Heading to the City of Lights and Love? My detailed ultimate guide to Paris has a bunch of useful Paris tips for travellers, whether you’re visiting for the first time or the fifth!
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Ahhh Paris, one of my favourite cities in the entire world, and the perfect place to kick off my 52 in 52 adventure. I’ve visited four times so far and have seen the city in a completely different way each time, so I’ve got lots of Paris travel tips and tricks to share in my ultimate guide to Paris!
Read on for the low down on where to stay in Paris, the best places to eat, the most Instagrammable spots and experiences you just can’t miss.
Paris basics
Currency: Euro (€)
How to pay for things: Anything touristy (restaurants, hotels and hostels etc.) will accept credit cards. Outside of tourist areas or at small shops and cafes you will likely need cash, but there’s ATMs all around the city.
Language: French, obviously
Weather: It can get really hot and stuffy in July and August, as well as incredibly busy. The colder months are November to February, and you’ll likely get some snow around that time.
Best time to go: I always like visiting the big European cities in shoulder season, when it’s not school holidays and not too hot but not wet and cold either. Paris is particularly beautiful in spring and autumn, where flowers and trees change colour. Consider travelling between March and June, or September and November, if you’re looking for mild weather and affordable prices. Of course summer in Paris brings loads of free events, plus Bastille Day celebrations, and winter brings gorgeous snowy photos and Christmas markets, so it just depends on what you’re looking for!
Things to know before you go to Paris
- The city is broken up into arrondissements numbered 1-16, that represent areas. Then there’s suburbs which are smaller than arrondissements.
- Parisians are notriously intolerant to people who speak English right off the bat (and I don’t blame them!), so it’s always good to have a few local phrases up your sleeve. Bonjour means hello, bonsoir means good evening, s’il vous plait means please and merci means thank you. If I need to ask a question or have a conversation in English, I always start with ‘Parlez-vous anglais?’ which means ‘Do you speak English?’ and this seems to always be appreciated! I’m not going to type out pronunciation on here because with my Kiwi accent it’d probably be wrong for most of you reading anyway haha.
- There are a lot of pickpockets in Paris so always wear a cross-body bag and leave valuables (like passports) locked at your accommodation instead of on you.
- If you’re a freelancer or a ~digital nomad~, there are lots of stunning WeWork offices where you can rent hot desks. I visited four of them and I’m obsessed! Find out more info about WeWork here.
- If you are looking for a café where you can use your laptop, there are loads of co-working cafés that offer a table for an hourly rate.
How to get cheap flights to Paris
I started planning my 52 countries in 52 weeks adventure by looking at the cheapest flight available from Dubrovnik, after my epic week island hopping through Croatia.
Using Skyscanner’s Everywhere search tool, it showed me that the cheapest place to fly was Paris Orly airport, for only £26 (plus seat selection and 20kg luggage, so total of £55) flying with Transavia, a French budget airline. BARGAIN!
Paris is a transport hub with loads of low cost carriers flying in and out, so if you’re flexible with your travel dates then you should be able to find a good deal. Note that low cost carriers often use secondary airports rather than the main one, so there might be additional costs or time involved with airport transport.
TRAVEL TIP:
I find all my flights using Skyscanner! You’ll get the best deal if you’re flexible on where to go. Just put in your origin, your departure date (or month) and type ‘everywhere’ into the destination bar to see the cheapest locations to fly to on your next holiday.
If you’re coming from London, you can find good deals on the Eurostar (as low as £59 return!) if you book early. Consider leaving work early on a Friday if you want to avoid the weekend rush.
How to get from Orly Airport to Paris
My flight arrived at Orly airport, which is 25km south of Paris and is actually closer than the main airport, Charles de Gaulle, which is 40km northeast. To get from Paris Orly to Paris there’s a bus for €12, which comes every 15 to 20 minutes.
Because I was staying in Montparnasse, in the southern part of Paris, flying into Orly was actually perfect and meant I didn’t have to deal with any crazy train stations or mid-city bus traffic. The bus took 30 minutes for me to get from Orly Airport to Montparnasse, and then it was a 10 minute walk to my hostel.
Where to stay in Paris
Since first writing this blog post I’ve stayed in a bunch of different hostels, hotels and apartments in Paris so here is an updated list of my recommendations and experiences:
Hostels in Paris
- My favourite hostel in Paris is JO&JOE Nation, they are one of the rare ones with a fridge and microwaves! Their dorms are spacious and bunks have privacy curtains or screens, they have a sunny rooftop terrace and there’s social events as well as dedicated chill out space if you need somewhere quiet to relax.
- People Nation is a boutique hostel with stylish interiors and comfy dorms + private rooms, but they don’t have any kitchen facilities and they’re expensiiiiive, so you’re already paying a lot and can’t save money by cooking your own food
- St Christopher’s Inn Gare du Nord is a claaaassic backpacker hostel, the kind of place where first-time travellers stay on their big OE. If you want to party then it’s perfect, if you want to sleep then choose elsewhere. Also, no kitchen!
- Generator is another typical party hostel, great interior design but super small rooms and, you guessed it, no kitchen
- I do not recommend Enjoy Hostel, tiny tiny rooms and very basic facilities, spend a bit more for somewhere nicer!
Hotels in Paris
- Hotel Paradis is a fantastic option for mid-range budgets, they have affordable rooms that are simple but very tasteful, super comfortable beds and a breakfast room downstairs that’s perfect for getting work done
- Hôtel Maât Etoile is a newly-renovated property above the vibrant Poncelet market, the hotel’s reviews online are average but they are mostly based on stays pre-renovation. The new interiors are beautiful, the owners are so lovely, and they’re one of the cheapest hotels in the city. There’s no lift though, so be prepared to lug your suitcases up the stairs.
- Laz’ Hotel Spa Urbain is my top pick for a fancier stay, they have a dreamy wellness complex with a sauna, steam room and indoor pool
Apartments in Paris
- I love Edgar Suites, they have aparthotels all around the city with full kitchen facilities, spacious and stunning interiors and ideal locations in trendy neighbourhoods to let you see the real Paris beyond the landmarks. They’re also committed to sustainability and they walk the talk, with eco-focused design, strategies around power and water usage, and promotion of small local businesses like restaurants, bars and shops on the maps they provide to each guest. J’adore!
How to get around Paris
There are plenty of ways to explore Paris depending on where you’re going and how much time you have.
Paris is a beautiful city to discover by foot, because there’s super cute cafes, fancy restaurants, gorgeous views and boutique shops around every corner. I’ll be writing an Ultimate Paris Walking Tour guide soon with an accompanying map, and I’ll link it here!
If you need to get somewhere in a hurry or just want to get home, there’s the RER, the Metro, and the bus system. The RER is the train that services some key Paris stations as well as regional France; the Metro is the underground system all throughout the city, and buses are self-explanatory!
I usually prefer buses or trams to any underground system just because I like looking where we’re driving in case I spot somewhere I’d like to go back to, but obviously the Metro is faster in most cases.
You can choose from a travel pass with unlimited public transport use (one day passes start at €7.50), buying single tickets (€1.90 per ticket, or €2 if you pay on the bus) or buying a pack of 10 tickets for €14.90. Note that you can use one ticket to move between the Metro and RER on one journey, but can’t transfer them to a bus.
Paris also has Uber, as well as e-bikes (Jump is the main one, download the app here) and e-scooters available for hire (you’ll see Lime, Dott and Bird scooters all over the city).
Please note that e-scooters in Paris can only be used on the road and bike lanes, and if you get caught on the footpath you will get fined up to €135! Helmets are not compulsory but please be careful when riding on the road.
How much to budget for Paris
Paris is a magnificent city, but it’s definitely not cheap.
Dorm rooms at hostels are usually between €25 and €45, a 3-star hotel will set you back between €75 and €110 per night and a 4-star from about €140-€150 per night, and splurging on a 5-star will likely cost at least €200 per night all the way up to over €1000.
Supermarkets are reasonably priced so cooking your own food or having picnic meals will help you to stay within a budget, and you’ll find classic Parisian breakfasts (a juice, a coffee and a pastry) for between €6 and €10 depending on the area you’re in, but adding anything hot will cost you extra.
For lunches and dinners, certain parts of the city have streets of restaurants that offer menu deals. The Latin Quarter is one of the best spots for cheap eats, where you can score a three-course meal for as low as €15!
You can’t skip dessert in a country like France so expect to pay between €4 and €6 for a banana and Nutella crepe.
While the prices are high, Parisian food on a whole is fantastic, so at least it’s worth the money.
Do you need a visa for France?
