What makes it distinctive
Paris does evenings better than almost anywhere, with an opera house, an unhurried late dinner and the river lit up afterwards. By day it has some of the world's great collections, from Orsay to the Pinault Collection in the Bourse de Commerce.
See the complete escape- Best months
- April, May, June, September, October, December
- Seasons
- Paris works all year. Spring and early autumn have the kindest weather, and some restaurants close for part of August.
- Arrive
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Paris Orly (ORY). Allow roughly 45 minutes to over an hour by road from Charles de Gaulle to the centre, depending on traffic. Visitors from London or Brussels can arrive by train at the Gare du Nord.
- Getting around
- Central Paris is slow to drive and hard to park. A chauffeured car is the elegant alternative.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
Ritz Paris
Place Vendôme
The storied hotel on Place Vendôme, surrounded by the city's jewellers and watchmakers and within walking distance of the Tuileries and the Palais Garnier.
This recommendation is based on research, not a visit. Confirm current details, rates and seasonal opening with the property.
Three days in Paris
Longer stays add more days in the Planner.
Vendôme to the Opéra
Walk from Place Vendôme through the Tuileries in the afternoon. In the evening, see a performance at the Palais Garnier, followed by a late dinner.
Great collections
Spend the morning at the Musée d'Orsay, then take a car to Frank Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne. Dine late on the Left Bank.
The Marais
Walk the Place des Vosges and the Musée Picasso, see the Pinault Collection in the Bourse de Commerce, and finish with a walk along the river at night.