podtour
At a glance
- Country
- France
- Region
- Île-de-France
- Language
- French. Hello: “bonjour”. Thank you: “merci”.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Population
- Around 2 million residents within the municipality
- Sockets
- Types C and E, 230 V
- Emergencies
- 112
- Tap water
- Yes. Tap water is safe to drink.
- Card payments
- Cards are widely accepted; a little cash can still be useful for small purchases.
- Tipping
- Tipping is optional; leave something if you would like to thank the staff.
- Driving side
- right
When to go
| Season | Approximate temperature | Rain | Daylight | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Roughly 5–20 °C | Showers and changeable weather | Lengthening days | Gardens and terraces become livelier |
| Summer | Roughly 15–30 °C; hotter spells are possible | Occasional thunderstorms | Long evenings | Busy around the main sights |
| Autumn | Roughly 5–20 °C | Wet spells | Shortening days | Cooler walks among falling leaves |
| Winter | Roughly 0–10 °C | Damp, rain and possible frost | Short days | Indoor breaks are welcome |
- Spring and autumn suit a mixture of parks and museums without relying on heat; always pack a layer for rain.
- June brings the Fête de la Musique and livelier streets; July brings national celebrations. December adds Christmas lights and activity.
Walking the city
- Terrain: much of the centre beside the Seine is straightforward; Montmartre and Belleville add hills and steps.
- Surfaces: smooth pavements alternate with cobbles and stairs down to the quays. Don’t assume riverside access will be step-free.
- Weather on foot: winter can feel damp; open walks can be hot in summer.
- Distances: explore one neighbourhood on foot. Linking Montmartre, the Marais and the Eiffel Tower in a single walk takes considerable energy.
- Crossings: vehicles keep right. Check cycle lanes as well as the road before stepping out.
- Daily rhythm: leave space for a seated lunch and dinner instead of waiting until you’re ravenous.
Getting there and around
- Charles de Gaulle has suburban trains, buses and taxis; Orly connects to the metro network, as well as having buses and taxis.
- The main railway stations are spread around Paris: save the name of yours, not just “Paris”.
- The metro and suburban rail help you change areas. For neighbouring squares, walking can avoid unnecessary stairs.
- Follow the line’s destination in the metro and let people off first; changing trains can involve long passages.
The neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | What it's like | Who it suits | Our routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Île de la Cité | Bridges and large buildings in a small area | A first visit | The Île de la Cité: from the Pont Neuf to Notre-Dame Free |
| Marais | Narrow streets, courtyards and squares | Unhurried exploring | The Jewish Marais and its Mansions: from Saint-Gervais to Carnavalet; From Saint-Paul to the Bastille by the Place des Vosges |
| Upper Latin Quarter | University life and gentle slopes | Streets mixed with heritage | Cluny, the Sorbonne and the Rue Saint-Jacques; The Panthéon and the Rue Mouffetard |
| Saint-Germain and Luxembourg | Gardens and places to sit | A gentler pace | Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Luxembourg and the Odéon |
| Louvre and Palais-Royal | Broad courtyards and urban gardens | Architecture and interior visits | The Louvre and Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois; The Palais-Royal and the Place des Victoires |
| Montmartre | Hills, steps and views | Walking with reliable grip | Montmartre, the Hill of the Martyrs: from the Bateau-Lavoir to the Summit |
| Champ de Mars | Open spaces beside the tower | A walk exposed to the weather | The Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars |
| Canal Saint-Martin | Water, footbridges and neighbourhood life | A different scale of Paris | The Canal Saint-Martin and the Grange-aux-Belles |
What to try
| Dish or drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Croissant | A laminated butter pastry. |
| Pain au chocolat | Laminated pastry with chocolate inside. |
| Baguette | A crisp-crusted loaf for a simple meal. |
| Jambon-beurre | A ham and butter baguette sandwich. |
| Croque-monsieur | A hot ham and cheese sandwich with a browned topping. |
| Soupe à l’oignon | Onion soup, often with bread and a grilled cheese topping. |
| Quiche | A savoury pastry tart with an egg and cream filling, in many versions. |
| Crêpe | A thin pancake with a sweet or savoury filling. |
| Fromage | Cheeses of many textures; ask for help choosing. |
| Éclair | An oblong pastry filled with cream and finished with icing. |
What to pack
- Comfortable shoes for pavements and metro stairs.
- A light waterproof or compact umbrella, and layers.
- Coat, scarf and gloves in winter; water and sunscreen in summer.
- A refillable bottle: the iron Wallace fountains, often green, provide drinking water. In a restaurant, ask for a “carafe d’eau” if you would like a jug of tap water.
- An adaptor for French C/E sockets; a British plug won’t fit.
- Download your routes and audio before setting off: Podtour works offline.
For the trip
Customs and common mistakes
- Begin with “bonjour” before asking a question or ordering.
- “S’il vous plaît” and “merci” work better than raising your voice.
- Let people leave trains before boarding and take your rucksack off in a crowded carriage.
- Leave space for others to pass on escalators.
- Don’t use a cycle lane as a waiting area for photographs.
- Keep voices low in churches and cemeteries, respecting people there for other reasons.
- Ask for the coffee preparation you want; “un café” is usually short.
- Keep bags closed in crowds and avoid leaving them unattended on a chair.
If it rains (or it's very hot)
- The Louvre and Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois and The Palais-Royal and the Place des Victoires can be combined with a separately arranged museum visit.
- Cluny, the Sorbonne and the Rue Saint-Jacques has the Musée de Cluny nearby for a possible indoor break. The route doesn’t provide admission.
- Leave the steps of Montmartre, the Hill of the Martyrs: from the Bateau-Lavoir to the Summit for another time in heavy rain. In strong heat, reduce the open stretches of The Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars and rest.
Itineraries with Podtour
These plans leave time for meals and an interior visit. Listen at the outdoor points on each route; arrange interior visits separately.
Days Plan
1 day
Begin with The Île de la Cité: from the Pont Neuf to Notre-Dame Free, then Notre-Dame and the Île Saint-Louis, between neighbouring islands. Avoid adding a jump to the far side of Paris.
2 days
Day 1: follow the previous plan. Day 2: The Jewish Marais and its Mansions: from Saint-Gervais to Carnavalet and From Saint-Paul to the Bastille by the Place des Vosges, through neighbouring parts of the Marais.
3 days
Days 1 and 2: follow the previous plans. Day 3: The Louvre and Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois and The Palais-Royal and the Place des Victoires. Leave a separate block if you want to visit the museum.
What to see with Podtour
= a place covered by our free route, The Île de la Cité: from the Pont Neuf to Notre-Dame Free.