10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

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It’s no secret: j’adore Paris.

But I have heard of people, mystical people, who don’t like Paris. It takes my breath away that this could even happen, and I hope that those people will one day give the City of Lights a second chance because it truly is the most enchanting, bewitching, addictive city in the world.

But if this is your first time to Paris, I have some tips for you that I hope will ensure that you fall into the same category as me: the ‘we heart Paris’ category.

10 essential tips for visiting Paris

1. Not all croissants are created equal

 

Freshly Baked Croissants: 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

There’s truly nothing more Parisian than waking up, strolling down a cobbled street and stopping into a quaint cafe for a croissant and coffee.

And yet sadly, you simply cannot visit just any street-side cafe and expect that you’ll have a buttery, flaky, delicious pastry straight from the oven. There are as many bad patisseries as there are good, so do some research online to find somewhere close to where you are staying to ensure you get the best possible croissant.

Get an expert to guide you with this Paris chocolate and pastry tour!

Trust me, a good croissant is worth waiting for…!

2. Wear comfortable shoes

The Louvre at Night: 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

The best way to see Paris – or most new cities for that matter – is to walk. And walk. The River Seine is stunning, and worth strolling along, but the distances between sights is far enough that you’ll have pretty sore feet if you’re trying to glam it up in heels.

Unless you can afford to catch cabs from Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe to the Champs-Élysées to the Louvre, you’ll wanna treat your feet right by donning comfortable (but of course, still cute) flats.

3. Know the benefits of the Eurostar versus flying into Paris

Getting to and from Paris is only a portion of your total visit, but it really can set the tone for your entire stay. There are pros and cons of both flying and travelling by Eurostar – read all about them here to help you make the right choice.

4. Buy a carnet of Metro tickets

10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

The Metro in Paris is a great way to get around. I wouldn’t recommend using it to get everywhere or you’ll miss out on some beautiful scenery, but if you’re travelling from one side of Paris to the other, you’d be walking all day without a little help from public transport. Instead of buying individual Metro tickets, buy a carnet, or book, of 10.

This costs just €13.70 (as opposed to €1.70 per individual ticket) so it’s much better value. If there are two of you, you can share the carnet if you don’t think you’ll take 10 trips each.

Art Deco Metro Sign - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

5. Look out for street art

Paris may be beautiful and romantic, but it’s also gritty and cool. There is some amazing street art if you just take a moment to look up.

Buildings with a view of Sacre Couer - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Street Art - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

One of the most famous street artists to come out of Paris is Invader, whose mosaic space invaders can be seen on street corners around Paris (can you spot one in the photo first photo here?).

Discover the best street art in Paris with this walking tour.

But it doesn’t stop there – plenty of other artists, whose names I don’t even know, have adorned buildings and signs around the City of Lights to turn it into a giant, outdoor, public gallery.

6. Take the stairs

10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

If you’re visiting the Eiffel Tower – and you must visit the Eiffel Tower, I don’t care how many people tell you it’s a tourist trap – you don’t have to queue for hours to take a trip to the top.

If you’re fit enough (and have the energy), climb to the second floor and get the lift the rest of the way. You’ll only have to line up for about half the time as all the people getting the lift the whole way up, and you’ll be able to burn some calories to make room for…

Eiffel Tower at Sunset - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

7. Stop for hot chocolate

This is not a hot chocolate, it is THE hot chocolate. I challenge you to find a better one, anywhere in the world (and if you do, please let me know so I can go get one).

Angelina is the place; it’s now a chain and all of their locations serve this killer hot chocolate, but there’s no point going to any one other than the original, on Rue de Rivoli, which was frequented by the likes of Coco Chanel back in its heyday.

Come here to people-watch and leave feeling like you could be sick, in a really satisfying sort of way. As you’re so close to the Louvre here, head on down to the famous gallery, and remember to:

8. Linger at the Louvre

10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Many people say that the Mona Lisa is underwhelming and a total tourist trap, and although I disagree, I do think that if you go to the Louvre and just swing past Da Vinci’s most famous painting for a photo amongst the crowds, you’re missing an overwhelming amount of breathtaking art.

Just metres from the Mona Lisa is a wall full of other Da Vinci masterpieces that no one else bothers to even look at, and the entire museum is jam packed with history and art that’s impressive even for someone non-arty like myself.

Mona Lisa - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Nike Statue in Louvre Museum - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Spend a few hours wandering the galleries, especially the Napoleon III Apartments in the Richelieu wing. It’s one of the best hidden gems in Paris.

Don’t miss any of the Louvre’s highlights with this small-group tour.

Napoleon Apartments, Louvre - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

9. Beware of scammers

One of the very few negative things about a visit to Paris is the number of people who try to hassle you for money around the most famous sights.

French Flag inside the Arc du Triomphe - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Their ways are clever; some might pretend to be showing you a bracelet, others asking you to sign a petition, still more pretending to be deaf & mute to get your sympathy, but they have one thing in common: they are after your money.

Keep your wits about you, don’t get aggravated or flustered, and a polite but firm ‘no’ should be enough for them to get the idea and move along.

10. Consider an apartment

Accommodation in Paris can be outrageously expensive. Hotel rooms can set you back hundreds of Euros a night for a nice one, or close to 100 Euros for something pretty basic (to put it nicely).

My tip is to take a look at Airbnb, especially if there’s a group of you travelling to Paris. There are loads of properties for rent in the city (like this one I stayed at recently); many of them a fraction of the cost of a hotel. And you can then stock up on bread and croissants and do breakfast in bed, which is always a great start to a day of sightseeing in the greatest city in the world.

Want £25 off your first Airbnb booking? Just use this link to sign up!

Neighbourhood Street - 10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris

Have you  been to Paris? What are your top tips for the City of Lights?

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10 Essential Tips for Visiting Paris: if it's your first time travelling to Paris, these tips will make sure you leave having fallen in love with this stunning city!

8 Comments

  • I am still patiently waiting to take a trip to Paris. These tips are really great…can’t wait to put them into action!

  • Natalia says:

    Great tips and very timely as I am planning a trip there in mid March. My favourtie ones are: street art (love it) and the hot chocolate to have.

    I absolutely love Paris. My tips are: explore the left bank (Rive Gauche), a less touristy part of the city, sit in a cafe and watch Parisians, go for a walk in the Luxembourg Gardens and go bar hopping in 11th arrondissement.

    • Elle Croft says:

      Thanks for your comment Natalia! The 11th is a part of Paris I’m desperate to explore more…next time ;-)
      Have a wonderful trip, and enjoy your people-watching (definitely a favourite activity for me too!)

  • sfbenson says:

    Yes, yes, yes to all of the above! My favorite is hiking the stairs to the top of the Eiffel Tower. When we went one of the elevators broke down so the lift line was 2+ hours long. We zipped right up the stairs in time for the sunset.

  • Great recommendations! I’m returning to Paris for the first time in 5 1/2 years and this time I am staying for a week so I’m looking forward to doing many Parisian things I missed the first time around (like going to the top of the Eiffel Tower). I am renting an apartment though which I will feel will enhance the experience and make it feel more local. I should start looking up the best croissant places now…

    • Elle Croft says:

      Thanks Bridget. I think you’ll love staying in an apartment, it’s nice to come back to somewhere that feels local and a bit more like home. Enjoy your trip, and good luck on your croissant hunt!

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