Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures °C : Average highs of 20 (°C) in summer and lows of 5 (°C) in winter.
Best time to visit: During the spring, when temperatures are mild and flowers in the city gardens start to bloom. Paris experiences a typical Western European oceanic climate, with warm summers and cold winters. The rainfall is steady and moderate year-round.
Weather In Paris:
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PARIS IS BEST FOR…
Couples: Wander hand-in-hand down the tree-lined Champs-Élysées, stopping off for a candlelit dinner.
Foodies: Enjoy beautifully-prepared food and a glass of wine at a cosy neighbourhood bistro.
Shopaholics: Explore the city’s luxury fashion offerings on Avenue Montaigne.
Fast facts:
Language: The language spoken in Paris is French.
Currency: The currency used in Paris is the Euro (€).
Local time: Paris is one hour ahead of GMT/UK time.
Fly to: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is 23km northeast of Paris. Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) is 9km south of Paris. Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA) is located in Tillé, 85km north of Paris.
Flight time from UK: Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Tourist Information: Further Paris tourist information can be found at https://en.parisinfo.com/.
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to Paris, visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france for recommendations and advice on visas and health.
Getting around
By metro: The city’s metro system is cost-effective and easy to use. If you’re planning on a lot of sightseeing, buy a Paris Visit pass for unlimited travel on most transport networks.
By bicycle: Cycling around the city is cheap and easy thanks to the Vélib self-service hire scheme. Simply pick up a bike from one of the Vélib stations on the roadside and park it outside another when you’re finished.
By taxi: City taxis are identified by an illuminated Taxi Parisien sign on the roof of the car. You can hail them on the street or by calling one of the main taxi firms.
Events
Shopping extravaganza: Bargain hunters won’t want to miss the January sales when over a thousand shops and boutiques offer discounts as high as 70%. Be at the front doors when they open, usually 10am, to catch the best deals.
Paris carnival: In March, join locals and musicians as they parade through the streets of Paris for the annual carnival. The parade leaves Place Gambetta at 3pm and arrives at the town hall at 7pm.
Paris marathon: December’s festivities include the Fira de Santa Lucia, a large open-air market in the streets around the main cathedral. Handmade crafts and local Christmas decorations are on offer; nativity figurines are especially popular.