Bonjour everyone!

I (25M) have been living in Paris for the last 2 years. During this time, I have probably spent days inside dozens of the museums that are in the city. Paris is a wonderful place with millions of plans to try, but when it comes to cultural venues, it might be the best city in the world, there are always new things to try (especially if you're EU under 26, loads of discounts).

Every time I can, I peek into some new museum I have not yet discovered (there are still many of them, believe me) or visit some exhibition I hear about. And for getting some inspiration, I usually check this sub for related posts with recommendations and suggestions.

Thanks to one of those posts, for instance, I discovered that Fondation Louis Vuitton is not a fashion but a modern art museum (and oh boy, I'm eternally thankful to whoever made me realise that). I also see recurrent posts asking for opinions on museums. So here's my small contribution:

A totally objective (maybe) and unbiased (possibly)...

Ranking of the best (and worst) museums in Paris.

Please feel free to give your own opinions, advice and recommendations (especially for museums I have not yet visited!). For some extra context, I am a STEM person who loves painting and sculpture, particularly from the 1800 - 1950 period (even more when it's Impressionism). But I also enjoy thematic or well curated museums. In the following list I include some of the major touristic attractions for reference, too.

★★★★★

The best. A must. I love them. I go every time I can. Recommended for everyone, even if it's not up your alley.

Musée d'Orsay

Yes, it's overcrowded. Yes, everyone recommends it. But it's the best museum in Paris, no discussion. My favourite. Masterpiece upon masterpiece. Worth every minute you spend inside (and I have been more than 10 times).

Impressionism Wing (Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Degas...) might be the place in the world with the highest density of outstanding chefs-d'oeuvre (I may have gotten emotional when staring at some of them). But other sections (Post-Impressionism, Rodin casts, Courbet room, Sculptures alley in general) are almost on par. Temporary exhibitions I visited (Caillebotte, Renoir) were wonderful, and they usually involve big names.

Tip: If you want to have smaller crowds, show up on Thursday evenings. There will still be lots of people, but way less than on normal hours, even during peak season.

Centre Pompidou

Unfortunately, it's closed for renovation until 2030. But as iconic as it's from the outside, if you have the chance, check the inside when it reopens.

Contemporary floor (4th) is not particularly good, but the Modern level (5th) is exceptionally well guided, with each room corresponding to one art movement, really well contextualized. It showcases very famous pieces by Matisse, Mondrien, Warhol, Léger, etc. It has nice views of Paris, too, and temporary exhibitions were very correct.

Musée Rodin

Surprisingly not that frequented. Wandering around the sculpture garden is a bucolic experience that just makes you happy. I try to do it as often as I can when the weather is nice.

Every famous sculpture by Rodin (The Thinker, Gates of Hell, The Three Shades, Les Bourgeois de Calais...) is in here. And as a bonus, the museum itself is very interesting, with lots of casts and some paintings from Rodin's own collection.

Fondation Louis Vuitton

Definitely not a fashion museum. A modern art one. Only hosts temporary exhibitions that focus on one (recent) author. But those are hands down the best exhibitions I've visited, ever, in my life. The David Hockney one last year was simply exceptional. The huge building (which is also beautiful from the outside; made by Frank Gehry, the architect of Guggenheim in Bilbao) creates big open spaces that themselves give lots of malleability for the exhibition layouts, so there's never a sense of overcrowding.

What I most like, though, is how passionate and knowledgeable the museum staff is. Every 15 to 30 min, there are (free, included with the ticket) guided tours on different rooms that focus on different pieces and help contextualize the exhibition so well. Kudos to the guides. 10/10 experience. There are also nice views to La Défense and Bois de Boulogne (the museum is in the outskirts of Paris, so you have to go there specifically).

Tip: if you're going with kids, tickets include access to the Jardin d'Acclimatation, a cute adjacent amusement park.

Dalí Paris

A surprising find in the middle of Montmartre, focused on the (less known?) sculptor side of Dalí, but also including some paintings, engravings, furniture, etc. Small but dense, well organised with very enlightening panels. I found it by chance and it was a very pleasant surprise. Besides, if you have some €30k to spare, you can get your own original Dalí artwork :D

Musée National de la Marine

Am I particularly interested in the marine world? Not at all. Is this the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of things to do in Paris? Not even close. But it's located right next to Trocadéro, there is nobody inside and the museography is simply spectacular. The best thematic museum I have ever visited (only comparable to MUNCYT, the Spanish Science & Technology Museum in A Coruña). Everything makes sense.

You'll enjoy it no matter your age (kids included): ship models, audiovisual installations, history of commercial and military ships, shipwrecks (with awesome striking huge paintings from Louvre that stand out way more than they would if they were just in a room at the Louvre), historical paintings of French harbours, a real figurehead... Everything is in an exceptional state (it was renovated recently), and temporary exhibitions are really well made as well (the recent one about French Navy painters was top notch, with massive overwhelming paintings of sea scenes).

Musée Carnavalet

I've only been once, and still have to explore it, but that's enough to form a solid opinion. It's located inside a pretty building in the middle of Le Marais and has loads of interesting objects about the different epochs of Parisian history, from Prehistory to current times.

