…and my impressions of all the major sites.

Look who the cat dragged in…

Ignore me, just sneaking in to write about my trip to Paris. So, I was there over a month ago, and I’ve been meaning to write about all the tourist attractions I saw.

So, without addressing the elephant in the room (my absence), here we go.

DAY 1

NOTRE-DAME

I landed on a Sunday morning but couldn’t check in until 3 PM, so I left my luggage at the hotel and headed straight to Notre-Dame. The queue at Notre-Dame was the longest of all the attractions I visited on this entire trip, so by the time I got in the cathedral, I was OVER it. And to add fuel to fire, it felt like I was in a larger version of the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. The entire thing was so underwhelming that I crossed St Chappelle off my list; one church too many.

Cost: Free
Reservation: Not required (but the line is long without one)

DAY 2

THE LOUVRE

I visit the Notre-Dame, and I say I’m not into old buildings, I go to the Louvre, and I’m awe-struck at the magnificence.
I was more in awe of the building itself than the art inside. All my life, I thought the Louvre was just a popular museum and then the first thing I did when I saw it was Google how long it took to build.

Fun fact I found on the internet:

If you wanted to see every piece of art in The Louvre in one visit, and you spent 30 seconds observing each piece, it would take you over a month, and that’s assuming you were there 24/7 and took no breaks & didn’t sleep

I don’t know how accurate that is, but that’s exactly what it felt like.

Cost: Paid
Reservation: Yes, required

EIFFEL TOWER

I started the evening climbing the 674 steps to the SECOND floor of the Eiffel Tower, and if you’re thinking ‘that’s no big feat, I could do that too’, I’m going to hold your hands when I tell you to pay for the elevator pass. It’s 30-45 minutes of climbing, and regardless of how agile you think you are, that is A LOT of stairs.

And honestly? The best thing about being high up in Paris is seeing the Eiffel Tower. You can’t see the Eiffel Tower from the Eiffel Tower. So after all that climbing, the city view felt like it was missing something.

But yes, the Eiffel Tower is exactly who she thinks she is; A sight to behold, especially with the lights on.

Cost: Grounds free; going up is paid
Reservation: Not required (you can buy onsite)

DAY 3

VERSAILLES

I had a love-hate experience with this one.

First, the RER C from Paris to Versailles was the most confusing train I took on the whole trip. Matter of fact, I avoided the RER lines in Paris like the plague because I got lost every single time I took them.

Now, on Versailles itself, I found the palace overwhelming. Between the crowds, all that gold, the maximalist décor, and what felt like one billion paintings, (I could see why society eventually swung toward minimalism), I was tired by the third room.

But the gardens? Stunning. I had to force myself to leave. I, too, would endure the torture of living in that Palace if I had that garden.

Honestly, I’d return to Versailles only for the gardens.

Cost: Gardens free; palace paid
Reservation: Not required (you can buy onsite)

DAY 4

OPÉRA GARNIER

I was torn between the Opera Garnier and the Colosseum (there was no room in my itinerary for both) and ended up picking the Opera Garnier, but in retrospect, I should’ve picked the Colosseum.

The opera house was gorgeous, but so is every Paris building. I wish I caught a ballet show, but everything was sold out by the time I got to Paris. My recommendation is that catching a show there is a better use of time than taking a standalone tour.

Cost: Paid
Reservation: Not required (you can buy onsite)

PONT DES ARTS

I was excited to see the love-lock bridge. Come to imagine my surprise, standing at the bridge, looking for the railings I’d seen in so many movies, only to find out they’d long replaced all the metal with plexiglass. Total bummer.

A NIGHT IN BRUSSELS

I say it all the time, if there’s a Cirque du Soleil show within a five-mile radius, I’ll find it, and I’ll be there. I spent one of the best nights of my whole trip in Brussels. First, the show, then I missed my bus back to Paris twice, which led me to a karaoke/disco bar, Nua Party Bar (highly recommend). It was one of the top three nightlife experiences of the whole week. The drinks were terrible (like all the best places are), but the vibes were unmatched.

DAY 5

REST

That was what I was supposed to do. Instead I went out to get pictures in front of all the popular attractions.

