Paris Travel Guide: Everything You Need For the Perfect Paris Trip
Two Americans living in the Netherlands share what is actually worth doing in Paris, from someone who drives there for the weekend
We are Erin and Lisa, two Americans who have been living in Europe since 2017, first in Italy and now in Rotterdam. Paris is about three and a half hours from our front door by car, which means we have visited more times than we can count and in every possible configuration: just the two of us, with Dylan, with Rex the dog, quick long weekends and slower week-long trips. We know Paris the way you know a city you actually live near, not the way you know a place you flew to once and crossed off a list.
That proximity changes everything about how we write about it. We are not telling you what is on the tourist trail. We are telling you what we actually do, what we skip, where we eat, where we stay and what consistently works when you are traveling with a teenager or a dog or both. This hub collects all of our Paris guides in one place and we update it regularly as things change.
Whether this is your first Paris trip or your fifth, you will find something useful here. Start with whatever is most relevant to how you travel and go from there.
Planning a wider France trip? Browse all our France guides at the France Travel Guide, including Champagne, Normandy, Provence and the Loire Valley.
Why Paris Works So Well For Families
The thing most people get wrong about Paris with kids or teenagers is assuming the city is not set up for them. It absolutely is. Paris has some of the best public green spaces in Europe, some of the most hands-on experiences of any major city and a food culture that rewards curious eaters of any age. The mistake is trying to do it the way you would solo: cramming in museums back to back, eating near the big sights and spending half the day queuing.
When Dylan was younger, Paris was about playgrounds in the Luxembourg Gardens, crepes on every corner and short museum visits with long park breaks in between. As he got older everything shifted. The Catacombs became genuinely fascinating. The food markets became an event in themselves. He started navigating the Metro before we did. Paris scales with age in a way that very few cities manage and it is one of the main reasons we keep going back.
Rex comes too. Paris is one of the most dog-friendly cities in Europe and we have never once had a bad experience bringing him. Dogs are welcome in most restaurants seated right at the table, in many hotels with no fuss and in parks throughout the city. We are working on a full dog-friendly Paris guide but the short version is: do not leave your dog at home. Rex has strong opinions about French patisseries and he is not wrong.
Where To Stay in Paris
Paris is split into 20 arrondissements and where you stay shapes your entire experience. The right neighborhood puts you walking distance from the things you care about most and saves you hours on the Metro. The wrong one leaves you feeling disconnected even from a perfectly nice hotel room.
Where To Stay in Paris: The Best Areas and Hotels By Neighborhood
A breakdown of every major Paris neighborhood, who each one suits best, what it feels like to actually stay there and honest hotel recommendations across all budgets. Covers the Marais, Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower area and more.
Things To Do in Paris
Paris has more to do than any trip can hold. These guides cut through the overwhelm and tell you what is genuinely worth your time, based on trips we have actually taken. Not a recycled list of landmarks, but real tested recommendations with honest planning notes.
14 Things To Do in Paris With a Teenager
Paris with a teenager is a completely different trip to Paris with a toddler or Paris solo. This guide covers 14 activities that consistently worked with Dylan, from the Catacombs to a real boulangerie baking class, with honest notes on booking in advance and what to skip.
Day Trips From Paris
Paris has extraordinary day trip options within an hour by train. Versailles alone justifies a full day. If you have more than four or five days in Paris, building in at least one day trip makes the whole trip feel richer and less rushed.
Visiting Versailles From Paris: A Complete Day Trip Guide
The Palace of Versailles is 40 minutes from central Paris by RER and absolutely worth a full day. This guide covers exactly how to get there, when to arrive, what to prioritize inside and how to avoid the worst of the crowds, including what most guides miss: the gardens and the Trianons.
Paris Planning Essentials
Getting there: Eurostar from London St Pancras takes 2 hours 15 minutes to Paris Gare du Nord. Flights land at CDG (Charles de Gaulle) or Orly. CDG is larger and better connected but farther from the center. The RER B train connects CDG to the city in about 35 minutes.
Getting around: The Paris Metro is excellent and runs until 1am on weekdays (2am on weekends). Buy a carnet of 10 tickets or load a Navigo Decouverte weekly pass if you are staying five or more days. Taxis and Uber are reliable but expensive in traffic.
Best time to visit: April through June and September through October give you the best combination of weather and manageable crowds. July and August are busy and hot. January through March is quieter with cold but crisp days and much shorter queues at major attractions.
Currency and payments: France uses the euro. Paris is more card-friendly than it used to be but some markets and smaller cafes are still cash-only. Notify your bank before you travel and use a fee-free travel card where possible.
Paris Museum Pass: Worth it if you plan to visit three or more paid attractions in two to four days. Covers the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle and more. Does not include the Eiffel Tower or the Catacombs.
Paris FAQs
How many days do you need in Paris?
Four to five days is the sweet spot for a first visit. It gives you enough time to cover the major highlights without rushing and leaves room for the slower moments that make Paris feel like Paris: a long lunch, a wander through a neighborhood, an afternoon in a park. If you are adding a day trip to Versailles, budget at least five full days. A long weekend (three nights) is enough to scratch the surface but you will want to come back.
Is Paris good to visit with teenagers?
Yes, genuinely. The key is choosing the right activities. Teenagers tend to love the Catacombs, hands-on cooking and baking classes, street art in Le Marais, the chaos and energy of the flea markets and any experience with real independence built in (navigating the Metro, ordering in French, exploring a neighborhood on their own). The Louvre is often a hard sell unless you go with a narrow focus. Our full guide to Paris with a teenager has everything you need.
Can you bring a dog to Paris?
Paris is one of the most dog-friendly cities in Europe. Dogs are welcome in the vast majority of restaurants (often sitting right at the table), in many hotels without any extra fees and in parks and public spaces across the city. We have never traveled to Paris without Rex and have never had a bad experience. The only major exception is the Metro, which officially does not allow dogs unless they are in a carrier. Small dogs often travel in bags without issue. Our full dog-friendly Paris guide is coming soon.
Do you need to speak French in Paris?
No, but a handful of phrases goes a long way. Parisians genuinely warm up when you make the effort: “Bonjour” when you walk in anywhere, “s'il vous plait” when you order and “merci” on the way out. Most people working in tourism and hospitality in Paris speak good English. Outside of the main tourist areas, a translation app is useful but rarely essential.
Is Paris safe for tourists?
Yes. Paris is a busy, well-policed major European capital and the vast majority of visitors have no issues at all. The main thing to watch for is pickpocketing around very crowded tourist spots like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre entrance and the Metro at rush hour. Keep your bag in front of you in crowds, do not leave phones on cafe tables and you will be fine. We have visited many times as a family, often with a child and a dog, and have always felt comfortable.
More Paris Guides Coming Soon
We are always adding to this page. These are the Paris guides currently in progress. Bookmark this page or follow along on Pinterest to catch them when they go live.
- Things To Do in Paris: the complete guide for every type of traveler, not just families
- Dog-Friendly Paris: where to stay, where to eat and the best walks and parks, all tested with Rex
- Paris in 3 Days: the best itinerary if your time is limited
- Paris on a Budget: how to do Paris properly without overspending
- Paris in Winter: why we think it is actually the best time to visit
Planning a wider trip through France? Head to the France Travel Guide for everything beyond Paris, from Champagne and Normandy to Provence and the Loire Valley.