14 Tips to Make the Most of Your Trip to Paris

As Audrey Hepburn famously said in the film, "Paris is always a good idea." We couldn't agree more.
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As Audrey Hepburn famously said in the film Sabrina, "Paris is always a good idea." We couldn't agree more.

Whether you know it as the city of light, love or one of your bucket list destinations, Paris will leave you longing to return for more.

Our deal experts have strolled along the Champs-Elysees, picnicked on the Place des Vosges, lined up for the Louvre and have a collection of tips that will help you make the most of your days living like a Parisian.

  1. Paris' cuisine, particularly that found in the restaurants run by the city's young chefs, is world-class, and quite different from the vision of traditional Parisian dining. A couple favorites include Le Chateaubriand and Agape Substance. -- Mark Fredenburg

  • Make sure to take an afternoon break each day of our vacation for a glass of rosé at an outdoor café. Day trips to Reims (the Champagne region) for a tasting at Veuve Clicquot and to Versailles for a tour of the amazing gardens and palaces at Chateau de Versailles are also worthwhile. -- Angela Shannon
  • Go to Le Marais for falafel and just to wander through the beautiful, historic streets. It feels like visiting Paris in the 1900s. And literary geeks will love seeing where Victor Hugo lived and found inspiration. -- Ashley Hamilton
  • For a romantic spectacle, I recommend the "Pont des Arts" called also the "love bridge" where all the lovers put a padlock then throw the key into the Seine to seal their love. Quite funny to see and has the view on Notre-Dame! -- Betty Noel
  • Head to Rue Mouffetard. This winding street in the 5th arrondissement is packed with cafes, bars and lively restaurants. The street is closed to automobile traffic in the evenings, so it becomes a great place to walk around, while ducking into several places along the way. -- Kevin Kitchen

  • Chez Colette is one of the most chic boutiques in Paris. Roam Rue des Francs Bourgeois in the Marais, which hosts numerous fashion boutiques. -- Stéphane Renard
  • Buy the Paris Museum Pass. We visited the Louvre, Versailles Palace, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, the Rodin Museum and more. Buying individual tickets for each of these attractions would've cost twice as much. Having the pass also lets you skip the ticket line at both Versailles and the Louvre, which often can be the longest lines to wait in. -- Mary Walker Baus
  • Paris is not just for lovers! I've traveled to Paris with a significant other, with a good friend, with each of my parents and by myself. I've experienced Paris through a different lens each time, all wonderful. Being able to experience the city by myself wasn't as lonely as I had anticipated: It gave me the chance to truly observe and absorb, like I was traveling within a living painting. -- Erica Bray
  • With cities like Paris, the best part is just veering off on your own, and that's just what I did. After taking the most roundabout way to get to the Rodin Sculpture Garden from the First, the loveliest day of my trip was just spent with a book amid the statues and estate, a really great coffee and the sunshine. -- Hilary Solan
  • The city is full of nice places to discover, but the underground of Paris is also full of secrets. While you visit Paris, take a visit to the Catacombs. During 45 minutes you will go through 1.2 miles of old quarries and navigate Paris underground -- quite a unique experience! -- Betty Noel
  • I went to Paris last year with my mum and we booked a River Seine Champagne cruise through Travelzoo, that really was the highlight of the trip. I cannot recommend it enough it was magical and it would definitely encourage me to book it again. -- Krystina Mitchell
  • While the Louvre is considered the must-see museum in Paris, we enjoyed the Musée D'Orsay more. It's smaller, so it was more digestible for the casual art fan. An added bonus, the view of Paris from the rooftop is Christmas Card picture-worthy. - Andrew Young
  • For a mellow and memorable evening, sit on the steps of the Sacré Coeur with a beer or a bottle of wine and watch the Eiffel Tower come to life and sparkle every hour on the hour until midnight. - Dan Ascher
  • Once you've had an eyeful of the Eiffel, enjoy an offbeat day in Paris by visiting one of the city's more unique museums - there are 200-some to choose from, including a Museum of Perfume. (That's not the Chanel store.) - Greg Kunstler
  • World-famous museums, unforgettable cuisine and picturesque locales are just the beginning of what this cosmopolitan city offers. With the help of our Travelzoo Paris office, we've sourced the top Paris hotel, vacation and cruise deals for travel through winter. For more tips and exclusive travel deals, visit the Featured Destinations: Paris page.

    Heidi Stallings is based in Chicago. Travelzoo has 250 deal experts from around the world who rigorously research, evaluate and test thousands of deals to find those with true value.

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