Paris Travel Guide (2025): What to Expect

If you are planning on traveling to the city of light in 2025, this Paris travel guide is meant to help you understand a few things you should know and what to expect on your trip. As the city navigates major changes in the metro system, and a shifting art scene, including upcoming renovations at the Pompidou Museum, many things are happening that may impact your trip.

I have been to Paris more than 50 times. During every month and every season. We often stay 1-2 weeks and move around the city to live like a local in different arrondissements. All that to say I have some experience.

Also, I love all my expat friends who live in Paris, living the day-to-day in the city of light, but there is a different experience when you are visiting as a tourist and not living as an expat or a local. Every time I return it is as a visitor, with fresh eyes, new experiences, and lots of snags.

Sure. Paris is always a good idea. But maybe some times are better than others!

If Paris is where you want to go, I say go for it. BUT I do want to provide information so that this guide serves you and helps set expectations as to what it will be like to visit Paris in 2025.

The good news and there are a lot of new things to visit and see, and several significant re-openings of old favorites.

Hopefully, you will avoid some disappointment by reading this post.

My intent isn't to discourage you from visiting Paris. I just want you to take off the rose-colored glasses for a moment, reset your expectations, then you can quickly shove them back on! I am providing an overview of what to expect in Paris in 2025 (not an update to the usual information about Paris). I hope this information helps make your trip planning easier!

D'accord? Bon ! On y va ! (Okay? Good! Let's go!) with this year's Paris travel guide!

Here is what you need to know about visiting Paris in 2025!

When to Visit Paris

Paris is a year-round destination, and each season offers a unique experience. Spring (March to May) brings blooming gardens and mild temperatures, making it perfect for strolling along the Seine. Summer (June to August) is bustling with tourists, but it's also the time for open-air festivals and longer daylight hours.

Fall (September to November) showcases beautiful autumn foliage, while winter (December to February) offers a quieter atmosphere, with the city adorned with holiday lights. Choose the time that suits your preferences and interests.

Notre-Dame Cathedral has officially reopened to the public, and it’s once again one of Paris’s must-see landmarks. After years of restoration, visitors can now step inside this iconic site and witness its remarkable revival, a true highlight of any trip to the city.

That said, planning ahead is essential.

This summer marks the first season since the cathedral’s reopening, and large crowds are expected throughout the year. While entry is free, you should be prepared to wait in line, typically around 15 minutes, though it can be longer during peak times.

To make your visit smoother, the cathedral offers an option to book free access online a few hours in advance. While entirely optional, this can help streamline your entrance and reduce wait times. Just keep in mind that even reserved-entry lines can have short delays, so timing is everything.

If possible, aim for less busy hours (early mornings or weekdays) to get the most out of your visit. With a bit of planning, seeing Notre Dame can be a memorable and stress-free part of your Paris itinerary.

If you want to learn more about the individual month you are planning to visit Paris in, check out my monthly guides:

PARIS IN:  Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec

Paying for Things

The best way to pay for anything in Paris is with a chipped credit card. It is fast, contactless (under 50 Euro) and above all, preferred. If you want to use cash (that is my preference honestly) then have smaller denominations of bills with you. You will have a tough time getting people to break a 50 or 100-Euro note. Heck if you are buying something under 5 Euros, with a 20 most vendors won't be happy!

I mention this in my packing posts on bags, but bring a double-sided coin purse, you will thank me!

Strikes

Okay. This is not unusual for France in general, especially during the months of May and October. But this year, there is an extra round of strikes around France's retirement pension reform that began in February and will continue throughout the spring which will impact your trip to Paris.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Most of the time strikes = public transportation issues.
  • That means the metro (RER), trains (SNCF and RER), buses (RER), and sometimes taxis too.
  • Make sure your airport transfer is secured well in advance of any possible transit strikes. By pre-booking an airport transfer, you won't be stuck without transport and the hotel will take care of providing updates concerning delays or disruptions that may occur.
  • One thing I do is head to the CDG area the night before my flight so that any possible delays will not force me to miss my flight. I love the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel but have also stayed at the Paris Marriott Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel and citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
  • For air travel, 95% of the time international flights are not impacted. However, as soon as you arrive in France, you may have issues if you have inner-France connections to other French airports.
  • BUT you may have trouble getting to the airport on the day of a strike. Taxis will not be able to get through demonstrations at the airport and will drop you off in inconvenient locations and you will have to walk! My best advice is to ask the taxi driver to drop you off at Ibis Paris CDG Airport it is a 5-minute covered walk to Terminal 3. Or the citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
• You can check when and where major strikes and demonstrations are taking place with this site: C'est la Grève. It is in French, but you can use an online translator. It is pretty self-explanatory.
• Before heading out of your hotel check in with the front desk or concierge. They usually know where and when protests are planned. You do not want to be inadvertently swept up into a demonstration. 
• Avoid the large public areas called “Places”, especially around Place de la Republique, Place de la Bastille, Place d'Italie, and Place de la Concorde.  
• Tune into France24 online. It is in English and can help you keep track of what is going on in real-time. Also, try Gov.uk.
• Download the Citymapper app for the latest transportation updates. This savvy app will keep you up-to-date on train and transit info, providing alternative routes when necessary.

