Paris city guide by Parisians. All about Paris

Paris hotel city guide

Cheval Blanc, Plazza Athénée, Royal Monceau and The Ritz are top 5 star hotels in Paris. Feel at home in a right bank hotel near Louvre or Champs-Elysées, a left bank hotel near Notre-Dame. Rooms are generally small downtown. Breakfast is mostly continental and expensive. Cafés are an alternative. Few hotels have a parking. Consider renting an apartment. You may save on money, specially if your party is over 3 people.

This city guide has a selection of the best hotels and apartments in Paris.

Paris activity city guide

Among many possibilities, discover the top eight things to do and a selection of 1300 activities done in English.

Cooking lessons, macaroons workshops, wine tasting and create your own wine workshops, perfume creation workshops, sightseeing bike tours, tours in a 2CV vintage car, river cruises, limo tours are some of the bookable activities that will turn your stay into a memorable experience.

Paris restaurant city guide

Paris is the place to taste world famous French cuisine. This city guide has a selection of best restaurants. We have selected 30 restaurants that we know well and consider the best:

* Affordable restaurants: stick to set menu, drink tap water, pay around 25 euros at these top quality restaurants.
* Art nouveau restaurants: the most beautiful Art Nouveau and Art Deco restaurants serving quality food.
* restaurants with a view: a few restaurants combine good French food with a spectacular view of Paris.
* Gastronomic restaurants: taste fusion food and traditional French gastronomy at their best.

Paris cruise city guide

You stay just one night in Paris. The Seine dinner cruise is a must. Board a panoramic restaurant aboard a glass topped vessel. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the city and admire the illuminated bridges and monuments.

The boat passes along the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Grand Palais, Palais de Chaillot and the many Seine bridges.

Dinner cruise information and booking.

The top Seine river cruises

Paris monument city guide

The five most visited Paris monuments are Notre-Dame, the Sacré-Coeur, the Louvre, Versailles Palace and the Eiffel Tower. Notre-Dame is traditionnaly the first of the top ten most visited monuments in Paris. 15 million visitors will visit Notre-Dame yearly when it reopens end 2024. In 2022, the Sacré-Coeur, another famous church, was number one (11). The Louvre, both a palace and a museum, was number two (7.726). The Palace of Versailles close to Paris was number three (6.9). The Eiffel Tower was number four (5.849). Centre Pompidou was number five (3). The small Chapel of the Miraculous medal was number six (2). Arc de Triomphe was number seven (1.750). Sainte-Chapelle was number eight (1.2). Les Invalides were number 9 (1.07). Le Panthéon was number ten (0.850).

This city guide has a selection of the top Paris monuments.

Paris museum city guide

The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Picasso and Centre Pompidou are the top museums of art in the city.

The Musée Picasso opened in 1985 with 203 paintings and 156 pieces of sculpture from the Picasso heritage, paid as death duties.

Housed in the spectacular 1900 Orsay train station on the Seine river banks, Musée d'Orsay is the 19th century art museum of Paris. Musée d'Orsay is a must. Its impressionist painting collections are worth the trip. Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir, Gauguin and Sysley are specially well represented. Musée d'Orsay, Marmottan Museum and Giverny Monet's Gardens together turn Paris into the impressionism capital of the world.

Paris Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget Airport is one of the best air and space museums in the world. It is well known for its amazing collection of old airplanes with a special focus on French airplanes and pioneer aviators

This city guide has a selection of the best Paris museums.

Paris nightlife city guide

Paris nightlife is most vibrant in a few districts. Le Marais and adjacent Les Halles district are now the most lively districts at night. Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Bastille, Champs-Elysées, Montmartre, Montparnasse are top nightlife districts with Parisians in the street late into the night.

The magical illuminations along the Seine river banks and in Champs-Elysées transform the city and turn it into the ultimate romantic destination at night. They are the greatest in December for the Christmas season.

