If you’re planning a trip to Paris for the first time, congratulations! I’m so excited for you to experience one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. There are a lot of things to know about visiting Paris, and so in this post, I’m sharing some of my top Paris travel tips – the best things to know before you go to Paris as a first-time visitor.
This is a guest post by Paris expert Stephanie from the travel blog The Unknown Enthusiast
Why Visit Paris?
Paris is famous for incredible food, beautiful historic buildings, wonderful art museums and some of the most iconic monuments in the world – if you’re thinking about visiting Paris for the first time, you definitely should! However, planning your first trip to Paris can be overwhelming, with so many things to think about when visiting this lovely city.
You want to make sure you enjoy your time here and have an enjoyable stay, getting to enjoy a taste of Parisian culture without missing out on the top attractions in Paris. So, I’ve brought together my top Paris tips for travelers so you can prepare for your trip.
18 Top Paris Travel Tips
I wrote this article based on my top tips for visiting Paris for the first time, but even if you’ve been to Paris before it is easy to miss some of the best things to do in Paris by not planning properly! So, I hope these tips for travel to Paris will help you whether it’s your first trip or your tenth!
Check out these essential tips when traveling to Paris that will make your time here all the more special!
Don’t Miss the Top Things to do in Paris
There are lots of fabulous things to do in Paris, and these are some of the most popular activities and tours that many visitors choose to do on their first trip to Paris.
- 1-hour River Seine Cruise
- Eiffel Tower Direct Access Tour
- Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Skip the Line Ticket
- Skip-the-Line Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Tickets
- Paris Saint-Germain Parc des Princes Stadium Tour
- Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show Ticket
- A Walking Food Tour with Cheese and Wine
- A Disneyland Paris One Day Ticket
Or you can browse more tours and attractions in Paris here. That said, there is no need to pay for tours and experiences in Paris if you don’t want to. You can still have an amazing Paris vacation without spending a lot of money, read on for more Paris travel tips!
Buy Baguettes and Pastries from a Boulangerie
Stepping into a boulangerie, or bakery, in Paris is one of the most classically French things you can do! French people usually go to bakeries on a daily basis, picking up a fresh baguette to round out the next meal, buying a breakfast pastry in the morning, a sandwich or quiche for lunch, or a dessert for the evening.
You’ll definitely want to try a croissant, pain au chocolat (like a croissant but with chocolate in the middle), and a croissant aux amandes (a croissant with almond paste inside – my personal favorite).
If you’re American and this is your first time trying a true French baguette – you’re in for a treat! Baguettes in France are nothing like baguettes in the United States. French baguettes are crackly on the outside (press your thumb into the crust just a little bit to hear the crunch!), and perfectly soft on the inside. Even better – they usually cost only about 1 euro!
Try Cheese from a Fromagerie
Besides baguettes (and wine), cheese is one of the most quintessential French foods there is, and a fromagerie, or cheese shop, is where you can find the highest quality cheeses. Personally, I don’t feel like I’ve been to France unless I’ve eaten at least a few different varieties of French cheese.
Whether it’s your first trip to Paris or your 5th, I would highly recommend stopping at a fromagerie and picking up a few varieties to sample. You can always ask the fromager for help and suggestions, and if you ask nicely, they may cut a small slice of cheese for you to sample to help make your decision.
You can choose among cheeses from a sheep, cow, or goat, between hard and soft cheeses, and strong or mild-flavored cheeses. I would recommend trying a good brie or camembert, as well as comté (my favorite!). Tomme de savoie is another good cheese choice.
After you’ve bought some cheese and a baguette, find a nearby park and enjoy a little picnic lunch! It’s one of my favorite pastimes in Paris (and if you’re visiting with your partner, it’s one of the most romantic things to do in Paris).
Stay in a Central Location
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, or neighborhoods in the city. Each of these arrondissements has a different feel to it, and of course, is home to different attractions. Each arrondissement has a number (1 through 20), but some of them also have other names.
For example, the 18th arrondissement is known as Montmartre, the 3rd and 4th arrondissements are known as the Marais, and the 5th arrondissement is known as the Latin Quarter.
While you can stay farther outside the city (beyond the 20 arrondissements), I would highly recommend staying in a more central location, where you can walk to some of the attractions and really enjoy the Parisian environment.
When deciding which arrondissement to stay in Paris, it’s important to consider which places you want to walk to, the vibe that you are going for (e.g. would you like to stay somewhere more residential or right by the biggest attractions?). I would recommend considering the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 18th arrondissements when deciding where to stay in Paris for the first time.
My top travel tip for where to stay in Paris? Choose a hotel near the Arc de Triomphe. This stunning archway is one of the most beautiful landmarks in France and you’ll be within walking distance to several other attractions and points of interest. It’s a lovely neighborhood, and the metro stop under the Arc connects to several really convenient metro lines to take you to top spots around the city.
