Exploring Paris, France

Transportation

• Eurostar: We took the Eurostar from London and left from St Pancras Intl. We arrived in Paris at the Gare Du Nord station, located in the 10th Arrondissement (Paris is broken down into Arrondissements, a.k.a. districts). Pricing all depends on how far in advance the tickets are booked so we suggest booking as far in advance as you can to get the best price. Our tickets were not too expensive, they were around 80€ per person. The train ride takes around 2 hours, 20 minutes. It was very relaxing to look out the window and see the beautiful countryside. We also went through the channel tower that runs underneath the English Channel and that was pretty cool.
• Flying into CDG (Charles De Gaulle) airport: We flew Air France both in and out of here and then used Le Bus Direct to get from the airport to near our hotel. The airport is about 20-30 miles from the heart of the city so we really recommend using this bus service as it is really comfortable, they have plenty of storage for your luggage, they have wifi and it was not too expensive. We went from the airport to the Gare Montparnasse stop and it only cost us 17€ per person (a taxi would run you much more than that).

• Metro: Paris has one of the best public transportation systems in the world and the stations are dotted all over the city so you can really get around anywhere using it. The Paris Metro runs from 5:30am-12:40am Sunday through Thursday and from 5:30am-1:40am Friday and Saturday. We never had to wait long to get a train as they have a lot of them running. We were able to buy a day pass for around 7€.

Travel Tip: Don’t be afraid if someone asks to see your ticket that is wearing normal street clothes as some of the police officers do not dress in uniform.

• RER (Réseau Express Régional): We used this form of transportation when we traveled outside of Paris to see Château de Versailles and Disneyland Paris. This train has 5 different express lines and the pricing ranges depending on where you’re going from and to. It can range from 2-13€ per person.

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Accommodations

• Hôtel Mimosa: Located in the 10th Arrondissement, it is very close to Notre Dame and less than a block away from Strasbourg-Saint-Denis Metro station. We spent around 80€ a night here and we felt it was reasonably priced, especially for the location. The room was clean, but it was hard to get to as there is no elevator so hopefully you’re not afraid of some stairs-they are a little steep.
• Hôtel Renoir: Located in the 14th Arrondissement, this hotel is a little far away from the sights but very close to the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe Metro station so you won’t have any problem reaching them. The room was very nice and clean and they did have an elevator here! We spent around the same amount per night for this hotel as we did for Hôtel Mimosa.

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To-Do in Paris

As we suggested for some other cities, we recommend getting the Paris pass. A 4 day pass costs 199€ per person but it includes so many attractions all over the city.

• Champs-Élysées: This busy avenue in the 8th Arrondissement is one of the most famous streets in Europe, known for it’s luxury shopping, restaurants, and just being a symbol of Paris, much like the Eiffel Tower. We walked along the street, popped into a couple of shops and then found a bench to do some people watching.

Travel Tip: Be careful when crossing onto the other side of the avenue. We were walking in the crosswalk, when it said to walk and we were almost run over by all the cars that did not care we were walking!

• Arc de Triomphe: Right along the Champs-Élysées, we found the beautiful Arc de Triomphe. It was a little difficult to get to it though. We were told not to try and cross the traffic circle, but instead, take a tunnel that goes underneath the road that gets you onto the island the Arc is on. The tunnel is on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle.

Once you get through the tunnel and reach the Arc, you can go up inside and see some pretty amazing views. There are not too many steps to climb, only 40. Entrance is included with the Paris pass, but if purchasing tickets, they are 8€ per person.

• The Montparnasse Tower: The tallest building in France, this was definitely worth a stop due to it having some of the best views! Admission to the observation deck is included with the Paris pass, but if you need to buy tickets they are 17€ per person. Don’t worry, they won’t make you climb this building, there is an elevator (thank goodness right?). Once we got to the top, we were able to relax with a glass of champagne (12€) and take it all in.

• The Louvre: The world’s largest museum is a must see when in Paris so we knew we absolutely could not miss it. There are so many things to see inside, including thousands of different ancient artifacts and breathtaking pieces of art. We tried to see as many things as possible but we were only able to see so much with the time we had.

Here we were able to see the famous Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo statue. Entrance is included with the Paris pass, but if you need to purchase tickets, we suggest purchasing them in advance and they are 17€ per person.

• Gourmet Chocolate Museum: Normally we probably wouldn’t have thought to do to a chocolate museum but the tickets were included with the Paris pass so we thought why not? Here we learned about the history of chocolate, saw some amazing chocolate sculptures, watched a chocolate making demonstration, and got to eat some! We also purchased some cool chocolate souvenirs. If purchasing tickets they are 11€ per person.
• Notre Dame Cathedral: This medieval Catholic church was definitely on our list of places to see. Admission is free but you do have to pay if you want to climb up to the top of the towers. It is 10€ per person or included with the museum pass you get from the Paris pass. There are a lot of breathtaking stained glass windows, statues, and architecture.

