Things to Do in Paris 2026: Complete Guide with Prices, Insider Tips & Itineraries

Why Paris is still Paris

Every first-time visitor has the same worry: "Is Paris overhyped?" And every first-time visitor has the same reaction when they turn a corner and see the Eiffel Tower framed between Haussmann buildings at dusk — a reaction that has nothing to do with hype and everything to do with a city that is simply, relentlessly beautiful.

Paris earns its reputation not through any single attraction but through accumulation: the way light falls on limestone, the smell of fresh bread at 7 AM from a boulangerie where locals emerge with baguettes under their arms, the scale of the Louvre's galleries that makes you feel small, the casual perfection of a €1.20 croissant, and the Seine flowing through all of it. It's a city that rewards both meticulous planning and aimless wandering.

But Paris also punishes the unprepared. Ticket prices at major attractions have risen sharply in 2024–2026 (Louvre from €22 to €32, Sainte-Chapelle from €11 to €22), timed-entry online tickets are mandatory nearly everywhere, and the gap between an informed visitor's experience and a "wing it" visitor's experience is wider than ever.

This guide has everything: updated 2026 prices, insider tips, what's free, where to eat well without paying €30 for a mediocre croque-monsieur, and how to see Paris the way Parisians see it.

The Eiffel Tower — the hardest ticket in Europe

The Eiffel Tower isn't just Paris's symbol — it's the most difficult attraction to access in all of Europe. Seven million visitors per year trying to climb a tower that can accommodate roughly 25,000/day. The result: tickets on the official site (tour-eiffel.fr) open 60 days in advance and sell out within minutes. If you don't have a ticket, your alternative is a 2-3 hour queue for the stairs (when available) or a guided tour with priority access.

2026 official prices

Hours: 9:00 AM – midnight (last ascent 11:00 PM for summit, 11:30 PM for 2nd floor). Operates continuously until midnight in summer.

Which option to choose

Stairs to 2nd + elevator to summit (€28) — best value. You climb 674 steps (20-30 minutes, manageable if you're moderately fit), see the iron structure up close, feel the tower sway slightly under your feet, then take the elevator to the summit. The complete experience.

Stairs to 2nd floor only (€14.80) — minimum budget, excellent experience. The view from the 2nd floor (115m) is in many ways better than from the summit (276m) — you see the city's details, not just the panorama. And Le Jules Verne restaurant (1 Michelin star) is on this floor.

Elevator direct to summit (€36.70) — most expensive, fastest, but you miss the experience of the climb. Recommended only if you have mobility issues.

Guided tours with priority access — the practical alternative

When official tickets are sold out (which is 90% of the time in summer), guided tours with priority access are the workaround: €50-70/person, includes skip-the-line, English-speaking guide, and guaranteed access. Agencies like GetYourGuide have separately allocated quotas, so they can offer tickets even when the official site shows unavailable.

Book Eiffel Tower guided tour on GetYourGuide

Best time to visit

Evening, at sunset — the city turns golden, and after dark, the tower's lights sparkle for 5 minutes every hour on the hour. The 7:00-8:00 PM summer tickets are the most coveted.

First thing in the morning (9:00 AM) — shortest queue, perfect light for photos, the tower nearly empty.

Avoid: weekends (Saturday is the busiest day of the week) and the 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM window.

The free alternative

Trocadéro (across the Seine) offers the most iconic view of the Eiffel Tower — the photo you know from every poster. Free, 24/7. Champ de Mars (the park below the tower) is perfect for a wine + cheese + baguette picnic with the tower as backdrop — one of the most romantic free experiences in the world.

The Louvre — the world's largest museum, with a strategy

380,000 objects, 35,000 on display, 72,000 sq metres of galleries, 15 km of corridors. The Louvre is not a museum you "visit" — it's a museum where you get lost, literally. Without a strategy, you leave after 4 hours exhausted, disoriented, and with the vague feeling you missed something. With a strategy, you leave after 2-3 hours with a few artistic experiences that stay with you.

2026 prices and logistics

Important 2026 note: The price has risen from €22 to €32 (a 45% increase). Timed-entry online tickets are mandatory — you cannot show up at the ticket office without a reservation. Friday evenings (18:00-21:45) are the best time: the museum is half-empty, the artificial light is beautiful on sculptures, and there's a special energy to a nocturnal museum.

What to see in 2-3 hours (the essential route)

If time is limited, focus on three pieces that define Western art:

Mona Lisa (La Gioconda) — Denon wing, 1st floor. Yes, it's smaller than you expect (77x53 cm). Yes, it's behind bulletproof glass. Yes, there are 200 people in front of it. But it's impossible not to be struck by what a 520-year-old painting can generate in human attention. Tip: go at opening (9:00 AM) or Friday after 7:00 PM — you'll reduce the crowd by 70%.

Venus de Milo — Sully wing, ground floor. The Greek sculpture from ~100 BC that defines the classical ideal of beauty. Far less crowded than the Mona Lisa, and far more impressive at real scale than in photographs.

Winged Victory of Samothrace — top of the Daru staircase, Denon wing. A 2.75m Hellenistic sculpture that appears to be taking flight. Its placement on the monumental staircase is the finest art "display" in any museum in the world — see it from below coming up the stairs, then up close.

Bonus: Napoleon III Apartments (Richelieu wing) — extravagant imperial furnishings, almost nobody finds their way here; Apollo Gallery — the French Crown Jewels; and the Code of Hammurabi (the oldest known legal code in history, ~1750 BC).

Guided tour or self-guided?

A 2-3 hour guided tour (€40-60, GetYourGuide) includes skip-the-line, an expert guide who takes you straight to the pieces, and context the information panels don't give you. Worth it especially on a first visit — the Louvre without a guide is like a library of a million books without a catalogue.

Insider tip: The entrance through Passage Richelieu (Rue de Rivoli side) or Carrousel du Louvre (underground mall) has 3-5 minute queues. The main entrance through the pyramid has 30-60 minute queues. Everyone goes to the pyramid. Don't be everyone.

Notre-Dame — the restored cathedral (reopened December 2024)

After the devastating fire of April 2019 that destroyed the roof and flèche (central spire), Notre-Dame was restored over 5 years and solemnly reopened in December 2024. The interior is spectacular — brighter and cleaner than before the fire, with cleaned stained glass windows that let light in a way that hadn't been seen for centuries.

Entry: Free. Queues can be long — go early morning (8:00-9:00 AM) or evening.

What's new: The rebuilt flèche (faithful to the 1860 original), completely restored roof, new liturgical furniture in bronze and wood, and a redesigned visitor circuit that improves flow.

Don't miss: The rose windows — north, south, and west — are from the 13th century and survived the fire intact. They're among the oldest original stained glass windows in Europe.

Île de la Cité — the island Notre-Dame sits on is the geographic and historic centre of Paris. From Pont Saint-Louis, you can see the cathedral's side facade reflected in the Seine — one of the most beautiful perspectives in the city.

Musée d'Orsay — where Impressionism lives

If the Louvre is art history from antiquity to 1848, Orsay is the explosion from 1848 to 1914 — Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Manet — they're all here, and the building itself (a converted 1900 railway station) is spectacular.

2026 prices

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-18:00, Thursday until 21:45. Closed Mondays.

The secret: Thursday evening is Paris's best-kept museum secret — half-empty, €12 ticket, and the artificial light gives the Impressionist paintings a particular intensity. After 7:00 PM it's nearly empty.

Must-sees: Bal au Moulin de la Galette (Renoir) — the happiest painting in art history; Van Gogh's Self-Portrait (1889) — painted at the Saint-Rémy asylum; Monet's Water Lilies (preparatory series for Orangerie); and the station's giant glass clock through which you can see Sacré-Cœur on the Montmartre hill.

Sainte-Chapelle — the stained glass that takes your breath away

Paris's most underrated attraction. Built in 1248 by King Louis IX to house Passion relics (the Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross), Sainte-Chapelle has 1,113 stained glass panels covering 600 sq metres — the oldest and most complete medieval stained glass in the world to survive intact.

