Paris Travel Planning Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
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Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and is a bucket list destination for many travelers. I’ve been to Paris many times and fall more in love with it every time. It was the first city in Europe I ever visited and sparked my love for European travel!
Paris really is a magical city, everywhere you look there is another stunning building or landmark, and there is just something electric and lively about the city in general that is infectious. I could not disagree more with anyone who says Paris is overrated.
This Paris travel guide is the perfect place to start planning your trip – this is an overview of all my favorite things in Paris with links to detailed itineraries & all you need to plan your Parisian adventure!
Jump To:
- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
- Where to Stay in Paris
- Top Things to do in Paris
- My Favorite Paris Restaurants
- Getting to Paris
- Getting Around Paris
- Is Paris Worth Visiting?
- How Many Days to Spend in Paris
- Safety for Solo Female Travel in Paris
- Top Blog Posts – Paris
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Exploring beyond Paris? See my full France Travel guide here for details on exploring other regions of France!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
Garden of the Eiffel Tower
Having a bottle of wine at the gardens at the base of the Eiffel Tower is my absolute top Paris recommendation! Grab a bottle of wine, and some snacks from a local grocery store and find a patch of grass to watch the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower. Once it gets dark hang around to watch the tower light up.
Runner Up: Le Rooftop at Hotel The Peninsula Paris
If you’re looking to splurge for drinks with Paris skyline views try Le Rooftop at Hotel the Peninsula. It’s located a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe and offers 360 views of Paris and great Eiffel Tower views. The Rooftop is first come first serve so you don’t need a reservation, try to get there early and grab a spot for sunset! There is a minimum 30 euro per person spend!
Where to Stay in Paris
Paris is a huge city with a ton of accommodation options! I recommend picking where to stay based on where you plan on spending the most time. Paris is broken up into a series of “arrondissements” or neighborhoods. There are four main areas I usually choose between when visiting Paris, depending on what I am looking to do.
1st Arrondissement – Closest to Louvre, Orsay & Notre Dame
If it’s your first visit to Paris and you’re planning to see all the major tourist sites, the 1st Arrondissment is probably your best bet for a hotel or vacation rental. The 1st Arrondissement is where you’ll find the Louvre and Orsay. It is also located nearby Notre Dame. This is a great area for exploring many of the major sites of Paris (although the Eiffel Tower is about a 40 minute walk from here)
You can find tons of great hotel options in this area depending on your budget.
7th Arrondissement – Closest to Eiffel Tower
If you’re hoping to catch endless views of the Eiffel Tower during your trip, I recommend staying in the 7th Arrondissement. In addition to being near the Eiffel Tower, you’ll be close to Invalides, Napoleon’s tomb, the Rodin Museum, and some of the prettiest Paris streets dotted with charming cafes. I love this area and it is where I stayed during my most recent trip to Paris.
You can find tons of great hotel options in this area depending on your budget. On my most recent trip I stayed at a cheaper hotel, Hotel de France Invalides. I knew I wasn’t going to spend much time in the room, so I didn’t want to spend too much on a hotel. It was very conveniently located with small, but clean rooms. I would definitely stay here again if I was looking for a more budget option
18th Arrondissement – Closest to Montmartre
If you’re in Paris more for nightlife, charming artist neighborhoods and scenic street side cafes, Montmartre is a great area to stay. Famous for being home to many famous artists, like Picasso, Monet and Degas, Montmartre has maintained its artistic, bohemian feel, despite becoming such a popular tourist destination in Paris.
Montmartre is a bit far from the main Paris tourist sites (like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower) but is easily accessible to other areas of the city by metro. You can find hotel options for Montmartre here
5th Arrondissement – The Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is the university district of Paris and known for its young, lively nature. This is a great area to be close to the 1st Arrondissement, but in a slightly less touristy area. The Latin Quarter is filled with great restaurants, bars and cafes and is one of my favorite areas to stay in Paris! Check out hotel options here
Top Things to do in Paris
Watch the Sunset at the Eiffel Tower
Watching the sunset at the Eiffel Tower is my favorite thing to do in Paris. Grab bottle of wine and find a spot on the grass and watch the sun set. Stick around for it to get dark and you’ll be able to see the tower light up!
Climb the Arc de Triomphe
In my opinion the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe is the best view in Paris. It offers 360 views of the entire city, including great Eiffel Tower views. The climb to the top is 284 steps and costs 13 Euro.
