Everything you Need to Know Before Planning a Trip to Paris

When it comes to European capital cities, few can match the pull that Paris has with the average tourist.

It’s somewhere that just about everyone wants to visit at least once, thanks to a combination of history, architecture and vibrant modern culture.

Why choose Paris for your next vacation?

There are a number of reasons to prefer Paris as a destination for a city break.

To begin with, there are the famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc d’Triomph, and Notre Dame Cathedral.

While the latter might still be closed for repairs, it’s still a place worth visiting.

Paris is also home to an unrivalled selection of luxury restaurants. At the other end of the scale, there are countless smaller eateries, where you’ll be able to pick up a classic jambon-beurre.

If you’re looking for shopping opportunities, then Paris provides them, too.

Travellers looking to indulge themselves can find cutting-edge modern stores alongside smaller boutique ones.

Undoubtedly the most famous hub of retail in the city is the Avene de Champs-Élysées.

A Guide to Planning a Trip to Paris

Getting the best from Paris means doing a little bit of preperation. You’ll want to time your visit such that you can enjoy all of the best bits about the holiday, without having to worry about exhorbitant costs and crowds. The more flexible you can be with dates, the better.

Visit during Spring, and you’ll be able to enjoy the parks at their most attractive – but bear in mind that the temperature might be slightly chilly, and there’s always the outside chance of rain.

If you want to save money, it might be worth planning a winter break, instead.

Travel insurance is your friend when planning international travel of any kind.

It’s the sort of thing that you might not want to spend much time thinking about, but you’ll be glad that you did should you come to rely on it.

You’ll have limited time during your stay, and an effectively endless list of attractions to visit.

It’s therefore worth prioritising. Make a list of all of the things you definitely want to do, and check them off as you go.

If you want a more relaxed pace to your visit, then pick a few choice attractions, and give yourself plenty of time for wandering around, sitting down, eating and drinking.

If you’d prefer not to take a flight to France, then you might instead take the train instead.

This might save you money, while reducing your emissions. You can travel to Paris via London King’s Cross train station; simply walk over to St Pancras international and get a train into Paris.