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Luxury travel blog » Places » Europe » France » Visiting Paris: An easy travel guide

Visiting Paris: An easy travel guide

January 28, 2018 by Carol Perehudoff 11 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

Visiting Paris? A little planning will go a long way. Here’s an easy Paris travel guide with info on the best neighbourhoods to stay in, what to do and how to get around.

Visiting Paris

Have you ever popped out of a Paris metro station, suitcase in hand, wondering what to do next? I have. Of course those were my I’m-a-free-spirit-and-don’t-need-to-plan days of travel. Since then, I’ve learned that when every hotel is ‘complet’ and jet lag is punching my eyeballs from the back of my brain, my free spirit wilts like a Monet waterlily in a drought.

As much as I still cherish the independent traveller within, I now know the value of planning, especially when visiting Paris, the most popular city for visitors in Europe.

Pont Alexandre-III, Visiting Paris

Pont Alexandre-III ©Paris Tourist Office – Photographer : David Lefranc

Who is this Paris guide for?

Whether you’re a wide-eyed first-timer, a veteran traveller in need of a refresher, or a young ingenue like Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, this quick and easy Paris travel guide is for you. It’s not an exhaustive list – you’d need a full guidebook for that – but it’s how I like to tackle Paris, the amazing city of lights.

 

What you’ll find in this Paris travel guide

Paris transportation tips

  • Getting to Paris from the airport
  • Getting around Paris

Sightseeing in Paris

  • Finding tourist information in Paris
  • What to do in Paris
  • Visiting Galeries Lafayette and other top Parisian department stores

Where to stay in Paris – the best neighbourhoods

  • How to choose your area
  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés
  • Rue de Rivoli
  • Le Marais
  • Montparnasse
  • Latin Quarter
  • Other areas in Paris to stay in

Day trips from Paris

Paris transportation tips:

Getting to Paris from the airport

There are various options for airport transfers such as shuttles, private cars and trains. Here are a few:

Train: If you’re flying into Charles de Gaulle Aeroport (CDG), it’s probably easiest (other than a taxi) to take the suburban train called the RER B (Blue line) from the airport in the direction of Paris. Stops include the Gare du Nord, St Michel/Notre Dame (good for the Latin Quarter) Luxembourg, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire. You can buy a train ticket right at the airport.

I’d like to assure you getting around France by train is easy, but traveling in any foreign country can be confusing. Check out my Paris to Barcelona from Gare de Lyon for an embarrassing example. Sigh.

Bus: From Orly you can take the Orly bus to the Denfert-Rochereau Metro Station. From Charles de Gaulle you can take the The Roissy bus from Paris Opera. As well, Air France runs buses to both airports.

Taxi: Currently, there is a flat rate of 50 € from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to destinations on the Right Bank, and 55 € to the Left Bank. From Paris-Orly the price is 35 € to the Right Bank and 30 €. Uber is popular in Paris, too.

Paris souvenir

Getting around Paris

The Paris Metro  is convenient, connects directly to the RER and is moderately easy (At least most people say easy, but I still get mixed up.) You can buy a single ticket at the station, a carnet of 10 or a travel pass. Hold on to your ticket as you’ll need it to exit the station.

The Paris RER, as opposed to the metro or subway, are commuter lines that travel into Paris. In central Paris the RER works much like the metro but the lines extend out farther to places like Versailles and Disneyland Paris.

For day trips to places such as Giverny, you’ll need to take the train proper. The main train stations in Paris are the Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon (if you go, don’t miss the most beautiful train station restaurant in the world, Le Train Bleu, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Saint Lazare and Gare Montparnasse.

The Grand Palais

Passing the Grand Palais

Finding tourist information in Paris

A popular option for visiting Paris is to wander the streets aimlessly. You’ll want to do plenty of that, but between sitting in cafes and soulful walks along the Seine, you might actually want to see some of the sights that make Paris so beloved.

I usually pick up a copy of Time Out magazine to find out what’s on and get a rundown on museums and top sights. It’s in English and you can get one at any newsstand.

