World · 29 Places · Best April–June and September–October
Paris travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Paris is one of the most rewarding cities to visit in Île-de-France. This guide covers the best hotels, attractions, restaurants and experiences in Paris.
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
The 29 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Gustave Eiffel's 1889 wrought-iron tower was built as the entrance arch for that year's World's Fair and was meant to be dismantled after twenty years; it survived because of its usefulness as a radio antenna. Three visitor levels rise above the Champ de Mars, with the summit reachable only by a second lift change on the 2nd floor.
Once a medieval fortress and then a royal palace, the Louvre became a public museum in 1793 and now holds the Denon, Sully and Richelieu wings around I.M. Pei's glass pyramid entrance. It is where the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace are housed, alongside centuries of French and European painting and sculpture.
Louis XIV expanded his father's hunting lodge into the seat of French royal power, moving the court and government here in 1682. The Hall of Mirrors, the King's and Queen's State Apartments, and the formal gardens laid out by André Le Nôtre together record the scale of absolute monarchy in a way no single room in Paris can.
Begun in 1163, this Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité is where Napoleon crowned himself emperor and where Victor Hugo's novel later drew global attention to its then-neglected architecture. After the 2019 roof fire, the interior has been rebuilt and reopened, with the twin-tower climb offering close views of the gargoyles and the bell that survived the blaze.
Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 World's Fair, the Musée d'Orsay covers French art from about 1848 to 1914, bridging the Louvre's older collections and the Centre Pompidou's modern ones. Its holdings of Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir and Cézanne make it the single best place in Paris to see Impressionism and Post-Impressionism together.
Built in white travertine stone after the Franco-Prussian War as a national penance project, the basilica crowns the Butte Montmartre and was consecrated in 1919. Its Romano-Byzantine domes and the enormous mosaic of Christ in Majesty inside distinguish it from the Gothic cathedrals elsewhere in the city.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Bertrand Grébaut's dining room off Rue de Charonne set the template for the wave of Paris bistronomy that followed it: bare wood tables, exposed pipes, an open pass, and a short tasting menu that changes with what the kitchen is getting from its growers. The cooking leans on acid, ferments and char rather than butter and cream, so plates read lighter and sharper than classic bistro food.
Under the arcades of the Palais-Royal, this is one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Paris, with gilded panels, mirrors and ceiling paintings largely unchanged since the early 1800s — Napoleon and Victor Hugo both sat here, and brass plaques under some tables still mark where. The cooking is formal haute cuisine, built for the setting rather than the other way around.
A working-class dining hall opened in 1896, with its original belle époque woodwork, coat racks over every table, and waiters who still write your order on the paper tablecloth. It's a bouillon — a category of old Parisian canteen built to feed people cheaply and fast — so the food is straightforward brasserie cooking, not refined, and the room is loud with communal long tables.
Chef Grégory Marchand, who trained under Jamie Oliver and in New York kitchens before returning to Paris, opened this narrow spot on Rue du Nil and helped define the bistronomy movement of the 2010s: casual room, exposed brick, no white tablecloths, but technique and sourcing closer to a tasting-menu restaurant. The cooking mixes French bistro instincts with the produce-forward, slightly American sensibility he picked up abroad.
A tight, rugby-memorabilia-covered bistro near the Champ de Mars run in the loud, generous spirit of Basque and southwestern French cooking — this is not delicate plating, it's big, rich portions meant to be shared, in a room where tables sit close together and the noise level climbs as the night goes on.
One of the two anchor cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (the other being Les Deux Magots across the street), with red leather banquettes, brass fittings and a literary history tied to Sartre and de Beauvoir, who used to work at their usual table here. The food is simple café fare — omelettes, croque-monsieur, salads — priced for the address and the seat, not for the cooking.
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Paris's transport network covers Métro, RER suburban rail, SNCF Transilien, bus, tram, and river shuttle (Batobus). Tickets are purchased at station machines or the Île-de-France Mobilités app. A weekly Navigo pass (€30/~$32.69) is the best-value option for stays of 5+ days and covers all modes across zones 1–5, including CDG and Orly airports.
Daily spend by tier in EUR (€), broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €25–€60/night (~$27–$65) | €120–€220/night (~$131–$240) | €400–€1,500/night (~$436–$1,635) |
| Food (per day) | €20–€35/day (~$22–$38) | €50–€90/day (~$55–$98) | €150–€400/day (~$163–$436) |
| Transportation | €8–€15/day (~$9–$16) | €15–€25/day (~$16–$27) | €60–€200/day (~$65–$218) |
| Activities | €10–€25/day (~$11–$27) | €30–€60/day (~$33–$65) | €80–€300/day (~$87–$327) |
| Daily total | €63–€135/day (~$69–$147) | €215–€395/day (~$235–$431) | €690–€2,400/day (~$752–$2,616) |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for France.
Spring (April–June) brings cherry blossoms in Parc de Sceaux, gardens in full bloom, and comfortable temperatures for walking. Autumn (September–October) offers golden Fontainebleau foliage, shorter museum queues, and arguably the best restaurant energy of the year.
Use inside zip pockets or money belts on crowded Métro lines (especially 1, 4, 6) and at tourist sites
Keep bags in front of the body and wallets in front trouser pockets — not back pockets
Hold smartphones with both hands when checking maps near the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and the Marais
Do not accept gifts, bracelets, or help from strangers near tourist attractions without requesting it
At the Eiffel Tower esplanade, be alert for groups of young people who use distraction techniques
Use only licensed taxis (G7 taxi app, or hail a cab with the 'TAXI PARISIEN' sign lit) or verified ride-share apps (Uber, Bolt)
The Gare du Nord area (particularly around the main entrance) and Châtelet-Les Halles Métro station require extra vigilance at night
The RER B train from CDG airport is safe but carry bags on your lap and be alert when doors open at Gare du Nord station
Never leave belongings unattended at outdoor cafés — bag snatching from chairs is a known tactic
Register your trip with your home country's embassy or foreign ministry for emergency notifications during extended stays
Paris is a safe city for tourists by global standards, but elevated vigilance is warranted at major tourist sites and on the Métro due to pickpocketing. France operates a national Vigipirate counter-terrorism alert system; the level is Urgence Attentat (highest) in Île-de-France following heightened
The best time to visit Paris is April–June and September–October. Paris has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) with mild, wet winters and warm, occasionally humid summers. The city receives around 640 mm of rainfall distributed fairly evenly across the year, t
No visa required for stays up to 90 days within 180-day period. Passport must be valid for 3 months beyond departure date. ETIAS authorization required starting 2026. Requirements vary by nationality, so check with your nearest embassy or the official immigration website before traveling.
The currency in Paris is the Euro (EUR) (EUR). ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants, but carry cash for markets and smaller establishments.
The main language(s) spoken in Paris: French. In tourist areas, English is generally understood. Learning a few basic phrases in the local language is appreciated by locals.
The top attractions in Paris include Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Musée d'Orsay. Each offers a unique experience, from historic landmarks to natural wonders.