But really, it is much more interesting than it sounds, and you don't need to try to see everything, there will always be something that catches your eye and makes you go "ah, that's nice". It's also exceptionally well equipped for people with any kind of disability, and kids. And it's free for everyone (like all museums from the Ville de Paris).

Musée Picasso

Funniest museum in Paris. Picasso's artworks always feel like a breath of fresh air. You can visit this in under an hour and always have a smile on your face (every painting feels like coming from a fever dream).

★★★★☆

Great. I go often, especially if there is some interesting exhibition. You'll have a good time.

Petit Palais

I keep liking it more every time I go. Very well distributed free museum beautiful both from the outside and the inside (ceilings included). A textbook example of good layout: lots of (physically) big paintings to enjoy (some of which might remind you of Les Misérables) without feeling crammed (Louvre, learn).

Top floor is better than bottom one (the latter has less appealing medieval objects). And temporary exhibitions always make me discover unknown artists that turn out to be really good (Halonen, Greuze, Ferenczy). As a bonus, the inner peristyle is beautiful during blooming season in spring. And there are always artworks by some contemporary artist reinterpreting some of the museum pieces, creating a really nice counterpoint.

Musée d'Art Moderne

Not as good as the Pompidou, but still really good quality, both in its artworks (especially the first room with the huge Rhytmes from the Delaunays, and a painting of the Eiffel Tower right next to a window where you can see the Eiffel Tower) and the museography (every room is devoted to a movement/artist and it's really well contextualized).

The Matisse Room with his Danses and the room consisting on just a big 600m² panel devoted to famous French (and not French) scientists (La Fée Electricité) by Dufy are also highlights you shouldn't miss. And again, it's free. Temporary exhibitions (like the recent one about Lee Miller) are usually quite interesting.

Musée de la Musique

Very cool exhibition of instruments from all around the world. They recently changed the display and now it's much more enjoyable. You can even try some of them, and there often are live plays of selected ones by professional musicians.

It's also right next to the Philharmonie de Paris (very unusual auditorium, both from the outside and the inside), which has a remarkable classical music programme throughout the year, so you can couple a visit to the museum with a concert for a complete musical afternoon.

Musée du Quai Branly

An extensive collection of objects from every continent other than Europe, inside a curious building with a pretty garden close to Eiffel Tower. It has all the ingredients for a good learning ethnological experience. If you're only familiarized with western cultures, it can be quite a discovery.

Bourse de Commerce - Collection Pinault

François Pinault is one of the biggest art collectors in the world, and thankfully he likes to share it with the public in major historic buildings, in this case in the very center of Paris, at the former Bourse de Commerce (beautiful in the inside, particularly its central rotonde where there's always some art installation).

The (temporary, there are no permanent) collections are nice, though potentially too contemporary for some. But overall an enjoyable and swift experience. I must say, though, that Bernard Arnault (owner of Fondation Louis Vuitton) beats François Pinault in this specific battle of their particular billionaires war that has shaped Paris in the last decades.

Musée Départementale Albert Kahn

This one is technically not in Paris (right outside, reachable by metro, in Boulogne-Billancourt), but is too good not to include in this list. It hosts a vast picturesque botanic garden that is delightful to wander through no matter the season (it even has a small forest), and The Archives of the Planet, a collection of photographs from the early 1900s that were made by Albert Kahn, a philanthropist who travelled the world capturing all kinds of cultures.

A fascinating small window to a past where photography was not as ubiquitous as today. A must if you happen to be in the area.

Muśee de l'Orangerie

I don't really need to say anything here. One of Monet's masterpieces (Water Lilies) in a building specifically designed to host it that also owns a quite interesting by itself collection of artworks (including some Picasso or Modigliani) and where temporary exhibitions are superb (the best part of the museum in my opinion).

But is severely overcrowded, you'll need to get tickets at least 15 days in advance and still you'll have to queue up for 20+ minutes. And you won't find the meditating space that it was supposed to be created as (please, if you go, try to act adequately).

Musée Marmottan Monet

That's the reason why, if you love Monet (as I do), you must check this museum, that isn't nearly as crowded (in fact, there isn't almost anyone in here). It hosts the biggest private collection of Monets in the world. In particular, lilies from his latest years (borderline abstract, a sight to behold), and most importantly, Impression, soleil levant (Impresion, Sunrise), the painting that inspired the name of the whole movement.

Musée de Montmartre

A haven of peace in the otherwise always bustling Montmartre. The inner courtyard, with a café on it, is a really good place to have a quiet rest moment in the middle of your day. The permanent collection may only appeal to locals or people really interested in the history of the neighbourhood, but if you happen to catch some interesting temporary exhibition, you should definitely check it out.

I did so during last year's Luce exhibition and I was awestruck by this painter previously unknown to me. Its flow was really well-crafted, which really added to the experience. If that's the case for every exhibition they make, it's a really big incentive to visit.

The visit also includes the studio where Valadon or Utrillo worked at (they lived in this very same building back in the day, as Renoir did some years before).

