Explore Paris
Plan Your Trip to Paris: Best of Paris Tourism
Essential Paris
Trip ideas from our community
The perfect mother-daughter trip to Paris
- Bateaux Mouches8,171There are many options for boat rides down the Seine, but our favorite was the dinner cruise with Bateaux Mouches. Not only is it a great way to see the city (including the Eiffel Tower, which sparkles in the evening), but you also get to enjoy a four-course dinner and live music while taking in the sights. If you’re not one for floating restaurants, consider booking one of the day cruises instead—you’ll still get epic, unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower.
- Palais Galliéra338My daughter is into fashion, so we made it a priority to visit the Palais Galliéra on our trip. The museum, which is housed in a Renaissance-inspired palace just a short walk from some of the top haute couture boutiques in Paris, holds more than 200,000 items related to the history of fashion, including photos of famous designers and my daughter’s favorite: 18th-century dresses.
- Palace of Versailles27,375The former home of King Louis XVI, the Palace of Versailles captivated both me and my daughter for hours. We took the train right from Gare du Nord and then spent the entire day exploring the museum interior, picnicking in the park, and strolling through the perfectly manicured gardens. We also enjoyed renting a rowboat and paddling along the Grand Canal.
- Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann7,700The sprawling Galeries Lafayette department store is about way more than just shopping. There are restaurants, a new spa, and a range of experiences, from cooking classes to guided history tours. My daughter and I opted for the macaron making class, led by an esteemed French pastry chef. It was so much fun making the shells, adding the ganache, and, of course, tasting our handiwork. Held in a quiet corner of Galeries Lafayette, right in the heart of the Opera district, the class makes for a great pre-dinner-and-a-show activity.
- Pink Mamma2,575Pink Mama is a popular Italian restaurant housed in a cute, rose-colored building—a.k.a. the ideal spot for a mother-daughter meal. The garden-themed space, with its artwork, mismatched tableware, and pops of color, is incredibly Insta-worthy, and the menu is full of indulgent dishes like lobster risotto and Neapolitan-style pizza topped with fresh truffles. Split the tiramisu for dessert.
- Carette828In Paris, you could eat a croissant at a different spot everyday and never run out of new places to visit. Trust me, we tried. Our favorite of the bunch was Carette, where we paired flaky pastries with rich cups of chocolat chaud (hot chocolate). Everything was delicious, the decor is classic and elegant, and the views of Place des Vosges from your table make eating here extra special.
- Le Bois de Boulogne402One day on our trip, we picked up a baguette, lots of cheese, and some fruit and had a picnic in the stunning Le Bois de Boulogne park on the city’s western side. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1852, it’s the second-largest park in Paris and home to landscaped gardens, several lakes, a waterfall, and even a zoo and amusement park. We chose a sunny spot in the park surrounding the Château de Bagatelle and enjoyed our lunch in view of the castle.
- Palais Garnier19,948The opulent Palais Garnier opera house plays host to everything from chamber music concerts to famous operas, but my daughter and I came here to see the Paris Opera Ballet. We saw a show that my daughter herself had performed in back home and it was just spectacular. The baroque architecture and grandness of the opera house only added to the magic.
Explore Paris by interest
On the Seine
For the love of pastries
Paris on a dime
Make like a chef
If you're feeling fancy-ish
Under-the-radar art
Mix it up after dark
Day trips to write home about
Shop under the sun
Paris, the page-turner
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Paris
In the words of those who've been there before ...
What is the best way to get there?
Flying:
Paris is served by two international airports: Paris-Charles de Gaulle (the second busiest airport in Europe) and Paris-Orly.
Train:
The Gare du Nord is a major transit hub for trains to Northern France and to international destinations in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting Paris from overseas, use the government’s Visa Wizard to see if you need a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer (June to August): Summer is festival season in Paris, with highlights including Paris L'Eté, Fnac Live, and Solidays, while the Bastille Day fireworks draw huge crowds and the Paris Plages festival brings the beach to the banks of the Seine. Temperatures average highs in the 70s F (20s C) and lows in the 50s F (Teens C).
Alternatively, visit over the holiday season, when Christmas markets, NYE parties, and festive illuminations show the City of Lights at its most atmospheric. During the holiday season Paris sees average highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s (10 to 0 C).
Bicycle
Vélib' is a bike-share system with thousands of bicycle stations located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities. Visitors can purchase a one- or seven-day subscription either at the docking stations or online.
Train
RATP operates its metro and RER services daily from 5:30 a.m. to about 1:15 a.m (2:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday). The metro system is the city’s local underground subway network servicing central Paris and the RER is the regional express network. More information about the network and fares can be found online.
Bus
RATP operates Paris’ local bus system daily from 5:30 a.m. to about 1:15 a.m (2:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday). At night, the Noctilien night bus network takes over, operating 47 bus lines from 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. More information about the network and fares can be found online.
Taxis
Hailing down a taxi on the street in Paris can be difficult so it is best to find an official taxi stand. You can also book a taxi online or on your smartphone here.
Ridesharing
Uber and Bolt are readily available in Paris on your smartphone.
Scooters
Cityscoot is an electronic scooter-sharing scheme which offers scooter rental through an app on your smartphone.
Are there local customs I should know?
- We recommend staying at one of the most popular hotels in Paris, which include:
- Some of the most popular restaurants in Paris include:
- Paris is known for some of its popular attractions, which include:
- We recommend checking out these popular tours when looking for something to do in Paris:
- If you're a more budget-conscious traveler, then you may want to consider traveling to Paris between March and May, when hotel prices are generally the lowest. Peak hotel prices generally start between December and February.