So, you want to go to Paris? You and the rest of the world! Some 25 million tourists snap a photo of the Eiffel Tower each year, so you can imagine that it’s sometimes hard to find a quiet corner for yourself. Make your trip as enjoyable as possible by following this advice.

Paris in the Spring … When To Go

There’s no time of year when Paris is tourist-free. The summer is certainly a peak season, although many Parisians head out of the city for country and coastal holidays – but the tourists are still there. Spring’s traditionally said to be the loveliest time to visit Paris, and the crowds are likely to be a little smaller; fall is similar. If you don’t mind grey skies and wearing a good coat, then winter in Paris is just as lively and enjoyable.

Use the Museums and Monuments Card

Many major cities around the world issue special combination tickets to visitors, and some of them are rarely worth the cost. Some do give a degree of convenience, without super value, but I found the Paris version -- the Carte Musees et Monuments -- was the best I’ve ever come across. The card, which can easily be bought for one, three or five days, from Metro stations and museums, gives you entrance to over sixty famous sights around Paris (notably, however, not the Eiffel Tower). Not only will it nearly always work out a lot cheaper to access your favorite Paris sights, but it comes with an extra advantage – queue jumping. In a busy tourist destination like Paris, avoiding one-hour waits in a long, boring line is a huge bonus. When you reach a museum, check at the front entrance about where card holders can enter – it’s usually the case that you can walk straight past the queuing hundreds and finish enjoying the experience before they even get inside.