Candlelit dinners on romantic terraces and impossibly chic locals sashaying down the Champs-Élysées in head-to-toe designer labels. Historic squares with buildings that look as if they’ve been carved from sugar, petits fours as detailed as the art in the Louvre and the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile.
There are countless reasons why Paris belongs on your bucket list and so many things to do that you may find yourself plotting to return before you even get home. Whether you visit once or one hundred times, the City of Love is guaranteed to steal your heart.
Best Time to Visit Paris
The best time to visit Paris depends on what sort of holiday you’re looking for. From April to June and October to November, temperatures are mild and there are fewer tourist crowds than in the peak of summer.
July and August are when the local schools are on holiday and therefore prices tend to be at a premium. The warm evenings draw locals and visitors alike to pavement cafes to sip wine, while spontaneous open-air dancing events often break out on the banks of the Seine.
If visiting Paris on a budget is important to you, try January and February. The good news is that there is plenty to do in Paris on a rainy day, from hunkering down in cosy bistros to browsing world-class museums. Just don’t forget to bring a winter coat.
Best Ways to Navigate Paris
Discovering the City of Light on foot is a must for first-timers. Climbing the hill to Montmartre and seeing the city open up below you like a book has to be one of the top ten free things to do in Paris.
The metro is the quickest way to get around. Either buy individual tickets at each station, or purchase a book of 10 if you’re staying for longer.
Be sure to have exact change for buses (you can buy tickets onboard) and download the Uber app before you go. Even at taxi ranks, cabs can be hard to get hold of, and it is illegal for them to pick up passengers in the street.
Best Things to Do in Paris
As if a killer food scene, the legendary boutiques of Saint-Germain and some of the most beautiful architecture in the world weren’t reason enough to visit, Paris is also bursting with iconic attractions and experiences. Here’s what to add to your itinerary ASAP.
Tick off the icons
Look out over the city from Montmartre’s Sacré-Cœur or pay your respects to the unknown soldier buried under the Arc de Triomphe. Stroll the narrow streets of the Île Saint-Louis, a river island of 17th-century mansions and enticing courtyards or take a picnic to the Jardin des Plantes.
Climb the Eiffel Tower
One of the best things to do in Paris at night is to climb the Eiffel Tower, when it twinkles with more than 20,000 bulbs. From the top, drink in epic views across the city. Or if you’d rather stay at ground level, take a picnic in the park below.
Admire world-class art
Naturally a mooch around The Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa, is unmissable, but there are countless more world-class museums and galleries besides. The Musée d’Orsay, Pompidou Centre, Rodin Museum and Petit Palais are all worth a wander.
Browse local stores
Rue Saint-Honoré is one of the best places in Paris for upscale shopping, while Rue Tiquetonne is becoming a centre for vintage shops and young designers. For antiques and other home furnishings, head to the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, the world’s largest antiques market.
Join a guided tour
The best way to lose yourself among the streets of Paris without actually getting lost is by joining a guided tour. Whether you opt for a chocolate tour, literary tour or even a ghost tour, you’ll feel like a local in no time. The best part? Many walking tours in Paris are free.
Walk through history
Brush up on your world-war history at the Western Front battlefields, be amazed by the extravagance of Marie Antoinette’s private playground at the Palace of Versailles and don’t miss Giverny, home of impressionist painter Claude Monet.
Best Places to Stay in Paris
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an old-hand, choosing where to stay in Paris can have an enormous impact on your trip. Luckily, there is a hotel to suit every personality.
Generally the Left Bank (of the Seine) is associated with classic architecture and the once-bohemian bars where the likes of Hemingway drank, while the Right Bank throbs with the energy of modern-day Paris. Stay within walking distance of a metro station and you won’t go far wrong.
With its ivy-clad mansions, Montmartre is best for couples and honeymooners, while the 7th arrondissement is ideal for first-timers due to its proximity to the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d’Orsay.
They may have had a revolution, but you’ll still be treated like royalty when you stay at one of Paris’s grand dame hotels. Le Meurice, Le Bristol and the Hotel Providence are among the best of the best.
Best Places to Eat in Paris
Paris is generally regarded as the birthplace of fine dining, but you’ll find that the food in everywhere from rustic bistros to cosy neighbourhood cafes is superb. The French cook with heart and you can taste that in every bite.
So, where to find the best restaurants in Paris? The Michelin-guide is a good place to start. If you’re looking for breakfast and coffee, simply step into one of the many cornerside cafes across the city, paired with priceless people-watching opportunities.
Chances are that when you think of French food, croissants are right up there on your list of things to try. These half-moons of flaky, buttery deliciousness taste very different in Paris, which is home to arguably the best pâtisseries in the world. Be sure to visit Strohrer; it’s the oldest bakery in Paris.
