Quick facts
Prices verified · March 2026- Cost per day
- Backpacker€83/person/dayMid-range€268/person/dayLuxury€658/person/day
- Best time to visit
- Spring (April–June): Ideal. 15–25°C, cherry blossoms, outdoor cafes open, long days.
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Why Visit Paris
Paris needs no introduction. The City of Light has captivated travellers for centuries with its art, architecture, cuisine and undeniable romance. From ancient Roman ruins to cutting-edge contemporary art, every arrondissement tells a different story.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (April–June): Ideal. 15–25°C, cherry blossoms, outdoor cafes open, long days.
- Autumn (September–October): Perfect. Fewer tourists than summer, pleasant temperatures, beautiful colours.
- Summer (July–August): Warmest but most crowded and expensive. Many Parisians leave the city.
- Winter (December–February): Cold (2–8°C) but Christmas markets, fewer tourists and lower prices.
How Many Days Do You Need in Paris?
Three days covers the icons, the two great museums and Montmartre. Five lets you add Versailles and slow down to the pace the city is actually built for.
Each day below stays in one part of the city, which matters in Paris: the museums alone will eat three hours each, and backtracking across the Seine wastes the afternoon.
| Day | Focus | Route |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The icons | Eiffel Tower (09:00) → Trocadéro for the photo → lunch on Rue Cler → Arc de Triomphe → Champs-Élysées → Tuileries → Place de la Concorde at sunset |
| 2 | Art and Saint-Germain | Louvre (09:00) → Pont des Arts → lunch in Saint-Germain → Musée d'Orsay → Luxembourg Gardens → dinner in Le Marais |
| 3 | Montmartre and the islands | Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur (09:00) → coffee at Place du Tertre → lunch → Notre-Dame → Sainte-Chapelle → Île Saint-Louis → Berthillon ice cream |
Tip
Book the Louvre for a 09:00 slot and enter through the Carrousel du Louvre rather than the Pyramid — same ticket, a fraction of the queue.
Where to Stay in Paris
The arrondissement decides how much walking you do, and in Paris walking is most of the experience. Four areas that work:
| Area | Best for | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Marais (3e–4e) | First visit, dining, going out | €€€ | The best base for exploring on foot |
| Latin Quarter (5e) | Mid-budget, younger crowd | €€ | Close to everything and cheaper than Le Marais |
| Montmartre (18e) | Romance, views | €€ | Charming, but further out from the centre |
| Bastille / Oberkampf (11e) | Nightlife, local feel | €€ | An authentic neighbourhood with the best bars |
Top Attractions
Iconic Landmarks
- Eiffel Tower: Paris's most iconic monument. Tickets: €28.30 to the summit (lift), €14.20 to the 2nd floor by stairs. Book online well in advance — tickets sell out weeks ahead.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral: Reopened in December 2024 after 5 years of restoration following the 2019 fire. Free entry. Stunning Gothic architecture.
- Arc de Triomphe: Panoramic views from the top. Entry €16. Free on the first Sunday of each month (November–March).
- Sacre-Coeur: White basilica atop Montmartre hill. Free entry. The dome (€7) offers the best panoramic view of Paris.
Museums
- Louvre Museum: Home of the Mona Lisa. Entry €22 on site, €26 with online booking (includes timed entry). Free for under-18s and EU residents under 26. Closed Tuesdays. Go Wednesday or Friday evening (open until 21:45) to avoid crowds.
- Musee d'Orsay: Impressionist masterpieces (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh) in a stunning former train station. Entry €16. Free first Sunday of each month.
- Centre Pompidou: Modern and contemporary art. Entry €15. Closed Tuesdays. The building itself is an architectural landmark.
Tip
Buy a Paris Museum Pass (2 days €55, 4 days €70) for skip-the-line access to 60+ museums. It pays for itself after 3–4 visits and saves enormous queuing time.
Neighbourhoods
- Le Marais (3rd & 4th): The trendiest neighbourhood. Historic Jewish quarter with incredible falafel (L'As du Fallafel), boutique shopping, and Place des Vosges.
- Montmartre (18th): Bohemian heart of Paris. Sacre-Coeur, street artists at Place du Tertre, charming cobblestone streets and vineyard.
