Paris city break

Paris keeps its charm without trying too hard. With over 44,000 restaurants, it’s easy to find great places to eat, whether you're looking for something casual or a bit more upscale. The city also has more than 3,000 bakeries, where a fresh croissant or baguette can be just as memorable as any meal. This guide covers everything you need to plan your Paris city break: how to get there, get around, choose the right neighborhood, visit must-see sights, and make the most of your time.

Things to know before booking your Paris trip

Paris is one of those places that feels familiar even if you’ve never been. It’s home to landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame, and it stretches along the Seine in a way that makes walking between sights part of the experience. The city uses the Euro (€), and while French is the main language, English is common in tourist areas.

For the best experience, plan your visit in spring (April to June) or fall (September to October). The weather is comfortable, great for wandering the streets or sitting at an outdoor café. These months also tend to be a little quieter than summer, with fewer tourists and slightly easier-to-find accommodations. If you visit in spring, you’ll catch the gardens in bloom, while fall brings colorful leaves to the city’s parks. Learn more about when is the best time to go to France.
 

Getting to Paris

Paris is one of those cities that’s always worth the trip, whether it’s your first visit or your tenth. But before you start dreaming about café terraces and museum strolls, you need to figure out how to get there. Here’s a breakdown of your best options.

Flights

Paris has two major airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to the northeast and Orly (ORY) to the south. CDG handles most long-haul international flights, while Orly serves more European and domestic routes. If you’re looking for cheaper flights, try booking three to four months ahead, especially for travel in the shoulder seasons (April through May or September through October), when fares tend to drop. For more tips, see our guide to getting to France.

Once you land, getting into the city is pretty straightforward. Both airports connect to central Paris via the RER train, airport buses, or taxis. Depending on traffic and where you’re headed, the journey can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Train

If you’re coming from London, the Eurostar is by far the easiest way to get to Paris. It takes just over two hours from St. Pancras International to Gare du Nord—no airport hassle, no long security lines, just a smooth ride straight into the city center.

Beyond the UK, Paris is well-connected to Europe’s high-speed rail network, with direct TGV services from cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, and Barcelona. Train travel is not only comfortable but also a lot more eco-friendly than flying. Plus, the views along the way add to the experience. 

Road trips

Driving to Paris gives you the freedom to explore along the way, whether that’s stopping in the French countryside or making detours to historic sites. France’s highways are in great shape, but most major routes have tolls, so be ready for that.

If you’re coming from the UK, you’ve got options: ferries from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, or the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. Once in France, it’s a straightforward drive to Paris.

That said, driving in Paris itself is another story. The streets are compact, traffic is intense, and parking is limited. It’s usually easier to park outside the city and take public transport in. The Boulevard Périphérique (the ring road around Paris) is notorious for traffic jams, especially during rush hours (8-10am and 5-7pm). Also, Paris has low-emission zones, so if you’re bringing a car, make sure to get the required environmental sticker in advance to avoid fines.
 

Where to stay during your Paris city break

Paris is home to 20 distinct arrondissements (districts), each with its own unique character and charm. Here are some of the most popular places to stay; for a more in-depth look, see our guide to the best area to stay in Paris

Marais

The Marais is one of the most walkable parts of Paris. Its medieval streets and grand townhouses give it a distinct character, but it’s not stuck in the past. Jewish bakeries, LGBTQ+ bars, and independent fashion boutiques all sit side by side, making it a great place to explore on foot. Rue des Francs-Bourgeois is lined with trendy shops, while Rue des Rosiers is the go-to for falafel. 

Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter has been a hub for students and writers for centuries, and that mix of history and everyday life is what makes it interesting. The Sorbonne keeps the academic energy alive, while the side streets are full of bookshops, record stores, and budget-friendly bistros catering to students. At night, there’s everything from old-school jazz clubs to casual bars. The area is full of small surprises—Roman ruins at the Arènes de Lutèce, historic cafés where Sartre and de Beauvoir once sat, and quiet courtyards tucked away behind busy streets. 
 

Montmartre

Montmartre feels like a small town within the city. The steep, winding streets, old apartment buildings, and ivy-covered cafés make it easy to see why so many artists lived and worked here. Place du Tertre is still full of painters selling their work, though it can get busy. A few blocks away, the streets are quieter, with local bakeries, hidden gardens, and even a working vineyard.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is known for its mix of history, bookstores, and high-end shopping. This is where post-war intellectuals once debated at Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, and while the crowd has changed, the cafés are still there. The main boulevard is lined with designer shops and antique stores, but take a few steps off the main street, and you’ll find smaller alleyways with independent bookstores and tucked-away wine bars. Food is a highlight here.

