Vparigean independent guide to Paris and Île-de-France

An independent travel guide. Not connected with the former site on this domain; we do not sell tours, tickets or transfers. Check prices, timetables and entry rules with official sources.

Trip planning

Trip planning

The main article in this section: how to plan a trip to Paris on your own. The result: your documents are checked, your season and neighbourhood are chosen with care, you understand the transport, and your daily itinerary is realistic and leaves time to rest. We don't recommend specific hotels or tours — only the order of steps and where to check current conditions.

A good trip plan fits on a single page: what's essential, what's optional and what to do if it rains.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • A valid passport and information on visa requirements from the French embassy or consulate
  • Approximate travel dates and a list of what you'd like to see
  • A rough budget for accommodation, transport and museums
  • Travel medical insurance for the duration of your trip
  • A smartphone with the official transport apps and an offline map

  1. Check the entry rules

    France is part of the Schengen Area. Find out whether you need a visa and which documents are required on the French embassy or consulate website. From 12 October 2025, the EES system, which records biometric data, is being phased in at the Schengen external borders.

    If you enter through a Schengen external border, allow extra time for passport control.

  2. Choose your season

    In summer and during holidays the city is busier and queues are longer. If you want to catch the sales (soldes), note that they take place in winter and summer, and the dates are set officially.

    For an unhurried stroll through the gardens of Giverny or Versailles, choose the warmer months; for museums, any time of year works.

  3. Decide where to stay

    Focus on transport convenience: staying near a metro or RER station saves time every day. The arrondissement number in the address tells you how close you'll be to the centre.

    If you plan trips to Versailles or Disneyland, it's handy to stay near the RER C or RER A line.

  4. Sort out your transport

    Buy a Navigo Easy card or install the official app. Remember the two different single tickets, the separate airport fare and the Navigo Day pass.

    On a day with lots of metro and bus journeys, compare the cost of single tickets with Navigo Day on the IDFM website.

  5. Draw up a daily itinerary

    Plan one major museum or one trip out of town per day, and spend the rest of the time walking around a neighbourhood. Take museum closing days into account.

    The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays, so don't schedule them on those days.

  6. Book what needs booking

    Entry and booking conditions for popular museums, the Eiffel Tower and the châteaux outside Paris change. Check them only on official websites.

    Seasonal châteaux such as Vaux-le-Vicomte are not open all year: check the dates first, then plan the day.

  7. Prepare a backup plan

    Keep a list of indoor places for rainy days and short walks for when you're tired. Save the number 112 and the address of your country's embassy or consulate.

    If it rains on the day of your Montmartre walk, swap it with a museum day.

Common mistakes

  • Planning three museums a day and leaving no time to rest
  • Going to a museum on its closing day without checking the schedule
  • Travelling to the airport on a standard ticket instead of the airport fare
  • Buying tickets and tours on unofficial websites or from street sellers
  • Not checking entry rules and visa requirements in advance
  • Relying on old guidebooks: prices, fares and opening hours may have changed since

Alternatives

  • If you're short on time, pick two neighbourhoods and one museum, and don't try to see everything
  • If you dislike crowds, come outside the summer season and start sightseeing early in the morning
  • If you're travelling with children, alternate museums with gardens and allow more time for getting around
  • If you want more nature, add a day trip to Fontainebleau or Giverny

Pre-trip checklist

  • Entry rules and visa requirements checked on the French embassy or consulate website
  • Travel dates chosen with the season and museum closing days in mind
  • Accommodation is near a convenient metro or RER station
  • Navigo Easy card or transport app ready
  • Daily itinerary drawn up, essential bookings made on official websites
  • Insurance arranged, 112 and your embassy or consulate address saved
  • Transport

    Tickets after the 2025 fare reform, the metro and RER, getting in from the airports, taxis and bikes.

  • Sights

    Museums, city icons and places outside Paris: where they are and what to keep in mind.

  • Local guide

    Everyday etiquette, safety and useful French phrases.

Sources

  • European Commission (EES)
  • Île-de-France Mobilités
  • Museum websites
  • Paris je t'aime (Paris tourist office)

Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Fares, timetables, museum opening hours and entry rules change, so check them on official websites before you travel.