Things to do in Paris: top sights and where to go
Paris's headline sights are the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre with the Mona Lisa, Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité, the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, Montmartre with the Sacré-Cœur and the Musée d'Orsay's Impressionists. Beyond the city lie Versailles, Fontainebleau, Disneyland Paris and Monet's gardens at Giverny. From Charles de Gaulle Airport the RER B reaches the centre in about 35 minutes; from Orly, metro line 14 takes about 25.
Sights
Paris itineraries
Paris travel guide
What to know before you go: neighbourhoods and where to stay, the airports and transport, weather by month, food, costs and day trips.
Paris on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 4–5 days, +1 day for Versailles
- Best time
- April–June and September–October
- Money
- Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airports
- Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY)
- Transport
- Metro, RER, buses; the Navigo pass
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - City tax
- Charged per person per night by your hotel
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Tickets
- Book the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Sainte-Chapelle ahead
- Museums
- Many close on Monday or Tuesday
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, Eiffel TowerSourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 600Sourcei
Wikipedia, Arrondissements of ParisSourcei
Wikipedia, Paris MétroThings to do in Paris
The top things to do in Paris are the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, Montmartre with the Sacré-Cœur, and the Musée d'Orsay. Every place rated by YesGo is in the selection above.
| Eiffel Tower & Trocadéro | Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro, Champ de Mars | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Louvre & Tuileries | Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Palais-Royal | ½–1 day |
| Île de la Cité | Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Pont Neuf | ½ day |
| Champs-Élysées | Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde | 2–3 hours |
| Montmartre | Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge | ½ day |
| Left Bank | Orsay, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg | 1 day |
| Marais | Le Marais, Place des Vosges, Hôtel de Ville | ½ day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The selection above includes ready-made 1–3-day and family itineraries.
Paris in 1, 2 or 3 days
One day in Paris covers the Île de la Cité and Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower at night. With two days add Montmartre and the Palais Garnier; with three, the Musée d'Orsay, the Latin Quarter and the Marais. A fourth day is for Versailles.
- Day 1 — Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Tuileries, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower.
- Day 2 — Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur, Palais Garnier, Galeries Lafayette.
- Day 3 — Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Latin Quarter, the Marais.
- Day 4 — Versailles, Disneyland or Giverny.
Where to stay in Paris
The handiest base is the central arrondissements, 1st to 7th, within walking distance of the Louvre, the Île de la Cité and the Seine. The Marais and the Latin Quarter are lively and full of character; the 7th by the Eiffel Tower is quiet and pricey; Montmartre is romantic but hilly and further out; the Opéra area suits shopping and airport links.
| 1st, Louvre | First visit, everything close | Expensive |
|---|---|---|
| Marais (3rd–4th) | Atmosphere, cafés, shops | Busy in the evening |
| Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain (5th–6th) | Strolling, bistros | Small rooms |
| 7th | Quiet, tower views | Few cheap cafés |
| Opéra (9th) | Shopping, RER to the airports | Business district |
| Montmartre (18th) | Romance, views | Hills, Pigalle at night |
Paris airports and getting to the city centre
Paris has two main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), 25 km north, and Orly (ORY), 13 km south. From CDG the quickest way in is the RER B train, about 35 minutes to Châtelet; from Orly, metro line 14 takes about 25 minutes. There's also the Roissybus and flat-fare taxis.
| RER B | CDG — Gare du Nord, Châtelet | ≈ 35 min |
|---|---|---|
| Roissybus | CDG — Opéra | ≈ 60 min |
| Metro 14 | Orly — Châtelet | ≈ 25 min |
| Taxi | CDG or Orly — centre | ≈ 40–60 min |
| TGV train | Paris — Lyon | ≈ 2 h |
| RER C | Centre — Versailles | ≈ 40 min |
Paris weather by month
Paris weather is temperate: about 8 °C by day in winter with frost rare, around 25 °C in summer with occasional heat above 30 °C. Light, frequent rain falls in every season. The best time is April–June, when the gardens bloom, and September–October; in August many Parisians are on holiday, while winter brings fewer visitors and festive window displays.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 8° | 9° | 13° | 16° | 20° | 23° | 25° | 25° | 21° | 16° | 11° | 8° |
| Night | 3° | 3° | 5° | 7° | 11° | 14° | 16° | 16° | 12° | 9° | 6° | 4° |
| Rain | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: May–June and September–October
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 10 days
Cool, winter sales.
- day ≈ 9°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 9 days
Fresh, few tourists.
- day ≈ 13°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 10 days
Spring, first flowers.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 7°
- rain 9 days
Chestnuts and gardens in bloom.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 11°
- rain 9 days
A great month for walking.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 8 days
Warm, long evenings.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 7 days
Hot, 14 July fireworks.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 16°
- rain 7 days
Warm, holidays, quieter city.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 12°
- rain 8 days
Late summer, mild.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 9°
- rain 9 days
Golden autumn in the parks.
