Updated September 7, 2023

The city of lights. The city of love. The fashion capital of the world. You might think with all of these names that Paris has an identity crisis, but in fact it truly does have all of this to offer (plus so much more) all while being perfectly, entirely, its unique self. Whatever your reason for visiting, you’ll undoubtedly find a corner of this life-altering city that will simply charm you. And if you’re not convinced yet, here’s the why and how of travel to Paris from the US.

Can you travel to Paris right now?

Yes! As of August 1, 2022, all COVID restrictions for Americans traveling to France have been lifted. This means you can travel to Paris from the US without having to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or any other COVID-related documentation.

Why Paris?

Why not Paris? The city truly has so much to offer. And while the spots you’ve already probably heard of (the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower) or the picture-perfect experiences (a boat ride on the Seine and a night at the Moulin Rouge) are all perfect reasons to travel to France, so too is that cafe on the corner of the street where you’re staying, where you’re very likely to find an amazing glass of wine, a perfectly crispy baguette, and a to-die-for menu of the day. Or simply a seat in the autumn sunshine with a perfect view of the Parisians and all their street-style-perfection passing by.

Is it safe to travel to Paris?

Travel to Paris, as well as travel to France as a whole, is very safe.

That being said, particularly around major tourist attractions, you should keep a sharp eye out for pickpocketers and scams. Scams range from supposed “good Samaritans" pretending to return money or a ring that you apparently dropped on the sidewalk and then aggressively demanding a reward for their kindness, to tourist bars where if you don’t ask for the menu prior to ordering drinks you could find yourself with a bill of hundreds upon hundreds of euros for just one or two drinks. Look out for that last one specifically in the area around the Moulin Rouge.

So, while you should absolutely go to Paris ready to fall in love with the place, don’t fall so head over heels in love that you completely lose your brain!

Best way to travel to Paris from the US

Perhaps it goes without saying that you’ll likely have your best experience traveling to Paris from the US if you fly. But, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to go! You could in fact make the crossing to England on a boat and then hop on a quick Channel Tunnel ride to Paris. The trip across the ocean takes about a week.

However, if you’d like to maximize your vacation days on Parisian soil, direct flights leave from the following US cities (specific airports are in parentheses):

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Boston (BOS)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Miami (MIA)
• Minneapolis (MSP)
• New York (JFK)
• Newark Liberty (EWR)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Washington, D.C (IAD)

Cost to travel to Paris from the US

There is no short answer to the question of cost when you’re talking about flights or even an overall vacation. 

It’s great to sign up for mailing lists like Scott’s Cheap Flights, which sends out notifications of mistake (read: very, very low) fares on all airlines.

But outside of finding a mistake fare, there are tricks to getting low-priced airfare. A very important one is to be flexible with your travel dates. If you can only travel during everyone’s school vacation it’s unlikely you’ll find a deal. It can also often be cheaper to book round-trip, so even if you travel from Paris to another one of the best cities in France, you’ll likely save money if you make your way back to Paris before traveling home. You’ll also find cheaper deals if you are happy to have a layover somewhere else in Europe rather than fly direct.

In addition to these general money-saving travel hacks, Paris’s low season is from late November through to early March (excluding Christmas). So flights will be cheaper, but so will accommodation. Keep in mind though that some places, like small, local restaurants or shops, may be closed for periods during the low season.

And finally, aim to get away from touristy areas. Restaurants and bars jack up their prices in these areas – if the menu is in English, find another spot. Generally, for overall vacation savings, you’re best to be in more local areas.