Things to Do in Paris: Sights, Vegetarian Food and the BAPS Mandir
Rachel Lin · 12 Nov 2026
Paris for families from the USA
These are the things to do in Paris for Indian American families, and anyone traveling from the US, who want Paris done well in a few days.
It covers the sights worth your time with 2026 ticket prices, a morning at the new BAPS Mandir, where to find vegetarian and Indian food, a 3 day plan and what a day costs. Our Europe tours spend 3 nights in Paris, and the plan below follows the same pace.
- 3 nightsin Paris on our Europe group tours
- €2.55one metro or RER ride, the mandir trip included
- €56 or €65taxi flat fare from CDG to the Right or Left Bank
- 9 AMwhen darshan opens at the BAPS Mandir every day
Want Paris planned for you?
We run Paris as part of our Europe group tours from the USA, and as a 3 day Paris City tour built around the BAPS Mandir. Tell us your dates and we will price the trip, the hotel and the flight together.
Or call us on +1 888 881 5755.
Things to do in Paris, area by area
Most lists of things to do in Paris, France run to fifty entries. Paris rewards a shorter plan, by area: group the sights that sit together and you spend your day looking, not riding the metro. Here are the twelve we would put first, in four groups, after our short list.
Top 10 things to do in Paris
- Go up the Eiffel Tower to the summit.
- Take a Seine cruise past the bridges and the islands.
- See the Mona Lisa and two more wings of the Louvre.
- Visit Notre-Dame, reopened since December 2024.
- Stand in the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle.
- Walk up to Sacré-Cœur and the lanes of Montmartre.
- Climb the Arc de Triomphe above the Champs-Élysées.
- Spend a day at the Palace of Versailles.
- Join morning darshan at the BAPS Mandir.
- Have a thali near La Chapelle and a crêpe after.
The Eiffel Tower, the Seine and the Champs-Élysées
Eiffel Tower. The iron tower of 1889, with views across the whole city from the top. Book the summit by lift ahead, because those slots sell out first, especially around sunset. Allow 2 to 3 hours. The lift to the summit is €36.70 for adults, €18.40 for ages 12 to 24 and €9.20 for ages 4 to 11; the stairs to the second floor are €14.80.
Seine cruise. An hour on the river past the Louvre, the islands and the bridges, and the easiest sightseeing in Paris for grandparents and small children. The Bateaux-Mouches cruise from Pont de l'Alma runs about 1 hour 10 minutes and costs about €17 to €20.
Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The avenue is free to walk. The roof of the Arc, at the top of a long spiral stair, gives the best view of the twelve avenues meeting at the Étoile. Allow 1 to 2 hours. The Arc is €16 from October to March and €22 from April to September, with the lower price on Wednesdays.
The islands and the Left Bank
Notre-Dame. The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, and entry to the cathedral is free; you can reserve a free time slot online to skip most of the line. The towers are a separate visit at €16, booked ahead. Allow about 1 hour.
Sainte-Chapelle. A royal chapel of the 1240s whose upper level is almost all stained glass. Go on a sunny morning. Allow 45 minutes. Since January 2026 it is €22 for visitors from outside Europe, or €30 with the Conciergerie next door.
Musée d'Orsay. Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh in a former railway station, with a giant clock window over the Seine. Allow 2 to 3 hours. About €16, free under 18, closed Mondays, open late on Thursdays.
Luxembourg Gardens. The park of the Left Bank, with its green metal chairs, a pond for toy sailboats and a playground. Free. An hour is enough, longer with children.
The Right Bank and Montmartre
The Louvre. The largest art museum in the world, home of the Mona Lisa. Pick two or three wings rather than trying to see it all. Allow 3 hours. Since 14 January 2026 the ticket is €32 for most visitors from outside Europe. It is closed on Tuesdays and open until 9 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Galeries Lafayette rooftop. The department store under the great glass dome has a free roof terrace with a wide view over the Opéra and the city, open in store hours and closed in bad weather. From 24 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 the roof becomes an ice rink. Allow 30 to 45 minutes.
