I know I have not been posting as frequently as I would like to (the chaos of life has fully consumed me), BUT I am excited to finally be writing my Paris Travel Guide! It is insane how quickly time has flown by since my trip and the reminiscing is real. However, I wanted to share some of my favorite spots in France with you. Since this was my second destination during my Europe trip, Paris was definitely a lot more laid-back than London. Even so, the memories made in Paris are just as amazing!
1. The Eiffel Tower
Of course the #1 place to visit in Paris is no other than the Eiffel Tower. Honestly, pictures just do not do this famous landmark justice. You can visit the Eiffel Tower at any time and it is simply stunning. As many people know, the Eiffel Tower does light up every night once the sun goes down, as well as sparkles for the first 5 minutes of every hour. It is an amazing sight and I highly recommend staying in the area one night to check it out!
Additionally, the Eiffel Tower also has various attractions nearby, including a marketplace full of France food vendors and beautiful handmade goodies, along with the typical Paris souvenir items right next to the Tower. There is even a lovely park one on side of the Tower, along with a beautiful waterfront view on the other side. One of the greatest attractions for tourists is going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or eating in the restaurant located halfway up. Unfortunately, I was not able to do this during my visit since it was a 5+ hour wait to go to the top (crazy, I know), but I am sure it is the best view in Paris!
2. Siene River Cruise
Another great attraction for first-time tourists is the Siene River Cruise. This one hour cruise provides a relaxing, informational ride down the famous Siene River, which is located right near the Eiffel Tower. This tour brings you down the river, allowing you to see all of the famous landmarks of Paris right from the water. While going down the river, there is a voiceover explaining all of the landmarks passed, along with their historical relevance. It is a nice, relaxing, and cheap way to see a lot of Paris from the comfort of a boat ride.
3. Palace de Versailles
When in Paris, a day trip to visit the Palace de Versailles is a must! For those who do not know, this palace actually belonged to King Louis XIV. The size, detail, and overall structure of this building is unbelievable. It is located only about a half hour from central Paris, and is well worth the travel. I actually booked the day trip ahead of time through a third-party site, and I later found out that if you do not book through a site, then you need to wait 3+ hours on a line to enter. We got extremely lucky and bypassed the huge line, walked right into the palace, and received a headset for a "private" tour. I highly recommend booking ahead of time avoid the wait! Again, pictures do not even begin show how incredible, detailed, and HUGE this place actually is.
4. Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
While in Paris, we decided to do another hop-on, hop-off bus tour since it truly allows you to see the entirety of the city, as well as determine where all of the must see spots are. At each major section, the bus allows you to either hop-on or hop-off, which is also a great form of transportation. You are able to purchase these tickets for a relatively cheap price through your hotel, online, or at numerous locations on the streets/shops on the streets of Paris. This tourist bus truly allowed us to see everything Paris has to offer!
5. Notre Dame/Arc de Triomphe/Tuileries Garden
Since there are a ton of places to visit in Paris, I wanted touch upon three smaller stops that I thoroughly enjoyed. First, Notre Dame is a must-see stop for all visitors. Not only is the architecture amazing , but it also happens to be the center of Paris. Directly outside the main entrance, you will see a circle on the ground (pictured below), which signifies the center of the city! We also got to attend a free walking tour of the church and the surrounding area, which really taught us some secrets of the city of love. The second destination is another must-see tourist attraction; The Arc de Triomphe. While it is extremely busy in this area, you must stop and see the world-famous landmark. Lastly, the Tuileries Garden offers an abundance of activities! This garden has beautiful fountains, delicious crepe carts, a small carnival in the summer months, and is located directly across from The Louvre. There are also local artists painting in this area, and their art is simply stunning. Oh, and for those of you who have heard of the famous bakery called Angelina's, there is a shop right next to the garden! You can easily spend half a day wondering around the Tuileries Garden area.
I hope you enjoyed my Paris Travel Guide! The city of love is truly a beautiful sight and you should definitely add it to your bucket list. There are so many concealed places in Paris that it is impossible to discuss everything. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at thelongislandandbeyond@gmail.com.
Au revior,
~Ashley
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