For maps, reservations, transportation advice and information on attractions and day trips from Paris, you’ll find official tourist information points at:

  • The Pyramides Welcome Centre at 25, rue des Pyramides
  • The Gare du Nord Welcome Centre at the Gare du Nord train station 18, rue de Dunkerque Paris
  • A Paris Tourist Office partner can be found at the Reception du Carrousel du Louvre at 99, rue de Rivoli

There is also a new Welcome Point at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, established by the iconic Galeries Lafayette Department Store and the Regional Tourism Committee for Paris Île-de-France.

Located in the Opéra district on the ground floor of L’Homme, one of the three Galeries Lafayette buildings on Boulevard Haussmann at Place Diaghilev, the Welcome Point is a one stop shop for a range of services from making hotel reservations and booking tickets to advice on where to find the most romantic views of Paris or the quickest way to get to Disneyland Paris.

Where to shop in Paris: Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and other top Parisian department stores

You’ll want to visit Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann anyway. Why? Their flagship main building might be the most beautiful department store in the world. With its magnificent Art Nouveau glass-and-steel coupole, famous window displays (especially at Christmas), rooftop bar and drool-worthy displays of French and international designers, it’s a hot spot for Paris style.

I still regret not buying that Chloé moto jacket, its coral-coloured leather soft as a rose petal.

Other top department stores in Paris include:

  • Le Bon Marché at 24 rue de Sèvres (Métro Station Sèvres-Babylone)
  • Printemps at 64 Boulevard Haussmann (Métro Chaussée-d’Antin La Fayette)
Galeries Lafayette Haussman rooftop bar romantic Paris in winter

Rooftop bar at Galeries Lafayette – spot the Eiffel Tower

What to do in Paris – the top sights

Where do I start? If you’re the literary type you can follow the footsteps of Oscar Wilde in Paris, and fashionistas might want to visit the new and very chic Grand Museum of Perfume or trace the favourite places of Coco Chanel. For a customized luxury experience you might want to check out a Paris private tour and if you’re there in winter check out my Paris at Christmas article.

Top ten things to see in Paris

There are so many Paris attractions, your head will spin. But to keep it simple here’s a list of top Parisian landmarks you won’t want to miss.

Want more detailed information on the city’s top sights? Read my Top Things to do in Paris guide.

1 The Louvre
2 Notre Dame Cathedral – update: tragic fire guts Notre Dame on April 15, 2019
3 Eiffel Tower
4 Musee d’Orsay
5 L’Arc de Triomphe
6 Cluny Museum
7 Versailles
8 Sainte-Chapelle
9 Montmartre
10 Champs Elysees

Best Neighbourhoods in Paris to stay in

Now that you know how to get around in Paris the essential question is where are you going to go? Perhaps even more importantly is the question of what neighbourhood to stay in.

What areas to stay in

There are twenty different neighbourhoods, or arrondissements, in Paris and where you stay can define your trip – making it the difference between a dramatic Delacroix painting and a whirl-of-dancers Renoir. So before you look for a hotel or apartment, decide what side of the river you want to stay on (the Left Bank is south of the Seine and the Right is north.) Traditionally, the Left is more artsy, but as communities evolve, it’s hard to hold on to that stereotype.

Best locations in Paris

While many people opt for staying farther out to save on hotel prices, I like to be able to step outside my hotel and be exactly where I want to be without having to get on a metro. That said, I also like to be near a metro for when I need it. Here is a quick reference guide for some of my top neighbourhood picks to stay in.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Sophistication on the Left Bank

The small streets around Saint-Germain-des-Prés ooze taste and soft elegance. More about atmosphere than blockbuster sights, this Left Bank neighbourhood offers alluring cafés such as the historic Café de Flore, bustling boulangeries that will haunt you with their scent of fresh baguettes as well as exquisite art galleries and antique shops, their treasures displayed like jewels.

While Saint Germain is many people’s favourite area to stay in in Paris, especially those with class and culture in their genes, it’s not my number one choice. (Let’s be clear, though. If someone offered me a hotel here I wouldn’t turn it down.) The Paris that suits me the best has more pomp, flash and glam, which just goes to show how shallow I am.

