France Guides

Paris, the places our day trips go, and the rest of France, one page each

Monet’s house at Giverny in tulip season

We have been sending people around Paris and out of it for the day since 2002. Each page here is about one place or one practical question: the hours, the tickets, the way in, what to see in the time you have, and when to go. Prices and hours are checked against the official sites, and every page ends with our most popular tours.

Paris museums and sights

  • The Louvre. Closed Tuesdays, late nights Wednesday and Friday, €22 or €32 by residence, timed slots, the entrances, and a three-hour plan.
  • Musée d’Orsay. The Musée d’Orsay in 2026: closed Mondays, Thursday nights to 9:45pm, €16 online, the two entrances during the works, the fifth-floor Impressionists, and a two-hour plan.
  • Musée de l’Orangerie. Monet’s Water Lilies at the Orangerie in 2026: closed Tuesdays, Friday nights to 9pm, €12.50 online, the €20 ticket with Orsay, the Monet exhibition to January 25, 2027, and a 90-minute plan.
  • Musée Rodin. The Musée Rodin in 2026: closed Mondays, 10am to 6:30pm, €14, free first Sundays from October to March, the garden with The Thinker and the Gates of Hell, and a 90-minute plan.
  • Musée Picasso. The Musée Picasso in the Marais in 2026: closed Mondays, 9:30am to 6pm, €16, free first Sundays, the Hôtel Salé, the Schwitters exhibition to February 7, 2027, and a two-hour plan.
  • Musée Marmottan Monet. The Marmottan Monet in 2026: the largest Monet collection anywhere, Impression, Sunrise, €14, closed Mondays, open late Thursday, and how it fits with the Orsay and the Orangerie.
  • Musée Carnavalet. The Carnavalet, the museum of the history of Paris, in 2026: free permanent collection, closed Mondays, the Villeglé exhibition, what to see in 90 minutes, and how it fits a Marais afternoon.
  • Centre Pompidou. The Centre Pompidou is closed for renovation until 2030. What is shut, what stays open on the piazza, where the collection is showing in Paris this winter, and what to do instead.
  • Palais Garnier. Visiting the Paris opera house in 2026: €15 or €25 by residence, online booking only, 10:00 to 17:00 except on daytime-performance days, why the auditorium is often shut, and the €10 seat at a performance.
  • Les Invalides. Les Invalides in 2026: open daily 10:00 to 18:00, one €17 ticket for the Army Museum and Napoleon’s tomb, the two entrances, the first-Friday evening, and a two-hour plan.
  • The Panthéon. The Panthéon in 2026: open daily, €13, free for EU residents under 26, the crypt with Voltaire, Hugo and Curie, the dome climb closed for works, and a 75-minute plan.
  • The Catacombs. The Paris Catacombs in 2026: closed Mondays, open to 20:30, €31 with the audio guide, 131 steps down, 1.5 km of bones at 14°C, and why you book the slot the week before.
  • Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie in 2026: €16 or €22 by residence, the €23 or €30 twin ticket, the Palais de Justice security line, the light in the upper chapel, and a two-hour plan.
  • Notre-Dame. Notre-Dame de Paris in 2026: free entry, the optional reservation that skips the line, the towers at €16 and 424 steps, mass times, and the best hour to walk in.
  • The Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower in 2026: open 9:30 to 23:00, €36.70 to the top by lift, €14.80 by the stairs, why you book the lift weeks ahead, and the hour to go up.
  • Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe in 2026: open until 22:30 or 23:00, €16 to €22 by season, free under 18 and for EU residents under 26, 284 steps with the lift out until 2027, and the best hour on the roof.
  • Sacré-Cœur. Sacré-Cœur in 2026: free, open 6:30 to 22:30 every day, the dome climb, the funicular on a metro ticket, and the hour when the steps are worth the hill.
  • Père Lachaise. Père Lachaise cemetery in 2026: free, open daily from 8:00, closing at 18:00 through early November, the three gates, the graves people come for, and a two-hour route that finds them.

