Paris is one of the most iconic cities in the world, and one of the most visited. Paris is an enormous city, with dozens of historic sights, world class museums & galleries, vibrant and distinctive neighbourhoods, and hundreds of boulangeries, brasseries, bistros and bars.

Planning your first trip to Paris can be overwhelming, but with a little planning you can get so much out of even a couple of days in the city.

I’ve visited Paris five times, and love making new discoveries on every visit, while also returning to my longtime favourite neighbourhoods and sights.

I’ve written this Paris neighbourhood guide to share my best tips for visiting Paris, and to condense some of my favourite things to do, see & eat in the city into one concise guide. Throughout the post you’ll find links to further blog posts, for additional detail & more ideas.

How many days do you need in Paris?

Any amount of Paris is better than no Paris at all, whether you’re squeezing in a day trip from London, or able to stay in the city for a few days.

I’d recommend at least three full days in Paris, especially if you’re a first time visitor. On my last couple of trips to Paris, I’ve stayed for 5 days, which is an ideal amount of time in my opinion. It’s a big city with lots to see, and the extra time means you can slow down a little, and enjoy classic French pastimes like lingering at a cafe or on the terrasse of a brasserie.

One Day – Skip the museums, and spend time enjoying two or three neighbourhoods. I’d suggest the Latin Quarter, Le Marais and Ile-de-Cite, which includes a visit to Notre Dame.

Three Days – In three days in Paris, you’ve got time to cover many of the most iconic sights and neighbourhoods, including The Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame.

Five Days – In five days in Paris, you’ll have time to see the aforementioned major sights, as well as have some time to explore charming neighbourhoods a little further off the tourist trail, like Montorgueil and Montparnasse.

Where to stay in Paris

Accommodation in Paris is expensive. Staying as centrally as possible is the most convenient, but if you choose a well-located neighbourhood with a Metro, you’ll still be able to get around with ease.

Paris’ most iconic luxury hotels, like Four Seasons George V and Hotel Plaza Athenee are in the 8th arrondissement, which is centrally located and home to the Champs-Elysee and the Arc de Triomphe. 

Central neighbourhoods like St Germain and Le Marais are some of the chicest areas in Paris, and very well-located, but will be expensive.

I usually stay in Montparnasse, in the 14th arrondissement, which is walking distance from St Germain, but much more affordable. I also love this area because it is picturesque but relatively tourist-free, compared to the centre of the city. On my last trip to Paris, we stayed at Hotel Raspail Montparnasse, which I loved.

Understanding Paris’ neighbourhoods

Paris’ neighbourhoods are called arrondissements and are numbered 1-20, with the last two digits of the postcode reflecting the arrondissement. For example, anything in the 8th arrondissement will have the postcode 75008. 

Sometimes, neighbourhood names loosely correspond to two arrondissements and sometimes multiple distinct neighbourhoods share one arrondissement. For example, Le Marais covers the 3rd & 4th arrondissement. The second arrondissement contains three neighbourhoods; Bourse, Montorgeuil and Sentier.

The neighbourhoods are arranged in a spiral, much like a snail’s shell, spiralling out from the centre of the city. This means that neighbourhoods with different numbers can be side-by-side, for example, the 8th is next to the 1st, and the 18th is the northern neighbour of the 9th. 

There are two islands in the centre of the city, Ile de la Cite and Ile St Louis. Ile de la Cite is home to several historic sights, including Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. Ile St Louis is quiet and residential, but does have a famous ice cream shop, Berthillon.

The best way to get around Paris is to visit neighbourhoods that are close together, in a single outing. Crossing the Seine is easy thanks to frequent footbridges, which means you can easily visit neighbourhoods on opposite sides of the river in a single outing, for example walking from Le Marais (3rd & 4th arrondissements) across the Pont de Sully to the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement).

Best Things to Do in Paris

Sacre Coeur & Montmartre

Sacre Coeur is one of the most beautiful churches in Paris, and in the most spectacular setting. Perched on the peak of Montmartre, the highest hill in the city, it has some of the best views in Paris. After visiting the church, stop for a coffee at a cafe in the backstreets of Montmartre, one of Paris’ most romanticised neighbourhoods.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most breathtaking monuments in the world. It’s sheer scale creates such an impact, as it does its position in the centre of an “etoile” (star) roundabout, and its views down the Champs-Elysee.