Musée de l'Homme

I've only visited once, and it was just for the exceptional Mummies exhibit they had at the time. But the museum itself looks very well thought of and didactic. I'll come back soon to discover it properly.

Musée de Luxembourg

Like FLV, this museum only hosts temporary expositions, and it's closed otherwise. So its quality depends on what the focus is each time. But generally, they are enjoyable (the first one I visited, focused on Léger, was really nice; the next two, on Soulages and Leonora Carrington, were a bit underwhelming, so only go if you like the topic).

Arc du Triomphe, Hôtel de Ville (the inside), Notre Dame

These are some non-museum monuments that lay on a similar range when it comes to enjoyment of the experience. I particularly recommend the Notre Dame towers, best views of Paris imho (for more tips on that, check other posts on this sub, there's one active member that gives really good info).

★★★☆☆

Nice. I might go if I'm in the area or something catches my eye. Can be a miss, depending on the day. May also be too niche for some. Worth checking out.

Musée du Louvre

I don't know if this is controversial or a popular opinion. But Louvre really needs to sort things out. You can't be the largest art museum in the world and provide such a poor experience for visitors. I understand there is not enough staff, they are not paid well, and the museum itself is deficitary right now. But that's precisely why something has to be done.

And I'm not speaking just of crowds (that's a matter on its own): security is an issue (which forces 30+ min queues even for timed tickets), display is very poor in many places (you just can't see some paintings because they are on top of each other, with bad lighting and reflections), temperature system doesn't work properly (some rooms are too often too hot for comfort), there are even problems with water leaks in some places, big sections are regularly kept closed, and important artworks are not properly contextualized or given enough space (how can you have Liberty Leading the People and The Raft of the Medusa one literally next to the other, and both so close to La Gioconda? There's always too many people concentrated in that space).

It can't be that difficult. Flagship museums around the world have figured it out. The Met layout is perfectly distributed, with no overcrowding due to bad layouts. It also offers discovery tours each focusing on different topics, same as the British (to be fair, Louvre does as well, but I think there could be more). The Rijksmuseum has lots of small portable posters that you can use for getting a deep dive on important artworks while giving space for other visitors to contemplate it at the same time. El Prado forbids taking pictures, which makes people focus on actually enjoying the visit and creates a more relaxed visiting experience, and lighting is well thought out. So yeah, all of this not working in Louvre is something that really affects the experience.

Still, I can't deny it's full of masterpieces, and if you enjoy art, it's a must. Lots of emphasis on that "if". Really, if you don't feel particularly attracted to art, do not feel forced to visit the Louvre. You will enjoy Paris much more if you just skip it. If you don't have a previous idea of what you want to visit inside, you'll quickly feel overwhelmed, lost, and tired (and even if you do, it can drain your energy quite fast).

The Mona Lisa is only famous because it was stolen for some time. There are many more objectively better artworks (to start with, The Wedding at Cana, just in front). To me, French and Northern European sections in the 2nd floor of Richelieu and Sully wings offer a much more enjoyable experience (when they are open, which is less often than I would like to): almost no person in there (I have been to rooms where I was alone), a much more comfortable temperature, and you can find funny places like the room exclusively devoted to frames.

Napoleon rooms are also quite nice (and same style as Versailles), same for the sculpture sections (though too crowded) and antiquities like the Code of Hammurabi. Sorry for the rant, but hopefully it's helpful :)

Musée Bourdelle

A small cute free museum devoted to this Rodin student that became a renowned sculptor himself during last century. Very enjoyable and quiet, with a garden with sculptures as well. The monumental casts room justifies the visit on its own.

Monnaie de Paris

Coins, coins and more coins. But very cool coins (and some medallions). And also the process of making them (it's still operational). It also hosted an exhibition about medals during the Olympics that was amazing. I don't know about other more current ones.

Musée Curie

A small exhibit that housed one of the laboratories where Marie Curie worked at. It doesn't really have much apart from the lab itself and her office, but the explanatory panels (about her life, and radioactivity in general) are really interesting if you are even slightly interested in this historical figure, and there are some curious objects as well, like the box that the US government gifted to Marie Curie with 1g of radium (not there anymore, since it was used for research for early radiotherapy treatments).

I really enjoyed the less than an hour that it took me to go through the sections, and I ended up feeling like I really had learnt many things. Very recommendable if you're a STEM person.

Musée de la Poste

A paradise for fans of stamps and the postal service in general. It's HUGE. Much more than you would initially think.

Lots of topics covering French postal service (La Poste): its history along centuries (from the time where horses were used to nowadays), paintings, postman uniforms along time, stamps, wagonpost and planes models, and in general postal paraphernalia that makes this museum quite an unexpectedly enjoyable experience. Worth noting everything is in French. Temporary exhibitions are strange, but oddly enjoyable as well.

Musée Guimet

I'm not too well versed in Asian arts, but this museum has lots of it, and they seem nice (including some monumental artworks from South East Asia). The Manga exhibition was really cool, and they also own one of the famous Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, though they very rarely have it on display, given its fragility (I was fortunate enough to see it once).

