London or Paris? These European capitals are neck and neck to have the best place in the hearts of city-trip enthusiasts. Here is their match!
Which of London or Paris is the preferred destination for its cultural attractions and the activities to do, whether you are alone, as a couple or as a family, for a weekend getaway or for a stay of a week or more? ? Here are some answers that will allow you to choose easily.
London VS Paris: the comparison criteria
If you are in a dilemma to choose, then consider comparing other factors that may influence your opinion. In this London VS Paris match, we will also consider the climate, cost of living or budget as well as the types of activities available. Are in the running:
London, capital of England and the United Kingdom, is an attractive city that appeals to all lovers of urban getaways. This city has a large number of monuments and cultural sites, and offers various activities such as cruising on the Thames or visiting its emblematic museums.
Paris, capital of France and designated European Capital of Culture in 1989, is unmissable. This city has many cultural and historical monuments, various attractions and curiosities as well as activities such as the mythical boat trip on the Seine: making it the perfect destination for a solo, romantic or family stay..
Which city to choose according to the climate and the weather?
To make the most of your urban getaway, it is better to choose the city that offers the best climatic conditions, with the greatest number of sunny and pleasant days.
Best weather: Paris
Paris, endowed with a degraded oceanic climate, with a slight continental influence, can be visited in all seasons. Parisian winters are mild but slightly humid, hot and sunny summers, and rather pleasant transition seasons. The climate of London is quite poor compared to that of Paris, which is why the city of Paris wins the first point.
Which city to choose according to the price of plane tickets?
In order to find the preferred destination according to the price of plane tickets, our analysis is based on the cheapest price during the low and high tourist season.
Cheapest average return fare: London
Against all expectations, the prices of flights to London are more accessible than those to Paris. Admittedly, the costs of a flight vary depending on the city of departure, but in general, the price difference between a return flight to London saves 9 to 45 € compared to the price of a flight A /R for Paris, for all seasons. It is therefore London that holds the victory in terms of the cheapest average return price.
The destination to choose according to your budget
For a fairly tight travel budget, the selection criterion is based on the costs of living during the stay. Which of London or Paris is the most interesting in terms of budget on site?
Cheapest city: Paris
Since these destinations are characterized by a high standard of living, the difference is hardly noticeable for a weekend getaway or for only 2 or 3 days. But when we look at the budget for a two-week stay for 2 people, then it turns out that the city of Paris is cheaper compared to the city of London. If the English capital is favorable to backpackers, it is Paris which is interesting for a traveler with a medium or high budget.
Quality of life, health, safety
London or Paris: which destination is more interesting in terms of well-being? To find out, it suffices to look at questions of safety, health and the quality of life in general.
It’s good to live in London
Even if life in London is relatively expensive compared to that of Paris… in terms of quality of life, it is the English capital that wins the prize for the most pleasant city to live in. In fact, the city of London was voted the best urban getaway destination by TripAdvisor in 2019.
Which city to choose according to travellers’ opinions: London or Paris?
If you still have trouble deciding, you can also rely on the opinions of travelers who have experienced a successful stay in London or Paris.
Travelers prefer: London and Paris
Although the English capital has risen to the top spot in the ranking of the best city break destinations in 2019, it is difficult to compete with Paris. Thus, opinions differ when it comes to choosing between London and Paris. These two destinations attract enthusiasts of cultural discoveries, enthusiasts of architectural heritage and lovers of urban attractions. On this point, these two destinations are tied.
Which destination to choose for a weekend or a week: London or Paris?
Which destination to choose according to the time you have: London or Paris? To answer it, you just have to find what activities to do during this period of time.
For a romantic weekend, prefer Paris and London
In this match of capitals, Paris and London emerge as winners. Indeed, these two destinations lend themselves to a romantic weekend. These two cities are full of places and activities conducive to romance: the boat trip on the Seine for Paris and the cruise on the Thames for London. These two capitals also have many gourmet restaurants, favorable to dinners for two.
For a week, prefer London and Paris
Given the number of activities to do in the two capitals, it is once again difficult to decide between London and Paris. What is certain is that you will not have time to get bored whatever the chosen destination, whether you go there alone, as a couple or with your family. It is quite possible to alternate cultural discoveries with various entertainments.
Which city to choose, according to the places of interest to visit?
The interest of a pleasant stay lies in the diversity of activities to do and in the satisfaction of discovering many places, tourist sites and culture.
The city with the most UNESCO sites: London
London has several UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are:
- Westminster Abbey;
- the tower of London ;
- Maritime Greenwich including the Queen’s House, the Royal Palace and the Royal Observatory Greenwich;
- the Palace of Westminster and the Botanic and Royal Gardens, Kew, home to over 30,000 species of plants from around the world.
On the other hand, Paris has only one site classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco: the Banks of the Seine, from where you can see among others the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle.
The most cultural destination: London and Paris
The cities of London and Paris are among the most popular destinations for foreigners visiting Europe. And for good reason, they both arouse cultural and historical interests that make them unmissable in the eyes of visitors. London offers the promise of both a cultural and an architectural visit, but it is hard to compete with the many monuments and museums of Paris, among others: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Orsay museums, etc. Moreover, these two cities are all fashion capitals of the world, just like Milan or Tokyo…
So which is your choice: London or Paris?
Now that you have other factors that can influence your decision, all you have to do is choose the city that charmed you the most! London or Paris? Whatever your preference, we’re curious about your pick, so share it in the comments!