Spend a Lazy Afternoon in Montmartre
Montmartre is one of my favorite areas of Paris. A quaint, charming neighborhood that has long catered to artists (Picasso and Monet lived and had studios there) I definitely recommend spending a least an afternoon wandering around Montmartre. It’s also a great place to grab a long lunch or some afternoon cocktails at one of the many quintessential Parisian cafes.
Enjoy a Crepe from a Street Vendor
Do not leave Paris without getting one (or ten) crepes from a street vendor – you’ll find these located anywhere near any of the major monuments, you will not be disappointed!
Go to the Top of the Eiffel Tower
If you’ve never been to Paris before, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is something you might want to check out. In my opinion, it’s more for the experience than the views. The top of the Arc de Triomphe has better views, but I love going to the top of the Eiffel Tower at night when it’s sparkling and having a glass of champagne at the bar on the top.
The lines get really insane, so prepare to be there for a while, although they’re much shorter at night! There are two entrances, so make sure you check both, as one line always tends to be shorter. To take the elevator to the top is 27 Euro, to take the stairs it’s only 11 Euro, but be warned it’s a lot of stairs! Details can be found here.
Take a Night Cruise on the Seine
One of my favorite things to do in Paris at night is take a night cruise on the Seine. Paris comes alive at night, and all of the major monuments along the river are lit up. There are tons of options for night cruises, from large barge-style boats that run every hour to smaller private tours. If you have some extra time I think it’s definitely worth it.
Wander Down the Champs-Élysées
The Champs-Élysées is often described as the most beautiful street in the world. The infamous street runs through the Arc de Triomphe and is dotted with shops from luxury brands and is worth exploring, even if you’re not trying to splurge!
Visit the Louvre
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, mostly for the face that it’s home to the Mona Lisa. The Louvre is worth a visit for the building itself. The outside is stunning and where you’ll find the infamous Louvre pyramid. In terms of going inside, the museum is huge and there is tons to see. The Mona Lisa itself can be a little underwhelming, it’s small, you can’t get close to it & three are roughly 75 other people in the room trying to see it at any given time. But the rest is worth a visit!
Tickets cost 17 Euro and you can be purchased online in advance (highly recommend) The museum is open every day except Tuesdays.
See Notre Dame
Notre Dame is currently stull under construction from the 2019 fire, but it’s still worth visiting and walking around. It’s located on a small island in the middle of the Seine that is an overall nice area to explore.
Spend an Evening in the Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter, where many of Paris’ universities are located is a great place to spend an evening for dinner and drinks. It is one of the most lively areas of the city and is one of my favorite neighborhoods to spend time in.
Explore the Orsay
Almost directly across the Seine from the Louvre, is the Orsay, another infamous Paris museum. The Orsay is known for housing many famous impressionist paintings from artists like Monet, Manet & Renoir. Tickets are 16 Euro and can be purchased online in advance.
Visit Versailles
Versailles is easy to see as a day trip from Paris via train. Depending on which train you take it will take 1-2 hours to reach Versailles. Details on getting there can be found here Versailles itself is stunning. It is a royal residence that was built by King Louis XIV. You can tour the inside and see the infamous, Hall of Mirrors and you can explore the impressive, expansive grounds, Tickets can be found here. Prices vary based on what you want to see in Versailles.
Best Restaurants in Paris
Le Relais De Venise
Located near the Arc de Triomphe and o
One of my favorite restaurants in Paris, Le Relais De Venise is a super unique dining experience. There is no menu, everyone gets the steak frites and a dijon salad. The waitress will ask you two questions 1. what do you want to drink and 2. how do you want your steak cooked. The food is amazing! And your second serving is included.
They do have an extensive desert menu if you have any room left after your two courses! This place does not take reservations and the line gets pretty insane, but the line (even if it looks crazy long) moves really fast. They turn tables over super quickly and there are two floors so the restaurant is bigger than it seems.
Le Petit Pontoise
A great option for a traditional French meal is Le Petit Pontoise, a quaint restaurant in the Latin Quarter (which is a great area overall for dinner and drinks!)
Getting to Paris
By Plane
There are two international airports located in Paris. Charles de Gaulle and Orly, both are a little over 30 minutes outside of the city
Getting From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Downtown Paris
Details Here
By Train: 30 Minutes, 12 Euro, Hours 4:53AM-11:50PM
Take the RER B line from the airport (follow the signs, depending on which terminal you’re in you may need to take the airport team to another terminal) to Paris where it stops at several major stations and (like Gare du Nord & Notre Dame) you can connect with inner city metro lines from any of the major stations to get where you’re going. See the “getting around Paris” section below for more on the metro. Your ticket for RER B line can be used on the metro and is valid for 2 hours after stamping.
