Overview
Paris sits less than 90 minutes from most UK airports, which makes it one of the easiest short breaks to plan from Britain. The French capital pairs world-famous landmarks with everyday pleasures – riverside walks, neighbourhood bistros and some of Europe's finest museums – and it works just as well for a weekend as for a longer stay. If you are searching for cheap flights to Paris, the price charts on this page show how current fares are moving so you can time your booking.
Best time to fly to Paris
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spot: mild weather, longer daylight and slightly thinner crowds. July and August are warm but busy, and many Parisians leave the city in August. Winter is cool and often grey, but fares tend to ease outside the Christmas and New Year period. UK school holidays push demand up, so check the When to book chart above before you commit to dates.
Airlines and routes
British Airways and Air France operate frequent flights from London to Paris Charles de Gaulle, while easyJet flies to CDG from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester. Air France and easyJet also link other UK cities to Paris. Almost every UK–Paris service is direct. Typical flying time is around 1 hour 15 minutes from London and roughly 1 hour 30 minutes from Manchester, though time at the airport and immigration adds to the door-to-door total.
Things to do in Paris
You could spend a week here and still not see everything, but these are the highlights most first-time visitors want.
- Eiffel Tower: the icon of the city, best at dusk when it begins to sparkle on the hour.
- The Louvre: home to the Mona Lisa and vast collections; pre-book a timed entry slot.
- Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité: the Gothic cathedral and the medieval island at the heart of Paris.
- Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur: hilltop streets, artists' squares and sweeping views north of the centre.
- Musée d'Orsay: the world's great Impressionist collection in a former railway station.
At Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Charles de Gaulle lies about 23km (14 miles) north-east of central Paris. The RER B train is usually quickest, reaching Gare du Nord in around 30 to 35 minutes. The Roissybus runs to Opéra in roughly 60 minutes, and Paris taxis charge a fixed fare between the airport and the city (a set rate for the Right Bank and another for the Left Bank). Allow extra time in peak hours.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Paris
- Book early for peak dates: for summer and school holidays, several weeks to a couple of months ahead usually gives the best choice.
- Fly midweek and off-peak: Tuesday and Wednesday departures, and early or late flights, are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Use flexible date search: shifting your trip by a day or two can make a real difference – the price charts on this page show the cheapest days.
- Compare airlines and airports: check British Airways, Air France and easyJet, and weigh a nearby UK airport against your usual one.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourism in France for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area; biometric checks now apply on entry, and an ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to be introduced – confirm the latest rules before you travel. The currency is the euro. Bring a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for access to state healthcare, alongside travel insurance. No special vaccinations are required.