Planning a Trip to Paris 2023
Are you planning a trip to Paris in 2023? Don’t you know where to get reliable information for your Paris trip? Paris for first-timers can be overwhelming; there are so many things to see and do! That’s why we want to help with this Paris Trip Planner.
This Paris Travel Planner is a step-by-step guide where we tell you how to plan a trip to Paris, France, together with some insider tips. We hope you will find it helpful.
Paris Travel Planner 2023 Content:
- Best Time to Visit Paris
- Booking your Flight or Train Ticket to Paris
- Travel Insurance
- Where to Stay in Paris
- Accommodation in Paris
- How to Get from Paris Airport to City
- The Cheat Sheet for Your Paris Plan
- Paris Itinerary Planner
- What to Eat & Drink in Paris
- Day Trips from Paris
- Paris Trip Planning: Know Before You Go
How to plan a Paris trip? There is no best way to plan a trip to Paris, France, but if you follow this step-by-step Paris Planner, you won’t forget the essentials.
GOOD TO KNOW: If you are planning a honeymoon to Paris or a family trip to Paris, you can complete the reading of this Paris Trip Planner with our specific guides:
1. Best Time to Visit Paris
When is the best time to travel to Paris? ‘Paris is always a good idea,‘ and there is never a bad time to go to Paris. The city has beautiful parks and picturesque streets that are great to explore under the sun. It also has some of the world’s best museums and other interesting indoor options when it rains or it’s too cold to be outside.
TIP: In general, the best time to go to Paris is from May to October, and then December for the Christmas Holidays.
If you are flexible with dates, important things to consider when you are planning a Paris trip are the low /high tourist season and the weather in Paris. This is what you need to know:
Seasons in Paris
What is the best season to visit Paris? This graphic below represents the weather in Paris year-round, with average temperatures (in Celsius) and average rainfall (%).
>> Spring is a good time to visit Paris. Spring means blue skies, the gardens in Paris in bloom, and animated café-terraces. The city is also famous for its cherry blossoms (check out our favorite cherry blossom spots in Paris), usually in March and April.
However, temperatures are still fresh (minimums of 4C° to 10C°), with frequent showers. Don’t forget to pack an umbrella and a jacket in your day bag!
Spring Months in Paris
>> Summer in Paris comes with longer days and nice temperatures (maximums of 23C° to 25C°). With a long list of summer festivals and cool outdoor activities everywhere, no wonder Paris is one of the best summer destinations in Europe!
However, summer is also the high season in Paris, which means more tourists, long lines to visit Paris’ main attractions, and higher prices.
Summer Months in Paris
>> Fall is, in our opinion, the best season for a first time in Paris. The colors of the trees are gorgeous, temperatures are still pleasant (maximums of 11C° to 21C°), and there are fewer tourists. In the last couple of years, we could organize outdoor activities until mid-November, with bright and sunny days.
Fall Months in Paris
>> Winter in Paris is not the best time to visit Paris in terms of weather (minimums of 2C° to 7°C and only 4 to 5 hours of light), and sunset times in Paris are very early. However, some people love to travel to Paris at Christmas time to see Paris’s decorations and illuminations and the best Christmas markets in Paris.
Paris is also a popular destination for Saint Valentine’s in February. There are many romantic things to do in Paris!
Winter Months in Paris
Tourist Seasons in Paris
>> The high season in Paris is considered from 1st April to 31st October. It means nice weather and more hours of daylight and many people will tell you this is the best time to visit Paris.
But at the same time, the high season in Paris is not the best season to plan a trip to Paris in terms of budget (best accommodation sold out, higher prices). Also, the city is too crowded with tourists – especially in the summer – while locals are somewhere else on holiday.
>> The low season in Paris goes from 1st November to 31st March, except for Paris at Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Paris. This is the cheapest time to travel to Paris and the best time to visit Paris to avoid crowds. If you decide to travel off-season, you will get a more local experience, and it will be easier to find good deals on accommodation, for example.
In the end, Paris is a movable feast and (sun or rain) you will have a great time!
Paris Olympics 2024
The Summer Olympics 2024 will be held in Paris and France from Friday 26 July to Sunday 11 August 2024. This will be the biggest event ever organized in the country, so expect more visitors than usual (=book everything NOW!). If you are planning a trip to Paris around these dates, check out our Paris Olympics 2024 Guide so you don’t miss anything on such a historical event.
Best Time to Go to Paris: Our Tips for your Paris Trip Planning
Be flexible with your dates. Flexibility is key, especially if you are planning a trip to Paris on a budget. Flight tickets or train tickets to Paris will be more expensive:
- During the school holidays in France;
- During holidays in France or Europe;
- Weekend trips (Friday to Sunday);
- During special events like New Year’s Eve or Saint Valentine’s Day.
If you are a museum lover visiting Paris for the first time, the best time to go to Paris will probably be the first weekend of the month when you can visit many museums in Paris for free. Some of these museums have this offer all year round, while other museums are only free during the winter months.
2. Booking your Flight or Train Ticket to Paris
Flight Tickets to Paris
Paris has three airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), north of Paris; Paris Orly (ORY), south of Paris; and Paris-Beauvais (BVA). Despite its name, Paris Beauvais is not in Paris but in the city of Beauvais (80 km north of Paris, in the Hauts-de-France region).
If you are traveling to Paris from somewhere overseas, you will probably land at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is used mainly for flights to /from Europe and North Africa, while Paris-Beauvais Airport (BVA) is mainly for Ryan Air flights.
Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport are more or less at the same distance from Paris, so if you are traveling from Europe, you can choose whatever flight (or flight company) you like. We don’t like Orly Airport (ORY) that much, so we always try to book flights from /to Paris Charles de Gaulle. But this is just our opinion.
Lately, we like to book our flights with Omio, a search engine for all major forms of transport that is very easy to use! It has different filters – time, number of scales, departure time – so the research and booking process is straightforward – Click here to buy your flight tickets to Paris with Omio
Train Tickets to Paris
If you live in Europe, high-speed trains are a good and definitely a more eco-friendly option for your trip to Paris. Here are some of the main European destinations served from the stations in Paris.
- Gare du Nord: London (Eurostar), Brussels, Cologne, and Amsterdam (Thalys)
- Gare de l’Est: Germany, and Luxembourg
- Gare de Lyon: Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich), Italy, and Catalunya (Girona, Barcelona)
- Gare d’Austerlitz: Western Spain.
We like and recommend Omio to book train tickets from /to Paris. The website is straightforward to use, it is written in English, and it proposes interesting promotions from time to time – Click here to buy your train tickets to Paris with Omio
3. Don’t Skimp on Travel Insurance
Don’t skimp on Travel Insurance when planning a trip to Paris 2023. Since anything can happen while traveling, the best thing you can do for yourself is to be insured.
Before going through other aspects of your Paris planning, ensure you are completely covered before traveling to minimize the financial risks of theft, loss of luggage, or flight cancellation.
SafetyWing is an excellent travel + medical insurance policy for long and short trips. It is marketed as “Nomad Insurance,” but you can get it for a minimum of five days. You can sign up for SafetyWing insurance even if your journey has already started! – Click here to get a quote for your next trip to Paris.
HeyMondo is another option for your Paris trip. It offers travelers insurance that combines medical and travel-related coverage for single trips (leisure and business trips), annual multi-trip, and extended stays (with COVID-19 coverage included). Use this link to get a 5% off.
Schengen Area Travel Insurance
For those who require a visa to enter France or any other Schengen country, travel insurance covering repatriation and medical expenses is compulsory. The necessary visa to enter Europe will not be issued unless you provide proof of suitable coverage – Buy your travel insurance with HeyMondo
ETIAS Requirement for Visitors out of the European Union (UK Included)
The ETIAS Program (Europe Travel Information and Authorisation System) will be fully introduced in 2024. Passport holders from certain states – see ‘ETIAS Eligible Countries’ on the map below – will be required to apply (and pay a small fee) for an ETIAS waiver. Click here for more information and all the requirements when you plan your trip to Paris.
Countries like the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia are listed as ETIAS-eligible countries.
4. Where to Stay in Paris
Planning a trip to Paris for the first time can be challenging, especially when it comes to deciding which area you want to stay in Paris.
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts of Paris), which are also administrative divisions. In each Paris Arrondissement, there is a town hall, a mayor and elected officials, a council, a politician, and so on. Of course, each division is still subject to the city’s overall policy and the mayor of Paris, the socialist Anne Hidalgo.
To find your bearings in Paris, there is a little trick: the 1st Paris arrondissement is in the center of Paris, then the other Paris arrondissements are located forming a spiral turning clockwise, to finish in the 20th in the east. Check out our Districts of Paris Guide to learn more about the Arrondissements of Paris.
