Paris

I’m probably a little biased towards Paris given it’s where we got engaged, but even without that, it still remains one of the most romantic cities of the world, if not a typical hidden gem. Even still, there are a few ideas for different things to see and do, and a few hints and tips I’ve included below to help you out!

I’ll start with where to stay. Paris is split into 20 arrondissements (or areas), and we opted for the 7^th arrondissement, home to the Eiffel Tower. Whilst this was really handy for visiting one of the main attractiona of Paris, the underground system in Paris meant it wasn’t necessarily the handiest for getting around. I’d recommend taking a look at the underground/metro map and possibly looking for some accommodation near some of the handier stations for seeing all Paris has to offer.

What we did

On to the sights then. I’m not going to simply list everything there is to do in Paris, as there’s so much, instead I’ve included a couple of tips below for maybe less considered options, or ways to make the most of others.

The Louvre is the most visited museum in Paris, and as such can see some huge lines to get in and see the Mona Lisa or Venus de Milo. However, a bit of research before we went lead me to find an alternative entrance (instead of the Pyramid main entrance). As long as you already have a ticket, and if the queues at the Pyramid look a bit too long to consider, try the Porte des Lions entrance (located on the right hand side as you look at the Louvre from Jardin des Tuileries, along Quai Francois Mitterrand) – we were in within a fraction of the time, and it’s a good entrance for seeing Mona Lisa first.

 Jardin des Tuileries, mentioned above, is a beautiful garden fronting the Louvre museum, and we spent some time there having lunch during the first activity we did in Paris, a bike tour with Fat Tire. This was the first time we’d used the company but didn’t end up being the last. I’ll talk a little more about bike tours in another post, but the tour guides at Fat Tire are super knowledgeable and put on a great tour. They don’t take too much effort, and with the Paris day tour, you get to see the Eiffel Tower, Alexander III bridge, Jardin des Tuiliers, Louvre, Les Invalides, Napoleon’s Tomb and Place de la Concorde, and I would HIGHLY recommend checking them out!

Next I’m going all cultural and recommending you take a visit to the Shakespeare and Co bookstore. Located over the Seine from Notre Damn, this legendary bookstore houses literature from all walks of life and is a fascinating way to while away an hour or so simply wandering round and taking it all in (particularly if the weather happens to turn while you’re out sightseeing).

My final recommendation certainly isn’t hidden by any means, the only skyscraper in the centre of Paris, the Montparnasse Tower (or Tour Montparnasse). The tower certainly comes in for it’s fair share of criticism (and following its completion, lead to buildings over 7 stories high being banned in the city centre), however, the views it offers from the rooftop observation deck are incredible. From the deck you can see Notre Damn, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and Eiffel Tower from one single viewpoint. Why not enjoy it with a glass of champagne from the rooftop bar once the sun goes down and take in Paris by night. If you time it right you can even watch the Eiffel Tower light show every hour, on the hour.

So, there you have it – not necessarily the main sights and sounds of Paris, but a few ideas to consider when you next visit the most romantic city in the world!