The effect: you step into a box of light. When the sun hits the glass (ideally morning or midday), the interior explodes in colour. It's one of the most intense visual experiences in Europe.

2026 prices

Hours: April-September 9:00-19:00, October-March 9:00-17:00.

Tip: Go early morning (9:00-10:00 AM) for the best light through the glass. The queue is short (15-20 min). Combine with the Conciergerie next door (the medieval prison where Marie Antoinette was held).

Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur — the artists' quarter

The hill of Montmartre is the Paris from the movies — cobblestone streets, artists painting in Place du Tertre, the white dome of Sacré-Cœur gleaming at the top, café terraces on pedestrian lanes, and a panoramic view of all of Paris from the basilica steps.

Sacré-Cœur

Entry: Free (basilica). Dome (360° panorama): ~€7.

The white travertine basilica (the stone self-cleans in rain, which is why it stays permanently white) was built between 1875 and 1914 on the highest point in Paris (130m). From the steps in front of the entrance, you can see from the Eiffel Tower to Tour Montparnasse — the best free view in the city.

What to do in Montmartre

Guided walking tour (€20-35, 2h) takes you through the streets where Picasso (at the Bateau-Lavoir), Renoir, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Dalí lived. Context is everything — without a guide, you walk past the buildings that changed art history without noticing them.

Place du Tertre — the artists' square, where painters have been working on portraits and landscapes for over 100 years. Touristy? Yes. Still magical? Yes. A custom portrait costs €30-80 and is the most Parisian souvenir possible.

Moulin Rouge — cancan shows since 1889. Tickets: €90-200 (show without dinner) or €180-400 (with dinner). Book at least 2 weeks ahead.

La Maison Rose — the most photographed house in Montmartre (pink, on the corner of Rue de l'Abreuvoir). Free as a backdrop, but coffee at its terrace costs €6 and comes with the feeling of being inside an Impressionist painting.

Warning: At the base of the Sacré-Cœur steps, bracelet scammers operate — they stop you, tie a bracelet to your wrist, then demand money. Hands in pockets, firm "no thanks," keep walking. Don't stop.

Seine cruise — Paris from the water

One of the most pleasant experiences in Paris — and one of the most accessible. From the water, you see the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Conciergerie, Pont Alexandre III (Paris's most beautiful bridge), and Île de la Cité — all in one hour, relaxed, with audio commentary.

Options and prices

Recommendation: The 1-hour sunset cruise — costs €15-20 and delivers 80% of the experience at 15% of the dinner cruise price. Pont d'Iéna (near the Eiffel Tower) or Pont Neuf are the classic departure points.

Insider tip: Dinner cruises are romantic but the food is mediocre for the price. Better alternative: take a standard sunset cruise (€15), then have dinner at a local brasserie (€20-25 for steak-frites with a glass of wine). Better experience, half the cost.

The neighbourhoods — where the real Paris hides

Paris isn't a city of isolated attractions — it's a city of neighbourhoods (arrondissements, 1-20), each with its own distinct personality. The best experiences aren't at the big monuments, but on the streets between them.

Le Marais (3rd-4th arr.) — the best all-round quarter

Medieval streets between Bastille and Hôtel de Ville. Former aristocratic quarter (17th century), then Jewish quarter, then LGBTQ+ hub, now the most vibrant mix in Paris — galleries, vintage shops, artisan bakeries, Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square, perfect for sitting on a bench), and the best falafel in Europe at L'As du Fallafel (€8, inevitable queue, worth it).

Le Marais on Sunday is when Paris comes here — boutiques are open (the exception to France's Sunday closing rule), the Rue des Rosiers market is buzzing, and the whole quarter has a relaxed energy you won't find elsewhere on a Sunday.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arr.) — the literary Left Bank

Where Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir held court at Café de Flore (still there, €6 for a coffee — you're paying for the view and the history). Where Hemingway wrote at the terraces along Boulevard Saint-Germain. Elegant, expensive, and effortlessly Parisian. The bookshops, art galleries, and pastry shops here are the finest in the city.