Hotel Rooms are Incredibly Small
One more thing to bear in mind is that hotels in Paris are usually located in historic buildings – which is so fun and authentic! These historic buildings also tend to be pretty tight, and so a standard hotel room in Paris is much, much smaller than a standard hotel room in the United States.
In the same vein, hotel elevators in France are teeny tiny – sometimes only big enough to hold one person and their luggage! Personally, I find the elevators in France to be such a fun novelty!
Unfortunately, Paris is quite expensive when it comes to accommodation, so prepare to spend more than you might expect for your small room! Being prepared and having accurate expectations for the smaller accommodations in Paris will make your stay much more pleasant.
Where to Stay in Paris on a Budget
While Parisian hotels can definitely get pretty expensive, there are a good number of budget-friendly options in the city. Here are a few to consider:
Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels: This hostel is located in the heart of the cozy Montmartre district, has options for dorm or private rooms, and has several pretty and well-designed common spaces for guests to enjoy. >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
The Absolute Paris Boutique Hostel: This hostel offers primarily private rooms (although there is still a bunk room option), which is great for budget travelers wanting a little more privacy. It’s in the 11th arrondissement, but right near the 3rd the heart of the trendy Marais district. >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
L’Ouest Hotel: This budget-friendly hotel is in an excellent, centrally-located location, only a 10-20 walk from Montmartre, the Opera Garnier, the Champs Elysees, Parc Monceau, and the Arc de Triomphe! >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
Enjoy Paris for Free
While Paris is not a cheap city there are plenty of free things to do in Paris that you can enjoy without even spending a penny. Get lost in pretty neighborhoods like Montmatre, explore the beautiful parks in Paris and stroll along the Seine as well as check out some of the free museums in Paris.
Remember that to enjoy a city like Paris you don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive activities or attractions in Paris, just make the most of the Parisian streets and admire the views as you wander.
Paris is very Walkable, but Attractions are Spread Out
Paris is a very walkable city, and you’ll find lots of other pedestrians out strolling the streets or commuting to work on foot. While there are plenty of attractions located within walking distance of each other, the city is also pretty big, and attractions are spread throughout many of the neighborhoods.
Take the Metro
So how to get between the different neighborhoods and sights in Paris? Take the metro! The metro is a safe, inexpensive, and convenient way to get around Paris. I’d recommend you buy a “carnet,” or a set of 10 metro tickets, at once. It’s just slightly cheaper per ticket, and means you don’t have to buy a metro ticket every time you enter a station. I find that I usually go on 3-5 metro rides a day when I’m doing heavy sightseeing around Paris.
Make sure to keep your metro ticket on you until you are outside of the metro system. There are officials who will wander and check your ticket, making sure you have a current one (and fining you if you don’t). I’ve only been stopped and checked 3 times, so it’s not frequent, but it does happen.
Here is my tip for using the metro in Paris: I recommend keeping your unused tickets in a pouch in your purse or wallet. Then, when you go to use a ticket, keep that ticket in your pants pocket while you are riding the trains. As you exit the station, toss it in the trash. That way, you don’t get mixed up on what tickets are what and which ones have been used.
Also, while the metro is overall safe, do be careful of your belongings and watch for pickpockets.
Wander Montmartre (not just Sacre Coeur)
Most tourists come to the area of Montmartre to see the Moulin Rouge, or the Sacré Coeur Basilica, a stark white church with a domed top. And while you definitely should make a stop at Sacré Coeur and Moulin Rouge, there is actually so much more to experience in Montmartre! The streets in this neighborhood are particularly charming.
You can visit La Maison Rose, an iconic pink restaurant right in the heart of Montmartre. Discover some of many picturesque staircases in Montmartre, or two other historic windmills besides the Moulin Rouge. On Rue Lepic there are plenty of pastry, chocolate, and cheese shops to discover.
Learn at least the Basic Greetings in French
Although there is a stereotype (I think un-deserved) of French people being rude, in actuality, French people really value politeness. It’s polite to say hello whenever you enter a shop or interact with a merchant, and you always say thank you, goodbye,or have a good day, when leaving.
While it’s not necessary to speak French when visiting Paris, learning a few basic phrases is very appreciated by French people. If you can only remember a few words, learn these:
- Hello: Bonjour
- Goodbye: Au revoir
- Have a good day: Bonne journée
- Excuse me: Pardon
- Please: S’il vous plait
- Thank you: Merci
- Do you speak English: Parlez-vous anglais?
Don’t Skip the Gardens at Versailles
The massive chateau of Versailles is a top bucket list item for many people on their trip to Paris, and indeed, the palace is unbelievably sumptuous and ornate and over the top. But the gardens are just as lovely and have remarkable attention to detail.
