First Time Guide to Paris & Top Tips

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, then you’ve come to the right place! Paris is a wonderful city known for its café culture, gourmet dining, wonderful museums, the Eiffel Tower and, of course, Disneyland® Paris. It’s the perfect location for a weekend city break from the UK, especially as it’s so easy to get to.

As with any trip, there’s a lot to think about when you’re thinking of visiting the City of Lights, but planning is a great chance to get excited for your holiday. In no time, you’ll be strolling down the Champs Elysée, making some unforgettable memories.

We’ve put together this helpful guide to give you an idea of what to expect during your first time in Paris. Read on to find out where to stay and what to do when you visit this incredible city. Bon voyage!

Paris Seinorama - Skip the Line Eiffel Tower Visit, Paris City Tour and Seine Cruise

How long should I spend in Paris?

Some people visit Paris for the day on a return trip from London, whilst others spend weeks there. We’d recommend spending at least three days on a Paris minibreak, or more if you also want to visit Disneyland® Paris (and why wouldn’t you?), but the truth is that you could spend a lot longer in this romantic city.

Three days will give you a good amount of time to see the main tourist attractions and get a feel for the Parisian way of life.

How to travel to Paris

There are several options for getting to Paris from the UK. It’s one of the quickest and easiest destinations to travel to from Great Britain, so it’s a great choice if you only have a couple of days.

Options include:

Guangzhou Private Airport Transfer - From Airport to Hotel

By plane

You can fly directly to Paris from most major UK airports, and flights are available with a range of airlines, including budget options like Ryanair and Easyjet. There are four airports serving Paris – Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Paris-Beauvais, and Châlons Vatry. We recommend flying into Charles de Gaulle as it’s the closest to the city centre.

Eurostar

If you’re within easy access to London then the Eurostar is probably the simplest way to get to Paris. It leaves from St Pancras International station and goes direct to Paris Gare du Nord.

Dark night with car mirrors and in the mirror you can see the sun setting in the background and palm trees.

Driving

You can drive your own car to Paris, crossing the channel by ferry or taking a train through the Channel Tunnel. Central Paris can be a little intimidating to drive around, especially if you’re not used to driving abroad or in cities, but you can leave your car in a park and ride car park outside of the city if you don’t fancy driving all the way in.

Where to stay in Paris

The accommodation options in Paris are almost endless – there are so many places to stay! From luxury hotels to apartment rentals, there really is something to suit every type of traveller in the city.

Paris itself is broken down into 20 areas called ‘arrondissements’. Those with the lowest numbers are located nearer the centre and the higher numbers are further out. Each arrondissement has a different feel to it, and they all have their own cafes, shops, and restaurants.

The city is also split by the River Seine. North of the river is the Right Bank, and south of the river is the Left Bank.

For first-time visitors to Paris, you’ll probably want to stay in the city centre, close to all the major attractions like the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower.

Disneyland® Paris hotels

If you’re thinking of visiting Disneyland® Paris during your trip, then there’s nowhere better to stay than one of the on-site or off-site hotels. Not sure which is best for you? Our guide to Disney® Hotels or Disneyland Paris Area Hotels will help. It’s easy to get to central Paris from any of these hotels as there are direct train links so, if you don’t want to be in the city centre, one of these could be a good place to base yourself.

Disney® Hotels	Disneyland Paris Area Hotels
Disney Sequoia Lodge	Dream Castle Hotel Paris
Disney Hotel Santa Fe	Holiday Inn Express Marne La Vallee
Disney Hotel Cheyenne	Ibis budget Marne la Vallee Val d’Europe
Disney Davy Crockett Ranch	Campanile Val de France
Les Villages Nature® Paris	Grand Magic Hotel Marne La Vallée
Disney Newport Bay Club	Relais Spa Val d’Europe
Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel	Staycity Aparthotels near Disneyland Paris
Disneyland® Hotel	Hôtel L’Elysée Val d’Europe
	Radisson Blu Hotel Paris, Marne-la-Vallee
	Marriott Village d’Ile-de-France
	B&B Hotel Disneyland Paris
	Aparthotel Adagio Marne le Vallée Val d’Europe
	Explorers Hotel Marne-la-Vallée
	Aparthotel Adagio Serris Val d’Europe
	Ki Space Hotel & Spa

What to pack for Paris

What you’ll choose to pack for Paris will largely depend on the time of year you’re visiting. The weather is similar to that of the UK and follows the same seasons. Remember, Parisians are trés chic, so dig out your best threads!

