Why go
- The museums are unmatched in range — the Louvre and Orsay alone justify a trip, and there are dozens more.
- It is a walking city of distinct quartiers; the pleasure is drifting between them, not ticking off monuments.
- Café culture is real and democratic — an espresso at the bar buys you a table and a front-row seat on the street.
- The food runs from three-star temples to corner boulangeries, and the cheap end is often the best of it.
History
From the Roman town of Lutetia on the Île de la Cité, Paris became the capital of the French kings, the crucible of the 1789 Revolution, and — after Baron Haussmann drove his boulevards through the medieval city in the 1850s–60s — the model of the modern European capital. Left largely intact through two world wars, its historic core is remarkably whole, which is exactly why it can feel like a stage set for its own past.
Major sights
Better as a landmark to orient by than a queue to climb — the view of it from the Trocadéro or Champ de Mars beats the view from it. Sparkles on the hour after dark.
Too big to 'do' — pick a wing and go at opening or on a late-night Wednesday/Friday. Book a timed ticket; the Mona Lisa is a scrum, the rest often empty.
Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité
The Gothic cathedral, reopened after the 2019 fire, on the island where the city began. Sainte-Chapelle nearby is the stained-glass one to book.
The Impressionists in a converted Beaux-Arts railway station — a more manageable and arguably more rewarding museum than the Louvre.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Hilltop village of stairs and studios topped by a white basilica, with the best free panorama in the city. Touristy at the summit, lovely on the back lanes.
Le Marais
The best neighbourhood to simply walk — medieval streets, the Place des Vosges, falafel on Rue des Rosiers, and small museums (Picasso, Carnavalet).
When it rains
Musée de l'Orangerie
Monet's Water Lilies in two oval rooms built for them, plus a jewel-box Impressionist collection below. Small enough to do in an hour.
Covered passages
19th-century glass-roofed arcades — Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas — for dry wandering, old bookshops and tea rooms.
Modern art behind the inside-out façade; the top-floor escalator gives a rooftop view. (Note: due to close for a long renovation — check ahead.)
A grand café
The civilised rainy-day move: nurse a coffee or a glass of wine at a marble table and watch the street. That is the culture, not a detour from it.
Airports
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) 23 km to the centre
Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise), IDF, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 108 airlines (Air France, Alitalia, easyJet, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 237 destinations incl. New York, Chicago, Miami, Toulouse, Casablanca… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 108 airlines, 237 direct destinations
- Air France AF (A320, A319, A321, 318, 777-200, 777-300ER…) · 164 routes: Aberdeen, Abidjan, Abu Dhabi*, Abuja, Algier, Amman, Amsterdam, Antananarivo, Athens, Atlanta, Baku*, Bamako, Bangalore, Bangkok, Bangui, Barcelona, Beijing, Beirut, Belgrade*, Berlin, Bilbao, Billund, Birmingham, Bogota, Bologna, Bordeaux, Boston, Brasilia, Brazzaville, Bremen, Brest, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Calvi, Caracas, Casablanca, Chicago, Cincinnati* … +124 more
- Alitalia AZ (A320, Embraer 170, A321, 318, A319, 777-300ER…) · 68 routes: Aberdeen*, Abidjan*, Atlanta*, Bangkok*, Berlin*, Bilbao*, Billund*, Bologna*, Bordeaux*, Boston*, Bremen*, Brest*, Catania*, Clermont-Ferrand*, Copenhagen*, Dakar*, Detroit*, Dubai*, Dublin*, Duesseldorf*, Edinburgh*, Florence*, Genoa*, Gothenborg*, Hamburg*, Hannover*, Hanoi*, Ho Chi Minh City*, Hong Kong*, Houston*, Johannesburg*, Lima*, Lisbon*, Los Angeles*, Manchester*, Marseille*, Mexico City*, Miami*, Milan, Montpellier* … +28 more
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 31 routes: Agadir, Ajaccio, Barcelona, Bari, Bastia, Belfast, Biarritz-bayonne, Bologna, Bristol, Budapest, Casablanca, Catania, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Krakow, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, London, Madrid, Malaga, Marrakech, Milano, Naples, Nice, Porto, Prague, Tenerife, Toulouse, Venice
