Cidade Turismo
France
Paris

Ilha de França · France

Paris

The French capital on the banks of the Seine: museums such as the Louvre and the d'Orsay, the Tour Eiffel, Notre-Dame, neighborhoods like the Marais and Montmartre, and fast trains to the rest of the country.

Paris e Norte

In the photo: Arc de Triomphe · Paris

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The city spreads across both banks of the Seine: the right bank (rive droite), to the north, and the left bank (rive gauche), to the south. In the middle of the river are two islands, the Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle are located, and the Île Saint-Louis.

The city is divided into 20 arrondissements, a word that means administrative district. They are numbered from 1st to 20th in a spiral, starting from the center, near the Louvre, clockwise. The number appears on street signs and at the end of the postal code: 75001 is the 1st, 75020 is the 20th. Knowing the arrondissement helps understand where the hotel or museum is.

To get around, the metro has a station a few minutes' walk from almost every point in the city. The RER, a regional express train identified by letters (A, B, C, D and E), crosses Paris and goes farther: the RER B reaches Charles de Gaulle airport, the RER C reaches Versailles and the RER A reaches Disneyland Paris. From the main train stations, the gares, depart the TGV, high-speed trains that connect Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lille and other cities.

In winter it gets dark early, in the late afternoon; in summer daylight extends late into the night. Lunch is served around 12:00–14:00 and dinner from about 19:30, and many restaurants close the kitchen between the two.

This destination brings together 1 city: Paris.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Paris is
Paris

Contornos: © IGN, ADMIN EXPRESS, Licence Ouverte 2.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Paris

✈ Aéroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), in Roissy-en-France · 30 km to Paris

✈ Aéroport Paris-Orly (ORY), in Orly · 18 km to Paris

International flights arrive at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY). Confirm before buying. From CDG, the RER B takes you to the center; Orly has metro line 14 and the Orlyval. Within France, TGVs arrive at the city's main gares.

The local experience

Things to do in Paris

Tour Eiffel
Paris · Ilha de França · Monument

Tour Eiffel

The 330-metre iron tower built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, on the banks of the Seine in the Champ-de-Mars. Elevators and stairs take you to the levels and to the top, at 276 metres.

Musée du Louvre
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée du Louvre

Former palace of the kings of France, converted into a museum in 1793. It houses the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, among tens of thousands of works on display. The main entrance is through the glass pyramid.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Paris · Ilha de França · Cathedral

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Gothic cathedral begun in 1163 on the Île de la Cité, with three large medieval rose windows. Entrance to the nave is free; the climb to the towers, with 424 steps, requires a reservation.

Sainte-Chapelle
Paris · Ilha de França · Church

Sainte-Chapelle

Gothic chapel consecrated in 1248, built by Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns. The upper chapel has 15 large stained-glass windows with biblical scenes that cover almost all the walls.

See 29 more places in Paris
Conciergerie
Paris · Ilha de França · Palace

Conciergerie

Part of the former royal palace on the Île de la Cité that became a prison during the French Revolution. It features the enormous Salle des Gens d'Armes, a Gothic hall, and a chapel in the place of Marie Antoinette's cell.

Arc de Triomphe
Paris · Ilha de França · Monument

Arc de Triomphe

An arch of about 50 meters ordered by Napoleon in 1806, at the top of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Beneath it lies the Túmulo do Soldado Desconhecido; at the top, a terrace with views over the 12 avenues radiating from the square.

Place de la Concorde
Paris · Ilha de França · Square

Place de la Concorde

The largest plaza in Paris, between the Jardin des Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées. In the center stands the obelisk of Luxor, about 3,300 years old; it was there that Louis XVI was guillotined in 1793.

Jardin des Tuileries
Paris · Ilha de França · Garden

Jardin des Tuileries

A 25-hectare garden between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, created by Catherine de' Medici and redesigned by Le Nôtre in 1664. It has ponds, statues and green chairs scattered along the alleys.

Musée de l'Orangerie
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée de l'Orangerie

Museum on the west corner of the Jardin des Tuileries with Claude Monet's Water Lilies: eight panels installed in two oval rooms. On the lower floor, works by Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso and Modigliani.

