This Paris travel guide covers everything you need for your first visit — from the best things to book in advance, where to stay, how to get around, and what nobody tells you before you go. If you just want the facts without my opinions, I also have a quick version with everything summarised – read the complete guide here
I went to Paris in January, for my birthday, with my then-boyfriend.
It was not very romantic.
Grey skies every single day. Cold in a way that gets into your bones. Half of the things I wanted to see were covered in scaffolding. And I only found out we were staying at his uncle’s house outside the city when we arrived — which meant commuting into the centre every single day on trains I didn’t understand, losing hours I could have spent actually exploring.
If you’re planning Paris, learn from my mistakes. I’m putting them all in this guide.
That said — I don’t regret going. The art alone was worth it. Standing in front of a Van Gogh at the Musée d’Orsay in January with almost no one else in the room is a moment I won’t forget. Paris fell short of my expectations in some ways, but it also gave me moments that genuinely took my breath away.
Here’s everything I wish I’d known before I went.
Quick Facts
| When I went | January — cold, grey, fewer tourists |
| How long | 5 days |
| Best time to visit | April–June or September–October |
| Language | French — English not always spoken, even in tourist areas |
| Currency | Euro — card accepted almost everywhere |
| Budget | 150–250€/day (Paris is expensive) |
Honest First Impressions
Paris is one of those cities that carries the weight of its own reputation. Everyone has seen it in films, on Instagram, in every romantic comedy ever made. The expectations are impossibly high.
In January, the city felt a bit grey and tired. The weather didn’t help. But I’ve spoken to people who went in spring and say it’s a completely different experience — flowers everywhere, terraces open, people actually outside. I believe them. If I go back, it’ll be in April or May with a much more open mind.
What surprised me most was the art. I knew it would be good. I didn’t know it would be that good. The Musée d’Orsay in particular — I walked in and genuinely stopped. Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir. All there. And in January, with barely any queues, I could actually stand in front of a painting and look at it properly instead of photographing the back of someone’s head.
About the French: I want to be fair here. Tourism in Paris is overwhelming — millions of people every year, many of whom don’t even try to say bonjour. I understand why the patience runs thin. But when I tried to order a coffee and got zero eye contact, zero greeting, and zero attempt at communication, it was hard not to feel unwelcome. It happened more than once.
My advice: always say bonjour first. Always. It makes a difference. And don’t take the occasional rudeness personally — it’s not always about you.
The Most Important Lesson: Where You Stay Matters Enormously
I cannot stress this enough.
I stayed outside the city centre without knowing in advance, and it cost me. Every day started and ended with a train journey. Time I could have spent wandering a neighbourhood, finding a café, getting lost in a good way — instead spent commuting.
Paris has incredible neighbourhoods. Staying in the right one means you can walk out the door and immediately be somewhere interesting. Staying in the wrong place means you spend your holiday on the RER.
The neighbourhoods I’d recommend:
The Marais (3rd & 4th arrondissement) is my top pick — beautiful architecture, galleries, great food, central location. The Latin Quarter (5th) is historic, walkable, very student-area energy. Montmartre (18th) is the most photogenic neighbourhood in Paris — cobblestone streets, artists, the Sacré-Coeur — but it’s hilly and a bit further from everything else. Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) is elegant and central, slightly more expensive.
Avoid staying outside the périphérique (the ring road) unless you specifically want to see how locals live — which can be interesting, but adds significant travel time to everything.
💡 Compare accommodation prices and locations
What to Do in Paris — My Honest Recommendations
The Palace of Versailles — My Favourite
I love history. I love art. And Versailles is both of those things taken to an almost impossible extreme.
It’s about 45 minutes from Paris by train — completely worth it. What got me wasn’t just the grandeur, though that’s extraordinary. It was thinking about what it actually was: a house. People lived there. Woke up there, had dinner there, made decisions that changed the world there. And now thousands of strangers walk through their rooms every day.
The Hall of Mirrors is what you imagine. The gardens go on forever. In winter it was cold and a little bleak, which actually gave it a different kind of atmosphere — empty paths, bare trees, something almost melancholic about it. In spring or summer it must be spectacular.
Musée d’Orsay
If you only do one museum in Paris, make it this one. Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir — all here. The building itself is a converted 19th-century railway station and is stunning in its own right.
It’s more relaxed than the Louvre and honestly more beautiful. Book tickets in advance — it fills up fast even in low season. And don’t try to do it on the same day as another museum. Museum fatigue is real, and you’ll short-change yourself.
💡 Book Musée d’Orsay tickets here and use code SASHAA5 for 5% off
The Louvre
Yes, it’s enormous, overwhelming and you will spend time genuinely lost. But in winter you actually have space to breathe, and you can stand in front of the Mona Lisa without being crushed.
My advice: pick two or three things you actually want to see and focus on those. Don’t try to do everything — you’ll end up exhausted and remember nothing. A guided tour helps enormously here — someone who takes you straight to the pieces worth seeing instead of wandering for three hours and still missing them.
💡Skip the line at the Louvre
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Eiffel Tower — Summit Access by Elevator
Everyone wants to go up. Most people forget to book. Tickets sell out days — sometimes weeks — in advance, especially in summer. Don’t be the person staring at it from the ground.
Book the summit access by elevator in advance. The views are worth it.
