Paris Travel Guide
France Snapshot
Country
France
Language
French
Currency
Euro
Phonecode
+ 33
Emergency
112
Timezone
GMT + 1
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Learn before you go
Electricity
- Plugs have two or three round prongs
- Power sockets are type C and E
- Standard voltage is 230V & 50 Hz
Driving Rules
- Drive on the right and pass on the left
- Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers (front and back)
- Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited
- You should always carry a red warning triangle and the fluorescent waistcoats
Speed Limits
Motorway: 130 Km/h (80 mph)
Dual carriageways: 110 Km/h (70 mph)
National roads: 80 Km/h (50 mph)
Urban areas: 50 Km/h (30 mph)
Opening times
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9am – 1pm & 3pm – 7pm)
Supermarkets
Monday-Saturday (9am – 11pm)
Post offices
Monday-Friday (8.30am -5pm)
Pharmacies
Monday-Friday (8.30am – 7.300pm)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8am – 4pm)
Entry requirements
- France a Schengen area country
- Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned date of departure from the Schengen area
- Two pages required for entry stamp
- Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- You may be asked for proof of sufficient funds and/or a return plane ticket
- Exchange restrictions on entry or exit set at 10,000 euros or equivalent
Weather Seasons
Spring (March to May)
Most pleasant season with mild weather.
Summer (June to August)
Warm weather with average daily highs of 77°F (25°C).
Fall (September to November)
Mild weather with cooler temperatures.
Winter (December to February)
Cooler weather with average daily highs of 46°F (8°C).
Average temperatures
Minimum / Maximum (°C|°F)
Dec – Feb (3°/8° | 37°/46°)
Mar – May (5°/20° | 41°/68°)
Jun – Aug (14°/25° | 57°/77°)
Sep – Nov (10°/25° | 50°/77°)
Cost Seasons
High Season
June – August
Christmas, New Year and Easter
Shoulder Season
April-May & September-November
Low Season
November – February
Airplane Tickets & accommodation
The cheapest months to visit Paris for flights and accommodation are usually from January to April and October to mid December . The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Paris is usually mid-January
Public Holidays
January 1st: New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An)
April 10th: Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
May 1st: Labor Day (Fête du Travail)
May 8th: Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
May 25th: Ascension Day (l’Ascension)
June 5th: Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
July 14th: Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
August 15th: Assumption Day (l’Assomption)
November 1st: All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint)
November 11th: Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
December 25th: Christmas Day (Noël)
By Plane
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): Main international airport serving Paris. Located 25 kilometers northeast of the city center.
- Orly Airport (ORY): Second largest. Located 14 kilometers south of the city center.
- Beauvais Tillé Airport (BVA): Smaller airport located 68 kilometers north of Paris. Mainly used by low-cost airlines.
By Train
- The Eurostar: High-speed train service. Connects London to Paris in 2 hours and 16 minutes.
- The TGV: High-speed train service. Connects Paris to many other cities in France and Europe.
- The TER: Regional train service. Connects Paris to smaller towns and villages in France.
By Car
- Around 780 kilometers from London (about 8 hours drive)
- Around 600 kilometers from Berlin (about 7 hours drive)
- Around 900 kilometers from Rome (about 11 hours drive)
By Bus
- There are several bus companies that offer direct bus services to Paris from many cities in Europe.
- The journey time varies depending on the departure city, but it typically takes between 8 and 12 hours.
By Boat
- There are several cruise lines that offer cruises to Paris from various ports in Europe.
RER B train
- Fastest and cheapest way from CDG to Paris city centre
- Train runs every 10-15 minutes on weekdays
- Journey duration: 30 minutes
- Single ticket costs €11,45
- RER B stations at Paris-CDG airport:”Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1″ station (Terminals 1 and 3) and “Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV” station (Terminal 2)
- RER B stations at Paris: Paris-Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Palais-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau, Cité Universitaire
TGV train
- High-speed train with direct service to Paris city centre from CDG
- Journey duration: 20 minutes
- The train runs every 30 minutes
- Single ticket cost around €20
- TGV station at Paris-CDG airport: “Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV” station (Terminal 2)
- TGV stations at Paris: Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est, Gare Montparnasse
Roissybus
- Direct bus CDG Airport <> Paris city centre
- Runs every 15 to 30 minutes
- About 60 minutes ride to city centre
- Single ticket costs €16,20
- RoissyBus stops at Paris-CDG airport: Terminal 1 – Terminal 3 – Terminal 2AC – Terminal 2D – Terminal 2EF.
