Paris

Paris is organized into 20 arrondissements that spiral outward clockwise from the Louvre — worth understanding before you book anything, because which one you stay in shapes the trip more than most guides let on.

Getting In and Getting Around

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the main international gateway; the RER B train runs directly into central Paris in roughly 35–50 minutes, though most clients traveling with us are met planeside and driven in, which avoids the RER entirely during peak hours. Orly sits closer to the city and suits some regional and domestic connections better. Once you’re in Paris, the center is genuinely walkable — the 1st through 8th arrondissements are compact enough that a driver is more about comfort and time than necessity, while the Métro is fast but can be crowded at rush hour.

Where the City Actually Happens

The Golden Triangle around Avenue Montaigne and Rue Saint-Honoré (8th arrondissement) is where most flagship maisons sit, and it’s the natural base if shopping and Right Bank dining are the focus. Le Marais (3rd/4th) has a different character entirely — narrow historic streets, independent boutiques, and a gallery scene that rewards walking without a fixed itinerary. Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th), on the Left Bank, is the old literary quarter — Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are the well-known names, but the real appeal is the bookshops, small squares and a slower pace than the Right Bank. Le Bon Marché, the city’s oldest department store, anchors the same neighborhood.

Practical Notes Worth Knowing

Many smaller boutiques and restaurants close on Sundays and Mondays, and August sees a meaningful share of independent restaurants close for the owners’ holiday — worth checking before building a day around one address. Service is included in restaurant bills by law (service compris), so tipping is a genuine option rather than an obligation. Museum lines can run long at the major institutions in peak season — exactly where private or after-hours access changes the experience, not just the wait.

If you’re planning a Paris trip, tell us which neighborhoods or interests matter most and we’ll shape the stay, the table reservations and the private access around that — not a fixed sightseeing list.