You can walk up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, entry is ticketed and sells out in advance. The viewing deck at the top is a pick pocket hotspot, but worth visiting – just keep your belongings very secure.

Musee D’Orsay

The Musee D’Orsay is one of Paris’ most significant museums, but it is a much more manageable size than the Louvre.

The museum is best known for its vast collection of Impressionist paintings, and the collection spans artwork from the Impressionist and post-Impressionist periods, from 1848-1914. Housed in a former train station, the beaux-arts architecture creates an iconic setting.

Jardin des Tuileries

Paris has several beautiful gardens, but the grandest is the Jardin des Tuileries. Located in the centre of Paris in the 1st arrondissement, Louvre-Tuileries, the Jardin des Tuileries is adjacent to the Louvre.

Bring a book and relax in one of the iconic green garden chairs by one of the fountains, stroll amongst the perfectly manicured trees or stop for lunch in the shade at one of the garden cafes.

Picnic under the Eiffel Tower

The Champ du Mars is a lawn directly behind the Eiffel Tower, which makes it one of the best picnic spots in Paris. Swing by a boulangerie, a fromagerie, a fruit shop & a wine shop to assemble your picnic, and enjoy a lazy afternoon or summer evening with one of the most incredible views in the world.

Best Neighbourhoods in Paris to visit

Le Marais

Le Marais is one of the chicest neighbourhoods in Paris, with pockets of medieval streets which escaped being demolished for the wide boulevards that Paris is now so well known for. It’s also home to Place des Vosges, a pretty 17th century park which is one of my favourite spots for a picnic. This is Paris’ best neighbourhood for shopping, from trendy designers and independent labels to antiques in Village Saint Paul.

Montmartre

Montmartre is the most famous neighbourhood in Paris, and the highest hill in the city. Visit the magnificent Sacre Coeur basilica, explore the charming, winding backstreets or see the legendary Moulin Rouge. Montmartre is beautiful and historic, but also very touristy, and you’ll see the most tourist tat and pickpocketing in this area. It’s sketchy at night.

Ile-de-la-Cite

Ile de la Cite is one of Paris’ two islands, floating in the middle of the Seine. Ile de la Cite feels like ancient Paris, with Notre Dame, roman ruins underneath Notre Dame, and the 12th century treasure, Sainte-Chapelle. It’s a small island, and won’t take long to visit, but is worth exploring.

Where to eat & drink in Paris

Allard

For a special occasion dining experience, make a reservation at Alain Ducasse’s inimitable St Germain bistro, Allard.

Allard dates back to 1932, and Alain Ducasse is one of France’s most celebrated chefs. We dined here on our anniversary one year, and it was one of the most memorable meals. Everything was perfection.

Brasserie Lipp

Brasserie Lipp is a traditional Parisian brasserie which has stood in St Germain since 1880. We visited for lunch, on the terrasse, but it would also be a worthy dinner reservation.

It’s more affordable than Allard, and slightly less formal, however men will still need to wear trousers (not shorts) to be admitted into the restaurant. 

Ambassade de Bourgogne

Ambassade de Bourgogne is a gorgeous wine shop & wine bar on Rue de l’Odeon in St Germain. It specialises in wines from Burgundy, and was full of French people, when I visited.

Not an obvious spot, but very chic and obviously, has an excellent wine list. 

Stohrer

Stohrer is the oldest patisserie in Paris, founded in 1730 by King Louis XV’s pastry chef. It’s in the 2nd arrondissement, on one of Paris’ most famous food shopping streets, Rue Montorgueil.

It is well worth a detour for this one, especially as the 2nd arrondissement is such a charming neighbourhood.

Day Trips from Paris

Versailles

The Chateau de Versailles is one of the most famous palaces in the world, and well worth a full day trip from Paris. It was the last royal residence in France, before an angry mob carried away King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, in the French Revolution. 