If you are dreaming about all those awesome Instagram-worthy photos of the Eiffel Tower from the Palais De Chaillot sorry to disappoint you, but the cannons are still out of commission and the carousel is gone for the moment.

This is an enormous project (you can get more info, in French, here and here) that is going to take a while to complete.

This Paris travel guide is about preparing you for the current situation so you will not be surprised! The bright side? There are thousands of places to visit in Paris. There is no shortage of awesome things to see.

And if you want to see some of the major sites, you just need to get a little creative and maybe brush up on your yoga, as you may have to twist your body in some unnatural ways to get that shot!

If you decide to go the Airbnb route, ask if there is any major construction on the street. Read all the reviews for the apartment!

If you are staying in a hotel, call or email them to ask the same question about construction. The last thing you want is to spend money on a nice hotel and then not get the view you want (or worse). Mr. Misadventures and I splurged on a hotel for 24 hours so we could get their rooftop terrace view of the Eiffel Tower only to arrive at the hotel and learn it was closed for construction…le sigh…

Getting Around

Taxis at CDG Airport

Depending on the time of day I saw taxi drivers at the airport rejecting people going to the city (mind blown) because there is a set fare from CDG to Paris and depending on traffic taxi drivers lose money.

• Flat rate to the left bank: €62. The left bank is these arrondissements: 5th, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, and 15th.
• Flat rate to the right bank: €55. The right bank is these arrondissements: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th.

Also when you do get in the cab, confirm the tariff, don’t get scammed!

Start by making sure to get in an official taxi queue/line. (NOTE: licensed “Taxis Parisiens” (Parisian taxis) park outside the baggage claim areas in each terminal). Look for the blue “Taxi” bubbles on the floor at CDG to guide your path to the official taxi line.

Only get into a taxi that has an illuminated rooftop sign (it's a green light). And make sure it has a meter!

Bikes

If it is the first time you are visiting Paris or if it has been a while you need to be aware that there are a lot more bikes than there used to be. More bike lanes too. They can be a real hazard in overcrowded areas, so please be aware of them. You may not realize you are walking on a bike path which could potentially cause an accident. Be on the lookout for them at all times!

Changes in Metro Ticket Pricing

If you’ve visited Paris before, you probably remember how confusing it could be to figure out which tickets you needed for the metro, RER, buses, trams, or trains to places like Versailles or Parc de Sceaux. Different zones, prices, and rules often made navigating public transport a bit of a puzzle, especially for first-time visitors.

But that’s all about to change. Starting January 1, 2025, the fare system across the Île-de-France region will be dramatically simplified, a long-awaited update that promises to make getting around much easier for everyone.

Under this new system, Navigo passes will now have a single fare for all zones, meaning you’ll be able to travel anywhere within Île-de-France, whether in central Paris or out to the suburbs, using the same pass on any mode of public transport.

T+ tickets will be unified across the region: €2.50 for metro or RER rides, and €2.00 for buses and trams (or €2.50 if bought directly on the bus). This replaces the current pricing system, which charged more for traveling further outside the city (e.g., to Disneyland or Versailles).

It’s important to note that connections between different transport types still require separate tickets. So if you switch, say, from a metro to a tram, you’ll still need to use two T+ tickets, just as before.

How to Buy T+ Tickets

Via Smartphone:
The easiest option is to download the Ile-de-France Mobilités app (available on both iPhone and Android). Once installed, the app will tell you if your phone is compatible with contactless ticketing. This method lets you skip the lines at station ticket counters, especially helpful at busy spots like airports and major train stations. Just be sure your phone has enough battery, as you’ll need it to tap through turnstiles (no internet connection required once tickets are loaded).

With a Navigo Easy Card:
Another convenient option is the Navigo Easy card, which you can buy for €2 at larger metro stations. These cards are anonymous (no name or ID required), reusable, and don’t expire. You can lend them to someone else when you're not using them, just not on the same trip. Once you have a card, you can load it with as many T+ tickets as you need for buses or metros, either at a ticket counter, vending machine, or using the smartphone app (though that part can be a bit fiddly). You can also load unlimited day passes or airport bus fares onto the card.

Previously, many Parisians and visitors used the Navigo Easy card to load discounted “carnets” of ten tickets, but this option is going away.

Farewell to the Carnet

One of the biggest changes in 2025 is the end of the T+ ticket “carnet”, the familiar pack of ten paper tickets that came with a 20% discount. These were perfect for occasional riders and tourists who wanted to stock up on cheaper tickets without a time limit.

Paper carnets have already been phased out in recent years, and starting January 2, 2025, you won’t be able to load carnets onto Navigo Easy cards either. The last few metro stations still selling paper T+ tickets will stop offering them entirely by the end of 2025.

So while the carnet may soon be a thing of the past, the streamlined pricing and simpler access should make it easier than ever to explore all corners of Paris and beyond.