Shakespeare and Company (technically on the opposite bank, in the Latin Quarter, but 2 minutes away) — the most famous English-language bookshop in the world, open since 1951, with beds between the shelves where penniless writers could sleep in exchange for helping in the shop. Free entry. Don't skip the upstairs.

Latin Quarter (5th arr.) — student energy

Around the Sorbonne and the Panthéon. Crêperies on Rue Mouffetard (complete galette with ham, egg, gruyère — €8-12), Jardin du Luxembourg (Paris's most beautiful park, free, perfect for an afternoon), and the Panthéon (€11.50, crypts with Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas).

Bastille / Oberkampf (11th arr.) — where locals eat

No tourists, no inflated prices. Neo-bistro restaurants with €15-18 lunch menus (3 courses), natural wine bars, and the market on Boulevard Richard-Lenoir (Thursday and Sunday mornings) — the most authentic food market in Paris.

Canal Saint-Martin (10th arr.) — young Paris

The canal with locks and iron footbridges where Amélie Poulain skipped stones. On Friday evenings, locals sit on the canal bank with wine and cheese — the most Parisian experience possible, completely free. Indie boutiques and specialty coffee shops have multiplied here.

Versailles — a day trip worth every minute

The Palace of the Sun King is 40 minutes by RER C train from central Paris. The estate is vast — the palace with the Hall of Mirrors, the geometric gardens (800 hectares), Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Hameau de la Reine (Marie Antoinette's artificial hamlet).

2026 prices

Closed Tuesdays. Open 9:00-17:30 (winter) / 9:00-18:30 (summer). Trianon estate opens at noon.

How to get there

Independent: RER C from Saint-Michel, Invalides, or Champ de Mars stations to Versailles-Château-Rive Gauche (€7.50 return, 40 min). Then a 10-minute walk to the palace.

Guided tour (€50-80, GetYourGuide): Includes transport, skip-the-line, guide, 4-5 hours. Recommended for first-timers — queues at Versailles rival those at the Eiffel Tower, and without a guide, the Hall of Mirrors is beautiful but you miss the history behind every detail.

Book Versailles day trip on GetYourGuide

Versailles insider tips

1. Don't go to the palace at 9:00 AM — everyone does that. Go to the gardens first (they're nearly empty in the morning) and the palace after 2:00 PM when crowds thin.

2. The Musical Fountain Show (weekends and Tuesdays, April-October) is spectacular — fountains fire to Baroque music with synchronised water effects. Worth the ~€10.50 supplement.

3. The Hameau de la Reine (Marie Antoinette's hamlet) is a 20-minute walk from the palace and almost nobody makes it there — an artificial village with mills, a farm, and thatched-roof cottages where the queen "played peasant." Included in the Passport ticket.

4. Bring your own food — restaurants inside Versailles grounds are expensive and mediocre. A jambon-beurre baguette from a Paris boulangerie (€4-5) is three times better at a quarter of the price.

Food tours — how to eat like a Parisian, not a tourist

Paris is the gastronomic capital of the world — and a food tour is the investment that transforms your entire culinary experience for the rest of the trip. It teaches you where locals eat, the difference between a good boulangerie and a bad one, and why a €1.20 croissant from a corner shop can be better than a €4 one in a tourist zone.

Popular food tour areas

Le Marais — the most popular zone, includes artisan cheeses, charcuterie, éclairs, Belgian chocolate, French wine, and the best falafel in Paris. Tours of 3-4h, €50-80/person, 5-8 stops.

Montmartre — more authentic, local boulangeries with award-winning baguettes, fromageries with 200+ cheeses, neighbourhood patisseries, wine by the glass. Tours of 2-3h, €45-65.

Saint-Germain — the refined zone. Famous patisseries (Pierre Hermé, macarons at €2.50/piece), artisan chocolatiers, and pastries that are works of art. Tours of 2-3h, €55-80.