Paris neighborhoods

  • Le Marais. Le Marais on foot: Place des Vosges, rue des Rosiers, the free Carnavalet, the Picasso Museum, Sunday shopping, and where to eat.
  • Montmartre. Montmartre on foot: the back way up from Abbesses, Sacré-Cœur, the funicular on a metro ticket, the vineyard, Place du Tertre, and where to eat.
  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Saint-Germain-des-Prés on foot: the oldest church in Paris, the Flore and the Deux Magots, the Luxembourg Garden, the Delacroix studio, and where to eat.
  • The Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter on foot: Shakespeare and Company, the Sorbonne, the Panthéon, rue Mouffetard and the Monge market, the Cluny museum, and where to eat.
  • Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. The two islands in the Seine on foot: Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, the flower market, Square du Vert-Galant, and ice cream on Île Saint-Louis.
  • Canal Saint-Martin. Canal Saint-Martin on foot: the locks and iron footbridges from République to the Villette basin, the Hôtel du Nord, where to eat, and the best hour on the quays.
  • Belleville. Belleville on foot: the Tuesday and Friday market, the street art of rue Dénoyez, the Parc de Belleville view, Paris’s other Chinatown, and where to eat.
  • Champs-Élysées and the 8th. The Champs-Élysées and the 8th on foot: the Arc de Triomphe to Concorde, the Grand Palais and the free Petit Palais, avenue Montaigne, and where to eat.
  • Bastille and the 11th. Bastille and the 11th on foot: the July Column, the Bastille and Aligre markets, the Coulée Verte, the Opéra Bastille, rue de Lappe and Oberkampf, and where to eat.
  • The 7th Around the Eiffel Tower. The 7th arrondissement on foot: the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars, rue Cler, Les Invalides, the Rodin garden, the Quai Branly, and the Trocadéro view.

Getting around Paris

  • CDG to Paris. Charles de Gaulle to central Paris in 2026: the RER B at €14, the €56 and €65 taxi flat fares, what replaced the Roissybus, and when a private transfer is worth it.
  • Orly to Paris. Orly to central Paris in 2026: metro line 14 straight to Châtelet on the €14 airport ticket, Orlyval and the RER B, the €36 and €45 taxi flat fares, and a private transfer.
  • Metro, RER and Navigo. The Paris metro in 2026: €2.55 a ride anywhere in the region, €12.30 for a day, €32.40 for the week, the €14 airport ticket, and how to load it all on your phone.
  • The Paris Museum Pass. The Paris Museum Pass in 2026: €85, €105 or €125 for 2, 4 or 6 days, what it covers, the time slots you still need to book, and the math on whether it pays for you.
  • What’s Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Which Paris museums close on Monday and which on Tuesday, what is open seven days a week, and how to plan the week so you never arrive at a locked door.
  • The Six Paris Train Stations. Which Paris station for which day trip: Saint-Lazare for Normandy, Montparnasse for the Loire, Gare de l’Est for Champagne, Gare de Lyon for Burgundy, and how to get there on time.
  • Seine Cruises. Seine cruises in Paris: the one-hour sightseeing boat from the Eiffel Tower, dinner cruises, the hop-on Batobus, a Champagne tasting on the river, and the hour to go.
  • Paris Markets. The Paris food markets worth the trip and their days: Bastille, Aligre, the Raspail organic market, Président-Wilson, Belleville, Monge, and the market streets.
  • Sundays in Paris. What is open and closed on a Sunday in Paris: the museums, the free first Sundays, the Marais shops, the Sunday markets, restaurants, and how to spend the day.

Where to stay in Paris

  • 25 Interesting Hotels in Paris. 25 Paris hotels with a story, from the Ritz, the Crillon and the Lutetia to a public pool, a post office, a bank and a Belle Époque brothel, grouped by character.

