Need tips for visiting Paris in 2022? Me too! After four years, I am going back to the City of Lights! Woohoo!

The pandemic has grounded me for far too long. I am yearning to travel and have adventures again. And this month I get to do just that. I hope this trip will inspire you to go after your dream trip!

9 Tips For Visiting Paris in 2022

I am lucky enough to have friends who have traveled to Paris and are experts in international travel generally. I asked them LOTS of questions. Why reinvent the wheel? I decided it was best to follow their advice as much as I could.

1. Consider staying in a vacation rental in Paris.

Kristen at KidsAreATrip.com loved staying at an actual Parisian apartment and gave me some fantastic tips on where to stay in Paris. Lyn from MillionMileSecrets.com had a wonderful review of her apartment rented from HomeAway. With Covid-19 still sticking around the vacation rental market is booming. Book early!

When we went as a family, we stayed in a super cute apartment home that was very Parisian. It was a three-bedroom, 2-bath apartment in the middle of the 2nd arrondissement in central Paris. (An Arrondissement is a district or neighborhood in Paris.) It was MUCH less expensive than an upscale hotel room though the 4-floor walk-up got a bit old. My friends and I decided to book a similar one this year, though it is in 18th arrondissement.

2. Book museum tours early.

Kristen from KidsAreATrip.com says she highly recommends a guided tour of the Louvre. And she said that Context Tours in Paris, a company that offers “Private Guides and (Very) Small Group Tours for the Intellectually Curious Traveler” was spectacular. Amber at GlobalMunchkins.com concurred, saying that the tour helped her family see everything they wanted to see in only a few hours. We used this company in 2018 too and it was so helpful.

Due to Covid, you have to book early though. Tours are limited as is the number of people who can be included. Plus, the hours at museums may be more limited too.

3. Do something memorable.

Amber from GlobalMunchkins.com let me know a bike tour of Paris is one of the most fun things she did. She wrote, “Hands down the absolute BEST tour to take with kids in Paris is the Fat Tire Bike Tour.” We booked the Fat Tire daytime family bike tour of Paris and wholeheartedly agreed! It is the thing we still talk about to this day from our last trip. I’m thinking that the nighttime tour with my girlfriends might be the way to go this time!

Kristen from KidsAreATrip.com wrote about the value of the Paris Pass for Travelocity. After reading her article I saw the value in it and decided to use it to visit some of Paris’s top tourist attractions with the Paris Pass. The pass includes entry to the Louvre and the Muse d’Orsay. (Lynn wrote on GoToTravelGirl.com about how she and her family spent a whole afternoon wandering through this opulent museum!)

This pass gives you admission to nearly all the museums and other attractions, even some tours! I especially like the Big Bus tours, which allow you to hop on and off. They are a fantastic way to see a lot in a short time and give your legs a rest. The Bateaux Parisiens river cruise was also a highlight for us. And the one-hour sightseeing cruise is included in the Paris Pass. The trick is making time to do all the things you want to do with this pass.

The Paris Pass saves money, as well as time. There’s a separate queue at a number of venues to skip the long lines. This means you can see more and do more during our vacation!

5. You have to climb up the Eiffel Tower!

Lyn from GoToTravelGirl.com said the Eiffel Tower is so iconic, that it’s a must, even though it’s touristy. I think everyone should walk up the nearly 700 steps to the first level. It’s always going to be memorable. If you are physically able to climb steps, go for it! Just take it slow! Reward yourself with macaroons and champagne at the 2nd level!

6. Use the Metro to get around Paris.

Everyone I talked to says the train, or the Metro, in Paris, is the way to get around the city. It is safe and fast, and Parisians say you are never more than a 5-minute walk from any train station in Paris. Lyn from MillionMileSecrets.com listed the all-inclusive train pass, called the Carte Visite Paris, as one of the best ways to save money in Paris.

That said, Uber also operates in Paris and can be a good choice when you want to avoid crowds on the train. It can be pricey though so make sure you know how much that 2 km ride will cost. We also splurged on car service from the airport to the city center and back again. It was money well spent!

7. Try to speak some french.

French was my minor in college and was one of my favorite subjects since I started taking it in 7th grade. However, I haven’t used it much over the years and when you don’t use a language you lose it. I found an excellent (and FREE) app that has helped me reintroduce French to myself in short 10-minute time periods. Duolingo fits well into my schedule, as I can do it when I have just a few minutes free. I like that it forces me to hear the language and read it. My written understanding of the language is way better than my verbal, but I really need both. If you are thinking about a vacation in France (or any foreign country) this is an excellent app for learning (or relearning) a language. Did I mention that it’s free? Need to start somewhere? Check out my article on the essential french phrases you need.

8. Ditch the yoga pants & flip flops.

I know I’m no fashionista, but I do try to look put together. And in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, it seems like this is even more important. Plus, with all the walking I know I will be doing, I have been looking for a cute, comfortable, easy-to-wear pair of shoes. That may seem impossible but I found them!

I was sent a pair of Kizik shoes that I am in love with. They are available for men and women, including some gender-neutral options. The best thing about these shoes is that they feature a patented heel design so all you have to do is slip your toes into the shoe and you have them on!

The heel will compress so your foot can slide all the way in and then once your foot is in, it will spring back into place securing your foot in the shoe. These sneakers are now as easy to put on as slides or flip-flops. And they look so cute! Even my kids said they were cool!! They are the perfect traveling shoe!

9. Get beautiful.

Do what makes you feel beautiful to get ready for this trip. Buy a flashy red lipstick. Splurge on a new dress. Maybe even get an eyelash lift! I did all 3. Thanks to Waxxpot my eyes are popping and making me look way more awake than I actually am. See below for 4 reasons you might want to consider an eyelash lift!

Do you have tips for visiting Paris for me?

As you can see I’ve gotten some terrific help from other writers who have been to France. It’s really amazing what you can find when you’re willing to ask! I’m making lists (and lists of my lists) and checking them twice. With Covid-19, a contentious election and just the crazy world we live in, I have to say I’m anxious about traveling. Do you have tips for visiting Paris? Or tips for traveling post-Covid? Or maybe just send me some good traveling vibes. Follow along on my kidless Paris adventure on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .