Must See~£22
Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars
The wrought-iron icon of Paris, with lifts and stairs up to sweeping views.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Book ahead
- Suits: Photographers
Daily, roughly 9:00–midnight
Paris
Iconic landmarks, world-class museums and café life along the Seine.
Overview
Why go to Paris
Paris is best enjoyed at a walking pace: a landmark or museum in the morning, a long lunch, then a wander through a different arrondissement. Its neighbourhoods each have their own character, from Montmartre’s hilltop lanes to the Marais’s boutiques.
- Where
- Île-de-France, France
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October; August is quieter as Parisians holiday.
- Approx. daily budget
- £95–190 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Paris cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£85–125a day
- Mid-range traveller£170–245a day
- Luxury traveller£340+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 36 Top picks in Paris
Must See~£15
Louvre Museum
Louvre
The world’s biggest art museum, home to the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Wednesday–Monday, roughly 9:00–18:00; closed Tuesdays
Must SeeFree
Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité
Île de la Cité
The Gothic cathedral’s restored façade and the medieval heart of the city.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples
Cathedral reopened after restoration; check visiting arrangements
Must SeeFree
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
Montmartre
A hilltop village of artists’ studios, steep lanes and a white-domed basilica with city views.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Basilica daily, roughly 6:30–22:30; district open-air
Hidden Gems
See all 10 Beyond the checklist
Local FavouritesFree
Le Marais
Le Marais
Medieval lanes, mansions, falafel shops and boutiques in one of Paris’s most characterful districts.
- Suggested time: 3 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Open-air; many shops open Sundays
NightlifeFree
Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin
A tree-lined canal where locals picnic, with hip cafés and bars along its bridges.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans
Open-air; bars open evenings
Hidden GemsFree
Musée de la Vie Romantique
Nouvelle Athènes
A small, leafy museum in a Romantic-era house once frequented by Chopin and George Sand, with a lovely garden café.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Hidden GemsFree
Covered Passages (Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas)
2nd arrondissement
Glass-roofed 19th-century shopping arcades with mosaic floors, old bookshops, tea rooms and stamp dealers.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Food lovers
Open daily; shops typically 10:00–19:00
Food & Restaurants
See all 14 Where to eat
Bouillon Chartier
A grand, bustling 1896 dining hall serving traditional French dishes at low prices, where waiters write your order on the paper tablecloth.
Known for: Steak-frites, escargots, crème caramel
Under about £20 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Le Comptoir du Relais
A classic bistro known for its terrace and traditional French cooking, run by chef Yves Camdeborde.
Known for: Bistro classics
About £40–70 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Groups
L’As du Fallafel
A famous falafel takeaway on Rue des Rosiers in the Marais, known for its overflowing pitas.
Known for: Falafel sandwich
Under about £20 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Paris’s oldest covered market, dating from 1615, with food stalls serving lunches from around the world.
Known for: Moroccan couscous, Japanese bento, fresh produce
About £20–40 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Paris itinerary
3 nights Couple
Paris · Highlights
Paris in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Paris picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité, Luxembourg Gardens, Seine River Cruise
- Day 2 · Palace of Versailles, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
- Day 3 · Sainte-Chapelle, Place des Vosges, Musée de la Vie Romantique, Canal Saint-Martin
Plan Paris your way
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