Where our day trips go

  • The D-Day Beaches. The D-Day beaches from Paris: the train to Bayeux, Omaha, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches and the American Cemetery, what each costs, and how our tour does it in a day.
  • Bayeux. Bayeux from Paris: the train, the Tapestry’s closure and its London loan, the cathedral, the British war cemetery, the markets, and why our D-Day tour starts here.
  • Mont-Saint-Michel. Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris: the train and bus route, the abbey’s hours and prices, the shuttle and the steps, the tides, and how our tours get you there.
  • Saint-Malo and Dinan. Saint-Malo and Dinan from Paris: the TGV, the ramparts, the tides and Fort National, the coach to the Mont, Dinan’s walls and the Jerzual, and how our tour runs.
  • Giverny from Paris. Monet’s house and gardens: the Saint-Lazare train, the Vernon shuttle, timed tickets, and the month-by-month bloom.
  • Versailles. Versailles from Paris: the RER, the timed slot and the line, Passport prices, fountain days, the Trianon, the free Sundays, and how our private tour gets you in.
  • Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte from Paris: hours, prices and closed days, the trains and the Melun shuttle, why there is no link between them, and our private day.
  • The Loire Valley Châteaux. The Loire châteaux from Paris: the TGV to Tours, which castles the train reaches, Chambord and Chenonceau prices and hours, and our day with lunch.
  • Reims and Champagne. Reims and Champagne from Paris: the one-hour TGV, the coronation cathedral, Veuve Clicquot and the other houses, Épernay, Hautvillers, booking, and our day with lunch.
  • Strasbourg. Strasbourg from Paris: the 1h46 TGV, the cathedral and its clock, Petite France, the boat, the Christmas market dates, the wine road without a station, and our day.
  • Colmar and the Alsace Wine Villages. Colmar and the Alsace wine villages from Paris: the TGV, Unterlinden, Petite Venise, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, the castle, the Christmas markets, and our day.
  • Lyon. Lyon from Paris: the two-hour TGV, the traboules, Fourvière and the funicular, the bouchons, the Fête des Lumières, and our day with lunch.
  • Avignon. Avignon from Paris: the 2h40 TGV, the Palais des Papes and the bridge, the festival, Les Baux, Saint-Rémy, the Pont du Gard and Gordes, and our Provence days.
  • Arles, Les Baux and Saint-Rémy. Arles, Les Baux and Saint-Rémy: trains via Avignon, the arena, Van Gogh’s asylum, the Carrières, the one bus between them, and our Van Gogh day.
  • Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion. Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion: the 2-hour TGV, the Cité du Vin, the monolithic church, how the châteaux book, and our Saint-Émilion day with lunch.
  • Beaune and Burgundy. Beaune and Burgundy from Paris: the TGV to Dijon, the Hospices, the Clos de Vougeot, Romanée-Conti, the November auction, walk-in cellars, and our day with lunch.
  • Rouen. Rouen from Paris: the 71-minute train, Monet’s cathedral, the Gros-Horloge, Joan of Arc’s square, the Armada dates, and our Rouen, cider and Bayeux day.
  • Caen. Caen from Paris: the 2-hour train, the Mémorial, William’s abbeys and château, the one bus to Juno, and our Caen Memorial and D-Day day.
  • Verdun and the Western Front. Verdun from Paris: the TGV and coach in, the Mémorial, Douaumont’s ossuary and forts, the Citadelle, the Argonne, and our private WWI day.
  • Cognac. Cognac from Paris: the trains via Angoulême, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell and the Château, how the houses book, VS to XO, and our tasting day.
  • Aix-en-Provence. Aix-en-Provence from Paris: the TGV and the shuttle in, the Cours Mirabeau, the Cézanne sites and when they reopen, Granet and Caumont, the markets, and our art tour.
  • Orange and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Orange and Châteauneuf-du-Pape: the Roman theatre, the arch, the papal castle and the cellars on our Provence tours, the train, the weekday bus and the Chorégies.
  • The Luberon. The Luberon: Gordes, Roussillon, Sénanque, Bonnieux, Ménerbes and Lourmarin, our Provence day and the Gordes biking trip, buses, markets and lavender dates.
  • Pont du Gard, Nîmes and Uzès. The Pont du Gard, Nîmes and Uzès: the aqueduct on our Provence day, the arena and Maison Carrée, the Saturday market, buses, trains and what to skip.
  • The Lavender Fields of Provence. The lavender fields of Provence: when they bloom at Valensole, Sault and Sénanque, our July lavender day from Avignon, the distilleries, the fêtes and the rules.

Near Paris and the north

  • Chartres. Chartres from Paris: the one-hour train from Montparnasse, the free cathedral, the guided climb, the labyrinth, the lower town, Maison Picassiette and the evening lights.
  • Honfleur, Deauville and Étretat. Honfleur, Deauville and Étretat from Paris: the train to Deauville, the bus to Honfleur, the cliffs by Le Havre, the Vieux Bassin, the Planches and the markets.
  • Amiens. Amiens from Paris: the one-hour train, the cathedral towers and treasury, the Chroma light show, boats through the floating gardens, Saint-Leu and Jules Verne’s house.
  • Lille. Lille from Paris: the one-hour TGV, the Grand Place and Vieux-Lille, the Palais des Beaux-Arts, La Piscine, the Braderie and the Christmas market.

