13 Tips for Your First Trip to Paris

Paris is one of those cities that people tend to either romanticize or criticize, but the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. We have stayed in and strolled through almost every corner of Paris over the years, from the quietest residential streets to the busiest tourist hubs, all to help you skip the "tourist trap" stress and actually enjoy the magic that brought you here in the first place.

Whether you are dreaming of that iconic Eiffel Tower view or just want to find the croissant you’ll dream about for a decade, your first visit is all about managing the logistics so the city brings you fresh eyes, joy, and dreamy moments rather than stress you out or wear you down. 

Our first visit to Paris was fiiiine, but we’ve come to love Paris more and more every time we visit. That’s because we’ve learned 13 important tips that make each trip better! We have navigated the metro, tested the hotels, and learned the cultural "clicks" the hard way so you don't have to. Here is our experience-based guide to doing Paris right the first time, from where to sleep to the “if you know, you know” tips to a great stay in the City of Light.

1. Stay in a central arrondissement (neighborhood) in Paris

We have spent hours of research and multiple trip visits scouting neighborhoods that are best for your first visit to Paris, and we’ve found that anywhere you stay in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th arrondissement is going to be a stellar location that’s close to all the major must-sees on your first visit. These areas offer easy to navigate metro lines and plenty of great food options. However, you pay for the proximity here! Expect hotels in these districts to be among the priciest options in the city.

There are also many fantastic options in the more southeastern part of the 8th arrondissement and the southern and southwestern parts of the 9th arrondissement. Of course, the rest of the 8th and 9th are fine to stay in, they’re just a little further away from the action. Expect hotels in these two districts to have a little better pricing than the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th, but still higher than the other arrondissements. If we had to pick ONE arrondissement to stay in, it would be the 7th. It’s so close to our favorite things and must-dos.

Our favorite 4-star hotel options for First Timers in Paris:

• 1st Arrondissement: Hôtel Mayfair Paris

• 2nd Arrondissement: Hôtel Malte - Astotel

• 6th Arrondissement: Hôtel Saint-André des Arts

• 7th Arrondissement: Le Grand Hôtel Cayré

• 9th Arrondissement: Chouchou Hotel

2. Lower your expectations of Paris (a little)

This isn’t Disneyland. We mean, there is a Disneyland Paris just outside of Paris, but Paris itself isn’t a magical, Disneyland theme-park type place. This is a major, living city. That means some streets are smelly, some people are less than friendly, there is a decent amount of homelessness, and there’s often trash around. It’s a working city with grit.

On the flip side, there are also palaces, designer stores, astounding art, ornate gardens, and all the classic French tropes you’ve seen in movies. Paris has plenty of both sides of the coin. If you go in expecting a pristine theme park, you might be disappointed, but if you go in expecting a vibrant, complex city, you’ll see the beauty in the chaos.

3. Get a multi-day metro card

You’ll be using the metro A LOT, and getting a multi-day pass will save you money and the headache of buying individual tickets at the kiosks every time you move. For most first-timers, the Paris Visite travel pass is the easiest route. You can buy it for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days depending on the length of your stay. You can find all you need to know about it here!

If you are staying for a full week (specifically Monday through Sunday), look into the Navigo Semaine. Regardless of which you choose, having a card you can just tap makes the city feel much more accessible and less intimidating when you're trying to navigate the underground tunnels.

4. Find great views of the Eiffel Tower rather than going up it

The classic mistake is thinking you have to wait in the massive lines and climb a million flights of stairs to go up the tower itself to get “the full Paris experience.” The problem? When you’re on the Eiffel Tower, you can’t actually see the Eiffel Tower in the skyline! Instead, we recommend finding great views of it from the outside.

You can get incredible perspectives from your hotel balcony, from the top of the Arc de Triomphe (where you get that iconic shot of the 12 avenues radiating out), from the Trocadéro, or from the many bridges like Pont Alexandre III. A river cruise on the Seine at night is another stellar way to see it sparkle without the cramped elevators and tourist crowds.

5. “The French are rude” isn’t the most accurate statement

The French aren’t outright rude: rather, they highly value politeness. This is the most important cultural click you need to understand. If you don’t show courtesy and politeness to them first by greeting them with a bonjour (daytime) or bonsoir (evening), if you are loud and boisterous, or if you outright approach them with a list of demands, of course they’re going to be curt, rude, or cold to you.

But if you at least greet them first in French, say please and thank you (s’il vous plaît and merci go a long way!), mind your manners, and stay even-tempered and understanding, then you’ll find most Parisians you meet to be, at the least, courteous and polite right back. They may not be overly warm and friendly, but that’s part of being in a new culture. It’s about mutual respect.

