Paris Travel Guide: Arrondissements, Metro Transit & 2026 Logistics

Picking a base in Paris really comes down to a trade-off between being steps from the postcard sights and getting a more local, everyday feel of the city. Stay in the 7th arrondissement on the Left Bank and you'll be a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, and the Musée d'Orsay's Impressionist collection — but you'll pay for that location, and rooms tend to be smaller.

Move a bit further out to the 11th or 12th arrondissement and the rates drop noticeably, while you trade very little in terms of access — both are well connected by metro. These neighbourhoods also tend to have a better everyday food scene: bakeries, small markets and bistros that serve locals rather than tour groups. If you want help weighing cost against how much time you'll spend on transit, our hotel booking guide walks through the trade-offs in more detail.

Paris has two main airports, and it's worth knowing which one your flight uses before you book a hotel. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) handles most long-haul flights and connects to the city by the RER B train, which reaches central stations like Gare du Nord in about 35 minutes. Orly (ORY), used more for regional and some European flights, connects via the Orlyval shuttle into the metro system.

If your trip continues on to London or Brussels by train, it's worth knowing that Eurostar departs from Gare du Nord — staying somewhere with easy access to that station can save you some hassle on travel day. Our fare tracking tool can help you keep an eye on flight prices while you finalise the rest of your plans.

The Louvre and Musée d'Orsay anchor most first visits, and both are worth booking timed tickets for online rather than waiting in line. Notre-Dame's exterior and the surrounding Île de la Cité are worth a walk even while restoration work continues inside. Montmartre's Sacré-Cœur basilica sits at the top of a genuinely steep hill, but the view over the city from the steps is one of the best free things to do in Paris.

A boat ride on the Seine gives you a different angle on the city's bridges and riverside buildings, and it's a nice way to rest your feet after a day of walking. If you have a spare day, Versailles is about 45 minutes outside the city by train and is worth the trip for the palace and gardens alone.

Four to five days is enough to see the major sights without rushing, including a day for Versailles. Spring and early fall bring the best weather without the peak summer crowds, while winter is quieter and cheaper if you don't mind cooler days and shorter museum lines. Many smaller shops and restaurants close for part of August when Parisians take their own holidays, so it's worth checking opening hours if you're visiting that month.

First-time visitors will get the most out of a central base near the Louvre or the Left Bank, close to the major sights. Art lovers could easily spend three or four days between the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and smaller galleries. Food travellers should look at the 11th arrondissement for a more local restaurant scene. Families often do well in the 12th arrondissement near Bercy, which has more green space and a calmer pace. Budget travellers can save meaningfully by staying a bit further from the centre, since the metro makes almost anywhere feel connected.