A Three-Day Paris, France, Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Paris, France is the City of Light, and the huge draw for foreign visitors - it is the most popular tourist destination. France draws more visitors than any other city in the world.
If you are planning a first-time visit, and you not sure where to start, I recommend you begin with preparing a route and timeline then follow with a budget.
Don't worry about not knowing the city, this guide will help you to focus on your travel plans. It will also assist you with what to wear, where to live and all the essential information you need while visiting Paris.
This guide will also assist you with an excellent starting point, including making the most of your time as Paris is a high season city almost all the times, especially when the weather is balmy.
You can make the most of your time by taking the earliest Eurostar, and you'll have a choice of three modes of travel between London & Paris - the train, coach, and the plane.
Know the train is not the cheapest, but it is the fastest, the coach is the most economical. And after a three-day visit to Paris, France, you’ll fall in love with the city and want to come back for your second, third and even the fourth visit.
At every visit, it is spent differently, and you always find new things to explore each time, and you will never get bored because Paris is a huge city, full of great things to do.
Although you’ll want a second, third and fourth visit the first one should be all about taking in the best moment, the main sights and enjoy the overall best stopping spots of the city.
“People wonder why so many writers come to live in Paris. I’ve been living ten years in Paris and the answer seems simple to me: because it’s the best place to pick ideas. Just like Italy, Spain.. or Iran are the best places to pick saffron. If you want to pick opium poppies you go to Burma or South-East Asia. And if you want to pick novel ideas, you go to Paris.”
― Roman Payne, Crepuscule
It's a fact, Paris, France is one of the most visited cities in the world, yet it's doesn't have to be the most expensive, there are different affordable means of travel to reach France.
There are so many ways to plan a reasonable trip to Paris, France and some are reasonably cheaper than most can imagine. You can find several options, be it train, bus or an airplane.
If you dream about visiting Paris, France. The first step requires you to purchase a valid passport. Then it essential to know the season you choose for your vacation makes a huge difference, as it is important to go when it's cheap.
Traveling to Paris, France by Plane
When traveling by plane, it is best to check air ticket rates with the top travelers, although many search TripAdvisor or Expedia for the best rate. The prices are based on round-trip travel Flight operators are always striving to get the most passengers, and the consumer gets the best rate this way.
People who want to travel the world for the best price book their flight to Paris, France in the 19th arrondissement. The flights on airlines like American Airlines, JetBlue, United, Frontier, and Delta starts at $299.98, and some are cheaper, as rates are based on round-trip travel. If you book your hotel and flight together, you save even more.
“The best of America drifts to Paris. The American in Paris is the best American. It is more fun for an intelligent person to live in an intelligent country. France has the only two things toward which we drift as we grow older—intelligence and good manners.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald
Traveling to Paris, France by train
There are several options available for traveling by train. The most used train station is the Gare du Nord, which is also known as Eurostar. Many ports lead to specific destinations.
For example, the ports of Poole, Southampton, South coast of England, Plymouth and Portsmouth lead to Dieppe, Cherbourg, Roscoff, Caen, and Le Havre, respectively. Traveling from London to Paris, France the train will take approximately 2.5 hours. Eurostar provides transportation, which joins either at Waterloo in London or Ashford in Kent.
Website: http://www.eurostar.com
Traveling to Paris, France by bus
A bus is an easy option for going from Southern England to Northern France, between Kent and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. If you are traveling by the Eurotunnel from Folkestone, it will take you at least 35 minutes to reach Calais/Coquelles.
Website: http://www.eurotunnel.com
“Paris is a place in which we can forget ourselves, reinvent, expunge the dead weight of our past.”
― Michael Simkins, Detour de France: An Englishman in Search of a Continental Education
Driving in Paris, France
Visitors who are staying in Paris for less than 90 days, they can drive with their valid US driver's license. Although it's recommended US visitors get an International Driving Permit, which offers a translation of their license. The International Driving Permit is available through the American Automobile Association.
All major highways and departments have their own D1, D2 and D road numbers. Moreover, if you plan on driving while visiting Paris you need to know the rule of the road. Rules of the road to know for driving in Paris:
- Stop lights are not raised high above the intersections but at the street corners.
- While driving the police can stop you unexpected at any time and ask for your papers, even if you’ve done nothing wrong.
