Getting There
Planes, trains, automobiles, and buses…there are certainly many ways to travel to Paris depending on which corner of the world you’re coming from.
My parents and I had been visiting my younger brother at the Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany and decided to spend two days in Paris before returning to Germany. We already had a rental car and decided to drive. The drive to Paris turned out to be a memorable part of the experience.
The drive to Paris was a scenic one filled with relaxing blue skies, rolling green fields, and charming houses scattered about the French countryside.
What also impressed me were the toilets on the side of the freeway…
We pulled over to take a restroom break and not only were the restrooms immaculately clean, a shock for roadside restrooms, but each restroom was an individual/private one playing awesome music! The kind that’s relaxing but also makes you want to snap your fingers and throw in a dance move or two. It was quite the experience.
When we arrived in Paris we checked in to our quaint 600-year-old hotel—that part still blows me away since we don’t have anything like it back home in California. Many of our historic structures are often from around the early 1900’s, and anything constructed in the 1950’s era or before, is our version of old. Needless to say, seeing all the buildings in Europe that are hundreds of years old offers quite a stark contrast.
The Parisian woman managing the hotel spoke with a thick French accent and less than fluent English as she welcomingly offered information about the hotel as well as how to get to some local points of interest in the area.
Keep in mind that everything is smaller in Europe! Okay well not everything, but there are a lot of spaces like hotel elevators, staircases, bathrooms, etc. that have a lot less space than I was used to. Definitely understandable considering how long many of the buildings have been around.
This hotel’s elevator was no exception. It was small and only able to accommodate about one to two people and one large suitcase at most. Additionally, it wasn’t lost on me that this was a very old hotel—a fact which I loved, but also made me contemplate that parts of the elevator may be nearly just as old.
I decided to take the stairs and I’m glad I did because I’ll never forget them.
The staircase in this hotel looked a little…different. The stairs were carpeted but didn’t have clearly defined edges or a uniform look like you would expect stairs to have. Each stair seemed as if it had been worn down over time, and was more round at the edges than sharp.
It was definitely all part of the hotel’s charm. The rooms were updated, and comfortable, and I loved looking out the large window at the unique architecture of the buildings of Paris down the street and beyond.
I loved the Parisian vibe here
This man was walking 10 dogs at once, although the ones in front are technically walking themselves. I was seriously impressed!
We had found the hotel due to a recommendation from my brother, who had previously stayed there. The best part was that it was in a very walkable location to many must-see attractions like the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower.
We set out on foot to explore the city, grab a bite to eat…and some wine. There are many places to eat with outdoor seating which is exactly the mood we were hoping to curate.
The wine, cheese, and escargot–an absolute must try when in Paris, were all delicious. It was my first time trying escargot and I was seriously impressed. The combination of butter and garlic used to prepare the dish were on point, and I suspect what made it so tasty.
Wander Around The City
There are so many beautiful sights to be seen on foot, and surprises that you stumble across when you’re not even expecting it. While strolling through the city I came across a group of people dancing outdoors to music next to the water’s edge. I’m not sure if it was a dance class, or some type of meetup group, but it was a fun and unexpected sight to see!
Just strolling around the city is sure to please the senses. There are so many beautiful buildings, gardens, greenery, and sights to take in. Aside from the well-known attractions, exploring to see what you stumble upon on your own can be half the fun.
I wandered into this bookstore and could hear music coming from somewhere inside. I followed the sound until I made my way to a nook in the bookstore where I discovered a man playing the piano—it was delightful!
Visit the Louvre Museum
The Louvre is seriously spectacular, and not to be missed. As far as top museums world-wide this is certainly one of them.
Give yourself plenty of time to take everything in and explore, there’s a lot to see.
The Louvre museum is filled with so many interesting historical artifacts from different cultures and time periods, sculptures, jewels, and paintings.
It’s also home to Da Vinci’s infamous Mona Lisa painting!
It was surreal to see the Mona Lisa, a painting that is recognized world-wide, in person.