- Delta Air Lines DL (A330-200, 76W, A319, A320, A380, 757-200…) · 24 routes: Abuja*, Atlanta, Boston, Casablanca*, Chicago*, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston*, Los Angeles, Lyon*, Miami*, Minneapolis, Montreal*, New York, Newark, Niamey*, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco*, Seattle, Toronto*, Toulouse*, Washington*
- XL Airways France SE (A330-200, A330-300, 737-800, 737-300, 767-300) · 11 routes: Amilcar Cabral, Boa Vista, Cancun, Fort-de-france, Gran Canaria, Marseille, New York, Palermo, Pointe-a-pitre, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (330, A319, 777, A320, 737, 747…) · 10 routes: Abuja*, Algier*, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires*, Casablanca*, Douala*, Monrovia*, Mulhouse*, Niamey*, Punta Cana*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A320, A319, 767-300, A321, 777-300ER, 737-300…) · 9 routes: Berlin, Chicago*, Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Montreal*, Munich, Newark*, Toronto*, Washington*
- American Airlines AA (767-300, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, A330-300…) · 8 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Kuala Lumpur, London*, Miami, New York, Philadelphia
- Iberia Airlines IB (767-300, A320, 757, 777) · 7 routes: Aviles*, Barcelona, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Miami*, New York*, Santiago*
- US Airways US (767-300, A321, A330-200, A330-300, 757, 777) · 7 routes: Athens*, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, New York, Philadelphia
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A319, A321) · 6 routes: Algier*, Casablanca*, Lyon*, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Toulouse*
- Air Europa UX (Embraer 190, 737-800, 32S) · 6 routes: Barcelona*, Bilbao*, Gothenborg*, Malaga, Valencia, Vigo*
- Flybe BE (ARJ, Dash 8-400, EMJ, Embraer 195, Embraer 175) · 6 routes: Aberdeen*, Birmingham, Edinburgh*, Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle*
- British Airways BA (767-300, A319, A320, A321, 757, 777) · 5 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, London, Miami*, New York*
- Finnair AY (767-300, A319, A320, A321, 757, 777…) · 5 routes: Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Helsinki, Miami*, New York
- Malaysia Airlines MH (767-300, A321, 380, 777) · 5 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Helsinki*, Kuala Lumpur, Miami
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320, A321) · 4 routes: Athens, Heraklion, Rhodos, Thessaloniki
- AeroMéxico AM (A319, A320, 787, 76W) · 4 routes: Atlanta*, Lyon*, Mexico City, Toulouse*
- Air Algerie AH (737-800, 330) · 4 routes: Algier, Annaba, Constantine, Oran
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (A319, A320, 777-300, 787-8) · 4 routes: Lyon*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Toulouse*
- Servicios de Transportes A FS (A319) · 4 routes: Djerba, Monastir, Sfax, Tunis
- United Airlines UA (767-300, 757-200, 767-400) · 4 routes: Chicago, Newark, San Francisco, Washington
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320, A319) · 4 routes: Aviles, Barcelona, Madrid, Santiago
- Aigle Azur ZI (A319) · 3 routes: Algier, Faro, Oran
- Air One AP (A320, A319, 32S) · 3 routes: Catania, Milan*, Palermo
- Air Transat TS (310, 330) · 3 routes: Montreal, Quebec, Toronto
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200, 737, 777-200, 777-300ER) · 3 routes: Amsterdam*, Beijing*, Shanghai
- Croatia Airlines OU (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb
- Etihad Airways EY (A320, A340-600, 767) · 3 routes: Abu Dhabi, New York*, Toulouse*
- Jet2.com LS (737-300) · 3 routes: East Midlands, Leeds, Manchester
- Nouvel Air Tunisie BJ (A320, A321) · 3 routes: Djerba, Monastir, Tunis
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (777) · 3 routes: Islamabad, Lahore, Milano
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (736, 737-700, 737-800, 737-700, A319, A320…) · 3 routes: Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Aer Lingus EI (A320, A319) · 2 routes: Cork, Dublin
- Air Canada AC (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Air China CA (330, 777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai
- Air Mauritius MK (A340-300, ATR 72) · 2 routes: Mulhouse*, Plaisance
- All Nippon Airways NH (777) · 2 routes: Tokyo, Tokyo
