Western Europe · France
Paris travel guide
Updated August 2026 · 4-day itinerary included
Do Paris in 4 days: Louvre highlights route (Denon wing, 90 minutes), Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro at golden hour, Musée d'Orsay's impressionists, Le Marais food streets and a Seine riverwalk at dusk. Budget €100–150/day. Book the Louvre and Eiffel Tower online — both sell out days ahead.
Right now in Paris
Live data · updated 2026-08-251 EUR ≈ 1 EUR · local currency
- All Saints' DaySun, Nov 1
- Armistice DayWed, Nov 11
Expect crowds + higher prices around these dates.
Golden hour: last hour before sunset
PM2.5: 4.8 µg/m³
Wildfires in France There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page . Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find…
Sources: Open-Meteo · open.er-api.com · Nager.Date · GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice · Open-Meteo Air Quality · Open-Meteo · Passport Index (open dataset, MIT). Checked at build time — verify critical details before booking.
Do you need a visa for France?
By passport — checked 2026-08-25 against the Passport Index open dataset (199 passports). Always confirm with the official embassy before booking.
| Passport | Requirement | Stay allowed |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Germany | Visa-free | — |
| Italy | Visa-free | — |
| Spain | Visa-free | — |
| India | Visa required | — |
| China | Visa required | — |
| Japan | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| South Korea | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Australia | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Canada | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Brazil | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| UAE | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Singapore | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| South Africa | Visa required | — |
Requirement data: Passport Index (open dataset, MIT) · Get a visa checklist in your AI plan →
Know before you go
US passports: 90 days visa-free (Schengen). Note: the new ETIAS travel authorization is expected to launch — check etias.eu before flying.
Top things to do in Paris
Louvre Museum
The world's most-visited museum — 35,000 works. The smart route: Denon wing's highlights (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Coronation) in 90 minutes, then wander.
Eiffel Tower
330m of iron lattice. Summit (276m) or the 2nd floor; the light show sparkles for 5 minutes every hour after dark.
Musée d'Orsay
Beaux-Arts railway station turned impressionist temple — Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas under the great clock.
Le Marais
Medieval lanes, falafel on Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, boutiques and the best falafel outside the Middle East.
Sainte-Chapelle
1,113 stained-glass panels forming a jewel box of light — built 1248 to house the Crown of Thorns.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Hilltop village: windmills, vineyard, artists' square (Place du Tertre), and the white basilica with Paris's best free panorama.
What to eat
- Croissant — Cédric Grolet, Du Pain et des Idées, or any 'boulangerie artisanale' sign. €1.30. Morning-only freshness.
- Steak frites — Relais de l'Entrecôte: one dish, secret sauce, endless frites. ~€30 set menu.
- Falafel pita — L'As du Fallafel, Rue des Rosiers — the Marais institution. ~€10, add aubergine.
- Cheese + baguette picnic — Fromagerie + boulangerie + a €8 Bordeaux = Seine-bank dinner. The Paris move.
Where to stay
- Le Marais (3rd/4th) — Historic lanes, boutiques, cafés, LGBTQ+ heart Best for: First-timers, food, walkability
- Saint-Germain (6th) — Literary cafés, galleries, elegant calm Best for: Couples, classic Paris
- Latin Quarter (5th) — Student energy, Sorbonne, cheap eats, Panthéon Best for: Budget, younger travelers
- Canal Saint-Martin (10th) — Iron footbridges, wine bars, local scene Best for: Second visit, hipster Paris
4-day Paris itinerary (the realistic kind)
Day 1 — Icons
Louvre 9am (Denon route) → Tuileries walk → Orsay 2pm → Seine sunset → Eiffel sparkle from Trocadéro at 9pm/10pm.
Day 2 — Islands & Marais
Sainte-Chapelle opening → Notre-Dame exterior (reopened 2024) → Île Saint-Louis ice cream → Marais lunch (falafel) → Place des Vosges → Centre Pompidou or shopping.
Day 3 — Montmartre & grand avenues
Montmartre morning (Rue Lepic, Tertre, dome view) → Opéra Garnier → Galeries Lafayette rooftop (free) → dinner in Pigalle.
Day 4 — Versailles or deep Paris
Versailles day trip (RER C 45min, palace €21+garden; Tuesday crowds — go any other day) OR Musée Rodin + Luxembourg Gardens + Saint-Germain café afternoon.
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Paris FAQ
How many days do you need in Paris?
Four days: icons (Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel), islands + Marais, Montmartre, and either Versailles or a neighborhood day. Five adds a day trip (Giverny, Champagne).
Do I need to book the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in advance?
Yes. Louvre timed entry sells out days ahead; the Eiffel Tower's online slots sell out weeks ahead in season. Both have official sites — avoid resellers charging 2×.
Is Paris expensive?
€100–150/day mid-range. Save hard on lunch (formule menus €15–19, same kitchens as dinner) and splurge on one dinner. Museum Pass (€62/2 days) pays off at 3+ sites.
Do Parisians speak English?
In tourist areas, yes. Always open with 'Bonjour' — skipping the greeting is the actual rudeness that gets the stereotype. 'Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?' unlocks everything.
Is Paris safe?
Violent crime is rare; pickpocketing is the real risk — metro lines 1 and 4, Sacré-Cœur steps, and any crowd around a phone-gazing tourist. Zipped bags, phone down.