10 Tips for Your First Time in Paris

Paris is known as one of the world’s fashion capitals, but you’ll definitely need to bring comfortable shoes and not your designer heels for trekking about this highly walkable city. The centre is relatively compact and walking between the major attractions is a great way to take in the atmosphere and architecture around you.

Travelling on foot is also a fun way to discover little boutiques and tucked away cafes. If you do get carried away and over-exert yourself, the extensive Paris Metro has got you covered. Just pop down into a station and take a shortcut to your next landmark.

Although the major tourist destinations, like The Louvre, will be set up to support several languages, there are many benefits to learning some French. For example, when visiting local restaurants and cute little cafes, you might like to be able to read what’s on the menu so you don’t miss out on a special treat.

Even if you don’t get much further than ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, it shows that you care. The French people love their language, so even a small attempt to learn it is likely to open doors to new experiences and help you get along better.

From the ancient to the modern, Paris has an enormous cultural heritage, and getting a Paris Museum Pass is a great way to experience it. The pass includes standard entry to dozens of attractions, such as Centre Pompidou and Musée Rodin-Paris. You can stand on top of the Arc de Triomphe and then go see Monet’s Water Lilies. The pass is conveniently available in 2-, 4- and 6-day versions.

The real power move is to supplement your Paris Museum Pass with a Paris Visite travel pass to gain unlimited access to the metro, tram, bus, RER and SNCF Transilien networks. It even works on the Montmartre Funicular. Speedrun as many attractions as you have the stamina for.

Eating lots of French cuisine is a must while visiting France, a culture rooted in food, from the huge range of traditional cheeses to the humble baguette. Pastries are, of course, a must and you’ll have no trouble finding them in one of over 1,000 bakeries scattered throughout the city like chocolate chips in a cookie. Skip the actual cookies in favour of a pastel-coloured macaron or meringue.

Street food comes in the form of sweet or savoury crêpes, an ideal snack when you’re walking between places on a jam-packed itinerary. For dinner, try a French classic like duck confit or boeuf bourguinon followed by crème brûlée to find out how they should really taste.

Taking a Seine river cruise puts you on a meandering route through the centre of Paris, passing a plethora of iconic buildings and landmarks. The open views you get from a boat result in gorgeous photos; after all, you can’t take a picture of the whole Eiffel Tower if you’re standing halfway up it.

Cruises vary in scope and cost, from deck chairs on deck and multilingual commentary to romantic dinner cruises with live music. Take the opportunity to sit back and relax without missing any crucial sightseeing time.

As it's not physically possible to see the densely packed Paris all in the space of a single holiday, taking a walking tour is the wise choice. While you could spend hours doing meticulous research, checking what neighbourhoods various attractions are in and what all their opening times are, it makes so much more sense to let a professional do it for you.

A carefully curated walking tour will show you a bit of what you’re expecting combined with local knowledge and hidden gems. Whether you want to hit the most famous landmarks, tour the city of lights at night or descend into the Catacombs, a walking tour is the way to go.

You must book your tickets to the Eiffel Tower in advance. You can book up to 2 months in advance to secure your spot, especially if you want to get those views from the very top, which has more limited space, or are travelling during the peak summer months. In addition to epic views, the top also has a champagne bar, so keep that in mind when choosing your tickets.

Note that you start from the highest point you’ve booked access to, either second floor or the top floor, then make your way downwards. If you’d like to eat at the Michelin-starred Jules Verne restaurant, you’ll need to make a reservation, but there are buffets for more casual dining too.

The Louvre is an extremely popular attraction, so book ahead to secure your time slot. Fortunately, the Louvre is absolutely enormous so there’s lots of room for all the visitors and plenty to see while you’re there. There are also extensive gardens, and several cafes and other food vendors to help you keep your energy up.

Plus, Beyoncé made a music video here, so you know it’s worth a visit. The Beyoncé and Jay-Z Louvre Highlights is just one of several self-guided themed trails you can follow to discover a curated selection of paintings and sculptures. These trails are a great starting point for folks who find the scale of the Louvre a little intimidating.

A place that takes opulence to new heights, visiting the Palace of Versailles must be experienced in person. So much has been preserved or restored, from portraits of the royals to the carriages they rode about in. The grounds are also extensive and beautifully landscaped, so it’s a great place to get some fresh air after a few days of racing around the city. Relax and indulge at one of the many outdoor eateries.

They know how to put on a show, too. Check out one of the frequent water fountain shows or firework displays. For high-brow culture fans, the Palace hosts a programme of concerts, opera and ballet performances. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Another popular thing to do in Paris is to see a cabaret show, as celebrated in the hit film ‘Moulin Rouge’. You don’t need to choose this most well-known spot though; the Moulin Rouge has many rivals that are equally spectacular, such as the Crazy Horse and Paradis Latin. Cabaret theatres are dotted around the city so search for one with the ideal location or one that offers something unique that appeals to you.

When booking ahead, you’ll notice that most places offer package deals that also include dinner and champagne so you can make a night of it. Be aware that these are theatres, so you’ll need to dress up a little and leave your trainers at the hotel.