Arriving in Paris
We landed in Paris CDG airport and took a regional RER train to reach the city center. You can also take Uber or taxi if you are willing to spend more. We booked two nights at a boutique hotel in the central Paris: Hyatt Paris, Madeliene. This is one of the expensive hotel in the area which costs around 700 USD per night during the peak season but we booked it using Chase UR points for free. We will talk about how to book it using points in the upcoming posts.
Best things to do in Paris
There are so many things to do and see in Paris. Of course, we couldn’t cover everything in two days. But, here are some of the things that we did and really liked during our stay:
Top of the Eiffel Tower
If you want to save time pre-book your tickets online by visiting their official website so that you don’t have to stand in queue for hours just to get the tickets. We got the tickets to top of the tower. There is an option for just the second floor as well which is little cheaper. You will have to stand in line again for the top floor lift from the second floor. But, the line for the top was not too long when we visited during the peak season. The view are amazing from both the second floor and the top. But, we recommend going to the top of tower as well for more expansive views. Do remember to book tickets online!
After visiting the tower, we spent some time sitting near the fountain in front of the tower. It was really hot when we visited in summer and there were lot of people taking a dip in the fountain pool to get some relief from the heat. It is a great spot for pictures as well! Once you are done, climb up to the nearby stairs of Trocadero for more insta worthy pictures.
Take a cruise on Seine River
A Seine river cruise is a must do in Paris. The views along the river is mesmerizing. The boat takes you through many of the cities landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as you cruise by!
We booked Bateaux Mouches Seine River Cruise which included dinner, drinks and live music along with the beautiful views of Paris from the deck. They were vegetarian friendly as well. We had a wonderful time and we highly recommend it. Here is the Expedia link for the one we booked.
Visit Arch de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees
It is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle. It commemorates French military victories and French soldiers who died in battle.
In order to get to the Arc take the underground passage, so that you avoid crossing the busy traffic.
If you are planning on going to the top of Arc de Triomphe you have to buy the tickets and climb few stairs. The view from the top is worth taking those stairs as you have the 360 degree view of the entire city and the Eiffel tower.
After visiting Arc de Triomphe you can walk down the Champs- Elysees: “A Shopper’s Paradise”. It is 1.2 miles long street known for its theaters, cafes, and luxury shops.
Visit the Saint Chapelle
The Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel in the Gothic style. It has amazing stained glass windows. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 metres high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris.
Don’t forget to go to the upper level which can be accessed via staircase. You will be amazed by the spectacular stained glass on the upper level.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris. The main attraction of the museum are the Mona Lisa and the statue of Venus de Milo.
We would highly recommend buying tickets in advance. We couldn’t go inside the museum because the tickets were sold out for that day. However, we did take some good pictures outside the museum.
Take a walk along the Seine River
You will find many locals sitting along banks of the river just hanging out with friends and family enjoying food, wine and music. We spent an hour or so sitting/walking along the banks and it was really relaxing time for us. We highly recommend finding some time for this in between visiting the touristy spots.
Paris Delicacies
No trip to Paris is complete without indulging yourself in some delicious sweet treats. So don’t forget to indulge in Macarons, Eclair au chocolat, Crepe to name a few.
Time for some useful tips!
Buy your tickets in advance – If you want to avoid waiting for hours in line, book your tickets online ahead of time. During peak season the tickets on the counters are sold out early or there will be a long line, so planning ahead will be useful. Always try to use the official websites for buying online tickets.
Be ready to walk – Wear comfortable shoes as most part of the city can be enjoyed on foot.
Buy Museum pass – If you are planning to visit lot of Museums in Paris, consider purchasing Museum pass. The Museum pass allows for free admission to number of attractions in Paris. It will save you time as well as some money.
Take Metro/Bus – Taking Uber or taxi can be very expensive. Save some money by using public transport within Paris. Also, if its your first time in Paris you can use Kapten (app like Uber) and get new customer discounts for first few rides.
Buy local travel SIM – There are travel SIM cards available at Relay Stores. We bought the one from Orange, valid for 14 days in 30 EU countries. Here is the link.
Know the greetings – It comes in handy if you know the greetings in French. When entering and leaving a shop, greet and say good-bye to the staff. A simple bonjour(Hello), monsieur/madame(Mr/Madam) , au revoir(Goodbye) and merci(Thank you) are considered a virtual necessity for politeness.
Beware of Pickpockets – Only keep essentials in your wallets. Don’t carry too many cards. Keep your backpack over your chest and always be vigilant.
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