If you know me at all, you know that I love to travel. I also love to find good flight deals!
(I've even been known to set my own flight alerts so I can buy tickets at the best time.) I am quite proud of the time I got a deal for non-stop, round-trip tickets to Paris for just $230! That was amazing. We had to fly out of Vegas rather than SLC, but it was still 100% worth the drive.
Let's talk about Paris. It has a really cool history and there is so much to do there. Our trip was in 2019 and we had a little less than a week. Here are my favorite things from Paris (ranked in order):
✨ Best of Paris ✨
1. Sainte-Chapelle
If you looked at just the outside, you might think to yourself, "ok, gray stones, kinda gothic and ugly." But you'd be missing the best part! The inside is INCREDIBLE. I can't even begin to describe it. There are probably millions of pieces of stained glass creating beautiful Biblical scenes.
the outside us on the inside
2. The Louvre
Definitely, definitely buy your tickets ahead of time and plan to spend a good amount of time here. The Louvre is huge. You could spend all day there and still not see everything (hint: this is kind of a theme of Paris). So I recommend mapping out which art you'd like to see and then following that route. There are maps you can get at the beginning of the museum. Spending a good 5 or so minutes mapping what you'd like to see most will save you a lot of time seeing other art that you might not care as much about.
Some of my favorites were:
The Palace of Sargon II The Code of Hammurabi
You can buy tickets to the Louvre here:
or copy and paste this link https://www.ticketlouvre.fr/louvre/b2c/index.cfm/calendar/eventCode/MusWeb
3. Versailles (the Palace & Grounds)
I looooved this place. Your tour likely will come with an audioguide you can listen to (it was great, but I even listened to Rick Steve's at the same time and I loved both). It's so fun to learn about King Louis XIV and his family and what life was like for the wealthy back then.
My favorite part was actually seeing the ostentatious palace and then going to the humble Hamlet afterwards. I loved both for different reasons and it was fun to see the dichotomy.
At the golden gates to the palace! Listening to Rick Steve's audio tour (so good)
This is the Hamlet not far from the Palace
You can buy tickets to Versailles here:
or copy and paste this link https://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
4. The Eiffel Tower
Whatever you do, don't miss the Eiffel Tower. You can go during the day or at night. We went at night and it was so fun to see the city lights from above! It was also really fun to learn about that tower’s history (hint hint: local Parisians didn’t like it at first) and how it was built.
You can buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower here:
or copy and paste this link https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/rates-opening-times
5. Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre
I loved this. It was gorgeous and also had an incredible view of the city. It was a bit of a hike to get here (mostly due to the transportation strike) but totally worth it.
Note: this is a church so you don’t need tickets and it is free. You may want a couple of euros on hand in case you need to use the bathroom here though.
6. Arc de Triomphe
I actually loved this even more than I thought I would. The art on the arc and the history of it are really cool.
You can buy tickets to the Arc de Triomphe here:
or copy and paste this link https://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en/
7. Champs-Elysées
This wasn’t my favorite but it was still cool to see such a famous part of Paris.
8. Grande Roue De Paris (The Ferris Wheel)
Us on the Ferris wheel
This was so so much fun and worth every penny! It was really fun, affordable, and a cool way to break up the long hours of walking.
Things I haven't seen but I've heard are amazing:
- The Notre-Dame Cathedral (was closed due to necessary construction after the fire)
- The Orsay Museum
- Catacombs of Paris (closed due to the strike, I was so sad we missed this! Next time…)
- Panthéon
Other notable things you could do:
- Disneyland Paris
- Trocadéro Gardens
- Orangerie Museum
- Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb
- Rodin Museum
- Pont du Gard
- Tuileries Garden
- Luxembourg Gardens
Other tips about traveling in Paris:
Plan Out Your Trip
- Always buy tickets directly with the official sites (not third-party websites). Not only will you save money, but you'll also avoid scams.
- When you're there, check the metro/train/bus times the day before you plan to take that route.
- Consider seeing two places around the same time — for example, you can see the Arc de Triomphe before you walk down the Champs-Elysées.
Transportation Methods
🛴 Electric Scooters 🚲 (or Bikes)
🚇 The Metro
- Metros are cheap and fast
- They connect the city really well
- They are easy to navigate if you pay attention well
🚶Walking
- Frenchs (and Europeans in general) walk everywhere!
- Bring good walking shoes!
- It’s a wonderful way to get around and get a feel for the city
🚙 Uber
- Also a handy way to travel
🚌 Buses
- Buses are another great way to get around town
- If you're lucky and going in the off-season (September - May), they shouldn't be too crowded
- Be aware that around rush hour (5-6 pm), they can get quite busy
Other transportation helps
- Rome 2 Rio — You may use this website for best ways to get from A to B, but be sure to double-check the bus and train schedules before you plan
- It’s a good way to see multiple methods of travel and compare cost, times, etc.
- Google maps is accurate and helpful
Great Resources
- Rick Steves — He has some great resources like free audio tours and other tips for exploring France!
- French Tourism Official Website - Places to see, things to do, etc.
Taking the Train
Trains are a fantastic way to get around in France
French trains are affordable, comfortable, convenient, they run on time, and provide a wonderful view of the French countryside
Use these sites to get a general idea of cost and times for trains
Use the train’s app (or a kiosk) whenever possible (it’s way faster and easier!)
Only wait in line if you absolutely have to do so
REMEMBER to stamp your ticket BEFORE you board the train at one of the yellow boxes, otherwise you will get a huge fine (a staff member will check tickets for validation during the train ride)
You can travel on a sleeper train to save on accommodation and arrive first thing in the morning
Other basic train travel tips:
Don’t wait to board your train until the last minute
Be prepared to send your bags through a security scanner
Keep your ticket handy
Check the monitors to see when your station is coming up