Paris, the City of Love, is a unique place in the world that deserves to be visited at its best. For this reason, we’ve selected for you more than 20 tips for visiting Paris for the first time. Moreover, these tips will be very useful even if you have visited Paris other times in the past in order to avoid mistakes. In fact, the City of Love offers several different experiences every time you visit it. So, if you are planning a trip to this city in the near future, don’t miss this list of tips for visiting Paris and many other related articles that you will find at the end of the page.
1. Visit Paris in the shoulder seasons
This is our recommendation not only for Paris but for all trips and destinations. In fact, traveling in the high season (summer) results in more tourists and longer queues at the main attractions. For this reason, we recommend that you visit Paris during the shoulder seasons. This way, you’ll still get the good weather and you’ll love the colors of spring with cherry blossoms or those of autumn. We love the cherry blossoms in the photos! There are countless activities to do in Paris during these seasons.
2. In Paris the currency is the Euro
The currency in Paris as in all of France is the Euro. Additionally, there are plenty of ATMs all over the city where you can withdraw cash. Before 2002, the official currency in France was the franc. Payment by credit card is accepted in the vast majority of shops and restaurants.
3. Book your stay in advance
As with all popular destinations, we recommend that you book your stay in advance especially if you have a precise idea. Furthermore, it can be convenient to book your stay in a central location to enjoy the city to the fullest. Paris offers a wide choice of hotels for all types of tourists. However, most of the luxury hotels are concentrated in the 8th arrondissement of the city. If you are planning to stay in a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower, here you’ll find a list of the best hotels. Otherwise, if you’re looking to get a local’s perspective on the city and don’t feel like dining out every night, then you might consider booking an apartment on Airbnb. Here you will find the best Airbnbs in Paris with locations on the map.
4. Stay in a central location
As we said above, it’s important to book your stay in a central location. In fact, accommodation on the edge of town, even if it’s cheaper than a central one, will make you spend hours commuting to reach the best sights you want to visit. During our last visit, we had a chance to stay at Hotel Chateau Frontenac and it was a great experience. Indeed, we were a stone’s throw from Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower. Plus, the breakfast was absolutely fantastic!
5. The Eiffel Tower is not in the centre of Paris
Many think that the Eiffel Tower is the heart of Paris. However, the Eiffel Tower, despite being in the central area, is located west of the heart of Paris. In fact, Île de la Cité, the larger of the two natural islands on the River Seine, is considered the very heart of the City of Love.
6. Explore the city on foot
Paris is a city to be fully experienced and like many other European capitals we recommend visiting it on foot. In fact, on our last visit to Paris, we took the metro a few times and even less the bus. Certainly be prepared to walk plenty, wear comfortable shoes and explore the central areas street after street. This way you can also discover hidden gems of Paris that many tourists never see.
7. Make the most of your visit to the Louvre
You probably already have in mind to visit the Louvre, so why not plan your visit in the best way? First of all, buy the museum ticket in advance or the Paris Museum Pass. With this pass you will avoid wasting time in the long queue and will have more time to enjoy the museum. Also, remember that the Louvre is open every day except Tuesdays and on certain holidays. Keep in mind that the Louvre is a huge museum and it would take days to visit it all. So once inside the museum focus on a wing or specific works of art.
8. Use public transport
Don’t get us wrong, Paris is a place best explored on foot. However, sometimes it’s essential to take public transport. So we advise you to use the metro and the bus. Taxis may not be the best choice for city traffic. Also, to save money, buy a pack of ten metro tickets instead of the single ticket. When using public transport beware of common scams and keep a close eye on your belongings at all times. Don’t trust anyone trying to sell you metro tickets. In fact, they usually just want to steal your money. Buy tickets only from official vendors or from the machines.
9. Beware of pickpockets and scams
As in all big cities in the world, even in Paris you have to beware of scams. Most of these scams happen in tourist areas, especially close to important sights or in very crowded places like the metro. In fact, we recommend that you be more careful around Montmartre and Le Marais. Also, as mentioned before, keep a close eye on your belongings at all times and keep your wallet in a safe place.
10. Consider purchasing the Paris Pass
If you plan to visit many attractions and travel a lot by public transport then seriously consider purchasing the Paris Pass. In fact, with this pass, you’ll have the possibility of free entry to a choice of over 60+ top Paris attractions. Also, you’ll get free, unlimited use of public transport inside central Paris. The Paris Pass will be very useful for you not to waste time stuck in queue and enjoy the attractions to the fullest. You can find more information and purchase the Paris Pass here.
