Paris

By FARESPOTTER STAFF

About Paris

Paris is the wonderful, light-drenched, cosmopolitan capital of France, and hands down the most glamorous city in Europe. Book a flight to Paris, and you'll be on your way to the historic City of Lights, with its high fashion, haute cuisine, world famous art, wonderful walking streets, and majestic landmarks. With the picturesque River Seine running through the heart of the city, Paris has the reputation of being perhaps the most beautiful and romantic of all world cities. Paris is officially divided into 20 districts which are called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20, and you'll need a full week just to see just the landmarks that are spread thorughout the arrondissements: The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Jardin du Luxembourg, Arc de Triomphe, the Pompidou Centre, Sacre-Coeur, the Louvre, the Musee de Orsay, and the always grand Champs Elysee. You'll also want to make time to enjoy the tiny alleyways of the Latin Quarter or Montmartre against the wondrous views from the Louvre. Paris is a wonderful city for just wandering aimlessly. Walking through the vibrant Marais, elegant St-Germain and romantic Montmartre, making sure to make time for shopping, sitting in a cafe, and sampling the wonderful Parisean cuisine.

When to Travel to Paris

Like many destinations in Europe, the airfare is typically your biggest expense, so you should always compare multiple airfares before booking your flight. Good deals on cheap flights to Paris can usually be found during the winter months, especially January and February when temperatures stay brisk in the 40s and 30s and the city is typically damp and wet. The city is at its best in springtime from April to June when the temperatures are usually in the 60s and 70s. As the weather gets nicer, finding good deals on flights to Paris gets harder. July and August can be hot and muggy, with temperatures jumping to the upper 70s and into the 80s - and with the majority of the more than 300 million annual tourists flocking to the streets of Paris during the peak summer season, this is a season to avoid if as all possible for the budget traveler to Paris.

Cheap Flights to Paris

Paris is served by three international airports: Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG), Orly International Airport (ORY), and Beauvais (BVA). Charles de Gaulle is the main airport for international travel. Beauvais is the airport far north of the city, used by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, who can offer some of the cheapest flights from other European cities to Paris. Most international travelers fly directly into the city, but it's now easy and inexpensive to simply add Paris to another itinerary by either using ground transportation to make the final leg to Paris (e..g, the Eurostar train that whisks travelers under the English Channel from London to Paris in 2.5 hours) or by taking advantage of one of Europe's growing fleet of discount carriers like Ryanair and easyJet. The major tourist season, and the most difficult time to book cheap flights to Paris, spans April to September. Cheap Paris flight deals can usually be found either during the hot summer months, when Parisians themselves often leave the city for a respite from the summer heat. Winter in Paris is cold, but beautiful with chandelier lights hanging from street lights. Some specific dates to keep in mind when you’re booking your trip to Paris: July and January are filled with couture fashion shows and Bastille Day (July 14) is also a very busy time. August is a bit quieter since most Parisians take vacation the last month of summer. It’s possible to get cheap flights to Paris at the end of the summer, but be aware that many cafés, restaurants and shops might be closed during this time.

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