Paris for first-time visitors
Sainte-Chapelle on Île de la Cité. The upper chapel's 1,113 panels of 13th-century stained glass turn the room into a lantern of deep blue and crimson when the sun hits — the single most concentrated moment in Paris. Fifteen minutes, €11.50 timed ticket, no guide needed. The Louvre takes four hours and leaves most visitors numb.
Questions first-timers ask about Paris
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Must-see
Sainte-Chapelle on Île de la Cité. The upper chapel's 1,113 panels of 13th-century stained glass turn the room into a lantern of deep blue and crimson when the sun hits — the single most concentrated moment in Paris. Fifteen minutes, €11.50 timed ticket, no guide needed. The Louvre takes four hours and leaves most visitors numb.
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Best time to visit
Late April through mid-June and September through mid-October. Spring gives you long light, tulips in the Tuileries, and café terraces that finally feel warm enough to sit at. Early autumn is drier than spring, less crowded than summer, and the plane trees along Boulevard Saint-Germain turn gold against limestone. Expect 15–22°C and manageable hotel prices.
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Airport to city
From Charles de Gaulle (CDG), take the RER B train — roughly €11.80 ($14), 35 minutes to Châtelet-Les Halles, runs 4:50am to midnight. After hours, taxis have a fixed €55 fare to the Right Bank, €62 to the Left Bank — set by prefectural decree, non-negotiable. From Orly, the Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau runs €11.50, 30 minutes.
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How to get there
Paris has two main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG, 25 km northeast) for international flights and Orly (ORY, 14 km south) for European and domestic routes. Direct from the US East Coast runs 7-8 hours at $650-1,100 round-trip on Delta, United, or Air France. From London, the Eurostar train (2h15, £80-200) beats flying.
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Getting around
The Métro does the heavy lifting. Sixteen lines reach every neighborhood worth visiting, and a Navigo Easy card loaded with t+ tickets at €2.15 each keeps you moving without fumbling for cash. Walk between sights in the same arrondissement — Paris is only about 10 km across. Uber works but costs four times the fare.
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