Paris is not a city that needs an introduction, but it does deserve a practical guide. The French capital receives over 35 million visitors annually, making it the most visited city in the world. In 2023, international tourism to Paris recovered to 92% of pre-2019 levels, with American visitors increasing by 25%. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements arranged in a clockwise spiral from the center. Each district has its own character. The Marais is historic and fashionable. Montmartre is artistic and hilly. The Latin Quarter is academic and lively. This guide covers the essential information for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, from navigating the metro system to finding the best croissant in the city. Paris rewards those who walk its streets with an open schedule and a curious appetite.
Getting Around Paris
The Paris Metro is the most efficient way to travel. The system has 16 lines, 303 stations, and covers 245 kilometers of track. A single ticket costs 2.15 EUR (2024), and a carnet of 10 tickets costs 17.35 EUR. The RER commuter rail connects to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. A ticket from CDG to central Paris costs 11.45 EUR. For unlimited travel, the Paris Visite pass offers 1-day options from 13.95 EUR to 29.95 EUR depending on zones covered. Walking is often the best option within central arrondissements. The distance from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower is 3.5 kilometers, a pleasant 45-minute walk along the Seine. Electric bike rentals through Velib cost 5 EUR for a single trip or 15 EUR for a day pass. Bus routes 21, 27, and 69 offer scenic routes past major landmarks.
Iconic Landmarks and Entry Fees
The Eiffel Tower welcomes approximately 7 million visitors per year. Ticket prices vary by level: 11.80 EUR for stairs to the second floor, 14.40 EUR for elevator to the second floor, and 29.40 EUR for elevator to the summit (2024). The Louvre Museum holds 38,000 artworks including the Mona Lisa. Entry costs 22 EUR, and the museum recommends advance booking. The Musee d’Orsay, housed in a former railway station, features the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art. Entry is 16 EUR. Notre-Dame Cathedral, damaged by fire in 2019, reopened in December 2024. Entry remains free. The Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre offers free entry, and climbing the dome costs 6 EUR for panoramic city views. The Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon, costs 13 EUR to climb its 284 steps to the observation deck.
Where to Eat in Paris
Paris has over 40,000 restaurants. A traditional French bistro meal costs an average of 35 EUR for a three-course lunch. Le Comptoir du Relais in the 6th arrondissement offers classic dishes like steak frites and duck confit for 28 to 32 EUR per main course. Bouillon Pigalle, a historic restaurant dating to 1872, serves affordable French staples including escargot for 7.50 EUR and beef bourguignon for 12 EUR. For pastries, Pierre Herme on Rue Bonaparte is widely regarded as Paris’s best patisserie, with macarons at 2.80 EUR each. Bread or croissants from a traditional boulangerie cost 1.10 to 1.50 EUR. The city’s food markets, including Marche des Enfants Rouges in the Marais, offer international street food for 8 to 12 EUR per meal. The oldest market, Marche d’Aligre, has operated since 1779 and sells fresh produce, cheese, and wine.
Beyond the Tourist Zone
Venture beyond central Paris for authentic local experiences. The Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood in the 13th arrondissement has cobblestone streets, street art, and affordable restaurants where a three-course meal costs under 25 EUR. The Canal Saint-Martin area in the 10th and 11th arrondissements is popular with locals for picnics along the waterside. The Promenade Plantee, a 4.5-kilometer elevated garden built on a former railway viaduct, offers a unique walk through the 12th arrondissement. La Villette park in the 19th arrondissement contains the Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe, costing 12 EUR and attracting 2.5 million visitors annually. The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, built on a former quarry, features a lake, a suspension bridge, and a waterfall. These outer areas give visitors a sense of daily Parisian life beyond the postcard images.
Practical Tips and Budget
A mid-range daily budget for Paris is approximately 150 EUR per person, including accommodation, meals, and one paid attraction. Budget travelers can manage on 80 EUR per day with hostel accommodation and picnic meals. Tap water is free in restaurants. Tipping is not mandatory but leaving 5 to 10% is appreciated for good service. The Paris Museum Pass offers access to over 50 museums and monuments for 75 EUR for four days. Many museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. The city is safe for solo travelers, though pickpocketing occurs in crowded metro stations and tourist sites. Keep valuables secure and remain aware in the vicinity of major landmarks. The best months to visit are April through June and September through October when weather is pleasant and crowds are smaller.
What is the first thing you want to see or eat when you arrive in Paris?
Explore more France travel guides.
