Bonjour, Paris
Museums, cafés and riverside walks in the City of Light, a nonstop flight from San Francisco.
A city best explored on foot
Paris is split by the Seine into the Right Bank and the Left Bank, and divided into 20 neighborhoods called arrondissements that spiral out from the center. Each has its own feel. Le Marais mixes medieval lanes, boutiques and the elegant Place des Vosges. Saint-Germain is the classic Left Bank of cafés, bookshops and galleries. Montmartre, up on its hill, still feels like the artists' village it once was.
The art alone could fill a week: the Louvre, the Impressionists at the Musée d'Orsay in a former railway station, and Monet's Water Lilies at the Orangerie. But some of the best moments are simpler, like a long lunch at a sidewalk table, a stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens or an evening cruise on the Seine as the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour.
Paris is also a great starting point. Versailles, Giverny, the Normandy beaches, the Loire Valley châteaux and Champagne are all within day-trip reach, and many European river cruises begin or end here. Spring and early fall bring mild weather. Summer is busy, and many locals leave town in August, so a few small shops close. Major sights like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower need timed tickets booked well ahead.
Paris at a glance
Our favorite ways to spend your time
Not an exhaustive list, just the things our travelers come home talking about.
Things to do
- Cruise the SeineA one-hour boat ride past Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Go at dusk when the city lights up.
- Spend a morning at the LouvreHome of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Pick a few galleries rather than trying to see it all.
- Wander MontmartreClimb to Sacré-Cœur for the view, then explore the cobbled lanes and the painters' square of Place du Tertre.
- Shop a neighborhood marketCheese, bread, fruit and flowers at an open-air market, the perfect makings of a picnic.
- Take a day trip to VersaillesThe palace, the Hall of Mirrors and acres of formal gardens, under an hour from central Paris.
Places to go
- Le MaraisMedieval streets, hidden courtyards, small museums and the lovely Place des Vosges.
- Saint-Germain-des-PrésThe classic Left Bank: literary cafés, galleries and the Luxembourg Gardens nearby.
- NormandyThe D-Day beaches, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer and the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
- The Loire ValleyFairy-tale châteaux like Chambord and Chenonceau, plus vineyards, about two hours southwest.
- ChampagneVisit the cellars of Reims and Épernay and taste where the bubbles are made.
Things to see
- The Eiffel TowerRide to the top by day, then watch it sparkle for five minutes every hour after dark.
- Notre-Dame CathedralBeautifully restored and reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire.
- Sainte-ChapelleA small Gothic chapel with walls of stained glass. Go on a sunny day.
- Monet's garden at GivernyThe water lily pond and Japanese bridge that inspired his paintings, open spring through fall.
- The Arc de TriompheClimb to the rooftop for a view straight down the Champs-Élysées.
What to eat in Paris
Dishes to order
- Croissants & pastriesButtery, flaky and best still warm from a neighborhood boulangerie in the morning.
- Steak fritesThe classic bistro plate: a simple steak with a pile of crisp fries.
- French onion soupRich beef broth and caramelized onions under a lid of bubbling melted cheese.
- CrêpesSweet with Nutella or butter and sugar, or savory buckwheat galettes with ham, cheese and egg.
Where to eat
- Neighborhood bistrosChalkboard menus, small tables and a good-value fixed-price lunch.
- Café terracesOrder a coffee or a glass of wine and watch Paris go by. No one will rush you.
- Open-air marketsAssemble a picnic of cheese, bread and fruit for a bench along the Seine.
What to drink
- Café crèmeThe Parisian version of a latte, best enjoyed slowly at a corner café.
- ChampagneThe real thing, from just a couple of hours east. Toast your trip with a glass.
- Wine by the glassSmall wine bars pour bottles from every corner of France, with a plate of cheese or charcuterie.
Let's plan your Paris trip
Paris pairs beautifully with Normandy, the Loire Valley or a river cruise, and we'll help you decide how to split your time. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll come back with options and current pricing.