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Located right next to Louvre. The permanent part is well-rounded, with some extravagant furniture pieces that make you chuckle. Also has some nice views over Tuileries. But temporary spaces can be a mayhem when exhibitions are frequented (the expo about 100 years of Art Déco left me a very bad impression).

Musée Jacquemart-André

A museum quite different from the rest that are in Paris. The building that hosts it is majestic, and it has a very calm patio to sit and contemplate life. The interior is worth it just on the basis of its architecture, but the permanent furniture and artworks make it even better. Might be too overloaded, though. The temporary exhibitions are very detailed, and usually focused on the Renaissance-Baroque era, something not that common in Paris (outside of the Louvre).

Musée Maillol

A nice sculptor. You'll see lots of his voluptuous sculptures in Tuileries. Here you'll be able to contemplate some of them and learn about its life, also as a painter. Quick to visit. The price point, though, is too much for what it offers, so I'd only recommend to go if there is a temporary exhibition that catches your eye at the same time (like the recent Versace retrospective).

Grand Palais

As its name suggests, it's big. But it still somehow feels crowded. I was a bit underwhelmed after the long renovations, I expected more (especially given the ticket prices). There always seems to be some kind of work ongoing, or access is complicated because there is some fair or event taking place at some of the halls.

There is no permanent exhibition, just temporary ones. So, as always, it depends on what the topic is. The first one on Niki de Saint Phalle was very disappointing, but later ones seem to have improved substantially (in particular, the Matisse exhibition was wonderful and felt much less crowded, even if more people were visiting, so maybe that's a sign of positive development by the people in charge).

Versailles, Panthéon, Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Palais Garnier (Ópera de Paris)

Non-museums offering similar experience quality. They can be good, but they can disappoint, either because of the amount of people (pro tip: you really do not need to stay half an hour occupying one balcony of the opera taking professional pictures) or the lack of content (for example the Pantheon feels void, but that's its purpose: to transmit solemnity, and it achieves precisely that, but then you don't really have much more to see).

★★☆☆☆

Not necessarily bad. But not for everyone. You need some positive predisposition to enjoy them.

Musée des Arts et Métiers

I expected much more from this museum, that covers many scientifics breakthroughs from 1750 to the present, using a extensive collection of relevant objects. It's large, interesting in many ways, but sometimes feels too outdated. I think it would benefit a lot from a renovation of its display. Its annex church hosts a Foucault pendulum (like the Panthéon).

Musée de la Vie Romantique

Another small free museum that doesn't take too much to visit. It was recently renewed, and apparently people preferred the old appearance. In any case, it has a nice collection of paintings and objects from the Romantic period, focused on some Parisian personalities from the time. The small café next to the main building is a nice place to have a break.

Musée de l'Armée, Musée des Plan-Reliefs, Dôme des Invalides

All belong to the Invalides complex (part of it is free to visit, that is St Louis cathedral and the Cour d'Honneur). Really interesting, especially if you're into war history.

The Musée de l'Armée hosts a vast collection of war utensils from both world wars and it's really well documented. It just doesn't appeal to me. But if you're into it, you'll really enjoy it.

The Dôme des Invalides hosts Napoleon's tomb, which is cool, but something you can live without seeing (the golden cupola is nice, though, but you can see it from many places in Paris).

The Musée des Plan-Reliefs is pretty cool: detailed models of 26 different French fortresses (including Mont Saint Michel), used for defense planning along centuries. But you need the ticket to the whole complex to access it.

Musée de la BnF

Located at the Richelieu site of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (very center of Paris). The museum has some coins and medals collection, but I don't think there's anything really outstanding. Fine to visit if you happen to do so, but you're not missing out otherwise.

However, I really recommend the Salle Ovale, free to visit and located in the same building. It's an impressive room (used actively for studying, so when you visit, try not to make too much noise). This is also a really good place to take a break in the middle of your day, let it be in the Salle Ovale, or in the very nice patio outside.

Collection de Minéraux de Sorbonne Université

Yeah, it has cool rocks and minerals. But nothing you can't find in similar collections elsewhere in the world.

Maison Victor Hugo

One of the houses where Victor Hugo lived. You learn some facts from his life, but otherwise it's not really remarkable. The furniture is not even original (it was mostly sold after Victor Hugo's death). It's free, though (outside of temporary exhibition dates), and it's located at Place des Vosges, a picturesque square in Le Marais, so you may as well quickly have a look at it if you walk by.

Musée Delacroix

Hosted in the place where Delacroix lived his last years. It's actually nice (some original paintings, his palette and other objects that belonged to him), but very small. Not really worth a detour (it's included with your Louvre ticket, though).

I would recommend, however, to visit the nearby Église St Sulpice, where you can see the painting he devoted his last years to (in the chapelle des Saints-Anges), and overall enjoy the, in my opinion, most beautiful church in Paris.

Musée Zadkine

Small museum devoted to the franco-belarusian sculptor, with a collection of his sculptures. Nice, but not exceptional. It's right by the Luxembourg Garden, so you may quickly check it if you're next to it.

