Paris is a very well known city and there are numerous things to do! Paris is a beautiful city and when its nighttime you can see the amazing Eiffel Tower all lit up while enjoying a freshly made crepe. Depends when you go, I have been to Paris in the wintertime as well as the summer. It is warm in the summer but freezing in the wintertime! Depends what type of climate you prefer, for me I like summer better than winter! On my first trip to Paris I took the L’Open Tour Bus. This bus was great because you could buy a day pass or two day passes+ and it also included a boat ride on the river. This was a very easy tour to use because they had points all over the city where they would pick you up and take you to your next location. They give you a map and it is very easy to understand! This was a great form of transportation if we have a short period of time and you are trying to see a lot of Paris. On my second trip to Paris I took the Fat Tire Bike Tours. This was a very different way to see the city and it was so fun to ride around the city on these bikes. This is a much more relaxed tour and you go at the tour guides speed and aren’t in a rush to get to the next stop. If you have more time in Paris or don’t want to be very rushed I suggest taking this tour. It was beautiful to ride through the city and made it seem as if you lived in Paris riding your bike to different destinations. The only thing I didn’t like was that we could get off our bikes and go into the places or really stop to take photos of ourselves. This tour is purely for a quick picture and riding around on the bike to get a feel of the Parisian way.
There are many places to stay in Paris; there are hotels or apartments you can find through VRBO or AIRBNB. We stayed at a Helzear apartment about a block or two from Champs Elysees. This was a perfect location and we really enjoyed Helzear. The apartment was perfect it is just like a hotel but they do not call it one. It was so clean and nice and there is a concierge 24-7 which makes it much more easier when traveling. They were very nice and it was very reasonable, there were four of us. In our room there was a big bed and then the couch pulled out to a bed as well. It is very easy to find hotels and apartments in Paris and depends when you go but can find cheaper rates as well!
SOOOooo what to do in Paris! I conquered most of Paris in two short days! But I went from 8 am to 11 pm at night! Very tiring after everyday! I think it is possible to do it if you have just a couple of days but if you have more time then I suggest using it to enjoy your trip and not always rushing.
The most famous thing Paris has to offer, the Eiffel Tower. The first time I walked around the corner and saw this huge beautiful creation I was in awe, literal awe. You will probably stand there for a minute in shock at how amazing this structure is and how it looks so out of place yet so perfect. In front of the Eiffel Tower there are places to sit and rest on the grass. A lot of people hang out by the fountains during the summer when it’s hot and tan. There are also area by the Eiffel tower right underneath to eat and the crepes below are amazing! As you may know already you must buy a ticket if you want to climb up or take the elevator up to the top or mid section of the tower. I walked the first half and then took the elevator to the very top. From the mid section and top you can see all of Paris. The views are beautiful up here and just to be inside the tower and see how big it is is incredible. There is also a restaurant and gift shop inside the tower, as you probably know this can get pricy.
The Louvre, a museum which houses many famous artworks does not look like it fits surrounded by the beautiful architecture Paris has to offer. With dome shaped glass you wait in line and go underneath to see the wonders it holds. Depends when you get there but you could be waiting awhile in line. There are certain entrances where you can go where there are no lines as if you took the subway to the Louvre and or other doors where you can buy a pass and enter there. Sometimes you may find the line is no longer than 10 min and you get right in no problem. They do have an area where you can check your suitcase or bags so you do not have to hall it around with you inside. The Louvre is huge so you must pick ahead of time what you want to see in order to conquer it the most. The most famous is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. When you enter this room it is completely crowded and hard to get to the front of the crowd. It is a tiny painting not very big or what you would expect and sometimes hard to see because of the amount of people there. Everything in the Louvre is astonishing and you don’t ever want to leave!
Montmartre is a very large area in Paris on a hill. It covers a lot of land in which the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur and Moulin Rouge are located. The Basilica is so beautiful on top of a hill wen you get to it you over look Paris and it is amazing. The view is beautiful and great spots to take pictures or sit and have a snack. Inside the Basilica is beautiful and always fun to see the different styles of churches around Europe! As you walk through this area there are fun streets to buy souvenirs or to go look. They have fun chocolate shops and places to eat! It is really fun to walk around this area. There’s other parts where it is older which is also fun to walk around and many restaurants which are all pretty good! Amazing crepes everywhere as well!! Moulin Rouge is a cabaret in this area where you cans till go and see shows to this day. The Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur are within walking distance very near to each other. This area is very fun and nice to walk through during the day or evening and grab something to eat.
Notre Dame de Paris is the Cathedral, which is exquisite. This is a must go see place and you must go inside. It is very beautiful on the inside and out. This is also a beautiful area to walk around and explore Paris.
Champs Elysees is an amazing area with all the designer stores. There are many stores such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Cartier, etc. There are also many restaurants located here and they are all very good! Ladurée is also located here and I recommend stopping in for some dessert! Famous for their macaroons it’s all amazing here!! So elegant and beautiful you must go! At the end of Champs Elysees you get to the Arc de Triomphe. This is beautiful to see. It is sometimes hard to take a picture because it is in the middle of an intersection!! Funny I know right.
Tuileries Garden is a very beautiful garden to walk through or eat lunch. When I did the bike tour we went through this garden and topped and ate lunch here. This is a beautiful place to walk around or sit and relax.
Musee d’Orsay is another museum in Paris. This museum houses many artists and artworks such as Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night Over The Rhone and many others. The building itself is so beautiful and you can see the architecture of Paris and how exquisite it is.
Catacombs is a must see!! Many human remains are here and it is kind of creep but also very interesting to see. There are millions of human remains here. You should probably start your day off here because the line goes out the door and around and around the block! Get here before it opens so you don’t have to wait in line long.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery is beautiful; I have never seen a cemetery like this in my life. There are many famous people buried in this cemetery for example Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Abelard and Heloise. I think you should definitely visit this cemetery because there’s nothing else like it.
Lock of Love Bridge/Ponts Des Arts Bridge. You must go here and put a lock on the bridge! You will be astonished when you see how many locks are here and how amazing it is. It is really fun also to get a lock and put it on their with a friend or a lover and throw the keys in the river! Don’t worry they sell locks right there on the bridge so its very easy!
Other amazing places to see (and probably many more I don’t mention):
Les Invalides
The Pantheon
Place de la Bastille
