Paris: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Paris Travel Guide

Why Paris

Few cities live up to their reputation the way Paris does. The broad boulevards laid out in the nineteenth century, the cafés spilling onto pavements, the bookstalls along the Seine and the sheer density of art make even an aimless walk memorable. Paris rewards slow travel: an afternoon in a neighbourhood market or a park can be as satisfying as a morning at a world-famous museum. The city is divided into 20 numbered districts called arrondissements, spiralling out from the centre, and knowing roughly where you are in that spiral makes planning much easier.

Seasons at a Glance

Spring (April–June) is the classic time to visit, with blossoming gardens, café terraces reopening and comfortable walking weather, though showers come and go. Summer (July–August) brings long evenings and events such as Bastille Day on 14 July and riverside beaches, but also heat waves, crowds at the big sights and some small family businesses closing for holidays in August. Autumn (September–October) is a favourite for many returning visitors: the light is soft, the cultural season restarts and crowds thin after the summer. Winter (November–March) is grey and chilly, yet hotels are often cheaper, museums are quieter and the Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées and in department stores are a highlight.

Top Attractions

• Eiffel Tower. Book timed tickets online well ahead, or simply enjoy it from the Trocadéro gardens or the Champ de Mars, especially when it sparkles on the hour after dark.
• The Louvre. Home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, but also vast galleries that are surprisingly peaceful. Reserve an entry time and plan two or three sections.
• Montmartre. The hilltop village of artists, crowned by the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Explore the back streets rather than just the crowded Place du Tertre.
• Musée d'Orsay. A former railway station filled with Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh.
• Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité. The restored cathedral has reopened after the 2019 fire; nearby, Sainte-Chapelle has some of the finest stained glass in the world.
• Le Marais. Medieval lanes, the elegant Place des Vosges, boutiques, galleries and the historic Jewish quarter around Rue des Rosiers.
• Seine river cruise. An easy way to see many landmarks; evening cruises show the bridges lit up.
• Versailles. A half-day or full-day trip by RER train to the extravagant royal palace and its formal gardens.

Eating Well

Start the day with a croissant or pain au chocolat from a neighbourhood boulangerie and a coffee at the counter. Lunch might be a croque-monsieur or a set-menu formule at a bistro. Classic dishes to try include steak frites, boeuf bourguignon, French onion soup and duck confit, followed by crème brûlée or a tarte tatin. Visit a fromagerie to sample cheeses, and do not leave without macarons from a good pâtisserie. Street markets such as Marché des Enfants Rouges and Rue Cler are lively places to pick up a picnic. Vegetarian options have grown, and the area around Gare du Nord (La Chapelle, sometimes called "Little Jaffna") is known for South Indian and Sri Lankan food.

Getting There and Around

Most international flights land at Charles de Gaulle (CDG), linked to the centre by RER B trains, buses and taxis on fixed fares. Orly (ORY) handles many European and domestic flights and connects by Orlyval, metro line 14 and buses; Beauvais serves some budget airlines but is far from the city. High-speed trains arrive from London (Eurostar into Gare du Nord), Brussels, Amsterdam and across France.

The Métro is dense and frequent, and together with RER trains, buses and trams it covers the whole city. Contactless payment and the Navigo Easy card make travel simple. Walking is often the best option within central districts, and Vélib' bike-share stations are everywhere.

Neighbourhoods to Stay In

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter (5th–6th): Classic Left Bank charm, bookshops and cafés; central but pricier.
• Le Marais (3rd–4th): Stylish, walkable and full of restaurants.
• Around the Louvre and Opéra (1st–2nd, 9th): Very central, great for first-time visitors and shopping.
• Montmartre (18th): Village atmosphere and views, often better value, though hilly.
• Canal Saint-Martin and Bastille (10th–11th): Younger, creative, with good-value bars and bistros.
• Near the Eiffel Tower (7th, 15th): Quieter and residential, with family-friendly hotels.

Budget Tips

• Many national museums are free on the first Sunday of certain months and for EU residents under 26; check each museum's website.
• A museum pass can save money if you plan several paid visits in a few days.
• Lunchtime set menus are usually far cheaper than dinner at the same restaurant.
• Picnic in parks such as the Luxembourg Gardens or along the Seine.
• Use public transport rather than taxis, and consider staying just outside the centre near a metro line.
• Free views: climb the steps of Sacré-Cœur or visit the terrace of department stores like Galeries Lafayette.

Practical Information

• Visa: France is in the Schengen Area. Many nationalities need a Schengen visa, including Indian passport holders; others may need ETIAS authorisation once it applies. Check the official France-Visas website.
• Currency: Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted, though small bakeries may have minimum card amounts.
• Language: French. Learning bonjour, merci and s'il vous plaît goes a long way.
• Safety: Paris is generally safe, but pickpocketing is common on the metro, around the Eiffel Tower and in Montmartre. Ignore petition and "friendship bracelet" scams.

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