Paris City Guide

Paris is the most touristic city in the world. It’s such a beautiful city and there is so much to see that it’s actually difficult to see everything in just a few days. I tried and I can say that I saw most of it. I went there 2 years ago, it was a family trip. My sister had the dream of going to Paris so I surprised her. I made her believe that we were going to Porto and she only knew where we were really going at the airport. Here is my Paris City Guide. Hope you like it!

WHEN TO GO

Paris usually has very cold winters. Snow is not frequent, but it can happen. Spring and Summer are definitely the most popular seasons although flights and accommodations are more expensive during these two seasons. I remember we went in the end of April but that year there was a heat wave so it felt like Summer. The weather was amazing!

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at Ibis Styles Paris Gare Saint Lazare. The location was great, not close to the main attractions but very close to the metro station. For that reason, it’s a quiet area and it’s very nice to walk around. They had everything we needed, even coffee and tea at the reception, so that we could serve ourselves. The breakfast was divine, I was eating nonstop! Also, the staff was very friendly, there was even a portuguese guy working there.

HOW TO MOVE AROUND

The best way to move around is on foot and by metro. Since the hotel was very close to the metro station, it was our main option. Paris has over 300 metro stations on 16 lines. Once you have mastered the metro system, you will travel easily. You can buy single tickets but it’s easier and cheaper to buy a book with 10 individual tickets, as we did.

Paris is such a beautiful and a relatively compact city. Walking is the best way to appreciate the city’s famous architecture, as well as the romantic atmosphere. We can say that we walked around 45 km in 5 days.

OUR 5-DAY PARIS CITY GUIDE

DAY 1

Louvre

Ok, let’s get into this Paris Guide. First of all, we had to check in at the hotel and have lunch as fast as we could to make the most of the time. After that, the trip started with a visit to the Louvre, which is one of the largest art museums in the world. We spent the whole afternoon there and it was such a good start because I love art and history. I’ll do a specific post about the Louvre later, with everything you need to know, from ticket prices, what you need to see, how to avoid the crowds, etc.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro: Palais-Royal – Musée du Louvre, lines 1 and 7.

DAY 2

CHAMPS-ELYSÉES

We started the second day with a stroll along the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. We walked all the 1.9km from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. It’s considered one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Here you can find many restaurants, cinemas and large department stores. This glamorous location also houses a number of luxury brands like Guerlain, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. If you’re on a limited budget, don’t worry, you can find plenty of affordable ready-to-wear options like Zara and H&M.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro:
  Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau, lines 1 and 13;
  Franklin D. Roosevelt, lines 1 and 9; 
  George V, line 1;
  Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, lines 1, 2 and 6.

Ladurée

We stopped by Ladurée to taste its delights. The queue was a bit long, but it was worth the wait. I really wanted to try their famous macarons. There are also many different types of desserts to choose from and I can say they are delicious. The decor was just amazing, full of beautiful details. To me, Ladurée is more than just a tea shop, it’s an experience.

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

After enjoying Ladurée’s delights, we went to Place de la Concorde, the second largest square in France, at the end of the avenue. There is a giant Egyptian obelisk in the center of the square and two sea-themed fountains. There you can also find La Grande Roue which is a giant ferris wheel that offers you a view over the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Champs Elysées. The price of the ticket is around 12€ and I totally recommend.

Fun fact: during the French Revolution, this square was the place chosen for beheading by the guillotine. Queen Marie Antoinette was executed there. I bet you didn’t know that! Ok, maybe you knew but I didn’t.

After that, we went for a walk through the Tuileries Garden, right next to the Place de la Concorde. That was the first garden in Paris opened to the public.

PONT ALEXANDRE III

Right after, we walked towards the river. It’s a beautiful walk. We went towards the Pont Alexandre III (Alexandre III Bridge). You can easily reach it on foot from the Place de la Concorde. It has so many gorgeous details, it’s honestly one of the most beautiful bridges I’ve ever seen.

PETIT PALAIS

At the end of the afternoon, we passed by the Petit Palais door by chance and decided to enter. It’s beautiful inside and out. You can find the most amazing golden gate at the entrance. There are several exhibitions with paintings, sculptures and decorative elements. And on top of that it’s free. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any photos there, I must have lost the battery but you can google it.

DAY 3

Pont de Bir-Hakeim

Did you know that there are over 30 bridges and footbridges in Paris? Now you know. We decided to start the day in one of them: the famous Pont de Bir-Hakeim. Here you have an incredible view over the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. It’s the perfect place to get your photos with the Eiffel Tower without the crowds. No wonder it’s chosen by many couples as the setting of their wedding photos. You can really take your time here and appreciate the view.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro: Bir-Hakeim, line 6.

