London vs Paris: Which City Has More Tourists
Browse more guides: United Kingdom travel | Europe destinations London vs Paris: Which City Has More Tourists Last updated: April 2026 · 12 min read Short answer: nearly tied. Both London and Paris pull in roughly 20-23 million international visitors a year, and the gap between them flips year to year depending on whose numbers you trust and what they actually counted. But london edged ahead in 2023 with around 21 million international arrivals. Paris claims as high as 47 million, but that figure smushes domestic French visitors, day-trippers, and the whole Île-de-France region into one number. Apples vs orchards. So forget the "winner." Pick the city based on what you actually want to do. I've stayed weeks in both across multiple trips, and the cities feel completely different despite being a 2h20m train ride apart. TL;DR: Tourist numbers nearly tied (20-23M international each). London wins on free major museums, sheer size, and cultural diversity. Paris wins on...