🇫🇷Paris
Compact, walkable, and exactly as beautiful as advertised. The clichés are true; so are the pickpockets. Say bonjour first and the whole city softens.
In photos
Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Cards are accepted virtually everywhere, including contactless tap-to-ride on the métro. Keep a few euros in coins for bakeries, market stalls, and bathrooms. ATMs are everywhere; skip the tourist-district exchange bureaus.
What locals earn
| Average monthly salary (Paris region, net) | ≈ €2,800 ($3,050) | well above the French average |
| Minimum wage (SMIC, net) | ≈ €1,430/month ($1,550) | what much of the service sector earns |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Baguette sandwich from a boulangerie | €6–8 | $6.50–8.70 |
| Café lunch formule (main + starter or dessert) | €16–22 | $17–24 |
| Mid-range dinner, per person | €35–55 | $38–60 |
| Michelin-starred tasting menu | €150+ | $165+ |
| Espresso (counter / terrace) | €2–4 | $2.20–4.30 |
| Glass of wine | €6–9 | $6.50–10 |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Métro/RER ride (flat fare, Navigo Easy or tap card) | €2.50 | $2.70 |
| Bus or tram ride | €2.00 | $2.20 |
| Taxi across town | €12–25 | $13–27 |
| CDG airport → city, RER B train | €13 | $14 |
| CDG → city, flat-rate taxi | €56–65 | $61–71 |
| Orly → city, métro line 14 | €13 | $14 |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €35–55 ($38–60) | Book well ahead in summer |
| Budget hotel (2★) | €90–140 ($98–150) | Rooms are small — this is normal |
| Mid-range (3–4★) | €150–280 ($165–305) | Location beats stars; stay central |
| Luxury / palace | €500+ ($545+) | The palace hotels are sights in themselves |
Getting around
- From the airport
- From CDG: RER B train, ~35 min to central Paris, €13 — or the flat-rate taxi (€56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank, no surprises allowed by law). From Orly: métro line 14 straight into town. Ignore anyone offering a 'taxi' inside the terminal — use the official rank.
- Métro
- Dense and fast — you're never more than ~500 m from a station. Buy a Navigo Easy card or just tap a contactless bank card. Line 1 is driverless, scenic, and pickpocket central: pack your phone away at the doors.
- Taxis & apps
- G7 is the official taxi app; Uber and Bolt both work well. Cabs can't be hailed within 50 m of a rank — walk to the rank.
- On foot & by bike
- Central Paris is astonishingly compact: Notre-Dame to the Louvre is a 20-minute riverside stroll, and you can cross the whole center in about 90 minutes. Vélib' bike share and wide new bike lanes make cycling genuinely pleasant.
Neighborhoods to stay in
- Le Marais (3rd/4th)
- Central, historic, boutiques and falafel — the classic first-timer pick.
- Saint-Germain (6th)
- Café-terrace Paris at its most cinematic. Pricier.
- Latin Quarter (5th)
- Lively, student energy, better value, walkable to everything central.
- Louvre / Opéra (1st/2nd/9th)
- Maximum convenience for the big sights and airport links.
- Montmartre (18th)
- Village-on-a-hill charm and views; a métro ride from the center.
Tipping & etiquette
- 'Bonjour' (or 'Bonsoir') before anything else — entering a shop, addressing a waiter, asking directions. Skipping it is the fastest way to get frosty service.
- Dinner starts late-ish: most kitchens open 19:30 and many close between lunch and dinner service.
- You may hold a café table as long as you like with one espresso — it's a rented office, not a queue.
- Keep restaurant voices low; the table next to you can hear everything.
- Many small shops close on Sunday; most museums close Monday or Tuesday — check before you trek.
Safety & common scams
Violent crime is rare where visitors go; the real issue is world-class pickpocketing — métro line 1, museum queues, the Eiffel Tower lawn, crowded escalators. Phones snatched at café terraces are the modern classic: don't leave yours on the table.
Scams to know
- Petition clipboards and 'friendship bracelets' (Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur) — distraction for an accomplice's fingers. Keep walking, hands in pockets.
- The gold ring 'found' at your feet along the Seine — it's brass, and it comes with a sob story.
- Three-card monte on the bridges: shills win, you won't.
- Fake taxi touts at airports and stations — only the official rank or an app.
Emergency numbers: 112 (everything) · pharmacies (green cross) handle minor medical issues and are excellent
Phone & internet
EU roaming makes this easy for European SIMs. Everyone else: an eSIM (Airalo, Orange Holiday ~€20 for 2 weeks of generous data) beats airport counters. Free Wi-Fi in parks, museums, and most cafés.
First-timer FAQs
Do I need a visa?
France is Schengen: US, UK, Canadian, Australian and most other Western passports get 90 days visa-free. The EU's ETIAS travel authorization is being phased in — check the official site before you fly.
Do I need to book museums ahead?
Yes — the Louvre, Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower summit routinely sell out days to weeks ahead. Book timed entries online the moment your dates are fixed. Many national museums are free the first Sunday of the month (crowded).
Is the food really that good — and must it be expensive?
It's that good at every price. A €7 jambon-beurre from a good bakery and a €16 lunch formule will be among your best meals. The tourist-trap zone within sight of major monuments is the exception — walk two streets away.
How many days do I need?
Three to four for the greatest hits, five to relax into it. Versailles is the classic half-to-full-day trip (closed Mondays).
Are Parisians actually rude?
Mostly a translation error. Parisians treat politeness formalities as mandatory and volume as optional — say bonjour, attempt three words of French, and you'll find most people warm and helpful.