The current name comes from the Parisii, Gallo-Celto tribes who occupied the area prior to the arrival of the Romans who establish the city of Lutetia around 52 BC. Around 508 CE, after Roman influence left, Clovis of the Franks attain rule that passed on to the descendants, the Carolingians. Clovis and those descendants are considered the first kings of France. Through the decades Paris continued to grow as an economic, cultural, political, religious, educational and military power in this part of Europe. In the late 18th century social upheaval overthrew the monarch and centuries of privilege for the aristocracy and clergy came to an end. The new forms based on the ideas of Enlightenment sent ripples through Europe. From this point on most monarchies in Europe began losing their ultimate influence and grip on power, the last of them surviving until the end of World War I. Paris and the surrounding areas were all scenes of heavy activity in both World Wars I & II. All of this history makes Paris one of the most remarkable cities in the world. There is so much to see and experience that one will never see it all in a visit. So always make plans to visit again and again.
Regions of Paris
Center of Paris
1st Arrondissement
2nd Arrondissement
3rd Arrondissement
Left Bank of Paris
5th Arrondissement
6th Arrondissement
7th Arrondissement
Inner Paris
8th Arrondissement
9th Arrondissement
East Paris
10th Arrondissement
11th Arrondissement
12th Arrondissement
South Paris
13th Arrondissement
14th Arrondissement
15th Arrondissement
West Paris
16th Arrondissement
17th Arrondissement
Paris Hills
18th Arrondissement
19th Arrondissement
20th Arrondissement
Petite Couronne
Hauts-de_seine
Seine-Saint-Denis
Cal-de-Marne
Grande Couronne
Seine-et-Marne
Yvelines
Essone
Val-d-Oise
Paris Points of Interest
Day Trips
Daily excursions may be easily taken on a train or bus into adjoining areas near a major metropolitan area. Schedules usually provide multiple trips in the morning hours as well as, returns to the city in the late afternoons or early evenings. There are also day tour operators that will run a bus that will include a guide and entry tickets for one price. See our Tours page for more information.
Unesco World Heritage Site
Amiens Cathedral
Ardennes WWI Sites
Auvers-sur-Oise
Champagne Region
– Eperny
– Reims
Château de Chantilly
Chartres Cathedral
Fountainbleau
Lille
Loire Valley Châteaus
– Amboise
– Chambord
– Chenonceau
– Villandry
Monet’s Giverny
Normandy
– Bayeaux
– D-Day Beaches
– Mont Saint-Michel
Rouen
Somme WWI Battlefields
Verdun-Meuse-Argonne WWI Battlefields
Paris Weather & Climate
The overall climate throughout the year is mild and moderately wet. Summer days are usually warm and pleasant with average temperatures between 15 and 25 °C (59 and 77 °F), and a fair amount of sunshine. Each year, however, there are a few days when the temperature rises above 32 °C (90 °F). Spring and autumn have on average, mild days and fresh nights but are changing and unstable. In winter, sunshine is scarce; days are cool, and nights are cold but generally above freezing with low temperatures around 3 °C. Snow falls every year, but rarely stays on the ground.
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Airports
Many options are available flying into Paris as many airlines offer flights from international and domestic locations. Transportation is accessible from airports to the center of Paris.
CDG Aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (Roissy-en-France, FR) – The largest airport in France, the second busiest in Europe and the tenth in the world. Located 28 km north of Paris it is the major hub for for Air France. There are non-stop flights to 23 US cities with legacy and low-cost carriers for connections to the rest of Europe. The majority of international flights arrive at CDG. Transportation to the city center on RER line “B” or Roissy Bus to stop at Place Charles Garnier.
ORY Aéroport de Paris-Orly (Orly, FR) – Prior to the Charles de Gaulle opening in 1974, Orly was the main airport in Paris. Located 17 km south of the city center the majority of flights are domestic within France and it is France’s seconded busiest. Transportation to city is on Orly Bus to the Denfert-Rochereau metro station line 6 in the 14th Arrondissement.
BVA Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé (Beauvais, FR) – Predominately used by low-cost and charter carriers. Aérport Buses run between Porte Maillot metro and airport. Minimum travel time is 1 hour to city center.
