How to Reach Paris
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is Europe's second-busiest airport with direct connections worldwide. The RER B train reaches central Paris in 35 minutes. Orly (ORY) serves some European and domestic routes. Eurostar from London St Pancras reaches Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 20 minutes — perhaps the finest way to arrive.
Book the Eiffel Tower summit and the Louvre online in advance to avoid queues. The Louvre on Wednesday or Friday evenings (open until 9:45pm) is significantly less crowded than daytime. The Musée d'Orsay on Thursday evenings is similarly quieter.
Top Things to See & Do
1. The Eiffel Tower
No matter how many times you have seen it in photographs, standing beneath the Eiffel Tower in person produces a genuine jolt of wonder. At night, when it sparkles with 20,000 lights on the hour, the effect is simply magical. Book summit tickets in advance and consider the second-floor champagne bar.
2. The Louvre
The world's largest and most visited art museum — the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace — requires strategic planning. Focus on one wing per visit rather than attempting everything. The medieval fortress foundations visible in the basement are extraordinary.
3. Musée d'Orsay
The greatest collection of Impressionist art in the world — Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne — housed in a magnificent converted railway station. More manageable than the Louvre and, for many visitors, more emotionally satisfying.
4. Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
The hilltop village-within-a-city where Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Renoir once worked — cobblestone streets, artists' studios, the views from the steps of Sacré-Cœur over the entire city at sunset. Explore Place du Tertre and the surrounding streets early morning before the tourist coaches arrive.
5. Le Marais
Paris's most vibrant neighborhood — medieval streets, the magnificent Place des Vosges, the Centre Pompidou, Jewish quarter delis, LGBTQ+ bars, and some of the city's finest independent boutiques and galleries. Perfect for an aimless afternoon of wandering.
What to Eat in Paris
- Croissant au beurre — from a proper boulangerie, still warm, with coffee standing at the zinc bar
- Steak frites — entrecôte with crispy frites and béarnaise sauce, the Parisian brasserie classic
- French onion soup — the real thing, with properly caramelized onions and a lid of melted Comté cheese
- Crêpes — sweet with butter and sugar, or savoury galettes with ham and gruyère from a street stall
- Wine and cheese — in any good cave à manger with a knowledgeable patron choosing for you
Best Time to Visit
April–June and September–October are Paris at its finest — bloom or golden light, pleasant temperatures, and the city fully alive. July–August is hot and crowded but has the best outdoor café culture. Christmas in Paris is genuinely magical despite the crowds.
