Birmingham to Paris flights

Air France, easyJet and Ryanair run non-stop flights from Birmingham to Paris. A direct flight takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Several carriers share the route, so there are departures throughout the year. The lowest fares are typically found in October.

You can book your seat from £15.

Birmingham Airport (BHX) uses a single terminal, which keeps check-in simple. Air France, easyJet and Ryanair fly to Paris from here, and Vueling also sells the route.

Birmingham Airport has three main ways in:

• Air-Rail Link: the free monorail from Birmingham International station runs every two minutes and reaches departures in two minutes
• Bus: National Express West Midlands runs the X1 and X12 services to the airport
• Car: the airport sits on the A45, close to junction 6 of the M42 motorway

If you arrive by train, the monorail is the quickest way to the terminal.

Flights from Birmingham can land at more than one Paris airport, so check yours before you plan the transfer.

From Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), about 23km from the centre, you have these options:

• RER B: the train runs direct to Châtelet–Les Halles in the centre and is usually the fastest way to avoid traffic
• CDGVAL: the free shuttle train that links the terminals with the airport’s stations
• Bus 350: to Porte de la Chapelle
• Bus 351: to Nation

From Paris Orly (ORY), about 14km from the centre, Metro Line 14 runs straight into the city. The Orlyval shuttle train to Antony, for the RER B, and tram T7 are the other options.

A coach service connects Beauvais airport with Pershing Bus Station.

Entry requirements for France

British passport holders can visit France visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the date you enter and valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave.

At the border, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints and a facial scan. Border officials may also ask for proof of accommodation, a return ticket and enough funds for your stay.

The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre are the most famous sights in Paris, and both sit close to the Seine. A walk along the riverbanks takes you past many of the city’s landmarks.

Paris districts each have their own character:

• 1st Arrondissement: the historic heart of Paris, around the Louvre
• The Marais: narrow streets and independent local boutiques
• Latin Quarter: the cafés where students and locals spend their time
• Montmartre: the hilltop village crowned by the Sacré-Cœur, whose steps give a panoramic view across the rooftops

Beyond the two big names, Paris has more sights worth a day:

• Musée d’Orsay: the Impressionist collection, housed in a former railway station on the Left Bank
• Notre-Dame: the Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, at the centre of the old city
• Arc de Triomphe: the arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées, with a viewing terrace on its roof

For food, a bistro a few streets away from the big museums usually offers better quality and lower prices. Central Paris is easy to cover on foot if you stay within the central zones.