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Voykit pocket guide · France
Paris
Paris rewards a slow rhythm: one big timed museum per morning, a long lunch, and the river or a park in the afternoon — book the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and the Eiffel Tower slots before you leave.
Paris is dense and walkable, but the trips that go wrong are the ones that fight the ticket system and the calendar: arriving at the Louvre without a timed slot on a Tuesday when it is closed, queueing two hours at the Eiffel Tower in July, or hauling suitcases up metro stairs. Four clusters cover a first visit; Versailles and Giverny are day trips from one kept bed, and the airport rides are the first decision of the trip.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Stay
- 2 days: Île de la Cité + Louvre, Marais evening
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some ticket machines and small shops still need chip and PIN or have a minimum spend. Carry a few euros for public toilets and markets.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–160 excl. bed · High €160+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a prepaid SIM at a shop or the airport (passport may be needed). EU roaming applies to EU SIMs.
- Emergency
- EU emergency 112 · Police 17 · Medical (SAMU) 15 · Fire 18
- Plugs
- 230 V; two-pin sockets (types C and E). Bring an adapter if you use type A, B or G plugs.
- Tipping
- Service is included in restaurant prices by law; leave a small extra (€1–5) only for good service.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink; ask for a carafe d'eau in restaurants.
- Toilets
- Cafés (buy a drink first), department stores and museums; some street toilets are paid.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Espresso at the bar | €1.50–3 |
| Croissant | €1.30–2.50 |
| Lunch formule | €16–28 |
| Beer on a terrace | €6–9 |
| Metro single ticket | About €2.50 (check) |
| Taxi across the centre | €12–25 |
| Museum entry | €15–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- CDG to the Marais or Latin Quarter: RER B every few minutes for about 40 minutes; the risk is not the ride but strikes and late-night gaps — keep the taxi flat fare as a fallback.
- Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
- ORY to the Marais or Latin Quarter: metro line 14 to Châtelet in about 30 minutes; the risk is a disruption or the last train, so keep the taxi flat fare in mind.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) (Roissy) | Most long-haul flights | RER B 35–50 min, about €13; taxi flat fare |
| Orly Airport (ORY) (Orly) | European and domestic flights | Metro line 14 or tram T7, about 25–35 min (check) |
| Gare du Nord | Eurostar, Brussels, Amsterdam, north France; RER B and D | Metro lines 4, 5; RER B, D, E |
| Gare de Lyon | TGV to Lyon, Marseille and the south-east; RER A and D | Metro lines 1, 14; RER A, D |
| Gare de l'Est | Strasbourg, Reims and Germany | Metro lines 4, 5, 7 |
| Gare Montparnasse and Saint-Lazare (Montparnasse, Saint-Lazare) | Brittany and Bordeaux from Montparnasse; Normandy from Saint-Lazare | Several metro lines |
Typical fares
- Charles de Gaulle to the centre, RER B
- About €13, 35–50 min
- Orly to the centre, metro line 14
- About €13, 25–35 min (check)
- Taxi from Charles de Gaulle
- Flat fare, about €56 (Right Bank) or €65 (Left Bank) (check)
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster, take the metro between clusters. The metro is dense and cheap; buses and trams are step-free and good for views.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside clusters and along the river |
| Metro | About €2.50 a ride (check) | Between clusters |
| RER | Metro fare in the centre; more for airports and Versailles | Airports, Versailles, Disneyland |
| Bus and tram | Same as metro | Views and step-free trips |
| Taxi and ride-hail | €12–25 across the centre | Late nights, bags |
| Vélib' bikes | About €3–5 per ride (check) | Short hops on bike lanes |
| Boat | Varies | Scenery and a break |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- Single tickets or a Navigo Easy card are simplest for two or three days; a Navigo Découverte weekly pass (Monday to Sunday) only pays back if you arrive early in the week and ride a lot. Check current prices on the IDFM or RATP site.
- Late at night
- Metro and RER run until roughly 01:00–02:00 (later on some weekend nights); night buses (Noctilien) run after that. Check the last train on the app before you leave a late dinner.Metro and RER run until roughly 1:00 AM–2:00 AM (later on some weekend nights); night buses (Noctilien) run after that. Check the last train on the app before you leave a late dinner.
See and do
01Notre-Dame and the Île de la CitéCathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
The cathedral reopened in December 2024; a walk around the island covers Sainte-Chapelle too.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free; towers ticketed (check) · Time: 1–1.5 h · 48.8530, 2.3499
02Sainte-Chapelle
A wall of 13th-century stained glass, best on a sunny morning.
Hours: best First slot · Price: About €13–16 (check) · Time: 45 min · 48.8554, 2.3450
03The Louvre, two or three wingsMusée du Louvre
You cannot see it all: pick a list and go at opening.
Hours: best First slot or after 15:00 · Price: About €22 (check) · Time: 2.5–3 hHours: best First slot or after 3:00 PM · Price: About €22 (check) · Time: 2.5–3 h · 48.8606, 2.3376
04Musée d'Orsay
Impressionists in an old station; more manageable than the Louvre.
Hours: best Opening or Thursday evening · Price: About €16–18 (check) · Time: 2 h · 48.8600, 2.3266
05Eiffel Tower at openingTour Eiffel
The best view of the city; the queue is shortest first thing.
