What to book, and when
| Step | When to deal with it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dates and length of stay | First, before any purchase | Season, school holidays, preferred length |
| Flights | As soon as dates are set, earlier for summer and the festive season | Flight comparison site or airline |
| Accommodation | Right after the flight, ideally with free cancellation | Booking platform or hotel direct |
| Passport, visa or ETIAS | When you book the flight (visas take time) | France-Visas and official pages |
| Eiffel Tower | As soon as sales open: 90 days ahead by lift, 60 days by stairs | The tower's official ticket office |
| Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Palace of Versailles | A few weeks ahead, timed slot required or strongly advised | Each monument's official site |
| Travel insurance and eSIM | In the week before departure | Insurer, bank card, mobile operator |
| Transport pass | On arrival or online, depending on length of stay | Île-de-France Mobilités |
1. Choose the season and number of days
Everything starts here, because the date affects flight and hotel prices, crowds and weather. Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant; July-August and the Christmas holidays are the most expensive and busiest. Our guide to the best time to visit Paris covers each season.
For length, three days cover the essentials, while four to five leave room for Versailles or a less touristy neighbourhood. The how many days in Paris guide helps you decide, and the Paris in 3 days itinerary gives a ready-made plan.
2. Book the flight
Once your dates are fixed, compare flights to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (Roissy) and Orly, the two main airports, before paying: the price gap between a Tuesday and a Saturday can be large. You can compare flights on Booking. Prefer a fare with luggage included and check the arrival airport: some low-cost airlines land at Beauvais, about 85 km from Paris (see our guide to Beauvais airport).
3. Choose where to stay
The neighbourhood matters more than the hotel's star rating. For a first visit, the Marais is very central, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is calmer and elegant, Montmartre is picturesque but hilly, and the Gare du Nord area is handy if you arrive via Roissy or Eurostar. Staying near the Eiffel Tower is quiet but fairly far from neighbourhood life. Keep one simple rule: a metro station within ten minutes' walk. Our guide on where to stay in Paris compares the areas, and Paris hotels by budget sorts the price levels.
4. Passport, visa and entry rules
- Passport: the usual rule for entering the Schengen area is validity of at least three months after your planned departure date, and issue less than ten years ago. Check this before buying anything.
- Visa: many travellers (US, Japan, for example) are visa-exempt for up to 90 days in any 180; others must apply through the France-Visas procedure, several weeks ahead. We have detailed pages for American, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Russian travellers.
- ETIAS: this electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers is not in force in October 2026 and no date is confirmed; do not pay sites that already offer to "pre-register" you.
- EES: since 10 April 2026, entry to the Schengen area is recorded digitally (photo and fingerprints on first entry for travellers concerned). Allow extra time on arrival and departure.
Rules change: always check the official France-Visas and European Union websites before leaving.
5. Getting into Paris from the airport
The simplest and cheapest option is the train: RER B from Roissy-CDG and metro line 14 from Orly, with a single "Paris Region <> Airports" ticket at €14 in October 2026 (Île-de-France Mobilités). An ordinary metro ticket is not enough. A fixed-fare taxi is the answer for heavy luggage or a late arrival. Full details are in our guide from the airport to central Paris.
6. Set the budget
Fix the three big lines before booking: flight, accommodation, paid entries. The rest (meals, transport, outings) adjusts to your travel style. A single metro t+ ticket costs €2.55; many municipal museums are free for their permanent collections. Our guides to the budget for a trip to Paris and prices in Paris give the orders of magnitude.
7. Book timed-entry sites in advance
This is the step that changes the experience most. Findings on official sites in October 2026:
- Louvre: booking required for all visitors from 17 October to 1 November 2026 (apart from exemptions listed on the site), advised the rest of the year; €22 for European Economic Area residents, €32 for others; closed on Tuesday.
- Eiffel Tower: sales open up to 90 days ahead for the lift and 60 days for the stairs; advance booking is compulsory for the stairs for visits from 29 September 2026. Some tickets are still sold on site, with no guarantee.
- Sainte-Chapelle: entry by time slot, to be booked online.
- Palace of Versailles: timed ticket for the Palace; the gardens can be visited without a slot; closed on Monday.
Details for each monument are in what to book in advance in Paris. Buy only from official ticket offices, never from a street reseller.
8. Transport passes and tourist passes
Depending on length of stay, single tickets, a Navigo or a Paris Visite can work out cheaper: see Navigo or Paris Visite. A museum pass only pays off if you visit many paid sites: the comparison of Paris passes does the maths.
9. Insurance, money and connectivity
- Insurance: not compulsory, but travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is wise, as many foreign health plans do not cover care in France. Check your bank card's cover first. Reference: emergencies and health in Paris.
- Money: contactless cards are accepted almost everywhere; keep a little cash. See paying and withdrawing money in Paris.
- Connectivity: an eSIM avoids roaming charges, see eSIM and SIM card for France.
10. What to know before you go
Legal or banned?
- Drinking alcohol in the street: allowed in principle unless a local order says otherwise (some districts in the north and north-east, big events). Visible drunkenness in public is still punished. Details: drinking alcohol in the street in Paris.
- Cannabis: illegal in France, for use and for possession, in the street or in private; simple possession is usually settled with a fixed fine of €200. Details: cannabis in Paris.
- Drones: central Paris is a no-fly zone, and any drone of 250 g or more must be registered. Details: flying a drone in Paris.
- Scooters: shared electric scooters have been banned in Paris since September 2023, and private scooters may not ride on pavements.
- Urinating in the street: a fine of about €135; the sanisettes (public toilets) are free, see public toilets in Paris.
Safety: Paris is safe for visitors, but pickpocketing and small scams cluster on the crowded metro and near the busiest sights. Keep your bag and phone in front of you and do not stop for strangers who insist; see scams to avoid in Paris and safety in Paris at night. The European emergency number is 112.
What differs from home:
- Tipping: service is included and a tip is optional; round up the bill or leave a few euros. See tipping in France.
- Sunday: museums, markets and restaurants are open, food shops usually close at 1 pm, and many other shops are shut outside tourist areas. See Paris on Sunday.
- Water: tap water is safe to drink and you can ask for a jug of water at a restaurant. See tap water in Paris.
- Plugs: France runs on 230 V with European sockets; bring an adapter if your country uses another standard.
Formalities: keep your passport or ID on you, as some tickets are named; entry conditions are covered in step 4.
To save time on the spot: compare the airport transfer, see whether the Paris Museum Pass suits you, and read what to book in advance in Paris for skip-the-line tickets.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book? The flight and hotel as soon as dates are set, monument tickets as soon as sales open (up to 90 days for the Eiffel Tower).
Do I need a visa for Paris? It depends on your nationality: many travellers do not need one for 90 days, others must apply before leaving.
What insurance should I take? One covering medical costs and repatriation; first check what your bank card includes.
Can I book everything on the spot? For many places yes, but not for the Palace of Versailles, the Sainte-Chapelle or the Louvre on certain dates: better to book.