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur. The white basilica on the hill, free to enter, with the painters' square and village lanes behind it. Take the funicular if anyone in your group finds stairs hard. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Day trips: Versailles and Disneyland Paris
Palace of Versailles. The palace of the French kings, with the Hall of Mirrors and gardens that run to the horizon. Give it half a day at least, a full day with the gardens. The Passport ticket for visitors from outside Europe is €25 from November to March and €35 from April to October; under 18 is free. Closed on Mondays.
Disneyland Paris. Two parks east of the city, a full day for most families. Prices change by date: a one day, one park ticket starts at roughly €52 to €62 on the quietest days and runs to about €100 on the busiest. It sits on the same RER A line as the BAPS Mandir, a few stops further.
Fun things to do in Paris with children
Children tend to love the boat more than the museums. Put a Seine cruise, the Eiffel Tower, the toy sailboats and playground in the Luxembourg Gardens and a crêpe from a stall near the top of the list, and keep museum visits to two hours. Disneyland Paris is the big treat, and from 24 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 there is an ice rink on the Galeries Lafayette roof.
Paris ticket prices and times, 2026
Adult prices for a visitor from the US, rounded where the price moves with the date. Children often pay less or nothing, so ask for the family price.
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| Sight | Time to allow | Adult ticket, 2026 | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower, summit by lift | 2 to 3 hours | €36.70 | Bir-Hakeim (6), RER C Champ de Mars |
| Seine cruise, Bateaux-Mouches | About 1 hour 10 minutes | About €17 to €20 | Alma-Marceau (9) |
| The Louvre | 3 hours | €32 | Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre (1, 7) |
| Notre-Dame | 1 hour | Free (towers €16) | Cité (4) |
| Sainte-Chapelle | 45 minutes | €22 | Cité (4) |
| Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur | 2 to 3 hours | Free | Anvers (2), Abbesses (12) |
| Arc de Triomphe roof | 1 hour | €16 to €22 | Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (1, 2, 6, RER A) |
| Palace of Versailles, Passport | Half to a full day | €25 to €35 | RER C Versailles Château Rive Gauche |
| Disneyland Paris, one park | A full day | About €52 to €100 | RER A Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy |
| Musée d'Orsay | 2 to 3 hours | About €16 | RER C Musée d'Orsay, Solférino (12) |
| Luxembourg Gardens | 1 hour | Free | RER B Luxembourg, Odéon (4, 10) |
| Galeries Lafayette rooftop | 30 to 45 minutes | Free | Chaussée d'Antin–La Fayette (7, 9) |
BAPS Mandir Paris: a morning visit
The BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris opened in September 2026, after the Paris Mandir Mahotsav from 2 to 14 September. It is the first traditional stone mandir of its kind in France, and it stands in Bussy-Saint-Georges, east of the city.
- Getting there. Take the RER A toward Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy and get off at Bussy-Saint-Georges, about 35 to 50 minutes from central Paris. One standard ticket covers the ride. A taxi or private transfer takes about 35 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Darshan hours. Monday to Friday 9 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM; Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 7 PM. Hours change on festival days.
- What to expect. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes at the entrance. Photography is not permitted inside. Allow extra time with children and older family members.
- The address. Allée Madame de Montespan, 77600 Bussy-Saint-Georges.
A morning visit pairs well with an afternoon at Disneyland Paris, a few stops further on the same line, or with a return to the city for Montmartre. Our BAPS Mandir Paris visitor guide covers the history, where to stay nearby and the full visitor details.
Vegetarian and Indian food in Paris
The easiest vegetarian food in Paris, and the best Indian food in Paris, is in the city's own Indian quarter. Around La Chapelle metro and along the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis you will find South Indian vegetarian restaurants, sweet shops and grocers, and a few minutes south, the glass-roofed Passage Brady is lined with Indian and Pakistani restaurants.
Two vegetarian restaurants with recent reviews in 2026:
- Krishna Bhavan, 24 rue Cail, near La Chapelle (line 2). A small, fully vegetarian South Indian place: thalis, dosas and sweets.