Where to stay in Paris? The best area to stay in Paris very much depends on the sort of trip you’re planning. Check our suggestions below for sightseeing, luxury, family, and first-time trips to Paris.
So you got your train or flight tickets for your Paris trip, and the countdown starts! In the previous chapter, you have more or less decided where to stay in Paris (the Arrondissement of Paris). The next step of your Paris travel plan is to book accommodation in Paris.
Hotels and Hostels in Paris
Hotels can be so much more than a simple place to rest your head, and a city like Paris cannot disappoint in terms of accommodation: your Paris hotel can be just as memorable as your sightseeing!
When it comes to booking your bed in Paris, the best site to search and compare different accommodation options in Europe is Booking.com because you have everything from hostels to luxury hotels. What we have found quite regularly on Booking.com is that you can get a room in a small hotel for the same price as a hostel. Research makes all the difference!
>> For a top Paris experience, stay in a hotel with views of the Eiffel Tower or, even better, in one of the fabulous historic hotels of Paris. All these hotels are gorgeous and the beginning of a five-star Parisian experience!
>> Truth to be told, these historic hotels are not for all the pockets. But many unique themed hotels in Paris certainly know how to give their guests a memorable and colorful stay for less money. If you plan a trip to Paris in the summer, consider one of the Paris hotels with a pool for the warmest days.
>> For those people traveling on a budget, we hand-picked the best hostels in Paris (with dorms but also private rooms). You will be surprised at how cute our proposals are, but in a city like Paris, it could not be otherwise!
Check out these lists of best hotels in the most popular neighborhoods in Paris:
- Best hotels near the Louvre Museum
- Best hotels in Le Marais
- Best hotels in the Latin Quarter
- Best hotels in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Furnished Apartments in Paris
For a much more local experience, consider renting an apartment in Paris. This is definitely a much more local option than a hotel or a hostel, plus you can even cook some of your meals to save money. And there are some apartments with Eiffel Tower views too!
If you decide to rent an apartment in Paris, we recommend Booking.com, which also does apartment rentals for travelers with excellent service. With Booking.com, you can have all your hotel and apartment bookings under the same dashboard, plus their customer service is excellent – Find the Best Apartments in Paris with Booking.com
GOOD TO KNOW: Furnished apartments are very requested in Paris, especially in tourist areas. For this reason, apartment owners prioritize bookings for longer stays rather than just a weekend.
Accommodation in Paris: Our Tips for your Paris Planning
>> Book in advance for more options and better prices.
>> Avoid Famous Places in Paris if you are traveling on a budget.
>> Consider one of the best hotels near Gare du Nord for late arrivals or early departures from this train station. They are good and cheaper than in the most popular neighborhoods.
>> Check out our Hotel Recommendations in our articles by Paris Arrondissement.
6. How to Get from Paris Airport to the City
If you don’t live in Europe, you will probably fly to Paris. There are currently 153 air companies flying to Paris so that you can fly to the City of Light from anywhere in the world!
There are two airports near Paris: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Orly Airport (ORY). You have different options to get to Paris, depending on which airport you land at.
Best Transportation Options from Paris Airports to City
OPTION | TO | DURATION | PRICE | HOURS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train Paris CDG Airport | Gare du Nord or Châtelet | 30-40 min | 11,45€ | 4:50 am – 11:50 pm |
Your hotel | 30-40 min | 60€ approx | 24/7 | |
Taxi CDG Airport | Your hotel | 30-40 min | Flat rate: 62€ to Left Bank /55€ to Right Bank (without pre-booking) | 24/7 |
Roissy Bus (CDG Airport-Opéra) | 11 Rue Scribe (Paris 9) | 60-75 min | 16.50€ | 6:00 am – 0:30 am |
Orly Bus Paris ORY Airport | Denfert- Rochereau | 30-40 min | 11.20€ | 6:am – 0:30 am |
Your hotel | 30-40 min | 50€ approx | 24/7 | |
Taxi ORY Airport | Your hotel | 30-40 min | Flat rate: 35€ to Left Bank /41€ to Right Bank (without pre-booking) | 24/7 |
Our personal recommendation is to pre-book with Welcome Pickups, a reliable and top-rated private transfer service. Your driver will wait for you outside of the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name, plus a bottle of water and a map of the city. Welcome Pickups have introduced strict safety protocols to protect drivers and guests.
7. The Cheat Sheet for Your Paris Trip Planner
The next step when you plan your trip to Paris is to decide what to see and do. If this is your first trip to Paris, the lists below cover the main attractions and the most iconic things to do in Paris.