Here are some suggestions of what to pack for Paris:

Comfortable shoes or boots (you’ll be doing plenty of walking!)
If travelling during winter: coat, scarf, gloves, hat
If travelling during summer: sunhat, sunglasses, sun cream
Umbrella and waterproof coat (you can get showers)
Reusable water bottle
Power bank and charger

A wet road in Paris lined with parked cars and the outside of s restaurant which is named "Vrai Paris". Above the beige cover there are pink flowers and below there are tables with chairs.

How to get around in Paris

Public transport is easy to navigate in Paris and makes getting around the city a breeze. The Paris metro covers most of the city, and there’s an excellent bus service, too. Taking the bus means you can sightsee as you travel.

If you’re travelling between central Paris and Disneyland® Paris, the RER train stops at Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station, which is just a short walk from the resort.

Top tips: Download the Citymapper app before you travel to Paris. You just need to add your destination and starting point, and the app will map routes for you on public transport, walking, and taking taxis, letting you know which will be the fastest. It’s really helpful and gives you lots of extra information like which exit to leave the metro from and how much journeys are likely to cost.

Things to do in Paris

Summary: things to do in Paris

Eiffel Tower
Louvre Museum
Paris Montparnasse
Hop-on-hop-off bus tour
Disneyland® Paris
Paris Illuminations
Seine River cruise
Moulin Rouge
Paris St Germain match
Palace of Versailles

To help you plan your perfect itinerary, we’ve listed some of our favourite Paris attractions. Here’s what to do in Paris:

Top tip: The Paris Pass® by Go City is the most cost-effective way to discover the city’s attractions. You can choose a pass to cover one, two, three, four, or six days, and you’ll have access to over 40 activities, including the Eiffel Tower, Seine River cruise, and Montmarte walking tour.

Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel’s eponymous Eiffel Tower is the most iconic structure in the Paris skyline, and you can go all the way to the top of it to get some incredible panoramic views over the city. This is something on every Paris lover’s bucket list.

Eiffel Tower

See the Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the largest and most famous art museum in the world, and home to some incredible masterpieces, including the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. You can explore the museum by yourself or take a guided tour to learn more about the art here.

Louvre Museum Guided Tour

Enjoy views of the city at Paris Montparnasse

Zoom to the top of the tallest skyscraper in Paris in just 38 seconds at the Montparnasse Tower. After riding in one of Europe’s fastest elevators, you’ll take in 360° views across the rooftops of Paris from the Montparnasse Observation Deck. You’ll see landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral like never before.

Montparnasse Tickets

Take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour

The Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour is an excellent way of ticking several sights off your list in one. With multiple stops across Paris, you can hop on and off at any time or just sit back and enjoy the commentary. The bus route includes the must-see sights close to the River Seine, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Champs Elysées, and the Louvre.

Hop-on-Hop-off Bus

Disneyland® Paris

A visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete without popping over to Disneyland® Paris to experience the magic! With two incredible theme parks to explore and Disney Village®, an entertainment complex with shops, bars, and restaurants, there’s so much to see here. Get your adrenaline pumping on the thrill rides, meet the Disney Characters, and see the world-class shows.

Disneyland® Paris

A glass panelled pyramid building in the centre of old fashioned castle like buildings. It is reflecting in the small pond.

Take a Paris illuminations tour

Discover why Paris is called the City of Light on a tour of the city’s most famous sights after dark. The avenues, squares, and monuments take on a new beauty at night, and a scenic tour on an open-top bus is one of the best ways to experience this.

Paris Illuminations

Batobus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Cruise boat on the River Seine

Take a River Seine cruise

Glide past some of the most recognisable features in Paris on a River Seine cruise. You’ll see museums, art galleries, and cathedrals on an informative tour where you’ll learn about the history that has shaped the skyline here.

River Seine Cruise

See a show at the Moulin Rouge

Head to the most famous cabaret in the world and indulge in the sumptuous settings at the Moulin Rouge. With feathers, rhinestones, and sequins galore, this Parisian cabaret has been entertaining guests for well over 100 years. The highlight of your evening will be the spectacular French Cancan, performed by the talented dancers.

Moulin Rouge

Watch a Paris St Germain football match

Watching a Paris St Germain match at PSG’s incredible stadium is a must-do for any football fan. Get caught up in the atmosphere as you’re surrounded by cheering fans and see the top-tier ball skills on show. Be sure to time your visit to Paris with the home fixtures to avoid disappointment.

Paris St Germain Match

Golden gates with beautiful royal details, there are stone statues and behind is a grand palace.

Palace of Versailles

Head out of the city centre and to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the palace was home to the Kings of France, Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XI, until the French Revolution in 1789. Explore the baroque architecture, brilliant artworks, sumptuous décor, and finely-crafted furniture. There are over 700 rooms in the palace and you can also explore the grounds and gardens and the pretty town of Versailles.