I’m on a Kiwi passport and we don’t need a visa for France if our stay in the Schengen Zone is less than 90 days in a 180 day period. If you’re on a different passport, check your visa requirements with the French embassy, or see visa guides for Canadian, Australian, US and other citizens here.
Paris travel tips for foodies
This is an impossible question to answer succinctly, so I’m just going to hit you with some bullet points about the best food to eat in Paris.
- You’ll find authentic Parisian breakfasts at almost every corner cafe, but I can recommend Le Square Trousseau in the Quinze-Vingts area, and Carette near Trocadero has the best croissants in Paris hands down
- For a less-authentic but still delicious breakfast (and fantastic coffee!), check out Holybelly 19. It’s an Aussie-inspired cafe with small sharing plates and is one of my favourite places in the city. I can vouch for the mini doughnuts with dulce de leche, the Brillat-Savarin cheese with elderflower jelly, and the soft-boiled egg with dark toast. They’ve also got a sister cafe, Holybelly 5, down the same road that offers classic breakfast meals like eggs, pancakes, and even Vegemite on toast for homesick Aussies!
- You’ll find macarons all around the city but my favourites are from Ladurée and Pierre Hermé.
- For a cheap lunchtime deal, check out L’As du Fallafel in the Marais neighbourhood for the best falafel sandwich of your life for only €8
- Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free or anything-free, there’s bound to be something in Paris for you
- For a good value, hearty dinner, Sacrée Fleur in Montmartre is one of the best steak restaurants in the city
- Angelina is a world-famous cafe that offers one of the most decadent hot chocolates I’ve ever had
- Or if you want to try some local delicacies without smashing the credit card, Chartier is a 100+ year old French restaurant serving up classic French fare for cheap, with mains priced between €8.50 and €13.50
- One of my top Paris travel tips is to have a DIY picnic somewhere with a view! Pop into a fromagerie (cheese shop) and get a couple of options, grab a fresh baguette or two, and take a bottle of wine to a spot in the Champs de Mars or Jardin du Luxembourg.
Top tip: To avoid using plastic glasses for your picnic wine, consider getting a Dopper bottle, a drink bottle that has a cap than can double as a wine glass!
How to explore Paris on a budget
- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, DIY picnic! It’s an authentic way to eat, you can enjoy Eiffel Tower sunset views or gorgeous squares at lunch time, and you’ll pay far less than eating out
- Loads of restaurants have fixed menus where you can get two or three courses for cheap. The best areas for this are the Latin Quarter, Republique and the Marais if you look hard enough
- If you’re staying at a hostel or an apartment with a kitchen, stock up on fresh food from a Carrefour or a weekend market and cook at home
- Walk everywhere! It’s a reasonably small city so no need to spend money on taxis unless you’re heading somewhere with your suitcases, and public transport is cheap if you need to travel a decent distance
- If you want to treat yourself to a bit of luxury without hurting your credit card, go somewhere fancy for a hot chocolate or dessert. You’ll get a five star experience without having to eat microwave pasta for the rest of your trip.
- Take it easy on the drinking. Alcoholic bevvies in Paris are expeeeensive! You might be able to score a €6 house wine in areas like the Latin Quarter and Montmartre, but a spirit and mixer will set you back a minimum of €8, likely more.
- If you do want to drink then consider getting a bottle from the supermarket and heading to Champs de Mars or the banks of the Seine, or try the neighbourhoods of Oberkampf or Belleville for budget-friendly nightlife.
- If you’re travelling to Paris in summer, there are loads of free events put on around the city. From open air cinemas and free music festivals to Pride and the insane Bastille Day fireworks, there’s plenty to do without having to spend money.
- On the first Sunday of every month, some of the most famous museums in Paris are free! That includes the Louvre, Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin.
The best things to do in Paris
For a full list of epic things to do in Paris I’ll publish a new blog post soon, but here are some of my favourites.
- See the Eiffel Tower, obviously! My favourite view is from Trocadero, but going up the Eiffel Tower is one for the bucket list too.