- RoissyBus stops at Paris: Paris-Opéra (Corner of “rue Scribe” and “rue Auber”)
Taxi & similar services
Taxi rates (Approximate)
CGD airport <> Paris “right bank”: 55 euros
CGD airport <> Paris “left bank”: 60 euros
CGD airport <> Paris Disneyland: 75-90 euros
Taxis CGD locations
Terminal 1: exit 24 on the arrivals level
Terminal 2A: exit 6
Terminal 2C: exit 14
Terminal 2D: exit 7
Terminal 2E: gate 10 on the arrivals level
Terminal 2F: gate 11 ont the arrivals level
Terminal 3: exit of the arrivals hall
Terminal 2G: blue gate
Private Transfer
- Cost about €70-90 (by car)
- Journey duration: 30-45 minutes
OrlyBus
- Journey duration: 30 minutes
- Journey price: 11.20€
- Frequency: every 10 to 15 minutes
- OrlyBus stops at Paris-Orly: bus station Orly 1, 2, 3 (From/To Paris), bus station Orly 4 (To Paris)
- OrlyBus stops at Paris: “place Denfert-Rochereau” with connection to train RER B or metro lines 4 and 6
OrlyVal + RER B
- Journey duration: 25 to 35 minutes (RER) + 2-6 minutes (OrlyVal)
- Journey price (OrlyVal + RER B ): €14.10
Orly airport <> Disneyland Paris Shuttle
- Journey price: €24 (adult), € 11 (children)
- Frequency: Every 30 min
- OrlyBus stops at Paris-Orly: Orly 1-2 (Level 0, Stop 15, Exit 15a), Orly 4 (Bus station, Stop 3, Exit 47d)
- Disney’s Hotels: Disneyland Hotel, Newport Bay Club, Sequoia Lodge, Santa Fe, Cheyenne, Hotel NewYork
Private Transfer
Metro
- Cheapest, easiest and fastest way to get around Paris
- There are 16 metro lines and about 300 metro stations
- Each line has a specific colour and number
- Free metro maps available at in stations
- From around 6am until around 12.45am (Sunday to Thursday) or 1.45am (Friday, Saturday).
- Metro tickets cost €2.10 each
RER
- The RER is a regional train system that connects Paris to its suburbs.
- There are five RER lines, which are numbered A-E.
- Prices are similar to the metro within the city limits
- RER runs every day from around 6am until around 12.45am
Tramway
- Paris has 4 tramway lines (T1, T2, T3, T4.)
- Tram tickets are the same as metro and RER tickets
Bus
- Around 64 bus lines go through the centre of the city
- Buses runs from around 7am until around 12.30am (Some lines only until 8.30pm)
- Allow around 5 minutes per stop to estimate journey time, with additional time for heavy traffic
- Line number and direction indicated on the front and on the sides of the bus
- Noctilien: is a night bus service with 47 lines across Paris region operating from 12.30am to 5.30am
Taxi
- Taxis are available 24 hours a day
- Have a sign on the roof saying “Taxi Parisien” (if the sign is lit up and green means it’s avialable)
- Have a display meter showing the cost of the journey inside
- Taxis must accept payment by credit card, regardless of the fare
- Minimum fare is €7.30
Flat Rates to/from airport:
- Paris ‘Rive Droite’ (‘Right Bank’)/CDG Roissy = €53
- Paris ‘Rive Gauche’ (Left Bank’)/CDG Roissy = €58
- Paris Rive Droite/Orly = €37
- Paris Rive gauche/Orly = €32
Bike
- Biking is a great way to see Paris
- Vélib’ is a bike-sharing service launched in 2007
- There are 1400 docking points and 20,000 bicycles
- Mechanical bikes are green and eletric are blue (40% electric)
- 24h, 3 day and monthly passes available
Prices without subscription plan
- Mechanical: First 30 min €1 + €1/extra 30min
- Eletric: First 45 min €3 + €2/extra 30min
Walking
- Most of the major tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other.
- Walking is a great way to see the city and get some exercise.
- Travel times vary depending on the distance traveled, but typically range from 10-30 minutes.
