It's always exciting to plan your next visit to Paris, especially if you don't go very often. There's a lot of fun involved planning where you're going to stay and what you're going to do and where you're going to eat. Then there are more mundane things you need to know — the currency, visas (you don't need any for France), how tipping works, what to take, what to leave home. To make trip planning easy and fun, we've prepared this Paris travel guide covering pretty much everything you need to do.
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Paris is a city of diverse quartiers — neighborhoods — with hundreds of nice hotels to choose from. Deciding where to stay and what hotel to call home can be a difficult task. Luckily, we've tried to take that burden off your shoulders by pinpointing the five best areas of the city for the savvy traveler. We also share our three top-rated hotels in each neighborhood. Bon voyage and bon séjour.
Do you want to be a tourist? Or a traveler? If you chose the latter — if you want to experience Paris, to feel you fit in — remember these 10 top tips for travelers. Based on our lifetime of visiting The City of Light.
When you're a first-time visitor to Paris you need to know the basics. Things like how Paris is laid out, where the main attractions are, what area you should stay in. So, we've created a quick and easy guide to help you get familiar with the city we know you're going to end up loving.
VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens |
Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris |
VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens |
Let's get started with the basics, the things you probably already know but explained in just a bit more detail.
Learn more about the size and geography of Paris, the monetary system in France, how the metric system works, shopping hours, official holidays when things are closed, and lots more.
Paris is made up of twenty arrondissements — administrative districts — each with a distinct feel and atmosphere. Before you travel, it's good to learn what's where in Paris, to learn about attractions and sights in each of the arrondissements, and which areas you'll want to pay the most attention to. We've got just the guide for you!
Check with Booking.com to find today's sale prices on hotel rooms in every village & city in France. Save 20% to 30%… or even more! |
Booking.Com France Hotel Deals |
Booking.Com France Hotel Deals |
There are something like 1,500 hotels in Paris — luxury & low end; in all neighborhoods; expensive, moderate, and good values. It really is a confusing choice. We know that, and we know you don't want to stress over a hotel when you're planning your special trips to Paris.
So, we've taken the work out of choosing a hotel. We've narrowed down the 1,500 to the few dozen absolutely top hotels — in all categories, in all price ranges. But, first off, start with our guide to what you need to know when choosing a hotel in Paris. After that, go to our reviews and find the hotel that suits you to a "T". (Remember, we recommend only the best!)
Paris is deep, diverse, ancient, and modern. There's a wide a variety of experiences to be had here, and that fact is clearly shown in the diverse views of Paris found in these 5 distinctly different city guides. From a veteran publisher's new format map-guide to seeing Paris through postmodernistic lens to a guide last updated in 1968, here are some fascinating ways of viewing and visiting the City on the Seine.
Spend a Day in the Champagne Region |
Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches |
Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches |
Our favorite overall Paris travel guide book might just be the Blue Guide to Paris. Therefore, we were pretty sure we were going to like the Blue Guide's mini version. What's not to like about a guide titled art/shop/eat Paris ? This lightweight, portable guide is a good tool to slip into your bag as you set out on your first explorations of Paris. We found this to be a surprisingly useful compact guidebook for the visitor who's interested in seeing the art highlights of Paris. Great for shopping & restaurants, too.
Paris can be an expensive place, but you won't have to extend your line of credit if you plan well and follow our handy traveler tips. Let's learn how you can save money in Paris, and when you should spend.
Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip |
Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel |
Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip |
Paris has a mild climate. Days are often sunny in spring, summer and even autumn, and you should expect some rain in winter. Within those parameters, though, is a fair amount of variation from year to year. For instance, last summer in Paris was fairly chilly and wet, while this summer was sunny and warm — hot, in fact
In our guide to Paris weather we lay out the average temperatures and conditions, month by month, and also include packing tips for each season.
Of course, we like to think that you can find all the travel advice you need right here at Paris Insiders Guide. But we know that sometimes it's nice to hold a book in your hands. Since we've read and used a ton of Paris travel guide books over the years we thought it would be good to share our experience. There are lots of Paris travel books that claim to be perfect for you in one way or another, but here are the ten that score above the rest.
Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais |
Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar |
Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar |
Did you know that, as a visitor, you may be eligible for a refund of the sales tax (called the VAT) you paid on your shopping purchases in Paris? The process recently became much easier, and we take you through it step by step, from purchase to refund.
In this mini travel guide we also discuss tipping in France, whether in restaurants or with taxis or anywhere else. (Hint: don't do it!)
There are a few other things about Paris you'll want to know about, and they're covered in this additional guide. Things like the ID you will need, whether or not you need a visa to enter France, health & travel insurance, and customs and duties. We also discuss bringing along electrical appliances, adaptors and plugs; and even bringing your pet.
Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens |
Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles |
Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens |
With romance at every turn, Paris is an incredible place to spend your honeymoon, making it oh-so romantic and a time you will cherish forever.
We'll share with you some of the best honeymoon activities The City of Love has to offer — the most romantic hotels, how to skip the long lines, and the top romantic things to do on your voyage de noces à Paris.
We think it's the best Christmas city in Europe. It's also one of our favorite times to be in Paris. There's ice skating and other events at the Hotel de Ville, seasonal lights brighten streets throughout the city, department store windows sparkle with extra-special displays, and foods of the festive season fill the shops and markets. Learn how to plan you own Noël à Paris.
Dinner & Cabaret at Paradis Latin Theater |
Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés |
Dinner & Cabaret at Paradis Latin Theater |
Can those two words ever go together — Paris and Budget? We think they can, with careful planning, budget accommodations, wise spending, and eating & drinking a lot better than you do at home!
So, we've put together a guide for travelers who want to save a few Euros while in the City of Light. If that describes you, be sure to read the article…
When you're planning your first trip to Paris, it's nice to have a little expert help. We're happy to share our years of experience. Use our online Paris travel planner to plot every step of your trip, from airlines to hotels to what to do while you're there.
Allons-y, come on, let's make this your best vacation ever.
Dinner & Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge |
VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens |
Dinner & Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge |
Latin Quarter Hotels | Glorious Dinner Cruises | Paris Metro Guide | Visiting Versailles |
Six Free Paris Planning GuidesA Gift from Us to You.
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