Public Transportation
Suburban Train: SNCF/Transilien (complete network map)
H line, Paris Gare du Nord ↔︎ Pontoise / Persan-Beaumont / Luzarches, Pontoise ↔︎ Creil
J line, Paris Gare Saint-Lazare ↔︎ Gisors / Eaubonne / Mantes-la-Jolie / Vernon
K line, Paris Gare du Nord ↔︎ Crépy-en-Valois
L line, Paris Gare Saint-Lazare ↔︎ Cergy-le-Haut / Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche / Versailles-Rive-Droite / Saint-Germain-en-Laye
N line, Paris Gare Montparnasse ↔︎ Dreux / Mantes-la-Jolie /
Rambouillet
P line, Paris Gare Est ↔︎ Coulommiers / Crécy-la-Chapelle / Provins / La Ferté-Milon / Château-Thierry
R line, Paris Gare de Lyon ↔︎ Melum / Montereau / Montargis
U line, La Défense Grande ↔︎ Arche Le Verrière
Train Stations in Paris
Gare Aéroport CDG (Roissy-en-France, FR) – TVG trains to northern France & Belgium. Southern trains to southern France.
Gare d’Austerlitz (13th Arrondissement) – regular trains to and from the center and southwest of France and the majority of night trains.
Gare de Bercy (12th Arrondissement) – Regular trains to Auvergne and Burgundy.
Gare de l’Est (10th Arrondissement) – TGV to and from Luxembourg, ICE/TGV to and from south Germany, RZD night train to and from Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany.
Gare de Lyon (12th Arrondissement) – Regular and TGV trains to and from southern and eastern France, Switzerland, Monaco, and southwest Germany. You can also catch day and overnight trains to and from Italy.
Gare de Massy TGV (Massy, FR) – TGV trains to western France.
Gare du Nord (10th Arrondissement) – TGV trains to and from Belgium, the Netherlands, west Germany (Thalys), and the UK (Eurostar from London) and some trains from Northern Europe.
Gare Montparnasse (15th Arrondissement) – TGV and regular trains to and from the west and south-west of France, the fastest way and in Spain. Gare Vaugirard is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.
Gare St. Lazare (8th Arrondissement) – Trains to and from Normandy.
Light Rail / Tram: RATP (RER route map)
RER Lines with multiple terminis:
A line, Saint-Germain-en-Laye (A1): PoissyBois (A2): Cergy-Le-Haut (A3): Boissy-Saint-Leger (A4): Marne-la-Vallee (A5)
B line, Robinson (B2): Aeroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV (B3) : Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse (B4): Mitry-Claye (B5)
C line, Versailles Château, Pontoise (C1), Massy Palaiseau (C2), Dourdan la Forêt (C4), Versailles-Château-Rive-Gauche (C5) , St-Martin d’Etampes (C6) , St-Quentin en Yvelines (C7), Versailles Chantiers (C8)
D line, – Melun (D2), Creil (D3), Malesherbes (D4)
E -line, Haussmann St-Lazare (E1), Chelles Gournay (E2), Tournan (E4)
TRAMWAY lines in Paris only: (tram route map)
T3A – Pont du Garigliano ↔︎ Porte de Vincennes
T3B – Porte de Vincennes ↔︎ Porte d’Asnlères Marguerite Long
Metro / Subway: RATP METRO (route map)
Lines with termini:
1 – La Defense ↔︎ Chateau de Vincennes
2 – Porte Dauphine ↔︎ Nation
3 – Pont de Levallois-Becon ↔︎ Gallieni
3bis – Porte des Lilas ↔︎ Gambetta
4 – Porte de Clignancourt ↔︎ Mairie de Montrouge
5 – Bobigny-Pablo-Picasso ↔︎ Place d’Italie
6 – Charles de Gaulle-Etoile ↔︎ Nation
7 – La Courneuve-8-Mai-1945 ↔︎ Mairie d’Ivry, Villejuif-Louis Aragon
7bis – Louis Blanc ↔︎ Pré-Saint-Gervais
8 – Balard ↔︎ Ponte du Lac
9 – Pont de Sevres ↔︎ Mairie de Montreuil
10 – Boulogne Pont de Saint-Cloud ↔︎ Gare d’Austerlitz
11 – Chatelet ↔︎ Mairie des Lilas
12 – Front Populaire ↔︎ Mairie d’Issy
13 – Saint-Denis-Universite, Asnieres-Gennevilliers Les Courtilles ↔︎ Chatillon Montrouge
14 – Saint-Lazare ↔︎ Olympiades
City Bus: RATP (bus route map)(night route map)
347 lines
Ferry / Boat: Batobus
Bicycles: Vélib
Funicular: RATP (Montmartre Funicular)
Transit Cards / Passes: Visite Pass
