Paris: the guide for planning it yourself
Paris only looks compact on the map. Most of the main sights really do stand in the center, within a couple of kilometers of each other, and they group well into walking blocks. But a ticket office line without a timed ticket eats up the morning, and Versailles and Disneyland lie outside the city and take a full day each. This page is meant as the overview you build your own trip from. Each section says in a few sentences what matters and points on to our detailed articles. We deliberately leave prices out: admission and hotel rates in Paris change too fast for an overview page to carry them honestly. What you get instead is a calculator where you work out your own total.
The highlights and how to arrange them
Four landmarks carry a first trip to Paris: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité, the Arc de Triomphe at the end of the Champs-Élysées, and the hill of Montmartre with the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Museums and grand buildings come on top: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Orangerie in the Tuileries Garden, Les Invalides with Napoleon's tomb, the Panthéon and the Opéra Garnier.
In the center you can realistically cover several sights on foot in a day if you group them into blocks: the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde; the Île de la Cité with the cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie; the Latin Quarter with the Panthéon, the Sorbonne and the Luxembourg Gardens. Versailles and Disneyland sit outside the city, and each needs a day of its own.
Two rules save the most time. First: the big museums have a closing day, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles on Mondays. Second: entry to Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is free, and so are the Tuileries Garden and the Luxembourg Gardens, so paid time slots alternate well with places that need no ticket.
Our articles on this
- What to see in Paris: 30 main places with tickets and opening hours
- Eiffel Tower: 2026 tickets, levels and how not to lose an hour at the ticket office
- Louvre in Paris: 2026 tickets and skip-the-line entry
- Notre Dame Cathedral: free entry, but tower tickets online only
- Arc de Triomphe: ticket prices for the climb in 2026 and opening hours
- Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre: opening hours, dome ticket and the way up
- Les Invalides in Paris: Napoleon's tomb and three museums
- Three floors of the Musee d'Orsay: what to see and when entry is cheaper
- Opera Garnier in Paris: tickets, hours and what to see inside
- Paris catacombs: how much entry costs and what awaits underground
- Who is buried at Pere Lachaise: main graves and opening hours
- Luxembourg Garden: what to see, museum ticket price and how to get there
- Tuileries Garden: route through the free park and the Orangerie Museum
- Paris observation decks: 15 viewpoints with ticket prices
- 20 Parks in Paris: where to walk for free and what to pay for
Neighborhoods and where to stay
In Paris the neighborhood changes a trip more than the hotel category does. For a first visit, the 1st arrondissement with the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden and the Marais quarter both work: you walk to the main sights, but prices there are above average and rooms in the old buildings are often small. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the quiet classic, with cafés and bookshops. The 7th arrondissement is calm, has the Eiffel Tower close by and is convenient with children.
If price matters, look at the Latin Quarter, the 11th arrondissement and the 12th arrondissement with Bercy: it is cheaper there, and the metro gets you to the center quickly. Montmartre gives you character and a view, but you will have to climb the hill every day. Canal Saint-Martin lies off the tourist routes and shows everyday Paris.
As a base for the whole trip, it is better to avoid the surroundings of the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est stations and the lower part of the 18th arrondissement near the Barbès-Rochechouart and La Chapelle stations. Hotels there are cheaper, but the trips to the sights are longer and the streets are less pleasant in the evening.
| Neighborhood | Who it suits | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| 1st arrondissement and the Marais | A first visit: you walk to the main sights | Prices above average, rooms in the old buildings often small |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés | Couples and anyone after the quiet classic with cafés and bookshops | Price level is high, and almost everything is expensive in the evening |
| 7th arrondissement | Families with children and anyone who wants the Eiffel Tower close by | Calm, especially in the evening; rooms with a view of the tower cost more than standard ones |
| Latin Quarter | A tight budget and a wish to stay close to the center | Many metro lines, the center is a couple of stops away |
| 11th arrondissement | Anyone who wants restaurants and bars close to the hotel | The area is lively in the evening; you take the metro to the center |
| 12th arrondissement and Bercy | Budget-minded travelers and families | 20-25 minutes to the main sights by metro or RER |
| Montmartre | Romance, character and a view | You will have to climb the hill every day |
| Canal Saint-Martin | Anyone who wants to see everyday Paris | Lies off the tourist routes |
Our articles on this
- Where to stay in Paris: 9 districts with hotels for any budget
- Montmartre: main places of the hill, tickets and view of Paris
- Latin Quarter in Paris: route through the Sorbonne, Pantheon and Roman arenas
- Ile de la Cite in Paris: 12 places, tickets and one day itinerary
- Place de la Bastille in Paris: a 52-meter column instead of a fortress
Hotels: what to watch for in Paris
In Paris the star rating tells you less about a hotel than its location and guest reviews. Buildings here are often historic, so rooms are small and the layout cannot be changed. Check three things: whether there is air conditioning, because sleeping without it is hard in summer; which way the windows face, because quiet rooms usually look onto the courtyard; and how far the walk to the metro is.
