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!
QUANDO IR
Os Invernos em Paris geralmente são muito frios, pode até nevar. A Primavera e o Verão são definitivamente as estações mais populares, embora o alojamento e os voos sejam mais caros nessa altura. Lembro-me de que fomos no final de Abril mas naquele ano houve uma vaga de calor, então parecia o Verão autêntico. O tempo estava incrível!
ONDE FICAR
Nós ficámos no 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.
COMO SE DESLOCAR
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.
O NOSSO GUIA DE 5 DIAS
1º DIA
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.
- Metro: Palais-Royal – Musée du Louvre, lines 1 and 7.
2º DIA
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.
- Metro:
Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau, linhas 1 e 13;
Franklin D. Roosevelt, linhas 1 e 9;
George V, linha 1;
Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, linhas 1, 2 e 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.
Curiosidade: 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.
3º DIA
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.
- Metro: Bir-Hakeim, linha 6.
JARDINS DU TROCADÉRO
No início do terceiro dia, o sol estava um bocadinho tímido, como podem ver pelas fotos, mas por volta do meio dia o tempo ficou maravilhoso. Mesmo com o céu cinzento, a vista do Trocadéro é de tirar o fôlego. Aqui podem tirar fotos dignas de um postal da Dama de Ferro. Confiem em mim, vão amar. Os jardins são muito populares durante o Verão e oferecem o ponto de vista perfeito para assistir ao espetáculo de luzes da Torre Eiffel, à noite.
- Metro: Trocadéro, linhas 6 and 9.
Torre Eiffel
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).
- Metro:
Metro: Trocadéro, linhas 6 and 9.
École militaire, linha 8;
Bir-Hakeim, linha 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!
- Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Etoile, lines 1, 2 and 6.
Nota: A única forma de terem acesso ao Arco do Triunfo é a partir do túnel subterrâneo, na Avenida de la Grande Armee.
4º DIA
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.
5º DIA
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.
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.
Apesar do nome, nunca foi a residência oficial de nenhum rei ou rainha. Na verdade, era originalmente conhecido como o Palais-Cardinal, pois foi a residência do Cardeal Richelieu de 1639 a 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.
- Metro:
Cité, linha 4;
Saint-Michel, linha 4;
O QUE ACABÁMOS POR NÃO VISITAR
Galeries Lafayette
Era suposto termos ido às Galerias Lafayette mas perdemos a noção do tempo e, quando demos conta, já estavam fechadas. A arquitectura é muito bonita, com uma cúpula incrível e, além disso, tem um terraço de onde se vê a cidade.
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.
E este foi o meu Guia Completo de Paris. Espero que tenham gostado! Estejam à vontade para ver também o meu Guia Completo do Dubai.
Sigam-me no Instagram para ver o que estou a fazer e onde estou e não se esqueçam de subscrever o blog se ainda não o fizeram.
Está simplesmente incrível 😍
Autor
Muito obrigada Andreia! Ainda bem que gostaste!