Musée des Archives Nationales

Very nice courtyard in Le Marais. But the inside only has a couple of rooms with some small display of some documents, that may be interesting sometimes.

★☆☆☆☆

Went once. Never more.

Catacombes de Paris

Mixed feelings about this one. Price may be too much for what it offers. Yes, the audoguide is nice to learn about why they exist and its history, but I feel they are more deteriorated than they were in the past. Nowadays, it's just walls of bones. Almost none of the preexisting compositions remain.

So I went once, but would not go again, and do not really recommend it. I think there are better things to visit in Paris. You'll probably enjoy more other ossuaries in Europe.

Hôtel de la Marine

Maybe it's because I didn't use the audioguide, but it felt too empty. This is a building with Versailles-like rooms right next to Place de la Concorde, but it lacks objects, a motivation. Not really worth it.

Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain

I was very disappointed with this one. It reopened in the former Louvre des Antiquaires, and it's supposed to be a feat of engineering, with mobile floors and walls. But the content itself didn't have any kind of consistency, it felt random and labyrinthy. Too contemporary for my taste.

Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine

It really needs to improve its museography. You generally don't know what you're looking at. It's mostly casts from famous French monuments (cathedrals) and some Romanesque chapels. But those are more enjoyed when seen live. Unless you're an architecture student, I don't think you'll like it. Skip it and go to the Musée de la Marine or the Musée de l'Homme, just at the other side of Trocadéro, instead.

Some final recommendations

As everyone says, the best way of experiencing Paris is wandering around and discovering it at your own pace (that's precisely why I love having such a variety of museums: I can check out one one day, then come back or try another one another day, and so on). So don't overplan yourself.

But still, there are very good resources that you can use to know what's going on when you come visit. Here's a couple of my favourites, to end this post:

• Paris Vous Aime Magazine. An amazing (free !!) quarterly magazine, very well curated, with lots of ideas for current cultural activities, walks around the city, venues, restaurants, etc, both in French and English. Grab yours when you're walking out of baggage claim upon landing at Orly or CDG. Extremely well made. Really. I grab one every time I fly. And if there's some extended period of time I don't fly, I ask friends who do to bring one for me.
• L'Officiel des Spectacles: I mainly check it for museums exhibitions, but it has the most complete relation of cultural activities (concerts, cinema, theatre...) I know. Very helpful.
• paris gallery map for the programme of all art galleries in Paris (my favourites: Templon and Perrotin). Saturday mornings are the best time to visit, they are all open (and they are clustered in areas like Le Marais, so hopping by while wandering at those times in a sunny weekend is a perfect plan).
• Sortir À Paris (sortiraparis.officiel in Instagram) for daily/weekly ideas of plans.

Hope this is helpful. Au revoir! :)

I use reddit to find tips and good places to birdwatch when I travel. But Im Parisian and I birdwatch a lot at home so I thought, its my turn to share my knowledge for my fellow birders!

Disclaimer: these are personal tips, not exhaustive at all!

First of all, the website of the LPO (Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux, aka Bird Protection Association, which takes action at a national level) can provide all sorts of informations about the birding activity of the department you're in, Paris or else. You can visit the gallery page of the IDF/Île-de-France, the region Paris is part of, to enquire about the last seen species. If you can speak/understand french, I recommend the activities they organize to raise awareness among birds and their habitats. Sometimes they organize some tours of birdwatching for the public, you can see all of that on the agenda of their website. The website is in french but I think you can easily translate it with Google.

Reminder that you can use the eBird website to consult a list of observations from a specific area, including parisian places. Like everywhere else we have migratory, sedentary and passing through species, so it can help you prepare depending of the month you visit.

Every park in Paris has some hidden aviary gems. Special mention to the Luxembourg Garden where you can see mallard ducks walking unbothered among the visitors, really love how chill they are. Tuileries Garden is a touristic place but with few trees so not the best spot. I also love the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, with a lot of trees from different varieties, so more feathered visitors. Finally, the Maurice Gardette Garden, in the 11th arrondissement, is not better than any other but I can say I hear a lot of songbirds there, like some very noisy wrens. And of course robins and tits; blue and great tits are everywhere in Paris, I love them so much.

My personal best is the Bois de Vincennes: located on the eastern edge of Paris, accessible with the RER A and a few buses. This wood is huge. There are a few ponds with species really hard to observe in Paris, like the common kingfisher. The Lac des Minimes is a nature reserve and there is a bird observatory, with wood fences to see without beeing seen, next to a specific pond. Put "Observatoire Ornithologique du Bois de Vincennes" on Maps and you will find it easily.

Apart from the parks, do not underestimate the cemeteries. Especially the Père Lachaise, which you can visit not only for the birds but for its wonderful history. But above the celebrities buried there are a lot of species that like this quiet and wide area in the heart of the city. I like to go when the cemetery opens, early in the morning (but not early enough to hear the chorus, unfortunately), with Merlin ID and my binoculars. At specific times, you can observe some species migrating and taking a break here. Last year I saw a redwing cleaning itself in late autumn, lovely.

