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Visit Paris, the city that lives, laughs and loves

The capital city of France is a mesh of over 6,000 streets, each whispering tales of Paris’ checkered past and progressive spirit. Stroll along one of the world’s most famous shopping strips, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, on Bastille Day to see it dressed in French national colors as thousands celebrate the birth of la République Française. Head to Montmartre’s Rue Saint-Rustique to dine at Le Consulat, just like Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec once did. Find the best and hippest Paris has to offer in food, street art and quirky bars on Rue Oberkampf, the main street of the eponymous neighborhood leading the city’s “bistronomie” revolution. Feeling the wanderlust? Check out our mini guide to the City of Light’s most sparkling gems, some hidden and some towering over it at 320 meters.

Paris arrondissements: quick tips and facts about Paris’ unmissable districts

Lovingly referred to as “20 little cities,” the French capital’s arrondissements municipaux (administrative districts) all pack a unique blend of history, culture and character. They’re arranged and numbered escargot-style, spiraling out from the heart of Paris to its outer shell, the périphérique (ringroad). Want to find out which district you’re in? Look for the city’s iconic blue-white-green signs on any street corner and the number on top. Wondering where your next stop is located? All Parisian postcodes start with “75” and end with the arrondissement number. For example, the postcode of the Eiffel Tower in the 7th district is 75007.

Speaking of the Eiffel Tower: don’t let the crowds scare you off. The wrought-iron lattice tower,  originally built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, stands at a whopping 320 meters, offering views of the French capital at its most majestic. A word to the wise: book your tickets in advance, especially if you plan to visit in the summer months or around the holidays. 

The La dame de fer (Iron Lady) is far from being the only reason to visit the quiet, leafy 7th arrondissement. Think museum heavyweights Musée d’Orsay, Les Invalides and Musée Rodin, all within walking distance. Stretching over the 3rd and 4th districts, Le Marais deserves a spot on your Paris bucket list for its medieval charm alone. So does the Latin Quarter (5th district), spreading from the Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral to the Jardin des Plantes, Paris’ oldest botanical garden. The 18th district, another must-see, is home to the hilltop Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Montmartre, with its cobbled streets, bohemian cafés and the Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Things to do in Paris: Paris sightseeing itinerary for art and culture lovers

With over 140 musées (museums) across the city, culture buffs will have some tough choices to make when deciding what to visit in Paris. So let’s zero in on the non-negotiables.

The world’s most-visited museum, the Louvre, would take a hundred days to explore in its entirety – but that doesn’t stop visitors from trying. Some 9 million of them line up every year to see the 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art displayed in the former royal palace, including the Venus de Milo, the Code of Hammurabi, the Mona Lisa, the majority of the Boscoreale Treasure, the 140.64-carat Regent Diamond and, of course, the most important French painting, Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People. 

Centre Pompidou, at Place Georges-Pompidou, is just as impressive on the inside as it is from the outside. Connected by gigantic "arteries" in bright primary colors, it’s the pulsing heart of European modern and contemporary art, starting from 1905. Traveling with kids? Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers, housed in the Abbaye de Saint-Martin-des-Champs, to retrace the history of human ingenuity, from the Lumière brothers’ camera and Foucault’s pendulum to Louis Blériot’s plane that made the first flight across the English Channel.

Bibliophiles should make a pilgrimage to Shakespeare and Company, the Left Bank bookstore that’s been a meeting point for anglophone readers and writers such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ezra Pound since the 1920s. Are performing arts more your thing? The Second-Empire-style Palais Garnier, home to the Paris Opera Ballet, is a must-see for ballet and architecture enthusiasts alike. Need a break from your cultural immersion? Stretch your legs in one of the many cafés in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, once frequented by Jean-Paul Sartre, Boris Vian, Albert Camus and the like.

From bistros to boutiques: Paris attractions for foodies, fashionistas and fun-lovers

Some of the best things to do in Paris involve food – and then some more food. Grab fresh croissants and pain au chocolat, two French breakfast classics, at any boulangerie (bakery) in the city and sip espresso at a café en terrace for the full experience. For the ultimate comfort food, try soupe à l'oignon (French onion soup), loaded with croutons, beef broth and caramelized onions, in a bistro or brasserie, with a side of joie de vivre. Looking to treat the cheese aficionado in your life (who may or may not be you)? Stop by a fromagerie or crèmerie to find a new or old favorite. Make sure to tell the cheesemonger when you plan to serve it, so your purchase will be at just the right stage of ripeness.

For non-food shopping, you’re spoiled for choice – again. Department stores, like Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche on Rue de Sèvres or Boulevard Haussmann’ Les Galeries Lafayette are easily among the top things to see in Paris, even if it’s just for lèche-vitrines (window shopping). If you only have time for one shopping destination, make it Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Starting in the 7th arrondissement, Boulevard Saint Germain is dotted with fashion boutiques, from high-end to vintage, as well as antique, home décor, book, gourmet and gift shops for all tastes and budgets. Visiting in the summer? Cap off your spending spree with a sunset stroll around Montmartre and a glass (or three) of herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc in an Oberkampf bar à vin.

Airports in Paris, France: a brief guide to the main airports near Paris

Paris is served primarily by three major airports: Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport and Beauvais-Tillé Airport. 

Also known as Roissy Airport or Paris CDG, Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest international airport in France and the second busiest in Europe. With its three terminals, it’s a hub for global connectivity, catering to millions of passengers annually from around the world. It’s also the closest airport to Disneyland Paris.

Orly Airport, situated south of Paris, is the city’s second major airport. It mainly handles domestic and European flights to Paris, offering a cozier atmosphere compared to Charles de Gaulle. The third airport, Beauvais-Tillé, is located in the city of Beauvais, north of Paris, and is mostly used by low-cost and charter airlines.

PLAY flights depart from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - Terminal 3. The airport is located 34 kilometers from the city center and is accessible by trains, buses, taxis and car rental services.