10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO PARIS

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This guide of tips for traveling to Paris It will help you organize your trip to one of the most charming and most visited cities in the world.
Although there are thousands of things to do, a walk along the banks of the Seine at sunset, find the Gioconda in The Louvre, get lost in the neighborhoods of Montmartre or Le Marais, go shopping in the Champs Elysées or climb to the top of the Tower Eiffel, are just some of the experiences that will make this city become a real obsession and just think about returning again and again.

Based on the times we have traveled to the City of Light, the last one during a trip to Paris in 4 days, we have made this list of those that we believe, are the 10 essential tips for traveling to Paris. We start!

1. What is the best time?

Although any time is good to make a trip to Paris, it is the months that go from June to September when the weather is more pleasant and there is less chance of precipitation. Despite this, this era has the great disadvantage that the prices of accommodation in the city center skyrocket at the same pace as the queues to access the main tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower or The Louvre.
To visit the city with more tranquility and save on hotels, it is advisable to travel in spring and autumn, two seasons that if you are lucky with the cold and rain, they are also perfect.
The worst season is winter when the cold and short days greatly limit the possibilities of making good use of the city, being only the recommended Christmas period, when the streets and shop windows are decorated with Christmas motifs and several street markets are mounted .

2. Entry requirements when traveling to Paris

For travel to Paris, if you are Spanish or from a European Union country, you will only need to carry your ID or passport, without the need for a visa. If you are not a citizen of the European Union, we advise you to consult the page of the French Embassy of your country or that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to see what are the mandatory documents that depend on the type of relationship that the two countries have.

Another of the almost mandatory requirements is to carry the European Health Card, which allows you access to French public health. If you do not have the card or want to be covered in more complicated situations such as a repatriation, we recommend you take out the best possible travel insurance.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

3 How to get from Paris airport to downtown?

There are three airports through which travelers traveling to Paris usually enter: the Charles de Gaulle located 25 kilometers away, Orly 15 kilometers away and Beauvais 85 kilometers away.
All have good connection by public and private transport to make the transfer from the airport to the city center or your hotel.
The most recommended means of transport for each airport are:

Charles de Gaulle: You have the RER B train line, several bus companies such as RoissyBus and Le Bus Direct, the taxi that costs around 50 euros or you can also book this convenient direct transfer. For more information you can consult this specific post on how to go from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris.
Orly: You have the Orlybus and Le Bus Direct bus, the combined tram and subway option, the taxi that costs about 30 euros and this direct transfer. You can expand the information in this post on how to get from Orly Airport to Paris.
Beauvais: You have a bus synchronized with the arrival flights, the train transferring at Beauvais station, the taxi and the private transfer, although the latter two are not recommended for their high price. More information in this post on how to get from Beauvais airport to Paris.

The vast majority of the final or intermediate stops of all these public transports are connected to the extensive Paris metro line, which will allow you to approach the nearest station of your hotel.

Transportation in Paris

4. Where to sleep in Paris?

If you go to travel to Paris, especially in the months from June to September, it is essential to book as early as possible, if you want to find a good hotel at a good price.
The best area to stay in Paris depends a lot on your budget, keep in mind that the center of Paris includes districts 1,2,3 and 4 and the prices per room in high season do not fall below 100 euros per night.
Two cheaper areas to find a hotel are Montparnasse (District XIV), Opera (IX) and Bastille (XI), where you will also have a good connection by public transport to the center and a wide range of restaurants.

A good option to save on hotel is to stay in a district further from the center but with a subway line nearby. We were at the Etoile Pereire, located 10 minutes walk from the Arc de Triomphe and 300 meters from the Pereire metro and RER stop. In addition to its magnificent location, the hotel serves a very complete buffet breakfast and has one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.

We recommend using this famous search engine to find the best hotel at the best price.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods where to sleep we recommend you read this post of where to stay in Paris.

Arch of Triumph

5. Transportation on a trip to Paris

When traveling to Paris you have to be clear that you will not have problems to move around the city by public transport, being one of the cities with one of the most extensive and effective networks in the world.
The metro network, which operates between 5:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., is our favorite means of transport in the city with which you will avoid heavy traffic. To the places that the subway does not arrive like Disneyland Paris, Versailles or the two airports of the city, arrive the lines A, B and C of the RER train.
The bus is a bit more messy and will take longer on the journeys, although it is a good option if you travel between 00: 30h and 07: 00h, when the Noctilien bus is operational.
Other transport options of little use are the tram and the funicular, which takes you to the upper part of the Montmartre district.
If you have little time, two highly recommended options are to book the tourist bus or the tourist boat (batobus) that you can use for a whole day and stop at the main attractions of the city.

To use all these means of transport including the RER (only within Paris) you need to buy the Ticket t + that costs 1.90 euros the journey or 14.90 euros, if you buy 10 tickets.
If you are going to use a lot of transport you may find it profitable to buy the Paris Visit that allows you to use it unlimitedly in periods of 1, 2, 3 and 5 days. Depending on the areas you buy, the transfer to Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Disneyland and Versailles airports is included.
Remember that if you are going to be a full week or a month you may find it more profitable to opt for the Passe Navigo card, with more advantages and better prices for those days.

In addition to the comments on transport, another of the best tips for traveling to Paris It is to make a list of the attractions you want to visit, to check if you get a better price to book the Paris Pass card, which includes more than 60 attractions and public transport and that in most cases, it is a great saving of money to get to know the city.

Paris metro

6. Main points of interest

Prior to travel to Paris It is advisable to make a list with all the places you want to see and experiences that you want to enjoy, to make the most of the time and chart the routes around the city.
Among the most popular places are the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sainte Chapelle church and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
The two most visited attractions and where the longest lines are formed, which can easily reach two hours, are the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. In these cases it is advisable to arm yourself with a lot of patience or buy tickets without queues in advance as it is for the museum and this for the tower.
Another option is to take one of these guided tours that usually include quick entry to these two important buildings and others in the city.