Take a City Tour
A bus ride around the city is the perfect way to cover more ground while getting to learn about the city. We sat on the top of a double decker bus that played the classic French song Les Champs-Elysées. I swear that song was stuck in my head the rest of the day, and whenever I think about it, it comes right back to me as if on repeat.
Taking a city tour was a convenient way to cover a lot of ground, take in many different sites, and get to relax while letting someone else do the driving.
Take a Water Taxi
Taking a water taxi like the Batobus which travels through the city along the Seine River and allows you to hop on and off whenever you like, can be a great way to get to various points around the city while enjoying the views from the water. Keep in mind the water taxi is not a tour, and will not provide commentary about the attractions. However, it will give you a chance to rest your feet while still covering a lot of ground.
Dine at Outdoor Cafés and Restaurants
Dining al fresco the ambiance feels very…French, I don’t know how else to put it. You feel like you’re a part of the city dining outdoors. Paris is full of life, and history, and it’s fun to be a part of it all.
Visit the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a synonymous symbol of Paris and recognized world-wide.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower is a must-do, obviously.
I recommend visiting at least once during the day, and also at night because all the lights go on after dark, and it’s a whole different experience.
Go to the Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral is around 800 years old, a fact that is pretty amazing!
The architecture and details on both the outside and inside of the building are just beautiful. Approaching the Notre Dame Cathedral it is obvious that it is something special. The building calls your attention and lures you inside.
The spacious interior has a special ambiance to it with dramatic high ceilings, large arches, and stained glass windows. There was a service of some sort occurring while I was there, yet I was able to find a quieter space while walking around the (interior) perimeter where I lit a candle, and had my own somewhat private and memorable moment inside the grand cathedral.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral before it was damaged by fire.
It is currently scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. You can find out more about its reopening here: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/notre-dame-the-current-situation-a741#:~:text=The%20reopening%20of%20Notre%2DDame,to%20the%20architect%20Philippe%20Villeneuve.
Take in the Historical Buildings and Architecture Around the City
Paris is a city rich with history and dazzling architecture.
In addition to the ultra well known Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral, there are many historical landmarks and structures in Paris that you may want to add to your must-see Paris itinerary. See the list below for popular sites around the city:
- The famous Arc de Triomphe monument was built between 1806 and 1836 to celebrate and honor the French military and its achievements.
- Place de la Concorde, a large and famous public square in Paris, was an important site of the French Revolution. It is also where many public executions occurred, such as those of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Of the nearly 2,500 people guillotined during the French Revolution 1,119 were executed in the Place de la Concorde.
- The Luxor Obelisk sits in the Place de la Concorde. This obelisk once stood at the entrance to the Luxor Temple in Egypt, and is believed to have been constructed around 1300 B.C.E. It was given to France as a diplomatic gift in 1829.
- The Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House) was built in 1875, and was the main opera house in Paris until a new one was built in 1989. It is now primarily used for ballet performances. The Palais Garnier opera house was the setting for the famous novel, The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux (which was later adapted into the longest running Broadway show in history, as well as a movie).
- Les Invalides is a complex of buildings pertaining to France’s military history, and was built as a place of refuge for injured and veteran soldiers. Here you can find the Musée de l’Armée, which is known for having one of the most renowned military history collections in all of Europe, as well as the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- La Conciergerie was originally the residence of the royal family. It later became a courthouse, and held a notable role during the French Revolution as nearly 3,000 people were sentenced to death there. It also served as a prison until 1914 when it was declared a national monument.
- Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel from the 13th century, with over 1,113 stained glass windows and gothic style architecture. The chapel currently operates as a museum, and neighbors La Conciergerie.
- The Palace of Versailles, located about 10 miles outside of Paris, was the main residence of French royalty spanning from King Louis XIV to King Louis XVI. On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles (one of the most important peace treaties at the conclusion of World War I) was signed in the palace’s Hall of Mirrors. It’s estimated that over 10 million people visit the Palace of Versailles and/or its park and gardens every year, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
- Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It features a large medieval dome (300 steps to get to the top) that offers exceptional views of the city.