New Navigo passes are being included and some are being removed from the ticketing system. You can take a look at all the options on the RATP website.

Restaurant closures

This is a global phenomenon due to the pandemic. Many restaurants around the world have closed including probably some of your favorites in Paris. Make sure you double-check online to ensure that the business is still open.

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Crowd control

Places like the Louvre are introducing limits on the number of people they allow to visit. They are going to be capping the number of visitors to 30,000 people per day. If you are visiting, I highly encourage you to buy your tickets ahead of time.

What about that ETIAS Visa for Americans?

Surprise! The previously scheduled 2024 introduction of ETIAS, a special travel authorization covering most of Europe, has now been postponed until Q4 2026.

The Good News: What to Do in Paris in 2025

This Paris travel guide is not all doom and gloom! Here are just some of the things you can look forward to:

• Museums you can visit for FREE on the 1st Sunday of the month:
  • Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
  • La Cité de la Céramique de Sèvres
  • Musée de Cluny
  • Musée d'Archéologie National
  • Musée de la chasse et de la nature
  • Musée de la Grande Guerre
  • Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace
  • Musée de l'Histoire de l'Immigration
  • Musée de l'Orangerie
  • Musée d'Orsay
  • Musée des Arts et Métiers
  • Musée du Quai Branly
  • Musée Français de la Carte à Jouer
  • Musée Guimet
  • Musée Gustave Moreau
  • Musée National d'Art Moderne
  • Musée National Picasso
  • Musée Rodin
• The Louvre is showcasing ten major works from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near Eastern collection, on loan during the Met’s renovations until 28 September 2025.
• Atelier des Lumières is showcasing Picasso's art until June 30th and will run The Little Prince Immersive Odessy from April 11th. (38 rue Saint-Maur in the 11th arr)
• The Pompidou Museum is currently showcasing Paris Noir, an ambitious exhibition highlighting the work of 150 African and Afro-descendant artists from the 1940s to the 2000s before the museum closes to the public for major renovations at the end of September 2025, with a planned reopening in 2030.
• The Petit Palais is featuring Worth: The Birth of Haute Couture in Paris, an exhibition tracing the legacy of Charles Frederick Worth (the founder of modern haute couture) through his elegant creations and pioneering innovations, on view from 7 May to 7 September 2025.
• The Louvre is presenting Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion – Statement Pieces, a striking exhibition running until 21 July 2025, showing the connection between historic art and contemporary style.
• The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris is presenting Matisse and Marguerite. Through Her Father's Eyes, a moving exhibition until 24 August 2025 featuring over 110 works that explore the close relationship between Henri Matisse and his daughter Marguerite, and her important role in his life and art.
• The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is presenting Paul Poiret, Couturier, Decorator and Perfumer, an exhibition from 25 June 2025 to 11 January 2026 that explores the innovative designs and artistic vision of Paul Poiret, highlighting his influence on fashion, the decorative arts, and even perfumery and gastronomy.
• The annual Museum Night (Nuit des Musées) that is celebrated throughout Europe takes place on May 17th. All participating museums offer free admission!
• Nuit Blanche (White Night) will be June 7. This is a major art and cultural event where contemporary art is on display in the streets of Paris from dusk to dawn.
• Heritage Day will take place on September 20 and 21. This is the opportunity (if you can handle the lines) to visit the Élysée Palace, the Assemblée Nationale, and other spots not typically open to the public.
• The Maison Gainsbourg, the long-awaited museum dedicated to the legendary singer Serge Gainsbourg opened in September and ran through Dec 31, 2023. They will re-open their doors for a new round of visits in the spring, with bookings starting in April 2025.
• Disneyland Paris will feature a high-energy show from May 17 to August 31, 2025, with Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and other Wonderland characters at Walt Disney Studios Park.
• New hotels! La Fondation in the 17th, aparthotel Locke in the Latin Quarters, InterContinental Chantilly-Château Mont Royal in the forest of Chantilly, and the reopening of Marriott Hôtel Rive Gauche!

Check out more events and exhibitions in my monthly guides:

PARIS IN:  Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore Paris in 2025! To ensure a smooth trip, be sure you know where construction is happening and plan accordingly. Hopefully, this travel guide to Paris updated for this year will help you have the trip of a lifetime!

Once you decide when you are visiting, here are guides to the individual Paris Arrondissements so you can decide where:

Paris Arrondissement Guide | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th 

And if you are looking for packing advice, I've got you covered!

AUTHOR BIO

Andi Fisher

I am married to a French man, lived in France for 3 years, and have been to Paris more than 50 times. I am always a tourist so the information, tip, and tricks I share are created to help you!

If you're planning a visit to Paris in 2025, you're in for a treat! The City of Light continues to enchant travelers with its timeless charm, world-class cuisine, and iconic landmarks. As someone who has visited Paris more than 50 times throughout the year, I'm here to provide you with the best Paris travel guide that I can that covers everything you need to know about your upcoming trip to this magical destination.

With a little planning, your trip to Paris is sure to be a success!

How about you? Are you planning to travel to Paris in 2025? How can I help?

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