What you must eat in Paris

Croissant — from any boulangerie artisanale (look for the "Artisan Boulanger" sign): €1.20-1.80. The quality floor in Paris is higher than the ceiling in most cities. Signs of a good croissant: exterior that shatters at a touch, airy interior with visible "fibres," buttery flavour (not margarine), and a fragrance that stops you in your tracks.

Baguette tradition — the artisan baguette with cracked crust, elastic crumb, and nutty flavour. €1.30-1.50. The French buy baguettes twice a day (morning and evening) because "yesterday's bread is already old." The annual "Meilleure Baguette de Paris" competition crowns the best baguette — the winner supplies the Élysée Palace for a year.

Jambon-beurre — the world's most underrated sandwich: half a baguette with (quality) butter and Parisian ham. €4-5. The French eat 1.2 billion per year. Perfect for a bench lunch in the Tuileries or Jardin du Luxembourg.

Fromage — France produces over 400 types of cheese. At a fromagerie, ask for a tasting platter: Comté (18 months, the most popular), Roquefort (sheep, blue mould), Brie de Meaux (cow, creamy), Chèvre (goat, enormous variety). A cheese platter + baguette + a glass of red wine = €10-12, on a bench on the Seine bank = the most Parisian dinner possible.

Macarons — almonds, sugar, filling. Ladurée (since 1862, on the Champs-Élysées) and Pierre Hermé (the inventor of modern flavours) are the two big names. €2-3/piece, gift box €15-30. The Ispahan flavour (rose, raspberry, lychee) by Pierre Hermé is considered the finest macaron in the world.

Crêpe — Nutella + banana: €4-6 from a street stand. Savoury galette (buckwheat crêpe with ham, cheese, egg): €8-12 at a sit-down crêperie. The best crêperies are in Montparnasse (Rue du Montparnasse), not the tourist zone.

Escargots — snails in garlic-herb butter. €10-15 for 6 at a brasserie. The taste is 90% garlicky butter (delicious) and 10% chewy texture. Worth trying once.

Steak-frites — steak (usually onglet or entrecôte) with French fries. €14-20 at a brasserie. Order "à point" (medium) — the French cook steak rarer than most visitors expect.

Where NOT to eat

Any restaurant on Rue de Rivoli with a menu in 8 languages, photos of the food, and a waiter trying to pull you inside. Any restaurant within 100m of Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, or Sacré-Cœur with a tourist menu at €18-25. General rule: if the menu has photos of food taped to the window, run.

Where to eat well and cheaply

Le Bouillon Chartier (9th arr.) — brasserie since 1896, stunning Belle Époque interior (chandeliers, mirrors, stucco), classic menu at incredibly low prices: French onion soup €3, steak-frites €11, crème brûlée €3. Three courses for €15-20. Queue guaranteed — go at 6:30 PM, not 8:00 PM.

Bouillon Julien (10th arr.) — similar to Chartier, protected Art Nouveau interior, same low prices.

Bouillon Pigalle (18th arr.) — the modern version, near Moulin Rouge, identical prices.

Any bar à vin in the 11th arr. — natural wine by the glass €5-7, charcuterie + cheese board €12-15.

Richard-Lenoir market (Thursday and Sunday) — rotisserie chicken (€8-10, huge portion), cheeses from producers, fruit, bread, and wine — complete picnic for €10-12/person.

What you can do for FREE in Paris

Paris is expensive at ticketed attractions, but the free experiences are world-class — and there are enough of them to fill an entire holiday.

Tip: Père-Lachaise (Paris's largest cemetery, 20th arr.) is a huge surprise — 44 hectares of paved alleys, spectacular funerary monuments, and the graves of some of the greatest names in cultural history. The map at the entrance (€2) or Google Maps is essential — otherwise you won't find Jim Morrison's grave (the most visited, section 6). Free, open daily.

Paris Museum Pass — is it worth it?