Notre Dame Cathedral
After five years closed following the fire, Notre Dame is finally back. The restoration is stunning and everyone wants to see it. Guided tours are already selling out — this is the most talked-about thing in Paris right now.
If you’re going to Paris any time soon, this is the one to book first.
💡 Book Notre Dame guided tours here and use code SASHAA5 for 5% off
Seine River Cruise
The most iconic way to see Paris. From around €20, you float past Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre in one hour. The evening cruise with lights is absolutely magical — if I could change one thing about my January trip, I’d have done this at night.
Arc de Triomphe
Most people photograph it from below and move on. Don’t. Climb to the top and you get one of the best views in all of Paris — the Champs-Élysées stretching out in every direction. Less crowded than the Eiffel Tower, and honestly just as impressive.
The Catacombs of Paris
I didn’t go — it’s not my style. But if you’re into history and don’t mind the dark, this is one of the most unique experiences in Europe. Six million people buried in tunnels beneath the city. Skip-the-line tickets are essential; the queues are brutal.
Museum Tips — Don’t Make My Mistake
Don’t put multiple museums on the same day. I did this and by the third room of the second museum I was just walking past things without seeing them.
One museum per day maximum. Give yourself time to actually absorb what you’re looking at. Combine a museum morning with a neighbourhood walk in the afternoon — that’s the rhythm that works.
Getting Around Paris
From the Airport
CDG Airport → City Centre: RER B train is the cheapest option (~€12, 35–45 minutes). Taxis cost €50–70 fixed rate. Uber is slightly cheaper than taxis.
The Metro
The Paris metro is excellent but the ticketing system is confusing — I stood at the machine for an embarrassingly long time on my first day. A few things to know:
The city switched to the Navigo Easy card — load it with single tickets (called t+ tickets) or day/week passes. Single ticket: ~€2.15. Day pass (Navigo Jour): ~€8.65 for zones 1-5 including Versailles. If you’re going to Versailles, the day pass pays for itself.
Buy your card at any metro station before you travel. Don’t buy paper tickets — the machines are confusing and the system is being phased out.
Bolt works well in Paris for taxis — cheaper than street taxis and you know the price upfront.
Best Time to Visit Paris
🥇 April–June: Paris in spring is everything people say it is. Flowers, terraces, long evenings, manageable crowds. This is when to go.
🥈 September–October: Slightly cooler, fewer tourists than summer, still warm enough to enjoy the city properly.
🥉 December: Christmas markets, festive lights on the Champs-Élysées, mulled wine. Cold but genuinely magical.
Avoid:
- July–August: extremely crowded, expensive, hot
- January–February: grey, cold, many things in reduced hours — though fewer tourists and cheaper prices. If you go in winter, go with realistic expectations and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Useful French Phrases
Always say bonjour when you walk into anywhere. Always. It changes everything.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE |
| Please | S’il vous plaît | seel voo PLAY |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi | ex-koo-zay MWAH |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? | par-lay voo ahn-GLAY |
| The bill, please | L’addition, s’il vous plaît | lah-dee-SYON seel voo PLAY |
| A coffee, please | Un café, s’il vous plaît | un kah-FAY seel voo PLAY |
Essential Apps for Paris
| App | What for |
|---|---|
| Bonjour RATP | Metro map and journey planner |
| Google Maps | Download offline map before you go |
| Bolt | Taxis — cheaper than street taxis |
| Revolut | Best exchange rates, no fees |
| Google Translate | Camera translation for menus — essential |
| GetYourGuide | Book activities and skip-the-line tickets |
| Airalo | No roaming fees, no airport queues. Activate before you fly |
💡 Browse all Paris activities here and use code SASHAA5 for 5% off
Budget Breakdown (5 Days)
| Accommodation (central, 5 nights) | 200–400€ |
| Food (€30–50/day) | 150–250€ |
| Transport (Navigo pass + airport) | 50–70€ |
| Activities (Versailles, Louvre, Eiffel Tower) | 80–120€ |
| Extras | 50–100€ |
| TOTAL | ~530–940€ |
Paris is not a cheap city. Budget accordingly.
Travel Insurance
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it — never travel without insurance. One emergency (and I’ve had one, in Montenegro, with a burst appendix) and you’ll understand why.
EU Citizens: Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It covers emergency treatment for free in other EU countries — but it’s not a replacement for proper travel insurance. Limited coverage, no repatriation.
My Paris Google Map — All Locations Saved
I’ve created a custom Google Map with every location mentioned in this guide — museums, activities, viewpoints, neighbourhoods, restaurants, everything in one place.
Open it on your phone while walking around Paris and tap any pin for directions. Download the area offline before you go and you won’t need data to navigate.
Final Thoughts
Paris didn’t give me what I expected. The weather was brutal, the commute was exhausting, and some interactions left me feeling unwelcome.
But the Musée d’Orsay at 10am in January with almost no one else there — that was one of the best moments I’ve had travelling. Versailles in the cold, trying to imagine what it felt like to live there. The Seine at dusk. A perfect croissant.
Paris is complicated. It doesn’t try to charm you. It makes you work for it a little. And when it delivers, it really delivers.
Go in spring. Stay central. Book everything in advance. And say bonjour.
Hi, I’m Andreia
I create Sisoulnomad: honest solo-travel guides from Europe and beyond. No fake sponsored content — just what I actually use and recommend. Want a real postcard from wherever I am in the world? Join the club. 📮