Don’t be like me. You need that rest day.

DAY 6

DISNEYLAND PARIS

I’m crying as I write this, but Disneyland Paris was the worst theme park I’ve ever visited. The rides were underwhelming, and my whole time there, I kept thinking, “I can’t believe I paid for this.” There was not one ride I wanted to go on twice. Mind you, I have a history of staying at theme parks all day, but I was bored three hours in. Where are the thrill rides??

If it helps, I went to the main Disneyland Park, not the Walt Disney Studios Park, and maybe the grass is greener over there, but honestly, I wouldn’t go back to find out.

DAY 7

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

I started this day late with afternoon tea at Plaza Athénée because Taylor Swift wrote a song about it, and while I might not afford to stay there, I can do the next best affordable thing.

Tea is served in La Galerie, a long corridor in the plaza, overlooking the courtyard, with live harp music playing in the background. I ordered the Le Goûter d’Angelo Musa with a glass of champagne: a selection of pastries, a hot drink, and this was the closest thing I had to true French pastries the entire trip. I don’t remember the individual names, but the whole experience was sublime.

Afterward, I strolled down the Champs-Élysées and ended at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, a luxury department store with the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen in a mall. If you go, make sure to head up to the rooftop for a nice view of Paris.

DAY 8

PANTHÉON

By Day 8, I had seen my fair share of stunning Parisian architecture, so I was a hard woman to please. The Panthéon had some interesting sculptures for sure, but I wouldn’t personally recommend it unless you’re really into architecture or the crypts of famous French people.

Cost: Paid
Reservation: Not required (you can buy onsite)

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

I first saw the Arc on Day 5, but I returned on my last day to climb it. You’d think I would’ve learnt my lesson from the Eiffel Tower, but no, I climbed another 15 minutes of stairs. By virtue of that, I can now tell you the only thing at the top is a gift shop and a city view that includes the Eiffel Tower (at least!).

Cost: Grounds free; going up is paid
Reservation: Not required (you can buy onsite)

MONTMARTRE

This is the one place I wish I had scheduled earlier in my trip. It’s like a charming hilltop village, completely different from the rest of Paris. Climbing up to Sacré-Cœur gives you one of the best views in the city. I didn’t have as much time as I wanted to explore the neighborhood, but now I know exactly where I’ll stay next time I’m in Paris.

DAY 9 & TIPS

FLIGHT DAY

And that was it. My week in Paris over in what felt like the blink of an eye. But before I wrap it up, here are a few tips I discovered that might help you.

• Many museums, churches, and landmarks (like the Arc de Triomphe) are free on the first Sunday of each month, in low season (October-March).
  
• Buy a data plan before landing. I went with Orange for both Paris and Brussels.
  
• Google Translate is your best friend. Beyond text and audio, the camera feature can translate anything you point it at, menus, signs, product labels, all of it.
  
• I’m a “read-the-plaque” person, so I skipped audio guides, but if you’re interested in them, Rick Steves has free ones you can download from the App Store. It’s a good alternative to paying for the museum versions.
  
• The metro is extremely reliable. You can easily go your whole trip without calling an Uber. I stayed in the 19th arrondissement, not in the city centre, and it was still just one quick tram ride to the metro. I recommend the Navigo Weekly Pass over the Paris Visite pass, BUT only if your trip lines up well with its schedule. It’s valid starting Monday to Sunday, not any seven consecutive days. So whether it’ll be cheaper depends entirely on the exact days you’re in Paris. But if it lines up with your schedule, it’s the best option: unlimited travel, and no need to reload or buy single tickets.
  
• It’d be hypocritical of me to say give yourself time to explore, because I genuinely feel your first time in Paris is for checking off boxes, but be realistic when creating your itinerary. Versailles is easily a one-day affair. You could be in the Louvre for hours. Plus, you’re going to be jetlagged.

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One week is definitely not enough for Paris, but that’s how they get you. I know I say this for everywhere I go, but I will 100% be back in Paris. It’s written in the stars, like the prophecy of the birth of Jesus. Quote me.

Merci d’avoir lu. Au revoir.