The uniform sandstone of the Haussmann buildings, the abundance of gilded historic monuments, and the glimmering Seine and its elegant bridges have arguably made Paris the most recognisable and romanticised cityscape in the world. But though the city wears its history – of monarchy, revolution, revolt and artistic innovation – with characteristic style, it is also increasingly looking to the future and outwards to the rest of the world.
Those looking to explore the city’s rich heritage can spend long afternoons getting lost in the Louvre, wandering the Musée d’Orsay, or ducking in and out of Paris’s countless historical churches (many of which were reinvented as Republican temples after the Revolution). For more contemporary tastes, there’s plenty of exploring to be done in the less tourist-trodden outer arrondissements – from arts venues on the sloping streets of Belleville to the boutique hotels and reinvented dive bars of Pigalle.
For further Paris inspiration, see our guides devoted to the French capital’s best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, bars, things to do, free things to do and shopping.
In this guide:
- What’s new in Paris this season
- How to spend your weekend
- When should I visit Paris?
- Where to stay in Paris
What’s new in Paris this summer
See: David Hockney 25
This summer, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, located on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne park in the upscale west of the city, has invited the legendary British artist for the largest exhibition of his work to date. The dazzling selection has been curated with Hockney’s input and features many of his works from the last 25 years, as well as some iconic earlier paintings – 400 pieces will be on display in total (from April 9 to August 31, 2025).
Visit: The Tuileries Gardens for fun and Olympics nostalgia
Every summer from the end of June, the elegant Tuileries Gardens, next to the Louvre, hosts a sprawling fun fair complete with a ghost train, vintage-style carousels and a giant Ferris wheel – a favourite with local families and visitors. From June 23 to September 14, the same park will also be displaying the striking hot-air balloon that held the Olympic flame during the Games last year, in an installation that will repeat every year until the next summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Swim: In the Seine (yes, really)
Paris Plages, the city’s summer initiative to add beach vibes along the banks of the Seine (deck chairs, ice cream kiosks, etc) started more than 20 years ago and has seen significant expansion. This year – for the first time in a century – brave swimmers will be able to have a splash in the Seine. Throughout July and August, three urban beaches will open in Bercy in the east, Grenelle in the west and at Bras Marie in the centre of town. The water will be regularly tested to ensure safety.
How to spend your weekend
Day one: morning
Start the day at the Luxembourg Garden and take in the lines of plane trees and ornate parterres, with the top of the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance. Come out on the north side of the park, being sure to clock the stunning Medici Fountain on your right.
Go next to Rue de Seine, via Place de l’Odéon, stopping to browse in the second-hand bookshops and independent galleries that punctuate this historically bohemian district.
For lunch, try the gourmet galettes at Breton crepe house Breizh Café or Ippudo for some of the best ramen in Paris. Find more places to eat in our guide to the city’s best restaurants.
Afternoon
Follow Rue de Seine down to the river, emerging in front of the French Institute building, taking in the view across Pont des Arts to the Louvre across the river. Book ahead to visit Sainte Chapelle, the resplendent 12th-century chapel built by Louis IX (you’ll feel like you’re inside a giant jewellery box).
Afterwards, stop for a coffee in the ornate environs of 1920s café Les Deux Palais. Cross Île de la Cité, taking in the magnificently renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral. Cross to neighbouring Ile Saint-Louis via the Pont Saint-Louis and stop for a proper hot chocolate at Café Saint-Régis.
Next, head back on to the Left Bank and wander the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens; if you’re travelling en famille, consider a visit to the zoo.
Late
Prop yourself up at the bar of L’Avant Comptoir. Ask for wine recommendations and have fun choosing from the menu of French small plates – go for the mackerel with grapefruit and horseradish and the pork trotter terrine. Or, if it’s cocktails you’re after, try Prescription Cocktail Club for an inventive tipple from the much-lauded Experimental Group. Find more of the city’s best bars in our guide.
Finish with a classic film in the romantic surrounds of the Filmothèque in the Latin Quarter. If you still want to go on, end the night with live jazz in the atmospheric cellars at Caveau de la Huchette.
Day two: morning
Let’s head to the Marais. Start at the ornate 17th-century square, Place des Vosges. Warm up with a café crème at the elegant Café Hugo on the north-east corner, or visit the house of its novelist’s namesake on the south-east corner, Maison de Victor Hugo.
Exit to Rue Saint-Antoine via the south-west edge of the square through the secluded courtyards of 17th-century mansion Hôtel de Sully. Head into the heart of the Marais along Rue Vieille du Temple.
For lunch, try a tasty salad served with brio at Le Pick-Clops or if you’re in a street-food mood, opt for falafel in the historical heart of Paris’s Ashkenazi Jewish community; L’As du Fallafel is the most famous and undeniably delicious, but be prepared for long queues.
