Quick Answer
- Best time: late April to June and September to October.
- Where to stay: Le Marais or Saint-Germain for first-timers; Latin Quarter for value.
- From the airport: RER B, 35 to 50 minutes, 14 euros; taxis are a fixed 56 or 65 euros.
- Getting around: 2.55 euro Metro tickets, or the 32.40 euro Navigo Weekly Pass for a Monday-to-Sunday stay.
- Museums: Orsay is free on first Sundays; the Louvre only on first Friday evenings (not July or August).
At a glance
- Best time
- Late Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Language
- French
- From the airport
- RER B, 35-50 min, €14
- Visa
- Schengen rules; EES at the border
- Getting around
- Metro €2.55; weekly pass €32.40
Quick tips
- Go in late spring or early autumn. Mild weather, fewer queues, better hotel rates.
- Sleep central. Le Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés put most sights within walking distance.
- Take the RER B in, not a taxi, unless you are a group with heavy bags.
- Plan museums around the free and late slots, and book a time slot either way.
Paris rewards the traveller who gets four decisions right: the season, the neighbourhood, the ride in from the airport and the museum days. Get those right and the city is far cheaper and calmer than its reputation.
The rest of this guide explains each one, with 2026 prices checked against the official sources listed at the bottom of the page.
How do you get from the airport to central Paris?
Charles de Gaulle, about 25 km north-east of the city, is where most long-haul and many European flights land. You have three sensible options.
| Option | Time to the centre | 2026 price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RER B train | 35 to 50 min | 14 euros (Paris Region-Airports ticket) | Most travellers, no traffic risk |
| Official taxi | 45 to 60 min | 56 euros Right Bank, 65 euros Left Bank (fixed) | Groups of 3 to 4 with luggage |
| Bus 350 or 351 | 60 to 90 min | 2.05 euros (Bus-Tram ticket) | Tight budgets, light bags |
A few things that trip people up:
- A standard Metro ticket is not valid to the airport. The RER B needs the 14 euro airport ticket, unless you hold a Navigo Weekly, Monthly or Day pass, which include the airports.
- The Roissybus no longer exists. The bus from Opéra was discontinued on 1 March 2026, so ignore older guides that recommend it.
- Only take a taxi from the official rank outside arrivals. Drivers who approach you inside the terminal are not official.
What to pack for Paris
Four picks from our gear guides that suit this trip. Each card opens the live Amazon price; the links below lead to the full comparisons.
25 x 18 x 4 cm, 254 g, 2.1 L. Locking zips, a cut-resistant double-cable strap, an RFID passport pocket and a strap that clips to a chair. Reader’s Digest’s best crossbody for travel.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe best value compression set going. A double-zip pulls the air out so a week of clothes shrinks to a few inches thick, and you get eight pieces (cubes plus a shoe and laundry bag) for roughly the price of one branded cube. The fabric is thin and the zips aren’t lifetime kit, but for the money nothing beats it.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe reliable all-rounder: one USB-C and four USB-A ports, plugs for 200+ countries, and a built-in fuse with a spare. The adapter most people should buy.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonModel A1259, 10,000mAh, about 37Wh, 215 g. Two phone charges in a jacket pocket, and small enough that the two-bank limit never becomes a question.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonHow do you get around Paris?
The Metro is your default, and walking is a close second: the central arrondissements are compact and the best discoveries happen between stations.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
The shoulder months win. Average highs below come from Météo-France’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for central Paris.
| Season | Average daily high | Crowds | Prices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr to Jun) | 17 to 23°C | Building | Mid, rising into June | Parks, terraces, the all-round sweet spot |
| Summer (Jul to Aug) | Around 26°C | Heaviest | Peak | Long evenings by the Seine, but queues and some closed shops in August |
| Autumn (Sep to Oct) | 17 to 22°C | Easing | Good value | Golden light, calmer museums |
| Winter (Nov to Mar) | 8 to 13°C | Low, spiking at Christmas | Cheapest outside the holidays | Quiet museums, bargains |
Dates worth knowing: the Fête de la Musique fills the streets with free concerts every 21 June; many locals leave in August, so the city feels emptier even while the big sights stay packed; and prices climb sharply over Christmas and New Year. Late January and February are usually the cheapest weeks of the year.
Where should you stay in Paris?