- Egyptair MS (A320, A330-300) · 2 routes: Cairo, Luxor
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (767-300) · 2 routes: Addis Ababa, Brussels
- Meridiana IG (A319, A320, MD-80) · 2 routes: Olbia, Palermo
- Montenegro Airlines YM (Fokker 100) · 2 routes: Podgorica, Tivat
- Qatar Airways QR (A340-600, 767-300, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Doha, New York*
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (A330-300, 777) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A319, A320, 318, A321, AR1, A320) · 2 routes: Geneva*, Zurich
- TACV VR (757-200) · 2 routes: Praia, Santiago Island, Sao Vicente Island
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (777-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Sao Paulo
- Travel Service QS (737-800, A319, 737-700) · 2 routes: Ostrava, Prague
- Turkish Airlines TK (737-800, A320, A321, 330, A330-200, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Istanbul, Istanbul
- Uzbekistan Airways HY (767-400, 767) · 2 routes: Tashkent, Urgench
- Varig Log LC (757) · 2 routes: Brazzaville, Pointe-noire
- Vietnam Airlines VN (777) · 2 routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- Adria Airways JP (A319, CRJ-900, CRJ-200) · 1 route: Ljubljana
- Air Armenia QN (A320) · 1 route: Yerevan
- Air Austral UU (777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 1 route: St.-denis
- Air Baltic BT (737-300, 735, 73C) · 1 route: Riga
- Air Berlin AB (A320) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Air India Limited AI (787-8) · 1 route: Delhi
- Air Lituanica LT (Embraer 175) · 1 route: Vilnius
- Air Madagascar MD (A340-300) · 1 route: Antananarivo
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Air Serbia JU (A320) · 1 route: Belgrade
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (A340-300) · 1 route: Los Angeles
- Arkia Israel Airlines IZ (757-300) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Asiana Airlines OZ (777-200) · 1 route: Seoul
- Austrian Airlines OS (318, A320, A321) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Azerbaijan Airlines J2 (A320) · 1 route: Baku
- Belavia Belarusian Airlines B2 (737-300) · 1 route: Minsk 2
- bmibaby WW (A320) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, A320) · 1 route: Brussels
- Bulgaria Air FB (A319, Embraer 190) · 1 route: Sofia
- Camair-co QC (767) · 1 route: Yaounde
- Cathay Pacific CX (A340-300, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- China Southern Airlines CZ (A330-200) · 1 route: Guangzhou
- Cyprus Airways CY (A320) · 1 route: Larnaca
- Czech Airlines OK (A319, A320) · 1 route: Prague
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (737-800, 737-900, 747-400, 767-300, 777-200) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (A380, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Eurolot K2 (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Wroclaw
- EVA Air BR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Taipei
- Flybaboo F7 (S20) · 1 route: Leipzig
- Georgian Airways A9 (735) · 1 route: Tbilisi
- Germanwings 4U (A319, CRJ) · 1 route: Hamburg
- Gulf Air Bahrain GF (A320) · 1 route: Bahrain
- Harmony Airways HQ (A320) · 1 route: Izmir
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Kenya Airways KQ (767-300) · 1 route: Nairobi
- Korean Air KE (A380) · 1 route: Seoul
- Kuwait Airways KU (340) · 1 route: Rome
- LOT Polish Airlines LO (Embraer 175, Embraer 195) · 1 route: Warsaw
- Luxair LG (ERJ-145, Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Luxemburg
- Maastricht Airlines W2 (A320) · 1 route: Keflavik*
- Maldivian Air Taxi 8Q (A320) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Mauritania Airlines International L6 (737-700) · 1 route: Casablanca
- Middle East Airlines ME (A330-200) · 1 route: Beirut
- Niki HG (A320) · 1 route: Vienna
- Olympic Airlines OA (A320, A321) · 1 route: Athens*
- Oman Air WY (A330-200) · 1 route: Muscat
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A319, A320, A321) · 1 route: Amman
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A380) · 1 route: Singapore
- Skynet Airlines SI (AT4) · 1 route: Jersey
- SriLankan Airlines UL (A330-200) · 1 route: Colombo
- SunExpress XQ (737-800) · 1 route: Izmir
- Tarom RO (318, 737-700) · 1 route: Bucharest
- Thai Airways International TG (380) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Ukraine International Airlines PS (737-800) · 1 route: Kiev