- Saravanaa Bhavan, 170 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, between La Chapelle and Gare du Nord. Pure vegetarian South Indian, with dosas, thalis and paneer dishes. Recent reviews are mixed and the lunch menu is shorter, so check the hours before you go.
Our Europe group tours include lunch and dinner with the group on the touring days. On a free day, or on the 3 day Paris City tour, which includes breakfast only, this is where to go.
| Dish | About, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian thali in the La Chapelle area | €10 to €15 |
| Masala dosa | About €10 |
| Crêpe with butter and sugar at a market stall | €3.50 to €5 |
| Crêpe at a stand near the big sights | €5 to €9 |
How to say vegetarian in French
- Je suis végétarien (or végétarienne): I am vegetarian.
- Sans viande, sans poisson, sans œuf: no meat, no fish, no egg.
- Sans oignon, sans ail: no onion, no garlic.
- Est-ce qu'il y a de la gélatine ?: is there gelatin in it?
Notes for Jain and Swaminarayan diets
Most Indian kitchens in Paris cook with onion and garlic as the base, so ask before you order rather than after. French desserts can hold gelatin, and many cheeses are made with animal rennet. Pack snacks for the mandir day and the museum days. On our tours, tell us your diet when you book: the Christmas tour lists Jain, vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices at every Indian lunch and dinner.
A 3 day Paris itinerary
Three days, one area at a time, with the mandir on the third morning. It fits the 3 nights our Europe tours spend in Paris. Do not put the Louvre on a Tuesday or Versailles on a Monday, when they close.
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| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Eiffel Tower, summit booked ahead | Seine cruise from Pont de l'Alma, then the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe roof | The Eiffel Tower lit up from Trocadéro |
| Day 2 | The Louvre, two or three wings | Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité | Dinner in Passage Brady or near La Chapelle |
| Day 3 | RER A to the BAPS Mandir for morning darshan | Back to the city for Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur | Galeries Lafayette rooftop before it closes, then a crêpe |
Stretching it to 7 days
With a week, keep the first three days and add Versailles on day 4, Disneyland Paris on day 5, the Musée d'Orsay and the Luxembourg Gardens on day 6, and a slow last day for shopping and a second visit to the mandir. Or turn the week into Europe: our Icons of Europe tour starts with 3 nights in Paris and goes on to Switzerland, Austria and Italy, and our 3 day Paris City tour with BAPS Mandir can sit before or after it.
What a day in Paris costs for two
A full day for two adults comes to roughly €175 to €230 in tickets, metro rides and vegetarian meals, before the hotel. The ride in from the airport adds €28 to €65. Choose the kind of day and how you come in.
Your day for two, in euros
The day
From CDG airport
- Louvre and Orsay tickets, two adults
- €96
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- RER B from CDG, two tickets
- €28
- About
- €200 to €240
- Louvre and Orsay tickets, two adults
- €96
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- Taxi flat fare to the Right Bank
- €56
- About
- €230 to €270
- Louvre and Orsay tickets, two adults
- €96
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- Taxi flat fare to the Left Bank
- €65
- About
- €240 to €280
- Eiffel summit and Seine cruise, two adults
- €107 to €113
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- RER B from CDG, two tickets
- €28
- About
- €215 to €260
- Eiffel summit and Seine cruise, two adults
- €107 to €113
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- Taxi flat fare to the Right Bank
- €56
- About
- €240 to €285
- Eiffel summit and Seine cruise, two adults
- €107 to €113
- Eight metro rides
- €20.40
- Thali lunch, crêpes, Indian dinner
- €58 to €96
- Taxi flat fare to the Left Bank
- €65
- About
- €250 to €295
An estimate, not a quote, from 2026 prices. The taxi fare is per car for up to four passengers; the train is per person.