The Paris Museum Pass 2026 provides access to 50+ museums and monuments without ticket queues (though sometimes with security queues):

What's included (most important)

Louvre (€32), Musée d'Orsay (€16), Versailles (€21), Sainte-Chapelle (€22), Arc de Triomphe (€16), Centre Pompidou (€15), Musée de l'Orangerie (€12.50), Panthéon (€11.50), Conciergerie (€11.50), Musée Rodin (€14), Musée Picasso (€14), and 40+ more.

What's NOT included

Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris, Catacombs, Seine cruises, Moulin Rouge, Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Quick calculation

Visit Louvre (€32) + Orsay (€16) + Versailles (€21) + Sainte-Chapelle (€22) = €91. A 2-day pass costs €85 = saving of €6 plus skip-the-line. Add Arc de Triomphe + Orangerie = €119.50 vs. €85 = saving of €34.50.

Bottom line: Worth it from 3-4 museums visited in 2 days. If you're only visiting the Louvre plus one small museum, not worth it.

2026 important note: The Louvre requires a separate timed-entry slot even with the Museum Pass — book it on the Louvre's website in advance. The pass eliminates the ticket queue, not the security queue.

Complete price table — Paris experiences 2026

Getting around Paris — metro, RER, and walking

Metro

16 lines, covers all of inner Paris. Frequency: every 2-5 minutes at peak, 5-10 minutes in the evening.

Tip: For a 3-4 day city break, Navigo Day at €12.30/day or individual tickets are more efficient than Paris Visite. Paris Visite only pays off if you're making daily trips to Versailles, Disneyland, or the airport. Navigo Weekly (€32.40, runs Monday-Sunday) is the best deal if you arrive on a Monday.

Walking

Central Paris is surprisingly small on foot. Notre-Dame → Louvre: 15 minutes. Louvre → Eiffel Tower: 30 minutes. Eiffel Tower → Arc de Triomphe: 20 minutes. Bastille → Le Marais: 10 minutes.

A typical sightseeing day involves 15,000-20,000 steps. Comfortable shoes are more important than any metro ticket.

From the airport

Charles de Gaulle (CDG):

Orly: RER B + Orlyval (€14.10, 40 min) or Tram T7 + Metro (€2.55, but 60+ min).

Beauvais (budget airlines): Shuttle bus (€17, 75 min). Plan 3 hours of buffer for check-in — Beauvais is far and the shuttle isn't frequent.

CDG tip: RER B is clearly the most efficient — fast, frequent, and cheaper than any alternative. But if you have bulky luggage, Roissybus is more comfortable (dedicated luggage space, no stairs/escalators). Never take a taxi from the people who approach you in the terminal — they're unlicensed and charge double.

When to visit Paris

Perfect timing: Second half of May and first half of October — good weather, short queues, reasonable prices.

Avoid: First week of August — many Parisians are on holiday, some local restaurants close for the entire month, and tourists completely dominate.

Daily budget per person — realistic

Tourist tax: €1-5/night depending on hotel category (usually not included in booking price).

How to spend €20/day on food and eat brilliantly: croissant + coffee at a boulangerie in the morning (€3), jambon-beurre for lunch + a banana from the market (€5), and Bouillon Chartier for dinner (soup + steak-frites + dessert = €14). Total: €22, and you've eaten better than 90% of people spending €25 at tourist restaurants.

Day trips from Paris

Versailles (detailed above)

RER C, 40 min, palace + gardens. Ideal Day 4.

Giverny — Monet's garden

April-October only. Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon (45 min, €15 return) + shuttle bus. The water lily garden in real life — the one that inspired the most famous paintings in art history. Entry: €11. Organised tours from Paris: €60-90 (includes transport + guide). Some tours combine Giverny + Versailles in one day.

Château de Fontainebleau

Royal residence older than Versailles (12th century), less known, less crowded, equally impressive. Train from Gare de Lyon (40 min, €10 return). Entry: €14. Included in Paris Museum Pass.

Disneyland Paris

RER A, 45 min. Ticket: €60-110 (varies by day and season). Go Tuesday-Thursday — weekends are extremely crowded. Organised tours with central Paris transfers are pricier (€80-130) but more convenient.

