Paris Digest
Paris city guide since 1997
Our mission is to help you make the most of your trip to Paris: first, plan your trip, then get the most of it while you are in the city. Check our over 200 pages on the City of Lights. We update them regularly. We wish you a great trip to our loved city.
The top seven things to do in in Paris: visit places, admire art, shop, eat French, music, sport, fun.
French and international food is a good reason for a trip to Paris with a choice of 13000 restaurants.
The quality gap between hotels in the city is huge. There are also plenty of great flats to rent.
Concert halls, theaters, bars and cabarets are plenty in town. The best nightlife districts and tours.
Avoid driving in the city. Metro and buses are convenient. Velib bicycles are fashionable.
Roland-Garros, the Paris Masters, the Marathon and Tour de France are the top sports events.
We have many city and metro maps. Pages on sights include their location on the map.
Paris is an economic powerhouse and a top business city. Business facts. Business trip tips.
Continent: Europe. Country: France
Region: Ile de France
Weather: temperate and oceanic.
Coordinates: 48:51:17N 2:20:12E. Altitude: 34 meters
Currency:Euro (EUR)
Language: French. Time Zone: Central European Time (CET)
Since 508 A.D, Paris, also called the City of Lights, is the capital of France. The city has 2.187 million inhabitants. It is the core of the Grand Paris metropolitan area (7.026 million people) and Ile de France region (12.21 million people).
The Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa, Monet's paintings, the grave of Napoléon, Louis Vuitton, Disneyland, Paris Air Show and Motor Show are among the top attractions of the most visited city in the world.
The city is very dynamic with 6 million jobs, 325 000 students studying at Paris University and other educational institutions, 140 theaters, 100 nightclubs, 96 cabarets, 90 movie theaters, 3 opera houses, 62 000 shopping venues.
The city is so diversified each season is great. Plan your trip in fall or winter if you want to best enjoy city life. December, Christmas and New year add the magical illuminations on Champs-Elysées. Shopping is top during the sales season in January and June. Outdoor sightseeing is best in May, June and September, when the weather is normally rather sunny and dry. In the summer, the weather is warm and traffic less intense, specially in August when many Parisians are on vacation. But touristic sights are crowded and life in the city is at a minimum, specially between August 1 and 15. Avoid the touristic season.
Rugby World Cup 2023 in Stade de France or Paris Olympics 2024 will be wonderful occasions to come to Paris.
You may drive into the city, as long as you have a parking near your accomodation. The circular freeway around the city, called the périphérique, is a nightmare at most times of the day.
Avoid absolutely driving your car in the city. Many streets are narrow and best for pedestrians. The city is limiting traffic as much as they can by installing bus and bike lanes. If you need so, park your car in the convenient underground parkings.
Walking is the best transport means during a trip to Paris. Velib bycicles are quite commun. Metro and buses have a dense and convenient network.
International travelers fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport, Europe's second-busiest airport; Orly Airport or Beauvais Airport farther away (Low cost companies such as Ryanair. Easy buses to Paris Porte Maillot.).
Charles de Gaulle Airport is one of the best airports in Europe with terminals 2 E, 2 G and the revamping of most terminals.
Charles de Gaulle Airport is connected to Paris 4 times an hour from 5am to 12pm by metro. The metro ride to Gare du Nord train station lasts 25 minutes. There are two metro stations: Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 1 and Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2.
For nationals of the European Union, a national identity card is enough. Travelers from other countries must carry a valid national passport and one other identification document.
Visas are not required for visitors staying less than 90 days who are UK, US or Canada citizens.
Check official website of French government for more information on visa requirements to enter France.
European Union nationals have no limit on purchases of goods for personal use, except for new vehicles and purchases by mail. There is a recommended limit of 800 cigarettes, 10 liters of spirits and 90 liters of wine.
Citizens of other countries may be subject to duties when bringing goods back to their country. Check with local customs regulations before leaving. Many high-end stores, including the Department Stores, have a duty free counter that helps with custom formalities.
