Cafés, Eiffel Tower, Art
& the City of Light
Paris is one of the world's most visited cities for a reason. But most visitors follow the same route. This guide helps you find the Paris that stays with you.
Why Paris?
Paris rewards those who slow down. It's a city best experienced at café pace — morning coffee, a walk along the Seine, a museum, a long lunch. The monuments are extraordinary. But the real Paris is in the neighbourhoods, the markets, the boulangeries and the bistros.
Eiffel Tower — Go at Night
The Eiffel Tower is more beautiful than you expect and more crowded than you'd like. Book skip-the-line tickets online in advance. The tower at night, lit up and sparkling on the hour, is one of the great sights in Europe.
The Louvre & Musée d'Orsay
The Louvre is the world's most visited museum. Pick your priorities (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory) and allow 3 hours. Book in advance — the queues without are brutal.
The Musée d'Orsay is, many argue, the better museum — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas in a stunning converted railway station.
The Neighbourhoods
Le Marais — best all-round neighbourhood. Jewish Quarter, Place des Vosges, galleries. Montmartre — Sacré-Cœur, narrow streets, go early morning. Saint-Germain — literary cafés, Luxembourg Gardens.
What to Eat in Paris
Best Time to Visit Paris
Paris stays with you
Paris doesn't try to impress you. It simply exists. And that's exactly what makes it so impressive.