London and Paris are the two most visited cities in Europe. The biggest factor to help you decide is which culture intrigues you the most. Another aspect of your decision should be to consider where you plan on traveling to after this leg of your trip. Both cities deserve to be visited at some point or another so deciding which one fits best into your trip might help you make the decision. Here is the ultimate guide between London or Paris.
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London or Paris Overview
London
London is the largest city in the United Kingdom with close 9 million people and a metro area of over 14 million. London has been one of the most famous cities in the world for many centuries being the home to the historic British Empire. Founded by the Romans, London has an ancient history dating back nearly a thousand years.
Today, London is known for its historical architecture mixing into the cityscape with modern skyscrapers, making up one of Europe’s most iconic skylines. London remains one of the most influential cities in the world along with cities like Hong Kong and New York City. London is also the most visited city in Europe with nearly 20 million visitors each year.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France with 2.15 million people living in the city and more than 12.5 million living in the metro area. It is one of the most visited cities in the world, along with Bangkok, London, and Hong Kong. Today, Paris is known as one of the most important hubs in Europe for finance, commerce, fashion, and the arts. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. The city is known as “the city of lights” and “the city of love”.
Paris is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and quickly turned into one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Paris also has the world’s most visited museum, The Louvre which is home to the Mona Lisa. Another site that draws millions of people to Paris each year is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Things to See
London
Big Ben is the iconic clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the most iconic structures in London.
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the monarchy of the United Kingdom.
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic abbey church that is known for being the burial site of English and British monarchs.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous symbols of London. It is the most well-known bridge in the city and is often confused with the London Bridge.
St. Pauls Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral that was built in 1675. It was the tallest building in London until 1967.
Paris
Eiffel Tower dominates the skyline of Paris. It is the most visited monument in the world that you have to pay to enter.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is known for its French-Gothic architecture. It is the most visited monument in Paris roughly 12 million visitors each year.
Palace of Versailles was the official residence of French royalty for more than 100 years. It demonstrates just how wealthy and powerful the French empire was at its peak.
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. It is home to some of the world’s most valuable pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa.
Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest triumphal arches in the world. It was built to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
Food
London
London is the perfect place to try some of England’s most traditional dishes. English breakfast is one of the most traditional dishes in England and continues to be a local favorite today. It is a dish typically consisting of bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, baked beans, and tomatoes. Another world-renown dish that is famous in London is fish and chips. You can find a nice plate of fish and chips just about anywhere in London. Sunday Roast is exactly what it sounds like, a roasted meat dish served typically made on Sunday’s. The dish is oftentimes served with gravy, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and vegetables. Click here for more note-worthy cuisines in London.
Paris
Paris is known to have some of the best cuisines in the world. For a traditional French dish, you could try Choucroute garnie which is a dish consisting of sauerkraut, sausages, meats, and potatoes. One of the most famous foods you can’t miss is the baguette which is a common breakfast food here. Going to Paris without trying one of the world-renown baguettes should be a felony. Another pastry you must try here is the croissant. Macarons originated in France and are essential to try when you’re in Paris.
Getting Around
London
As you would expect, the system of public transportation is massive here. London uses a pay as you go card called the Oyster Card to pay for public transportation. You can take the tube (subway), lite rail, or you can hop on the expansive network of double-decker buses. One thing to note about public transport in London is that is rather expensive compared to many European cities. a Tube journey in central London costs £2.40 with Oyster or £4.90 with cash and a bus ride costs £1.50 with the Oyster Card. Riding on the passenger boats down the Thames is a fun way to get around as well.
A popular way to explore the city, if you don’t want to mess with public transportation, is investing in a multi-day hop-on hop-off bus tour (this worked well when I tried it). These are double-decker buses that have tour guides telling you about each area you are riding through which is extremely informative. You can buy 1, 2, and 3-day tickets. The best hop-on hop-off bus tours are the Original Tour, Big Bus, and Golden Tours. Each service has dozens of buses around the city so don’t stress about missing one.
Paris is such a beautiful city that you will want to walk wherever you are heading. One of the most effective strategies for exploring the city is to explore one area on foot and then hop on a bus or take the metro to another area and repeat.
Paris is known for having a great metro line, carrying over 5 million people per day. The metro system in Paris has so many lines that it can get you almost anywhere. Paris Visite Pass is the 24-hour pass that might be a smart investment if you are planning on using public transportation a lot during the day. You can also by a pack of 10 passes for 18.60 Euros which is nice because you can spread them out over your trip.
Nightlife
London
London is known around the world for having one of the best nightlife scenes in the world. London is home to over 3000 bars and pubs so you don’t have to worry about running out of options. Though there are incredible nightclubs in London, the nightlife scene still revolves around bars and pubs.
Soho is considered to be the biggest party area in the city. Pretty much any district of London has its own unique atmosphere for you to experience. If you want to go clubbing, some of the best clubs in the city are Fabric, XOYO, Cargo, and Egg London. Ministry of Sound and Studio 338 are two of the biggest nightclubs in the city.
Paris
There is no shortage of bars and pubs in Paris. This city has small drinking establishments scattered everywhere so you need to just pick a neighborhood and find a place that fits your vibe. Some of the best areas to go to is Pigalle and Oberkampf. The Latin Quarter is a popular area for university students.
For the most part, the nightlife is a little slower than other major cities but you have the option to get as wild as you want. Mix Club is one of the biggest nightclubs in the city if you want to go clubbing. Just search “bars and pubs near me” on Google when you figure out where you’re going to stay and check a few places out.
Day Trips
London
Oxford is a city less than an hour to the west of London. It is known for the world-renown University of Oxford.
Bath is known for being one of the most beautiful cities in England. It has incredible architecture and has more than 2000 years of history.
Brighton is a seaside city just to the south of London. It is a popular day-trip destination, drawing in over 7 million day visitors each year.
If you visit London, you may also want to check out some of England’s other major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, or Leeds.
Paris
Disneyland Paris is located 32km east of Paris.
Mont-Saint Michel is built on a tidal island on the coast of France. It is still home to 50 people.
Domaine de Chantilly is a French chateau that is 50km north of Paris. It has one of the finest collections of art in France.
The closest major city to Paris would be Brussels, Belgium which is under four hours away from Paris.
Overview
London and Paris are the two most visited cities in Europe. Both cities are typically two of the first cities many people want to visit when they plan their trips to Europe. When you are deciding between London or Paris, the best way to decide which city is best for you is to decide if the English or French culture intrigues you more. If you are trying to choose if you should visit London or Paris, the honest truth is that you can’t go wrong with either city and both deserve to be seen by everyone.