Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, and every trip can look a little different depending on how you get there, where you stay, and how much you want to see. In this guide, we break down the best ways to fly to Paris from the US, the most useful Paris itineraries, what to eat, and how to use the city as a great starting point for a bigger Europe trip.
Paris has more going for it as a layover destination than almost any other city in Europe, and CDG Airport puts you closer to the center than you might think. We’ve done it more than once, and these are our best recommendations to get the most out of your short visit.
We were excited to try Transavia on a direct flight from Paris Orly to Malaga in the spring, but wound up disappointed. Here’s the full breakdown, including what we paid, what went wrong, and how Transavia compares to the other European budget carriers we fly regularly.
Brussels is one of the easiest day trips in Europe, and it still gets overlooked. Most travelers simply pass through on their way somewhere else, but that’s a mistake. The Grand Place alone is worth the stop, and the food scene goes far beyond the chocolate and waffle shops you see in tourist posts. We’ve stayed in Brussels for a few nights, but we’ve also…
Icelandair runs transatlantic business class sales several times a year, and the prices can be hard to beat. We’ve paid between $900 and $1,300 round trip from DC to Europe in Saga Premium, including onward connections to Oslo and Paris. But it’s important to know this is not a true business class product. After flying it multiple times and comparing it with six other premium economy products, we think Saga Premium offers some of the best value in the category. Here’s everything you need to know before booking.
If you’re traveling through Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport is one of the easiest airports for a long layover. It’s simple to store your bags, take a quick train into the city center, and still have time for a few meaningful stops before your next flight. We often choose a longer layover in Amsterdam on purpose so we can break up the journey and add a little adventure along the way. If you have 5 to 8 hours between flights, here’s how to make the most of your Amsterdam layover, including what to do, how to get around, and what to eat.
We’ve flown United Airlines Premium Plus to Europe multiple times, mostly on the 777-200. We’ve also flown every United cabin to Europe, so we have a good sense of how it compares. Here’s our honest review of United Airlines Premium Plus, including what we paid and whether it’s worth booking.
We’ve traveled to Portugal multiple times and keep finding reasons to come back. From Lisbon and Porto to the Algarve and the Azores, this guide covers Portugal’s best regions for a longer itinerary or separate city breaks. The cities are walkable, the food and wine are excellent, and Portugal is still more affordable than much of Western Europe. You’ll also find where we stayed, what to eat, and the logistics for getting around.
Lisbon is one of the most layover-friendly cities in Europe. The airport is close to the city center, Uber is cheap and readily available, and public transport is easy to figure out. You can cover a surprising amount of ground in 6 to 8 hours without feeling rushed. Here’s how to make the most of a long Lisbon layover, including what to see, where to eat, and how to get to Belém and back with time to spare.
We flew TAP Air Portugal business class from Lisbon to Washington Dulles after winning a bid upgrade on the morning of our flight. The experience included a lie-flat seat, an excellent meal, and an impressive Portuguese wine list, but not everything lived up to business class expectations on this transatlantic route in an A321neo narrowbody plane. Here’s what impressed us most and what fell short.
