Paris Travel Guide

How to Make the Most of Your Paris Trip with American Express Travel®

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Few cities are more idolized for their beauty and refinement than Paris. The pale stone architecture on those wide boulevards, the dappled light bouncing off the Seine, the soaring churches, gilt-tipped palaces, and leisurely cafés all add to the magic of this French capital.

Paris continues to be a city that must be visited to be believed, providing abundant opportunities for entertainment and discovery — from museums that loom large in the art world to the hotels that ooze romance and the restaurants and markets that attract foodies. To help you plan, our Paris-based Destination Managers, Mike and Patrice, share some of their favorite things to do in Paris as well as insider hotel tips below.

When you're ready to book, turn to  American Express Travel for a more rewarding stay. At Fine Hotels + Resorts® properties*, Platinum Card® Members can enjoy an exclusive suite of benefits that includes daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm check-out, and a $100 credit to use towards eligible charges, such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges.1 When staying two nights or more at The Hotel Collection properties,* Platinum Card Members receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges1, a room upgrade upon arrival, when available, and 12pm check-in and late check-out, both when available.2

Plus, get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection3 bookings through Amex Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card.*

Remember that you can explore freely with no foreign transaction fees4 on purchases made abroad.

Explore our Paris Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Where to Eat, What to Do

Calendar

Best Time to Visit

Spring (April/May) is ideal for sightseeing and sampling the outdoor café culture. Tourism peaks in July and August, when Parisians go on holiday and some venues close. Crowds are thinner in late autumn and winter but pack for chilly weather and possible rain. 

Airplane

Getting There

Fly Air France to Paris and enjoy savings on premium seats with the International Airline Program. It offers Platinum Card® Members that book through Amex Travel access to lower fares on participating carriers’ international first, business, and premium economy seats. Discounts are available to Platinum Card Members and up to seven of their companions when traveling on the same itinerary. Plus, earn 5X Membership Rewards® points* on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year when you book through American Express Travel. Terms apply.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)

17 miles

 Paris Orly Airport (ORY) 

11 miles

Where to Stay in Paris

 

 

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Mandarin Oriental, Paris

With a coveted address on designer-shop-lined rue Saint-Honoré, near Place Vendôme and the Tuileries Gardens, Mandarin Oriental, Paris appeals to fashionistas and connoisseurs of the good life. The hotel puts a contemporary spin on its 1930s-era Art Deco building; 135 rooms and suites feature elegant silk bedspreads, playful modern art, and marble bathrooms. Many come with balconies or terraces, and connecting rooms are available for families. Wellness seekers will appreciate the two-story spa with a glass mosaic floor and indoor pool, while foodies can indulge in all-day French dining at Camélia or the Cake Shop’s irresistible pastries.  

Perfect for couples, wellness seekers, FAMILIES

PATRICE'S TIP

“Make time for afternoon tea or a romantic evening drink seated in the gazebos of the hotel’s magnificent garden terrace.”

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The Hotel Collection
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Hotel du Louvre

Hotel du Louvre has been luring guests since 1885 with its elegance, comforts, and convenience to the Louvre. Many other popular destinations are in walking distance, among them, the Opera Garnier, Le Centre Pompidou, the Comédie Française theater, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Savor authentic French cuisine at the very first Brasserie "Bocuse" in Paris, known for its vintage bistro décor – red seats, elegant hat racks, and white tablecloths. Let your evening spill over to the hotel’s l’Officine du Louvre, a cocktail bar with a magnificent glass ceiling, palm fronds, and intimate atmosphere. Then wake up to complimentary daily breakfast for two, an additional benefit provided at this property in The Hotel Collection.

Perfect for families, group travel, first timers, business travelers

MIKE'S TIP

“To play like the locals, ask the concierge desk to arrange an apéro pétanque experience in the nearby Palais Royal gardens; it combines the classic French game of pétanque with cocktails.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Kimpton St Honoré

Previously the Samaritaine de Luxe department store, the Kimpton St Honoré Paris retains original features like a grand spiral staircase and celebrates its 1917-era design heritage. The hotel enlisted renowned Parisian interior designer Charles Zana to outfit the 149 rooms, including 26 suites, with warm neutrals and inviting furnishings such as a daybed or curved sofa.

Perfect for wellness seekers, shoppers, partygoers

MIKE'S TIP

“Be assured that Kimpton has convenient items at the ready, from in-room yoga mats and complimentary loaner bicycles to international plug adaptors and toiletries.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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SO/Paris

Along the bank of the Seine on the edge of Le Marais, SO/Paris is a design-forward boutique hotel within walking distance Notre-Dame Cathedral, Masion de Victor Hugo, and Place des Vosges. Keep an eye out for bold art throughout the hotel, from Neïl Beiloufa in the lobby to Alice Guittard and Elsa Sahal in the Spa and Thomas Fougeirol in the guestrooms, which are done up in vivid reds and oranges, with wood paneling.