Palais Garnier
Paris · Ilha de França · Palace

Palais Garnier

The opera house by Charles Garnier, inaugurated in 1875, with the grand marble staircase, the gilded Grand Foyer and the auditorium ceiling painted by Marc Chagall. Visits are by timed entry.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
Paris · Ilha de França · Church

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

White-stone basilica atop the hill of Montmartre, built from 1875 to 1914. The staircase in front offers one of the widest views of Paris. Beside it are the Place du Tertre and the streets of the old painters' village.

Place des Vosges
Paris · Ilha de França · Square

Place des Vosges

The oldest planned square in Paris, dating from 1612, surrounded by brick and stone houses with arcades. It lies in the heart of the Marais, the neighborhood of medieval streets and 17th-century townhouses.

Musée Picasso Paris
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée Picasso Paris

Museum in the Hôtel Salé, a 17th‑century townhouse in the Marais, with more than 5,000 works by Pablo Picasso: paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics and prints, as well as the artist’s personal documents.

Musée Carnavalet
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée Carnavalet

The museum of the history of Paris, housed in two townhouses in the Marais. It tells the city’s story from prehistory to the present, with models, old shop signs, objects from the Revolution and Marcel Proust’s bedroom. The permanent collection is free.

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Paris · Ilha de França · Cemetery

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise

The largest cemetery in Paris, opened in 1804, with 44 hectares of tree‑lined avenues. It is the resting place of Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Molière, Jim Morrison and Allan Kardec, among others.

Canal Saint-Martin
Paris · Ilha de França · Street

Canal Saint-Martin

Canal of 4.6 km opened in 1825, with locks, iron bridges and tree-lined banks in the 10th arrondissement. The quays become a meeting point for Parisians in the late afternoon.

Petit Palais
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Petit Palais

Palace built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, today the Museu de Belas Artes da Cidade de Paris. The permanent collection is free. Facing it are the Grand Palais and, on the river, the Pont Alexandre III.

Musée d'Orsay
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée d'Orsay

Former railway station on the banks of the Seine that houses the world's largest collection of Impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin, with French art from 1848 to 1914.

Musée Rodin
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée Rodin

18th-century mansion with a garden where some of Auguste Rodin's best-known sculptures stand, such as The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais.

Hôtel des Invalides
Paris · Ilha de França · Monument

Hôtel des Invalides

17th-century complex created by Louis XIV for veteran soldiers, featuring the golden dome of the Dôme des Invalides, Napoleon's tomb and the Musée de l'Armée, one of the largest military museums in the world.

Panthéon
Paris · Ilha de França · Monument

Panthéon

A neoclassical temple on the top of the Quartier Latin where Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola and Marie Curie are buried, with the Foucault pendulum under the dome. Around it are the Sorbonne and rue Mouffetard.

Jardin du Luxembourg
Paris · Ilha de França · Garden

Jardin du Luxembourg

A 23-hectare garden created by Marie de' Medici in 1612, featuring the Palais du Luxembourg (Senate), the Médicis Fountain, the large boating pond and the green chairs where Parisians spend their afternoons.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Paris · Ilha de França · Historic neighborhood

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Left-bank neighborhood around the oldest church in Paris, known for literary cafés, bookshops, art galleries and boutiques. The church has a tower dating from the year 1000.

Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge

Medieval museum housed in a 15th-century Gothic mansion built over Roman baths. It holds the six tapestries of The Lady and the Unicorn and sculptures rescued from Notre-Dame.

Catacombes de Paris
Paris · Ilha de França · Historical site

Catacombes de Paris

Underground ossuary about 20 meters deep, in former quarries, containing the remains of more than six million Parisians arranged in walls of bones along roughly 1.5 km of galleries.

Palais de Chaillot
Paris · Ilha de França · Observation deck

Palais de Chaillot

1930s palace on the hill of Trocadéro, facing the Torre Eiffel. The esplanade between the two wings is the classic spot to photograph the tower, and the palace houses museums of anthropology, naval history and architecture.

Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac

Museu de Jean Nouvel near the Torre Eiffel dedicated to the arts and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, with a facade covered in plants and a garden enclosed by a glass wall.

