Paris is one of those cities that you either love or hate. Either way, you know you are not in Paris alone. There are masses of people everywhere, and there is an art to avoid crowds in Paris.
The city can feel overwhelming even to those who came for the ambience, romance, and excitement of the city.
Visitors who aren’t used to so many people often get tired of waiting in endless queues, fighting the masses, and being pushed or jostled. Learning how to avoid crowds in Paris is a challenge, a mystery, and some say a “mission impossible”.
Can it be done? Have a read, and then you tell me.
10 tips to avoid crowds in Paris while enjoying the city icons
1. Plan ahead and be flexible
This one seems obvious, but a bit of planning can prepare you for the city. Many of the tips below are part of the planning process. Flexibility, however, is often difficult for travellers who like everything pre-scheduled.
If you arrive at an attraction and the entry queue is two hours, perhaps it’s time to change the plan and come back tomorrow or later in the day. This is where staying close to an attraction can come in handy, so book one of Paris’ finest vacation rentals to stay nearby and skip the queues.
2. Avoid crowds in Paris by visiting sites early in the morning or late at night
Tour buses generally show up at a prescribed time, often starting about 30 minutes after opening. Arriving first lets you beat the rush. And if it’s a popular hike or a walk, consider starting at dawn or just after sunset (provided it is deemed to be safe).
In Paris, we did this twice, once early in the morning and the other time after dark. The resulting images are two of my favourite Paris photos, both of Sacré-Coeur.
3. Buy tickets in advance that skip the line
On our last trip to Paris, the queue to get into the Louvre Museum was over two hours. A bit of better planning and we could have had a skip-the-line ticket, and we could have gone straight in and had a guided tour. Buy your Louvre skip-the-line ticket with an included guided tour
And that’s not all. There are skip-the-line tickets to just about every Paris Icon. Check pricing and availability on a few of our favourites:
- Reserve your skip-the-line Paris Catacombs admission ticket and audio guide
- Bypass the queues with an Eiffel Tower direct access ticket
- Pre-purchase a skip-the-line Versailles Palace and Gardens day trip from Paris by train
4. Park far away and walk
Sometimes it’s not the people but the traffic that makes an area feel crowded. Parking far away and walking lets you avoid crowds in Paris, at least on the roads.
In a scene reminiscent of the comedy ‘European Vacation, we entered the roundabout at the base of the Arc de Triomphe. What a mistake that turned out to be. Eventually, we gave up, drove a mile away, found a place to park the car, and walked back.
Similarly, our GPS wouldn’t guide us up the hill at Montmartre. Despite it being the highest point in Paris, we eventually opted to park at the base and walk up a massive flight of stairs. While the walk resulted in a bit of grumbling, it did avoid crowds on Paris roads.
Once at the top, we were greeted with the spectacular nighttime view of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart shown at the top of the page. It’s a massive cathedral more commonly known as Sacré-Coeur Basilica.
5. Use pedestrian tunnels
I am not sure this is a tip to avoid crowds in Paris, as the tunnels may be the only way to cross the roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe. If not, it should be, as trying to run across the traffic there would be dangerous.
6. Visit attractions outside the city
The two attractions we visited outside of Paris were both stately manors, yet very different in terms of their crowds. First, we visited the Musée Vivant du Cheval, a living horse museum dedicated to equine art and culture. Located in Chantilly, just 40 miles north of Paris, the Musée Vivant du Cheval horse museum is housed in the Great Stables of the Château de Chantilly, considered to be the largest stables in Europe. Built in the mid-1500s, the Château is a site to see in its own right.
We also visited the Palace of Versailles, a royal palace of Louis XIV. It is a masterpiece inside and out, with massive queues to get in, even with advanced tickets. See our photo review of the Palace of Versailles here. If I were going again, I would take a tour from Paris.
→ Check pricing on a Versailles Palace and Gardens day trip from Paris by train
7. Step off the beaten path and go to less frequented streets
We love getting off the tourist path and exploring a city or neighbourhood. Not just because it will often avoid the crowds, but also because it is a better way to learn about the people and the culture.
Cities like Paris that get large numbers of tourists often spend a small fortune to show off the best of their city. Stepping off the tourist path lets you see a different side of a town. More importantly, it is often the fastest way to avoid crowds in Paris.
8. Stay in local neighbourhoods
Similar to stepping off the beaten path, staying in local neighbourhoods rather than in a tourist area often puts you in a less crowded section of town.
