Paris Itinerary

Itinerary #3: Here are some tips and must-sees for a few days in Paris...

Where to Stay:

Paris is a pretty compact city, so wherever you stay, you should have no problem getting around. Paris is split by the River Seine and divided into the left bank (south of the Seine) and right bank (north). The left bank is usually associated with Bohemia and creativity, and some of the main streets include Boulevard Saint-Germain, the Boulevard Saint-Michel and the Rue de Rennes. We stayed in Saint-Germain and loved it! The right bank is more known for elegance and sophistication, with the main street being the Champs-Élysées. 

Getting Around:

DO NOT rent a car in Paris. Like most European cities, it is easier to walk and driving in Paris would be very difficult. You can walk most places, and the Metro (train) is everywhere and easy to use.

What to see:

In no particular order...

Notre Dame de Paris: Free to go inside, but there is a charge to go into the bell towers - €8.50 / adult, but well worth it for views (just be prepared for ~400 steps!)

Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe: Stroll down the famous shopping street in Paris, lined with designer stores and restaurants, ending in the Arc de Triomphe. If you're like us, it may take a moment to figure out how to get to the Arch. You have to take a small underground tunnel to get there.

Eiffel Tower: Pretty straight-forward. Go see it! During the day AND at night when it is all lit up. You can go up in the tower for a fee too, but the lines are typically very long, so depends if you feel like waiting! There are riverboat tours that take off right around the Eiffel Tower as well, which we didn't do b/c we had poor weather, but I've heard they're very nice.

Louvre: MUST see. As I mentioned before, you could spend days here, but at least set aside a half day and pick out the exhibits you want to see most. Costs about 10 euros, and is free on the first Sunday of every month. I've also heard that Friday nights are a good time to go, because it's less crowded and admission is free for anyone under 25 years of age.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur: Take the train, or taxi, to Montmartre - cool neighborhood to walk around and see the Moulin Rouge. I'd recommend taking a bottle of wine up on the stairs to Basilica de Sacre Couer (take a look inside the church too) and watch the sunset and lights come on in the city. It's beautiful! 

Cuisine:

Have plenty of delicious french wines, cheeses, breads... so fantastic there! We didn't find any places we loved, so I don't have many good recommendations for restaurants. If anyone has some great suggestions... let me know too!