Walk it off in the Jardin des Rosiers – Joseph-Migneret (Rue des Rosiers), a quiet park hidden (like many good things in Paris) in plain sight. Find more of the city’s best things to do in our guide.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, head further west, towards the Les Halles district. Paris’s wholesale food market lived here for hundreds of years and the quarter’s foodie legacy can still be felt. Wander along Rue Montorgueil, the historic cobbled market street where you’ll still find a profusion of food vendors, including one of the city’s oldest pastry shops, Patisserie Stohrer.
Nearby you’ll find G. Detou on Rue Tiquetonne. The name is a play on words for a French phrase meaning ‘I have a bit of everything’ and inside the small but packed-to-the-rafters boutique you’ll find just about any obscure baking ingredient you could wish for. Fans of pots and pans will also enjoy E. Dehillerin on Rue Coquillière with its spellbinding range of classic kitchenware.
In recent years, this district has transformed into a hub for young professionals, bringing in a new host of chic boutiques, cute bakeries and hip addresses – rest your weary feet with a drink in the Instagram-ready courtyard restaurant at Hoxton Paris.
Late
Round off your Paris break with a touch of schmaltz (because, pourquoi pas allow yourself a little?) and take a cruise along the Seine in one of the iconic Bateaux Mouches (Port de la Conférence), taking in the floodlit Musée d’Orsay, Louvre and Notre-Dame and the reflected yellow glow on the river. It may feel a little touristy, but gliding along the water on one is never disappointing.
When to go
“Paris is always a good idea”, so goes the cliché, but it’s true. The French capital has something to offer at any time of year. Winter’s the season for crisp Seine-side walks and feasts in cosy bistros. Spring and early summer are for strolling the parks and enjoying the café-terrace culture.
On June 21, there’s Fête de la Musique and on July 14 you can expect fireworks and firemen’s balls. In August, the capital slows down and urban beaches take over the quays and canal; it’s not Paris as it usually is, but some visitors enjoy the relative quiet. The autumn rentrée season is an energetic time with refreshed locals post-holiday, and a flurry of new exhibitions and openings.
Where to stay
Luxury living
Le Royal Monceau Raffles is a contemporary take on the ultra-luxe palace-grade hotel, with Philippe Starck-designed décor and fusion food offerings from Nobu Matsuhisa, as well as rotating art exhibits and a stylish ‘concept store’. The hotel is on Avenue Hoche, one of the roads radiating from the Arc de Triomphe on Place de l’Etoile.
Read our full review here.
Designer digs
Hôtel Des Grands Voyageurs is located in the heart of the Left Bank, where the chic style of Saint-Germain meets New York meets Rome at this Italian-designed slinky address, just outside the tourist throng but well placed for exploring. The restaurant, styled as a ‘transatlantic brasserie’, serves seriously good food while the two bars are chic spots for late-night cocktails.
Read our full review here.
Budget beauty
The pretty little Hotel Henriette makes a cosy and romantic base for a city break in Paris, with some of the bohemian Left Bank’s most charming attractions a short walk away. It is an Instagrammer’s dream. Designer Vanessa Scoffier has a background in fashion journalism and her good taste and keen eye for detail can be seen throughout the hotel.
Read our full review here.
Find more places to stay in Paris in our guide.
Know before you go
Essential information
- British Embassy/Consulate: (+33 1 44 51 31 00; ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk). For passports and most other visitor services, contact the consulate at 15 rue d’Anjou (same telephone number) rather than the embassy.
- Office du Tourisme de Paris: Office du Tourisme de Paris, 29 rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
- Ambulance (samu): dial 15
- Police: dial 17
- Fire (pompiers): dial 18
- Emergency services from mobile phone: dial 112. Different emergency services have different direct numbers in France, but any emergency service you call will make sure you are quickly put through to the right service.
The basics
- Currency: Euro
- Telephone code: from abroad, dial 00 33, then leave off the zero at the start of the 10-figure number. Most Paris numbers start with 01; mobile phone numbers start with 06; numbers beginning 08 are special-rate numbers, ranging from 0800 freephone to premium-rate calls
- Time difference: +1 hour
- Travelling times: London to Paris by Eurostar takes 2hr 15min. Flying time is about one hour.
Local laws and etiquette
- When greeting people, formal titles (Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle) are used much more in French than in English.
- It is considered polite to say ‘bonjour’ when you enter a space such as a restaurant, a shop or even a waiting room, and you should say ‘bonjour’ first when asking for assistance, rather than starting with an ‘excusez-moi’. It’s an essential piece of social punctuation, like saying your pleases and thank yous.
- The laws of vouvoiement (which version of “you” to use) take years to master. If in doubt – except when talking to children or animals – always use the formal vous form (second person plural) rather than the more casual tu.
- When driving, it’s compulsory to keep fluorescent bibs and a hazard triangle in the car in case of breakdown.
About our expert
Hannah, originally from London, spent years working out the intricacies of French grammar before moving to Paris, where she works as a journalist specialising in French culture and society. She enjoys cycling Paris’s avenues and boulevards on her trusty bike, eavesdropping in café terrasses and visiting the weekly flea market at her local, Puces de Saint-Ouen.