11. Bring your student ID
Are you a student? Don’t forget your student ID card to get several discounts on monuments and museums. In addition, the student ID card can be accepted at certain points in the city to get discounts on food. However, remember that to take advantage of these benefits you must be a resident of the EU. Nowadays, many students apply for the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) to travel the world with student discounts. Here you will find more information about ISIC.
12. Try French cuisine
One of the things we love most during our travels is trying the local cuisine. Paris, the capital of France, is the perfect place to try typical French cuisine. So during our last trip to the City of Love, we tried some dishes like Boeuf bourguignon, Coq au Vin, Escargot (land snails) and of course a ton of croissants every morning! In the end, French cuisine is mostly made up of meat, cheese and wine. However, Paris offers countless alternatives for vegans.
13. Make restaurant reservations in advance
Paris is a city that offers countless restaurants with different types of cuisine for all desires. However, the most popular places in the city tend to be fully booked. For this reason we recommend that you book in advance especially if you have a specific place in mind. Sometimes it’s stressful to plan everything in advance especially on vacation, but it’s the best way to avoid unwanted surprises.
14. Find the best view of Paris
Are you dreaming of a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower? You’ll be surprised to know that Paris offers a number of stunning views across the city. Many times you’ll accidentally stop and admire the beauty of this city and not just the iconic Eiffel Tower. However, you’ll only find some of the best viewpoints if you know exactly where to find them. Trocadero is one of our favorite viewpoints offering a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. Also, just outside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, you can enjoy a wide panoramic view of the city. If you want to know more, don’t miss the most romantic Eiffel Tower views in Paris.
15. Paris is a perfect place for a romantic getaway
It’s no coincidence that Paris is also known as the City of Love! In fact, it’s very common to find honeymooners especially near the main attractions. For example, the Trocadero and the Pont Alexandre III are every day the stage for photoshoot of couples from all over the world. However, Paris is also a great place to travel solo and it’s not difficult to meet other solo travelers and share experiences together.
16. Early morning is the best time to beat the crowds
Trust us, sometimes waking up early will be worth it. Some of the most famous Paris sights are very busy during the central hours. So if you don’t want to spend hours in line or you want to enjoy a museum with few people around you, the best solution is to be one of the first to enter. Also, early in the morning is the best time for your photos. For example, we took this photo of us at Trocadero with a few people around us at sunrise. In fact, if you come to Trocadero after 10 in the morning, it’s overcrowded with tourists so it’s impossible to take a picture like that. If you are interested in the topic, do not miss the top 10+ instagrammable places in Paris including exact locations!
17. Bring a travel adaptor
Plug type C and E are used in Paris as well as in France and other European countries. So if you are traveling from outside Europe, you’ll need to buy this type of adapters. We recommend that you purchase a universal adapter so that you can travel around the world with just one practical adapter.
18. Discover the hidden gems of the city
If you want to get a glimpse of truly authentic hidden Paris, there are many secret spots just waiting to be discovered. However, don’t get us wrong, if you are visiting the City of Love for the first time there are so many tourist spots you should visit first. On the other hand, if you have more time to spend during your visit or have already visited Paris in the past, you can set out to discover these hidden gems and you will not be disappointed! So if you want to read more on this topic don’t miss 20 hidden gems in Paris most tourists never see.
19. The Mona Lisa may not be what you expect
The Mona Lisa, one of the most famous works in the world by Italian master Leonardo da Vinci, may not be exactly what you expect. Starting with its size, the Mona Lisa is actually pretty small! Furthermore, it’s not possible to stand still and admire it for hours. In fact, this work is well protected by security guards and surrounded by a constant crowd. So you’ll have just a few seconds to look at the Mona Lisa (if you can get close) and then walk away to allow others to do the same. To be honest it’s not the best museum experience ever!
20. Don’t go to Paris just for a weekend
Paris is such a large city with so much to offer that it would be very reductive to visit it for just two or three days. What we want to tell you is that with such a short time you’ll not fully feel the Paris vibe. This way you’ll limit yourself to visiting only the most important landmarks and passing from one queue to another. However, if it’s the only chance, you’ve to visit this wonderful city then don’t miss it!
21. Paris Closes Up in August
As in other countries in Europe, even in Paris, people go on vacation in August. This means that the city is quieter than in previous months. However, you may find some shops and restaurants closed.
If you enjoyed reading about the best tips for visiting Paris for the first time, don’t miss the other articles on the French capital:
What to do and see:
- 20 Hidden Gems In Paris Most Tourists Never See
- The Most Instagrammable Cafes in Paris
- Top 10+ Instagrammable Places In Paris Including Exact Locations!
- 20+ Tips For Visiting Paris For The First Time
Where to stay:
Pin it now, read it again later:
