Paris is a city that never lets up. Return time and again and there is always something fantastic to experience—world-famous landmarks and museums mixed with chic shopping, cafe life, gastronomic blowouts and strolls along the banks of the glorious River Seine.

The overwhelming amount on offer can be a real challenge for first-timers in deciding where to start but with some forethought and planning, the perfect debut is possible. Here are our top tips for your first time in Paris.

Must-see sights

Gazing down on the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower is the ideal Paris baptism. Be sure to book online to avoid the queues, or consider walking up to get up close to the ironwork. Flop afterwards on the green lawns of the Parc du Champ de Mars, or cross the Seine to snap the perfect Eiffel Tower selfie from the Jardins du Trocadéro.

Notre Dame was sadly devastated by fire in April 2019, but remains the city’s geographical and spiritual heart. Its exterior still draws many visitors and a restoration programme is under way.

The Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo in the big-hitting Louvre are priceless Paris must-sees. Conveniently, quintessential Parisian gardens Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Palais Royal, with its elegant boutique-clad arcades, are next door. The eye-catching Centre Pompidou is an easy walk from here – don’t miss the spectacular panorama radiating from the roof – and buskers and celebrated cafe terraces in front provide light relief.

No art lover can do justice to every art museum in Paris in a single visit. Depending on your taste, the best of the rest to see on your first visit are the Musée d’Orsay (Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in a former train station), Musée Rodin (The Kiss, The Thinker and other Rodin sculptures in the artist’s old studio and its manicured gardens), the Musée du Quai Branly (traditional African, Oceanic, Asian and American craftsmanship) and the Musée National Picasso (comprehensive Picasso collection in a 17th-century hôtel particulier in the fashionable Le Marais district).

Take in some of the best vistas in Paris from the top of the iconic Arc de Triomphe. For contemporary architecture aficionados, Frank Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton – an easy shuttle-bus ride from the Arc de Triomphe (if you’ve prebooked museum tickets; otherwise take the metro to Les Sablons, from where it’s a 15-minute walk) – is essential.

No Paris initiation is complete without a funicular ride up to the fabled artists’ quartier of Montmartre with its signature Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. City panoramas from the top of the basilica’s front steps and inside the pearly-white dome are postcard-perfect, while a meander in the hilltop neighbourhood will give you a taste of its quaint charm.

You’ll need the best part of a day, but an encounter with France’s most famous château in posh Versailles is well worth the trip.

Where to eat

Paris is showcase par excellence of French cuisine. While you’ll find more than enough gastronomic dining courtesy of legendary chefs like David Toutain or Guy Martin at 18th-century Le Grand Véfour, eating à la Parisian means mixing formal dines with casual eating in traditional spots. Try bistros Au Pied de Fouet in St-Germain or Bistrot Paul Bert in the 11e and cool neobistros like Le Pantruche in Pigalle and Tomy Gousset’s wildly popular Tomy & Co. Beautiful art nouveau brasseries such as Bouillon Racine are timeless. Or try walk-in bar dining at Frenchie to Go or Verjus, both lovely to dip into after the Louvre.

For a quick lunch between sights, consider a baguette sandwich from Huré, or CheZaline in a former horse-meat butcher shop. Classic Parisian tartines (open sandwiches) are served on Poilâne bread at Au Sauvignon and Poilâne Comptoir. Countless cafes also do light food: Café Saint-Régis (near Notre Dame), Le Progrès (an essential stop in Montmartre), Le Verre à Pied (always busy with stall-holders from the rue Mouffetard food market), Café Trama (famed for its croque monsieur) and Le Clown Bar in Le Marais. Or sit down to a market lunch at the Marché des Enfants Rouges, a local staple since 1615.

You can’t leave Paris without snacking on its edible icons: macarons from Pierre Hermé or Ladurée, éclairs from L’Éclair de Génie, hot chocolate at Angelina, Berthillon ice cream, and a crêpe from one of the city’s many street stands.

Key foodie districts to simply wander and uncover more tasty dining addresses include Le Marais (3e, 4e), the 10e, and the 11e stretching north and east from Bastille.

Where to stay

Pinning down the perfect place to stay depends on budget and location – arrondissements (districts) have their own personality, with ample choice when it comes to recommended hotels.

Key districts with easy access to major sights, excellent transport links, and plenty of shops and drinking/dining options on the doorstep are the Right Bank areas around Louvre and Les Halles (1er, 2e) and Le Marais (3e, 4e), and St-Germain des Prés (6e) and the studenty Latin Quarter (5e) on the Left Bank. For villagey charm consider Montmartre (18e). For hipster trend, check out the more alternative Canal St-Martin area (10e).

Hotel rooms tend to be small. Cheaper hotels might not have lifts or air-conditioning, and breakfast is almost never included in the nightly rate – nipping out to a nearby cafe for a coffee and croissant is often the more appealing option.

Families might appreciate the extra space an apartment brings, not to mention the joy of shopping at the food market, picking up cheese at the local fromagerie and so on. Paris Attitude and Haven in Paris both have a wide choice of apartments to rent, some on a nightly basis, some only weekly.

Getting around

Frequent trains and buses link Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports with the city centre.

Strolling around Paris is a pleasure and an easy way of getting between many of the must-see sights – pack your comfiest shoes. Or combine walking with Batobus – a hop-on, hop-off river boat service stopping at key destinations along the Seine.

You can also grab a bicycle from one of the numerous Vélib’ bike stations around the city and drop it off at another. Either sign up at bike stations with a chip-and-pin credit card, or prebook your subscription online. Bring your own helmet.

The metro run by RATP is fast, efficient and safe. Grab a metro map at any station and buy a carnet of 10 T+ tickets – each good for a single journey and generally the cheapest way of using the metro. Parents with prams/strollers and those with limited mobility might find buses easier to use.

Top tips

• Book accommodation and make reservations for high-end/popular restaurants well in advance. Buy tickets for major sights online.
• Check out Paris’ excellent tourist office.
• A boat cruise down the Seine with Bateaux Parisiens or Bateaux Mouches is a wonderful way to get a quick introduction to Paris’ main monuments.
• Discover the city through the eyes of a local Parisian with a guided tour led by a Paris Greeter.
• Don’t be overwhelmed by the world’s largest art museum: navigate the Louvre with a THATLou treasure hunt (book in advance).

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