---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Paris, France (2026 Guide), Wimup"
description: "The 10 best things to do in Paris, mapped, filmed and ranked. When to go, how many days you need, where to stay and the tourist traps to skip."
url: https://wimup.com/city/paris
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-07
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Paris

Paris, France · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 16 min read

Paris rewards travelers who go beyond the postcard. Below are the **ten experiences worth your time** (each mapped, with a Wimup video guide) plus the three overrated stops we'd skip. This is the city the way locals actually enjoy it.

## Quick answer

The best things to do in Paris are climbing the Eiffel Tower, exploring the Louvre, wandering Montmartre, and a sunset Seine cruise. Give the city 4–5 days, visit in May, June or September for mild weather and lighter crowds, and book major museums online to skip the lines.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** May · Jun · Sep
- **Ideal length:** 4–5 days
- **Budget per day:** $140–220
- **Language:** French
- **Getting around:** Métro & walking
- **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://parisjetaime.com/eng/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Paris

### 1. Climb the Eiffel Tower at dusk

Landmark · Champ de Mars, 7th

Skip midday queues and time your visit for the hour before sunset, the city turns gold, then the tower's hourly sparkle begins after dark. Book the summit lift online; the second floor has the best photographs of the Champ de Mars.

- **Time:** 2–3 hrs
- **Cost:** €29 summit
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Pre-book lift

Links: [Website](https://www.toureiffel.paris/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) · [Place guide](https://wimup.com/place/eiffel-tower.md)

### 2. Beat the crowds at the Louvre

Museum · Rue de Rivoli, 1st

Enter via the Carrousel mall, not the pyramid, and start in the Richelieu wing while everyone else races to the Mona Lisa. Wednesday and Friday evenings stay open late and feel half as busy.

- **Time:** 3–4 hrs
- **Cost:** €22
- **Best at:** Wed/Fri eve
- **Tip:** Carrousel entry

Links: [Website](https://www.louvre.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) · [Place guide](https://wimup.com/place/the-louvre.md)

### 3. Get lost in Montmartre's back streets

Neighborhood · Butte Montmartre, 18th

Climb early to Sacré-Cœur for the view, then slip behind it to the vineyards, Place du Tertre painters and quiet stairways the tour groups never reach. Coffee at a Rue des Abbesses café is the real reward.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Early AM
- **Tip:** Wear good shoes

### 4. See the city from a Seine cruise

Experience · Port de la Bourdonnais

The cliché that's actually worth it. A one-hour evening cruise glides past Notre-Dame, the Musée d'Orsay and the bridges as they light up. Pick a smaller operator over the giant double-deckers for fewer crowds.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** €17
- **Best at:** After dark
- **Tip:** Sit at the stern

### 5. Eat your way through Le Marais

Food & culture · 3rd & 4th arr.

Falafel on Rue des Rosiers, vintage shops, the Place des Vosges and the Picasso Museum, all in a few walkable blocks. Sunday afternoons are liveliest, when much of the rest of Paris is closed.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** €-€€
- **Best at:** Sunday PM
- **Tip:** Go hungry

### 6. Stand before the Impressionists at Orsay

Museum · Former railway station, 7th

Smaller and more digestible than the Louvre, with the world's best Monet, Van Gogh and Degas under a glorious glass clock. The fifth-floor café behind the clock face is a photo in itself.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** €16
- **Best at:** Thu late
- **Tip:** Start top floor

Links: [Website](https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Browse the Latin Quarter & Shakespeare & Co.

Neighborhood · 5th arr.

Medieval lanes, the Panthéon, the legendary English bookshop by the river and student bistros that won't wreck your budget. End at the Jardin du Luxembourg with a coffee and a green metal chair.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Afternoon
- **Tip:** Bookshop opens 10am

### 8. Take a day trip to Versailles

Day trip · 40 min by RER C

The palace is overwhelming, but the gardens, Marie-Antoinette's hamlet and the rentable rowboats are where Versailles becomes magical. Arrive at opening or after 2pm to dodge the tour-bus wave.

- **Time:** Full day
- **Cost:** €21
- **Best at:** Open/after 2pm
- **Tip:** Rent a bike

Links: [Website](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) · [Place guide](https://wimup.com/place/versailles.md)

### 9. Picnic along Canal Saint-Martin

Local life · 10th arr.

Where young Parisians actually spend warm evenings: wine and cheese on the canal banks, indie boutiques and natural-wine bars. Grab supplies from a corner épicerie and claim a spot by the iron footbridges.

- **Time:** Evening
- **Cost:** €
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Bring a corkscrew

### 10. Catch the light at Sainte-Chapelle

Hidden gem · Île de la Cité, 1st

Fifteen meters of 13th-century stained glass that most visitors miss while queueing for Notre-Dame next door. Go on a sunny late morning when the windows set the whole upper chapel on fire with color.

- **Time:** 45 min
- **Cost:** €13
- **Best at:** Sunny AM
- **Tip:** Combo w/ Conciergerie

Links: [Website](https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best restaurants in Paris (2026)

From classic bistros to natural-wine tables, where Parisians actually book.

1. **Le Comptoir du Relais** (Classic bistro · €€€ · 6th arr.): Yves Camdeborde's tiny Saint-Germain icon, book weeks ahead. [Website](https://www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/en/restaurant-le-comptoir?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Septime** (Tasting menu · €€€€ · 11th arr.): One Michelin star, a global top-50, the hardest table in town. [Website](https://www.septime-charonne.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Breizh Café** (Galettes · €€ · 3rd arr.): The best buckwheat crêpes in the Marais, Breton cider included. [Website](https://en.breizhcafe.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **L'As du Fallafel** (Falafel · € · 4th arr.): The legendary Rue des Rosiers queue, worth every minute.
5. **Le Chateaubriand** (Bistronomy · €€€ · 11th arr.): Inaki Aizpitarte's no-choice tasting menu, a bistronomy landmark. [Website](https://www.lechateaubriand.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Clamato** (Small plates · €€ · 11th arr.): Septime's walk-in seafood annex, oysters and natural wine. [Website](https://www.clamato-charonne.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Bouillon Chartier** (Brasserie · € · 9th arr.): An 1896 institution serving cheap French classics at speed. [Website](https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/en/the-concept/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Pink Mamma** (Trattoria · €€ · 9th arr.): Four floors of buzzy Italian in a glass-roofed townhouse. [Website](https://www.bigmammagroup.com/italian-restaurants/pink-mamma?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
9. **Bouillon Pigalle** (French classics · € · 10th arr.): Hearty bistro staples at bargain prices, expect a lively queue. [Website](https://bouillonlesite.com/en/bouillon-pigalle-2?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Le Servan** (Modern bistro · €€€ · 11th arr.): The Levha sisters' sharp, herb-driven cooking near Père-Lachaise. [Website](https://www.leservanrestaurant.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best bars & rooftops in Paris

Rooftop sundowners, hidden cocktail dens and Parisian classics.

1. **Le Perchoir** (Rooftop · €€€ · 11th arr.): Sunset over the zinc rooftops with a Negroni in hand. [Website](https://leperchoir.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Little Red Door** (Cocktail bar · €€€ · 3rd arr.): Perennial "World's 50 Best Bars", inventive and intimate. [Website](https://www.lrdparis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Harry's New York Bar** (Historic · €€ · 2nd arr.): Birthplace of the Bloody Mary, open since 1911. [Website](https://www.harrysbar.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Candelaria** (Speakeasy · €€€ · 3rd arr.): A taquería out front, a hidden mezcal bar through the back door. [Website](https://www.candelaria-paris.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Bar Hemingway** (Cocktails · €€€€ · 1st arr.): Colin Field's legendary bar inside the Ritz Paris. [Website](https://www.ritzparis.com/hotel/paris/bars-restaurants/bar-hemingway?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Sherry Butt** (Cocktail bar · €€€ · 4th arr.): Marais den for serious whisky and inventive cocktails. [Website](https://www.sherrybuttparis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Le Syndicat** (French spirits · €€€ · 10th arr.): Defiantly all-French bar championing local distillers.
8. **Le Comptoir Général** (Bar · €€ · 10th arr.): A ramshackle "ghetto museum" bar off the Canal Saint-Martin. [Website](https://lecomptoirgeneral.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
9. **Experimental Cocktail Club** (Cocktail bar · €€€ · 2nd arr.): The 2007 speakeasy that started the Paris cocktail revival. [Website](https://www.experimentalcocktailclub.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Le Baron Rouge** (Wine bar · € · 12th arr.): Wine from the barrel and, in season, weekend oysters by the Aligre market.

## Best museums & galleries in Paris

Beyond the Louvre, the cultural sites worth your hours.

1. **The Louvre** (€22 · world's most visited · 1st arr.): 35,000 works from the Mona Lisa to Egyptian antiquities. [Website](https://www.louvre.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Musée d'Orsay** (€16 · Impressionists · 7th arr.): Monet, Van Gogh and Degas in a glorious old railway station. [Website](https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Centre Pompidou** (€15 · modern art · 4th arr.): Europe's biggest modern collection behind that inside-out facade. [Website](https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Musée Rodin** (€14 · sculpture garden · 7th arr.): The Thinker among the roses, the city's loveliest museum garden. [Website](https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Musée de l'Orangerie** (€12 · Monet · 1st arr.): Monet's curved Water Lilies rooms beside the Tuileries. [Website](https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Musée Picasso** (€16 · Picasso · 3rd arr.): The world's largest Picasso collection in a Marais mansion. [Website](https://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Marmottan Monet** (€14 · Impressionism · 16th arr.): Home of "Impression, Sunrise" and the largest Monet holding. [Website](https://www.marmottan.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Fondation Louis Vuitton** (€16 · contemporary · 16th arr.): Frank Gehry's glass galleon of modern art in the Bois. [Website](https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
9. **Musée Carnavalet** (Free · city history · 3rd arr.): The story of Paris told in two Marais mansions, free to enter. [Website](https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Musée du Quai Branly** (€14 · world cultures · 7th arr.): Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas behind a living wall. [Website](https://www.quaibranly.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best shopping in Paris

Grand department stores, flea markets and boutique-lined streets.

1. **Galeries Lafayette** (Department store · 9th arr.): The stained-glass dome and a free rooftop view over the Opéra. [Website](https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Le Marais boutiques** (Independent fashion · 3rd/4th): Concept stores, vintage and design along the medieval lanes.
3. **Marché aux Puces** (Flea market · St-Ouen): The world's largest antiques market, go Saturday morning. [Website](https://www.pucesdeparissaintouen.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Rue du Fbg-St-Honoré** (Luxury · 8th arr.): Hermès, Saint Laurent and the flagship houses, all in a row.
5. **Le Bon Marché** (Department store · 7th arr.): The original grand magasin, refined, with a famed food hall. [Website](https://www.lebonmarche.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Merci** (Concept store · 3rd arr.): Marais concept store for design, fashion and a cult café. [Website](https://merci-merci.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Marché Bastille** (Open-air market · 11th arr.): One of the city's best food markets, Thursdays and Sundays.
8. **Rue de Rivoli** (High street · 1st arr.): Arcaded high-street shopping running beside the Louvre.
9. **Shakespeare and Company** (Bookshop · 5th arr.): The Left Bank’s English-language bookshop, facing Notre-Dame since 1951. [Website](https://shakespeareandcompany.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Galerie Vivienne** (Covered passage · 2nd arr.): The finest covered passage: 1823 mosaics, a glass roof, old bookshops. [Website](https://www.galerie-vivienne.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best things to do in Paris with kids

Family-friendly Paris, parks, science and a famous mouse nearby.

1. **Jardin du Luxembourg** (Free · all ages · 6th arr.): Toy sailboats on the pond, puppet shows and a big playground. [Website](https://jardin.senat.fr/en.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Cité des Sciences** (€13 · ages 5+ · 19th arr.): Europe's largest science museum, with a hands-on kids' zone. [Website](https://www.cite-sciences.fr/en/home?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Jardin d'Acclimatation** (€7 · amusement park · 16th arr.): Rides, a small zoo and gardens on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. [Website](https://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/fr?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Disneyland Paris** (From €62 · 40 min · Day trip): Two parks at Marne-la-Vallée, a quick RER A ride from the center. [Website](https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-usd/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes** (€13 · historic zoo · 5th arr.): One of the world's oldest zoos, in the botanical gardens. [Website](https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/en/menagerie-zoo-du-jardin-des-plantes?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Aquarium de Paris** (€22 · all ages · 16th arr.): Sharks, a touch pool and screenings near the Trocadéro. [Website](https://aquariumdeparis.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Musée en Herbe** (€8 · ages 3+ · 1st arr.): A pint-sized art museum designed for young children. [Website](https://www.musee-en-herbe.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Buttes-Chaumont** (Free · park · 19th arr.): Cliffs, a waterfall and a temple in the city's wildest park.
9. **Grande Galerie de l’Évolution** (€13 · natural history · 5th arr.): A parade of 7,000 specimens under a glass roof in the Jardin des Plantes. [Website](https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/en/grande-galerie-de-l-evolution?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Cité des Enfants** (Kids’ museum · €€ · 19th arr.): Hands-on science playground inside La Villette. [Website](https://www.cite-sciences.fr/en/explore/permanent-exhibitions/cite-des-enfants?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best neighborhoods in Paris

The areas to base yourself, and who each one suits.

1. **Le Marais** (Central · trendy · 3rd/4th): Best all-rounder for first-timers, walkable, lively, full of food.
2. **Saint-Germain-des-Prés** (Elegant · €€€ · 6th arr.): Literary cafés, galleries and the Left Bank at its most refined.
3. **Latin Quarter** (Lively · value · 5th arr.): Student energy, budget bistros and the Panthéon on the hill.
4. **Montmartre** (Village · views · 18th arr.): Hilltop charm and the best skyline, if you don't mind the stairs.
5. **Canal Saint-Martin** (Hip · local · 10th arr.): Iron footbridges, indie shops and canal-side apéros.
6. **Bastille & Oberkampf** (Nightlife · 11th arr.): The epicenter of the city's bar and live-music scene.
7. **Pigalle & SoPi** (Trendy · 9th/18th): Once risqué, now "South Pigalle" cocktail-bar territory.
8. **Belleville** (Diverse · arty · 20th arr.): Street art, Chinatown eats and a hilltop park view.
9. **Batignolles** (Village · local · 17th arr.): A village inside the 17th: organic market, duck-pond square, bistro streets.
10. **Île Saint-Louis** (Central · quiet · 4th arr.): Quiet 17th-century streets on a Seine island, Berthillon on the corner.

## Best day trips from Paris

Palaces, Champagne and Monet's garden, all within easy reach.

1. **Versailles** (Palace & gardens · 40 min · RER C): The Sun King's palace, the Hall of Mirrors and rentable rowboats. [Website](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Giverny** (Apr–Oct · 45 min · train): Monet's house and the real water-lily pond he painted for decades. [Website](https://claudemonetgiverny.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Reims & Champagne** (Cellars & cathedral · 45 min · TGV): Tour the great Champagne houses and a coronation cathedral. [Website](https://www.reims-tourisme.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Fontainebleau** (Château & forest · 40 min · train): A quieter royal palace ringed by a forest made for hiking. [Website](https://www.chateaudefontainebleau.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Chantilly** (Château & horses · 25 min · train): A fairy-tale château, art collection and Living Horse Museum. [Website](https://chateaudechantilly.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Auvers-sur-Oise** (Van Gogh · 1 hr · train): The village where Van Gogh painted his final works and is buried. [Website](https://tourisme-auverssuroise.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Provins** (Medieval town · 1.5 hr · train): A UNESCO walled medieval town of ramparts and tithe barns. [Website](https://provins.net/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
8. **Chartres** (Gothic cathedral · 1 hr · train): Its blue stained glass is among the finest in the world. [Website](https://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
9. **Vaux-le-Vicomte** (Château & gardens · 1 hr · train + shuttle): The château that inspired Versailles, in gardens laid out by Le Nôtre. [Website](https://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
10. **Rouen** (Gothic old town · 1 hr 20 · train): Monet’s cathedral, half-timbered lanes and the square where Joan of Arc died. [Website](https://en.visiterouen.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals & annual events in Paris (2026)

