Easily one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris continues to live up to its legendary reputation. If you skip London, Paris is still the ideal first stop in Europe — it’s visually stunning, full of history, and endlessly walkable.
While Paris is on the expensive side compared to much of Europe, it still offers solid value considering what you get in return. From café-lined boulevards to world-class museums, this is a city that feels worth every euro.
Many travelers combine Paris and London on their first Europe trip, so I’ve also written a detailed [Paris and London itinerary for 7 days] to help you plan the perfect first visit.
Paris is fairly expensive by European standards, though probably not as costly as you might expect. Attractions are reasonably priced, and hotels can offer good value if you’re willing to stay just outside the most central districts.
It’s almost impossible to get a bad meal in Paris, and the food in smaller neighborhood bistros is often both affordable and excellent — especially for the quality.
Wine in Paris ranges from shockingly inexpensive to shockingly expensive, and the budget bottles are often surprisingly good. Beer, on the other hand, is still oddly pricey, so it’s best to embrace the wine culture and save your beer money for another country.
| Population | 2,100,000 |
| Area | 11,800,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) |
Paris can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you stay in a hotel overlooking the Seine and dine at the nearest cafés, you might think it’s the priciest city in the world. But if you book a bit outside the center and eat where Parisians actually dine, the city suddenly feels like a bargain — and the food is usually better too.
There are plenty of affordable hostels and mid-range hotels scattered throughout Paris, and thanks to the excellent Metro system, staying slightly outside the main tourist zones is no problem.
To save time comparing options, check out our list of recommended Paris hotels and hostels, featuring 7 excellent choices in different price ranges.
Paris always feels busy, but the official high season runs from May through September. In August, many locals leave for their own holidays, yet hotel prices usually stay high — even as some smaller shops and restaurants close for the month.
The low season is from October through April, except for the winter holidays, when the city fills up again and rates rise.
Outside of summer, it’s often easy to find a hotel upon arrival, but the best deals are still online and booked in advance. The better, cheaper, and more popular hotels fill up early, even in shoulder months.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 54.65 - 100.00 |
| 67.44 - 195.35 |
| 87.21 - 336.05 |
| 125.58 - 434.88 |
| 281.40 - 579.07 |
Ibis Canal St. Martin Doubles from €91/night | |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 37.21 - 67.44 |
Le Montclair by Hiphophostels Beds from €25/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Paris |
You don’t want to skip Paris’s major attractions — and fortunately, most of them aren’t outrageously priced. Many museums offer free-entry days once a month, so if you’re on a tighter budget, it’s worth checking the schedules.
We also have a full review discussing whether the Paris Pass is worth it, which can save both time and money if you plan to visit several major sights.
The free walking tours run by Sandeman’s New Paris remain excellent and well worth the small tip (€5 or so) you’ll want to give the guide at the end. And of course, many of Paris’s greatest attractions — from its architecture to its public squares — can be enjoyed for free from the sidewalk.
Paris rewards slow travel. Give yourself at least one day with **no big plans** — just wander the neighborhoods, linger at a café, and let the city unfold naturally. You’ll see more authentic local life that way, and often stumble upon small bakeries or wine bars that become trip highlights.
The hop-on, hop-off bus tours of Paris are still one of the best ways to spend your first few hours in the city. You’ll pass nearly every major landmark in just a few hours — and among all the similar tours worldwide, the Paris version remains one of the finest.
The one-hour Seine River cruises are also highly worthwhile, offering views of the city’s grand riverfront facades that you can’t easily see from the streets. Try to go around sunset, when the bridges and monuments are beautifully illuminated.
