Paris, France
What could we write about Paris that has not already been written? Suffice to say that if you have ever considered visiting the City of Lights, stop considering and start planning.
Paris is the capital of France and the river Seine runs through it. It has many fanciful names, and for good reason, like the City of Lights and the City of Love, and is one of the most visited cities in the world, every year. It is also one of our favorite cities. No matter what time of year, it is a great place to visit. Our favorite time has to be when it is cold and most of the tourists are other, warmer places. The lines are shorter, the streets less crowded, and there are holiday markets everywhere. The varied and grandiose architecture captures the eye as you walk the oft-times cobblestone streets, avoiding cars and bikes, passing museums, cafes, bakeries, industry, homes, and all manner of businesses. Paris is a delightful, contradicting, confusing, and all around enjoyable city to be in.
Founded as a small settlement in the 3rd century BC, Paris has seen the firm hand of time wend its way around and through its streets, weaving it into the fabric of modern history with a record of epic struggles, victories, and defeats. Within the limits of this esteemed metropolis you can find a tale long enough and old enough to captivate for a lifetime. Most of us do not have the time for that, so take what you can from our guide and make the most of any chance you get to visit Paris.
Where to Go and What to Do
An estimated 30 million people visit Paris every year. That many people could be wrong of course, but in this case we don’t think so. You’re not going to have time to see all the things you probably want to see in Paris unless you are there for months, especially as there are going to be many places and sights you don’t yet know you want to see! So here’s a list of our favorite places to get you started:
The Eiffel Tower. This is an obvious place to start as everyone knows the Eiffel Tower. Just go see it, even if you do not pay the fee to go up to the top. Follow the link for official tickets to go to the 2nd floor (18.50€) or all the way to the top (28.30€). These prices are for adults taking the elevator. Youths cost less and taking the stairs cost less. There is a restaurant on the way up, and the view is one of the best in the city, night or day.
The Louvre is hands down the largest and best museum, by sheer volume, that we have ever had the pleasure of being in. It would take many days, perhaps weeks, to see every piece of art and artifact in the Louvre. Tickets can be purchased online or in person for a small discount, but be prepared to wait in line if you do not buy ahead. Entry dates and times are selected beforehand if you purchase your tickets online, and hours vary by day. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Due to these constraints we recommend buying tickets beforehand and arriving early as you will need to queue with the many other people in your time slot.
La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre is another favorite. The Basilica is built on a large hill and offers a fantastic, and free, view of the city. The carousel at the bottom is picturesque against the hill and the stairs up the hill are the penance you must pay to view the church up close, although there is also a tram that will take you up for a fee. There is no entrance fee into the Basilica but you can go into the upper reaches of the church for a price to get a better view of the city. The church, steps, and carousel have wended their way into pop culture and multiple movies, so you may recognize some of the sites when you arrive.
The Montmartre, where the Sacré Cœur stands, is our favorite area in Paris, for all of its quirks and singularities. There is a square here where artists gather and ply their wares, painting and drawing on request, called the Place du Tertre. All around there are cafes and shops, only a short walk from the Sacré Cœur. Even the cemetery is notable, holding many prominent Parisians and their ornate and elegant resting places.
As a matter of fact, the Montmartre Cemetery is next on our list! Even if you are not a Parisian or French fanatic, and no none of the resident departed that rest on the grounds, those that do have chosen to mark their stately repose with some remarkably artistic monuments. The headstones and mausoleums here rival the Louvre in their declaration and artistry, and a walk through the Cemetery on a foggy or rainy day can be quite the experience. And if you do know some famous French names from years gone by, you will be pleased to pay your respects, for there are quite a few to be found.
The Pantheon is a grand and storied building that has served many purposes throughout French history since construction began in 1764.. A visit inside is going to set you back 11.50€ if you are over 18 years old. Aside from the grand architecture, you can observe some wonderful art inside as well as the resting places of Marie Curie, Voltaire, and may others.
Amongst the picturesque landscapes of France lies a place that exudes grandeur and opulence like no other—the Palace at Versailles. This architectural masterpiece, flooding the senses with its regal allure, stands as a testament to the extravagant lifestyle of the French monarchy, and particularly to the gregarious nature of King Louis XIV, who transformed a royal hunting lodge into the world famous place it is today. Located a short train ride from Paris, Versailles is easy to get to and is a must see if you are in the city. The gilded gates, the massive halls and stairways, the enormous paintings, the Hall of Mirrors; all of it is sure to impress. The sheer scale of the grounds will surely entertain if the architecture does not, and the history of such a storied place wends its way through reigns of kings, reigns of terror, world wars, and beyond.
The Rodin Museum (not the one in Philadelphia) is a great little place to see some of the French sculptor’s most famous works. The Thinker and the Gates of Hell can be viewed here, and are well worth a visit.
Notre-Dame de Paris is about as famous as a building can be. Restorations are still ongoing from the fire that occurred in 2019 and entry was not allowed on our last visit at the end of 2022. The building is still magnificent ,and massive, and it is still worth a jaunt over to see it.
The Arc de Triomphe is a wonder of city planning and it celebrates and honors the soldiers who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. It stands at the center of 12 main avenues, the main two being the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Avenue de la Grande Armée.
Champs-Élysées is a name that will ring a bell for many, travelers or otherwise. This avenue boasts some of the best shopping to be had, anywhere, and in Paris that is saying something. It is a long walk from the Arc de Triomphe on one end down the length of the avenue, so if you want to see every shop and restaurant, wear you
walking shoes.
