Flying Into Paris

Most flights into Paris will arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). A secondary airport, Paris Orly (ORY) airport mainly handles flights within Europe, but there are a few low-cost airlines such as LEVEL and Norwegian that use Orly airport.

At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), you'll find flights on airlines from all over the world. The national carrier Air France has the most flights to/from Charles de Gaulle along with its partners Delta and KLM, but there are a growing number of low-cost carriers such as Norwegian and Primera Air using Paris Charles de Gaulle for a cheap flight across the Atlantic.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is well connected via France's national train network SNCF. An easy ride on the RER B train will bring you between the airport and the main train station to the north of Paris (Gare du Nord) in about 30 minutes.

Getting Around Paris

Driving in Paris is not recommended as there is an excellent public transportation network in Paris. The Paris Metro train is very expansive and is a great way to get around town affordably. Paris is also easy to navigate on foot with many pedestrian streets and enjoyable walks throughout the city.

Paris also has a few different bicycle share programs where you can find nearby free-standing bikes just about anywhere and unlock them with a smart phone.

Things to Do in Paris

Paris has many world class attractions to visit. You'll surely want to visit the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. You can also catch a show at the Moulin Rouge or enjoy a classic hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour.

If you like to shop, head to the Printemps department store for fashion, luxury, and beauty products. Other popular shopping areas in Paris include Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysees and St. Germain des Pres.

Enjoy the Parisian cuisine at some of the world's top fine dining establishments. Boutary often amazes its patrons with exceptional food and service and Le Caulaincourt rarely gets a bad review. Of course, you'll find plenty of great food on a budget as well. Pop in to any café and enjoy freshly made croissants for a classic taste of Paris.

While in France, you can't pass up the opportunity to enjoy a good French wine that will be pennies compared to what you pay elsewhere. The wine flows like water in Paris and you'll find many restaurant's house wine to be better than that expensive bottle you bought back home.

What to Know About Paris

As the capital of France, Paris is one of Europe's most diverse international hubs with a population that represents multiple different cultures. It's nicknamed the city of love for its romantic ambiance and is often a place people go to celebrate an anniversary or honeymoon.

Some local Parisians may not respond well if you do not greet them in their local language. Learning a few simple phrases in French will do wonders for how the locals treat you, so it's best to pick up a translation book or download an app and start practicing your French before you visit Paris.