When to Go
Best Time to Visit
April–June, September–October. Mild weather and longer days without the August tourist crush (many Parisians leave the city in August).
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$60/day
Mid-range
$160/day
Luxury
$450/day
Boulangeries make breakfast and lunch shockingly cheap; sit-down dinners run higher than London.
With Kids
Family Travel
Disneyland Paris (a day trip), Jardin du Luxembourg playgrounds, Cité des Sciences. Free museums for under-18s.
Together
Couples Travel
Seine sunset cruise, Le Marais walks, picnic on Pont des Arts, intimate bistros in the 11th.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
Built for solo wandering — cafés welcome a book and an espresso for an hour. Stay in the Marais or Saint-Germain.
Food
What to Eat
- Croissant. Du Pain et des Idées, Stohrer, or any neighborhood boulangerie — buttery, flaky, daily.
- Steak Frites. Bistro classic — Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is the only-one-dish institution.
- Escargots. Garlic, butter, parsley — try them once at a brasserie.
- Crème Brûlée. The dessert worth ordering twice. La Cuisine de Philippe is reliable.
- Falafel. L’As du Fallafel in the Marais — the queue is worth it.
Transportation
Getting Around
Métro is dense and reaches everywhere; walk between landmarks.
Buy a Navigo Easy card. Vélib bikes are good for the river path. Watch for ticket-validation scams at machines.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- Le Marais. Boutique shops, falafel, cafés, queer-friendly.
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Literary cafés, antiquaires, the publishing-world quarter.
- Montmartre. Sacré-Cœur, narrow stairs, the artsy hill.
- Belleville. Multicultural, street art, panoramic views.
What to Know
Safety
Mostly safe. Watch for pickpockets on Line 1, around the Eiffel Tower, and at the Louvre exit.