Arriving in Paris
Most flights from Ireland land at Charles de Gaulle. From there, the RER B train reaches Gare du Nord and the centre in about 35 minutes. Some budget flights use Beauvais, which is over an hour away by coach, so check before you book that cheap fare.
Paris rewards walking. Give each day to one or two areas and the city opens up in a way it never does from the back of a taxi.
The classics, without the stress
Book timed tickets for the big sights ahead of time, especially on bank holiday weekends.
- The Louvre: go early or late, and choose a few rooms rather than trying to see it all.
- The Musée d’Orsay: Impressionists in a beautiful old railway station, often a better visit than the Louvre.
- The Eiffel Tower: book a slot online, or simply enjoy it from Trocadéro or the Champ de Mars.
- Sainte-Chapelle: walls of stained glass that are breathtaking on a sunny morning.
- Notre-Dame: reopened after the fire, and free to visit inside.
The bits tourists miss
Montmartre is famous, but most visitors only see the crowded square. Walk the quieter back streets and find the little vineyard instead. In the Marais, look for hidden courtyards and the Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in the city. The Canal Saint-Martin is where Parisians picnic on sunny evenings.
Duck into a covered passage, like the Galerie Vivienne, for a glimpse of 19th-century shopping arcades, and give yourself a quiet afternoon in the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Eating well
You don’t need a fancy restaurant to eat well in Paris. A good bakery, a market, a picnic by the river and a simple bistro dinner will give you some of the best meals of your year. Set lunch menus are often far cheaper than dinner. Book ahead for popular bistros on Friday and Saturday nights.
Day trips
Versailles is about 40 minutes by RER train and needs most of a day. Giverny, Monet’s home and garden, is a lovely spring trip by train and shuttle bus.
How to spend three days
Start on the Left Bank. Walk from Notre-Dame across to the Latin Quarter, browse the green bookstalls along the Seine, and stop at Shakespeare and Company. The Luxembourg Gardens are the perfect place to sit with a coffee and watch Paris go by. In the evening, the Saint-Germain cafés are expensive but part of the experience.
Give day two to the big sights. Visit the Louvre early with a timed ticket, then walk through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The Eiffel Tower is at its best after dark, when it sparkles for a few minutes every hour.
On day three, head to Montmartre before the crowds. Climb to Sacré-Cœur for the view, then wander the backstreets away from Place du Tertre. In the afternoon, try the Canal Saint-Martin, where locals picnic along the water, or Le Marais for falafel on Rue des Rosiers and small galleries.
Money-saving tips
Many museums are free on the first Sunday of certain months, and the permanent collections of the city-run museums, like the Petit Palais, are always free. Under-26s from the EU, including Irish citizens, get free entry to most national museums, so bring your passport as proof.
Eat your main meal at lunch, when a formule of two or three courses costs much less than dinner. A boulangerie sandwich and a bottle of wine by the river is a classic Paris evening that costs very little.
Where to stay
The Marais and Saint-Germain are lovely but pricey. The 9th, 10th and 11th arrondissements offer better value, with good food and easy metro access. Pick a hotel near a metro line that runs directly to the areas you want to see.
Frequently asked questions
Which Paris airport do flights from Ireland use?
Most use Charles de Gaulle. Some budget flights use Beauvais, which is around 1 hour 15 minutes from the city by coach.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
It can be if you plan to visit several museums in two days, but you still need to book timed slots for the busiest ones.
Is Paris good for a long weekend with children?
Yes. Parks, the Jardin des Plantes, boat trips on the Seine and the Cité des Sciences are all big hits with children.
How do I get from Paris airports to the city?
From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B train reaches central Paris in about 35 minutes. From Orly, the Orlyval and RER or the newer metro line 14 extension are the quickest options. Taxis charge a fixed fare to each side of the river.