And as always, the free (tips-based) walking tours of Paris are an excellent way to learn local history while getting your bearings.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower (3rd level) | Elevator to top level observation deck | adults 12-24 4-11 | 45.35 16.28 8.14 |
| Eiffel Tower (2nd level) | Elevator to the second level (stairs to 2nd level are roughly half the price). | adults 12-24 4-11 | 17.44 8.14 2.33 |
| Louvre Museum | Entry to the permanent collections (special exhibitions require separate tickets). | adults | 25.58 |
| Arc de Triomphe | Free to admire from the street, but admission covers the climb up 280 steps to the viewing platform. | adults | 18.60 |
| Catacombs of Paris | One of the city’s most unique and popular attractions — an underground labyrinth of bones. | adults | 40.70 |
| Palace of Versailles | The spectacular royal palace just outside Paris, easily reached by suburban train. | adults | 26.74 |
| One-hour Seine River cruise | Popular sightseeing cruises departing near the Eiffel Tower. | adults ages 3-12 | 24.42 8.14 |
| Centre Pompidou | The national museum of modern art, with reduced rates during select periods. | adults 19-26 EU 19-26 | 17.44 13.95 0.00 |
| Orsay Museum | Housed in a former train station, featuring French art from 1848–1915. | adults EU 18-25 | 20.93 0.00 |
Excellent food can be found in small neighborhood bistros, especially if you go for the plat du jour (daily special), which is often the best value on the menu. While beer and spirits tend to be unusually expensive, wine is a bargain almost everywhere — even the house wines are usually very drinkable.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Many Paris hotels include a light breakfast, but don’t expect much — a roll and coffee is the norm. | 5.81 - 9.30 |
| Budget lunch | Simple neighborhood cafés can serve excellent food at surprisingly low prices. | 10.47 - 16.28 |
| Budget dinner | The plat du jour at modest bistros usually delivers great value and quality. | 16.28 - 27.91 |
| House wine (.375L) | House wines in restaurants are often excellent and inexpensive. | 6.98 - 11.63 |
| Cheap wine (bottle) | Local shops sell surprisingly good bottles at these prices. | 2.33 - 11.63 |
| Beer (.33L bottle) | Beer remains pricey in Paris, and happy hours are rare. | 6.98 - 10.47 |
| Coffee (cup) | In bakeries it’s cheap; at sidewalk cafés, it’s several times more. | 1.16 - 4.65 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Train from CDG airport to city center | 12.79 |
| Train from Orly airport to city center | 13.95 |
| Taxi from CDG airport to city center | 72.09 |
| 3km taxi ride in Paris | 13.95 - 23.26 |
| Metro ride in Paris | 1.16 |
| All-day metro pass for center | 6.98 |
Paris is exceptionally well connected by high-speed train, with direct routes from London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, and major Swiss cities. For longer distances, most travelers fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), the city’s main international hub.
Orly Airport (ORY) handles many budget and regional flights within Europe and is conveniently close to the city center — often a faster and cheaper option if it fits your route.
Paris is flat, compact, and walkable, making it one of Europe’s easiest cities to explore on foot. For longer distances, the Metro is fast, reliable, and connects nearly every neighborhood.
It can feel a bit confusing at first, but you’ll pick it up quickly — there are stops almost everywhere, and it’s usually faster than taxis or buses when traffic is heavy.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45 | 38 | 2.2 |
| February | 47 | 40 | 1.8 |
| March | 55 | 43 | 2.1 |
| April | 60 | 46 | 2.0 |
| May | 68 | 53 | 2.4 |
| June | 74 | 58 | 2.1 |
| July | 76 | 61 | 2.3 |
| August | 77 | 62 | 1.8 |
| September | 71 | 57 | 2.1 |
| October | 61 | 51 | 2.2 |
| November | 51 | 43 | 2.2 |
| December | 46 | 40 | 2.2 |
As if Paris didn’t already have enough going for it, the city enjoys a mild, comfortable climate for most of the year. Summers are warm but rarely too hot, so humidity is seldom an issue, and winters are cool but rarely freezing, with snow only on occasion.
Rainfall is fairly consistent year-round but usually light. Sudden showers can happen, yet there’s always shelter nearby — so heavy rain gear isn’t necessary. Layers are your best bet, keeping you comfortable from café mornings to evening strolls along the Seine.
I’ve found Paris to be a surprisingly good **year-round destination**. Even in January, it’s lively and beautiful, and off-season hotel prices can make it feel like a luxury bargain.
| 21 Mar | 6:52am | 7:05pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:47am | 9:58pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:35am | 7:51pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:41am | 4:56pm |