The Musée d'Orsay is one of the most visited art museums in France, and indeed, the world. A former rail station, the Orsay houses thousands of painting at any given time. The open layout and excellent design of the galleries give a different feel to the Orsay than any of the other museums in Paris. If you appreciate art, you will want to stop here and admire some of the many Impressionist pieces, as well as many other styles and sculptures.
Here is a Google Maps Link with many of our favorite places in Paris already mapped out.
Money
As a member of the EU France uses the euro, and credit cards are accepted everywhere. We have never had an issue with money in France, and as long as you have planned ahead with your cards, you should not either. If you want to use euros, which is not necessary except perhaps as a courtesy in smaller shops, there are two good ways to obtain some. Your bank or credit union most likely offers money exchange as a service, and if you are lucky they will not charge a fee for it. If they do, it might be cheaper to use an exchange kiosk in either the airport or in Paris itself. The airport is going to have money changers but they will almost certainly charge a fee and perhaps an unfriendly exchange rate, to guarantee some profit for themselves. If your local bank or credit union can get you euros, it is likely you will save money and be better prepared by doing so before a trip to France.
Another option is to use an ATM in Paris once you arrive. The fee for using an ATM is waived by some banks and credit unions, which would make this free. Even if they do not, if your financial institution charges only a small fee for ATM withdrawals in Paris, this is likely the cheapest way to get some cash in hand.
How to Get Around
Getting around in Paris is exceptionally easy, once you get the hang of it. You have a few options but we suggest public transportation unless you plan on moving around the rest of France, or Europe, quite a bit. Even then the train systems are well run, interconnected, and traveling by train can be just as convenient as driving a car, and sometimes more so. We only suggest using a car if you will be traveling extensively outside of urban areas.
The Metro
The Metro is one of the best mass transit systems in the world, and once you learn how to use the train system in Paris you will not want to take a car and experience city traffic again.
Right off, you will want to find a Metro station. Once you descend the stairs into the French underground you will see terminals where tickets are purchased and turnstiles where you can enter the Metro proper and board the trains. You can select your language on the terminals and they will accept Euros and credit cards; the confusing part is choosing which ticket or pass to buy. To simplify directions and tickets, check out the RATP website.
We prefer using the paper tickets, but these may soon be phased out and phones and cards will replace them, so you will need to determine where you plan on going and how long you need Metro access for before purchasing. Consult the RATP website to be prepared.
After you have your tickets and have located a Metro station, all that is left is boarding the correct train in the correct direction, and disembarking at the correct stop! Even if you are directionally challenged, there are helpful diagrams in the stations and on the website, and in some of the stations there are helpful personnel to assist.
Renting a Car
Driving in Paris and in France as a whole is fairly similar to driving anywhere else. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, and on the left side of the vehicle, just as in the United States. There are a few more requirements though, so make sure you are prepared before leaving the rental office. You will need numerous pieces of safety equipment, like vests and safety triangles. Make sure you check with your provider on a full list of the legally required items.
And of course make sure you have the required documents in order and on hand when you drive. A driver’s license, proof of insurance, and passport are all necessary to rent a vehicle in the first place, so if you get that far you should be ok.
While driving a car in France is no more difficult than driving anywhere else, driving in Paris is hectic, busy, and nerve wracking, depending on the driver. There are pedestrian only zones as well as limitations on driving under certain conditions, and there are rumors of Italian style no vehicle zones being implemented in the near future.
We suggest that if you are only traveling in and around Paris, utilize the excellent public transportation system and eschew using a car. If you are driving into Paris, we suggest you find a safe parking lot in a suburb and take the train into the city.
Most vehicles in Europe operate with a manual transmission rather than an automatic, and France is no exception. Renting an automatic may be more expensive than a manual, but rent what you’re most comfortable with.
Traffic circles, or roundabouts, are common in France. The most famous example being the circle around the Arc de Triomphe, which is a multilane terror if you are not confident in your ability to drive in France.
There is no legal turning right on a red light in France. So don’t! If you do end up running a red light, or breaking any other vehicular statute, and are pulled over by the police, you may be asked to pay the ticket on the spot in cash. This is a normal occurrence and you will be provided with a receipt.
Most tickets will be administered electronically though, by traffic cameras. In the event you receive a ticket from a camera, it will be communicated through your rental agency as they own the vehicle, and you will most likely incur a fee in addition to the ticket itself.
Don’t forget a converter for your trip to Europe! If you are traveling from the US, your plugs will not work in most places. France utilizes a 230V system and electrical plug types C and E. Those are the two, circular holes types.
Where to Stay
Paris is a big city, but as a rule of thumb for tourists, stick to the first 2-3 Metro zones and around the Seine river. This will keep you in walking or quick Metro distance to many of the most popular and interesting destinations in the city. There are practically innumerable options through unfathomable venues to find a room, whether you are looking for high class, 5-star accommodations or a 10 Euro per night hostel. These options and anything in between are yours for the finding. Every hotel chain in the world is here, AirBnb, Vrbo, you name it, and its here.
Be aware that in a European city like Paris, your rooms may be smaller and have different creature comforts than you are accustomed to in other parts of the world. My American compatriots may be surprised at the size of a standard hotel room or the size of a standard shower in Paris, so be prepared to make due with fewer square feet. The idea is to get out and explore however, so we suggest finding a room that is near a Metro station and makes sense geographically for all the wonderful things you want to see.