- Wander around the Jardin du Luxembourg
- Take a spin on the Roue de Paris if you’re there during summer
- Grab a coffee and a pastry and people-watch from a sidewalk table
- Stroll down the banks of the Seine
- Get a caricature done in Montmartre
- See a cabaret show, I rate the Paradis Latin show (incredible food and some more modern music than other cabarets) and La Nouvelle Eve (a cheaper traditional cabaret option than Moulin Rouge)
- Visit one of the many museums, like the Musée d’Orsay, the Louvre or the Musée Rodin
- Have a picnic at the Champs de Mars
- Go shopping at classy boutiques in the Marais neighbourhood
The best day/overnight trips from Paris
Disneyland Paris
Visiting Disneyland Paris is a must-do while in Paris for any Disney fan or any theme park lover. The park is easy to reach from central Paris, only 35-40 minutes on the RER-A train which you can catch from a number of stations in Paris including La Défense, Châtelet–Les Halles, Gare du Lyon and Nation. Tickets are just €5.
If you’re keen to spend the entire day or multiple days at Disney, I’d recommend spending a night or two near the park to avoid rush hour commuter time in the morning and getting back to Paris super late at night.
Budget | If you’re visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget, you can’t go wrong with Eklo Hotel. This cheap and cheerful family-friendly hotel has rooms ranging from cosy single rooms for solo travallers to spacious dorm-style rooms for groups and families. They’ve got a shared kitchen to make your own food and keep costs down, and they also serve up food and drink at their restaurant and bar. It’s only eight minutes by car to get from Eklo to the theme park entrance.
Luxury | If you’re looking for a fancier stay, I adore the Hotel l’Elysee Val d’Europe, a boutique 4-star hotel with brilliant service, huge rooms, super comfortable beds and great food on-site. After walking around Disneyland in the rain for 10 hours, checking in to my luxurious room at Hotel l’Elysee was such a dream! Their steakhouse restaurant has great reviews if you want a hearty dinner, their buffet breakfast is the perfect start to a theme park day, and when you’re ready to go to the park there’s a free shuttle that runs throughout the day right outside the hotel entrance.
Other day trips from Paris
- The Palace of Versailles
- The castles of the Loire Valley
- Monet’s Garden in Giverny
- You can get a cheap train from Paris to Brussels in only 1.5 hours
- Luxembourg is less than 2.5 hours away by train
The best Paris photo spots
- Palais Royal
- Pigalle basketball court
- Pont Alexandre III
- Pont de Bir-Hakeim
- Malabar Cafe
- The sinking house of Montmartre
- Moulin Rouge
- Jardin du Luxembourg
- Place des Vosges
- Petit Palais
My ultimate Paris recommendations
This blog is looong, so I don’t blame you if you skipped all the way to the bottom. As promised, here’s a definitive list of my ultimate Paris travel tips, with must-sees, must-eats and must-dos.
Must-see view: The panoramic view from the Arc de Triomphe, €12 to go up
Must-eat: Broken record but a DIY bread and cheese picnic with a bottle of vino
Most beautiful interior: The department store Galeries Lafayette for sure
Best sunrise spot: Looking over to the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero
Best dessert: Pierre Hermé macarons
Best suburb to visit: The Marais is definitely my favourite neighbourhood. Stylish boutiques, classy cafés, funky gift shops and good looking people everywhere!
An event you shouldn’t miss: Bastille Day on July 14. I know this sounds dramatic (classic me!) but standing under the Eiffel Tower watching the crazy Bastille Day fireworks display was honestly one of my favourite ever travel memories. It’s set to some sweet tunes, the pyrotechnics and light show are absolutely insane, and you’re surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people all in awe just like you. So special.
Best free experience: Wander through the stunning gardens all over the city. My favourites are Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries
Best way to see the city: On foot, for free! Just wander up and down random streets and I guarantee you’ll find cafés, boutiques and views that you’ll fall in love with.
Best splurge-worthy activity: See a cabaret show. We couldn’t quite bring ourselves to pay €100+ for Moulin Rouge, but we found a smaller cabaret just around the corner called La Nouvelle Eve and LOVED it. We paid €59 each and that included half a bottle of champagne each. A super fun night, very entertaining from start to end, well worth the money.
Best nearby adventure: I’m a child at heart so I’ve got to say Disneyland Paris!
I could write LOADS of blogs from my week in Paris but I’d love to know what you want to hear about! More Paris tips for travellers? A solo travel guide? Cheap eats? Photo spots? A neighbourhood guide? Tell me in the comments below.
Read more about my 52 in 52 adventure here, see all of my blog posts from the trip here, or check out my Instagram @findingalexx to see all of my travel photos.
Thanks to the legends at LAZ’ Hotel & Spa for hosting me for one night, and to WeWork for partnering with me throughout my 52 in 52 adventure. As always, all opinions are my own and are completely based on my personal experience.
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