If you prefer to stay in hotels, you will find the full spectrum in Paris. We opted to stay in one of the Disneyland Paris hotels, and we never felt like we could avoid the crowds, especially at breakfast. However, the atmosphere was lively and fun. Reserve a hotel near Disneyland Paris
Like in any major city, the more you are willing to pay, the better the service, and therefore shorter wait times and a less crowded feel. Reserve a hotel in Paris
9. Change your photographic perspective
Illusion is everything: Take photos from a distance, close up, or at an angle so that it doesn’t appear crowded. Sometimes this is the best I can do.
10. Change your emotional perspective . . .
Or as my teenager would say, “suck it up”. If you must go to certain places, you will have to deal with the crowds.
A prime example is Disneyland Paris. We avoided the crowds by avoiding Disneyland Paris altogether. We had enough Disney at our hotel. However, if it is somewhere you must go, you will have to face the crowds.
The same general rules apply to Disneylands around the world. Avoid the high season, which in the case of Disneyland Paris is in July and August. Any other time of year, avoid holidays in both France and nearby countries, avoid the weekends, and avoid Friday or Monday.
Another always crowded Paris destination is the Eiffel Tower. Even with advanced timed tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower, there was a queue. It was far shorter than for those who didn’t have “Skip the line” tickets.
Then there was a second queue to get from the lower platform up to the top. However, once there, it was worth it.
moois van mie
I have another one! : Visit Paris in august!
Nancy
The first photo proves the value of your tips to me – I always feel rather overwhelmed in crowds, and it looks like it would be terribly congested and crowded to approach this beautiful cathedral.
Tal Bright
Planning to re-visit Paris next year, so thank you for the tips!
Anda
I don’t think you can totally avoid crowds in Paris, no matter what you do. We traveled to Paris many times, at very different times of year (we had a friend who had an apartment in Paris) and never encountered a “good” time. While it’s true that early morning or late at night will give you a little space, I find this city to be always crowded. Even when it rains or it’s a blizzard. But in a way that’s its charm.
Annette
Great tips Rhonda. It’s always great to manage a photo with no crowd, or at least as few people as possible.
California Globetrotter
No matter where I am, we definitely love to get up early before the crowds, have a rest in the afternoon and then go out again at night once the crowds have left! I don’t remember finding pedestrian tunnels, so that’s something to look out for next time in Paris!
Olivia Mitchell
Thank you for the tips Rhonda! I’m travelling to Paris next month so these are great to know 🙂
Travel Tuesday
Fantastic pix and great tips, Rhonda. We’ve visited France several times and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Your Paris photos are wonderful and bring back happy memories.
Megan Jerrard
These are fabulous tips, because Paris can get SUPER crowded – I actually really loved traveling in off season, which was winter – it was a lot less packed than when I went during summer, and we loved exploring local neighborhoods which were more off the beaten path as you suggest. Will have to stay with locals next time though, I would love a more immersive experience 🙂
Renee Kemper
I am in love with these photos and this post! We are traveling to Paris next year!
Ana
Love all of your tips – Pinning your post for future reference and my future travel bucket list vacation. Love all of your photos (just beautiful) – Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and tips.
Jill
Great tips! Still one of my favorite cities – crowds and all – and I’d go back time and time again!
Natalieaubele
Thanks for sharing !! Bookmarking this for my someday trip to Paris !
Danielle Desir
Hadn’t thought of changing the photographic perspective for less crowded photos but this is a gem. So many tourist want up close photos but like you showed those distance shots are just as beautiful and no one is in them!
Amanda
Great tips. A lot of those can be used in the city in general. Thanks for sharing! Great photos too!
Have a great week!
Rhonda Albom
Very true, but my photos are of Paris 🙂
Melanie williams
There are some great tips here. I have been to Paris alot and the early mornings are the best time to see the sights without mass people crowds x
Rhonda Albom
Really, early mornings are the best time to see anywhere. Of course, it messes with my passion for sleeping in the morning.
Indah Nuria
Great tips indeed, Rhonda. And you know what, I just had a stopover at Paris for 3 days and really enjoyed my time there. Good to be back after 4 years 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Three days would be a good amount of time if you had to deal with the crowds. After that, I think it would really start to get to me.
Ella
I really love Paris!
Our adventure at the Ice Cube Bar at Galeries Lafayette was beautiful!
Rhonda Albom
I will keep that place in mind, should we visit again.
Carol
Great tips and fabulous photos as usual – pinned and shared!
Mandy
If you ever return to the Palace of Versailles, I recommend actually staying in the town of Versailles. It’s absolutely adorable. Plus, you can sleep in (more than you would be able to if you were staying in Paris), grab breakfast at the farmer’s market in town, and then beat the crowd for the Palace of Versailles. Or, alternatively, it allows you to stay later than you otherwise would be able to because you don’t have to worry about catching a train. Versailles itself is totally worthy of exploration. I only got a glimpse but I just love it! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Great tip. Actually, we stayed with friends for a couple of nights before we moved to the city. We were walking distance to the Palace of Versailles, which is exactly how I go there early enough to snap that photo outside the gates without too many people.