>> 50 Iconic Things to Do in Paris
>> Top Things to Do in Paris at Night
>> Most Beautiful Covered Passages of Paris
TIP: Check out the best Paris combo tickets, good combinations of 2-3 Paris tickets & tours that make you save time and money!
8. Paris Itinerary Planner
If you are planning a trip to Paris for the first time and need some inspiration for your Paris plan, these Paris itineraries for one day to a week will be helpful.
>> Two Days in Paris Itinerary
>> Three Days in Paris Itinerary
>> Four Days in Paris Itinerary
>> Five Days in Paris Itinerary
Layover in Paris
If your vacation includes a layover in Paris, it is possible to get a glimpse of what the city offers before your next flight.
If your top priority is to see the Eiffel Tower, it is possible to have a quick ride from the airport to the city center to check it out from your bucket list. Head here for the best ways to go to the Eiffel Tower from Charles de Gaulle Airport, or check out this article for the best ways to go from Orly Airport to the Eiffel Tower.
With a long layover in Paris, you can consider a short itinerary to see some of Paris’ main sites. Check out how to spend a layover in Paris, with some proposals for short itineraries and our best tips.
TIP: This Paris layover tour from the airport always gets the best ratings!
When you travel to Paris, be sure to learn about French food in Paris and the best things to eat in Paris. If you’re not trying the food, you are far away from getting to know the culture. We have hand-picked our best food articles for this Paris Trip Planner 2023.
>> French Wine Regions near Paris
>> Famous Foods to Try in Paris
If you are looking for restaurant recommendations, this blog also lists the best restaurants in Paris by district.
10. Day Trips from Paris
If you have an extra day or two, don’t hesitate to go beyond Paris. Check out the ultimate list of best day trips from Paris, featuring historic cities, seaside towns, world heritage wonders, and adventures in the great French countryside.
Versailles is the most popular day trip from Paris. Home to the Kings of France between 1662 and 1789, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most important landmarks in French history, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. The Gardens of Versailles are beautiful to see too! Check out our Versailles Quick Guide to get the most out of this wonderful place.
Disneyland Paris is a must for families visiting the French capital. Check out how to get from Paris to Disneyland Paris and this Disneyland Paris crowd calendar for the quietest days in Mickeyland!
For a more local feeling, there are many picturesque small towns near Paris very easy to reach by train.
11. Paris Trip Planning: Know Before You Go
Check out our Paris insider tips for your first time in Paris.
>> Most of the hotels and hostels in Paris offer free Wi-Fi for their guests. You can also get a prepaid SIM card for your trip, which will allow you to communicate with other numbers in France and keep you connected to the internet all the time. Here are the best prepaid SIM cards for France (and how to get them).
>> Paris is one of the most visited cities on this planet. In 2018, 17.95 million international overnight tourists visited the city mainly for sightseeing and shopping. Read how to avoid the longest lines in Paris’ main attractions.
>> The Parisian Metro is nearly 115 years old, the second oldest metro after London’s tube system! The metro now serves 6 million out of 10.5 million people in Paris. Learn how to navigate the Parisian metro with our Paris by Metro guide.
>> Arguably the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre Museum is also the biggest! Indeed, it would take 100 days to see all of the art in the Louvre Museum. Learn how to get the most out of the Louvre in 2 hours or less.
>> The Parisian style is simple, chic, and beautiful. Parisian’s motto is ‘Less is More,’ with a minimum of versatile and easy-to-combine items. Check out our suggestions for men and women on what to pack and what to wear in Paris to blend in with the local crowd.
>> One week before leaving for Paris, check out this post about the Paris strikes 2023. Just in case…
Consider a Paris Tourist Pass
Lines to visit the main Paris tourist attractions are guaranteed. Long lines. If you are planning a Paris trip and you want to visit most of its famous sights, you may find it convenient to buy a Paris Tourist Pass.
The Paris Museum Pass offers visitors direct access to 55 of Paris’s top attractions and museums in Paris. The Paris Museum Pass is available for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days. If your schedule in Paris is tight and you don’t want to spend your time waiting in line, the Paris Museum Pass is for you.
There are other interesting tourist passes for visiting Paris; check out our Paris Pass Comparison for the full list.
So there you have it, the Paris Travel Planner with everything you need to know to plan a trip to Paris 2023. Go on reading this Paris travel blog 2023 for more information and the history and culture in Paris.
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