Paris, the capital of France, is a city of about two million people on the Seine, at the heart of the Île-de-France region. It is divided into twenty arrondissements that spiral clockwise from the centre, and choosing one is the most useful decision a visitor makes.
The city's appeal is well known: the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame, reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair, and long walks along quays that UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site since 1991. Just as much of the pleasure lies in ordinary streets, markets, parks and cafés, which is why many visitors prefer an apartment to a hotel room. A rented flat in a residential building lets families, couples and longer-stay travellers live at a local pace, shop at a neighbourhood market and use the Métro like Parisians. Paris also makes an easy base for Versailles, Giverny and the cathedral of Chartres.
First-time visitors often choose Paris Centre, the combined 1st to 4th arrondissements, where the Louvre, the Île de la Cité and the Marais are within walking distance. The Marais, across parts of the 3rd and 4th, mixes 17th-century mansions, the Place des Vosges, small museums and busy evenings. On the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter (5th) and Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) suit couples and culture lovers, with bookshops, the Luxembourg Garden and the Seine close by.
The 7th, around the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars, is calmer at night and popular with families. Montmartre, on its hill in the 18th, has a village feel and views, though its streets and stairs are steep. Younger travellers often like the 10th and 11th, around the Canal Saint-Martin and Bastille, for bars and bistros. For longer stays, residential districts such as the 15th, 16th and 17th offer larger apartments, quieter streets and good Métro links.
The Louvre, a former royal palace on the Right Bank, holds collections that span ancient Egypt to the 19th century. Across the river, the Musée d'Orsay occupies a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900 and is known for its Impressionist paintings, while the Centre Pompidou houses the national museum of modern art. On the Île de la Cité stand Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle, and the Panthéon and the Sorbonne crown the Latin Quarter.
The Eiffel Tower rises over the Champ de Mars, the Arc de Triomphe closes the Champs-Élysées, and the white domes of the Sacré-Cœur sit on top of Montmartre, the city's highest hill at about 130 metres. Parks are part of daily life here: the Tuileries, the Luxembourg Garden, the Buttes-Chaumont, and the large woods of Boulogne and Vincennes at either edge of the city. A walk along the Seine quays links many of these places in one afternoon.
Paris takes its name from the Parisii, a Gallic people, and in Roman times was known as Lutetia. Its medieval heart grew on the Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame was built, and the city became the seat of French kings, of revolution in 1789 and of a long line of governments since.
Much of what visitors picture today dates from the 1850s and 1860s, when Napoleon III and the prefect Georges-Eugène Haussmann cut wide boulevards, built parks, sewers and aqueducts and lined the streets with uniform stone apartment buildings. In 1860 the city annexed surrounding villages, including Montmartre, and took the shape of its twenty arrondissements. World's fairs followed, giving Paris the Eiffel Tower in 1889 and the first Métro line in 1900. The city has hosted the Summer Olympics three times, in 1900, 1924 and 2024, and remains the centre of French politics, publishing, fashion and food.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), about 23 kilometres north-east of the centre, handles most long-haul flights and is linked to the city by the RER B train. Paris Orly Airport (ORY), about 13 kilometres south, is served directly by Métro Line 14. Some low-cost airlines use Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA), about 85 kilometres away, so check which airport a ticket names.
Six major railway stations connect Paris with the rest of France and Europe; Eurostar trains to London and Brussels leave from the Gare du Nord, and high-speed TGV trains to the south from the Gare de Lyon. Inside the city, the Métro has sixteen lines and over 300 stations, so a station is rarely far away, and the RER, trams and buses fill the gaps. The Vélib' bike-share system has thousands of bicycles across the city. A car is more of a burden than a help for a city stay, as parking is scarce and traffic is slow.
The Palace of Versailles, south-west of the city, was the seat of the French court from 1682 until 1789 and, with its park, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It is reachable by suburban train, and a full day is useful to see the palace, the gardens and the Trianon estate.
Giverny, about 80 kilometres west-northwest in Normandy, is the village where Claude Monet lived and painted his water-lily garden; it is at its best from spring to early autumn. Chartres, about 80 kilometres south-west, is known for its Gothic cathedral and its stained glass, listed by UNESCO in 1979. Fontainebleau, about 55 kilometres south-southeast, combines a royal château with a large forest popular with walkers and climbers. Each of these can be done in a day by train or car, returning to the city for the evening.
Paris has an oceanic climate, with cool winters, warm summers and light rain spread fairly evenly through the year. July averages are roughly between 15 and 25°C, and most summers bring a few days above 32°C; heatwaves, such as those of 2003 and 2019, can be intense, so an apartment with good ventilation or air conditioning is worth looking for. Winters are grey and chilly, with nights around 3°C and only occasional light snow.
April to June and September to October are popular for walking, with long days, mild weather and parks in leaf or in autumn colour. Summer is busy around the main sights, although many Parisians leave the city for holidays in August. The weeks before Christmas bring illuminations and seasonal markets. Whatever the month, a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes for cobbles and Métro stairs are wise.
Paris regulates short-term furnished rentals, known as meublés de tourisme, closely. According to the City of Paris, since 1 January 2025 a host may let their main residence to visitors for a maximum of 90 days a year, down from 120, and every listing must carry the registration number the city issues after an online declaration. A second home or investment flat can only be let to tourists with a change-of-use authorisation, which in Paris normally requires compensation, meaning the conversion of other premises into housing.
For visitors, the practical point is simple: a lawful listing shows a registration number, and a local tourist tax is charged per night on top of the rent. Rules have changed several times in recent years, so travellers and owners should check the current guidance on the City of Paris website before booking or listing a home.
Paris Centre (1st to 4th arrondissements) and the Left Bank's Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés put the Louvre, Notre-Dame and the Seine within walking distance. The Marais is lively, the 7th is calmer near the Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre offers a village atmosphere.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is about 23 kilometres north-east of the city centre. The RER B train links it with Gare du Nord and central stations, and taxis and buses also run. Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is closer, about 13 kilometres south, on Métro Line 14.
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) offer mild weather, long days and pleasant walking. Summer is warm and busy, with occasional heatwaves, while August is quieter in residential areas. Winter is cold and grey but brings Christmas lights and fewer crowds.
Four or five days allow time for the major museums, Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and a few neighbourhoods at a relaxed pace. A week or more lets you add day trips to Versailles, Giverny or Chartres and enjoy markets and parks like a resident.
No. The Métro, RER, buses, trams and the Vélib' bike-share cover the city, and walking is often the quickest way between nearby sights. Parking is scarce and traffic slow. A car is only useful for rural day trips, and even Versailles, Giverny and Chartres can be reached by train.
Yes. Parks such as the Luxembourg Garden, the Tuileries and the Bois de Vincennes, boat trips on the Seine and many museums suit children. An apartment in a quieter district like the 7th or 15th gives space, a kitchen and easy Métro access, which helps with young children.
Yes. The City of Paris requires furnished tourist rentals to be declared online, and the registration number it issues must appear in every listing. A main residence may be let for up to 90 days a year, and second homes need a change-of-use authorisation. Check the city's current rules.
France uses the euro. Contactless bank cards are widely accepted in shops, cafés, museums and on public transport, but carrying a small amount of cash is useful for markets and small purchases. A local tourist tax is added per night to accommodation.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .