Hotels in Paris
Book your cheap hotel in Paris
Paris is the capital of France and is its largest city. Approximately a fifth of the French population lives in the Paris region.
Over 20 million tourists visit Paris every year, which puts a high demand on the huge variety of accommodation available. Visitors are strongly advised to book ahead, even when seeking somewhere affordable to stay. Like all major cities, cheaper accommodation is found away from the centre.
Neighbourhoods of Paris
Paris is divided up into twenty administrative areas called arrondissements, which spiral out clockwise from the centre of the city. The first arrondissement, called Louvre, is in the centre of Paris, whilst the twelfth to the twentieth arrondissement are on the outskirts of the city. The River Seine divides Paris into the affluent Right Bank, which includes the Champs Elysees and the Louvre, and the more avant-garde Left Bank, with its Latin quarter, much frequented by students.
What to see and do in Paris
Paris has a number of world famous attractions:
- Arc de Triomphe & Champs Elysees: The 2 kilometres long Champs Elysees is dominated by the Arc de Triomphe, which stands 50 metres high and 45 metres wide. It was commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his many military victories. The original plan was to construct an elephant instead of an arch!
- Eiffel Tower: Standing 320 metres tall, at the end of the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower is one of the world's most iconic landmarks. Tourists who go up onto the Tower's highest viewing platform can see 60 kilometres away on a clear day.
- Louvre Museum: Arguably the world's greatest art museum, the Louvre houses the Mona Lisa portrait and the original Venus de Milo statue. It is recommended that tourists plan their visit, as the museum is too large to view all its attractions in a single day.
- Pompidou Centre: This world famous "inside out" building holds an outstanding collection of modern art and is a testimony to modern architecture.
What to eat in Paris
Parisians are passionate about their food and the variety on offer is enormous, but all visitors should make sure they try the humble baguette or classic croissant. All of France's regional foods are available here, but cheese (there are over 1,000 French-specific variants) and oysters are the most traditional. Surprisingly, couscous was voted the Favourite Dish in 2006, so if steak frites (steak and fries) aren’t your thing, this North African staple is a perfect introduction to the city’s multi-cultural cuisine. Remember: lunch is considered the main meal of the day and dinner usually begins as late as 8:30pm.
Typical events and festivals in Paris
As befits a capital city, the Parisian calendar is full of special events. Starting with La Grande Parade de Paris on New Year’s Day, visitors can enjoy the Banlieues Bleues (jazz festival) in March/April, followed by the Paris Marathon, then the French Open Tennis Tournament in May/June. The national celebration of Bastille Day on July 14th is spectacular, while the Tour de France concludes in the city centre in September. Around the same time, the Festival d'Automne (music festival) hosts a number of events before the Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain (art fair) launches in October. Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated all over the city, just before the year’s end.
How to move around in Paris
Undoubtedly the best way for a tourist to travel in Paris is via the underground railway as taxis are certainly not cheap. The Metro has been serving the city since it opened in 1900 and over 5 million people use it daily. Wherever you are in Paris, you are never more than 500 metres from a Metro station. Railway passes also allow travel on buses, which run frequently, with a reduced service on Sundays.
The climate in Paris
Paris has a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons, but a visitor can expect highs of over 30 degrees Celsius in July and lows of just below freezing in January.
More interesting facts about and sights in Paris
Paris is known as “The City of Lights”, in part due to the fact that it was one of the first places to install street lights. Another first for Paris is the Bloody Mary cocktail, which was created at the Ritz Hotel.
Frequently asked questions about Hotels in Paris
The most centrally located hotels in Paris with the best ratings are: Hotel Hôtel Jardin De Cluny, Paris Art Hotel Quartier Latin By Malone and Hotel Atmospheres.
It depends on the category of the hotel. If you want to stay at a 4-star hotel in Paris, the average price per night is 102 €, while you will pay an average of 71 € for a 3-star hotel, and in a more luxurious 5-star hotel, you'll pay around 310 €.
Novotel Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport is near Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Hotel Campanile Le Bourget Airport is near Paris-Le Bourget.
You can make reservations at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, Hotel Le Bristol Paris An Oetker Collection and Hotel Hôtel Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris if you"re looking for a hotel with valet service for your visit to Paris.
If you need a hotel with disabled access in Paris, we recommend Hotel B Montmartre, Hotel Archetype Etoile and Hotel Maison Mère.
If you want to save time, the hotels in Paris with express check-in and check-out are Hotel B Montmartre, Hotel Hôtel Jardin De Cluny and Hotel Korner Opera.
Some of the options for hotels with non-smoking rooms in Paris are Hotel Hôtel Jardin De Cluny, Bradford Elysées Astotel and Hotel Archetype Etoile.
In Paris, Hotel B Montmartre, Hotel Hôtel Jardin De Cluny and Bradford Elysées Astotel offer 24-hour front desk service.
If you're bringing a vehicle, we recommend that you book a hotel with parking in Paris, like Hotel Maison Mère, Hotel La Maison Favart or Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris.
The following hotels in Paris have luggage storage: Hotel B Montmartre, Hotel Hôtel Jardin De Cluny and Bradford Elysées Astotel.