Paris

Romance, art & café culture

The City of Light rewards slow wandering. Grand boulevards, hidden courtyards, world-defining art and a café on every corner – Paris is as much about lingering as it is about landmarks. These are the picks that go beyond the postcards.

Good to know

arrondissements spiralling out from the centre like a snail’s shell

~130

museums and monuments, from the Louvre to tiny ateliers

+15cm

the Eiffel Tower grows taller in summer as its iron expands

the Louvre is the most-visited museum on Earth

Local tips

Book museum and monument tickets online in advance – the queues are real.
A Paris Museum Pass covers 50+ sites and skips most ticket lines.
Buy a Navigo Easy card or a carnet for the metro rather than single tickets.
A friendly “Bonjour” when you enter a shop or café goes a long way.

Browse Paris

Paris at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Arc de Triomphe Rooftop and Sainte-Chapelle
Where to stay: Canal Saint-Martin and Bastille (11th)
Local picks: 97 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Paris

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Paris: Best Arrondissements for First-TimersWhere to stay in Paris? A local guide to the best arrondissements for first-timers, from Le Marais and Saint-Germain to…

Local tipsHow Many Days Do You Need in Paris? A Local’s GuideHow many days do you need in Paris? A local guide to the ideal trip length, what to do in…

Where to stay in Paris

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

5th Arr.

La Tour d’Argent

A storied riverside table since 1582, famed for its pressed duck and Notre-Dame views from the dining room.

★ 4.9

$$$

6th Arr.

Lapérouse

A romantic 1766 townhouse on the Seine with gilded private salons – a Paris legend, reborn for fine dining.

★ 4.5

$$$

Faubourg Saint-Honoré

Le Bristol Paris

Legendary Oetker palace with a rooftop pool and 3-Michelin-star Epicure, on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

★ 4.5

$$$

Canal Saint-Martin

Le Citizen Hôtel

Intimate Art Deco hotel right on the Canal Saint-Martin; spacious rooms with canal views.

★ 4.7

Palais-Royal

Le Grand Véfour

An 18th-century jewel under the Palais-Royal arcades, where Napoleon and Colette dined – refined haute cuisine.

★ 4.6

$$$

Le Marais

Le Marais Food Tour: 11 Tastings & 2 Wines

Graze through the Marais – falafel, cheese, charcuterie, pastries and wine – with a guide on the city’s best food-walk turf.

★ 4.7

Belleville (11th)

Le Marché de Belleville

A cosmopolitan open-air market along Boulevard de Belleville every Tuesday and Friday – souk-like and great value, with stalls of fruit, veg and exotic produce ringed by Chinese and North-African shops and eateries. Tip: grab a sweet at the oriental patisserie “Nani”.

★ 4.4

19th (Place des Fêtes)

Le Marché de la Place des Fêtes

7th arr. / Petits Pères

Le Moulin de la Vierge

Latin Quarter (5th)

Le Piano Vache

A wonderfully dark, poster-plastered student bar in the Latin Quarter, going since 1969. A convivial mix of students, young professionals and a few travellers, with free jazz manouche on Monday nights (drinks cost a little more then). Tip: don’t talk over the music.

★ 4.6

6th Arr.

Le Procope

Founded 1686 and billed as the world’s oldest café-restaurant – Voltaire’s haunt, now classic French menus.

★ 4.6

10th (Faubourg Saint-Denis)

Le Syndicat

Gare de Lyon

Le Train Bleu

A gilded 1901 Belle Époque dining room inside Gare de Lyon – frescoed ceilings and grand French cuisine.

★ 4.9

$$$

Paris (culinary school and kitchens)

Les Cuistots Migrateurs

Why it matters: Les Cuistots Migrateurs is a social enterprise built to help refugees rebuild careers through cooking, offering free professional training plus French classes and then employing gradua

Saint-Germain

Les Deux Magots

The literary café of Sartre and de Beauvoir – come for the people-watching and a classic croque-monsieur.

★ 4.9

Goutte d'Or, 18th arrondissement

Little Africa Paris

Why it matters: Little Africa was founded by Jacqueline Ngo Mpii, a Black woman who built the company, a guidebook and a retail-and-gallery ‘Little Africa Village’ to celebrate African and diaspora cu

Le Marais

Little Red Door

Day trip

Loire Valley Castles Day Trip (Chambord & More)

Renaissance châteaux in a day – Chambord’s rooftops and more – with entry tickets and transport from Paris.

★ 4.6

$$$

Before you go

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Paris travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Paris?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Paris at a relaxed pace. See our Paris itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Paris?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Paris guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Paris?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Paris?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Paris is worth visiting year-round.