Paris, France
Welcome to Paris, the world’s most visited city! This incredible place is home to 470,000 trees, 9,057 open terrace cafes, and 31 condom vending machines. Known as the City of Light, not for the streetlights and the lighting of the Eiffel Tower, but for the intellectuals, writers, artists, and academics that have been drawn to the city for centuries.
Let’s Visit Paris!
“There’s nothing to see in Paris”- Said No One Ever!
With so much to see and do, there’s no wonder Paris is the most visited city in the world. From world famous architecture to tiny locks of love, you can wander in any direction and Paris will keep you wanting for more.
Visit Paris: Explore The World Famous Museums
The Louvre
The world’s largest and quite possibly most famous museum is spectacular inside and out. Outside, you’ll find the famous Louvre Pyramid, which doubles as the incredibly busy main entrance. Although, we found a super-secret entrance with no lines that will have you inside in no time.
Petit Palais
Haven’t had your fill of Parisian museum culture? Walk through Tuileries Garden to this beautiful art museum, which is home to the city’s fine arts collection.
Visit Paris: Stroll Across Beautiful Bridges
Pont Alexandre III
Stretching 520 feet across the Seine River, Pont Alexandre III was finished in 1900, and is easily Paris’s most ornate, extravagant bridge.
Pont des Arts
With a prime location connecting the Louvre with Institut de France, there is no wonder Pont des Arts is the most famous bridge of Paris. You may have seen photos of this bridge covered with “love locks,” although the have all been moved, as their staggering weight was slowly destroying the bridge!
Visit Paris: Step Inside Iconic Churches
Notre-Dame Cathedral
No trip to Paris can be complete without a visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Built in 1345, replicas of this church have been built around the world and the world-famous legends have even inspired Disney films!
Saint-Louis-en-l’lle
This strikingly beautiful Roman Catholic Church dates back to 1622, and can be found slightly south of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Look for the unusual bell tower!
Saint Paul Saint Louis Church and Place de la Bastille
Another of many beautiful Catholic churches of Paris, Saint Paul Saint Louis Church is known for it’s 180-foot tall central dome and it’s brightly painted red door.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris
Likely the second most famous church in Paris, you’ll find the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre. Located at the highest point in the city a visit to this gorgeous cathedral comes complete with amazing views of Paris below.
Visit Paris: Admire The Parisian Architecture
Eiffel Tower
Towering 1,063 feet into the air, you can see this world-famous tower from most of Paris. Is it worth a visit?? 6.91 million people a year seam to think so.. We do too, but we passed on climbing to the top. Instead, we soaked it all in near the amazing Fountain of Warsaw. Check out our fun time lapse from a glorious Parisian afternoon.
Institut de France
An anchor at one end of the Pont des Arts Bridge, stroll across the Seine to admire this stunning cultural center and French Institute, created in 1795.
Visit Paris: Enjoy Some Peace And Quiet
Tuileries Garden
This popular historic park is adjacent to the Louvre grounds is home to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, beautiful sculptures, and a 197 foot tall Ferris wheel.
Montparnasse Cemetery
The final resting place of world famous artists, poets, sculptors, and authors. It’s customary to leave a stone or pebble on top of a headstone to show respect for the dead.
Visit Paris: Get Out Of The City
Palace and Gardens of Versaille
Just 12 miles from the city center is the palacial former home of the French royal court. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was originally built as a hunting lodge in 1623 by Louis XIII. The spectacular Palace of Versaille is only slightly outdone by the marvelous gardens and grand canal.
Visit Paris: Book a Tour!
Getting to Paris
Getting to Paris: BUS
Buses are not our favorite mode of travel.. The seats are generally cramped, the ride is bumpy, and departure/arrival times can be unpredictable. This said, bus travel is generally the least expensive. In particular, the route from Brussels, Belgium is only $10 for the 4 hour trip.
Getting to Paris: FLY
If planned in advance, reasonable direct flights are available to Paris, including Venice for $11, Madrid for $17, Amsterdam for $35, or Berlin for $40 with our favorite flight search site, Skyscanner.
Paris Flight Deals
Getting to Paris: TRAIN
Trains throughout France are a great option; you’ll avoid lines at the airport, enjoy beautiful scenery, and they can be very comfortable. If you plan on doing a lot of traveling through France you can find cheap fares on the 199mph TGV. Just make sure to buy well in advance (6 weeks) as prices tend to increase dramatically as the departure date gets closer. Fares & Schedules
Airport to Paris City Center
Paris is home to three airports: Charles de Gaulle International is by far the busiest, with Orly Airport serving domestic flights, and Aéroport Paris Beauvais Tillé serving a handful of discount airlines.
