Practical tips for visiting Paris
Airports
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is 25 kilometres north-east. RER B runs to Gare du Nord, Châtelet and Saint-Michel in about 35 to 45 minutes; a dedicated airport ticket costs €14. Fixed-price taxis cost about €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Orly (ORY) to the south is linked by metro line 14, extended in 2024, which reaches Châtelet in about 25 minutes, with taxis at a fixed €36 to €44. Beauvais, used by some low-cost airlines, is about 85 kilometres away and requires a shuttle bus from Porte Maillot.
Metro, RER and passes
The metro has 16 lines and stations are rarely more than 500 metres apart. Since 2025 a single ticket costs the same for any metro, RER or bus journey within Île-de-France, purchased on a Navigo Easy card or a smartphone; paper tickets have been phased out. For a week's stay arriving early in the week, the Navigo Découverte weekly pass, valid Monday to Sunday, is excellent value; it requires a photo. The Paris Visite pass is usually poorer value. Vélib' bikes and the city's cycle lanes, greatly expanded since 2020, are a pleasant option.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October are the most pleasant months. July and August are busy with tourists while many Parisians are away, and some small shops close for summer holidays; heatwaves can top 35°C. Winter is grey and damp, around 5 to 8°C, but museums are quieter and the Christmas lights on the Champs-Élysées are lovely. Bastille Day on 14 July brings a military parade and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. The Fête de la Musique on 21 June fills the streets with free concerts.
Budget
Paris is expensive, especially for accommodation. Hostel beds run €40 to €70, mid-range doubles €150 to €280 and luxury palaces €800 or more. Save money with a formule lunch menu, typically two courses for €18 to €25, and picnics from markets. A coffee at the bar is cheaper than at a table, and prices on the terrace are higher still. Many national museums are free for EU residents under 26 and for everyone on the first Sunday of certain months; check each museum.
Museum logistics
Many museums close on Monday (Orsay, Orangerie, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Versailles). Book timed tickets for the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Sainte-Chapelle, the Catacombs and Versailles. The Paris Museum Pass covers more than 50 sites and lets you skip ticket lines, though reservations are still required in some places.
Safety and scams
Paris is generally safe, but pickpockets target metro line 1, RER B, the Louvre and Eiffel Tower areas, and Sacré-Cœur. Ignore petition clipboards and the "gold ring" trick where someone pretends to find a ring at your feet. Keep phones off café tables near the street.
Etiquette
Always say "Bonjour, madame" or "Bonjour, monsieur" when entering a shop or café; it is considered rude to start with a question. Waiters will not bring the bill until you ask ("L'addition, s'il vous plaît"). Service is included by law (service compris), so tipping is limited to rounding up or a few euros for good service.
Food and opening hours
Restaurants serve lunch from noon to 14:30 and dinner from 19:30. Many are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Bakeries rotate closing days, so there's always one open nearby. Tap water is safe and free; ask for "une carafe d'eau". Hundreds of Wallace fountains, the green cast-iron fountains donated in 1872, still provide drinking water.
Connectivity and accessibility
Free Wi-Fi is available in parks and public buildings. Many metro stations have stairs and no lifts, which can be challenging with luggage or prams; line 14 is fully accessible. Buses are all wheelchair accessible.
Paris Museum Pass
The Paris Museum Pass gives entry to more than 50 museums and monuments, including the Louvre, Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe and Versailles, for two, four or six consecutive days. Even with the pass, you must book a time slot at the Louvre and some others.
Tap water and fountains
Paris tap water is safe, and the green Wallace fountains, introduced in the 1870s, provide free drinking water across the city, as do many newer fountains, some even sparkling.
Free entry days
Many national museums are free on the first Sunday of the month in certain months, and all EU residents under 26 get free entry to national museums. Bring proof of age and residence.
Transport tickets
Paris now sells a single metro and RER ticket for most journeys within the region, bought on a Navigo Easy card or the app; paper carnets have been phased out.
Emergencies
Dial 112 or 17 for police and 15 for medical emergencies. Pharmacies with green crosses are plentiful, and Pharmacie Les Champs on the Champs-Élysées is open around the clock.
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