Paris is compact enough to explore on foot, with a metro stop never far away. Spend days on the big museums and monuments, and evenings in the neighbourhood cafés and bistros.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Types C and E
- Time zone
- GMT+1, GMT+2 in summer
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October for pleasant weather and long days. July and August are warm and busy with visitors; winter is cold but quieter, with Christmas lights in December.
Where to stay
- Le MaraisHistoric streets, boutiques, galleries and plenty of restaurants, central for most sights.
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin QuarterLeft Bank cafés, bookshops and gardens, close to the Louvre and Notre-Dame.
- Opéra and Grands BoulevardsDepartment stores and great transport links, convenient for airport trains.
- MontmartreVillage feel on the hill below Sacré-Cœur, with views and good-value hotels.
From the airport
From Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the RER B train reaches central Paris in about 35 to 45 minutes; taxis charge a fixed fare to the city, set by law per bank of the Seine. Orly (ORY) is linked by Orlyval and metro line 14.
Getting around
The metro and RER cover the whole city; pay with a Navigo pass or contactless tickets on your phone. Walking along the Seine is often the nicest way between central sights, and Vélib' bikes are everywhere.
Don't miss
- The Louvre (book a time slot)
- The Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars
- Musée d'Orsay
- Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité
- Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
Good to know
- Book the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and popular exhibitions online ahead of time. The Louvre closes on Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays.
- Watch for pickpockets on the metro and at busy sights.
- Service is included in restaurant bills; leaving small change for good service is a kind extra.
- Hotels charge a small city tax per person per night, usually paid at the hotel.
Plan your trip
Last reviewed October 2026. Rules and timetables change: check official sources before you travel.