- Ural Airlines U6 (A320) · 1 route: Yekaterinburg
- Yemenia IY (330) · 1 route: Cairo
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Paris Orly Airport (ORY) 14 km to the centre
Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne), IDF, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 30 airlines (Air France, Transavia France, Iberia Airlines, Vueling Airlines…) · direct flights to 119 destinations incl. Lisbon, Porto, Palma de Mallorca, Cayenne, Djerba… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 30 airlines, 119 direct destinations
- Air France AF (A319, A320, A321, CRK, ATR 72, 777-300ER…) · 28 routes: Ajaccio, Bastia, Biarritz-bayonne, Bordeaux, Brest, Calvi, Cardiff*, Cayenne, Clermont-Ferrand, Fort-de-france, Hyeres, London, Lyon, Madrid*, Malta, Marseille, Milan*, MLH, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Palma de Mallorca*, Pau, Pointe-a-pitre, Southampton*, St.-denis, Strasbourg, Toulouse
- Transavia France TO (737-800, A320) · 28 routes: Agadir, Antalya, Athens, Bodrum, Budapest, Catania, Djerba, Dubrovnik, Essadouira, Faro, Heraklion, Ibiza, Istanbul, Lisbon, Malaga, Malta, Marrakech, Monastir, Naples, Oujda, Palermo, Pisa, Porto, Prague, Sevilla, Tel-aviv, Tunis, Venice
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A321, A319, 757-200) · 21 routes: Alicante*, Barcelona*, Bilbao*, Bologna, Florence*, Gran Canaria*, Ibiza*, Lisbon*, London*, Madrid, Malaga*, New York*, Newark*, Palma de Mallorca*, Porto*, Rabat*, Rome, Sevilla*, Tenerife, Tenerife, Valencia*
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320, A319) · 15 routes: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Bologna, Florence, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lisbon, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Rabat, Rome, Sevilla, Valencia
- Aigle Azur ZI (A320, A319) · 14 routes: Algier, Annaba, Bamako, Bejaja, Biskra, Constantine, Djerba, Funchal, Lisbon, Moscow, Oran, Porto, Setif, Tlemcen
- Airlinair A5 (ATR 42, CRJ-700, BEH, CRK, ATR 72) · 12 routes: Agen, Aurillac, Brive, Caen, Castres, La Rochelle, Lannion, Lorient, Perpignan, Quimper, Rodez, Tarbes
- easyJet U2 (A320, A319) · 12 routes: Athens, Berlin, Faro, Geneva, Milan, Naples, Nice, Palermo, Pisa, Rome, Toulouse, Venice
- Air Algerie AH (736, 737-800, 330) · 9 routes: Algier, Annaba, Batna, Bejaja, Biskra, Constantine, Oran, Setif, Tlemcen
- Corsairfly SS (A330-300, 747-400, 330, A330-200) · 9 routes: Abidjan, Cayenne*, Dakar, Dzaoudzi, Fort-de-france, Montreal, Philipsburg*, Pointe-a-pitre, St.-denis
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-800, 747-400, 767-300, 737-700) · 9 routes: Agadir, Casablanca, Essadouira, Fes, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat, Tanger
- Air Caraïbes TX (A330-300, A330-200, 747) · 7 routes: Cayenne, Dzaoudzi*, Fort-de-france, Philipsburg, Pointe-a-pitre, Port-au-prince, St.-denis*
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800, 737-300) · 5 routes: Bergen, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm
- Corse-Mediterranee XK (A319, A320) · 4 routes: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Figari
- Tunisair TU (736, A320, A319, A320) · 4 routes: Djerba, Monastir, Tozeur, Tunis
- British Airways BA (757-200, A319, A320) · 3 routes: London, New York*, Newark*
- Air Berlin AB (A319, A320, 737-800) · 2 routes: Berlin, London*
- Air Europa UX (737-800, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Madrid, Palma de Mallorca
- American Airlines AA (757) · 2 routes: New York*, Newark*
- CityJet WX (F50) · 2 routes: Cardiff, London
- TAP Portugal TP (A319, A320, Fokker 100, A321) · 2 routes: Lisbon, Porto
- Twin Jet T7 (BEH) · 2 routes: Limoges, Perigueux
- Air Malta KM (A319, A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Alitalia AZ (A320) · 1 route: Milan
- Cubana de Aviación CU (IL9) · 1 route: Santiago De Cuba
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Southampton
- Hex'Air UD (BEH) · 1 route: Le Puy
- Iran Air IR (AB6) · 1 route: Tehran
- Pegasus Airlines PC (737-800) · 1 route: Istanbul
- SATA International S4 (A320) · 1 route: Ponta Delgada
- Transaero Airlines UN (737-800) · 1 route: Moscow
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Paris-Le Bourget International Airport (LBG) 14 km to the centre
Paris, IDF, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather.