Jane Cotton
Some great photos here, I think all cities are crowded especially in the summertime. Great tips though, thanks for sharing 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Yes, all cities can be crowded, but for us, Paris was one of the worst we visited. People were everywhere.
Bill
I’ve been to many places around Europe, driven around the outside of Paris, & been on the metro but it is not a place I wanted to visit
Rhonda Albom
Next time?
Jo
Great tips. Wish I had read this before and booked in advance to skip the queue. Eiffel was the worst and i had to wait forever to get on the top but of course it was totally worth i. A little bit of planning , booking and getting their early would’ve saved a few hours for sure.
Rhonda Albom
I wish I knew it before I skipped the Louvre. I am sure we would have gone in if we could have skipped the queue.
Patricia G.
Good tips for avoiding crowds. I prefer following a.) the getting up early or going after dark to beat the crowds and b.) Buying skip the line /advance tickets. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I am never a big fan of getting up early, but I will do it to beat the crowds and to get that special sunrise or morning golden hour shots.
Stella Jane
These are good tips for avoiding crowds! I would definitely like to check out the horse museum the next time I am in Paris. And I love your photos of Sacre Coeur at sunset and at night. But telling people to suck it up is good too. In Paris there will always be some crowds…
Rhonda Albom
I struggled with whether or not to include “suck it up”. My teen says it all the time. I am glad it didn’t offend.
candy
I like to avoid the crowds and definitely agree that getting up early is the best chance of avoiding mass crowds. Great tip on using the pedestrian tunnels 🙂 I hope to visit Paris soon!
Rhonda Albom
Paris is an exciting city, but there are a lot of people everywhere.
Vibeke Johannessen
Such great tips, I visited Paris like ten years ago. I went to the Eiffel tower early and remembering seeing a huge line under us when we already were walking the stairs. The crowds were horrible at Louvre. I hope I can visit Paris during early spring or autumn 😀 All of these tips are great and makes sense 😀 Thank you for sharing 🙂
Rhonda Albom
There is now an elevator in the Eiffel Tower, I am not sure the stairs were even an option when we visited.
Cathy Keller
Thank you for these tips. Will have to keep them in mind. We saw Paris as part of a tour , but would have loved to see more!
Rhonda Albom
I’ll bet you had skip the line tickets built into your tour. Really, they are the way to go.
Cathy Keller
We did! It was grand not having to stand in line at the Louvre. Have a grand day!
Rhonda Albom
When I go back, a skip the line at the Louvre will be my first purchase.
Comedy Plus
You do lots of informative, first hand tips. That’s a good thing for those that want to visit Paris.
Have a fabulous day. ♥
Photo Cache
Wonderful tips. We all could use a little reminder every now and then.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Wow, how beautiful Paris is but I think it’s not for me. See ya Rhonda.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
It’s not for everyone. But, I’ll bet you would enjoy a cruise down the River Seine.
stevebethere
Loved the photos Rhonda nice mix loved the last one, some excellent tips there too.
I have only gone through Paris on the way to Spain years ago by car.
Have a crowdless week 🙂
L. Diane Wolfe
It’s always more fun to go off the beaten path in a big city. We found some of the coolest buildings and places in London that way. We also learned from Disney and Universal that you want the Fast Pass whenever possible to skip the lines.
Rhonda Albom
We love going off the tourist path. You get such a different view of a city that way. Good tip about fast pass at Disneyland.
Lady Fi
Your shots are stunning!
Muina
How cool! Looks like you had fun in Paris, and great tips, although some made me laugh.
Rhonda Albom
We had fun, except for the crowds, and skipping the Louvre was probably a mistake.
Louise
The first time I went to the Eiffel tower, my friend bought the tickets, then pushed me into the lift and insisted that there was no other option – I don’t like lifts and I don’t like heights.
But when we got to the top and saw the amazing view, I was so glad I’d gone up. It is so worth it!!
Thanks Rhonda for giving me the chance to see the view again (vicariously) 🙂
Rhonda
You are so welcome. As for the lift, there was a women standing next to me who was terrified. She kept saying to her hubby, “I can’t do this.” Of course she did as the lift does go up once it starts. For me, I don’t think I would want to climb the stairs to the top.
Lynne
I think we went to the first or second level ( I can’t remember!) – you had a great day for it
Joyce
I’ve been to Paris twice but have never gotten to go up in the Eiffel Tower. Seen it, but couldn’t get my travel companions to agree to go to the top.