Champagne (Reims / Épernay)

TGV from Gare de l'Est to Reims (45 min, €30-50) or train to Épernay. Visit Champagne houses: Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger. Tasting + tour: €25-50. Organised tours from Paris: €100-150 (includes transport + 2-3 houses).

Suggested itinerary — 5 days in Paris

Day 1: Eiffel Tower + Seine + Trocadéro

• 9:00 AM — Eiffel Tower (pre-booked ticket, stairs or elevator)
• 11:30 AM — Champ de Mars, walk to Pont d'Iéna
• 12:30 PM — Lunch on Rue Cler (pedestrian street with market stalls, boulangeries, fromageries — one of Paris's prettiest "village streets")
• 2:00 PM — Trocadéro — the iconic Eiffel Tower photo
• 3:00 PM — Musée du Quai Branly (non-European arts, €14) or Les Invalides (Napoleon's tomb, €15)
• 5:00 PM — Sunset Seine cruise (1h, €15-20)
• 7:00 PM — Dinner at a brasserie in the 7th arr.

Day 2: Louvre + Tuileries + Champs-Élysées

• 9:00 AM — Louvre (enter via Passage Richelieu, 3 hours, essential route)
• 12:30 PM — Jardin des Tuileries — bench lunch (jambon-beurre + fruit)
• 2:00 PM — Place de la Concorde → Champs-Élysées (2 km walk)
• 4:00 PM — Arc de Triomphe (€16, climb for the panorama)
• 5:30 PM — Shopping or coffee on the Champs-Élysées
• 7:30 PM — Dinner at Bouillon Chartier (3 courses, €18)

Day 3: Montmartre + Notre-Dame + Île de la Cité

• 9:00 AM — Sacré-Cœur early (before the crowds)
• 9:30 AM — Montmartre walk: Place du Tertre, Bateau-Lavoir, La Maison Rose, Moulin de la Galette
• 12:00 PM — Lunch in Montmartre (crêpe or galette, €8-12)
• 2:00 PM — Metro to Cité — Sainte-Chapelle (€16-22)
• 3:30 PM — Notre-Dame (free)
• 4:30 PM — Walk Île de la Cité + Île Saint-Louis (best ice cream in Paris at Berthillon, €3.50/scoop)
• 6:00 PM — Seine bank walk towards Pont des Arts
• 8:00 PM — Dinner in Le Marais

Day 4: Versailles

• 8:30 AM — RER C to Versailles (40 min)
• 9:30 AM — Gardens first (empty in the morning)
• 11:00 AM — Palace (Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments)
• 1:00 PM — Picnic lunch in the gardens (food brought from Paris)
• 2:00 PM — Grand Trianon + Petit Trianon + Hameau de la Reine
• 4:30 PM — Return to Paris
• 6:00 PM — Musée d'Orsay (Thursday — open until 21:45, ticket €12)
• 8:30 PM — Dinner in Saint-Germain

Day 5: Le Marais + Bastille + food tour

• 9:00 AM — Le Marais food tour (3-4h, €50-70)
• 1:00 PM — Place des Vosges — relax
• 2:30 PM — Musée Picasso (€14) or Musée Carnavalet (Paris history, free)
• 4:00 PM — Walk to Bastille, Canal Saint-Martin
• 5:30 PM — Père-Lachaise (1-2h, free)
• 7:30 PM — Farewell dinner — a bar à vin in the 11th arr. (natural wine + cheese board)

Paris vs. other European capitals

Bottom line: Paris is more expensive for accommodation and restaurants than Rome or Barcelona, but the free experiences (Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Trocadéro, parks, Seine banks) are unmatched. And the average quality of the food — even cheap food — is superior to any other city on this list.

Insider tips — what Parisians know

1. Coffee at the bar vs. terrace coffee = double the price. An espresso at the bar (comptoir) costs €1.50-2. The same coffee at the terrace: €4-6. The French drink their first coffee standing at the bar, in 2 minutes. The terrace is for long conversations, not caffeine.

