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

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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

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

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

$$$

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

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

$$$

1st Arr.

Louvre Guided Tour: Mona Lisa & Masterpieces

Skip the queue and follow a guide straight to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Louvre’s must-sees without the maze.

★ 4.5

1st Arr.

Louvre Museum

The world’s most-visited museum – Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo. Enter via the Carrousel to skip the pyramid queue.

★ 4.8

Île de la Cité (4th)

Marché aux Fleurs

A charming, partly-covered flower market a step from Notre-Dame that has traded on the Île de la Cité for over a century. Wander the rare and unusual blooms and soak up the scents even if you are not buying.

★ 4.6

Saint-Ouen

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen

The world’s largest antiques flea market – a labyrinth of 1,700 stalls just north of the city. Free to wander.

★ 4.6

8th Arr.

Maxim’s

The Art Nouveau icon off Place de la Concorde – Belle Époque opulence and a legendary dinner-and-show legacy.

★ 4.7

$$$

Day trip

Mont-Saint-Michel Day Trip by Coach

A long but unforgettable run to the island abbey rising from the Normandy tidal flats, with free time to explore.

★ 4.6

$$$

Montmartre

Montmartre Cheese, Wine & Pastry Tour

A three-hour tasting walk through Montmartre’s fromageries, wine shops and patisseries above the Place du Tertre.

★ 4.7

Montmartre

Montmartre Walking Tour with Local Guide

Climb the hill of artists to Sacré-Cœur, the Place du Tertre and Amélie’s café with a guide who knows the back lanes.

★ 4.6

Pigalle

Moulin Rouge

The original 1889 cabaret and its Féerie revue – 100 artists, feathers, and the French Cancan, with champagne.

★ 4.4

$$$

Rive Gauche

Musée d’Orsay

The world’s great Impressionist collection in a Beaux-Arts railway station – Monet, Van Gogh, Degas.

★ 4.5

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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.