There is SO MUCH to consider when planning a trip to Paris. Deciding on where to stay and which attractions, restaurants, and other places to include can easily get overwhelming. Personally, I want you to make the most of your time in Paris while also helping you steer clear of tourist traps. That’s why I’ve put together this list of major mistakes people make when planning a Paris trip itinerary so you can have a stress-free and amazing trip.
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Assuming summer is the best time to visit
I know many travelers, especially families and school staff, can’t avoid traveling in summer because of school holidays, but this is NOT the best time of year to visit Paris. It’s the busiest time of year for tourism, which means that top attractions like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Versailles are totally INSANE. There are long lines even if you do have timed entrance tickets and once inside, these places are packed. To make matters worse, a lot of places don’t have air-conditioning (yes, including many hotels) and it can get pretty hot here in summer. If you can manage to come at another time, September is a fantastic time to visit, with nice weather and fewer crowds. If you’re looking to save some money, late autumn or late winter you can get some great hotel deals while avoiding the crowds too.
Packing too much into one day
If it’s your first visit to Paris, I totally get that you’ll be tempted to see EVERYTHING. But trying to rush around and fit in all the major museums and monuments is not only exhausting, it’s also expensive and it won’t give you a taste of the real Paris. Instead, I recommend only visiting a few major sites per day and then also spending time strolling through neighborhoods, browsing local shops, and taking your time for a leisurely coffee or meal (more on this below).
Not planning by area
Paris is a compact city, but there are TONS of things to do within its relatively small borders. Despite this, you can waste a LOT of time going back and forth to different areas if you don’t plan your touring by area. Visiting the northern Paris district of Montmartre and the southern Latin Quarter on the same day is just not a good use of your time. So I really advise spending some time looking at where your must-see places are on the map first and organizing your days according to what places are nearby each other. This is exactly how our Paris itineraries are organized, giving you all the attractions, hidden gems, and local spots that are in one area so you won’t be wasting precious time.
Not using public transportation to get around
Even if your hotel is super central, you’ll likely need to use some form of transportation to get around during your stay. Instead of using taxis and Uber, you can save a bunch of money (and often some time) by using public transport. The Paris transit system, called the RATP, is safe, fast, and really widespread (it has over 300 stations in the whole network). At €2.50 for a single ticket, it’s cheaper than many other major cities. Just be a little mindful of your belongings (keep your bag zipped up and in front of you, no wallets or phones in pockets), because there can be pickpockets. See our articles on using public transport for other helpful tips and you’ll be using it like a pro in no time.
That being said, you can indeed use taxis, especially if you’re out late at night, but don’t feel like it’s the only feasible option for your entire trip.
Get an unlimited Paris Visite transport pass
Now that I’ve encouraged you to take the métro in Paris, I have one more thing to add – do NOT get an unlimited Paris Visite transport pass. I know it can seem convenient to use an unlimited card, however, it’s actually a rip-off. For adults, it’s €29.90 for the day and for kids, it’s €14.95, but you would have to use it 12 times in one day for it to be worth it. I don’t think I’ve ever taken the métro that much in one day in my 20+ years living in Paris. It does include travel to CDG or Orly airport, which is €13, however, you would still need to take the métro more than 6 times that day to cover its cost. Instead, just buy single tickets at €2.50, which you can do through the official transport app, Bonjour Paris. You can buy more than one ticket at a time, so feel free to stock up on some then the app is just as convenient as a pass.
Not booking your must-see attractions and museums in advance
One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a Paris trip is not booking tickets online in advance for the major attractions in Paris. Actually, it’s now obligatory for the Louvre, so if you’re planning on visiting it, or the Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, or Versailles, book your tickets as you’re planning out your itinerary while still at home. I know this means that you’re locked into a date and time, but then you can plan your days around these specific times instead of wasting hours in line at these popular venues. Or, if you join a guided tour, like one of the great options in our articles, entrance tickets will always be included so you won’t have to even worry about it.
Not making the most of evening openings
Most museums in Paris, including the Louvre and the Orsay, are open late one night per week which is the BEST time to go as visitor numbers are much less than during the day. Even if you go towards the end of the afternoon on the late days (and not into the evening), there’ll be fewer people. Our friends at Walks offer this great Louvre tour which makes the most of the museum’s late opening hours. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are both open late every night and are much less busy in the evenings. Plus, if you’re visiting in summer, it stays light till 10 to 11 pm, so you’ll still have good visibility, and hopefully see a beautiful sunset.
Image Courtesy of Fluctuart via Facebook
Not visiting some smaller museums and sites
I totally understand that you might have your heart set on visiting the Louvre, Orsay or Versailles, but there are also some really amazing smaller museums, historic castles and other cool sites in Paris that are SO worth a visit. Smaller venues usually have fewer crowds, they offer you a more unique perspective on the city, AND many are either free or much cheaper than big-name venues. Discover some of my favorite smaller museums in this article.
Image Courtesy of Get Your Guide
Doing a day trip on a short visit
If you only have five days or less in Paris, I really recommend NOT taking a day trip. You might be hoping to go to Versailles, Giverny, or another destination around Paris, but there’s so much to do within Paris, if you only have 3 days you’ll make the most of your trip by staying in the city. Versailles is amazing, but it’s a pretty big time suck, taking a minimum of 5 hours. If you’d like a Versaille-style place without leaving the city, then go to the Hotel de la Marine. It’s an absolutely stunning former aristocratic mansion and it’s right near the Louvre, so you won’t waste all those precious hours getting out to Versailles and pushing through the crowds.
Not researching where to eat and drink
One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a Paris trip itinerary is not spending some time planning out where you might like to eat and drink. You don’t have to decide on EVERY meal, but you also don’t want to end up deciding all your meals on the fly and ending up at tourist traps. So instead, I recommend doing a little research into some great places to eat and drink, which also brings us to the next point. You can start your research with our articles on where to eat and drink in Paris.
Image Courtesy of Boullion Pigalle via Facebook
Not booking some restaurants in advance
Parisians eat out a LOT, especially from Thursday to Saturday night, so many good restaurants can get fully booked up in advance. Once you’ve sussed out a few restaurants you’d really like to try, make the commitment and book a few. Most have easy online booking systems and do not require a deposit, so you can always cancel the day before in case something else comes up.
Expecting to eat quickly
Lastly, when it comes to dining, I constantly hear from tourists about how long it takes to eat here. Parisians take their time to savor meals, so this will take more time than you think, plus the service standards aren’t like, say, the USA. You have to factor in around 1.5 hours for lunch and up to 2 hours (or the whole evening) for dinner. Some popular venues now do 2 seatings, so if you’d like a faster meal, book for the earlier seating. But really, don’t rush it! Sit back, enjoy your meal, and take in Parisian life.
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