2. Boulangerie vs. pâtisserie — the difference matters. Boulangerie makes bread (baguette, croissant, pain au chocolat). Pâtisserie makes pastries (éclair, tarte, millefeuille). The best croissants come from small artisan boulangeries, not famous pâtisseries. Look for the "Artisan Boulanger" sign — it's legally protected.

3. "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" — in France, the waiter will never bring the bill unprompted. If you sit at your table without asking for the bill, you can sit there all evening without being bothered. The French consider bringing the bill unprompted rude (a suggestion that you should leave). When you're ready, you ask. "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" (the bill, please).

4. Don't tip. Service is included in the price (service compris) by law in France. The French leave at most €1-2 for an exceptional meal, never 15-20% as in the US. This is the most important financial tip in Paris.

5. Monday is the day many museums and restaurants close. The Louvre is open Monday (but closed Tuesday). Orsay is closed Monday. Many local restaurants (bistros, neo-brasseries) are closed Monday. Check beforehand.

6. Sunday is market day. The markets at Bastille, Aligre, and Richard-Lenoir are at their liveliest on Sunday morning — vegetables, fruit, cheeses, flowers, rotisserie chicken. It's the most Parisian experience possible.

7. Transport strikes are normal. Paris has transport strikes periodically (especially RATP/SNCF). Check ratp.fr in the morning — if the metro is disrupted, Uber/taxi or walking are the alternatives. It's not a disaster — it's France.

8. Tap water is free in any restaurant. Ask for "une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît" and you'll get free water. Bottled water (€3-6) is optional, not mandatory. Many tourists don't know this and pay €5 for a bottle of Evian that's no better than Paris's tap water (which is excellent).

9. "Bonjour" is mandatory. Entering a shop? "Bonjour." Addressing someone on the street? "Bonjour." Ordering at a restaurant? "Bonjour." Without "bonjour," Parisians turn cold — not out of malice, but from a deep conviction that it's rude. With "bonjour," they become surprisingly warm and helpful. It's the only French word that truly matters.

10. The best views in Paris are free. Trocadéro for the Eiffel Tower. Sacré-Cœur steps for all of Paris. Galeries Lafayette rooftop for the Opera Quarter. Pont Alexandre III at sunset. The top floor of Centre Pompidou (ticket required, but included in Museum Pass). The paid observation decks (Tour Montparnasse, Arc de Triomphe) are good but not necessary.

Travel insurance for France

France is in the EU and Schengen. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) works but only covers medical emergencies — it doesn't cover repatriation, dental, flight cancellations, lost luggage, or theft (which is a real issue in Paris, especially on the metro and in tourist areas). A comprehensive policy for one week costs €12-20/person.

Travel insurance for France — EKTA

Also read: Complete travel insurance guide 2026

Common scams in Paris — how to avoid them

Paris has its specific scams, especially in tourist areas:

Bracelets at Sacré-Cœur: People who "offer" free friendship bracelets. They tie one to your wrist, then demand €10-20. Solution: hands in pockets, firm "no thanks," don't stop.

The fake petition: Young people with clipboards asking you to sign a petition (usually "for the deaf and mute"). While you're signing, someone else checks your pockets. Solution: "Non, merci" without stopping.

The "gold ring": Someone "finds" a gold ring on the ground near you and offers it, then asks for a reward. The ring is brass. Solution: ignore completely.

Fake metro tickets: People at metro entrances selling "tickets" at half price. They're expired or invalid. Solution: buy only from RATP machines or counters.

Unlicensed taxi at CDG: "Taxi drivers" who approach you in the terminal offering rides. They charge double or triple the official rate. Solution: go to the official taxi rank (follow the "Taxi" signs) or order an Uber.

Also read: Travel scams in Europe 2026 — complete guide

Quick links — Paris bookings

• Paris experiences & tours — GetYourGuide
• Find flights to Paris
• Travel insurance for France — EKTA
• eSIM for France — Airalo

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