Paris – a vibrant, bustling city where elegance meets modernity, art and culture combine, and millions of people visit each year.

By far one of the most popular tourist cities to visit within France – and Europe as a whole – Paris welcomes over 50 million tourists, and with the city recently in the spotlight for the 2024 Summer Olympics, there has never been a better time to book your journey and explore the city – check out our guide for the best places to stay, eat and visit while you’re there.

Primary Language: French and English

Currency: Euros

Travel Time from Australia: Approximately 20 hours

Visa Requirements: No requirements for a Visa when staying for up to 90 days. A Visa may be required to stay longer than 90 days.

Best Time To Visit: April – June and October – November

Paris Travel Guide: Top Tips

Where To Stay

Paris is made up of 20 Arrondissements – similar to suburbs or districts – and where you stay will depend on what you want to do. Each Arrondissement is slightly different and has a different feel, but if it’s your first time in Paris, you’ll most likely want to stay in the 1st, 7th or 8th Arrondissements – these are the closest to the majority of popular tourist attractions and will allow you to immerse yourself fully in the culture.

While there are hundreds of popular hotels in Paris, we recommend staying in the below when visiting:

Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre

An upmarket hotel located in the 18th Arr., Hotel Des Arts Paris Montmartre is perfect for those who want to be in the centre of all the action. A short walk from the Moulin Rouge, Basilica, and close to Public Transport options, the property offers plenty of opportunity for those who want to get out and explore. The property also prides itself on itself on sustainable alternatives, offsetting 10% of the carbon footprint and offering reusable alternatives to single-use plastic.

The Peninsula Paris

If you’re not afraid to spend a little more to enjoy true luxury while visiting Paris, you can’t go past a stay in The Peninsula Paris. Located in the 8th Arr. and known for its opulent dining, accommodation and amenities – think a spa, hair salon and rooftop terrace – enjoy a quiet morning with coffee overlooking the city from your balcony, or hire a bike from the in-house bike rental and ride to the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees or Arc de Triomphe.

Hôtel Monsieur Aristide

If you’ve always wanted to live out your romantic French dreams complete with coffee in the leafy garden, look no further than the Hotel Monsieur Aristide. Located in the 18th Arr. right near the Moulin Rouge and Basilica, spend your mornings sipping coffee or juice outside in their garden before donning your walking shoes and exploring the region. The hotel also offers Romance Packages to help bring the ‘City of Romance’ to your next holiday – Speak to our Leisure team for more information!

Hôtel Joyce – Astotel

Located in between the 1st and 18th Arr.’s, the Hotel Joyce – Astotel is a comfortable, boutique hotel perfect for those who want to explore the city and everything that it has to offer. Offering free Wi-Fi, a buffet breakfast and bike rental, grab a coffee and croissant from the restaurant before donning your walking shoes and biking through the city, touring the Palais Garnier, Louvre and Champs-Elysees.

Nolinski Paris – Evok Collection

A luxury spa hotel right on the Siene in the 1st Arr., if you’re looking for an upmarket property with plenty of clean, modern flair, look no further than the Nolinksi Paris – Evok Collection. A short distance from the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Palais Garnier and the Siene, walk around the city by day before retiring to their restaurant at night for a French dining experience.

Where To Eat

If Paris is known for anything, its known for food, wine and exceptional coffee. While the chances are you’ll find somewhere exceptional to eat on just about every street corner, there are a few that come highly recommended:

1. Cafe de Flore
   One of the most popular cafes in Paris – particularly with the Parisian elite – Cafe de Flore is the perfect place to visit for a lazy afternoon people-watching. Popular for their coffee and croissants, visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the queues, and watch Parisian life evolve before your eyes.
2. Early June
   Known as the hotspot for travelling chefs when they visit the city, if you fancy something a little more unique, a trip to the Early June Wine Bar is a must-do. Offering a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of wines and an ever-changing menu due to the rotation of travelling chefs, book in for an evening of casual dining and wine sampling – but be prepared to spend some time there as the menu is extensive!
3. Le Jules Verne, The Eiffel Tower
   Set within the Eiffel Tower and offering both incredible food and incredible views of the inner workings of the Iron Lady, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressive place to dine in Paris. Known for its private dining offering, this restaurant is more upmarket and a little pricier than most of the restaurants and cafes in Paris, but well worth the visit for a chance to sit within one of the region’s most famous landmarks!
4. Du Pain et Des Idees
   No trip to Paris is complete without visiting the many Bulangeries, and Do Pain et Des Idees is one of the best. Right near the Siene in an 1875 shop with painted ceilings, grab a chair and a chocolate pistachio swil and watch Parisian life go by. They’re also known for their signature ‘pain des amis’ bread, so don’t forget to sample this!
5. La Poule au Pot
   French cuisine is classically known for a few things – foie gras, French onion soup and escargot – so if you’re hoping to indulge in some classic French dishes while visiting the city, add a visit to La Poule au Pot to the list. While this restaurant isn’t one of the cheapest places to go, you can expect to indulge in quintessential Parisian dishes from exceptional chefs, so it’s a must-do if you want to immerse yourself in the dining scene.

There are also plenty of food and wine tours that run throughout the week taking travellers to some of the most iconic Parisian restaurants and cafes, so if you’re overwhelmed by the food choices and want to ensure you eat at the best, we recommend speaking to our Leisure Team and letting them book you a tour!

Must-See Experiences

Known as one of the world’s best tourism locations, Paris is home to a huge number of world-class tourism locations that are must-sees while visiting for business. If you find yourself visiting the city for ‘Bleisure’ purposes, we recommend visiting the below:

Notre Dame

First opening in 1345, the Notre Dame is one of Paris’ oldest and most iconic attractions, welcoming millions of visitors every year. Famous for its high ceilings, stained glass windows and organ with 8,000 pipes, the Notre Dame is currently undergoing restorative works after the 2019 fire that destroyed its iconic spire, with the building expected to reopen to the public in December 2024.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

One of the many incredible historical structures that Paris is known for, a trip to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is essential if you’re a fan of architecture, history and incredible culture. An awe-inspiring Roman Church, step inside and explore the basilica itself, or take a Dome Tour to see the roof up close and marvel at the architecture. We recommend visiting at sunset, when you can see the Eiffel Tower and Paris painted gold and red from the sun.

The Louvre

The national Art Museum in Paris, and one of the most famous museums in the world, a visit to The Louvre is highly recommended for anyone visiting the city. Located on the Right Bank of the Siene and home to some of the world’s most famous works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory, we recommend booking out a whole day to explore this Art Museum and all of the wonders that it holds.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is arguably one of the most famous tourist attractions in Paris, if not the whole of Europe, so no trip to Paris is complete without carving some time out of your trip to visit (and to get that classic “holding up the Tower” photo). Open right up until late, take a wander around the base and marvel at the sheer size of the structure, or climb to the top and take in views of the whole of Paris. The Eiffel Tower is also home to a restaurant, so why not make an evening out of it and dine there once you’ve explored the structure?

Jardin de Tuileries

Apart from food and its many historical buildings, Paris is also known for its many beautiful green spaces – one of which is the Jardin de Tuileries, also known as the Tuileries Garden. Located in between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, this 28-hectare public garden plays host to a huge number of statues, fountains and cafes for you to sit and sip coffee in between adventures. We also recommend taking some time to pack a picnic basket and sit for a picnic in the gardens with other Parisians.

Booking Your Next Paris Trip

One of the world’s largest economies and now home to a wide range of startup and established businesses, business travel to Paris is becoming more common than ever as businesses look to close deals, develop ties and open new office spaces in the region.

Pulse Travel has over 35 years of experience in the Corporate Travel Industry, and regularly supports travellers in booking business travel to Paris and around the world. If you’re looking for a Corporate Travel Agent or want to learn more about our offerings, get in touch.