Le Louvre ©MlleWanderlust
Oh Paris, ville de l’amour! I went to Paris in 2014 and I’ve promised myself I’d go back someday.
Fun fact, since I’m French Canadian, I speak French and English. Not once, but twice Parisians did not understand what I was saying and thought I was speaking English… My mom really had a good laugh! I remember that one time when I asked for butter (beurre) with my bread and the waiter responded in English “Oh you want some Sprite?!” Really?! Who knew it was so hard to be understood in your own language haha?!
Back to Paris…So I went with my mom for a period of five days and we had enough time to do a lot of sightseeing!
WHERE WE STAYED?
I booked our trip via Expedia and we stayed at À La Villa des Artistes Hotel in the 6th arrondissement close to the Jardin du Luxembourg. In the end, we booked our flights from Canada with the hotel and it ended up costing us $1 400 CAD per person. It was perfect for our needs, plus we were close to a Metro Station (Vavin on Line 4) which was great!
ACTIVITIES
1- Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg was created in 1612 by Queen Marie de’ Medici, wife of King Henry IV. The garden is now owned by the French Senate. It covers 23 hectares. It is a wonderful place to take a walk or to play with model sailboats in the basin.
2 – Hot Air Balloon – André Citröen Park
Here’s an activity you don’t get to do everyday! For €12 per adult, you can ride the biggest hot air balloon in the world! It goes up to 150m and gives you a 360° view of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. You’ll also find sparkling water stations for free in the park!
3 – Catacombs of Paris
What are the catacombs? Around 1785, major public health problems led to an overflow of bodies in the city’s cemeteries, Paris then decided to transfer their contents to the city’s former quarries. It took 12 years to move all the bones. There are approximately 6 to 7 million bodies in the catacombs. It was first opened to the public in 1809.
This is a very popular activity so I recommend your arrive at least 1h before the opening time. The number of visitors is limited to 200 simultaneously to preserve the site. Fun fact, the average temperature is 14°C whether you’re visiting during the summer season or the winter. The circuit is 1,5km long and takes one to two hours depending on your pace. I loved visiting the catacombs! For more info click here.
4 – The Louvre
Obviously, The Louvre would make the list! It is the world’s largest art museum and the most visited. It was built in 12th century and used to be a Castle and was the main residence of the French Royals. It became a museum in 1793. It now contains 380 000 objects and its most popular attraction is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Tickets vary between €15 & €17 depending if they were purchased online or at the museum. Note that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Visit their website for detailed information.
5 – Eiffel Tower
Another landmark to visit is the Eiffel Tower located on the Champ de Mars! Personally I really enjoyed going to the top at night and seeing the city with all its lights! It was almost midnight when we got to the top. We went in August and oh was I glad I had a coat and a scarf on. It can get pretty windy and chilly up there!
The tower was built from 1887 to 1889 and the top level’s platform is 276m above the ground, which makes it the highest observation point of the city. The top level is only accessible by elevator.
For tickets click here.
6 – Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
Personally I’m not crazy about churches but this one is so worth seeing! The French Gothic interior is incredible! It is a medieval Catholic church and it took 100 years to build between 1160 and 1260! There is no entry fee, so it’s ideal for those who travel on a budget! Plus it’s open all-year round. A must see in Paris! And while you’re there, why not light a candle.
7– Dinner Cruise on the Seine
This next activity has been one of my all-time favorites! It was my first dinner cruise on a trip and not my last as I now try to make it a habit when I travel.
For this particular cruise, I booked it in advance via Come to Paris and it all went smoothly. We boarded our beautifully glass-walled Bateau-Mouche at the Pont de l’Alma for the price of €99 per person. Not only did we enjoy an incredibly tasty dinner, but we had a great view to admire the beautiful monuments of Paris and listened to live piano music. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
8 – Champs Élysées
Ohh Champs Élysées! So many things to see! High-end stores, the Arc de Triomphe, good food… Where else are you going to find French macarons at a Mc Donald’s?! It is one of the most recognizable avenues in the world.
9 – The Palace of Versailles
Last but not least, the Château de Versailles! It is located about an hour away from Paris and you can visit the Palace, the estate of Trianon, the Gardens and the Royal Stables. It used to be the principal Royal residence from 1682 to 1789. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.This place is simply gorgeous! I loved the Gardens and the Hall of Mirrors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Needless to say, the food in Paris is incredible! You have to try the “Oeuf Basquaise” and the “Tarte Tatin”.
Transportation wise, Paris has the easiest Metro system I’ve ever used, it is simple and user friendly! And remember, the Eiffel Tower is not as close as you might think…haha learn from my mistakes and don’t walk 3-4 hours thinking you’ll get there eventually! Simply use the Metro and save yourself some pain!
BON VOYAGE!
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Mlle Wanderlust
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