Paris

Sightseeing

• Eiffel Tower – Summit ticket – Ascend to the top for panoramic city views; perfect for first‑timer photos. $30, 2 hrs
• Arc de Triomphe – Roof climb – Scale the arch for a 360° sweep of the Champs‑Élysées and beyond. $13, 1.5 hrs

Food & Drink

• Le Comptoir du Relais – Classic bistro on Rue Saint‑André; try the duck confit with a glass of Burgundy. $45 per person, 1.5 hrs
• Berthillon – Iconic ice‑cream shop on Île Saint‑Louis; a pistachio scoop is a must‑try. $8 per cone, 0.5 hrs

Outdoor Nature

• Jardin du Luxembourg – Stroll among Medici fountains and rent a sailboat on the pond. $0, 1 hr
• Canal Saint‑Martin walk – Wander the tree‑lined waterway and pause at a street‑side café for a coffee. $5 for coffee, 1 hr

Nightlife

• Le Perchoir – Rooftop bar in the Marais; sip a cocktail while the city lights glitter below. $15 per drink, 2 hrs
• Caveau de la Huchette – Historic jazz cellar in the Latin Quarter; swing to live swing bands till midnight. $20 cover, 2 hrs

Cultural

• Shakespeare and Company – Independent English‑language bookstore on the Left Bank; browse rare editions in a literary shrine. $0 entry, 1 hr

Day Trip

• Palace of Versailles – Tour the Hall of Mirrors and sprawling gardens; a short RER ride out of Paris. $27 entry, 5 hrs (including travel)

Budget – $100‑$150 per night

1. Hotel Marignan – 11ᵗʰ arr., Montparnasse. $110‑$130. Quiet courtyard, a short walk to the Bastille market and good metro links for early‑morning museum trips.
2. Le Village Montmartre – Montmartre. $120‑$150. Steps from Sacré‑Cœur, rooftop terrace with city views, and a staff that’ll point you to the best crêpe stall on Rue des Abbesses.

Mid‑range – $180‑$260 per night

1. Hotel Henriette – Le Marais. $210‑$250. Classic décor, a five‑minute stroll to Place des Vosges, and easy metro access to the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay.
2. CitizenM Paris Gare de Lyon – 12ᵗʰ arr. $180‑$220. Sleek rooms, rapid self‑check‑in, and a central spot for day trips to the Loire Valley or the Champagne region.

Luxury – $500‑$1,200 per night

1. Le Bristol Paris – 8ᵗʰ arr., near the Grand Palais. $650‑$800. Michelin‑starred dining, a garden oasis in the heart of the city, and service that makes a weekend feel like a royal retreat.
2. Le Meurice – 1ᵗʰ arr., Tuileries. $800‑$1,200. Historic palace ambience, private butler service, and panoramic views of the gardens that turn any stay into a splurge worth remembering.

How to get to Paris

Airports
The city lands you at two main hubs:

• Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – biggest, most international.
• Orly (ORY) – smaller, a few low‑cost carriers.

Both sit about 30 km from the centre. From CDG the RER B line whisks you to Châtelet‑Les Halles in roughly 35 minutes; from ORLY the Orlyval tram + RER B combo takes about 45 minutes.

Flight times from major hubs

• New York (JFK/EWR) → CDG: 7 h 45 m (non‑stop) or 9 h with a layover.
• London (LHR) → CDG: 1 h 15 m (Air France, British Airways).
• Dubai (DXB) → CDG: 6 h 45 m (Emirates, Air France).
• Hong Kong (HKG) → CDG: 12 h 50 m (Cathay Pacific, Air France).

If you’re coming from nearby European cities, the fastest route is often the Eurostar: London St Pancras to Gare du Nord in 2 h 15 m, then a short metro ride into the heart of Paris.

Alternative ground transport

• From Brussels: Thalys train, 1 h 22 m to Paris‑Gare du Nord.
• From Amsterdam: Thalys, 3 h 20 m.
• From Berlin: ICE/TGV, about 8 h with a change in Cologne.

All of these trains drop you at central stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse) that sit right next to metro lines, making the next leg of your trip a breeze.

Visa requirements (U.S. citizens)
No visa needed for stays up to 90 days. Just bring a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, and be ready to show proof of accommodation and return ticket if asked at the border.

Airfare range
Economy round‑trip from the U.S. typically runs $650 – $1,200 in low season, climbing to $1,500 + during July–August or around major holidays. Business class starts around $3,800 and can hit $6,000 for peak‑time fares.

Quick tip
If you want to save a few bucks and don’t mind a short layover, look for flights into ORY with a budget carrier like Norwegian; the airport’s easy RER connection means you’ll be sipping a café au lait on the Champs‑Élysées in under an hour. For a smoother arrival, especially with luggage, most travelers prefer CDG’s faster rail link.

What to eat when you land
Skip the airport sandwich and head straight to a nearby boulangerie. In the 1st arrondissement, “Le Pain Quotidien” serves a buttery croissant for €1.20 and a café crème for €2.10 — perfect for a quick carb‑boost before you dive into the city. If you have a bit more time, hop on the metro to Le Marais and treat yourself to steak frites at “Chez Janou”; a plate runs about €25 and the vibe feels instantly Parisian.

Here’s the real talk on Paris months—no fluff, just what you need to book smart.

May is your sweet spot. Weather’s mild—15°C to 20°C (60s to 70s°F), no humidity, and the city’s actually alive without the crush. Crowds? They’re 20% lighter than June, and hotels drop 15% from July rates. You’ll snag a decent room for €180–220 a night, not €250+. Events? The Fête de la Musique (June 21) is fun but packed. May’s quieter: stroll the Luxembourg Gardens without jostling for space, and cafés feel local again.

September is the other winner. Still warm (18°C–24°C), but crowds thin out fast after August. Hotels dip 15% from July, and you’ll pay €160–200 for a room—same as May, but with fewer tourists. Plus, the light’s golden, and the city breathes easier. Avoid October if you hate rain; it’s often soggy, and prices stay high until November.

Skip these months:

• June–August: Hot, sticky, and packed. July’s brutal—30°C+ temps, museum lines for 90 minutes, and hotels at peak prices. August? Paris feels empty (locals are on vacation), but it’s sweltering and humid.
• April: Rainy, gray, and touristy. You’ll pay full price for a room, but the weather’s a gamble.
• November–March: Cold, wet, and dark. November’s cheap but miserable—think 5°C (40°F) and gray skies. You’ll spend more time indoors than exploring.

The real deal: Book May or September. May’s perfect for flowers and mild weather; September’s ideal for fewer crowds and warm days. If you’re chasing value and calm, those two months beat everything else. June’s tempting for the music festival, but you’ll pay extra for the chaos. Trust me—Paris in May feels like the city’s finally waking up, not drowning in tourists. Book early for May, and you’ll get the best of both worlds: culture without the crowd.