Demand in the city holds all year, and prices barely drop at the last minute. Book six to ten weeks ahead and look at nights from Monday to Thursday: they are often cheaper than weekends. A room with a view of the Eiffel Tower always costs more, and it is worth asking exactly which room category you can see it from.
Ad
Compare places to stay in Paris on Trip.com
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Our articles on this
- Hotels in central Paris: 11 addresses to stay from two to five stars
- 12 4-Star hotels in central Paris: where to stay near the Louvre and Champs-Elysees
- 13 3-Star hotels in central Paris: where to stay near the metro
- 5-Star hotels in central Paris: 12 options from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower
- Hotels on the Champs-Elysees: 12 addresses from budget to five stars
- Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower: 12 hotels where you can actually see it
- Hotels near Disneyland Paris: 15 options and how to get to the park
Tours and skip the line tickets
A timed ticket booked ahead pays off for the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles and the Opéra Garnier. At the Louvre the slot only sets your entry time, and once inside you stay as long as you like. For the Eiffel Tower, arrive before your slot begins: there is still a security check ahead of the entrance. Tickets for the Catacombs and the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral are sold online only, and you cannot buy them on site.
The Paris Museum Pass pays off if you visit three or more museums in three days, though you still have to reserve a time at the Louvre with it. A guided tour makes sense where all you get without explanation is the rooms themselves: at the Opéra Garnier it goes backstage, and at Les Invalides it helps you make sense of the dates and names.
| Sight | Ticket and entry | Closing day |
|---|---|---|
| The Louvre | Timed ticket; the slot only sets your entry time | Tuesday |
| Musée d'Orsay | Timed ticket | Monday |
| Eiffel Tower | Timed ticket; arrive before your slot begins, there is a security check ahead of the entrance | Open daily |
| Palace of Versailles | Entry at a fixed time that you choose when buying the ticket | Monday; the park and gardens are open daily |
| Opéra Garnier | Visit ticket with a time slot, checked at the entrance | Usually open daily; on performance days the visit is moved or canceled |
| Catacombs | Tickets online only, you cannot buy them on site | Monday |
| Notre-Dame Cathedral | Entry to the cathedral is free; tickets for the towers are sold online only | The cathedral is open daily |
Ad
See guided tours and tickets for Paris on GetYourGuide
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Ad
See museum and attraction tickets on Tiqets
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Our articles on this
- Louvre ticket 2026: prices, time slots and skip-the-line entry
- Eiffel Tower: 2026 ticket prices and skip-the-line access
- 35 Museums in Paris: what to see, ticket prices and opening hours
- Palace of Versailles: tickets, opening hours and what to see in the halls and park
- Notre-Dame after restoration: free entry, towers and crypt
- Disneyland Paris 2026: prices by date and how to skip the line
- Disneyland Paris: tickets 2026, Premier Access and hotels nearby
- Opera Garnier in Paris: how to get inside, opening hours and tickets
- Les Invalides in Paris: tickets, Napoleon's tomb and the golden dome
- Parc Asterix near Paris: five main roller coasters and how to plan your day
Food: how to choose a place to eat in Paris
Near the Eiffel Tower, on the embankments by Notre-Dame Cathedral and in the middle of Montmartre you pay for the view and the foot traffic, not the cooking. Walk one street away from the square. Good signs: a short seasonal menu, a dish of the day, the plat du jour, and French being spoken at the tables around you. A menu with photos in five languages tells you the opposite.
The best value meal is the set lunch, the formule du midi, at a bistro: the same dishes cost more in the evening. Classic restaurants open the dining room for dinner at around seven, and kitchens are closed between lunch and dinner. Do not seat yourself, wait to be shown to a table. A jug of tap water, une carafe d'eau, comes at no extra charge. Service is already included in the bill, and tipping is voluntary.
For dinner, good areas are the Marais and the Bastille district, where the choice is widest, Saint-Germain for traditional cooking, Montmartre late in the evening and Canal Saint-Martin for modern cooking. Bistro classics include beef bourguignon, onion soup and duck confit.
Our articles on this
Transport and getting in from the airport
There are two main airports: Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Some low cost airlines fly to Beauvais, which is a long way from the city, so check your arrival airport before you buy the flight. From Charles de Gaulle the RER B commuter train runs to the center: it stops at two airport stations, takes about half an hour and runs every ten to twenty minutes during the day. From Orly you take the automated Orlyval train and change to the RER B. The airport ticket is a separate one and costs more than a city ticket.
In the city the metro is the main way to get around. The network is dense, neighboring stations are often five minutes apart on foot, and the fare within Paris does not depend on distance. The metro runs from early morning until around one at night, and later on Fridays and Saturdays. Far from all stations have elevators, so with a suitcase expect stairs.
