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City guide · France

Paris

A photograph of Paris
Photograph · Yann Caradec from Paris, France · CC BY-SA 2.0

Paris is 105.4 km² holding 2,047,602 people, wrapped in twenty arrondissements that spiral outward from the Louvre. Almost everything a visitor comes for is inside that spiral, and most of it is walkable. The Seine cuts the city in two and everything is described in relation to it. The Right Bank to the north holds the commerce and the great institutions; the Left Bank to the south holds the universities and the bookshops. Between them the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis are where the city started.

Practical information
Language spoken
French
English is understood in tourist districts and rarely outside them
Dialling code
+33 1
Paris and the Île-de-France; drop the leading 0 of 01 when calling from abroad
Currency
Euro (€, EUR)
Cards accepted almost everywhere; markets prefer cash
Emergency number
112
One number across the country; 15 reaches an ambulance directly
Plug type
Type C and E · 230 V
European two-pin; type E adds an earth pin in the socket
Tap water
Safe to drink
Held to the European drinking water directive

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
4–5 days
Getting around
Métro and on foot
  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: recorded as a best month to visit
  5. May: recorded as a best month to visit
  6. June: recorded as a best month to visit
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: recorded as a best month to visit
  10. October: recorded as a best month to visit
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

100 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 1696 Museums 147 Places of worship 479 Nature sites 701 Viewpoints 27 Food and drink 147 Markets and shopping 254 Entertainment 103 Nightlife 2108 Family attractions 8 Art and culture 1881 Activities 1

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 147

Interests

History 1 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Café Procope
    01 1 hour

    Café Procope

    • Must see
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  2. Le Dôme
    02 1 hour

    Le Dôme

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 14e Arrondissement
  3. Maxim's
    03 1 hour

    Maxim's

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  4. Le Train Bleu
    04 1 hour

    Le Train Bleu

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 12e Arrondissement
  5. Les Deux Magots
    05 1 hour

    Les Deux Magots

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  7. La Coupole
    07 1 hour

    La Coupole

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 14e Arrondissement
  8. Café de la Paix
    08 1 hour

    Café de la Paix

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 9e Arrondissement
  9. Lipp
    09 1 hour

    Lipp

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  10. Le Grand Véfour
    10 1 hour

    Le Grand Véfour

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  11. Le Chat Noir
    11 1 hour

    Le Chat Noir

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 18e Arrondissement
  13. Tour d'Argent
    13 1 hour

    Tour d'Argent

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 5e Arrondissement
  14. Café de Flore
    14 1 hour

    Café de Flore

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  15. Brasserie Julien
    15 1 hour

    Brasserie Julien

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 10e Arrondissement
  17. La Palette
    17 1 hour

    La Palette

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  18. Bouillon Racine
    18 1 hour

    Bouillon Racine

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  19. Clown-Bar
    19 1 hour

    Clown-Bar

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  21. Fouquet's
    21 1 hour

    Fouquet's

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  22. Buddha Bar
    22 1 hour

    Buddha Bar

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  25. Le Vagenende
    25 1 hour

    Le Vagenende

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  26. L'Arpège
    26 1 hour

    L'Arpège

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 7e Arrondissement
  29. Brasserie Mollard
    29 1 hour

    Brasserie Mollard

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  30. Polidor
    30 1 hour

    Polidor

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  31. Lasserre
    31 1 hour

    Lasserre

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  32. Au chien qui fume
    32 1 hour

    Au chien qui fume

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  33. Le Pré Catelan
    33 1 hour

    Le Pré Catelan

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 16e Arrondissement
  35. Angelina
    35 1 hour

    Angelina

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  36. Drouant
    36 1 hour

    Drouant

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 2e Arrondissement
  37. café de Buci
    37 1 hour

    café de Buci

    • High
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  38. La Maison Rose
    38 1 hour

    La Maison Rose

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 18e Arrondissement
  39. La Mère Catherine
    39 1 hour

    La Mère Catherine

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 18e Arrondissement
  40. Le Cinq
    40 1 hour

    Le Cinq

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  41. Café du Croissant
    41 1 hour

    Café du Croissant

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 2e Arrondissement
  43. Le Jules Verne
    43 1 hour

    Le Jules Verne

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 7e Arrondissement
  44. Le Select
    44 1 hour

    Le Select

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  45. Café du Cadran
    45 1 hour

    Café du Cadran

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 2e Arrondissement
  47. Pavillon Ledoyen
    47 1 hour

    Pavillon Ledoyen

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  48. Le Balzar
    48 1 hour

    Le Balzar

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 5e Arrondissement
  49. Berthillon
    49 1 hour

    Berthillon

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  50. Delicious
    50 1 hour

    Delicious

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  51. Pages
    51 1 hour

    Pages

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 16e Arrondissement
  52. L'Ambroisie
    52 1 hour

    L'Ambroisie

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  53. Le Ciel de Paris
    53 1 hour

    Le Ciel de Paris

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 15e Arrondissement
  54. Ma Bourgogne
    54 1 hour

    Ma Bourgogne

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  55. Taillevent
    55 1 hour

    Taillevent

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  56. Au Pied de Cochon
    56 1 hour

    Au Pied de Cochon

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  57. Chez l'Ami Louis
    57 1 hour

    Chez l'Ami Louis

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 3e Arrondissement
  59. Le Chateaubriand
    59 1 hour

    Le Chateaubriand

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  60. Le Clarence
    60 1 hour

    Le Clarence

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  61. Le Rostand
    61 1 hour