Paris restaurants are open late. The iconic Pied de Cochon in Les Halles district, l'Alsace in Champs-Elysées and Grand Café Capucines in Opera district are open 24/24.

Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse are the most famous cabarets in town.

This city guide has a selection of nightlife and concert venues.

Visit Normandy beaches

In one day from Paris, visit the famous Normandy beaches on a coach tour. This popular tour helps relive the important hours of D-Day landing in 1944. You will see Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery of Saint Laurent, Omaha Beach, Arromanches, the Caen Memorial. Various tour options.

Tour information and booking

On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, the Allies opened a new European front against the troops of the Third Reich during the Second World War. It was the largest military operation in history, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy and would lead to the end of the Second World War.

Visit Disneyland Paris with kids

Disneyland Paris is the second most visited sight in the city and the most visited theme park in Europe. It is a must for families and entertains all ages. An off season visit is hightly recommended as the park is often crowded.

Disneyland Paris is connected to downtown by metro. To best visit Disneyland and the city, book a hotel or apartment in Paris. Book a convenient Disneyland shuttle from the city. Alternatively, if your trip focuses on Disneyland, you can stay at one of the many budget hotels and appartments near Disneyland Paris.

This city guide has a selection of attractions for kids including Disneyland, Parc Asterix, Musée Grévin and Aquaboulevard.

Best time for a trip

The city has so much to offer that each season is great.

Plan your trip in fall or winter if you want to best enjoy city life. December, Christmas and New year add the magical illuminations on Champs-Elysées. Shopping is top during the sales season in January and June.

Outdoor sightseeing is best in May, June and September, when the weather is normally rather sunny and dry.

In the summer, the weather is warm and traffic less intense, specially in August when many Parisians are on vacation. But life in the city is at a minimum, specially between August 1 and 15.

Top sporting events 2024 in Paris

Be ready for Paris Olympics 2024, taking place from July 26 to August 11, a wonderful occasion to come to Paris.

The top annual sporting events in the city are Roland-Garros Tennis Tournament in June, a top ATP tennis competition and the traditional final circuit of the last stage of Tour de France in Champs-Elysées end of July.

The Paris Marathon in April is one of the most scenic urban marathons in the world. Register early as it is fully booked in advance. The semi-marathon and the 20km race are also very popular. Check Paris Marathon page.

The Paris Masters, also called Rolex Paris Masters, are a top ATP competition taking place in Accor Arena. There are two world class racecourses, Longchamp and Auteuil, in Bois de Boulogne, where some of the most prestigious races including Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane, Grand Steeple Chase de Paris, are run. Information on France Galop web site.

Sporting events in Paris

Paris facts

From the Romans who conquered it in 52 BC to today's 6th Republic, the city has a rich 2000 year history.

The French Kings, who governed France from 448 until 1848, commissioned monuments such as the Louvre, the Invalides and Versailles.

In 1806, Emperor Napoléon commissioned the Arc de Triomphe at the top end of the Champs-Elysées. The Eiffel Tower was designed for the 1889 world exhibition to celebrate the progress of technology.

Over the centuries, faithful Parisians built churches, including Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle in 13th century and Sacré-Coeur in 19th century.

The original Statue of Liberty in New-York City was a gift from France to America in 1886, designed and moulded in Paris.

Paris facts
Paris history facts

Paris fashion facts

French fashion sets the trend worldwide for men and women. Paris remains the capital of fashion it has been since the 18th century. Iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès perpetuate the Parisian style that turns all women into models. All these fashion brands are based in Paris. Many lesser known French fashion brands such as Cyrillus, Armor Lux, Tara Jarmon, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Sézane, turn Paris into one of the most creative fashion cities in the world. Find the best French fashion.

Paris fashion facts.

Paris economy and business

The city with the surrounding Grand Paris metropolitan area, is a major business city with diversified industries. La Défense Business district, Rungis wholesale market, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles are among the hubs of this intense business activity. The Paris Motor Show and the Paris Air Show are world class business shows.

Paris business.