JARDINS DU TROCADÉRO

At the beginning of the third day, the sun was a little shy, as you can see in the pictures, but around noon the weather was wonderful. Even with the moody sky, the view from the Trocadéro is breathtaking. Here you can capture postcard-worthy photos of the The Iron Lady. Trust me, you will love it. The gardens are very popular during summer, and offer the perfect vantage point to watch the Eiffel Tower light show at night. You can also admire the fountains and the beautiful flowering trees.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro: Trocadéro, lines 6 and 9.

EIFFEL TOWER

No Paris Guide is complete without its iconic symbol. Built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower needs no introduction. We chose not to go up because, honestly, the view we all want to see is the view of the city WITH the Eiffel Tower itself. What’s the point of going up if you don’t get to see it? So we thought it wasn’t worth it. But you can still choose to go up. You can do that by using the lift or the stairs but if you decide to take the stairs, you can only visit the second floor. And I advise you to buy the tickets in advance.

Or you can always admire the tower from the ground or from another viewpoint. You can have an amazing point of view from Trocadéro (as I mentioned), Rue de l’Université and also from Pont d’Iéna (if you go down to Port Debilly, you’ll avoid the crowds but that was under construction when we were there).

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro: 
  Trocadéro, lines 6 and 9; 
  École militaire, line 8;
  Bir-Hakeim, line 6.

CHAMPS DE MARS

Champs de Mars is a peaceful green space located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a great spot to sit and relax, go for a walk or enjoy a picnic while enjoying the view of the impressive Eiffel Tower.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

In the afternoon, we went to Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe itself is a masterpiece. If you look closely, you can see all the amazing details and that the arch is kept in very good condition. But what surprised me the most was the view. That, my friends, is a view that is worth all the 284 steps to the top. It’s just breathtaking! You can have a panoramic view over the city and the best view of the Eiffel Tower. Plus, it’s free for EU citizens up to 25 years old. Totally recommend you to go!

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Etoile, lines 1, 2 and 6.
  Note: You can only access Arc de Triomphe from the underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the roundabout.

DAY 4

Montmartre

On the fourth day, we went to Montmartre. It’s a nice neighborhood, with a lot to see there. You can easily spend a whole day exploring like we did. Actually, I have a blog post about it coming to you this week so stay tuned for that. This post was getting sooooo long so I’m dropping a new one with all you need to see in Montmartre.

DAY 5

Louvre

This is the last day of our Paris Guide. We started the day at the Louvre for a simple reason: it was closed. You’re probably thinking “she’s crazy”, but I’ll tell you why I wanted to visit a closed museum: no crowds. As a result, you get perfect shots without anyone around ruining your pictures.

HOW TO GET THERE

Metro: Palais-Royal – Musée du Louvre, lines 1 and 7.

Palais-Royal

Palais-Royal it’s located very close to the Louvre, but we were a little lost. Google Maps sent us in the wrong direction, it happens sometimes. We ended up asking one of the locals who helped us find it.
Despite its name, it was never the official residence of kings and queens. The Palais-Royal was originally known as the Palais-Cardinal, as it was the residence of Cardinal Richelieu from 1639 until 1642.
In 1986, it received a controversial work of art designed by Daniel Buren. Known as ‘les colonnes de Buren’, it consists of 260 black and white striped octagonal columns of unequal height. Personally, I love the mix of the old and the new. You can also find a beautiful and very peaceful garden there, great for relaxing and soaking up the sun.

Notre-Dame

I went to Notre-Dame before the fire that happened a year later. Looking back, I’m glad that I had the opportunity to visit Notre-Dame and to have been able to go inside and up to the towers. It required some effort to reach the top, but it was so worth it! You could really take in the view of city. Now, as you know, it’s under construction due to the fire, so you can’t get in, but you can always see it from a distance or try to go there in a few years to visit the renovated interior.

HOW TO GET THERE

• Metro:
  Cité, line 4;
  Saint-Michel, line 4;

WHAT WE MISSED

Galeries Lafayette

We were supposed to go to Galeries Lafayette, but we lost track of time and, when we checked, it was already closed. The architecture of the building is incredible, with a beautiful dome and you also have a terrace with an amazing view over the city.

Jardin du Luxembourg

We didn’t have time to go there, it was a bit far and we ended up not being able to go. From what I’ve seen in the photos, it’s a beautiful garden where you can relax. There are also many activities for children.

Palace of Versailles

It’s a historic monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known especially for the Hall of Mirrors. I already knew we wouldn’t have time to go there. It takes at least a whole day to visit the Palace of Versailles so unfortunately, I had to leave it out of my Paris Guide.

Disneyland Paris

Honestly, none of us were crazy about going there, but if you’re a Disney fan, you should definitely go. With more than 50 attractions, parades and breathtaking shows, you will find exciting adventures for the whole family.

And this is my complete Paris City Guide. I hope you found it useful! Feel free to check my Dubai City Guide.
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