I remember the first time I went to Paris as if it were yesterday. It was a dream to visit this city, which I had always found charming. And in person, it is even more beautiful! The route for this trip, which I took with my husband, included the Champagne Route, the French Riviera, and part of Italy. But I talk about those other places in another post. If you’re planning your own visit, check out my top Paris tips to make the most of your trip to this incredible city!
Montparnasse
We stayed at the Arcadie Montparnasse hotel (a good value for money), located very close to the Montparnasse Tower, one of the highest in Europe, from where you have a 360° view of the city, including the Eiffel Tower. The view is beautiful!
We have visited Paris in the Summer, great weather during the day (with a slight drop in temperature at night), which was great for seeing the main attractions. In fact, tourists in Paris walk a lot, so wear comfortable clothes, good sneakers, eat a lot of baguette (good and cheap), and always pay attention to bags, backpacks, cell phones, and wallets, as theft in tourist areas is very common. Pickpockets can literally look like anyone! For more safety advice and ways to enhance your experience, check out my top Paris tips to help you navigate the city like a “pro”.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Our tour began at the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens), which is close to that hotel. Beautiful and for free. You can see people seated in towels or in a sarong on the grass, enjoying the wonderful landscape, drinking wine with a snack, reading, dating, and walking. It’s super Parisian!
Batobus
Then we went to one of the stations on the River Seine where the Batobus leaves, bought the ticket (pass for 2 days), and went exploring Paris, with the view of the Seine! The tourist attractions where the Batobus stops are: Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes/ Cité de la Mode et du Design, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs- Élysées and Beaugrenelle. You can hop in and hop off as many times as you want during the validity of your ticket.
There are five types of Batobus tours, including city tour buses, but we chose the traditional one. If you prefer, take the open boat, with a starting point also on the River Seine, at Pont Neuf (near Boulevard Saint-Germain). However, if you’re visiting the city in winter, be aware that some Batobus exits are closed. For more advice on navigating the city and making the most of your trip, don’t forget to check out my top Paris tips! See the official website for the schedule.
Eiffel Tower
We visited the Eiffel Tower twice on this trip, once at night and once during the day, which was much more pleasant. We bought tickets with the option of using the lift. The landscape is breathtaking! After going down the Eiffel Tower, we walked through the Champ de Mars, a garden with a classic view, where many tourists go to take photos.
Eiffel Tower at night
Two tips for you to pay attention:
- Check the weather forecast. When we went back to the Eiffel Tower in the evening, the top floor was closed because of the strong wind.
- In the streets surrounding the Eiffel Tower, there are people selling bracelets to foreigners, at absurd prices. Their approach is “aggressive”, and the best thing is not to even stop to listen to what they say.
Famous french bistros
The next stop was Saint-Germain-des-Prés. We walked along Boulevard Saint-Germain until we found the famous Cafe de Flore, a bistro from the Second World War, which was frequented by artists and philosophers such as Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. We only had a snack, which was delicious, but it wasn’t cheap. Next to it is another option also frequented by artists, the Les Deux Magots.
Another famous bistro is called La Mére Catherine, near the Sacre-Coeur.
Louvre
When we arrived at the Louvre, we took a map to decide which areas we would visit. A whole day there is not enough, as the museum is gigantic, wonderful and very rich! The ideal is to arrive when it opens. In addition to Venus de Milo, Minerva, Mona Lisa and other works highlighted in this Louvre leaflet, it was well worth visiting Napoleon’s house, with objects and rooms intact. In fact, the view from the window of one of his rooms is incredible: a huge straight line from where he saw who was leaving and who was arriving in the city, strategically located to avoid surprise enemy attacks. We also saw the Victory of Samothrace on the main staircase, and took photos of the pyramids outside.
Champs-Élysées
We left the Louvre using the metro, and got off at Franklin D. Roosevelt station, in the Champs-Élysées. We walked a lot along this famous avenue full of shops, cafes, restaurants, charming lampposts and newsstands. If you have time, stop for a crepe at one of the trailers on the street, they are delicious! At the end of the avenue is the classic Arc de Triomphe.
Montmatre
One of the coolest places is Montmatre, the area where Sacre-Coeur is located. Sacre-Coeur is beautiful in and outside, and the view is stunning! It is possible to go up to the Duomo, but be aware that there are 300 steps and there is no lift.
Montmatre is known as the artists’ neighborhood because Salvador Dalí lived there. There is a square near Sacre-Coeur, called Place du Tertre, where several artists make caricatures, exhibit paintings and cuttings. And there is located the first bistro in French history, La Mére Catherine. It’s worth sitting at a table outside and eating a plate of assorted cheeses with a house wine. You can go down from there to Pigalle, where there is the Moulin Rouge and the Erotic Museum.
Notre-Dame
Lastly, we visited the Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Île Saint-Louis. What an amazing place! We had Bertillon ice cream (located at 59 Rue Saint-Louis En L’ile), and walked around the neighborhood, which is very charming.
If you’re looking to explore more of France beyond Paris, don’t miss my detailed guide on Normandy. Discover the stunning cliffs of Étretat, the historic beaches of D-Day, and the charming villages that dot this beautiful region. Click here to learn more about the must-see attractions and hidden gems in Normandy, and start planning your next French adventure!