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| Line | What it costs, 2026 | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Metro, bus or RER ride | €2.55 a ride | One price anywhere in the Paris region except the airports, so it covers the mandir trip. Load rides on a Navigo Easy card (€2, once). |
| Navigo week pass | About €32.40 | Unlimited rides in all zones, but it runs Monday to Sunday, not seven days from purchase. |
| RER B to or from CDG | €14 a person | The airport ticket is separate from the €2.55 ride and needs its own card. |
| Taxi from CDG | €56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank | A flat fare set by law, per car, the same day and night. |
| Paris Museum Pass, 2 days | About €85 to €90 | Covers Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc, Versailles and more. Worth it if you will see four or more. |
| Vegetarian meals for two | About €58 to €96 a day | A thali lunch, a crêpe each and an Indian dinner, our estimate from 2026 menus. |
When to go to Paris
April to June and September to October are the easy months: mild days, long light and the gardens at their best. Summer brings the biggest crowds. Winter is cold and grey, but the Christmas lights are lovely and Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe drop to their low season prices.
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| Season | Weather, average high | Crowds and prices | Our departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter, December to February | About 46°F to 48°F, short days | Fewest crowds; low season prices at Versailles and the Arc; Christmas lights | Europe Christmas tour, 22 December 2026 |
| Spring, March to May | About 55°F to 69°F | Busier from Easter; high season prices from April | Icons of Europe from 15 April 2027, European Explorer from 29 April 2027 |
| Summer, June to August | About 74°F to 78°F | Busiest and dearest; book the Eiffel Tower and Louvre early | Icons of Europe and European Explorer, several dates each month |
| Autumn, September to November | About 71°F falling to 52°F | Quieter after mid September; low season prices from October and November | Icons of Europe and European Explorer, to late November 2027 |
The 3 day Paris City tour with BAPS Mandir runs on dates you choose, so it works in any season.
Paris tour packages from the USA
Every price is per person, twin sharing, land only, from the tour page in November 2026. Flights are priced separately, and we can book them with the tour.
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| Tour | Days | Nights in Paris | What the Paris days include | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris City tour with BAPS Mandir | 3 | 2 | A 5 hour private city tour, two evenings and a full day at the BAPS Mandir, private transfers, daily breakfast, a city centre 4 star hotel. Dates on request. | $1,099 |
| Icons of Europe | 11 | 3 | Guided tour of the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, a Seine cruise; day 3 free or optional Disneyland Paris. Next date 15 April 2027. | $2,599 |
| European Explorer | 13 | 3 | Guided city tour, the Eiffel Tower, a Seine cruise and Paris by night; day 3 free or optional Disneyland Paris. Next date 29 April 2027. | $3,399 |
| Europe Christmas tour | 9 | 3 | Eiffel Tower 3rd level, a guided tour of Versailles, a Seine cruise, Paris by night and a full day at Disneyland Paris. Departs 22 December 2026. | $3,828 |
| Wonders of Grand Europe with BAPS Paris Mandir | 17 | 4 | Dinner at the BAPS Mandir, a day at the mandir, the Eiffel Tower 3rd level, a Seine cruise, an evening illumination drive and Versailles. Swaminarayan meals on much of the route. | Ask us |
Looking for a 7 day Paris trip? Our Paris tour package is 3 days. The nearest group tour is Fascinating Europe, 8 days with 3 nights in Paris and 4 in Switzerland, from $2,568 (ask us for the next date). Or we can build a custom week around the 3 day Paris City tour, with extra nights in the city.
Wonders of Grand Europe ran in September 2026 around the mandir opening, from $4,200; ask us for the next date. Icons of Europe, European Explorer and the Christmas tour all start in Paris, so a multi-city flight into Paris and home from the last city fits them best.
Three days in Paris: the sights by area, a morning at the mandir and Indian food on the free evenings.
Tell us your dates, how many travelers and how you eat, and we will put the Paris days together for you, on a group tour or on your own dates.
Plan your Paris days
Europe tours with 3 nights in Paris from $2,599 per person, twin sharing, land only. Call us on +1 888 881 5755.