Eiffel Tower & Champs-Élysées area

This is the part of Paris most people picture first—wide streets, grand buildings, and landmarks at every turn. The Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline, while the Champs-Élysées stretches from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, lined with everything from designer stores to historic cafés. This area is more geared toward sightseeing, with museums, monuments, and plenty of postcard-worthy spots..
 

Best things to do in Paris

Paris has a long list of famous landmarks, and some are worth taking the time to experience properly. The Eiffel Tower is a good example—you can admire it from the ground, but going up gives you a clear view of the city’s layout. The Louvre is huge, with thousands of works beyond the Mona Lisa, so it’s best to go in with a plan. 

Notre Dame is still under restoration, but its detailed façade and surroundings are worth a walk. The Arc de Triomphe, at the center of a major intersection, is covered in detailed carvings and has a viewing platform at the top. Up in Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur sits on the highest point in the city, with a wide set of steps where people gather to take in the view. The Catacombs take you underground to see a network of tunnels filled with neatly arranged bones, and is one of the best places to visit in France.

Museums & galleries

There’s more to Paris’s museums than the Louvre. The Musée d’Orsay, inside a grand former train station, focuses on Impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, with works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. The Centre Pompidou, known for its unusual inside-out design, is the place for modern and contemporary art, with rotating exhibitions that change the experience each time you visit. For something quieter, the Musée Rodin is set in a garden filled with sculptures, including The Thinker, and is a nice break from busier museums. Paris also has smaller, more specialized museums, like Palais Galliera for fashion or Cluny for medieval artifacts. Many of these spaces are inside historic buildings, which makes exploring them as interesting as the collections themselves.
 

Hidden gems and offbeat attractions

Away from the main sights, there are plenty of interesting spots to check out. Canal Saint-Martin has a mix of cafés, independent shops, and outdoor spaces where many hang out by the water. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a good place for a walk, with a lake, hills, and a suspension bridge. 

The Atelier des Lumières uses large-scale projections to display artwork in a way that feels more immersive than a traditional gallery. The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature has a mix of art and historical objects related to hunting, arranged in a way that feels more like a private collection than a museum. If you like older parts of the city, Passage des Panoramas is one of the oldest covered arcades, with small shops and restaurants that feel tucked away from the busier streets.

Shopping & markets

Shopping in Paris ranges from big-name stores to smaller, local spots. The Champs-Élysées has major brands, but areas like Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés have more independent boutiques. Galeries Lafayette is a large department store with a well-known glass dome in the center. The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is one of the biggest flea markets, with a mix of antiques, vintage clothing, and collectibles. For food shopping, markets like Marché d’Aligre and Marché Bastille have fresh produce, cheeses, and baked goods.
 

Where to eat & drink in Paris

Paris is a city that takes its food seriously. Meals aren’t rushed, lunch often stretches well past an hour, and dinner is more of an event than just a way to eat. Whether it’s a classic bistro that’s been around for generations or a new spot, food here is about quality ingredients, time-honored techniques, and a deep appreciation for tradition. And while you’ll find all the French staples—coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, perfectly flaky croissants—Paris is also a city that embraces global flavors. If you're first time trying French food, be sure to see our guide to how to plan a trip to France.

Classic cafés

A Parisian café is more than just a place to grab coffee—it’s a space to sit, watch the world go by, and take things slow. Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are two of the most well-known, with long histories tied to writers and philosophers who spent hours debating ideas over drinks. They still serve the classics, from buttery croissants to rich onion soup with bubbling gruyere on top. If you're looking for more suggestions, be sure to check out our Rough Guide to Paris.

Iconic restaurants

Some restaurants in Paris have been around for decades and are still known for doing things the old-fashioned way. Bouillon Pigalle sticks to the "bouillon" concept—hearty, traditional dishes at prices meant to be accessible. Beef bourguignon, confit duck with crispy potatoes, and other comfort dishes keep it packed most nights. Le Train Bleu, inside Gare de Lyon, serves classic French meals in a setting that feels like stepping back in time, with chandeliers and painted ceilings overhead. These places hold onto traditions that have disappeared in many restaurants, from handwritten checks to waitstaff who have been there for years.