- day ≈ 11°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 10 days
Cool and rainy.
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 10 days
Christmas windows and markets.
14 July is Bastille Day: a morning parade on the Champs-Élysées and big fireworks over the Eiffel Tower at night.
Day trips from Paris
Day trips from Paris reach royal palaces, theme parks and painters' villages with ease. Versailles is 40 minutes away by RER C, Disneyland 40 minutes by RER A, Fontainebleau 40 minutes by train and Giverny about an hour by train to Vernon.
- Versailles — Louis XIV's palace and Le Nôtre's gardens.
- Disneyland Paris — two theme parks, a full day.
- Fontainebleau — the palace of many kings and a forest for walks.
- Giverny — Claude Monet's house and gardens, April to October.
- Château de Vincennes — a medieval keep on metro line 1.
- La Défense — skyscrapers and the Grande Arche on metro line 1.
What to eat in Paris
Paris food means a fresh baguette and croissants from the bakery, cheeses, onion soup, duck confit and steak-frites, with macarons, éclairs and crème brûlée for dessert. Set-price bistro lunches and street markets are the easiest ways to try it all.
- Croissants and baguette — from the nearest bakery in the morning.
- Onion soup — with croutons and melted cheese.
- Duck confit — a bistro classic.
- Steak-frites — steak with chips.
- Cheese — camembert, brie and comté at a market or cheese shop.
- Macarons and éclairs — from the pâtisseries around Place de la Madeleine.
Paris attraction prices
Free in Paris: the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens, Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame, the squares and Seine quays, and the Galeries Lafayette rooftop. You pay for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Orsay, the Sainte-Chapelle, Versailles and other museums; buy tickets ahead on the official websites.
| Eiffel Tower | 65 | 2 h 30 min | Timed ticket, lift or stairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Louvre | 62 | 3 h 30 min | Timed ticket, online |
| Arc de Triomphe | 62 | 1 h | Roof on a ticket |
| Sainte-Chapelle | 57 | 1 h | Timed ticket, online |
| Palais Garnier | 54 | 1 h 15 min | Visit ticket for the building |
| Moulin Rouge | 53 | 2 h 30 min | Show ticket, with or without dinner |
| Musée d'Orsay | 52 | 2 h 30 min | Timed ticket, online |
| Tour Montparnasse | 51 | 1 h | Observation deck ticket |
| Palace of Versailles | 46 | 6 h | Timed ticket, online |
| Musée de l'Orangerie | 41 | 1 h 30 min | Ticketed, free under 18 |
| Musée de Cluny | 40 | 1 h 45 min | Ticketed, free under 18 |
| Château de Vincennes | 38 | 1 h 45 min | Ticket for the keep and chapel |
| Musée Rodin | 37 | 1 h 45 min | Museum and garden ticket, free under 18 |
| Fondation Louis Vuitton | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Timed ticket, book ahead |
| Disneyland Paris | 36 | 8 h | One- or two-park ticket |
| Seine river cruise | 34 | 1 h | ≈ 1-hour cruise, dinner costs more |
| Palace of Fontainebleau | 30 | 4 h | Palace ticket, gardens free |
| Giverny | 19 | 3 h | Ticket for the house and gardens |
Free — 27 places: Notre-Dame de Paris, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Montmartre, Hôtel de Ville, Place Vendôme, Palais-Royal and more.
Tips
- Book the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower ahead.
- Watch your things on the metro and at the big sights.
- A set-price bistro lunch is cheaper than dinner.
FAQ
What should I see first in Paris?
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and the Musée d'Orsay.
How many days do you need in Paris?
4 to 5 days, plus a day for Versailles or Disneyland.
How do I get from Charles de Gaulle airport to central Paris?
By RER B to Gare du Nord or Châtelet in about 35 minutes, the Roissybus or a taxi.
How do I get from Orly to central Paris?
By metro line 14 in about 25 minutes.
What's the weather like in Paris in May?
About 20 °C by day and 11 °C at night, with occasional short showers.
Where should I stay in Paris?
In the central 1st to 7th arrondissements, the Marais or the Latin Quarter.
What food is Paris known for?
Croissants and baguettes, onion soup, duck confit, cheese, macarons and éclairs.
What day trips can I take from Paris?
Versailles, Disneyland Paris, Fontainebleau or Giverny.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
April to June and September to October, when it's mild and the gardens are at their best.
Is Paris safe?
Yes, but pickpockets are common on the metro and at the main sights.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 600 — Paris, Banks of the Seine
- Wikipedia: Paris; climate of Paris (1991–2020 normals, Montsouris station)
- Paris airports (Groupe ADP) and RATP transport websites