Read next
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Paris rooftops from Montmartre (top) by iMahesh (CC BY-SA 4.0), Guimard metro entrance by Moonik (CC BY-SA 3.0), Sainte-Chapelle by Oldmanisold (CC BY-SA 4.0), Louvre at night by Benh Lieu Song (CC BY 2.5), Sacré-Cœur by Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0), Hall of Mirrors by Myrabella (CC BY-SA 3.0), Bussy-Saint-Georges station by Chabe01 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Passage Brady by Ratozamanana Andriankoto (CC BY 2.0), Musée d'Orsay clock by Mark Bonica (CC BY 2.0), Luxembourg Gardens chairs by Olga Khomitsevich (CC BY 2.0).
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Paris?
The top things to do in Paris are the Eiffel Tower, a Seine cruise, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, and the Musée d'Orsay. With more time, add a day at Versailles or Disneyland Paris, the Luxembourg Gardens and the free Galeries Lafayette rooftop. Indian American families often add a morning at the BAPS Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges.
How many days do you need in Paris?
Three days covers the main sights at a comfortable pace: the Eiffel Tower and the river on day 1, the Louvre and the islands on day 2, and the BAPS Mandir and Montmartre on day 3. Akshar Travels Europe tours spend 3 nights in Paris. A week lets you add Versailles, Disneyland Paris and the Musée d'Orsay.
Where can I find vegetarian and Indian food in Paris?
The Indian quarter around La Chapelle metro and the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis has the most vegetarian Indian food in Paris, and the covered Passage Brady nearby is lined with Indian restaurants. Krishna Bhavan at 24 rue Cail and Saravanaa Bhavan at 170 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis are fully vegetarian South Indian restaurants. A vegetarian thali there costs about €10 to €15 in 2026.
How do I get to the BAPS Mandir from central Paris?
Take the RER A toward Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy and get off at Bussy-Saint-Georges, about 35 to 50 minutes from central Paris on one standard €2.55 ticket. A taxi or private transfer takes about 35 to 60 minutes. Darshan is Monday to Friday 9 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM, and Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 7 PM.
How much does a day in Paris cost for two?
A full day for two adults costs roughly €175 to €230 in 2026 for tickets to two big sights, eight metro rides and vegetarian meals, before the hotel. For example, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay come to about €96 for two, and the Eiffel Tower summit with a Seine cruise to about €107 to €113.
How much is a taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris?
A taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris is a flat fare of €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank in 2026, per car, the same day and night. The RER B train costs €14 per person and reaches Gare du Nord and Châtelet in central Paris.
Is there a Paris tour package from the USA?
Yes. Akshar Travels runs a 3 day Paris City tour with BAPS Mandir from $1,099 per person, twin sharing, land only, on dates you choose, with a private city tour, a 4 star hotel and transfers. We do not sell a 7 day Paris only package: for about a week, Fascinating Europe is 8 days with 3 nights in Paris and 4 in Switzerland, from $2,568, or we can add extra nights to the Paris City tour. Icons of Europe (11 days, from $2,599) and European Explorer (13 days, from $3,399) also start with 3 nights in Paris.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
The best time to visit Paris is April to June or September to October, when days are mild and crowds are lighter than in summer. Winter is cold, about 46°F, but quieter, with low season prices at Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe. Akshar Travels runs a Europe Christmas tour from 22 December 2026 and Europe tours from April 2027.
Tours in this post
- Paris City tour with BAPS Mandir - 3 days - From $1,099
- Wonders of Grand Europe with Baps Paris Mandir - 17 days
- Europe Christmas tour: Paris, Disneyland, Amsterdam, Jungfraujoch and Mt. Titlis - 9 days - From $3,828 - Next departure Dec 22, 2026
- Icons of Europe, Paris, Switzerland and Italy with Venice and Rome - 11 days - From $2,599 - Next departure Apr 15, 2027
- European Explorer tour: Paris, Amsterdam, Swiss Alps, Venice and Rome - 13 days - From $3,399 - Next departure Apr 29, 2027