In addition to the Louvre, we recommend visiting three other interesting museums in Paris: the Orsay Museum, the Pompidou Center and the Rodin Museum.
The visit to all these museums and monuments can be combined with walks through the Luxembourg Garden and the Tuileries Garden, two green spaces in the center of Paris or with shopping in the famous Galeries Lafayette or the Champs Elysees.
Most of these points of interest in the city are located in charming neighborhoods such as Montmartre, Le Marais, Les Halles or the Latin Quarter, perfect for spending extra time in peacefully touring them.

If you prefer less frequent visits by tourists we suggest the Cemetery of Père Lachaise, the Catacombs of Paris, the Montparnasse Tower, the Pantheon or the Opera Garnier, among many others.
To put the icing on the trip nothing better than booking a boat trip on the Seine or a night tour to enjoy one of the best illuminated cities in the world.

Another of the best tips for traveling to Paris is to complete this list of the places to visit in Paris essential and this one of the best things to do in Paris.

7. Routes through the city

Paris is a city full of activities and places to visit, which makes it essential to prepare the routes well before leaving the hotel to not miss anything important.
Depending on the days you have, we recommend between 3 and 5 days if it is your first trip, during which you can visit most interesting places in the city.
A good option to include in these routes are these free tours in Paris or this complete tour that includes boat ride and the climb to the Eiffel Tower without queues, which will help you to know the history and curiosities of the city by the hand of a Expert guide in Spanish.

Based on the time we spent in Paris we have made these optimized guides that we are sure, they will be useful for you to trace the itineraries if you have 1 to 3 days.

Boat trip, one of the best tips for traveling to Paris

8. Where to eat in Paris

Another of the great reasons for travel to Paris It is to try the delicious French cuisine, always accompanied by a good glass of wine or champagne.
Some of the most typical dishes are:

Soupe à l'oignon: soup made with pieces of bread, gruyère cheese and caramelized onion.
La raclette: melted cheese mixed with cooked potatoes, sausages and pickles, originally from Switzerland.
Coq Au Vin: meat stew made with red or white wine.
Omelettes: French tortillas in which you can add vegetables and cheese.
Ratatouille: healthy vegetable dish: onion, tomato, eggplant and zucchini.
Escargots: snails cooked with butter, parsley and mayonnaise.
Vichyssoise: Leek puree.
Monsieur croque: bread stuffed with ham and gruyère cheese.
Dauphinois Gratin: baked potatoes au gratin with fresh cream or milk.
Boeuf Bourguignon: Beef stew cooked in Burgundy red wine.

Before eating do not forget to leave room for delicious French desserts such as crépes, macarons or le petit four, an assortment of sweet and savory small cakes.
And for breakfast there is nothing more typical than to accompany your coffee or coffee au lait with a fresh croissant with a butter aroma.

Among the restaurants, located in the most recommended tourist areas to try these delicious dishes, you have: Le Souffle, l'Ardoise, Sourirem, Sanukiya, Les Trublions, Saigon Pantheon, Comptoir Gourmet, 4 Pat, Au P'tit Grec, Fromagerie Danard, L 'As du Fallafel and the Au Petit Sud Ouest.

Parisian food

9. Tours and excursions

If you have extra time, we recommend you take an excursion to one of the wonders to see in France.
The first proposal of this guide to travel to Paris is the visit to the Palace of Versailles and above all, to its incredible gardens, one of the most beautiful in the world.
You can reach the palace in half an hour from Paris by first taking the subway to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station and then getting on the RER C train on the Versailles-Rive Gauche line.
You can expand the information of this excursion by reading this post on how to go from Paris to Versailles
The second recommendation for both children and adults, is the trip to Disneyland Paris a fantasy world where you can have fun in the two parks of the complex: Disneyland and Walt Disney Studio.
To get to Disneyland Paris in 40 minutes, you have to get on the regional train RER A in the direction of Marne-la-Vallee Chessy at the Châtelet Les Halles station and if you want to avoid waiting in the long lines of access it is advisable to book in advance the tickets here.
For more information we recommend you consult this complete post of tips for traveling to Disneyland Paris.
The third proposal is the visit to Mont Saint Michel, a magical place located on a small island with a beautiful abbey in the highest part.
The last recommendation is the excursion to the Loire Castles, one of the most beautiful regions in France with numerous fairytale castles.
The best option to get to know Mont Saint Michel and the Loire Valley Castles is to rent a car although another more convenient way to visit all these places is to book some of the best excursions from Paris with a guide in Spanish:

More tours and excursions in Parísaquí

Mont Saint Michel

10. More tips for traveling to Paris

Other of the best tips for traveling to Paris They are:

The water in Paris is drinkable, so don't forget to ask in the restaurants "une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît" our "tap water" of life, with which you will save enough money
Use some French words like: bonjour (Good morning), bonsoir (good afternoon / evening), aur revoir (see you soon), salut (hello), merci (thank you), de rien (you're welcome), excusez-moi (excuse me ), désolé (sorry).
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
The first Sunday of each month the entrance to many museums is free, so it is worth taking into account when organizing visits.
Be careful with your belongings in the most tourist sites or with many people. Although it is not an insecure city, common sense, as you would use it anywhere in the world, is a good travel companion.

The Eiffel Tower

Do you want to organize a trip to Paris?
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The best hotels at the best prices in Paris here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Paris in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆París transfer here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
The 5 best tours and excursions in Paris
Book your Paris Pass with all the advantages here