Welcome to Paris

Considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Paris is celebrated for its grandiose urban planning, fine art museums, cathedrals, parks, markets, pavement cafés, cuisine, shopping, wide tree-lined boulevards and the River Seine. Featuring some of the world’s finest attractions, Paris is also a beautifully compact collection of villages; this everyday Paris is as exciting as the city’s iconic monuments.

When to visit

Paris and the spring seem to go hand in hand, but it’s also a perennial city; be it spring, summer, autumn or winter, Paris retains its ability to charm and captivate in equal measure. From Christmas lights and New Year’s Eve celebrations, gourmet shopping and handfuls of warm chestnuts in the mid-winter to the mid-summer celebrations of fireworks and military parades for Bastille Day and the climax of the Tour de France, Paris is the City of Light all year round. Its priceless museum collections, rich architectural style and soaring monuments never fail to delight, but it’s in the details of the streetscape that Paris exceeds all expectations. In this patchwork collection of quartiers and arrondissements, there are local cafés, bars, restaurants and shops which allow you to discover hidden corners of this city at every turn.

Experience Paris

We’re delighted to highlight a few holiday experiences to enhance your visit to Paris. Simply confirm at the time of booking or prior to travelling.
For further details and prices of private excursions and small group escorted tours, to visit some or all of these places of interest, please ask our Personalised Travel Team about pre-bookable experiences and excursions on 0800 008 7288.

We highly recommend…

Food meets art at Restaurant du Musee d’Orsay

The restaurant at the Musee d’Orsay is perhaps as fine as the art collection.
Purchase skip-the-queue tickets in advance and enjoy a relaxed lunch
before an afternoon appreciating the masterpieces.

Out and about

Paris is undoubtedly a city which is best discovered on foot. Its majesty and splendour inspire, but the casual intimacy of its streets makes it truly memorable. Le Marais charms with the Place des Vosges, Centre George Pompidou, Notre Dame and Ile de la Cite. The Latin Quarter boasts seats of learning, gardens and refined Saint Germain des Pres. The glamourous Champs Elysees is to the west of the Louvre and north of the Eiffel Tower. Further out, Montmartre, to the north, is home to artists and the imposing Sacre Coeur cathedral, close to Pigalle. Hilly Belleville, north and east, offers the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the final resting place of Moliere, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison.

Few countries in the world boast a reputation for food and wine as rich as France’s, and as the capital, Paris has much to offer diners of all budgets. Sometimes a cosy neighbourhood bistro, or a family-run ethnic restaurant can deliver pleasures equal to those of Paris’ many Michelin starred temples of gastronomy. Meanwhile, you’ll find the streetscape draped with mouth-watering patisseries, enticing boulangeries, hard-to-resist fromageries and superb wine shops: perfect for packing a picnic to enjoy in one of the city’s many parks and formal gardens. For an unforgettable day of food and art, take lunch in the superb restaurant of the Musee d’Orsay.

Good to know

Paris boasts a fine public transport system. Local city buses are frequent and busy. The Metro trains have short distances to cover between plentiful stops, so progress is quick and cheap; a carnet de dix, a bulk purchase of ten metro tickets, offers great value. To cover longer distances RER underground trains give access to the region surrounding the capital. Or hire a bicycle. Velib is the world’s largest city bike-sharing scheme, with bikes dotted everywhere around this compact city. With the Paris Pass you also get to skip the queues at major attractions. To book visit www.parispass.com or speak to our knowledgeable travel consultants.

Luxury hotels in Paris

Paris musts

Twin centre

Ask our travel consultants about combining a stay in Paris with a visit to the port city of Bordeaux, a hub of the famed wine-growing region.
See our dedicated City Breaks brochure for further details.