Book flights to Paris
Book flights to Paris
Bienvenue en France et à Paris - Welcome to France and Paris
Whether you have been to Paris many times before or it is your very first visit to the French capital, Paris never fails to surprise and delight. Enjoy some of the best food in the world with an equally impressive wine selection. Wonder the streets and enjoy shopping of all kinds, from large department stores such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette to tiny second-hand shops.
In Paris, there are specialty shops from all corners of the world and exciting grocery stores with goodies you can fill your suitcase with.
Here are our top tips for those of you who are going to Paris for the first time, or for those who have not yet experienced all the highlights.
The Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is a huge museum divided into three wings - Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. The museum has art that stretches from antiquity until around 1850.
The three most famous paintings in the museum are Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Théodore Géricaults Medusa's fleet and Jan Vermeer's Lace Singer. The museum also has a large collection of artifacts from Egypt.
The Louvre is so large that it takes a bit of strategy; we recommend concentrating on a part or era in the museum instead of trying to reach everywhere.
Best suited for young people and adults, possibly children if they have a great interest in art.
The Louvre and its famous glass pyramid.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is located in the middle of Charles de Gaulle Etoile. The location gives you a great view over Paris' Champs-Élysées. The famous arch is a symbol of the Napoleonic era and was built between 1806 and 1836.
Under the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, built after the First World War. The Arc de Triomphe is a natural stop on a walk along the Champs-Élysées and is suitable for everyone.
Arc de Triomphe
Our favorite street in Paris
Our favorite street in Paris is Boulevard St. Germain, which stretches through the entire Latin Quarter. Typical Parisian cafés line the street, many of them with outdoor seating. Explore the surrounding beautiful avenues with lots of exciting shops. The famous Sorbonne University is located just off the boulevard, on Boulevard St. Michel, and is worth a visit. The whole Latin Quarter is a very nice area to enjoy with slightly older children (9-10 years of age and older).
The Eiffel tower
What is Paris without the Eiffel Tower? Paris and France's most iconic building was built for the World's Fair in Paris in 1889, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution in 1789. The tower, which is 324 meters high, weighs 9,000 tons and was once a feat of engineering.
For 41 years, the tower was the tallest building in the world, until it was surpassed by New York City's Chrysler Building in 1930. 125 meters above the ground, you can dine in the Michelin-star restaurant, Jules Verne. Suitable for everyone, but best for those who do not have a fear of heights.
The Eiffel tower
The gardens of Luxembourg
One of Paris' oldest parks lies close to Sorbonne University. Not surprisingly, the park is a popular lunch spot for students.
Large deciduous trees provide pleasant shade during the summer and contribute to a lovely break in an otherwise hectic Parisian everyday life or holiday. The park has several fountains and sculptures as well as a large pond where it is common to see both adults and children playing with miniature sailboats.
Suitable for everyone - child friendly.
The gardens of Luxembourg.
Interested in seeing some radical architecture?
The Pompidou Centre is perhaps Paris' most controversial building. The centre was designed by architects Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini. The building radically breaks with traditional architecture in that load-bearing structures and technical installations are located on the outside of the façade instead of on the inside. Opinions about the building are divided, but it is still worth a look and you will not be the only one! Since its opening in 1977, well over 250 million people have visited the centre. Book a table at "George" on the top floor for good food and futuristic decor.
Suitable for everyone, but perhaps first and foremost those who have some interest in architecture and contemporary art. Younger children may get bored here.
Notre Dame
The beautiful church on Íle de la Cité was unfortunately hit by a large fire in April 2019. Much of the interior of the church was damaged in the fire, but the outside can still be admired.
The church is the headquarters of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris. The decision to build the church was made in 1159 and the foundation stone was laid in 1163.
The front of Notre Dame in Paris is quite impressive.
Where to stay in Paris
For short stays in Paris, it may be okay to stay centrally. There are many hotels in the Latin Quarter but it is relatively expensive. The further south you go from the Seine, the less expensive it becomes. If you find a hotel on the axis between Luxembourg Park, the Seine, and the Eiffel Tower, you will be within walking distance to Notre Dame, the entire Latin Quarter, and Paris's most famous bridge, the Pont Neuf.
There are many affordable, 3-star hotels around the old opera. Expect simple and (very) small rooms.
In the Le Marais area, there are a number of trendy hotels, bars, and clubs. Le Marais has traditionally been the gay area of Paris, which adds a colourful touch to the district. There are also many hotels below Montmartre where the Church of Sacré-Cœur is located. This is a very nice, shabby chic area to stay in, but it is a long walk to the Seine and the Latin Quarter.
Yet another area where there are quite a few hotels to choose from is the area around the old Arc de Triomphe. It is close to the Champs-Élysées and within walking distance of the world-famous Louvre Museum, home of the Mona Lisa.
On the outskirts of Paris
Those interested in history will love day trips just outside Paris, particularly west and north of the city. The Palace of Versailles is located just southwest of Paris. If you travel further southwest, you will eventually come to Nantes, a city known for delicious food from the sea. Along the way, you can make a stop in the Loire Valley, perhaps best known for its production of white wines. North of Paris, on the border of Belgium, you can visit the beaches where Allied forces landed on D-Day in 1944.
East of Paris is another area worth visiting. Within and just south of the city of Reims, there are many places with the name Champagne, so you can quickly guess what the main attraction for most visitors to the area is.
East of Paris and a one-hour train ride away is the children's favourite site in France, Disneyland Paris. If you bring the children here, you get an almost guaranteed star in the book, and the kids get an experience of a lifetime. Remember to pre-book tickets. There are several hotels right by the park
Versailles Castle has amazing gardens.
Flying to Paris
We fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), terminal T2 B.
There are trains and buses from the airport to the center of Paris. The local train, RER, is the easiest to take if you are going to the Latin Quarter.
It takes about half an hour, but allow for more time during rush hour. The high-speed train, TGV, is a conveinient way to get to many of France's other cities.