What I’d Do Differently: Paris Edition

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

We have been to Paris twice now. The first time we made every classic tourist mistake. The second time was dramatically better.

Book the Eiffel Tower Months in Advance

Tickets open 60 days before your visit and the summit slots sell out within hours. If you miss them, the only options are a guided tour at three times the price or the stairs to the second floor. We got lucky on our second trip by setting a calendar reminder for the exact release date.

Stay in the Marais or Saint-Germain, Not Near the Eiffel Tower

The area around the Eiffel Tower is residential and quiet at night. The Marais (3rd/4th arrondissement) has the best restaurants, vintage shops, and walkability. Saint-Germain (6th) has the classic cafe culture. Both are better bases.

Eat Where There Is No English Menu in the Window

Every Reddit thread about Paris food says the same thing: if the menu is in English, in a picture frame, displayed on the sidewalk — keep walking. The best meals we had were at places where we had to use Google Translate on a handwritten chalkboard.

The Metro Is Faster Than Uber in Central Paris

Paris traffic is brutal. What looks like a ten-minute Uber ride takes thirty minutes in traffic. The Metro is fast, cheap, and gets you within a five-minute walk of everything. Buy a carnet of tickets or use the Navigo Easy card.

Do the Catacombs

We skipped it the first time because it sounded touristy. It was the highlight of our second trip. Book online in advance — the line without a reservation wraps around the block.

What We Got Right

Walking along the Seine at sunset. It costs nothing and it is the most Paris thing you can do.

Travel Tools We Actually Use

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for Paris — Buy before you land. You need data the moment you arrive for navigation and translation apps.

Book Tours and Activities

• Paris Tours and Activities on Viator

Gear We Recommend

• Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack — Carry-on sized, opens like a suitcase.
• Anker Nano Power Bank — Essential for long days of navigating with your phone.
• Packing Cubes (6-Pack) — We bring these on every trip now.
• Universal Travel Adapter — One adapter for every country.
• Rain Jacket — Paris drizzle is constant in shoulder season.

Book on GetYourGuide:

• Louvre Museum Timed Entry
• Versailles Palace Skip-the-Line
• Seine River Cruise

Find Flights to Paris

Plan Your Trip to Paris

Ready to book? Search flights to Paris to compare prices across airlines. And compare hotel rates in Paris to find the best deals for your dates.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

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Travel gear I actually use:

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