Brittany and the Atlantic

  • Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan. Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan from Paris: the TGV to Auray and Vannes, the standing stones, guided visits, the island boats, Vannes old town and the coaches.
  • Finistère. Brittany’s far west: the TGV to Quimper and Brest, the Pointe du Raz, Locronan, Concarneau’s Ville Close, the Crozon peninsula and why you need a car.
  • Nantes. Nantes from Paris: the two-hour TGV, the Grand Éléphant and when it stops, the château, the cathedral, the green line and the trams.
  • La Rochelle and Île de Ré. La Rochelle from Paris: the TGV, the harbor towers, the aquarium, the sea bus, and Île de Ré by bus or bike across the bridge.

The Riviera, Provence and Corsica

  • Nice. Nice from Paris: the TGV and flights, the old town, Castle Hill, the Matisse and Chagall museums, the pebble beaches, and the best months to go.
  • The Riviera Villages. Day trips from Nice by train and bus: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Monaco, Menton, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence, with fares, hours and closures.
  • Saint-Tropez. Saint-Tropez from Paris: the TGV to Saint-Raphaël or Toulon, the bus and the boats, the Citadelle, the Annonciade, Pampelonne and the market.
  • Porquerolles and the Îles d’Or. Porquerolles from Paris: the TGV to Toulon or Hyères, the 15-minute boat, bikes, the beaches, the Villa Carmignac, Port-Cros and the park rules.
  • Marseille. Marseille from Paris: the three-hour TGV, the airport bus, the Vieux-Port, Notre-Dame de la Garde, the MuCEM, the Château d’If and the Calanques.
  • Cassis and the Calanques. Cassis and the Calanques: the train from Marseille, the calanque boats, the walks to Port-Miou, Port-Pin and En-Vau, and the summer fire-risk rules.
  • The Gorges du Verdon. The Gorges du Verdon from Paris: the TGV to Aix and a rental car, Moustiers, boats on Lac de Sainte-Croix, the Route des Crêtes and the Blanc-Martel trail.
  • Corsica. Corsica from Paris: flights from Orly, the ferries from Marseille, Nice and Toulon, why you need a car, Bonifacio, Ajaccio, Bastia, the train and the GR20.

The Southwest, Languedoc and the Pyrenees

  • Montpellier. Montpellier from Paris: the TGV and its two stations, the trams, Place de la Comédie, the Musée Fabre, the Peyrou, the old town and the beaches by tram and bus.
  • Collioure and the Côte Vermeille. Collioure from Paris: the train via Perpignan, the Château Royal, the Fauvist walk, Le Moure, what is closed, summer parking and Banyuls by train.
  • Carcassonne. Carcassonne from Paris: the train via Toulouse, the free walled Cité, the château and ramparts, the lower town, Canal du Midi boats and when to go.
  • Toulouse. Toulouse from Paris: the TGV and flights, the airport bus, the Capitole, Saint-Sernin, the Jacobins, Airbus factory tours and the Cité de l’espace.
  • Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel. Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel from Paris: the train via Toulouse, Sainte-Cécile, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum, the Pont Vieux and the bus to the hilltop village.
  • Lourdes and the Pyrenees. Lourdes from Paris: the TGV and the night train, the Sanctuary and the torchlight procession, the château, the Pic du Jer, and Gavarnie and Pont d’Espagne.
  • Biarritz and the Basque Coast. Biarritz, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Espelette, La Rhune and San Sebastián: the TGV from Paris, the beaches, the buses and the best months.
  • The Dordogne. The Dordogne from Paris: trains to Brive and Périgueux, why you need a car, Sarlat, Lascaux IV, La Roque-Gageac, Beynac, Rocamadour and canoeing the river.

The Alps, the East and the Center

  • Annecy. Annecy from Paris: the direct TGV, Geneva airport, the old town canals, the Palais de l’Île, lake cruises, the cycle path and the best months.
  • Chamonix. Chamonix from Paris: the train via Saint-Gervais, Geneva airport, the Aiguille du Midi, the Mer de Glace, the lift closures, the ski season and the guest card.
  • Nancy. Nancy from Paris: the TGV, Place Stanislas, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Art Nouveau museum, Villa Majorelle and the Saint-Nicolas festival.
  • The Auvergne Volcanoes. The Auvergne volcanoes from Paris: the train to Clermont-Ferrand, the rack train up the Puy de Dôme, Vulcania, Lemptégy, the Puy de Pariou and Saint-Nectaire.

Deciding between tours rather than reading about a place? The Trip Planning pages compare them side by side.