A City Break in Paris: Your Complete Guide

Paris sits just over two hours from London by Eurostar, making it one of the easiest and most rewarding city breaks from the UK. Whether you've got a long weekend or a full week, the city delivers on food, culture, architecture, and atmosphere in a way few places can match.

This guide covers everything you need to plan a Paris city break, from getting there and getting around to the neighbourhoods, sights, and experiences worth your time.

Getting to Paris

The Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord takes around 2 hours 16 minutes, running multiple times daily. It's the most practical option for a city break, departing from central London and arriving in central Paris with no airport transfers needed. Book early for the best fares, as prices increase closer to travel dates and during school holidays.

Flying is an alternative, with services from most UK airports to Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Factor in airport transfer time (CDG to central Paris takes 35-50 minutes by RER train) and the reality is that door-to-door, Eurostar often works out faster.

The Eurostar terminal at Gare du Nord puts you in the 10th arrondissement, well connected to the Metro system. From here, most central Paris destinations are 15-30 minutes by Metro.

When to Visit

Paris works year-round, but each season brings a different character. Spring (March to May) brings mild weather, blossom in the parks, and the city at its prettiest. Summer (June to August) is warm and lively but crowded at major attractions. Autumn (September to November) offers golden light along the Seine and fewer tourist crowds. Winter (December to February) is cold but atmospheric, with Christmas markets and far shorter queues at museums.

For a UK bank holiday city break, Easter and the May weekends are popular choices. Book Eurostar and accommodation well in advance for these dates, as both fill up quickly.

Where to Stay

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts) that spiral outward from the centre. Your choice of neighbourhood shapes your experience significantly.

The Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) is one of the most walkable and atmospheric areas, filled with independent boutiques, excellent restaurants, and historic architecture. It's well positioned for reaching both the Louvre and the Bastille, and the nightlife and dining options cater to all tastes.

Saint-Germain-des-Pres (6th arrondissement) offers a classic Left Bank experience with literary cafes, art galleries, and elegant streets. It's pricier than many areas but puts you within walking distance of the Musee d'Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens, and excellent food markets.

Montmartre (18th arrondissement) provides the romantic hilltop Paris of postcards, with the Sacre-Coeur basilica and winding cobbled streets. It's more affordable than central districts, though the steep hills can be challenging. The area around Abbesses Metro is particularly charming.

The 11th arrondissement (Oberkampf and Bastille) is where many Parisians eat and drink. It's less tourist-heavy, with excellent restaurants, lively bars, and a genuine local feel. Well connected by Metro, it offers good value accommodation.

The Sights

You could spend months in Paris and not see everything. Here's what's genuinely worth prioritising.

The Louvre needs no introduction, but it does need a plan. Don't try to see everything. Pick a section that interests you, book a timed entry ticket online, and spend 2-3 focused hours rather than an exhausting full day. The Denon Wing (home to the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo) is the most popular starting point, but the Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities collections are equally impressive and far less crowded.

The Musee d'Orsay houses the world's greatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, and Cezanne are all represented in depth. The building itself, a converted railway station, is spectacular. Book timed tickets in advance, and consider a late afternoon visit when crowds thin.

Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the devastating 2019 fire, following a painstaking five-year restoration. The interior has been beautifully renewed, and it's worth visiting both for the cathedral itself and to appreciate the remarkable restoration work.

The Eiffel Tower is worth seeing up close even if you don't go up it. The Trocadero terrace across the river provides the classic photo opportunity. If you do want to ascend, book tickets well in advance online, especially for the summit. The Champ de Mars park below is a lovely spot for a picnic.

Sainte-Chapelle, tucked away near Notre-Dame, contains some of the most breathtaking stained glass in the world. The upper chapel, with its 15 enormous windows, is genuinely jaw-dropping. It's smaller and less crowded than the major attractions, making it a perfect addition to an Ile de la Cite visit.

Food and Drink

Eating well in Paris doesn't require spending a fortune. The city's food culture operates at every price point, from market stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Start your day at a local boulangerie. A fresh croissant and coffee at a neighbourhood bakery costs a few euros and is one of Paris's simplest pleasures. Avoid the bakeries immediately next to major tourist attractions, where quality tends to drop and prices rise.

For lunch, look for restaurants offering a prix fixe menu. Many excellent bistros serve a two or three-course lunch at a fixed price that represents significantly better value than their evening menus. The 11th, 12th, and 20th arrondissements are particularly good hunting grounds for quality bistro cooking at reasonable prices.