Best neighbourhoods in Paris, rue Rivoli

On my way down the rue de Rivoli to the Crillon

Rue de Rivoli– Right Bank Luxury

This brings us to my neighbourhood of choice and whenever I’m visiting Paris I look for hotels here first. Situated on the Right Bank, with the Louvre Museum as a centrepiece, the 1st arrondissement is Paris at its most grand. I love the arcaded street of the rue de Rivoli (which admittedly has too many souvenir shops), having the Louvre at my doorstep and the intimate lounges of the Hôtel de Crillon, Le Meurice and the Ritz Paris within high-heeled walking distance. The fact that it’s near the swanky shopping street Rue St.-Honoré and sights such as the Musée de l’Orangerie doesn’t hurt either.

The Marais – Funky chic on the Right Bank

If you move east on the Right Bank, Le Marais is gay-friendly, indie and chic, with forward-thinking boutiques and vintage shops sprinkled through the streets and foodie-hip restaurants that range from ethnic Vietnamese to classic bistros and Jewish cuisine. While it’s tourist friendly, the Marais isn’t polished beyond perfection and has a feel of authenticity, You’ll find as many locals sipping their café crème here as travellers.

Le Marais is home to the lovely Place des Vosges, one of the oldest squares in Paris, though my top memory of the neighbourhood is staying for two weeks in a hotel on Bad Boy Street, the rue des Mauvais Garçons, which has to be the best street name ever.

Visiting Montparnasse Le Select

A Montparnasse with a past

Montparnasse, a Left Bank locale with an outrageous past

Many travellers choose to stay in Montparnasse because, while it’s not quite as central as Saint-Germain-des-Prés, there are hotel deals to be had. It’s an ever-changing mix of haute and shady. The historic cafes of Montparnasse have the most deliciously-decadent past imaginable that includes the likes of Fitzgerald, Hemingway and the irrepressible Kiki de Montparnasse drinking themselves silly (or into despair). You’ve heard of Gertrude Stein’s Lost Generation? I’d say they ‘found’ themselves here.

Also, the Montparnasse Tower is an eyesore, but offers one of the best views in Paris.

Latin Quarter – Affordability on the Left Bank

I’ll round up this list of Paris neighbourhoods with a mention of the Latin Quarter, mainly because this was where my first trip to Paris began. Affordable, lively and central, the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank is a magnet for budget hotel seekers, first timers to Paris and students. On the downside, there are also rows of touristy Greek restaurants, crowds and – I’m sorry to insult you, Paris – a lot of its character has been stripped away.

Nonetheless, it gives you quick access to some wonderful Paris attractions such as the Musée de Cluny, Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and if you’re visiting Paris for the first time, these should be high on your list.

Visiting the Seine and La Conciergerie

La Seine, La Conciergerie ©Paris Tourist Office – Photographer : ©Sarah Sergent

Other areas to stay in in Paris

Of course there are so many other Parisian neighbourhoods to choose from.

  • Trendy and night-clubby is the area around République and Oberkampf, but it’s a bit too far out and chic-gritty for me, and then there is the bohemian Canal St Martin district.
  • You could stay in Montmarte, which has a tourist saturated fun village atmosphere and captivating past as a turn-of-the-century artist hotspot, but it looms high over Paris central and you need to take a funicular or a bus up.
  • We can’t forget the mythical Champs-Élysées, that wide beautiful boulevard that stretches from the Place de Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, but which is drowning under tourist trap restaurants and chain stores. (Of course, it’s near the fabulous luxury shopping street Avenue Montaigne, which is always a people watching pleasure.)
  • There is the slightly bland but gentile area around the Eiffel Tower, where you’ll find a number of apartment rentals so it’s a popular choice for a long term stay.
  • Another area I find a bit blah (don’t hate me!) is the Opéra district but it’s great for visiting the opulent Opéra Garnier or hitting the department stores.

What to consider before visiting Paris

To make your final plans for visiting Paris, think of the atmosphere you want to wake up to, the sights you want to see, the budget you have and how much time you have to spend in the city. With a little preplanning, Paris can be – as Hemingway so famously said – “a moveable feast.” (He also said it’s “the only city in the world where starving to death is still considered an art” but don’t take that literally, the food is too good for that.)

Paris day trips

There are some pretty spectacular day trips you can do from Paris. For something ethereal visit Chartres Cathedral or of course you can  tour Versailles. Disneyland is an option and one of my favourite excursions in France is to see the Loire Valley chateaux. You can also do a day trip to see Monet’s Garden or take the train out to see Chateau Fontainebleau.