Paris is small for a capital, so your base matters more for mood than for distance. The arrondissements spiral out clockwise from the Louvre: the lower the number, the more central.
| Neighbourhood | Vibe | Price level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Marais (3rd/4th) | Historic, lively, walkable | High | First-timers, food, boutiques |
| Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) | Elegant, café-lined | Highest | Classic Left Bank, museums |
| Latin Quarter (5th) | Student, central | Mid | Value without losing the centre |
| Montmartre (18th) | Hilltop, village feel | Mid | Views and atmosphere, more stairs |
| Around Opéra (9th) | Grand, well-connected | Mid to high | Transport links, big hotels |
For a first visit, pick Le Marais or Saint-Germain and walk everywhere. The Latin Quarter is the value pick that still feels central, and Montmartre suits a repeat visit when atmosphere matters more than minutes. Rates swing a lot by season, so check your own dates rather than trusting any fixed figure. Our Paris where-to-stay guide goes street by street.
Which Paris museums are free, and when?
The rules changed in January 2026, so double-check anything older than this year.
| Museum | Standard ticket | Free for everyone | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louvre | 22 euros (EEA), 32 euros (non-EEA) | First Friday of the month after 6 pm (not July or August), and 14 July | Tuesdays |
| Musée d’Orsay | 16 euros online, 14 euros on site | First Sunday of the month, time slot required | Mondays |
Under-18s of any nationality enter both free, and so do EEA citizens and residents aged 18 to 25 with ID. Book a time slot online even when entry is free: it is the difference between walking in and queuing outside.
What should you not miss?
Aim for a handful done well rather than a checklist done badly.
- The Louvre: pick two or three wings, book a slot and use the Wednesday or Friday late opening (until 9 pm).
- The Musée d’Orsay: the Impressionists in a former railway station, and far less tiring than the Louvre.
- Sainte-Chapelle: the stained-glass chapel on the Île de la Cité; go on a bright day and book ahead.
- The Eiffel Tower from outside: the Trocadéro terrace and the Champ de Mars give you the postcard for free.
- Free views and walks: the steps of Sacré-Cœur, the Seine at dusk, a green chair in the Jardin du Luxembourg.
How do you eat well in Paris without overpaying?
- Breakfast at a boulangerie: a croissant and a coffee at the counter (cheaper than a table) costs a few euros.
- Lunch at a covered market: the Marché des Enfants Rouges in Le Marais, the city’s oldest covered market, serves cooked plates from a mix of world-food stalls.
- Falafel on Rue des Rosiers: a loaded pita to go is one of the best cheap meals in the city. A lunchtime queue is a good sign.
- Order the lunch formule: a fixed two-course lunch at a neighbourhood bistro is far gentler than dinner, and une carafe d’eau (tap water) is free by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Paris?
Late April to June and September to October are the sweet spot: average highs of roughly 17 to 23°C, long light and prices below the summer peak. July and August average around 26°C, are the busiest months, and some small shops close for the August holidays. Winter is cheapest outside the Christmas and New Year rush.
Where should I stay in Paris for the first time?
Le Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés keep you central, walkable and close to the big sights. The Latin Quarter is lively and a touch cheaper, Montmartre trades distance for atmosphere and views, and the streets around Opéra are handy for transport and shopping. Pick one base and walk.
How do I get from Charles de Gaulle airport into central Paris?
The RER B train runs from Charles de Gaulle to Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles and Saint-Michel in about 35 to 50 minutes. It needs the Paris Region-Airports ticket, which costs 14 euros in 2026; a standard Metro ticket is not valid. Taxis use a fixed fare of 56 euros to the Right Bank or 65 euros to the Left Bank, which can make sense for a group with luggage.
Is the Paris Metro easy to use?
Yes. The Metro is dense, frequent and signposted by line number and end-of-line direction, so you mostly match the line and the terminus. A single Metro-Train-RER ticket costs 2.55 euros in 2026, loaded on your phone or a 2 euro Navigo Easy card. If your stay covers a Monday-to-Sunday week, the Navigo Weekly Pass (32.40 euros) covers every zone, including the airport trains.
How much does a day in Paris cost?
As a rough guide, budget travellers can manage on around 70 to 120 euros a day with a hostel or simple hotel, bakery and market meals and public transport. Mid-range visitors should plan for roughly 160 to 300 euros a day, more for central hotels in peak season. Hotel rates move with dates, so check your own nights before you budget.
Which Paris museums are free, and when?
The Musée d’Orsay is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, with a mandatory time-slot booking. The Louvre is no longer free on first Sundays: it is free on the first Friday of the month after 6 pm (except July and August) and on 14 July. Under-18s enter both free, as do EEA citizens and residents aged 18 to 25.
Start planning your Paris trip
You don’t need to book anything today. But if your dates are fixed, check flights and hotels for the days either side first: in Paris, shifting a trip by a week out of peak season often saves more than any discount code.
Find cheap flights to Paris | Compare Paris hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit France guide and browse more stays on the hotels hub.