    Le Rostand

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  64. Chez Julien
    64 1 hour

    Chez Julien

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  67. Fung Shun
    67 1 hour

    Fung Shun

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 13e Arrondissement
  68. Guy Savoy
    68 1 hour

    Guy Savoy

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  69. Le Relais Plaza
    69 1 hour

    Le Relais Plaza

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  70. Akrame
    70 1 hour

    Akrame

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  71. Bal Blomet
    71 1 hour

    Bal Blomet

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 15e Arrondissement
  72. Café des Phares
    72 1 hour

    Café des Phares

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  73. L'Astrance
    73 1 hour

    L'Astrance

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 16e Arrondissement
  74. Le Brébant
    74 1 hour

    Le Brébant

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 9e Arrondissement
  76. Le Zimmer
    76 1 hour

    Le Zimmer

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  78. Le Chardenoux
    78 1 hour

    Le Chardenoux

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  80. Restaurant Prunier
    80 1 hour

    Restaurant Prunier

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 16e Arrondissement
  81. Allard
    81 1 hour

    Allard

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 6e Arrondissement
  82. Bel Canto Paris
    82 1 hour

    Bel Canto Paris

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  83. Clover Grill
    83 1 hour

    Clover Grill

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  84. Club 13
    84 1 hour

    Club 13

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 8e Arrondissement
  85. David Toutain
    85 1 hour

    David Toutain

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 7e Arrondissement
  87. Le Faham
    87 1 hour

    Le Faham

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 17e Arrondissement
  89. L'Esprit Nouveau
    89 1 hour

    L'Esprit Nouveau

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 16e Arrondissement
  90. Madame Guan
    90 1 hour

    Madame Guan

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 4e Arrondissement
  91. Ogata
    91 1 hour

    Ogata

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 3e Arrondissement
  92. Restaurant Astier
    92 1 hour

    Restaurant Astier

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  93. Septime
    93 1 hour

    Septime

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  94. Yam'Tcha
    94 1 hour

    Yam'Tcha

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  95. Au Vieux Comptoir
    95 1 hour

    Au Vieux Comptoir

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 1er Arrondissement
  96. Bistrot Paul Bert
    96 1 hour

    Bistrot Paul Bert

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 11e Arrondissement
  98. Le Petit Cambodge
    98 1 hour

    Le Petit Cambodge

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 10e Arrondissement
  99. Le Poulbot
    99 1 hour

    Le Poulbot

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 18e Arrondissement
  100. Le Relais de Venise
    100 1 hour

    Le Relais de Venise

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Paris 17e Arrondissement

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Where to base yourself

District boundaries come from OSM administrative relations, so a district page holds exactly the places inside it — plus, for the islands and the coast, the nearest district by proximity.

How the city is laid out

The arrondissements spiral clockwise from the centre: the 1st sits at the Louvre and the Île de la Cité, and the numbers wind outward to the 20th. Learning that shape is the single most useful thing a first-time visitor can do, because every address in the city carries its arrondissement and the number tells you roughly where you are.

The Right Bank — north of the Seine — is the 1st through 4th at the centre, then the grand avenues of the 8th and 16th to the west and Montmartre in the 18th to the north. The Louvre, the Champs-Élysées, the Opéra and Sacré-Cœur are all Right Bank.

The Left Bank — south — is the 5th, 6th and 7th: the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain, the Panthéon, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. It is the older-feeling half and the one with the bookshops.

The Périphérique, completed in 1973, rings the whole of it. Inside is Paris; outside is the metropolitan area of 13,320,752 people across 18,940.7 km², which is a different thing.

Checked 2026-08-23

Getting around

The Métro, and then walking. Paris is small enough that the two together cover everything.

The Métro opened on 19 July 1900 during the World's Fair and now runs 16 lines — numbered 1 to 14 plus 3bis and 7bis — across 321 stations, 61 of which are interchanges. Stations sit 548 m apart on average, which is why a Métro journey of two stops is usually a walk. It carries 1.523 billion passengers a year, 4.17 million a day.

The RER extends further out into the suburbs and is what takes you to the airports and to Versailles. Châtelet–Les Halles, where five Métro lines meet three RER lines, is the largest interchange and the one to avoid at rush hour.

Single tickets and multi-use passes are both sold, and the Navigo Easy card is the contactless option.

Checked 2026-08-23

Common questions

How many days does Paris need?

Four to five. Three days covers the central monuments — the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées — at a pace that is not punishing. A fourth adds a proper museum day, and a fifth adds Montmartre or a day out at Versailles.

How do the arrondissements work?

They spiral clockwise from the centre. The 1st is at the Louvre and the Île de la Cité and the numbers wind outward to the 20th. Every Paris address carries its arrondissement, so the number tells you roughly where something is.

What is the difference between the Right Bank and the Left Bank?

The Seine. The Right Bank to the north holds the commerce and the great institutions — the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées, the Opéra, Montmartre. The Left Bank to the south holds the universities, the Latin Quarter, the Panthéon, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower.

Is the Métro the best way around?

For anything over a kilometre, yes. It opened on 19 July 1900 and runs 16 lines across 321 stations, with stations 548 m apart on average — which means a two-stop journey is usually faster on foot.

When is the best time to come?

April to June and September to October. August is when Parisians leave and tourists arrive, which is the worst of both — shuttered restaurants and full museums.

How big is Paris really?

The city proper is 105.4 km² with 2,047,602 people, ringed by the Périphérique completed in 1973. The metropolitan area outside it holds 13,320,752 people across 18,940.7 km².

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Paris