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Visiting Paris, France? Here's an easy Paris travel guide with travel tips on where to stay, what to see and how to get around.

 

Paris travel guide wrap up

So those are my travel suggestions for Paris. Hopefully with these tips you’ll have a better of what to see, where to stay and how to get around the amazing City of Lights. But don’t stop at Paris – visit my Things to do in France destination page for more travel ideas. Salut!

Filed Under: France, Travel guides Tagged With: Paris

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 20 writing and blogging awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she's written for top travel publications around the globe.

Comments

  1. Carol Perehudoff says

    February 15, 2018 at 10:40 am

    Giverny is well worth a day trip from Paris, Paige. The roses!

  2. Lauren says

    February 14, 2018 at 2:41 am

    Carol, this is such a great guide for Paris! I haven’t been there yet, so I’ll have to look back to this when I plan my trip. I am not sure I’ve ever arrived at a place and left it completely up to chance on what to do – I’m such a planner! So, I’ll be using this guide for sure :)

  3. Paige says

    February 13, 2018 at 11:59 pm

    What a great guide! I’ve only been to Paris once, as a teen and on a tour, but this is full of useful information. Especially the tips on transportation. I’ll definitely hop the train to Giverny the next time I’m in Paris. I missed that last time.

  4. Jessica says

    February 13, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Did someone say Galeries Lafayette? That’s one of my favorite spots in Paris. I love the makeup counters. Paris is one of those places you can visit over and over and it never gets old. Great guide!

  5. Nisha says

    February 13, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    This is a great guide on Paris, One of the best thing about Paris is that most “Things to do” places are all accessible via their Metro. I don’t remember where I stayed during my visit to Paris. It was a few years back. I guess another visit is due! :) :)

  6. Cathy Salvador Mendoza says

    February 13, 2018 at 9:24 am

    Yay! Awesome guide to Paris! The most romantic place on earth for couples! I haven’t been but definitely will! Just like big cities, Paris has very convenient train system, nah, not like the ones that we have in Manila! haha so busy and delay ( most times! ) And when the time comes that we’re finally visiting Paris, I’ll make sure to see the most beautiful train station restaurant in the world, Le Train Bleu, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Saint Lazare and Gare Montparnasse. Hopefully next year when I move to Europe!

  7. Vanessa Chiasson says

    February 12, 2018 at 10:16 pm

    Rest in peace, coral moto jacket! I love Paris – it’s my favourite city – but you absolutely have to have a plan and a sense for the place. I’m a fan of the Latin Quarter myself for accommodations – I can always wander the streets for hours there.

  8. Meg Jerrard says

    February 12, 2018 at 8:54 pm

    This is a fabulous guide, thankyou! I’ve been to Paris a couple of times, and the metro was a fabulous way to get around. We tried to walk as much as we could, because I love being able to discover hidden gems and back streets that way, but the metro definitely helped in getting across the city to a new tourist site. We stayed in the Latin Quarter, and you’re right, it was pretty noisy! I’ll have to try Montparnasse next :)

  9. Claudia Laroye says

    February 12, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    I couldn’t agree more that planning for a Paris visit, or for any trip really, is a must. Particularly if you really wish to see certain attractions, galleries or museums. I concur with a stay in Saint-Germain-des-Pres – my fave arrondissement in Paris! It’s just so chic and beautiful, even if you can’t afford to buy anything. ;) Next time I’d love to stay in the Marais, I’ve heard great things about its accommodation options and shopping. You’ve made me dream of a return to the City of Lights!

  10. Jen Joslin says

    February 12, 2018 at 9:06 am

    This is a really well laid out guide for visiting Paris! It’s always so helpful to know the best ways to get from the airport into the city and where the best neighborhoods to stay are. Great to know that Time Out is easily available to find out about different events and sights to see in the city. Galeries Lafayette Paris sounds well worth visiting. Bummer about the beautiful jacket that got away. You’ll just have to go back! :)

  11. Indrani says

    February 12, 2018 at 8:27 am

    Paris metro is indeed very convenient mode of travel there. I don’t think it is being shallow liking the pompous part of Paris. :) I too loved Paris for that. I wasn’t aware of the budget friendly Latin Quarter of Paris.

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