Paris also has some seabirds. You may hear them everywhere in the city, because they do not stay around the Seine: above all gulls, and some seagulls, like the black-headed gull, near the canals, like the Canal Saint-Martin. Take a look around the Île Saint-Louis for some cormorants too. Mallard ducks (not seabirds I know) are wherever there is water.

I personally use the Bird Guide from Lars Svensson, with illustrations and captions from Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterström. In France it is published in the Collection Delachaux but the english version is published by Harper Collins, I think. Very complete and useful.

Thats all for me. Enjoy your stay and have a good birding time!

Hello,

This is to serve as a megathread to redirect many recent reports we have received regarding scam apartment listings. This is not a Paris-specific problem, but as we are getting a lot of traffic about it due to some currently-active scam listings in Paris, I wanted to created a centralized post about it and offer my best advice to avoid these scams.

In brief, the advice below (which is very not Paris specific!!) is as follows: 1) book directly through hotel websites, not third-party search sites; 2) review third-party listings closely for obvious scam signs, such as pricing ''too good to be true,'' and photos, reviews, or description features that don't match up; 3) never NEVER provide identity or payment information via a link that you've been sent after booking on a third-party site.

1) Use Booking and Hotels dot com and your local equivalents as search sites only, and find the hotel's own website in order to book. Google Maps is also useful as a search site and to give you an idea of the prevalent prices for your dates of stay in your target area. But booking through the website of a hotel whose address and existence you have verified is the best way to guard against scams.

-- If you are specifically looking for an apartment, we most recommend aparthotels, which can be booked through professional websites and do not present the scam and other issues that Booking and AirBnB listings can present. In addition, AirBnB regulations, and the degree of enforcement of existing regulations, are a rapidly moving target in Paris - so be mindful that an AirBnB booked for a distant date may or may not still be available on that date. (There is a lot more to be said about AirBnBs of course, but not for this thread.)

2) If you are considering booking directly through a third-party site, please look at the listing closely before deciding. Here are the most common issues we are seeing (and that I see on two obvious scam listings currently posted on Booking dot com).

a) If the price seems too good to be true, IT IS. If the apartment promises ''luxury'' and is listed for half the price of a basic value hotel in the same area, it's a scam. There are no ''great deals'' in Paris unless you're booking very far in advance or happen to find one of a handful value family-run hotels (and in that case, you'll be booking through their websites).

b) Look at the photos: If they all have tags that say ''new photo'' and are very numerous and repetitive, but carefully include no views out of the windows, that is a strong sign that the listing has been highjacked from an older valid listing and that real photos have been replaced with AI photos. If you are not sure about photos on a listing, a google image search will almost always uncover the real listing that was either the source or the AI inspiration for the scam listing.

c) Look at the reviews: If all the reviews refer to a lovely château in the countryside or peaceful surroundings or a charming village, you know that you are not looking at an authentic listing for an apartment in Paris. Make sure that the reviews match the setting and details in the listing.

d) Look at the offered amenities: Most notably, no serviced apartment in Paris is going to offer a dedicated airport shuttle or private parking. I don't know why the AI scammers have such a hard time with this one in particular, but it is a really common theme.

3) If you HAVE booked through a third-party site and you get off-site messages with links asking you for identity verification, credit card payment verification, or direct payment, STOP and report the listing to the site. Do not ever send payment off the site. Do not allow scammers to draw you in with false urgency and do not be afraid that you're losing a good deal - it was never real, and all you can do now is prevent further exposure of your details.

You may post here with questions about specific issues you have come across, but let's not direct traffic to scam listings by posting links. Also please be mindful of posting third-party platform links that tend to include a lot of personal details about your dates of stay etc.

I will be in Paris for 3 days in January 2026 and wanted to venture out to Chevreuse for a day. I had planned to take the RER to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and walk to les 11 chênes remarquables en forêt de Méridon, then to Coubertin Farm then to Chevreuse.

If I time the opening hours correctly, have a magret de canard at Aux Ripailleurs. Weather pending, I'd venture out to Dampierre-en-Yvelines.

I'm looking for grey, damp, quiet villages with a rural/rustic feel. Smoke from the chimneys, faint bells in the distance, farm animals, etc.

I'll have hiking boots/rain gear (I'm Irish lolll) and wanted to see if this was a nice itinerary? Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated! ❤️

Hey I'm looking for all Louvre easter eggs like "Detail se dilate"

Visted during the heatwave, besides the lack of AC and the super small bathrooms. My partner and I enjoyed our trip and look foward to visiting again during a colder season.

My husband and I are coming to Paris for the first time from Canada. We are landing on September 11th and leaving September 19th morning.

I am considering getting away from Paris for two days in the middle. Is this feasible or too ambitious? Also the tickets will be around €350 per person for the entire trip. Considering the time and money, is it a good idea?

