I lived in Paris for two years working as a hotel concierge. Every place on this page is somewhere I actually sent guests, so read it the way you'd take advice from a friend who knows the city.
How to use this guide: the tabs at the top move you between itineraries, places to see, restaurants, hotels, experiences and day trips. On any tab, open the map for a much clearer picture of where things sit and how Paris connects, arrondissement to arrondissement. On your phone, tap Get the App (or add this page to your home screen) so the whole guide is one tap away. Short on time? Jump to the ⚡ Quick Facts below.
This complete Paris travel guide covers public transport, the cheapest Metro pass, airport transfers, free things to do, local etiquette, and the money-saving tips most first-timers only learn on day three. Paris is one of the most-visited cities in the world, and one of the easiest to get wrong on a first trip. Bookmark this page before you book your flight.
Paris is the capital of France, with a population of just over 2 million in the city proper and around 12 million in the wider Île-de-France region. The city is divided into 20 numbered arrondissements that spiral outward from the centre like a snail shell, starting with the 1st around the Louvre. The Seine cuts the city in two: the Right Bank (Rive Droite) to the north holds business, fashion and most monuments, while the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) to the south is the historic intellectual and student quarter.
Whether you're planning a long weekend in Paris or a full week, the sections below cover the essentials: how to get around Paris, the best transport apps, what to pack, money-saving tricks, and the cultural rules that make locals treat you better.
Loading Vitor Travel Itineraries…