By Private Transfer
If you’re looking to pre-book a ride to give you some peace of mind and save you some hassle when you get to the airport, I always use Welcome Pickups to schedule a ride. I highly recommend their services, the prices are comparable to taking a taxi, but booking a guaranteed ride ahead of time that’s trackable in an app brings a lot of peace of mind to early morning and late night transfers!
By Uber/Taxi
Taxis have a set fare between 53-58 Euro depending on which part of the city you’re going to. Without traffic the ride is only about 35 minutes, but it can take much, much longer if there is traffic. Uber is also easily accessible, so you can check Uber to see which is cheaper and decide!
Getting From Orly Airport to Downtown Paris
Details here
By Bus: Minimum 45 minutes, 2-9.50 Euro depending on which bus you take, runs 24/7
The bus is more convenient than the train from Orly to Paris city center, as there is no direct train route. There are two bus options, the most convenient being the Orly bus which runs between the airport and bus station Denfert-Rochereau in Paris. It takes 30 minutes, costs 9.50 Euro, and runs from 5:30am-12:30am. The public bus runs 24 hours a day and at 2 Euro is cheaper than the Orly Bus, but it makes many more stops and takes longer.
By Private Transfer
If you’re looking to pre-book a ride to give you some peace of mind and save you some hassle when you get to the airport, I always use Welcome Pickups to schedule a ride. I highly recommend their services, the prices are comparable to taking a taxi, but booking a guaranteed ride ahead of time that’s trackable in an app brings a lot of peace of mind to early morning and late night transfers!
By Uber/Taxi
Taxis have a set fare between 32-38Euro depending on which part of the city you’re going to. Without traffic the ride is only about 30 minutes, but it can take much, much longer if there is traffic. Uber is also easily accessible, so you can check Uber to see which is cheaper and decide!
By Train
Paris has several major train stations throughout the city depending on where you are coming from or going to you may need to catch a train from a different station. Some of the most trafficked Paris train stations are below, they can all be reached via the metro
Gare du Nord
Located in the 10th Arrondissement this is where you’ll go to catch trains to Northern destinations in France, as well as London, Amsterdam and Belgium.
Gare de l’Est
Located not far from Gare du Nord Gare de l’Est is where you’ll catch trains to places such as Champagne, Berlin and Munich
Gare de Lyon
If you’re heading to Southern France, Italy or Switzerland you’ll likely be traveling from Gare de Lyon
Getting Around Paris
Metro
Paris has a really convenient metro system that allows you to easily get wherever you’re trying to go in the city via public transportation. I recommend buying the Paris Visite travel pass if you plan on using the metro to get around. Buy it for the number of days you need and you’ll get unlimited trips per day. Details can be found here.
The Paris metro system is huge, so it can be a bit confusing, but if you follow the maps provided online I’ve never had any issues. The Paris metro map can be found here
Uber/Taxis
If you don’t mind spending a bit more, or feel uncomfortable taking the metro late at night Uber and taxis are easily accessible in Paris. I didn’t have a problem finding one late at night when I was visiting recently!
Is Paris Worth Visiting?
I said it in the intro and I’ll say it again I totally disagree with anyone that says Paris is overrated or noth worth visiting! Paris has something for everyone, it’s the perfect romantic getaway, girls trip, fun solo city break, a cultural getaway for art & history lovers, a foodies heaven…need I say more?
Paris made me fall in love with Europe and travel at 16 years old I’ll never forget when a few of our more fun group trip chaperones decided to go off the school-approved itinerary and take us to the Eiffel Tower at night. Magic is not a strong enough word!
How Many Days to Spend in Paris
3-4 Days
Paris is huge and really spread out, I’d recommend at least 3 days to really get to explore the highlights and more than 3 days to add in some of the less common spots or to have a little extra leisure time!
Safety for Solo Female Travel in Paris
4 out of 5
Paris is a HUGE city and obviously any large city comes with risks, but in general I find Paris to be a very safe city. It’s so busy and walking around major areas of the city at night feels safe due to how many other people are around at any time of day. As with anywhere, t’s safer to be extra careful at night – be cautious taking the metro or in areas that feel more unsafe and less crowded with people. I feel like as long as you’re aware and smart Paris is an awesome place for a solo trip
