Paris rewards the curious traveler. Beyond the iconic landmarks — and there are landmarks worth every cliché — lie 20 arrondissements full of secret courtyards, neighborhood markets, and corner cafés where the espresso costs €1.50 and the conversation is free. This Paris travel guide gives you a 7-day framework, practical transport advice, and the insider details that most guidebooks skip.
✈️ Paris at a glance
- • Visa: EU citizens visa-free; US/UK/AU: Schengen 90/180 days
- • Currency: Euro (€); ATMs widely available, avoid airport exchange
- • Language: French; a simple "Bonjour" before English goes a long way
- • Tipping: Not mandatory; round up or leave small change at cafés
- • Transport: Métro (lines 1–14), RER (suburban), Vélib' bikes
Understanding Arrondissements — Paris's Map Logic
Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts), numbered 1–20 in a clockwise spiral from the center. The lower the number, the more central. 1st–4th: historic center, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Le Marais. 5th–6th: Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain — student energy and intellectual cafés. 7th: Eiffel Tower, Orsay — upscale and quiet. 10th–11th: Canal Saint-Martin, Oberkampf — the coolest local scene. 18th: Montmartre — bohemian hilltop village.
💡 Tip: Stay in the 10th or 11th for the best balance of authenticity, transport links, and value. Avoid the 8th (Champs-Élysées area) — it's expensive and tourist-heavy.
7-Day Paris Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive, Trocadéro viewpoint at night (free, Eiffel Tower lit up)
- Day 2: Louvre (book ahead!) + Le Marais afternoon: Place des Vosges, Rue des Rosiers
- Day 3: Montmartre morning (pre-9am) + Canal Saint-Martin afternoon
- Day 4: Versailles day trip (RER C, included in weekly pass)
- Day 5: Musée d'Orsay + Saint-Germain + dinner in 6th arrondissement
- Day 6: Champs-Élysées + Arc de Triomphe + evening in Belleville
- Day 7: Île de la Cité: Notre-Dame (reopened 2024) + Sainte-Chapelle + farewell lunch
Transport: The Navigo Card Is Your Best Friend
Buy a Navigo Semaine (weekly card, ~€22) on arrival — it covers unlimited travel on Métro, bus, RER, and even the trains to Versailles and CDG airport. Single tickets cost €2.10 each, so the weekly card pays off in just 11 rides. The RER B from CDG to central Paris costs €11.80 and takes 35 minutes — always faster than a taxi in traffic.
💡 Tip: The Navigo card runs Monday–Sunday, not 7 rolling days. If you arrive on a Wednesday, you still pay full price for that week — consider arriving Monday for best value.
Skip-the-Line Secrets for Paris Attractions
The Louvre queue without pre-booking can be 2–3 hours. Always book online in advance — same price, no wait. The Eiffel Tower: book the summit ticket 60 days ahead (it sells out). Skip the summit and do the 2nd floor instead — half the price, faster queue, same view for most. The Musée d'Orsay opens Thursday evenings until 9:45pm with smaller crowds. Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle: buy the combined ticket online.
💡 Free tip: EU citizens under 26 get free entry to all French national museums — including the Louvre, Orsay, and Versailles.
Eating in Paris — Without Getting Ripped Off
The tourist trap telltale: menus displayed in multiple languages outside, pictures of food on the menu, location within 200m of a major landmark. To eat well and cheaply: get a formule du déjeuner (lunch set menu, €12–18 for 2–3 courses) in a restaurant that doesn't translate its menu. Great neighborhoods for authentic affordable eating: 10th arrondissement(Canal Saint-Martin), 11th (Oberkampf, Ménilmontant),20th (Belleville). A baguette from any boulangerie costs €1.20 — the best breakfast in the world.
Hidden Paris: What Most Visitors Never See
The Promenade Plantée (12th arr.) is a green elevated railway walkway — Paris's original High Line, built 20 years before New York's. Almost no tourists. The Passage des Panoramas(2nd arr.) is one of Paris's original covered arcades from 1800 — all stamp dealers, antique shops, and a superb Argentine restaurant. For the best view in Paris that isn't on any tourist itinerary: the roof terrace of the BHV Marais department store (free, no ticket needed).
💰 Paris Budget Breakdown
- Budget (€55–80/day): Hostel or Airbnb, boulangerie breakfast, picnic lunch, 1 paid attraction
- Mid-range (€100–150/day): 3-star hotel, bistro lunch menu, 2 museums, brasserie dinner
- Luxury (€200+/day): Boutique hotel, fine dining, private tours
- Free things: All national museums (1st Sun of month), parks, Sacré-Cœur, most church interiors
👉 Full trip planner, packing list & local tips: Paris Complete Guide →
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