Paris for First-Timers: 20 Essential Tips Before You Go

*Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links, including to Hotels.com. Booking through them may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.*

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, but first-time visitors often miss the things that make it truly magical — and fall into traps that waste time and money. Here's what you need to know.

Getting There & Around

Skip the RER B stress. The RER B train from CDG airport is cheap (€12) but confusing for first-timers. If you arrive late or with heavy luggage, a taxi (€55 flat rate from CDG) or pre-booked transfer is worth it.

Get a Navigo card. Don't buy individual Metro tickets. Load a Navigo Easy card with a carnet (pack of 10 tickets) — it's cheaper and works on Metro, RER, and buses.

Walk more than you think. Paris's arrondissements spiral outward from the center. The main sights are surprisingly close together — walking between the Louvre and Notre-Dame takes 15 minutes and you'll discover more than on the Metro.

Booking the Big Sights

Book the Eiffel Tower online. Walk-up queues can be 2–3 hours. Book at least 2 weeks ahead for evening slots, which sell out fastest.

The Louvre needs half a day. Pre-book to skip the ticket line. Enter via the Richelieu wing (less crowded than the pyramid) and head to the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa first thing.

Versailles needs a full day. Take the RER C from Saint-Michel. Book tickets online. Visit the gardens in the afternoon when tour groups leave.

Food & Drink Rules

Never eat on the Champs-Élysées. Tourist trap pricing for average food. Walk one block off any main tourist street and quality triples while prices halve.

Lunch is the best deal. Most good restaurants offer a "formule" (set menu) at lunch for €15–25 that would cost twice as much at dinner.

Café standing rule. At a French café, standing at the bar (comptoir) is cheaper than sitting at a table — sometimes by €1–2 per item.

Cultural Notes

Museums close on Mondays or Tuesdays — check before you go. The Louvre closes on Tuesdays, the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays.

Pharmacies are excellent. French pharmacies (marked with a green cross) are staffed by knowledgeable pharmacists who can advise on minor ailments without an appointment.

A little French goes a long way. Starting any interaction with "Bonjour" and ending with "Merci, au revoir" transforms how Parisians respond to you.

Where to Stay

Base yourself in the 1st-9th arrondissements for the shortest walk to major sights, or the Marais (4th) for the best food and nightlife within walking distance. Compare central Paris rates on Hotels.com before booking — member pricing frequently beats the publicly listed rate, and filtering by arrondissement makes it easy to stay walkable to the sights above.