- **Roland-Garros** (Late May): The French Open, clay-court Grand Slam tennis in the 16th.
- **Fête de la Musique** (21 Jun): Free live music on every street corner for the summer solstice.
- **Bastille Day** (14 Jul): Military parade on the Champs-Élysées and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.
- **Paris Plages** (Jul–Aug): The Seine banks turn into pop-up beaches with sand and deckchairs.
- **Paris Fashion Week** (Late Sep): The fashion world descends; also held again in late February/March.
- **Nuit Blanche** (Early Oct): An all-night contemporary-art festival across the whole city.
- **Beaujolais Nouveau** (Nov): The third Thursday uncorks the year's new wine across the bars.
- **Christmas markets** (Dec): Lights and chalets from the Tuileries to the Champs-Élysées.

## Must-try dishes in Paris, France

- **Croissant & pain au chocolat**: The benchmark breakfast, best from a queue-out-the-door boulangerie.
- **Steak frites**: Entrecôte, a pat of café-de-Paris butter and a mountain of fries.
- **Soupe à l'oignon**: Caramelised onion broth under a lid of melted Gruyère.
- **Croque-monsieur**: The original toasted ham-and-cheese, béchamel and all.
- **Escargots de Bourgogne**: Snails baked in garlic-parsley butter, order a dozen.
- **Coq au vin**: Chicken slow-braised in red wine, lardons and mushrooms.
- **Macarons**: Almond-meringue jewels, Ladurée and Pierre Hermé set the standard.
- **Crêpe Suzette**: Thin crêpes flamed in orange and Grand Marnier, table-side.

## Paris transport & airports

- **Charles de Gaulle** (CDG): Main international hub, 25 km NE. RER B to the center in ~35 min, or ~€55 by taxi (fixed fare). [Website](https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Orly Airport** (ORY): Closer, to the south. Orlyval + RER, or the new Métro 14, reach central Paris in ~30 min. [Website](https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Métro & RER** (MÉTRO): 16 lines, trains every 2–5 min. A single t+ ticket is €2.15; tap a Navigo Easy card to ride. [Official website](https://www.ratp.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Navigo Day pass** (PASS): Unlimited métro, bus & tram from ~€8.65/day. Vélib' bikes and walking cover the rest. [Official website](https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Paris at a glance

- **Country:** France
- **Region:** Île-de-France
- **Population:** 2.1M · 11M metro
- **Founded:** 3rd c. BC
- **Nickname:** City of Light
- **Language:** French
- **Currency:** Euro (€)
- **Time zone:** CET · UTC+1
- **Calling code:** +33
- **Airports:** CDG · ORY · BVA
- **Power:** 230V · Type C/E
- **Emergency:** 112

## Interesting facts

- Paris has 20 arrondissements that spiral outward from the center like a snail shell.
- The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and meant to stand for just 20 years.
- The Louvre is the world's most-visited museum, with around 9 million visitors a year.
- The city has more than 1,800 bakeries and a law protecting the traditional baguette.
- Beneath the streets lie the Catacombs, holding the remains of some six million people.

## Watch

[Paris on Foot](https://wimup.com/watch/paris.md), 5:38:18

## Paris travel FAQ

### How many days do you need in Paris?

Four to five days is the sweet spot, enough for the major landmarks, two or three museums, a couple of neighborhoods and a day trip to Versailles, without rushing. Three days works if you focus only on central highlights.

### What is the best time of year to visit Paris?

May, June and September bring mild weather, long days and lighter crowds than peak July–August. April and October are pleasant and cheaper; winter is quiet and atmospheric but cold and grey.

### Is Paris expensive to visit?

Budget on roughly $140–220 per person per day mid-range, covering a central hotel, métro travel, two paid attractions and meals out. Many of the best experiences (Montmartre, the canals, the Marais) are free.

### Where should I stay in Paris for the first time?

First-timers do best in Le Marais (3rd/4th), Saint-Germain (6th) or near the Latin Quarter (5th), central, walkable and well connected by métro. Avoid areas right by the major stations.