Markets and street food

Markets in Paris are a mix of everyday shopping and social gatherings. At Marché Bastille, people line up for fresh produce, cheese, and still-warm rotisserie chickens that drip onto trays of potatoes underneath. Rue Mouffetard, one of the city’s oldest streets, has small specialty shops where you can put together a meal as you go—baguettes from an award-winning bakery, cheese aged to perfection, and cured meats made using time-tested methods. Street food here isn’t just about quick snacks. There are merguez sausage sandwiches with harissa, Lebanese manakish straight from the oven, and crepes spread with salted caramel butter. Markets give a glimpse into daily life, from chefs picking out ingredients for their menus to locals carefully selecting the ripest fruit for the week ahead.

Bars and nightlife

Paris has a mix of old-school bars and newer spots experimenting with drinks and atmosphere. In Oberkampf, natural wine bars focus on unfiltered, small-batch wines, often paired with simple but thoughtful snacks. The Marais has tucked-away cocktail bars where bartenders mix drinks with local spirits like Cognac and Armagnac. A typical night out might start with an apéritif at a zinc-topped counter, move to a jazz bar in Saint-Germain, and end with a late-night stop along Canal Saint-Martin, where people gather with bottles of wine and whatever snacks they’ve picked up along the way. Some bars still serve traditional digestifs like Calvados or eau-de-vie, best paired with a cheese plate or a square of dark chocolate. 
 

How to get around Paris

Paris is easy to navigate, with plenty of ways to get around. The metro is the quickest for long distances, while walking, biking, or using a scooter gives you a closer look at the city. If you're going beyond Paris see our guide to getting around France.

Metro guide

The Paris Métro connects almost every part of the city with 16 lines and hundreds of stations. If you’re in town for a few days, the Paris Visite pass lets you take unlimited rides in central Paris (zones 1-3) for up to five days. If you’re planning fewer trips, a pack of 10 single tickets (a carnet) is a cheaper option than buying them one by one. The RATP app helps with route planning and real-time updates. Trains get packed during rush hour (8-10 AM, 5-8 PM), so it’s worth timing your trips around that. The last trains run around 1 AM on weekdays and 2 AM on weekends. 

Bike rentals and scooters

Paris has bike lanes throughout the city, making cycling a practical way to get around. The Vélib' Métropole bike-share system has regular and electric bikes at stations across Paris. You can sign up online or through the app, then unlock a bike with your phone. The first 30 minutes are inexpensive, so short trips are an affordable option. Electric scooters work the same way—Lime, Tier, and Dott have pay-per-minute rentals through their apps. Helmets aren’t required, but they’re a good idea. The paths along the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin are good choices for a more relaxed ride, away from traffic.

Walking routes

Walking is one of the best ways to experience Paris, especially in neighborhoods where cars and buses can’t go. The paths along the Seine run for 4.3 miles (7 km), linking major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. The Promenade Plantée (Coulée Verte) is another good route—a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) garden walkway built on an old railway line. Since many streets are cobblestone, comfortable shoes make a big difference. If you’re visiting in summer, it’s better to walk in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in, especially in August.
 

Paris Itinerary: 3-4 Days

How many days do you need in Paris? Although you could always add more, three days in Paris gives you enough time to take in the essentials, while four lets you slow down a bit and explore beyond the main sights. The metro makes it easy to get around, but walking through neighborhoods like Le Marais or Saint-Germain is the best way to experience daily life in the city.

Day 1

Start with Notre Dame Cathedral. Despite it’s renovation, it’s great to take in its Gothic facade and the surrounding streets of Île de la Cité. From there, walk through the Tuileries Garden, a classic Parisian park where people have been strolling for centuries, before heading up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
For lunch, stop at Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This historic café, founded in 1885, was a favorite of intellectuals like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Their Croque Monsieur is a classic—grilled ham and cheese topped with béchamel sauce. Grab a table on the terrace.
In the evening, a Seine River cruise is a good way to see the city from a different perspective. The buildings along the river are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and from the water, it’s easy to see why. End the night at the Eiffel Tower, which lights up every hour after 9 pm. Book your Seine cruise tickets online to avoid waiting in line.
 

Day 2

Start early at the Musée d'Orsay, which opens at 9:30 am. Housed in a former railway station, the museum is known for its Impressionist collection and for its giant clock that windows frame perfect views of Sacré-Cœur across the city. 

