to avoid them is to carry your bag in the front and be mindful of your surroundings all the time.

Pickpockets also usually target tourists as tourists are less opposed to following up on the crime, so try not to look like a tourist, especially in sketchy places.

Final Thoughts on the Best Paris Travel Tips

It’s easy to miss or overlook some things when going to the French capital, but with these tips for traveling to Paris, I hope you’ll have a great time and know exactly what and what not to do in Paris .

Whether it’s avoiding scams, deciding when to go, or even how to navigate the city, these travel tips for Paris will come in handy.

NEVER TRAVEL TO PARIS WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE One of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make when planning a trip to Paris is to forego Travel Insurance ! You might think that it’s expensive, but when you think of how much it will save you when you lose your valuables or even get sick, then you’ll know that it’s NOT that expensive! Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. If you’re considering travel insurance for your trip, check out World Nomads .

Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris

• Fun things to do in Paris on a Rainy day
• Famous Paintings in Paris
• Where to Find the Best Macarons in Paris
• Famous Paintings at the Louvre Museum
• Best Covered Passages of Paris
• Most beautiful neighborhoods of Paris
• Fun free things to do in Paris
• Famous Churches to Visit in Paris
• Best Museums in Paris
• Tips for Visiting the Eiffel Tower
• How to spend One day In Paris

Was this post on how to travel in Paris helpful? Then please consider sharing it with others.

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Esther is the face and voice behind Dreams in Paris! She has always been obsessed with Paris even before she moved there. She has lived in Paris for a couple of years, and that obsession has not changed! That love for Paris, plus her passion for writing led to the birth of Dreams in Paris! She now shares all the practical tips and guides she’s picked along the way to help you plan a memorable trip to the city of love! You can learn more about her here !

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