### What should you skip in Paris?

We'd skip the Champs-Élysées chain shops, the Moulin Rouge tourist shows and paying to go up the Montparnasse Tower when the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel give better value. Spend that time in a real neighborhood instead.

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- [Poitiers](https://wimup.com/city/poitiers.md): France · 10 picks
- [All of Europe →](https://wimup.com/europe): 105 cities

Part of the [France guide](https://wimup.com/country/france.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md)

## Sources

- [Paris tourism board](https://parisjetaime.com/eng/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Climb the Eiffel Tower at dusk (official site)](https://www.toureiffel.paris/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Beat the crowds at the Louvre (official site)](https://www.louvre.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Stand before the Impressionists at Orsay (official site)](https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Take a day trip to Versailles (official site)](https://en.chateauversailles.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Catch the light at Sainte-Chapelle (official site)](https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Comptoir du Relais (official site)](https://www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/en/restaurant-le-comptoir?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Septime (official site)](https://www.septime-charonne.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Breizh Café (official site)](https://en.breizhcafe.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Chateaubriand (official site)](https://www.lechateaubriand.net/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Clamato (official site)](https://www.clamato-charonne.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Bouillon Chartier (official site)](https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/en/the-concept/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Pink Mamma (official site)](https://www.bigmammagroup.com/italian-restaurants/pink-mamma?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Bouillon Pigalle (official site)](https://bouillonlesite.com/en/bouillon-pigalle-2?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Servan (official site)](https://www.leservanrestaurant.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Perchoir (official site)](https://leperchoir.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Little Red Door (official site)](https://www.lrdparis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Harry's New York Bar (official site)](https://www.harrysbar.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Candelaria (official site)](https://www.candelaria-paris.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Bar Hemingway (official site)](https://www.ritzparis.com/hotel/paris/bars-restaurants/bar-hemingway?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Sherry Butt (official site)](https://www.sherrybuttparis.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Comptoir Général (official site)](https://lecomptoirgeneral.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Experimental Cocktail Club (official site)](https://www.experimentalcocktailclub.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Centre Pompidou (official site)](https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée Rodin (official site)](https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée de l'Orangerie (official site)](https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée Picasso (official site)](https://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Marmottan Monet (official site)](https://www.marmottan.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Fondation Louis Vuitton (official site)](https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée Carnavalet (official site)](https://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée du Quai Branly (official site)](https://www.quaibranly.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Galeries Lafayette (official site)](https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Marché aux Puces (official site)](https://www.pucesdeparissaintouen.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Bon Marché (official site)](https://www.lebonmarche.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Merci (official site)](https://merci-merci.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Shakespeare and Company (official site)](https://shakespeareandcompany.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Galerie Vivienne (official site)](https://www.galerie-vivienne.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Jardin du Luxembourg (official site)](https://jardin.senat.fr/en.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Cité des Sciences (official site)](https://www.cite-sciences.fr/en/home?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Jardin d'Acclimatation (official site)](https://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/fr?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Disneyland Paris (official site)](https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-usd/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes (official site)](https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/en/menagerie-zoo-du-jardin-des-plantes?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Aquarium de Paris (official site)](https://aquariumdeparis.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Musée en Herbe (official site)](https://www.musee-en-herbe.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Grande Galerie de l’Évolution (official site)](https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/en/grande-galerie-de-l-evolution?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Cité des Enfants (official site)](https://www.cite-sciences.fr/en/explore/permanent-exhibitions/cite-des-enfants?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Giverny (official site)](https://claudemonetgiverny.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Reims & Champagne (official site)](https://www.reims-tourisme.com/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Fontainebleau (official site)](https://www.chateaudefontainebleau.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Chantilly (official site)](https://chateaudechantilly.fr/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Auvers-sur-Oise (official site)](https://tourisme-auverssuroise.fr/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Provins (official site)](https://provins.net/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Chartres (official site)](https://www.chartres-tourisme.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Vaux-le-Vicomte (official site)](https://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Rouen (official site)](https://en.visiterouen.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Charles de Gaulle (official site)](https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Métro & RER (official site)](https://www.ratp.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Navigo Day pass (official site)](https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.