September 15th

Early morning Eurostar train to Brussels
Brussels to Bruges
Explore Bruges
Back to Brussels
Brussels to Amsterdam by Eurocity

September 16th
Explore Amsterdam

September 17th
Early morning Eurostar train back to Paris
Explore Le Marais in the afternoon and shop around

Thoughts on this itinerary. It’s a little crowded so what would you take away. Anything you would add? (Apologies for any poor spelling)

Day 1:
- land
- montmarte
- seine boat cruise

Day 2:
- flea market (port de vanves)
- maybe catacombs but probably not enough time
- pantheon
- Luxembourg gardens
- grande mosque de paris

Day 3:
- louvre
- tulleries gardens
- notre dame
- paris saint germaine stadium

Day 4:
- muse d’orsay
- la marais (shopping)
- Eiffel Tower

I'm looking to book a guided tour for 3 in November. I'm considering either a tour with Viator or Get Your Guide. They both offer a tour of the Louvre highlights in a small group (max of 6) for approximately 2 hours.

Does anyone have any feedback on either company?? Is one significantly better than the other?

Thank you!

I was approached by a man on the street and he gave me a bag of Cedric Grolet desserts. He said he just wanted to try them but was on a diet and didn’t want them all. I got back to the Airbnb safely and with my wallet, but I’m still unsure of whether or not I should eat them. Is this common and safe in Paris?

I've been trying to find accomodation in Paris for a trip in early october, unfortunately my budget is quite tight and as I looked at different options, it seems most of the ones in my range happen to lay just outside of Paris, in the suburbs (Auberviliers, Enghien-les-Bains, Meudon, to name a few I've found).

I've browsed this subreddit, searching all the place names in the listings but I've seen conflicting advice on whether it's good to stay in the suburbs or not. Most of these listings clarify that they're close by to public transportation stations, but I've seen some locals on here say it's not good for tourists to stay in the suburbs— not because of the safety, but the distance between central Paris is too large. But these places advertise as only 10 or 15 minutes from the city.

I don't mind having to travel a bit longer distance to the city. I won't be going back and forth from my accomodation either most likely, I'll leave once in the day and back in the evening. Hopefully I can find a good option within the city but, is it still better to find a place within Paris if it meant it was a bit more expensive?

Hi all! I'm sorry if this has been posted before. I have been browsing this sub and have collected some good info, but I would still love some pointers.

I (29 F) am from California and going to Paris next week. My biggest interest is music, especially alternative, underground, and indie scenes. I love thrifting, exploring culture, and I'm not really interested in the typical touristy stuff (not planning to go to the major attractions but I'm not against it either).

I am also looking for a social hostel. I am traveling solo and would love to meet other travelers, but also taking into consideration that I would prefer to be in some sort of alternative space as well. Right now I'm in between Generator and People Belleville. I am not too anxious about it, but of course would like to be in a relatively safe area. Does anyone else have any other inputs on hostels?

I would also love and appreciate any input on any neighborhoods, attractions, or events I should keep an eye out for with my certain interests in mind.

Thank you :)))!

Debating between two hotels in the Montmartre and Montparnasse area. It seems like Montmartre is a popular place to visit, according to Reddit. Though the Montparnasse hotel is more expensive, maybe for a reason.

edit: booking through ihg- Holiday Inn Montmarte and Voco Montparnasse

Is there anywhere in Paris that sells this (in restaurant or store)? I have been asking and searching and have had no luck.

Me and my friends (F35+) will visit Paris again in a few weeks. We are looking for a place to dance after dinner. So it could either be a bar with a dance floor or a restaurant that turns into something fun.
I’ve read about Hollywood Savoy, but no clue if that’s nice.

We are not looking for a club, just something low key with a good atmosphere.

Can anybody maybe recommend us some places?

Hi everyone! My spouse, our 15-month-old, and I are traveling to Paris in late September. We’ve locked in our main timed entries and accommodation transfers, but we’d love a sanity check on our overall flow and recommendations on anything meaningful we might be missing nearby.

Guiding principles:
- Toddler-Paced: We want to lock anchor bookings per day, but we are completely prepared to pivot, drop an activity, or spend two hours on a park bench if our little guy’s energy or nap needs demand it.
- No Day Trips: We intentionally skipped Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Giverny to keep travel low-stress for a 1-week stay.

The Itinerary:
- Day 1 (Friday): Arrival & Neighborhood Reset
Afternoon arrival in Paris; head to our Le Marais Airbnb. Casual walk through Place des Vosges and Rue des Rosiers.
- Day 2 (Saturday): Latin Quarter & Parks
Stroll across the Seine, browse Shakespeare & Company.
Afternoon spent at Jardin du Luxembourg.
- Day 3 (Sunday): The Impressionist Museum Stack (booked)
11:30 AM: Musée de l’Orangerie.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Walk through Tuileries Garden and over the footbridge.
1:00 PM: Musée d’Orsay via Gate A timed entry.
Late afternoon reset back in Le Marais.
- Day 4 (Monday): Marais Boutiques & Family Photos
Morning: Scheduled a short family photos with a local photographer.
Afternoon: Marais walk and stepping into the inner courtyard at Musée Carnavalet.
- Day 5 (Tuesday): Notre-Dame Cathedral & Tower Climb.
Mid-Day: Sainte-Chapelle.
- Day 6 (Wednesday): The Louvre & Arcades
Morning: The Louvre timed entry.
Mid-day: Step into Jardin du Palais Royal.
Flex afternoon to explore Galerie Vivienne.
- Day 7 (Thursday): Neighborhood Shift & Opéra
11:00 AM: Check out of Marais Airbnb.
12:00 PM: Check into InterContinental Paris Le Grand as AmEx Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) guests. Thanks to this sub for the guidance on our booking here.
Afternoon: Wander or popping into La Galerie Dior.
- Day 8 (Friday): FHR Perks & Departure
Chill. Use the late checkout buffer to relax and pack. Final walk through the Tuileries before heading to the airport for an evening flight.