Greetings
- Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello
- Bonsoir (bohn-swar) – Good evening
- Au revoir (oh reh-vwahr) – Goodbye
- Salut (sah-loo) – Hi/Bye (informal)
Polite phrases
- S’il vous plaît (seel voo play) – Please
- Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
- De rien (duh ree-ahn) – You’re welcome
- Pardon (pah-rohn) – Excuse me
Basic questions
- Où est…? (oo eh) – Where is…?
- Combien coûte…? (kohn-bee-ahn koo-teh) – How much does…? cost?
- Comment dit-on…? (koh-mahn dee-tohn) – How do you say…?
- Parlez-vous anglais? (pah-lay voo ahn-gleh) – Do you speak English?
Other useful phrases
- Je ne parle pas français. (zhuh nuh parl pah frah-nsay) – I don’t speak French.
- Je ne comprends pas. (zhuh nuh kohn-prohn-duh pah) – I don’t understand.
- S’il vous plaît, parlez plus lentement. (seel voo play, parl plew luh-mahn) – Please speak more slowly.
- Aidez-moi, s’il vous plaît. (ay-day-moh, seel voo play) – Help me, please.
January
New Year’s Markets, January Sales, International Circus Festival of Tomorrow
February
Valentine’s Day , Rétromobile, Salon International de l’Agriculture (International Agricultural Show)
March
Livre Paris, Banlieues Bleues (music festival), Festival du Livre de Paris, Cinéma du Réel (documentary film festival), La Fête du Cinéma (film festival), Paris Carnival (named Pantruche Carnaval, the Saint-Fargeau or the Promenade du Boeuf Gras)
April
Festival Chorus Paris, Marathon International de Paris, Paris Beer Festival, Foire de Paris
May
St-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival, La Nuit Européenne des Musées, Foire du Trône, Taste Paris, Roland-Garros Open opening
June
Festival de St-Denis, Fête de la Musique, Gay Pride (Marche des Fiertés), Nuit Blanche, Download Festival, Fête des Tuileries
July
Seasonal beaches-like (plages) at the banks of the Seine, Paris Jazz Festival, Tour de France, Bastille Day, Open-air Cinema at La Villette, Lollapalooza Paris, summer sales
August
Seasonal beaches-like (plages) at the banks of the Seine, Classique au Vert, Rock en Seine, Silhouette, many restaurants and shops are closed
September
Jazz à la Villette, Festival d’Automne, Techno Parade, Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, Journée Sans Voiture
October
Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain, Salon du Chocolat
November
Pitchfork Music Festival Paris, Illuminations de Noël
December
Salon du Cheval de Paris, Christmas Markets , Le Festival du Merveilleux, New Year’s Eve
Best Museums
Other Landmarks
What to do
Frequently Asked Questions
about Paris
Click on titles to show or hide content
The best time to visit Paris is from April to June and September to November when the weather is mild, and the crowds are not as intense as in the summer months. However, be prepared for some rainy days.
Some of the must-see attractions in Paris include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Coeur, and the Champs-Élysées.
Paris has an extensive public transportation system that includes buses, metro, and trams. You can also rent a bike, use a taxi, or walk around the city.
Some of the best places to shop in Paris include the Champs-Élysées, Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché, and the Marais district.
The currency used in Paris is the Euro.
Paris is famous for its cultural events, including the Paris Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival, the Paris Jazz Festival, and the Paris Opera Festival.
The emergency number in Paris is 112 for police, fire, and ambulance services.
It is recommended to plan at least three to four days to explore Paris and see its major attractions, but ideally, five to seven days would allow you to delve deeper into the city’s culture and explore its hidden gems.
Tipping is not mandatory in Paris, but it is customary to leave a small tip of about 10% for exceptional service.
Yes, there are several city cards available for tourists visiting Paris. One option is the Paris Museum Pass, which offers skip-the-line access to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris, including the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, and Centre Pompidou. The pass is available for 2, 4 or 6 days
Another option is The Paris Passlib’ which is the official city pass of the Paris Tourist Office. It allows you to put together your own sightseeing program for your stay in Paris with a wide selection of visits and attractions to choose from. The pass is available in 4 versions.
Some of the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris include the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Montmartre, Le Marais, and the Latin Quarter.