You can find manicured gardens, large ponds and reflecting pools, over 400 statues, a grand lawn, and different groves with paths through them. In the back of the Versailles grounds there are three other beautiful buildings to walk through: The Grand Trianon, the Petit Trianon, and Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet are all buildings designed to give the king and queen a respite from daily palace life, and are gorgeous retreats on the Versailles grounds.
BOOK TICKETS TO VERSAILLES
Essential Tips for Visiting the Louvre
The Louvre is massive. You could literally spend days or weeks discovering all the artwork displayed within its walls. But did you know that the Louvre itself actually used to be a palace? Personally, I’ve always thought that the Louvre building is in itself a gorgeous work of art – you have intricate sculptures and columns and murals painted on the ceilings!
The Louvre is divided into 3 separate wings, and each wing has several floors. While everyone has their favorites for what to see at the Louvre, here are my suggestions for what to see on a visit to the Louvre:
- In the Denon Wing: On the 1st floor you can see the Winged Victory, the Mona Lisa, Napoleon’s Coronation, the Apollo Gallery
- In the Richelieu Wing: On the 0 floor, you can see the Cour Marly and Cour Puget sculpture galleries, and the Code of Hammurabi in the Antiquities section. On the 2nd floor there are some French and Northern European paintings.
- In the Sully wing: The Venus de Milo is on the 0 floor. Go to the 2nd floor for more French and Northern European paintings
Don’t forget to book your tickets online in advance to avoid the huge lines! >>>BOOK TICKETS HERE
Choosing Which Paris Museums to Visit
Paris has dozens of museums beyond the Louvre, and even the most casual of art enjoyers will find something beautiful to appreciate in the museums of Paris. Here are a few other museums to consider visiting:
- The Rodin: sculptures set in a historic estate. The most famous work is “The Thinker,” set in the garden.
- The Musée d’Orsay: Has beautiful impressionist art (think Renoir, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Degas, and others)
- The L’Orangerie: Holds many of Monet’s Water Lilies paintings.
- The Centre Pompidou: Modern art (and the building itself is modern art!)
- Musée de Cluny: A museum of medieval art
- Musée Carnavalet: A museum about the history of Paris
Paris Museum Pass versus the Paris Pass
Depending on what you want to do in Paris, you may want to consider the Paris Museum Pass or the Paris Pass. The Paris Museum Pass includes entry to, you guessed it, many of the museums and monuments around the city, including the Louvre, Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, the Rodin and Orsay Museum, and Sainte Chapelle (plus many others!).
The Paris Pass includes admission to all of these museums and monuments, but also includes entrance to other restaurants (with a meal included) and experiences around the city.
It’s worth considering both of these passes, as, depending on what you want to do, they can both be good money savers in Paris!
The French Eat Dinner Late
French people tend to eat dinner quite a bit later than people in the United States, with the dinner rush usually going between 7:30-11pm. If you are eating at 7pm, you will almost certainly be by yourself (or with other tourists).
A few tips: Sometimes restaurants will close between lunch and dinner service. French people tend to eat quite slowly, and take a long time to savor their meal and linger over dinner. Finally, don’t choose restaurants right by popular monuments or tourist attractions – going even a few blocks away will bring you to better, more local restaurants.
Public Bathrooms (especially free ones) Are Rare
It is remarkably difficult to find a public bathroom, much less a free public bathroom in Paris. Any of the larger museums and monuments will have bathrooms, but you may have to pay 50 cents to 1 euro to use it. Restaurants or cafes may or may not have a public bathroom, and again, you may need to pay a little to use it.
Definitely don’t count on stores, supermarkets, or metro stations having public bathrooms. Sometimes you can find a bathroom in a park, but not always (and sometimes they are locked). There are occasionally little bathroom pods on the street that you can use, but these will often have somewhat of a line, can be incredibly disgusting, and are often out of order.
The moral of the story is: if you see a restroom, take advantage!
Paris in December is Magical
While it might be cold and miserable weather, visiting Paris in the winter can actually be a wonderful experience, especially at Christmas time. Christmas trees and colorful decorations are set up all over the city, and there are well over a dozen Christmas markets that take place in Paris during December.
The largest market is out in La Defense, but the markets by the Eiffel Tower, Les Halles, and the Jardin de Tuileries are all particularly popular. Make sure you swing by Galeries Lafayette to see their famous, giant Christmas tree, and sip some mulled wine or hot chocolate as you browse the Christmas markets – and come prepared to wrap up warm!
Final Thoughts on Visiting Paris for the First Time
The biggest travel tip I can give you for Paris is to just go! Paris is a beautiful city and one that everyone should experience at least once in their life. So, what are you waiting for?
About the Author
Stephanie is the author of the travel blog The Unknown Enthusiast, where she writes about exciting travel destinations around the globe. You can find her on Pinterest and Instagram.