Fondation Louis Vuitton
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Fondation Louis Vuitton

Frank Gehry's contemporary art center in the Bois de Boulogne, with glass 'sails', terraces overlooking La Défense and major temporary exhibitions. Next to it are the park and the Jardin d'Acclimatation.

Cité des sciences et de l'industrie
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Cité des sciences et de l'industrie

The largest science museum in Europe, in the Parc de la Villette, with a planetarium, a real submarine, the mirrored dome of the Géode and areas for children. Around it is a 55-hectare park with the Philharmonie de Paris.

Musée Marmottan Monet
Paris · Ilha de França · Museum

Musée Marmottan Monet

Mansion in the 16th arrondissement with the largest collection of Claude Monet's works in the world, including Impression, soleil levant, the painting that gave its name to Impressionism, and many Water Lilies.

Île Saint-Louis
Paris · Ilha de França · Island

Île Saint-Louis

Île Saint-Louis, an island just behind Notre-Dame, with 17th-century mansions, tree-lined quays and a main street of shops, cheese shops and ice-cream parlors. A short, quiet walk in central Paris.

Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis
Paris · Ilha de França · Cathedral

Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis

Basilica north of Paris where nearly all the kings of France were buried, with more than 70 tombs and recumbent statues. Its choir, from 1144, is considered a landmark in the birth of Gothic architecture.

Disneyland Paris
Paris · Ilha de França · Theme park

Disneyland Paris

Disney complex about 32 km east of Paris, with two theme parks, the Disneyland Park, of the Castelo da Bela Adormecida, and Disney Adventure World, plus Disney Village and its own hotels.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) usually have mild temperatures and reasonably long days. July and August are the hottest months and the most crowded with tourists. From December to February it's cold, it gets dark early, and museum queues are usually shorter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

With 3 days you can see the Tour Eiffel, the Louvre, the Île de la Cité, Montmartre and the Marais without rushing. With 4 to 5 days there is time for the Musée d'Orsay, the gardens, a boat trip on the Seine and a day trip to Versailles. Museum lovers need more days: the Louvre alone requires half a day or more.

Which city to stay in

For first-time visitors, the central arrondissements (1st to 7th) put almost everything within walking distance or a few metro stops. The Marais (3rd and 4th) has old streets, museums and restaurants. The Quartier Latin and Saint-Germain-des-Prés (5th and 6th), on the left bank, are close to the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Île de la Cité. The 7th, around the Tour Eiffel and the Invalides, is more residential and quiet at night. Near Gare de Lyon (12th) or Gare du Nord (10th) is convenient for those catching an early train. Montmartre (18th) sits on a hill, farther from the center.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Paris

How to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to central Paris?

The RER B departs from the airport terminals and stops at central stations such as Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. There are also buses and taxis with fixed fares to the right bank or the left bank. Confirm fares and the correct ticket before you go: the standard metro ticket is not valid for the airport route.

How many days to stay in Paris on a first trip?

Three days are the minimum for the main sights: Tour Eiffel, Louvre, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and the Marais. With four or five days you can add the Musée d'Orsay, the Jardin du Luxembourg, a boat trip on the Seine and a trip to Versailles.

Do I need a car in Paris?

No. The metro, the RER, buses and walking cover everything within the city. Driving in Paris is slow, parking is difficult and there are zones with traffic restrictions. A car only makes sense to explore the countryside, and even then the train is usually more practical to reach other cities.

What's the best time to visit Paris?

From April to June and in September and October the weather is usually mild and the city is less crowded than in the height of summer. July and August are hot and crowded. In winter, from December to February, it's cold and gets dark early, but museums are quieter and there are year-end decorations.

Can you make day trips from Paris?

Yes. The Château de Versailles is less than an hour away via the RER C. Disneyland Paris and the Basilique de Saint-Denis are also reachable by RER or metro. By TGV, cities like Lille, Reims or Lyon can be done in a long day, departing early from one of the main gares.

What's the difference between the metro and the RER?

The metro has numbered lines and stations close together, only within Paris and its immediate surroundings. The RER has lettered lines, stops at fewer stations in the center and continues to the suburbs and airports. Some large stations, like Châtelet-Les Halles, connect the two systems.

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