Paris Travel Guide 2026: Itinerary, Hotels, Food & Costs
Last verified: August 2026
Paris: The City of Light
Paris rewards slow travel. Yes, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre are unmissable, but the city's real magic is in the everyday details — a fresh croissant from a corner boulangerie, a walk along the Seine at dusk, the hum of a neighborhood market. This guide focuses on getting the practical side right, including a ticketing system that changed substantially in 2026, so you're not caught out at a turnstile with the wrong ticket.
5-Day Paris Itinerary
Day 1: Icons of Paris
- Morning: Eiffel Tower
- Afternoon: Seine River cruise
- Evening: Dinner near the Champ de Mars
Day 2: Art & History
- Morning: The Louvre Museum
- Afternoon: Tuileries Garden and Rue de Rivoli
- Evening: Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées
Day 3: Versailles
- Morning: Palace of Versailles
- Afternoon: The Gardens of Versailles and fountain shows
- Evening: Return to Paris for dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Day 4: Montmartre
- Morning: Sacré-Cœur Basilica
- Afternoon: Explore Montmartre's artist squares and cobbled streets
- Evening: Cabaret show or a quiet dinner in the neighborhood
Day 5: Shopping & Departure
- Morning: Le Marais for boutique shopping
- Afternoon: Galeries Lafayette and department store rooftop views
- Evening: Farewell dinner and departure
Where to Eat in Paris
- Bouillon Chartier – A historic, affordable Parisian bistro serving classic French dishes since 1896.
- Le Jules Verne – Fine dining inside the Eiffel Tower itself, for a special occasion.
- Le Train Bleu – A stunning Belle Époque dining room inside Gare de Lyon station.
- Local boulangeries – Grab a fresh croissant or baguette sandwich for an easy, affordable lunch anywhere in the city.
- Marché des Enfants Rouges – Paris's oldest covered market, great for a casual multi-cuisine lunch in Le Marais.
- Angelina – Famous for its thick hot chocolate and Mont Blanc pastry, near the Louvre.
Best Hotels in Paris
- Budget: Generator Paris, St Christopher's Inn, Hotel Jeanne d'Arc
- Mid-range: Hotel Bel Ami, Hotel Design Sorbonne, Hotel Bastille Speria
- Luxury: Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, Shangri-La Paris
Staying near a central metro line (like Line 1 or Line 4) puts most major sights within easy reach without needing to spend on taxis.
How Much Does a Trip to Paris Cost?
Costs vary by travel style, but here's a grounded daily budget per person:
- Budget traveler: $90–140/day (hostel, metro pass, bakery lunches and casual bistros, free/cheap sights)
- Mid-range traveler: $200–320/day (3-star hotel, occasional taxis, sit-down restaurants, paid museum entries)
- Luxury traveler: $500+/day (upscale hotel, fine dining, private tours, skip-the-line tickets)
A note on Paris transit tickets: the system changed in 2026
If an older guide tells you to buy a "carnet of 10 tickets," that option no longer exists — it was discontinued in 2025. Paper magnetic tickets are also being phased out entirely: they stopped working on buses in May 2026 and stop working on the whole rail network (metro, RER, trains) in June 2026. You now need a reloadable Navigo Easy card (€2, non-refundable, available at any station machine) or the RATP smartphone app.
As of January 2026, pricing also split into two separate ticket types that don't transfer into each other: a Metro-Train-RER ticket (€2.55) and a separate Bus-Tram ticket (€2.05). For visitors planning to sightsee heavily, the Paris Visite pass is usually the better value: €30.60 for 1 day or €78 for 5 days of unlimited travel across the whole network. The monthly Navigo pass (€90.80) only makes sense if you're staying a full month.
Other costs to budget for: a Paris Museum Pass (around €90 for 4 days, covers 50+ attractions), Eiffel Tower tickets (€23–36 depending on access level), and Versailles entry (€21–27). Flights and travel insurance are additional and depend heavily on your departure city and season.
Practical Tips for Visiting Paris
- Best time to visit: April–June and September–October for mild weather and manageable crowds.
- Book Louvre and Eiffel Tower tickets online in advance to skip long queues.
- Buy a Navigo Easy card at any station on arrival — old paper tickets and carnets no longer work.
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city; refill a bottle instead of buying water.
- Restaurants immediately next to major landmarks tend to be overpriced — walk a few streets away for better food and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Paris
How many days do you need in Paris?
5 days is enough to cover the major landmarks plus a full day trip to Versailles without rushing. A shorter 3-day trip can hit the essentials (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame area) if time is tight.
Is Paris expensive to visit?
Paris can be visited affordably — bakery lunches, the Metro, and many free or low-cost sights keep budget trips around $90-140/day — but hotels and fine dining push mid-range and luxury trips considerably higher.
What is the best time of year to visit Paris?
April-June and September-October offer the most pleasant weather with fewer crowds than peak summer. August sees many local businesses close as Parisians take their own holidays, which can affect some restaurant options.
Can I still use a paper metro ticket in Paris in 2026?
No. Paper magnetic tickets stopped working on buses in May 2026 and stop working across the entire metro, RER, and train network in June 2026. Get a Navigo Easy card or use the RATP app instead.