6. Wear your walking shoes!

While Paris is a fashionable city, you’re going to walk so many miles and climb up and down so many stairs in the metro and at the monuments. This is not the place for brand-new, stiff shoes. Wear your broken-in sneakers!

Even the most stylish Parisians wear trendy sneakers these days, so you will not look out of place. If you’re going to a nicer dinner and really want to wear those "cute but painful" shoes, just take an Uber to the restaurant to save your feet. They’re easy to catch through the app, and it’s a small price to pay to avoid blisters that could ruin the rest of your trip.

7. Don’t sit on the seats in the metro station

There are some things that once you see, you can’t unsee. Very unsanitary, unsavory things happen on those station benches. Use your imagination — just don’t assume mystery liquids are water. If you can choose to stand while you wait for your train to arrive, please do. It’s one of those local secrets that isn't really a secret once you've spent enough time in the underground stations. If you’re able, just keep standing and the metro will be at your stop in no time.

8. Take the train from the airport to save money

Taking a taxi all the way from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to your hotel can be a pricey endeavor, often costing between 55 and 70 euros depending on which side of the river you are on. Instead, take the RER B train from the airport into the city center. It costs around 12 euros and is often faster than sitting in Paris traffic.

Once you get to a major hub like Gare du Nord or Châtelet–Les Halles, you can then take a quick Uber the rest of the way to your hotel if needed. This hybrid approach saves you a lot of money while still making sure you aren't lugging your suitcases across half the city.

9. Keep your important items hidden and attached to your body

Pickpockets are watching and they are opportunists! Don’t make it easy for them by mindlessly scrolling your phone on the train or sidewalk, making it easy for them to snatch your phone right out of your hand. This happens more often than you would think, especially near train doors.

Make sure your handbag has zippers and that you keep a crossbody strap on you with a hand on your bag as you walk. Keep your wits about you and your eyes on the prize: the prize being your valuables like your passport, phone, and wallet. If you look like you are paying attention, they will usually move on to an easier target.

10. Plan to sit and watch a sunset somewhere

With all the "must-dos" on a first-timer's list, it is so easy to get caught up in the rush. But, it’s important to slow down and take in the views you’ve planned for and wished to see for years.

Whether it’s from the steps of Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre (pictured above with panoramic view of the whole city), from the banks of the Seine, or from a rooftop like the one at Galeries Lafayette, make time for it. Watching the city transition into the "City of Light" as the sun goes down is a memory you will not want to rush through.

11. Try new foods and drink local wine!

Paris is the place to have a "when in Rome" (er, um, Paris) attitude and try anything once! From foie gras and escargot to steak tartare and croque monsieur, please lean into the experience. It’s not every day you get to say you ate your first snail in Paris, or had the best French Onion Soup of your life (in France, it’s just called Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée).

If you drink, take advantage of the astounding prices of the local wine. Because there are no massive import costs, you can get a world-class glass of wine for just a little more than the price of a soda. Try different varieties from the many wine regions in France: you might find a new favorite Bordeaux or Rhône Valley blend that you would have never tried otherwise.

12. Book your major tickets in advance

If there is one thing we have learned from our travels, it is that spontaneity is great for choosing a café, but it is a disaster for major sights. You absolutely must book your tickets to places like the Louvre, Versailles, and the Dior Gallery in advance. We are talking weeks, if not months, before you even step on the plane.

The Louvre rarely does walk-in ticket sales anymore, and the early morning Versailles ticket slots disappear faster than a fresh baguette at 8:00 AM. If an attraction is a non-negotiable for your trip, lock it in the second your travel dates are firm or the moment the tickets become available. For the Louvre specifically, they usually open their booking calendar 60 to 90 days out. Set a reminder on your phone and snap them up early so you are not left scrambling to change your plans or waiting in long lines hoping to get a ticket. 

13. Be wary of visiting in August

Be very mindful about planning your first trip for August. While the major museums and monuments stay open to accommodate tourists, a huge portion of the city’s heart goes on vacation. This is known as the August Exodus, or “les grandes vacances,” where locals head to the coast or the countryside and many independent bakeries, family-run bistros, and small boutiques close up shop for the entire month.

You will still be able to eat and shop at the big chains and tourist hubs, but you will miss out on a lot of that local neighborhood magic that makes Paris feel like Paris. On top of the closures, the heat in August can be pretty brutal, and since many older Parisian buildings do not have air conditioning, it can get uncomfortable fast. If you have the flexibility, we always suggest the shoulder seasons like April or September instead.