Paris or London? The two European capitals go neck and neck to win the gold medal for the best city for a getaway.

With different histories and cultures, London and Paris make everyone dream. Millions of tourists visit these two cities yearly to discover their rich culture, gastronomy, and monuments.

Paris, the capital of France, is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Called the city of love, culture and good food, it amazes everyone with its refined architecture, diverse activities, and glamorous shopping streets. It is also the ideal destination for couples for a city break.

London, the capital of England, is the city of all eccentricities. Rich in museums and iconic activities, it's an excellent place for an urban getaway. London also boasts a high quality of life and is a generally safe city.

Is your heart still racing and struggling to make a decision? Do you want to spend a few days in one of these capitals but don't know which one to choose? Let the battle begin!

Paris and London

Weather and climate

The weather is an essential factor when considering a trip. For the best weather conditions during your getaway, we recommend Paris. With a temperate oceanic climate, the French capital can be visited in all seasons. Summers are sunny and warm, winters mild and sometimes wet.

London, on the other hand, is more known as a rainy city, but with a good umbrella, everything can be visited!

Winner of the duel: Paris

Eiffel Tower

The best city for flights

Both destinations have low-cost airlines that are accessible from any European capital. This makes it very easy to get to Paris or London in just a few hours.

Paris has 3 airports:

  • Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport
  • Orly airport
  • Beauvais airport

London is served by 6 airports:

  • Heathrow
  • Gatwick
  • Stansted
  • Luton
  • London City
  • Southend
  • Blackbushe

On our booking system Flightgift, you can find air tickets from 30 euros for both cities, with direct flights. This makes it very affordable to spend a few days in London or Paris.

Winner of the duel : Tie

Places of interest to visit

Both European capitals are replete with wonders to visit and both are rich in culture and history.

For UNESCO World Heritage Sites

London has more UNESCO world heritage monuments than Paris. In addition, we can mention:

In Paris, only the banks of the Seine are considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. However, from the banks you can see all the famous monuments of the French capital such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Palais.

Winner of the duel: London

westminster

Amusement parks

What would a city break be without a fun day at the world's greatest theme parks? Are you a big fan of Mickey and princesses? Disneyland Paris is heaven on earth, and we are not exaggerating at all!

Or are you an unconditional fan of the most famous wizard in the world? Head to Harry Potter Studios with your super Nimbus 2000.

Whether it's Paris or London, you're sure to have a great time in the theme parks and amusement parks that these two cities offer.

Winner of the duel: Paris (our choice is not very objective, but this is the duel game)

Disneyland Paris

Museums for cultures

When it comes to museums and tourist attractions, both cities have a lot to offer. In fact, this is the reason they attract millions of tourists from all over the world.

You'll be spoiled for choice in Paris with over 150 museums to suit all tastes.
Here are the must-see museums to visit during your Parisian escapade:

  • The Louvre Museum: Over 210,000 square meters, discover the largest museum in Paris. Admire the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo or the Louvre pyramid.
  • The City of Science and Industry: With playful experiments and interactive workshops, learn the secrets of the universe.
  • The natural history museum to walk between museums, galleries, gardens and zoos. It's an exciting day out.

With 400 museums, the English capital exceeds Paris. In fact, it is the city with the highest number of art galleries and museums per capita in the world. This is to say how much London is turned towards culture.

You will find museums of all kinds in London:

  • The British Museum is a museum of the history of human culture
  • The National Gallery to discover art
  • The Tate Modern for contemporary art

Moreover, almost all London museums are free, which is not necessarily the case in Paris.

Winner of the duel: London

British museum

Best food?

Paris wins the medal hands down! Who can compete with macarons, Paris-Brest and croissants?

Capital of gastronomy, Paris is full of bistros, cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy croque-monsieur or a delicious tournedos rossini. We recommend you to book a culinary tour in the French capital with our website Activitygift.

London can also impress with its cuisine! Will you go for a traditional English breakfast with eggs, bacon and beans in sauce or for a Fish & Chips? Try also the international cuisine in London: Indian, Spanish or Mexican?

Winner of the duel: Paris

French pastries

Which destination to choose based on your budget

If you're on a pretty tight budget for your vacation, the cost of living can be significant. Both cities are known for being cities with a high standard of living. So, the difference between London and Paris for a few days getaway will not be very big.

  • The average price of a coffee in Paris is €2.48 against €3.5 in London.
  • A metro ticket costs about €1.90 in Paris and €4.7 in London.
  • A dinner in a restaurant for two people costs €70 in Paris and €50 in London.
  • A night in 3-star hotel costs €110 in Paris and €127 in London.

Winner of the duel: Tie

So, London or Paris?

Each city has its strengths and is worth a visit. For a gastronomic weekend, we recommend Paris. However, if you want to do as many museums as possible, London is the ideal place. Either way, your stay will be unforgettable in the City of Light or the Big Smoke.