Paris Travel Guide: Paris is a city that everyone dreams of visiting, but it has to be said that language communication can sometimes be a huge obstacle. Paris's public transport system is complex and intricate, with as many as 303 metro stations alone, and a wide variety of ticket types. Coupled with the language barrier, it can be quite a challenge for everyone!
Paris is divided into five zones. Zone 2 is known as "Little Paris," comprising 20 arrondissements (don't confuse the zones with the arrondissements). Zones 3-5 are known as "Greater Paris." Little Paris plus Greater Paris equals Île-de-France. Most major attractions are concentrated in Zone 2, but there are also many must-see places outside Zone 2: Versailles is in Zone 4, and Disneyland and Fontainebleau are in Zone 5. Ticket prices differ depending on the zone number.
Paris offers dozens of transport ticket combinations. How can you quickly choose the ticket that best suits your itinerary and saves you money? See below:
Transportation options in Paris
- I only had a day or two in Paris, and only stayed within the second ring road.
- If you don't ride the train often: Buy a 10-trip ticket (called a carnet in French), which is 10 single tickets for 4 euros, cheaper than buying individual tickets at 1.8 euros each. It's enough for 10 people.
- If you take the bus frequently (more than 5 times a day), it is recommended to buy a 2-circle Mobilis day pass for €7.
- If you're staying in Paris for 4 days or more: If these days don't span multiple weeks, then the Navigo weekly pass is the most cost-effective option. With it, you can take any public transport (metro, RER, buses, and even the Montmartre cable car) to anywhere in Paris (zones 1-5), and with the €5 card fee, it only costs €26.25.
Airport Transportation
Charles de Gaulle AirportTransportation options: Airport bus, RER B line, bus routes 351 and 350.
Orly AirportTransportation options include airport bus, Airport Express (Orly Vale + RER B), T7 light rail, and bus route 183. If you are traveling with several people and have a lot of luggage, consider a private car transfer service.
A must-have for saving money on tickets – the museum pass!
Speaking of tickets, I have to recommend a fantastic tool: the Paris Museum Pass. Of all the various pass options in Paris, the Paris Museum Pass is the most cost-effective and versatile, eliminating the hassle of choosing. I've personally tested it and used it to visit over 30 attractions, especially popular spots like the Louvre and Versailles, where queues can easily last an hour or two. Skipping the ticket lines with the pass is incredibly convenient! You could say it includes almost every tourist attraction you can think of, except for the Eiffel Tower.
The best thing about the museum pass is that you can enter whenever you want! Need to use the restroom but can't find a free one? Just show your pass at a nearby attraction and you're good to go; Got a lot of shopping and don't want to go back to the hotel to drop it off? Many attractions offer luggage storage services, which you can enjoy by showing your pass.
The average ticket price for attractions in Paris is about 10 euros. If you use a 2-day pass, you can break even by visiting 5 attractions. Visiting more attractions makes it even more worthwhile! Although it is called a museum pass, "museums" here refers to all kinds of attractions: churches, art galleries, famous buildings, palaces and castles, and French gardens are all included.
Learn how to explore Paris with a museum pass
The areas marked in brackets are the attractions that accept the Paris Museums Pass.
For example: using a 2-day museum pass
- Day 1: From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower (walking is possible)
- Louvre Museum (16 euros) — Tuileries Garden — Musée d'Orsay — Orangerie — Place de la Concorde — Champs-Élysées — Arc de Triomphe (climb to the top) — Eiffel Tower (night view)
- Day 2: From Luxembourg Gardens to Pompidou Centre (walking the entire way)
- Luxembourg Gardens — Pantheon — Latin Quarter — Shakespeare and Company — Notre Dame Cathedral (climb) — Paris City Hall — Pompidou Centre
A total of 7 attractions were visited over 2 days using the pass.
The Palace of Versailles – a luxurious and opulent royal palace
It served as the French royal court for 107 years (1682-1789). During the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was looted and destroyed by the people. It was later restored and converted into a historical museum.
The Palace of Versailles is grand and magnificent, luxurious and opulent. Its exterior is in the French Classical style, while the interior features Baroque decorations complemented by Rococo design. Rooms such as the Hall of Mirrors, the Hall of War, the Apollo Room, and the King's Bedchamber are adorned with dazzling gold, and every detail is worth pausing to admire.
The gardens of Versailles Palace are a prime example of French garden design, with exquisite sculptures, symmetrical designs, delicate geometric patterns, long canals, and meticulously manicured plants, all revealing the craftsmanship of French gardeners. Whether gazing at the gardens from the palace or strolling along their lush lawns, one can still sense the refined lifestyle of the French aristocracy of yesteryear.
Tips:Designed by the French landscape architect André Le Nôtre, the Gardens of Versailles are a place worth spending a leisurely afternoon. In summer, seek out the various musical fountains, relax on the lawn by the Cross Canal while enjoying ice cream in the sun, or rent a bicycle to explore the Grand and Petit Trianons deep within the gardens. You'll find this vast and elegant royal garden so captivating that you'll linger for a long time.
Loire Valley castles – the grandeur of nobility and the magnificence of architecture
The Loire Valley boasts not only stunning scenery and densely packed vineyards, but also hundreds of castles—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding area is dotted with millennia-old buildings and artistic treasures, a truly breathtaking sight. If you wish to experience the grandeur of aristocracy and the magnificence of architecture, the Loire Valley is well worth exploring.
Tips:The Loire Valley castles are nearly 200 kilometers from Paris, making it inconvenient to travel there on your own. Driving, hiring a car, or joining a day tour are the most convenient options.
Fontainebleau Palace – Exquisite French Courtly Style
Fontainebleau is another historic and important palace in France. It served as the court of Kings Henry IV and Louis XIV, and was also the residence of Napoleon. This palace not only preserves the architectural style of the French Renaissance but is also a microcosm of French history.
The palace's royal painting hall, royal gardens, corridors, and other areas are exquisitely crafted, offering a glimpse into the lives of the nobility at that time.
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