Paris remains Europe’s most-visited city. From Germany, it is accessible by train (TGV, Thalys/ICE), making it a genuinely viable weekend destination — particularly from Frankfurt and Cologne.
Getting There by Train
Frankfurt to Paris: 3h45min direct by TGV/ICE (several daily). Prices from €30 if booked in advance via SNCF Connect or Deutsche Bahn. Cologne to Paris: 3h15min by Thalys (now rebranded as Eurostar). Düsseldorf and Brussels also connect. The train is more convenient than flying once you include airport time and central-city arrival — Paris Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord are in the heart of the city.
What’s Changed Since 2020
Paris has undergone significant infrastructure changes ahead of and after the 2024 Olympics. Bicycle infrastructure has expanded dramatically — the city added 180km of cycle lanes between 2020 and 2024. Several major streets have been pedestrianised or reduced to single traffic lanes. The RER B rail link to CDG airport has improved. Tourism has returned fully; queues at major attractions are at their longest.
Beyond the Tourist Circuit
The classic tourist circuit (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Notre-Dame) is worth doing once but reveals relatively little about Paris. The neighbourhoods that most capture the city’s character: Belleville (multicultural, street art, North African and Chinese communities), Canal Saint-Martin (photogenic canal with good cafés and independent shops), Montmartre (better than its tourist reputation if you visit early morning and stay in the residential parts above Sacré-Coeur).
Eating Well Without Overpaying
Paris has excellent and reasonably priced food if you eat where Parisians eat. Prix fixe lunch menus (entrée + plat, sometimes dessert, for €15–25) are the best value in French restaurants. Brasseries serve reliably good food at mid-range prices. Avoid restaurants within one block of any major tourist attraction — they charge tourist prices for tourist-grade food.
