Paris needs no selling and rewards a plan more than almost any city — the difference between a great trip and a queue-filled one is which tickets you book ahead (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles all sell out) and how you pace the museums against simply walking the city. This is our shortlist of the experiences worth your booking time, organised so you can fit them around three or four days.
Live availability and prices from GetYourGuide, sorted by what travellers actually rate. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Versailles tickets sell out — book timed entry ahead.
Paris is a year-round city. Spring and autumn are the classic peaks; summer is warm and busy (and August empties of locals); winter is quiet and atmospheric.
The non-activity essentials — same partners we use ourselves.
Coverage that follows you globally — medical, evacuation, lost baggage. Subscription-style, cancel anytime. Sensible for longer European trips without strong card cover.
Pre-booked transfer from Charles de Gaulle (CDG, ~45 min), Orly (ORY) or Beauvais. The RER trains run too, but a fixed-price car with a meet-and-greet beats lugging cases on the métro after a flight.
France (or Europe-wide) data plans you install before you fly. No SIM swapping, no roaming charges, working the moment you land. Plans from a few days to a month.
Compare rental providers across Paris. Free cancellation on most. You won't want a car in the city (the métro is superb), but the Loire châteaux, Champagne and Giverny reward one for day trips.
Connecting from cafés or hotel WiFi? Use NordVPN to keep banking and email private on public networks.
Three to four days for a first visit — enough for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and one other major museum, Notre-Dame and the islands, a couple of neighbourhoods, and a Versailles or Montmartre day. A week lets you go deeper and slower, which Paris rewards. Don't try to do every museum; pace it.
Yes — both use timed entry and routinely sell out days ahead, especially in summer. Book the Eiffel Tower the moment your dates are set (lift tickets go fastest), and reserve a Louvre slot to skip a long security and ticket queue. Versailles too, particularly for weekends and the fountain-show days.
The Louvre is the giant, but it's overwhelming — go with a plan or a guided highlights tour. The Musée d'Orsay (Impressionists, in a former railway station) is more manageable and many people's favourite. The Orangerie (Monet's Water Lilies) and the Rodin Museum are smaller gems. You don't need to do them all.
Yes — the palace and especially the vast gardens are extraordinary, about 45 minutes from central Paris by RER. Book a timed palace ticket, go early to beat the crowds, and leave plenty of time for the gardens (and the fountain shows on certain days). It's a full day, so don't try to pair it with much else.
April to June and September to October are the classic peaks — mild weather and the city at its best. Summer is warm and busy (though August sees many locals leave and some restaurants close). Winter is cold and quiet but atmospheric, with Christmas lights in December. There's no truly bad time.
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