It’s very easy to visit Versailles as a day trip from Paris, as you can catch the RER-C, a regional train, from the centre of Paris to the town of Versailles. You’ll walk from the station to the chateau, but it is easy to find your way. Plan for a full day trip, as you will need time to explore the magnificent grounds, including Marie Antoinette’s fairytale village.

Champagne

Champagne is one of the world’s most famous wine regions, and the only place in the world that is allowed to call its sparkling wine “Champagne.” It’s a beautiful wine region, and a very achievable day trip from Paris, especially if you visit with a small guided tour, like I did. Champagne is 150km from Paris, so it’s approximately a two-hour drive each way, which is why I recommend a guided tour rather than self-driving. Epernay is the wine-producing centre of Champagne, but you can also visit Reims, which is the largest city in the region.

Getting around Paris

The best way to get around Paris is by using the Metro, which is very easy to use. You can put your destination into Google Maps, and it will tell you the Metro stops and Metro lines to use. 

Be vigilant on public transport and in Metro stations, as they are prime spots for pick pocketing.

Best time to visit Paris

The best time to visit Paris is May & September, either side of peak season. 

Paris has a mild, temperate oceanic climate, which is influenced by the Atlantic ocean. Paris has four distinct seasons, with rain spread evenly throughout the year, so you should bring an umbrella or raincoat whenever you visit.

Rain showers can be sudden, even in summer, but are typically short lived. Take it as your sign to spend some time in a museum or to take shelter under an awning at a cafe.

Spring: March-May

Spring can be very cool in Paris, with average minimum temperatures of 5.3°C in March, which increases to an average minimum of 10.9 °C in May. By late spring, the average maximum temperature is up to 19.6°C.

Spring brings Easter (Pâques) celebrations to Paris, which is celebrated with special Easter chocolates, often int the shape of fish or bells. as well as gorgeous spring cherry blossoms, which typically bloom from mid-March to mid-April. The Paris Marathon is held every April, so plan around these dates to avoid paying surge prices for accommodation, or having your plans curtailed by marathon road closures and crowds.

The French Open is one of only four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world, and heralds the start of summer. It starts in late May, and continues into the first week of June.

Summer: June-August

Summer in Paris is typically very warm, with average minimum temperatures from 13.8°C and average maximum temperature is up to 25.2°C. However, it often gets much hotter than  25°C, and it will certainly feel that way during a day sightseeing in the sun.

Summer is peak season in Paris, and you will definitely notice it in the crowds, the queues and the prices. I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris in summer, and while it is a gorgeous time to be in the city, the crowds are unavoidable. I’ve loved visiting Paris in summer, but my future trips will be in spring or autumn (if I can help it!).

Summer brings typically beautiful weather to Paris, but don’t be surprised by a sudden downpour, which is common even in summer. 

Autumn: September – November

The changing seasons can be temperamental in Paris, but September and October bring mild temperatures, with average daily temperatures between 13-22°C in September and 10-17°C in October. November brings a sharper drop, with average daily temperatures between 6-11°C. 

September and early October still have plenty of sunshine, which would make it the best time to visit Paris in autumn. Enjoy crisp autumn weather, the easing of the summer crowds, changing autumnal foliage, and come prepared for a cool change or a sudden shower.

Winter: December – February

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, so visiting in the off-season really pays off. 

Winter is off season in Paris, making it the best time to visit to avoid the crowds and avoid high season prices. Of course, this is because it is the coldest time of year. Expect chilly, grey days and drizzling rain, but enjoy the serenity of the ebbing crowds and the magic of Christmas festivities in December.

In Paris in winter, the average daily temperatures are between  3-8°C (37-50°F), and January is typically the coldest month.

It rarely snows in Paris, and if it does, it is usually a light dusting. Heavier snow can occur, and may lead to closures of attractions like the Eiffel Tower, due to safety reasons.

My first two trips to Paris were in December and January, and it was a beautiful time to experience the city, with so many less crowds, it was so much nicer. Paris is particularly magical in December, with Christmas festivities – this is the best month of winter to visit. 

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