Hours: best First slot or after 19:00 · Price: €12–55 (check) · Time: 1.5–2 hHours: best First slot or after 7:00 PM · Price: €12–55 (check) · Time: 1.5–2 h · 48.8584, 2.2945
06Place des Vosges and the Marais
Arcades, lawns and a village atmosphere in the centre.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 1–2 h · 48.8555, 2.3655
07Lunch at Marché des Enfants Rouges
The city's oldest covered market, with stalls from many cuisines.
Hours: best 12:00–13:30 · Price: €10–16 · Time: 1 hHours: best 12:00 PM–1:30 PM · Price: €10–16 · Time: 1 h · 48.8632, 2.3615
08Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre at dawn
The steps and view are quiet before 09:00.The steps and view are quiet before 9:00 AM.
Hours: best 07:30–09:00 · Price: Free · Time: 1.5 hHours: best 7:30 AM–9:00 AM · Price: Free · Time: 1.5 h
09A Seine walk and cruise at dusk
The bridges and lights are at their best.
Hours: best Sunset · Price: Free walk; cruise €15–20 (check) · Time: 1–2 h
10Luxembourg Gardens
A restful afternoon with the chairs and the pond.
Hours: best Afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 1 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Palace of Versailles | RER C to Versailles Château, about 45 min each way | Full day |
| Giverny (Monet's house and gardens) | Train to Vernon about 45 min, then shuttle or bike | Full day |
| Fontainebleau | Train from Gare de Lyon about 40 min, then bus | Full day |
| Reims (champagne cellars) | TGV about 45 min from Gare de l'Est | Full day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| L'As du Fallafel | Falafel sandwich · Marais | €8–12 | Budget |
| Marché des Enfants Rouges | Lunch at the market · Marais | €10–16 | Budget |
| Berthillon ice cream (Île Saint-Louis) | Ice cream scoop · Île Saint-Louis | €3–7 | Budget |
| Breizh Café (crêperie) | Galette and cider · Marais | €15–28 | Mid |
| Angelina tea room (Rivoli) | Hot chocolate and pastry · 1st | €12–20 | Mid |
| Café Marly | Lunch on the terrace · Louvre | €40–70 | Treat |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in euros. Addresses change; check locally.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | €35–70 dorm bed · €90–140 double | Latin Quarter, Marais edges | Hostels, small budget hotels |
| mid | €150–260 | Marais and Latin Quarter | Boutique hotels, 3-star chains |
| high | €350+ | Saint-Germain, Louvre, Champs-Élysées | Grand hotels and palaces |
Per room per night in euros, 2026 estimate; fashion weeks and Christmas cost more.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello (say it when you enter a shop) | Bonjourbohn-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| Please | S'il vous plaîtseel voo PLAY |
| Excuse me / sorry | Excusez-moiex-koo-zay MWAH |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?par-lay voo ahn-GLAY |
| How much is this? | Combien ça coûte ?kohm-bee-EN sah KOOT |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtlah-dee-see-ON seel voo PLAY |
| Where is the metro station? | Où est la station de métro ?oo eh lah stah-see-ON duh may-TROH |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say Bonjour when you enter a shop, café or lift, and Merci and Au revoir when you leave; it is not optional.
- Language: Begin in French, even one phrase, then ask in English: Parlez-vous anglais ?
- Restaurant hours: Lunch is 12:00–14:30 and dinner from 19:00; outside those hours only cafés and brasseries serve food.
- Tipping: Service is included; leave a few euros for good service.
- Metro: Let people off before boarding, stand on the right of escalators and give your seat to elderly and pregnant riders.
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees, keep quiet and do not photograph services.
- Dress: Smart-casual is fine; shorts and beachwear look out of place in churches and nicer restaurants.
- Dogs and smoking: Dogs are welcome in many cafés; smoking is common on terraces.
Red lines
- Notre-Dame and other churches are places of worship: cover shoulders, keep voices low and skip photos during services.
- The Catacombs and some monuments require timed tickets and reject large bags.
- Do not buy 'skip-the-line' tickets from people outside the queue; buy on the official site.
Scams and watch-outs
- Petition, 'found gold ring' and friendship-bracelet tricks near the Louvre, Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower: keep walking and say non.
- 'Skip-the-line' sellers outside the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower: buy the timed ticket on the official site.
- Unmarked or unlicensed taxis at the airports: use the taxi rank, where the flat fare to central Paris is posted.
- Restaurants near major sights that push fixed menus at inflated prices: check the menu board and prices before you sit.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover. Skip: The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower need their own slots.
- 09:009:00 AMNotre-Dame and the island
- 10:3010:30 AMSainte-Chapelle
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch in the Marais
- 14:302:30 PMPlace des Vosges
- 17:005:00 PMSeine walk
- 19:307:30 PMDinner in the Latin Quarter
2 days
A short break. Skip: Versailles.
Day 1
- 09:009:00 AMNotre-Dame
- 10:3010:30 AMSainte-Chapelle
- 13:001:00 PMMarais lunch
Day 2
- 08:458:45 AMLouvre morning
- 13:001:00 PMLunch at Café Marly
- 15:003:00 PMOrsay
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (official): parisjetaime.com/eng/
- RATP: www.ratp.fr/en
- Wikivoyage — Paris: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Paris
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Paris
Emmenez-moi à cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame de ParisNotre-Dame de Paris
- Musée du LouvreLouvre Museum
- Tour EiffelEiffel Tower
Most embassies are in the 8th and 16th arrondissements; keep a note of yours.
Say Bonjour before you ask anything; show the address on your phone.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/paris). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.