• Eiffel Tower: We consider this maybe the most iconic structure of Paris so we absolutely have to visit every time we are in Paris. We are also partial to this Eiffel Tower since Jonah did propose here but it really is a beautiful work of art. It is well worth it to go up inside as well so please don’t miss out! This is not included with the Paris pass, but it is only 17€ per person for memories to last a lifetime. This will take you all the way up to the summit and give you access to all 3 floors of the Eiffel Tower. There is a restaurant on the 2nd floor if you feel like going all out and spending the big bucks. There is also shopping on the 2nd floor where you can get some pretty cool souvenirs.

• Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise: This was a nice thing to do after a long day of visiting all of the sites. We did the night tour since we wanted to see Paris at night and it worked out in our favor since the boat was not as crowded as well. It lasted for an hour and we were able to sit back, relax, and take in all the lights of the city. At the top of the hour for 5 minutes, we were able to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle with all of it’s lights. It was truly magical (if that doesn’t sound too incredibly cheesy). Tickets are 15€ per person or included if you have the Paris pass.

• Big Bus Paris: Although we were lucky enough to get to squeeze all of these activities of sightseeing Paris into our trip, if you only have a day and want to see an overview of the city, you can take the hop on, hop off bus. It takes you all around the city and you really get a good feel for the area. It was included with the Paris pass, but if purchasing the ticket for one day of the bus it is 30.60€. It has over 11 stops and includes a set of headphones so you can listen in about the history of each place. The bus also has wifi.

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To-Do Outside Paris

• Château de Versailles: This is something that was definitely worth our while. This palace was the home of Louis XIV and is 18 miles away from the heart of Paris. It did not take too long to get to by train (see transportation info above). It is stunning inside and very luxurious, with gold everywhere you look.

A particularly beautiful room is the hall of mirrors, with 357 floor to ceiling mirrors along one wall and on the other side are the doors where you can see the peaceful but grand gardens. If you have extra time and happen to be there on the right day, explore the gardens with the musical garden shows that take place Tuesdays from April 4th-May 16th and Tuesdays from July 4th-October 31st, along with Fridays from March 31st-October 27th. Admission to the palace is included with the Paris pass (if buying a ticket, it is 18€) but if there is a musical garden show, you will have to pay 8.50€ to get into the gardens.

Travel Tip: Be prepared for a long line to enter the palace. We waited over an hour and a half to get in and we already had our tickets, this was just waiting for the entrance.

• Disneyland Paris: This is the other thing that we ventured out of Paris to do. Tickets are not quite as steep as the Disneyland in California, it was around $109 per person for the day for both parks-Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. If you have ever been to Disneyland in California, it is very similar but there are definitely quite a few differences that make it truly unique and definitely worth the trip out there for us. We are big Disney fans though so that’s probably another reason we loved it so much.

Click here to view a short clip of the castle all lit up at night! It is beautiful!

Travel Tip: We went when it was the off season (End of October-Beginning of March) so the lines were very short, the longest we had to wait was 20 minutes for a ride. Generally better to go during the week of course and just check to see when the French holidays are.

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Food

If you’ve kept reading this far, then you’ve come to the part where we talk about food. And Paris has loads of amazing food. Unlike some of the stigmas out there, the food in Paris is not bland and there is definitely a variety. As we have been to a lot of Paris restaurants, we are going to list some of our favorite cafes and other places to eat.

• Le Clou de Paris: We were looking for French food instead of all of the American restaurants they have for the tourists and we are glad we stumbled across this place. The food was delicious and not overly priced and it is located not far from Notre Dame, just down the street from Saint Michel square.
• Croissant doré: Paris is known for their pastries and we came across this little café with the best Nutella filled croissant we’ve ever tasted. It was literally heaven in our mouths. Every time we make a trip to Paris we always stop here and will continue to do so. Writing about this place makes us want to catch a flight now just to eat that delicious pastry! They also serve sandwiches and other pastries.
• Café du Trocadéro: We were looking for a place that had a good view of the Eiffel Tower but did not want to pay outrageous prices. The food here is a tad bit more expensive than other parts of Paris because it is so central to the Tower, but it is not as crazy as some of the other places we were looking at when hunting for a place to eat. The food is delicious and you can’t beat the view!

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This city of lights does not disappoint when it comes to any kind of explorer. Paris is a very romantic and exciting city. This is one place you want to make sure you knock off your bucket list. It is our favorite city and we have been multiple times and plan to go back again (maybe even have a vacation loft there….we can dream).