- Saint-Germain-des-Pres (6th): Literary Paris. Cafe de Flore, Luxembourg Gardens, upscale boutiques.
- Latin Quarter (5th): Student vibes, affordable restaurants, the Pantheon. Great for budget travellers.
- Canal Saint-Martin (10th): Trendy cafes, vintage shops and a relaxed atmosphere along the canal.
Getting Around
- Metro: 16 lines covering the entire city. A single ticket (t+) costs €2.55. A carnet of 10 tickets is no longer available — use a Navigo Easy card (€2) and load trips at €2.55 each, or a weekly Navigo pass (€30.75, Monday–Sunday).
- Bus: Same ticket as metro. Bus 69 passes most major landmarks — a cheap alternative to tourist buses.
- Velib: Public bike-sharing. €5 day pass with 45-minute rides included.
From airports to city centre:
- CDG (Charles de Gaulle): RER B train €14, 35 minutes to Chatelet. Roissybus €16.60, 60 minutes to Opera.
- Orly: Orlyval + RER B €14.10, 35 minutes. OrlyBus €11.50, 30 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau.
- Taxi: Flat rate €56 (Right Bank) or €65 (Left Bank) from CDG. €41 (Right Bank) or €36 (Left Bank) from Orly.
Warning
Paper metro tickets are being phased out. Get a Navigo Easy card at any station — it's reusable, costs €2, and you load trips onto it. Contactless bank cards also work directly on metro gates.
French Cuisine in Paris
- Croissant: A proper Parisian croissant from an artisan boulangerie. €1.20–€1.50. Maison Landemaine and Du Pain et des Idees are exceptional.
- Steak-frites: Classic bistro dish. €15–22 at neighbourhood bistros. Le Relais de l'Entrecote serves only this — unlimited frites.
- Croque-monsieur: Grilled ham and cheese sandwich with bechamel. €8–12. A Parisian cafe staple.
- Crepes: Sweet (Nutella, sugar-lemon) or savoury (galettes with ham, cheese, egg). €4–8 from street stalls, €10–15 in creperies.
- Wine: A glass of wine from €4–6 in a bar, €6–10 in restaurants. France produces the world's finest wines.
- Baguette: Still €1.10–€1.30 by law (the prix du pain). Fresh from any boulangerie.
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | £25–50 (hostel) | £100–180 (hotel) | £300+ |
| Food (per day) | £15–25 | £40–70 | £100+ |
| Transport (daily) | £5–8 | £10–15 | £30+ |
Hotels in Paris
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Practical Tips
- Visa: EU/Schengen rules. UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Passport required.
- Currency: Euro (EUR). £1 ≈ €1.17. Cards accepted almost everywhere but small cafes may prefer cash.
- Tipping: Service is included (service compris). Rounding up or leaving €1–2 for excellent service is appreciated but not expected.
- Language: Learn basic French — bonjour, merci, s'il vous plait. Parisians appreciate the effort, even if they switch to English.
- Water: Tap water is excellent. Ask for "une carafe d'eau" (free) instead of bottled water in restaurants.
- Pickpockets: Be vigilant on the metro (lines 1, 4) and around tourist hotspots. Keep bags in front of you.
How much does 4 days in Paris cost?
Budget: £300–£500 without flights. Mid-range: £700–£1,100. Paris is expensive but free museums on first Sundays and affordable bistros help.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
If you visit 3+ paid museums, absolutely. The 2-day pass (€55) covers the Louvre alone (€26) plus skip-the-line access to 60+ museums.
Can I drink tap water in Paris?
Yes! Paris tap water is excellent. The city also has free sparkling water fountains (fontaines petillantes) — look for the green bubbles sign.
What's the best way to get from CDG to the city?
RER B train is cheapest (€14, 35 min). Roissybus is comfortable (€16.60, 60 min). Taxi is fixed rate: €56 Right Bank, €65 Left Bank.
How much does a trip to Paris cost?
Prices verified · March 2026| Duration | Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | €249 | €804 | €1,974 |
| 5 days | €415 | €1,340 | €3,290 |
| 7 days | €581 | €1,876 | €4,606 |
| 14 days | €1,162 | €3,752 | €9,212 |
A 7-day mid-range trip to Paris costs around €1,876 per person, excluding flights.
Prices are per person and don't include flights.
Postcards from Paris
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