Paris's food markets are worth building into your itinerary. Marche d'Aligre (12th) operates daily except Monday and has both covered and open-air sections. Marche des Enfants Rouges in the Marais is the oldest covered market in Paris and serves excellent street food from multiple cuisines.

Wine bars (caves a manger) have become one of Paris's great dining scenes. These informal spots serve natural wines alongside small plates of excellent food, often at very reasonable prices. The 11th arrondissement and the area around Canal Saint-Martin have some of the best.

Getting Around

The Paris Metro is extensive, affordable, and generally efficient. A carnet of 10 tickets (Ticket t+) covers most journeys within the central zones and works out cheaper than buying singles. The Metro runs from around 5:30am to 1am (2am on Fridays and Saturdays).

Walking is often the best way to experience Paris. The city is surprisingly compact, and many of the major sights are within walking distance of each other. The walk along the Seine from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower takes about 45 minutes and passes the Musee d'Orsay, the Pont Alexandre III, and the Invalides.

Velib, Paris's bike-sharing scheme, is an excellent option in good weather. The city has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, and many major routes now have dedicated cycle lanes. Day passes are inexpensive, and stations are everywhere.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Uber operates in Paris) are useful for late-night journeys or when you're tired, but traffic can make them slow during peak hours. The Metro is almost always faster for getting across the city.

Beyond the Big Attractions

Some of Paris's finest experiences sit outside the main tourist trail. The Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement is a perfect half-day wander, lined with indie boutiques, coffee shops, and tree-shaded canal banks. Iron footbridges cross the water, and in spring the cherry trees along the quays are gorgeous.

The Pere Lachaise cemetery (20th arrondissement) sounds morbid but is genuinely one of Paris's most atmospheric spots. This vast, hilly cemetery is where Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Chopin are buried, among many others. It's peaceful, architecturally fascinating, and free to enter.

The covered passages (les passages couverts) are a uniquely Parisian experience. These 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcades predate the modern shopping centre and still retain their original character. Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas are the best starting points.

For a different perspective on the city, walk the Promenade Plantee (also called the Coulee Verte), an elevated park built on a former railway line. It predates New York's High Line by nearly two decades and runs from Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes, with views over rooftops and through tree canopies.

The Marais remains one of the best neighbourhoods simply to walk around without an agenda. Its mix of medieval architecture, Jewish bakeries, contemporary galleries, and independent fashion boutiques means every street corner offers something new.

Practical Tips for Your Paris City Break

Learn a few basics in French. Even "bonjour," "merci," and "excusez-moi" make a noticeable difference to how you're received. Parisians appreciate the effort, and most will happily switch to English once you've shown willing.

Museum passes can save money if you're planning to visit several attractions. The Paris Museum Pass covers over 50 museums and monuments, including the Louvre, Orsay, and Versailles. A 2-day pass pays for itself after two or three major museum visits.

Pickpocketing is a genuine concern around major tourist sites, particularly the Metro, the Eiffel Tower, and Sacre-Coeur. Keep valuables in front pockets or secure bags, and be wary of anyone who approaches you with distractions (petitions, string bracelets, found rings).

Tipping in Paris is simpler than in many countries. Service is included in restaurant bills by law. Rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is appreciated but not expected.

Most shops close on Sundays, though restaurants, cafes, and tourist areas remain open. The Marais is one of the few shopping districts where shops open on Sundays.

Water is free in restaurants if you ask for "une carafe d'eau." You don't need to buy bottled water. Paris tap water is perfectly safe and well-filtered.

Public toilets in Paris have improved enormously. The grey automated Sanisettes on street corners are free, self-cleaning, and found throughout the city. Museum and department store toilets are also generally clean and accessible.

Day Trips from Paris

If you're staying longer than a weekend, Paris makes an excellent base for day trips.

Versailles is the obvious choice, around 40 minutes by RER C train from central Paris. The palace and gardens are spectacular but require a full day. Book timed entry tickets online to skip the worst of the queues, and consider visiting the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon as well as the main palace.

Disneyland Paris is about 45 minutes east of central Paris by RER A train, arriving at Marne-la-Vallee Chessy station right at the park gates. It's very doable as a day trip from the city. You can book Disneyland Paris day tickets through tickadoo, or grab a park entry and shuttle package if you'd prefer organised transport.

Giverny, Monet's home and the inspiration for his water lily paintings, is open from April to October. The house and gardens are about 75 minutes from Paris by train, and seeing the actual lily pond in bloom is a properly special experience.

Plan Your Paris City Break

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