Afterward, stop by Passage des Panoramas, one of Paris’s old covered shopping arcades, before heading to Au Petit Tonneau for lunch. The bistro serves traditional dishes that haven’t changed much in decades. The bistro serves traditional dishes that haven't changed much in decades. Try their signature Boeuf Bourguignon—tender beef slowly braised in red wine with mushrooms and pearl onions, served with creamy mashed potatoes. 

Spend the afternoon in Montmartre, a neighborhood that was once home to artists like Picasso and Modigliani. Visit Sacré-Cœur Basilica at the top of the hill, where you’ll find one of the world's largest mosaics—its central Christ figure measures 16 feet across. You can use the Funiculaire de Montmartre to avoid climbing the steepest part of the hill.

Day 3

Start day three at Marché d'Aligre, one of the city's oldest markets operating since 1779. The covered section specializes in cheeses aged in centuries-old stone cellars beneath Paris. Grab something to eat and head to Luxembourg Gardens, where people come to read, sail toy boats, and play chess.

In the afternoon, explore Le Marais, a neighborhood with narrow streets, small museums, and plenty of places to duck into for coffee or a snack. Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, is worth a stop—it’s also where Victor Hugo lived. If you’re looking for something a little quieter, the Albert Kahn Gardens has landscaped areas inspired by different parts of the world, including a Japanese garden with tea pavilions.

Be sure to plan ahead: many museums close one day a week, often on Monday or Tuesday—check the schedule in advance.

Day 4

If you have another day, head to Versailles, Louis XIV's palace designed to showcase France's dominance in 17th-century Europe. The Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War I, contains 357 mirrors that were among the most expensive decorative items of their time. The fountains still run on the same system built in the 17th century, and in summer, they’re set to Baroque music on weekends. Renting a bike is an easy way to get around the grounds and visit Marie Antoinette’s estate, including the small hamlet where she spent time away from the main palace.

Another option is Giverny, where Claude Monet’s gardens inspired his water lily paintings. The garden was designed specifically to create the lighting effects he wanted in his work, and you can still see the pond and footbridge that appear in so many of his paintings. From here you could go on to see more of the country, like we do in this France itinerary.
 

Practical information & insider tips

Most tourists go to Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées for macarons, but locals tend to prefer Pierre Hermé or Carette. If you want a good view of the Eiffel Tower without the crowds or ticket price, head to the rooftop terrace at Galeries Lafayette or Parc de Belleville instead. For a quieter sunset spot, try the Montparnasse Tower or Square du Vert-Galant. When it comes to eating out, places with a “menu touristique” sign are usually overpriced and not great—restaurants in the 11th arrondissement are a better bet.

How to save money and avoid tourist traps

A Navigo Découverte card or a carnet of 10 tickets is the cheapest way to get around Paris and much better value than buying single rides. For meals, look for restaurants with a formule or menu fixe—you’ll get a full meal at a reasonable price without surprises on the bill.

Popular attractions are busiest in the middle of the day, so going early or later helps avoid long waits. If you’re visiting multiple museums, the Paris Museum Pass can save time and money. For live music, churches like Saint-Germain-des-Prés or La Madeleine sometimes have classical concerts that cost less than big concert halls. Horse-drawn carriages in Montmartre look nice but aren’t cheap—the metro is faster and easier.

If you see a "couvert" charge on your bill, that’s for the bread and table setting—standard in Paris.
 

Useful French phrases

English is widely spoken in Paris, especially in restaurants and tourist areas, but knowing a few key phrases helps. "Bonjour" (hello), "Merci" (thank you), "S'il vous plaît" (please), and "Parlez-vous anglais?" (Do you speak English?) are good ones to start with.

Safety and practical tips

Paris is generally safe, but metro line 1 and RER B are hotspots for pickpocketing—keep an eye on your stuff. Watch out for common scams like the gold ring trick (someone "finds" a ring near you) or the petition scam around major monuments. And never, ever play street gambling games—they’re rigged.

Keep valuables out of exterior pockets or backpacks—crossbody bags are safer. At night, areas like the Latin Quarter and Pigalle can feel sketchy, so stick to well-lit main streets. Airport taxi scams are common, so only take official taxis from designated stands. And don’t forget to validate train tickets before boarding to avoid fines.

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