Cheap Flights To Paris Travel Guide

Summary

With cheap paris flights you'll be swept away by the romance and beauty of this picturesque capital with its wide, tree-lined boulevards, lively pavement cafes and fantastic shops. It offers a timeless city break holiday.

Must-see sights for first timers include the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and, for a touch of modernism, the Georges Pompidou Centre. Take a bateau mouche along the Seine to admire the elegant architecture from a different perspective and if you're an art lover, visit the Louvre and Orsay museums.

There are numerous quaint little hotels in different neighbourhoods that don't cost the earth, and local bistros serve tasty two-course lunches with a glass of wine for as little as a tenner to keep your costs down.

Getting there and around

The Eurostar takes you from central London to Paris, in two hours 35 minutes, dropping to two hours 15 minutes when the London terminal moves from Waterloo to St Pancras in November 2007.

And so many airlines fly to Paris that there are bargains to be had. The RER/metro train takes just 20 minutes from either Roissy CdG or Orly airports to central Paris.

Getting around is cheap and easy on the Metro/RER. A carnet of 10 single-journey metro tickets costs €10.50 (£7) or a choose a Mobilis day pass from €5.50 (£3.70). Taxis only pick up from designated taxi ranks so don't bother trying to flag one down in the street.

Sightseeing

Films like the Da Vinci Code and Amelie highlight some of the city's most spectacular sights such as Montmartre's Sacre Coeur where you'll get panoramic views of the city; and the more alternative, but equally magnificent Church of Saint Sulpice, as well as old favourites like the Louvre.

Go all intellectual with a visit to the Marais district's Place des Vosges - an inspiring 17th century square where Victor Hugo wrote parts of Les Miserables; or wander around the Left Bank, where writers like Jean Paul Sartre gathered for a debate over a glass of wine in Cafe de Flore.

Family attractions

Take the kids to Disneyland Resort Paris theme park and they'll love you forever. The Magic Kingdom has favourites such as Space Mountain and Peter Pan while Disney Studios Park has hair-raising Rock 'n Roll Coaster, Armageddon and plenty more attractions. There's plenty of great on-site restaurants where they actually serve beer (unlike in the US) plus the usual burgers, chips and pizzas favoured by kids.

There's an excellent kids interactive science museum at Parc de la Villette's Cite des Science et de l'Industrie which has specific areas for 3-5s and 5-12s.

Most Paris parks, such as the Jardin du Luxembourg gardens, have some form of kiddie entertainment - puppets, pony rides and toy sailboats for starters.

Day trips

The Sea Life Aquarium is 20 minutes outside the city limits, and near Disneyland Resort Paris and showcases rays, sharks, eels and turtles. Adults will enjoy the beauty of Monet's garden at Giverny or even the magnificent Palace of Versailles.

Fancy a flutter? A day out at Longchamp races could be just the ticket. Escape the city with a stroll around leafy Bois de Boulogne.

Eating

Paris is the capital of Michelin-starred restaurants, but hotspots like Alain Passard's Arpege or Pierre Gagnaire come with hefty price tags which you don't need to pay for great food. The Marais, Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter all have plenty of restaurants and bistros that don't charge the earth.

If you are pining for England head to one of the ex-pat pubs, like the Frog and Rostbif (116, Rue St Denis) or Frog and Princess (9, Rue Princesse) where you can get a full English breakfast on Sundays and tasty British meals in the evenings, served with a pint.

Nightlife

The Frog pubs have a lively British atmosphere for home-sick tourists otherwise, you'll find a buzzing Parisian vibe in bars like Cafe Charbon on Rue Oberkampf or the touristy, but ever-popular Cafe du Flore and Les Deux Magots on the Left Bank.

5th Bar (62 Rue Mouffetard) is an ex-pat fave. It has Sky Sports so you won't miss any footie, and a pool table for DIY sports fans. If you want to push the boat out, you can't beat Hemingway's Bar at The Ritz for tasty, but pricy cocktail in properly posh surrounds.

Shopping

Don't be overwhelmed by the scarily stylish French. Do a spot of window shopping along Rue Montaigne and Rue Faubourg St Honore where designers like Chanel and Dior can be found, then use the style tips you find and take them to some of the more affordable and trendy shops that abound.

The uber-glam department store Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussman has loads of recognisable brands at normal high street prices, while hip boutique Colette is still trendy after 10 years but not all unaffordable. Get vintage gear at Come on Eileen on Rue des Taillandiers or find antique bargains at the world's largest flea market in St Ouen.