Perfect for foodies, couples, Gen Z, first timers, partygoers

MIKE'S TIP

“The hotel is home to the trendy club Bonnie Club, a glassed-in rooftop where DJs spin under the Parisian sky. Space-Age inspired Bonnie is a see-and-be-seen French brasserie with mirrored ceilings, and there’s also a Bonnie Bar.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Shangri-La Paris

The former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte, Shangri-La Paris is a gracefully restored palace that blends European grandeur with Asian hospitality across 100 airy rooms and public spaces. You may be inspired to take mornings slow, basking in your view of the Eiffel Tower or the Seine, surrounded by calming Rococo color schemes. Keep the serene vibes going with a treatment at Chi, The Spa. Choose from two in-house, award-winning restaurants, La Bauhinia and Shang Palace, and toast your joie de vivre at Le Bar Botaniste, a nature-inspired bar that serves up rare botanical spirits.

Perfect for first timers, foodies, couples, honeymooners

PATRICE'S TIP

“Enjoy an intimate moment with the Eiffel Tower while basking in the hotel’s garden. Open only to hotel and restaurant guests, this is one of Paris’s most secret spots.”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera

Fresh off a renovation, the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opera lets you stay the classically French way in accommodations inspired by 19th-century Haussmann apartments. Select suites include separate lounge areas and two-story windows with sweeping views. The hotel is in the heart of the Right Bank, steps away from the Opera Garnier, Place Vendôme, and refined department stores. You might start your day with pastries and coffee at Scribe & Cie., take a sightseeing break for afternoon tea service, or wind down the day over Mediterranean food at Rivages, which sets an appealing scene with pink velvet seating and a glass angular ceiling.  

Perfect for group travel, business travelers, shoppers

MIKE'S TIP

“The horseshoe shaped Le Bar du Scribe was frequented by Ernest Hemingway and Marlene Dietrich back in the day. Now it shakes up a mix of cocktails inspired by the South of France (lemon, thyme, and violet liqueur).”

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Fine Hotels + Resorts
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Le Bristol Paris

Located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Le Bristol Paris is just steps from Arc de Triomphe, Grand Palais, and Champs-Elysees. A century after her 1925 debut, the hotel remains an icon of French elegance and art de vivre, with 190 renovated rooms and suites outfitted with fine fabrics and antiques. After settling in, stroll through the 13,000-square-foot courtyard garden and shake off any jet lag with a treatment at the spa or a dip in the rooftop swimming pool. Families will appreciate Le Bristol Paris x Bonpoint, a play area outfitted with chalkboard walls, electric car tracks, dollhouses, and books. Le Bristol Paris is also renowned for Epicure, an award-winning restaurant where the menu is thoroughly French. 

Perfect for Families, foodies, honeymooners

MIKE'S TIP

“A private tour of the hotel's chocolate factory, mill, and cheese cellar is available only to hotel guests, making it one of the most unique experiences you can have at le Bristol.”

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The Hotel Collection
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Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain

James Joyce completed “Ulysses” in a room here and the hotel bar is named in the writer’s honor, as is the extravagant James Joyce Suite, which has exposed wooden beams and inspiring views of the Parisian rooftops. Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain was created from three smaller hotels, and the combined 47 rooms and suites feature high ceilings, a soft color palette, and mid-century modern furniture. This literary haven is convenient for exploring the bohemian cafes and galleries of Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. You can use the $100 credit at the hotel spa, which offers a deep pool with water jets, a fitness room, two massage cabins, a meditation and yoga room, and a hammam.

Perfect for Couples, foodies, literary types

MIKE'S TIP

“This boutique hotel is sure to make you fall in love with Paris all over again, whether you’re staying overnight or dining at Les Parisiens, known for seasonal bistro classics with a twist.”

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The Hotel Collection
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San Régis Paris

This jewel is one of Paris’s loveliest boutique hotels and has been a go-to hideaway for celebrities and fashion designers. Not coincidentally, San Régis Paris also happens to be walking distance from some of the finest restaurants and famed haute couture houses. The fully restored former-private mansion is artfully decorated and lavishly appointed. Distinctive styles, antique furnishings, and marble bathrooms adorn each of the 42 rooms, suites, and family suites. Restaurant Les Confidences charms with garden-inspired décor and light, flavorful cuisine. 

Perfect for Couples, Design Fans

PATRICE'S TIP

“For a special occasion type of visit, I would recommend one of the four Junior suites on the top floors (6th and 7th). My favorite is number 74 with a terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower.”

Where to Eat in Paris

 

What to Do in Paris

 

Check out all Paris properties in Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection.
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