- Almost all of Paris, France cars are stick shifts.
- When the need to pass, the left lane is the only way to cross.
- If a driver flashes their high beams at you, he or she are asking you to merge into the right lane.
- If you’re a visitor driving, you are required to have a breathalyzer and a safety kit in the car at all times.
- In France, there is no such thing as a “right turn on red” because it's no turns on red.
The directions to the main destinations through the major highways are depicted in green. The directions through autoroutes are in blue, which means “toll’. The speed limit inside the city is 50 km/hr. When driving through wide roads, drivers are allowed to travel 70 km/hr. In downtown or residential areas, the driver is required to reduce the speed to 30 km/hr.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feas
Traffic rules
In Paris, France the standard speed limit is 130 km/hr. just over 80 mph on French motorways, the speed limit is 110 km/hr. on dual carriageways. the speed limit is 90 km/hr. on the main just outside the built-up areas.
The people drive on the right. Drivers are required to yield to any given vehicle coming from the right public thoroughfare unless it is posted on the road. The driving age in Paris, France is 18.
Even if a young driver under the age of 18 has a full driving license from another country, they cannot drive a car in Paris, France.
Where to Stay in Paris, France
To ensure you have the best of times in Paris, France, you will need to know where to stay as there are hundreds of hotels to choose from. To narrow down your choice to the best hotel the best thing to do is to determine which attractions you want to see most and then select the best hotel that is within easy distance. Research suggests the tourists who desire the best saving should book hotels in the 10th or 12th arrondissements. Scheduling in the 12th arrondissement will allow a tourist to feel He or She are on a well-earned vacation in 12th Arrondissement.
It’s 3715 hotels near Bel-Air, Paris, France. One recommendation is a four of the five-star rated hotel in the 12th arrondissement the Best Western Allegro Nation.
It’s within 2 miles of the Opera Bastille and offers 49 lovely rooms with room service. Check-in time is 2 PM. It has free Wi-Fi, rainfall showers, 24-hour front desk, 24-hour airport shuttle service. It has a bar/lounge, surcharge breakfast, safe deposit box, complimentary newspaper, LCD TV with cable channels.
A dry cleaning/laundry services available, coffee maker, coffee shop, laundry facilities, tour/ticket assistance, a short stroll from Place de la Nation, free bottled water, 0.2 miles of the Opera Bastille, and added convenience close by is Bois de Vincennes, Picpus Station and Place de la Bastille.
“Paris is always a good idea” — Audrey Hepburn
What to Wear in Paris, France:
While visiting Paris one may wonder how the Parisian people dress. One may see people on the street wearing all ranges of clothing. But if you don’t want your appearance to scream ‘American tourist,’ here are some essential tips to follow.
Paris clothing style is no more than three color rules, and the Parisian peoples love wearing neutral colors. Clothes and shoe of items to avoid are sweatpants, UGG boots, flip-flops, and clumpy tennis shoes.
Always dress neutral in Paris. Choose to wear black; it is a color that scheme local lives in and it also makes one look slimmer. Put together a flattering pair of black pants/skirt for daywear or on a beautiful night in town wear any color blouse will aim the subdued approach.
The most excellent free things to do in Paris: There really aren’t any problems visiting Paris, France, but the one dilemma visitors in Paris have, is there is just too much to do.
Paris is not known as a budget travel destination, but there are things tourists would love to do that don’t cost a French coin, travelers do not know the entire city, but they will want to know where to find the most excellent free things to do in Paris.
If you are visiting the city expert, Hannah Meltzer put together the best free things to do in Paris, look into her guide it is well worth the time.
After reading this Paris itinerary, you should have discovered everything you need to know to enjoy a visit to Paris, France. One thing I want to include is Paris, France is known the world over for wine, so during a stay why not relax a bit over a glass of wine while you get some R &R.
Lastly, Paris, France is such a fantastic place and share so many exciting experiences until you can travel for years and still feel like you've missed something needed.
To take advantage of the time and enjoy Paris I recommend the visit is at least three days to see all the major attraction, tourist sites to see and enjoy all the many famous spots and eateries.
Do you agree Paris is the most visited, but travelers don't need to be worried about what comes out of their wallet?
Ms. Ella Fitzgerald - I love Paris
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© 2018 Pam Morris