The last RER B train from the airport leaves shortly before midnight. After that you are left with a fixed fare taxi to the center or a transfer booked in advance, which is also the more convenient choice with children or a lot of luggage. A car in Paris itself is more of a burden because of traffic jams and parking, and renting one only pays off for trips out of the city.
| Route | What to take | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| From Charles de Gaulle airport to the center | RER B commuter train | About half an hour, every 10-20 minutes during the day; you can board at two airport stations |
| From Orly airport to the center | Automated Orlyval train and a change to the RER B | The change is at Antony station; the airport ticket is separate from a city ticket |
| Arriving late in the evening or at night | Fixed fare taxi or a transfer booked in advance | The last RER B from the airport leaves shortly before midnight; a transfer is easier with children and luggage |
| Trips within the city | Metro | Runs until around one at night, later on Fridays and Saturdays; far from all stations have elevators |
| To Versailles | RER C commuter train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station | From the station you walk to the palace through the center of Versailles |
| To Disneyland | Direct RER A commuter train to the last stop, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy | The ride from the center takes about 40 minutes |
| Trips out of the city | Rental car | Paris itself means traffic jams and parking, and you do not need a car for trips in the center |
Ad
Book a fixed price airport transfer in Paris
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Our articles on this
Best time to go and weather
April, May, September and October are best for long walks: the weather is mild and the lines are shorter than in summer. Summer and the New Year holidays are high season, when hotels get more expensive and the lines grow.
November and February are the quietest months, with the fewest tourists, but it rains often, so bring a jacket and an umbrella. In winter the days are short, the gardens close earlier and some of the châteaux outside the city are closed for the off season. In return, the Christmas markets open in the second half of November and the department stores put up their holiday window displays. If you are coming for the sales, plan for January or late June.
| Time of year | Weather and crowds | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| April, May, September, October | Mild weather, lines shorter than in summer | The best time for long walks |
| Summer | High season: lines grow, hotels get more expensive | Book timed tickets ahead; check the hotel for air conditioning |
| November and February | The fewest tourists, but it rains often | Bring a jacket and an umbrella; the Christmas markets open in the second half of November |
| New Year holidays | High season, short days | Gardens close earlier; most Christmas markets run until the end of December |
| January | Winter: short days, some of the châteaux outside the city are closed for the off season | The month of the sales; the second round comes in late June |
Twelve months compared: find the best time to go
Our articles on this
Budget: how to work out your own total
We are not writing daily rates here. The cost of a trip to Paris is made up of four parts: getting there, accommodation, museum tickets and food. Most of the money goes to accommodation and tickets, and travel and hotels get more expensive in high season and during school vacations. A number on an overview page would be either out of date or made up.
Where saving actually gets you something: a hotel on a metro line outside the center instead of an address by the Eiffel Tower, weekday nights, a set lunch at midday instead of an à la carte dinner, water from the city's free drinking fountains. Children get into the Louvre free, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the city gardens need no ticket at all.
You work out your own total in the calculator. It separates accommodation, food, local transport, admissions, travel there and a reserve, so you can see which item is pushing the total up.
Calculate a travel budget for Paris
Our articles on this
Routes for one, three and five days
In one day you can walk Paris along a single line. The first option: from Notre-Dame Cathedral along the Seine embankment via the Sorbonne, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Montparnasse Tower to the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro, about seven kilometers. The second is shorter: from the Louvre Pyramid through the Tuileries Garden, across Place de la Concorde and the Pont Alexandre III to the tower.
Three days is the number at which the essentials fit without rushing. Day one: the Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, the Tuileries Garden and an evening trip on the Seine. Day two: the Louvre, the Conciergerie, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Marais. Day three: Les Invalides, the Panthéon, the Eiffel Tower and an evening in Montmartre.
Over five days the city divides up by area: the center, the Île de la Cité with the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, a museum day and a day of your choice. Put Versailles or Disneyland in place of one museum day, not on top of it.
Day planner: check what fits into one day
Our articles on this
- Paris in 3 days: what to fit in, how much it costs and when to go
- Paris in one day on foot: eight stops from the cathedral to the Eiffel Tower
- Paris walking route: from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower in one day
- Paris on foot: a five-day plan, museum tickets and opening hours
- Montmartre in one day: route from Sacre-Coeur to Moulin Rouge
- Montmartre on foot: Sacre-Coeur, Wall of Love and Moulin Rouge
- Latin quarter in Paris: a walking route through the Pantheon, Sorbonne and Saint-Germain cafes
Practical matters: safety, connectivity, insurance
Paris is safe on the whole, but pickpockets work the metro, crowded buses and the areas around the sights. Do not hold your phone in your hand near the train doors: it gets snatched at the moment the doors close. Buy passes only from machines and ticket offices, and keep your ticket until the end of the journey. Start any conversation with Bonjour: it changes the tone noticeably.
Tap water in Paris is drinkable, free drinking fountains run in the streets, and some of them give sparkling water; bring a bottle. Pack comfortable shoes, because the cobblestones in the center are old and uneven. EU citizens do not need a visa, a passport or ID card is enough. Travelers from countries without visa-free entry need a Schengen visa, and it is worth applying a few weeks before the trip.
Check the roaming terms for France with your own carrier before you travel. An eSIM is a backup way to have internet from the first minute: for maps, tickets on your phone and contact with the hotel. Take out travel insurance before you leave and read exactly what it covers.
Build a packing list for the Paris trip
Ad
See eSIM options for France on Yesim
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Ad
See travel insurance on World Nomads
We earn a commission through this link; your price stays the same.
Our articles on this