See Paris and the Eiffel Tower

Buy timed tickets on the official site as soon as your dates are set, especially for the summit. Taking the stairs to the second floor is cheaper and often quicker. The tower sparkles for five minutes every hour on the hour after dark, and the best view of it is from Trocadéro or the Champ de Mars.

Book ahead for the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle and the Catacombs, all of which use timed entry. Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 and is free, but expect queues. The Paris Museum Pass can save money if you plan several museums in a few days.

Fly into Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY), or take the train from London, Brussels or Amsterdam. The Métro is the fastest way around. Check current ticket options on the RATP site before you go, as fares were simplified in 2025.

• $ to $$: hostels and cafés: about €80 to €140 a day
• $$$: 3-star hotel, a few museums and bistro dinners: about €200 to €350 a day
• $$$$ to $$$$$: 5-star hotels and fine dining: €600+ a day

• Pickpocketing is common at the tower, on the Métro and around Sacré-Cœur. Keep bags zipped and in front of you.
• Many museums close one day a week (often Monday or Tuesday). Check before you plan each day.
• Most visitors to France from outside the EU will need to register in the EU's new Entry/Exit System at the border, and many will need an ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts.