France · Europe
Paris
Grand boulevards, café terraces and timeless art
Trip length
3–5 days
Best time
April–June and September–October
Mid-range budget
€170–260 / day
Overview
Paris needs little introduction: Haussmann façades, the Seine's bridges, world-defining museums and a café culture built for lingering. Beyond the icons it's a city of villages — market streets, hidden courtyards and neighbourhood bistros where a carafe of wine and a long lunch are the whole point. Walk it slowly, ride the Métro when your feet tire, and save room for pastry.
Where to stay & explore
Le Marais
Medieval lanes, falafel, boutiques and museums (Picasso, Carnavalet) — central, lively and very walkable.
Saint-Germain & Latin Quarter
Left-bank literary Paris: bookshops, historic cafés, the Panthéon and the Luxembourg Gardens.
Montmartre
Hilltop village of Sacré-Cœur, artists' squares and winding steps with the city at your feet.
Champs-Élysées & 7th
Grand avenues, the Eiffel Tower and the great museums — polished, iconic and hotel-rich.
Top attractions
- The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay
- Eiffel Tower at golden hour, sparkling on the hour after dark
- Notre-Île and a Seine river cruise
- Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
- A pastry and market crawl through a neighbourhood like Rue Cler
Sample itinerary
Right-bank icons
Louvre in the morning, Tuileries and Place de la Concorde, then the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
Left bank & river
Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Germain cafés, Luxembourg Gardens, and a sunset Seine cruise past the Eiffel Tower.
Marais & Montmartre
Marais boutiques and falafel for lunch, then Montmartre's steps and Sacré-Cœur at dusk.
Budget guide
Budget
€80–120 / day
Hostels, street food, public transport
Mid-range
€170–260 / day
Boutique stays, restaurants, some tours
Luxury
€450+ / day
Top hotels, fine dining, private guides
Approximate spend per person, per day, excluding flights.
Practical travel tips
- 1Buy museum tickets online with timed slots — the Louvre and Orsay queues are brutal otherwise.
- 2A carnet of Métro tickets or a Navigo Easy card beats buying singles.
- 3Many museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, but very busy.
- 4Lunch menus (formule) are far better value than dinner à la carte.
Plan your own Paris trip
Turn this guide into a personalised 3–5 days itinerary — with hotels, restaurants and hidden gems matched to your exact budget, in seconds.