Charles de Gaulle
Statistically speaking, you’re likely to arrive at this airport, located about 15 miles northeast of the city center. Take the RER train (leaves from terminal 2) into the city center. The 35 minutes ride is $12. Taxi and Uber are also available but will cost about three times as much.
Aéroport Paris Beauvais Tillé
If arriving in Beauvais, your best bet is the 1 hour 15 minute direct shuttle to Paris city. Tickets cost 29EUR and you can book tickets ahead of time, here.
Getting around in Paris
Metro
Paris boasts one of the most extensive underground systems in the world. Color-coded tracks, clear station names, and a fantastic app called ‘Paris Metro Map and Route Planner’, all make the Metro very easy to use. Most tickets cost 1.8Euro and can be purchased from kiosks throughout each station.
Uber
Yes, Paris has Uber. Do we recommend it?? Not really. Paris is so well connected by Metro we only recommend Uber in case of desperation.
Walkability
Walkscore.com gives Paris a score of 99, calling it a walkers paradise and we agree! Walking around Paris is highly recommended.
Where To Stay in Paris:
Where To Stay in Paris: HOTELS
Paris offers a wide range of hotels to choose from. Options span from high-end hotels like the Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental for around $900 a night to more affordable hotels like Timhotel Opera Blanche Fontaine or Hotel Boissiere for $80 a night. When it comes to hotels, we recommend shopping Agoda.com, far and away the most competitive resource when searching for hotels in Paris.
Paris Hotel Deals
Where To Stay in Paris: HOSTELS
With over 200 hostel options in Paris, you’re sure to find one that fits all of your needs. Prices generally range from $20-$30 a night for a dorm room, while a private room will cost more, at around $80-$90 per night. Hostelworld is our recommended resource when searching for hostels in Paris.
Paris Hostel Deals
Where To Stay in Paris: AIRBNB
We love Airbnb! From private rooms to entire homes, there are plenty of choices when visiting Paris. If you’re a first-timer with Airbnb, use this coupon and enjoy $35 off of your stay.
Where To Stay in Paris: NEIGHBORHOODS
Choosing a neighborhood is an important part of trip planning that should not be overlooked! Referred to as “arrondissements”, Paris has 20 districts that spiral from #1 at the city center to #20 to the east. Here are some areas worth considering when staying in Paris.
1st, 2nd, and 8th Arrondissements-Known as Louvre, Bourse, and Champs-Elysees
Located on the East bank of the Seine River, these three central neighborhoods are where you’ll find The Louvre, Royal Palace, the Paris Stock Market, as well as high-end shopping. If on a budget, it might be better to just visit instead of staying here.
3rd and 4th Arrondissements-Known as The Marais
These trendy neighborhoods are where you’ll find the city’s Jewish quarters, a thriving gay community, and the Picasso Museum. Also located on the East Bank, you’ll find many boutique hotels, bistros, and expats.
5th and 6th Arrondissements-Known as the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain
These neighborhoods located on the West bank are just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. You’ll find many students, international restaurants, and art galleries.
11th Arrondissement-Known as Popincourt or Bastille
Located to the east of the city center is where you’ll find one of the most densely populated urban districts in all of Europe. This tree lined neighborhood is full of fashionable cafes, a thriving nightlife, and parks.
14th Arrondissement-Known as Montparnasse
Located south of the city center, this is a quintessential 1920s Parisian neighborhood. Loaded with outdoor cafes, this mostly residential area is where the amazing Kiki de Montparnasse called home and where you’ll find the eerily peaceful Cemetery Montparnasse.
18th Arrondissement-Known as Montmartre
This neighborhood located north of the city center is a must visit while in Paris. Find here the highest point in the city, topped by the stunning Basilica. This charming neighborhood is full of history, artists, and steep hills.
Paris Travel Tips
Paris travel tips: Money
Tipping in France is not required but is good etiquette. Check your bill for a service charge, if you enjoyed the service, tip 10% at restaurants or to taxi drivers, and leave 1-2euro at bars.
Paris travel tips: Tipping
Frances’s national currency is the Euro, and is currently exchanging at 0.9EUR to $1USD. Credit cards are accepted at most places and ATM machines are readily available.
Paris travel tips: Insurance
Traveling through Paris is exciting and safe, but you never know when some good travel insurance could come in handy. World Nomads offers the best coverage in the business, is affordable, and is quick to act should something go wrong. For more info, check out our recent World Nomads blog post.
