John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the biggest and busiest airport serving New York City, and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris is the second-busiest airport in Europe. There are numerous direct and indirect flights New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) every day. JFK is located in Queens, 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan. CDG is located 14 miles northeast of central Paris.
At least 22 different international airlines offer flights from New York to Paris, including major national flag carrier airlines like Air France, KLM, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines. The distance from JFK to CDG is 3,635 miles and the average flight duration is 7 hours and 46 minutes. However, five airlines operate direct flights from New York (JFK) - Paris (CDG), which take as little as six hours and 50 minutes. Longer flights (including at least one layover somewhere) can take up to nine hours and 48 minutes.
The easiest way to reach JFK from New York is the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) commuter train from Penn Station to Jamaica Station, then the 15-minute JFK Airport Airtrain to JFK. Both these services run 24/7. JFK has short- and long-stay parking options. There are two designated staging lots for ride-shares on site at the airport. It's roughly a 45-60 minute drive from Manhattan to JFK. Official yellow taxis have a flat-rate fare of 52 USD (October 2019).
CDG Airport is connected with Paris directly by the RER B suburban train line, taking approximately 35 minutes to reach Châtelet les Halles in the city center. Many car hire companies operate at CDG Airport, and it's about a 1-hour drive into the center of Paris. Official taxis can use designated bus lanes to arrive faster; however, ride-share apps (such as Uber) cannot.
Passport holders from the United States do not need a visa to visit France for up to 90 days, and holders of a US drivers license are legally able to drive in France during this period also. The currency in Paris is the Euro. As of October 2019, 1 Euro = $1.08 USD.
Paris is six hours ahead of New York, and it shares similar seasons. But the seasonal temperature fluctuations in Paris are less extreme than in New York: average maximum highs in summer are nearly 10 degrees cooler (77°F) in Paris than in New York (86°F), while winter lows are over 10 degrees warmer (36°F) in Paris than in New York (23°F). In autumn (September-November) and spring (April-June), the weather in Paris is similar to New York. Paris has less rain and lower humidity than New York throughout the year.
French is the dominant language used in Paris, although English and other foreign languages are common. One important part of local etiquette in Paris is that exchanging kisses on the cheek is an expected way of greeting people, whether you've met them before or not, in the same manner as a handshake. Most people will expect you to remove your shoes inside, too. Tipping in Paris is common, but not obligatory.
Montmartre
Famous for its world-famous resident artists, legendary Moulin Rouge night club, and the setting for the acclaimed film Amélie, Montmartre's cobblestone streets and many authentic bars, brasseries, and cafes provide the quintessential Parisian experience. Spread over a hill in the north of Paris, it also offers incredible views over the city and is home to the iconic Sacre-Coeur Cathedral, an absolute must for any first-time visitor to Paris.
Centre Pompidou
It's no secret that Paris has some of the very best museums in the world. But while queues gather at the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and other world-famous art museums, the Pompidou Center quietly houses a national public library with some of the nation's rarest literary relics, an innovative music and sound research center, and Europe's largest collection of Modern Art at the Musée d'Art Moderne.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Paris is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, and the historic "Market of the Red Children," the oldest covered market in Paris, is the best place to sample the city's diverse culinary scene. Squeezed behind buildings in the picturesque district of Marais, here dozens of stalls and vendors dish up everything from Moroccan tagine and Japanese ramen, to Peruvian ceviche and fresh French pastries.