Toussus-le-Noble Airport (TNF) 21 km to the centre
Toussus-le-Noble, Yvelines, IDF, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Pontoise-Cormeilles Aerodrome (POX) 35 km to the centre
Cormeilles-en-Vexin, Val-d'Oise, IDF, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Melun-Villaroche Airfield 37 km to the centre
Moissy-Cramayel, Seine-et-Marne, IDF, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA) 69 km to the centre
Beauvais, HDF, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air Moldova, Eurolot) · direct flights to 59 destinations incl. Vilnius, Alghero, Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 69 km from Paris · Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air Moldova · Getting around Beauvais →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 59 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 46 routes: Alghero, Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bari, Bergamo, Beziers, Bologna, Bratislava, Brindisi, Budapest, Cagliari, Dublin, El Aroui, Faro, Fes, Gerona, Gothenborg, Krakow, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Marrakech, Oujda, Palma de Mallorca, Pescara, Pisa, Porto, Pula, Rabat, Rome, Ronchi De Legionari, Rygge, Sevilla, Shannon, Stockholm, Tanger, Tenerife, Trapani … +6 more
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 12 routes: Belgrade, Bucharest, Cluj-napoca, Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, Sofia, Timisoara, Tirgu Mures, Vilnius, Warsaw, Wroclaw
- Air Moldova 9U (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Chisinau
- Eurolot K2 (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Rzeszow
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ferry terminal · 0.6 km from the centre · Batobus
Notre-Dame
Ferry terminal · 0.8 km from the centre · Batobus
Louvre
Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre · Batobus
Hôtel-de-Ville
Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre · Batobus
Musée d'Orsay
Ferry terminal · 1.3 km from the centre · Batobus
Jardin des Plantes
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre · Batobus
Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Notre-Dame
Ferry route · Batobus
Hôtel-de-Ville – Louvre
Ferry route · Batobus
Musée d'Orsay – Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ferry route · Batobus
Notre-Dame – Jardin des Plantes
Ferry route · Batobus
Batobus : Tour de Paris
Ferry route · Batobus
Batobus : Tour de Paris via Beaugrenelle
Ferry route · Batobus
Invalides – Musée d'Orsay
Ferry route · Batobus
Louvre – Place de la Concorde
Ferry route · Batobus
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – June, September
Mild, long days and terrace weather without the August shutdown or the deep-summer crowds. Early June and September are the sweet spot.
Shoulder season
October – April
Cool to cold and often grey, but the museums are quiet, the light is cinematic, and hotel rates ease. December brings the lights; January the sales.
Worth avoiding
August
Parisians decamp and many neighbourhood restaurants and shops close for the month, even as tourist numbers stay high. Hot, and hollowed out.
Getting there & around
Getting there. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the main international airport, ~35–50 min to the centre by RER B or the new CDG Express; Orly (ORY) is closer to the south, and Beauvais (BVA) serves budget flights an hour out. Six mainline stations put you on high-speed trains to London (2h15), Brussels (1h20) and across France. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 0.6 km); routes include Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Notre-Dame, Hôtel-de-Ville – Louvre, Musée d'Orsay – Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Getting around. Walk — Paris is compact and rewards it. The Métro is dense, cheap and fast (get a Navigo Easy card or carnet); it reaches everywhere within a short stroll. Buses are scenic, the RER links the airports and suburbs, and Vélib' bikes suit the riverside. You will not want a car.
Local transit
Metro, bus, tram, RER · The Métro, buses, trams and RER lines within Paris. · Fares: Navigo card or Navigo Easy · Airport: RER B from Charles de Gaulle; Orlyval and Metro 14
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
High-speed trains London–Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam through the Channel Tunnel. · London, England (UK) guide →
Coaches & shuttles
About four hours from Paris Bercy; Eurostar does it in 80 minutes. · Brussels/Bruxelles guide →
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Food & Wine · 4 hours · from €89/pp
Sightseeing