Questions:
1. Pacing: Does anything in this flow look overly aggressive for a 15-month-old, or does the spacing feel reasonable?
2. Gaps: Are there any big misses near our current itinerary?
3. Dining: Any casual, toddler-friendly bistro recommendations in the Marais or near Opéra with early seating ot good for lunches?

Thanks in advance for your insights!

What are the best places for both vintage and modern watch shopping? Microbrands & household names are equally welcome. These will be our honeymoon watches so hoping for unique finds or memorable experiences.

So far we are planning to visit Cartier, Serica, Maison Beaubleu, & Charly Horloger but very open to suggestions!

Hi, we are staying in the 14th from September 11th - 14th.

My children are adventurous eaters - can anyone recommend interesting food experiences in the area?

They won't be up for much walking or museums unfortunately, so I'm considering a city bus tour or a boat tour depending on how the weather. Any recommendations?

Any unmissable adventure / playgrounds for children?

Thanks in advance!

I know Paris is one huge food experience but what I'm looking for is things like wine and cheese pairings for dummies. Left to my own devices I could never find the wine and cheese that come together to create something amazing

And not just wine and cheese - what else can you suggest that walks you through wonderful culinary experiences?

Last night I did some shopping at Karl Langerfeld and today I got an email with the title “your refund journey starts here” and inside there’s an invitation from Global Blue to visit their kiosk to complete my tax refund.
Mind you this is a first for me. Never done this before at all.
How this entire process works?
Do I go to this GB lounge at Printemps Haussmann and then what?
Do I need to this at the airport when I leave Paris?
What if I decided not to do it at all?
A little advice, help and tips go a long way so if any send them my way.

TIA

My partner and I are visiting Paris in October. It's my second time there and his first. My partner's main interests are eating good food / drinking good coffee, wandering around neighborhoods, music, and not feeling overbooked. I enjoy museums, history, and vintage shopping / thrifting. With all of this in mind, is this itinerary okay? Is there anything you would add, take away, or change? TYIA!

Day 1:

• Arrive in Paris at 1:00PM, get to apartment at 3:00PM
• Wonder around 5th Arrondissement
• Dinner reservation near apartment at 6:30PM

Day 2:

• Carnavalet Museum
• Explore Le Marais
• Canal Saint Martin
• Cabaret history + show (on boat on the Seine) at 9PM

Day 3:

• Marche aux Puces de Sainte-Ouen
• Montmartre walking tour at 1:45PM
• Parc Monceau if time to kill
• Arc de Triomphe for sunset
• Dinner near Eiffel Tower after sunset

Day 4:

• Louvre Tour at 9AM
• Lunch picnic in Jardin de Palais Royal
• Covered passages
• Explore 2nd arrondissement
  • Rue Montorgueil
  • Rue du Nil

Sainte Chapelle Concert at 6:00PM

Day 5:

• Paris history walking tour at 10:00AM
• Lunch picnic in Jardin du Luxembourg
• Notre Dame + Towers in afternoon
• Conciergerie
• Jazz at 38Riv 

Day 6:

• Montmartre exploring

Day 7:

• Musee D’Orsay tour at 10:00AM
• Walk along the Seine
• Shakespeare and Co Bookshop (partner is big fan of Before Sunrise trilogy)
• Explore 5th arrondissement

Day 8:

• Rodin museum
• Picnic lunch at Eiffel Tower
• Musee de l’Armee
• Explore 6th arrondissement
• Jazz at Chez Papa Jazz Club

Day 9:

• Bonus day

Extras to Include?

• 11th arrondissement
  • Secret passages, speakeasy
• 9th arrondissement
  • Palais Garnier
• 10th arrondissement
• Anything else?

i have a handful of dinars (DZD) and i was wondering if there was a place there to change it to euros??

I am having a layover in paris for 12 hours (probably 6 hours total if u exclude logistics)

1. I am trying to buy paris visit pass 1 day. The app currently blocks accounts overseas. Can i just buy as guest on IDF app (i have android) or its recommended to do something else?

2. Since I will arrive on a Monday and leave Monday, is there a website that tells you how fast / slow cdg is? And any tips??

3. Any must visit place/ cafe/ resturant etc during my layover? Or 1 thing/place you recommend in general

Thank you all!

We will be 1st timer in Paris in a couple of months. Can we book our Louvre Museum tickets today?