Le Marais
1.2 km from Parvis Notre-DameNarrow medieval streets on the Right Bank with old mansions, small museums, galleries and the Place des Vosges. Lively on Sundays, when many shops stay open.
- Population
- ≈ 2,100,000
- Language
- French
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Nearest airport
- ORY, 14 km
Start in the square: Parvis Notre-Dame
Parvis Notre-Dame - place Jean-Paul-II, 75004 Paris
The square in front of Notre-Dame is the symbolic centre of France: a bronze star in the paving, Point Zéro, marks the spot from which road distances to Paris are measured. The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the fire of 2019. Arrive early to avoid the longest queues.
Within a short walk
- Notre-Dame6 Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris100 m
- Sainte-Chapelle10 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris300 m
- Panthéon28 place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris800 m
Where to stay in Paris
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
1 km from Parvis Notre-DameThe classic Left Bank of literary cafés, bookshops and art galleries, close to the Luxembourg Gardens. Elegant and central, with prices to match.
Latin Quarter
600 m from Parvis Notre-DameThe old student quarter around the Sorbonne and the Panthéon, with busy streets, bookshops and cheaper places to eat.
Montmartre
3.8 km from Parvis Notre-DameThe hill in the north with the Sacré-Cœur, steep lanes, small squares and views over the city. Quiet in the back streets, crowded around the basilica.
Canal Saint-Martin
1.5 km from Parvis Notre-DameIron footbridges and tree-lined quays in the east, with bars, bakeries and independent shops. Popular with young Parisians on summer evenings.
7th arrondissement
2.7 km from Parvis Notre-DameQuiet, wide streets between the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides and the Musée d'Orsay. A calm choice within walking distance of the main sights.
Things to do in Paris
Eiffel Tower
Champ-de-Mars, 75007 Paris
Built for the World's Fair of 1889 and now the symbol of the city. Book lift tickets online for a set time, or climb the stairs as far as the second floor.
Louvre
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
The most visited museum in the world, in a former royal palace, home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Book a time slot online; the entrance under the glass pyramid is the busiest.
Notre-Dame
6 Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris
The Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, restored after the fire of 2019. Entry is free, and you can book a time slot online to skip the queue.
Musée d'Orsay
62 rue de Lille, 75007 Paris
Impressionist and post-Impressionist painting in a former railway station on the Left Bank, with works by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Look out over the city through the great clock window.
Sainte-Chapelle
10 boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris
A 13th-century royal chapel whose tall stained-glass windows fill the upper room with coloured light. Go on a sunny morning, and expect a security check at the entrance.
Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles-de-Gaulle, 75008 Paris
The triumphal arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées, above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Climb to the roof for the view, and reach it by the underpass, not across the roundabout.
Sacré-Cœur
35 rue du Chevalier-de-La-Barre, 75018 Paris
The white basilica on top of Montmartre, with one of the widest views over the city. Walk up the steps or take the funicular from the bottom of the hill.
Palais Garnier
Place de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris
The 19th-century opera house with a grand staircase and a ceiling painted by Chagall. You can visit the building by day, even without a ticket for a show.
Panthéon
28 place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris
A neoclassical temple in the Latin Quarter where France buries its great citizens, from Voltaire to Marie Curie. Foucault's pendulum swings under the dome.
Champs-Élysées
Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
The broad avenue from the Place de la Concorde up to the Arc de Triomphe, lined with shops, cinemas and cafés. Walk it end to end, then turn into the quieter side streets.
Getting there
Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)
94390 Paray-Vieille-Poste
14 km from the city centre
Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
93290 Tremblay-en-France
23 km from the city centre
Gare du Nord
112 rue de Maubeuge, 75010 Paris
Main railway station, 3.1 km from Parvis Notre-Dame
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 6°Jan
- 8°Feb
- 12°Mar
- 16°Apr
- 19°May
- 23°Jun
- 25°Jul
- 25°Aug
- 22°Sep
- 17°Oct
- 11°Nov
- 7°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 7 |
| Low °C | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 56 | 51 | 53 | 41 | 68 | 69 | 58 | 56 | 49 | 62 | 62 | 71 |
| Rain days | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| Daylight h | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
The year in Paris
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
AprilSport
Paris Marathon
A route from the Champs-Élysées along the Seine and through two large city woods, among the biggest marathons in Europe. Many roads close for the morning.
Late May to early JuneSport
Roland-Garros (French Open)
The Grand Slam tennis tournament played on red clay in the west of the city. Tickets for the outer courts are easier to get than for the main stadium.
Early JuneCulture
Nuit Blanche
One night of free contemporary art in museums, churches, parks and streets across the city, open until the early morning.
21 JuneMusic
Music Day
On the longest day of the year, free concerts fill the streets, squares and bars of the whole city, from brass bands to DJs.
14 JulyHoliday
Bastille Day
The national day starts with a military parade down the Champs-Élysées and ends with fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Arrive early for a place along the route.
Mid-July to mid-AugustFestival
Paris-Plages
For a few summer weeks, parts of the Seine quays turn into a free town beach with sand, deckchairs, games and swimming spots for people who stay in the city.
Third weekend of SeptemberCulture
Heritage Days
Ministries, palaces and other buildings that are normally closed open their doors for free. The most popular ones have long queues or need booking.
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- 1 EUR = 1.11 USD = 0.84 GBP (ECB, 28 October 2026)
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- Type C and E, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112, 15, 17, 18, 114
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (summer UTC+2)
- Country calling code
- +33
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- All Saints' Day (Toussaint)1 Nov 2026
- Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)11 Nov 2026
- Christmas Day (Noël)25 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)1 Jan 2027
- Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)29 Mar 2027
- Labour Day (Fête du Travail)1 May 2027
- Ascension Day (Ascension)6 May 2027
- Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945)8 May 2027
- Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)17 May 2027
- Bastille Day (Fête nationale)14 Jul 2027
- Assumption Day (Assomption)15 Aug 2027
Paris FAQ
When is the best time to visit Paris?
May – Oct, when the average daytime high is between 17 and 25 °C.
Which airport is closest to Paris?
Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), about 14 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in Paris?
The euro (EUR).
What plugs are used in Paris?
Type C and E, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in Paris?
Paris Marathon (April), Roland-Garros (French Open) (Late May to early June), Nuit Blanche (Early June), Music Day (21 June), Bastille Day (14 July), Paris-Plages (Mid-July to mid-August), Heritage Days (Third weekend of September).
Nearby cities
All guides in France →Normandy · 112 kmRouenPopulation ≈ 120,000
Île-de-France · 17 kmVersaillesPopulation ≈ 85,000
Grand Est · 131 kmReimsPopulation ≈ 200,000
Centre-Val de Loire · 111 kmOrléansPopulation ≈ 120,000
Last updated 29 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.