Paris travel guide

From Charles de Gaulle Airport, a single RER B ride takes you to Châtelet–Les Halles in the centre, so you can start sightseeing on arrival day. The Paris Region airport ticket costs 14 euros one way, and the ride takes 25 to 30 minutes.

The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and open until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays; admission for adults from outside the European Economic Area is 32 euros. The Musée d'Orsay is closed on Mondays and open until 21:45 on Thursdays. From Orly Airport, metro line 14 runs direct to Châtelet in about 25 minutes.

Closing days differ, so give each museum its own day. Check entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.

Visa and entry requirements for France

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• France-Visas (official visa website for France) (Government of France)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. It's open 9:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 9:00 to 21:00 on Wednesdays and Fridays. Adult admission is 32 euros for visitors from outside the European Economic Area and 22 euros for EEA visitors.

The Musée d'Orsay is closed on Mondays. It's open 9:30 to 18:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and until 21:45 on Thursdays. Standard admission is 16 euros online or 14 euros on site; Thursday late entry is 12 euros online or 10 euros on site.

Based on each museum's official information. Prices and times may change.

With 2 nights: on day one, take the RER B from the airport into the city and rest; on day two, go to the Louvre. It's closed on Tuesdays, so a Wednesday or Friday, when it opens into the evening, gives you more time.

With 4 nights: keep the first two days in the same order, and make day three the Musée d'Orsay and the city. The Orsay is closed on Mondays, so match the day first. Day four is for rest and departure.

The RER B from Charles de Gaulle to Châtelet–Les Halles takes 25 to 30 minutes. From Orly, metro line 14 runs direct to Châtelet in about 25 minutes. Both airports use the Paris Region airport ticket: 14 euros one way, or 7 euros reduced, from 1 January 2026. Buy it in the Île-de-France Mobilités app or on Navigo Easy.

Plan meals in Paris around steak frites, onion soup, baguettes and macarons: steak frites or onion soup for dinner, and baguettes and macarons as snacks. We don't pick shops or prices here.

France is in the Schengen Area: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU visitors, and ETIAS (EUR 20) is not yet in operation. Check the official French and EU information before you travel. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Orsay on Mondays; fixing your plan before your flight dates saves wasted trips.

Buy airport tickets in the Île-de-France Mobilités app or on Navigo Easy. The airport section uses the 14-euro Paris Region airport ticket, which differs from regular city tickets.