Still the most romantic city on earth, and it knows it

Paris

FranceFrom $380Best time: May

About Paris

Paris is a city that has been perfecting the art of living for centuries, and the result is a place of extraordinary beauty, culture, and gastronomy. Baron Haussmann's 19th-century boulevards, lined with honey-coloured limestone buildings and zinc-roofed mansions, create a streetscape so consistently lovely that even the most blasé traveller stops to photograph it.

The city's museums are simply the finest concentration of art and history anywhere on earth. The Louvre alone would take weeks to explore properly; the Musée d'Orsay rewrites what you thought you knew about Impressionism; the Centre Pompidou arrives like a provocation. But perhaps the finest galleries in Paris are the ones no one talks about: the Musée de l'Orangerie for Monet's Water Lilies, the Musée Rodin for sculpture in a garden, the Musée Picasso in the Marais.

Paris rewards slowness. Sit at a café terrace with a café crème and watch the city move. Wander through the Marais on a Sunday morning when the boulangeries are open and the streets are quiet. Take the RER to Versailles on a Tuesday when the tour buses have gone. The city gives its best gifts to those who don't rush.

Top Highlights

Eiffel Tower

Louvre Museum

Montmartre

Seine River Cruise

When to Visit Paris

Peak Season

June – August: The city is beautiful in summer but crowded and expensive. The Eiffel Tower queue can be 2+ hours.

Shoulder Season

April – May & September – October: Arguably the best Paris — chestnut trees in bloom in spring, golden light in autumn, manageable crowds.

Low Season

November – February: Cold and occasionally grey, but the Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées and the quiet January museums are genuine rewards.

May 1st (Fête du Travail) everything closes; May 8th and Ascension Thursday also see closures. Check public holiday calendars before booking.

Ready to fly to Paris?

Flights from $380 · Best time: May

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Top Neighbourhoods

Le Marais (3rd & 4th)

Medieval lanes, Jewish delis, gay bars, the Place des Vosges, the Picasso Museum, and the finest falafel in Europe at L'As du Fallafel.

Montmartre (18th)

The hilltop village where Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec worked. Sacré-Cœur, the vineyard, Place du Tertre, and the best view of Paris rooftops.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th)

The intellectual heart of Paris: Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots, independent bookshops, and the Luxembourg Gardens for afternoon lounging.

Food & Drink

Croissant

Not just any croissant — a proper French one has 27 layers of butter-laminated pastry and shatters audibly when bitten. Du Pain et des Idées is considered the finest in Paris.

Steak Frites

The quintessential Parisian bistro dish: a hanger steak (onglet) with hand-cut fries and béarnaise. Le Relais de l'Entrecôte does one thing and does it perfectly.

Soupe à l'Oignon

French onion soup with a crust of melted Gruyère — best eaten in a brasserie at midnight after a long evening.

Cheese & Charcuterie

Visit any fromagerie and ask for a selection. Comté, Brie de Meaux, Époisses, and Roquefort are a starting education.

Macarons

Pierre Hermé vs Ladurée — the eternal Paris debate. Pierre Hermé wins on flavour innovation; Ladurée wins on box aesthetics and heritage.

Getting Around

The Paris Métro is fast, comprehensive, and cheap — a carnet of 10 tickets or a Navigo Semaine (weekly pass) covers all zones. Vélib' bike hire is excellent for cycling along the Seine and through parks. Walking between Métro stops in central Paris is often a pleasure rather than a hardship. RER trains reach Versailles, CDG airport, and Disneyland. Avoid taxis near tourist spots — Uber is cheaper and the driver can't overcharge.

Practical Tips

The Paris Museum Pass (2, 4, or 6 days) bypasses queues AND saves money if you plan to visit 3+ sites.

Book the Eiffel Tower summit online weeks ahead, especially in summer. The second floor is often less booked.

Many cafés charge different prices depending on whether you stand at the bar (au comptoir) or sit at a table.

Pharmacies (green crosses) are everywhere and pharmacists are trained clinicians who can advise on minor ailments — faster than finding a doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

April to June and September to October are ideal — mild weather, manageable crowds, and Paris looking its most beautiful. July–August is peak tourist season with the longest queues. Avoid August when many Parisians leave and some restaurants close.

Average round-trips to Paris (CDG/ORY) run around $380. Paris is Europe's busiest intercontinental hub — competitive fares from most global cities, especially on Air France, British Airways, and US carriers.

US, Canadian, and Australian visitors can stay up to 90 days without a Schengen visa. From 2025, the EU's ETIAS (€7, valid 3 years) is required for visa-exempt non-EU visitors. Apply online before departure.

Four to five days covers the major highlights without rushing. A week lets you do Versailles, Giverny (Monet's garden, open April–October), Champagne houses in Reims (1.5 hours), and the Loire Valley châteaux.

Yes — particularly at specific moments: the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night (every hour on the hour), a canal-side picnic in Canal Saint-Martin, dinner at a candlelit bistro in the 6th, and the Luxembourg Gardens at dusk.

Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (home to the Mona Lisa), Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, haute cuisine and patisseries, fashion weeks, and having the world's most celebrated art and museum collection.