Paris is not a city that needs an introduction, but it does deserve a practical guide. The French capital receives over 35 million visitors annually, making it the most visited city in the world. In 2023, international tourism to Paris recovered to 92% of pre-2019 levels, with American visitors increasing by 25%. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements arranged in a clockwise spiral from the center. Each district has its own character. The Marais is historic and fashionable. Montmartre is artistic and hilly. The Latin Quarter is academic and lively. This guide covers the essential information for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, from navigating the metro system to finding the best croissant in the city. Paris rewards those who walk its streets with an open schedule and a curious appetite.
Getting Around Paris
The Paris Metro is the most efficient way to travel. The system has 16 lines, 303 stations, and covers 245 kilometers of track. A single ticket costs 2.15 EUR (2024), and a carnet of 10 tickets costs 17.35 EUR. The RER commuter rail connects to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. A ticket from CDG to central Paris costs 11.45 EUR. For unlimited travel, the Paris Visite pass offers 1-day options from 13.95 EUR to 29.95 EUR depending on zones covered. Walking is often the best option within central arrondissements. The distance from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower is 3.5 kilometers, a pleasant 45-minute walk along the Seine. Electric bike rentals through Velib cost 5 EUR for a single trip or 15 EUR for a day pass. Bus routes 21, 27, and 69 offer scenic routes past major landmarks.
Iconic Landmarks and Entry Fees
The Eiffel Tower welcomes approximately 7 million visitors per year. Ticket prices vary by level: 11.80 EUR for stairs to the second floor, 14.40 EUR for elevator to the second floor, and 29.40 EUR for elevator to the summit (2024). The Louvre Museum holds 38,000 artworks including the Mona Lisa. Entry costs 22 EUR, and the museum recommends advance booking. The Musee d’Orsay, housed in a former railway station, features the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art. Entry is 16 EUR. Notre-Dame Cathedral, damaged by fire in 2019, reopened in December 2024. Entry remains free. The Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre offers free entry, and climbing the dome costs 6 EUR for panoramic city views. The Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon, costs 13 EUR to climb its 284 steps to the observation deck.
Where to Eat in Paris
Paris has over 40,000 restaurants. A traditional French bistro meal costs an average of 35 EUR for a three-course lunch. Le Comptoir du Relais in the 6th arrondissement offers classic dishes like steak frites and duck confit for 28 to 32 EUR per main course. Bouillon Pigalle, a historic restaurant dating to 1872, serves affordable French staples including escargot for 7.50 EUR and beef bourguignon for 12 EUR. For pastries, Pierre Herme on Rue Bonaparte is widely regarded as Paris’s best patisserie, with macarons at 2.80 EUR each. Bread or croissants from a traditional boulangerie cost 1.10 to 1.50 EUR. The city’s food markets, including Marche des Enfants Rouges in the Marais, offer international street food for 8 to 12 EUR per meal. The oldest market, Marche d’Aligre, has operated since 1779 and sells fresh produce, cheese, and wine.
Beyond the Tourist Zone
Venture beyond central Paris for authentic local experiences. The Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood in the 13th arrondissement has cobblestone streets, street art, and affordable restaurants where a three-course meal costs under 25 EUR. The Canal Saint-Martin area in the 10th and 11th arrondissements is popular with locals for picnics along the waterside. The Promenade Plantee, a 4.5-kilometer elevated garden built on a former railway viaduct, offers a unique walk through the 12th arrondissement. La Villette park in the 19th arrondissement contains the Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the largest science museum in Europe, costing 12 EUR and attracting 2.5 million visitors annually. The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, built on a former quarry, features a lake, a suspension bridge, and a waterfall. These outer areas give visitors a sense of daily Parisian life beyond the postcard images.
Practical Tips and Budget
A mid-range daily budget for Paris is approximately 150 EUR per person, including accommodation, meals, and one paid attraction. Budget travelers can manage on 80 EUR per day with hostel accommodation and picnic meals. Tap water is free in restaurants. Tipping is not mandatory but leaving 5 to 10% is appreciated for good service. The Paris Museum Pass offers access to over 50 museums and monuments for 75 EUR for four days. Many museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. The city is safe for solo travelers, though pickpocketing occurs in crowded metro stations and tourist sites. Keep valuables secure and remain aware in the vicinity of major landmarks. The best months to visit are April through June and September through October when weather is pleasant and crowds are smaller.
What is the first thing you want to see or eat when you arrive in Paris?
Explore more France travel guides.
