There’s something slightly surreal about Paris in the summer months. It’s not only that the days feel impossibly long, then almost seamlessly stretch into (often balmy) evenings. It’s the fact […]
Planning Your Trip
Paris in 2020: What’s New to See & Do This Year?
If you’re plotting a trip to the French capital sometime in 2020, it’s no doubt handy to have an overview of what’s worth seeing and doing this year. It’s set […]
Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre: Feting the 500th Anniversary of Artist’s Death
2019 marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death in Amboise, France– where the Italian artist and inventor is buried to this day. To commemorate this landmark date, the […]
Paris in the Fall: Invigorating, Poetic and Dynamic
I’ll be up-front about something: Paris in the fall is my preferred time of year. There’s something about sparkling autumnal light hitting the Seine as you cross the Pont Neuf. […]
4 Paris Jazz Festivals to Mark in Your Calendar Now
Paris is legendary for its longstanding jazz scene, rivaling New Orleans’ and New York’s at certains points in history. While the golden era of Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Django […]
The Louvre/Tuileries District in Paris: What to See & Do Around the Museum?
If you only have a few days to explore Paris or it’s your first trip to the capital, you may want to spend a few hours roaming around the Louvre/Tuileries […]
Paris Boat Tours & Cruises: Are They Worth Your Time?
Most “top attractions” lists for the French capital suggest a boat tour of the Seine or other waterways in Paris. But since these sorts of sightseeing cruises are so commonplace– […]
Paris Airport Taxis: How to Use Them (& Avoid the Bad Ones)
I still remember my first bad taxi ride from Charles de Gaulle Airport. I was returning home from a visit with family in California, lugging around suitcases so heavy I […]
6 Tips for Avoiding Tourist Traps & Scams in Paris
As one of the world’s most-visited cities, Paris relies on tourism to thrive economically. While that’s generally a mutually beneficial thing, it has its downsides. For one thing, certain areas […]
Do You Really Need Travel Insurance for a Trip to Paris & France?
For this first article in a new of practical tips I’ll refer to as “Paris Trip Planning Q&A”, let’s tackle a boring, but entirely necessary, question. Readers have often asked […]
The 10 Best Places to Visit in Paris on Your First Trip
Here at Paris Unlocked, we tend to focus our coverage on lesser-known corners of the French capital, and encourage readers to look well beyond the obvious, tried-and-true or wildly popular […]
![By Valerii Tkachenko [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.parisunlocked.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1024px-Cityscape_Paris_november_at_night_light_view_on_Champs_Elesees_8204488131-740x493.jpg)
Paris in November: Why to Embrace the Short, Cozy Days
Many tourists don’t even consider visiting Paris in November, fearing that they’ll be “regaled” with icy rain, miserably dark days and grumpy locals. But while it’s certainly not for everyone– […]
Paris in October: Crisp, Contemplative & Stimulating
Autumn in the French capital has always been one of my favorite times of year– especially at the outset, before the days wane into early darkness and the trees are […]
Visiting Paris in September: A Welcome Return After the Lull
Most locals recognize Paris in September as the true new year. Following a long summer hiatus, residents return home from vacation and get back to work. This is the season […]
Paris in August: How to Enjoy the “High-Low” Season in the Capital
Paris in August presents travelers with an odd and interesting scenario. Following July’s mass exodus of local residents to beaches in the south of France, it’s arguably both high season and […]
Visiting Paris in July: Festivals, Shows and Balmy Nights
Quick quiz: what do the terms “July”, “Paris”, and “mass exodus” have to do with each other? Well, if you’ve ever spent any time in the capital at this time […]
Visiting Paris in June: How to Tap Its Early-Summer Magic
Visiting Paris in June? Of all the summer months, this may just be the most pleasant. The temperatures generally remain on the mild side, and even though the occasional […]
Paris in May: How to Enjoy the Mid-Spring Glory
Representing the glorious apex of springtime in the French capital, Paris in May is a wildly popular time to visit. Millions of people throng on the city during this month […]
Is Paris Still Safe to Visit in 2020 (And When Can You Travel to France Again?)
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis and following terrorist attacks and occasionally-violent street demonstrations, many people are wondering whether Paris is still safe to visit. A quick look at […]
Visiting Paris in December: What to See & How to Plan Your Trip?
Thinking of visiting Paris in December? Most think of the end-of-year holiday festivities and displays as the primary draw card– and they’re certainly not wrong. But there’s much more to […]