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Paris is famed as one of the most romantic cities in the world, if not that, then it is definitely one of the most iconic and most visited. For us in the United kingdom it’s not much more than an hours flight away so there are no excuses not to visit. It is also crammed packed full of amazing things to do, places to visit and things to see. A weekend is really not long enough but I’m sure you’ll be back again and again to visit this beautiful vibrant city.
There are a few different ways to get to Paris depending on where you’re coming from. As we’re based in the UK we’ve previously travelled to Paris by train, by car and by plane however, for this weekend in Paris, to maximise the time spent in the city, we went by plane giving us more time to explore Paris.
The commute into the city from the airport is easily negotiated by using the train and the RER B train runs from Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) every 10 to 20 minutes, and takes around 50 minutes to reach the city centre. Tickets only cost 10€ one-way, and can be purchased at ticket booths in the arrivals terminal.
If you’re travelling from the UK by train you have the Eurostar service from St Pancreas in London and if you’re travelling by car then you can take a ferry across the channel or the Eurotunnel service from Ashford Kent to Calais. The motorways in France are fantastic and you will be in Paris in a couple of hours after crossing the channel. Try planning a route using the smaller roads rather than the motorways and you’ll see some fantastic little villages and towns and save loads on motorway tolls.
As you would expect with a city the size of Paris there are plenty of options when it comes to Accommodation. With a multitude of choices for every budget. Ideal you would want to stay somewhere central. That way you are not using all your precious time travelling in to the centre of town.
We stayed at a hotel called CitizenM. Its very much like an upmarket hostel with pod type stylish rooms and you can find them in several cities throughout the world from London to Kuala Lumpur. They really are an excellent option when visiting a city as they’re fairly central, have everything you need for your stay and competitively priced.
As you are probably aware, Paris is oozing with culture and history and loads of sights to see but here’s some suggestions on how to explore Paris.
Now you may think its odd to have a cemetery on your sightseeing list but this cemetery is exceptional. The Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris, France. With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Père Lachaise is located in the 20th arrondissement and was the first garden cemetery, as well as the first municipal cemetery in Paris. The reason its so popular is that there are many historical, famous and infamous figures buried here and the cemetery itself is quite a beautiful place. Admission is free for all and you can get guided tours at the weekend available in the tourist office by the main entrance.
A map is available from the main office where you can work the routes out to each individual grave you want to visit.
A river taxi along the Seine is a typically touristic thing to do but its a wonderful way to see some of the most iconic sights of Paris as you slowly float past on one of the glass topped boats. You can also take these boats at night and see the Paris lights. What can you see:
Referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. We visited shortly after the recent fire and the steeple at the back was missing and the sight itself was closed off to the public. Such a shame but I’m sure it will be restored to its former beauty soon.
The Louvre with its glass courtyard pyramid is one of the places I love to visit in Paris but do pick your times as it can get extremely busy at peak times. Try and get there for it opening or an hr before it closes and you’ll experience a much quieter visit.
Found on the Left Bank of the Seine the museum is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. One of my favourite things to see there is Rodin’s sculpture – The Gates of Hell.
The Jardin is a public garden located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. Created by Catherine de’ Medici as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was eventually opened to the public in 1667 and became a public park after the French Revolution.
The Eiffel Tower or “The Trifle” as Chris calls it is I would say the most recognised sight of Paris. You can ride to the top in one of the 4 elevator sections in each of the corners. You can see a display of how the tower was created and its timeline from creation to present day. You can visit the gift shop and you can get a refreshment at one of the takeaway cafes, however the quality of the food isn’t great and you’d be better off packing a picnic.
Montmartre is a large hill in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. It is 130 m high and gives its name to the surrounding district, part of the Right Bank in the northern section of the city. With its cobbled streets, stunning buildings, artists and quirky bistros it really is a haven for artists of all genres. The majority of all famous French artists have made Montmatre their home at one time or another.
In the heart of Montmarte at the highest point sits The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris – Sacre Coeur. This is the most visible church in Paris and is visited by hundreds of people each year. The church is free to enter but you have to pay €6 to go up into the dome.
Chris and I love the opera and when we found out there was to be a performance of Carmen while we were in Paris we couldn’t resist getting some tickets.
Anita Rachvelishvili was the lead and she absolutely brought the house down. We would definitely see her in any opera again as she was fantastic.
The performance was superb and just added to our cultural weekend. Dress code is pretty casual so don’t worry about having to pack your evening gown. Smart jeans and a top will do just fine.
Unfortunately there aren’t many performances any more in the original beautiful Paris Opera House, Palais Garnier but the new opera house Opera Bastille was just magnificent.
1 – We loved to explore Paris on foot. You see more of the city and get a better feel for the “real” Paris so definitely pack a comfortable pair of shoes.
2 – Try a Jambon Beurre which is a delicious ham sandwich with butter & I quite like mine with some cornichons – oh my goodness its so good and you’ll find one in most sandwich shops
3 – All Parisian museums and visitor attractions are free on the first Sunday of every month. Arrive early though as you’ll find it very busy.
4 – Pack a picnic. There are many beautiful parks and gardens in the city centre so get to a deli for meats and cheeses and a bakery for some bread and you’ve got the makings of a fabulous picnic
5 – Explore Paris by bike. Dotted round the city are shared bikes you can pick up and leave wherever you like. There are day and week passes you can buy and the bikes are widely accessible around the city.
6 – Getting out of the city. A 30 min train ride will get you to Disneyland Paris, The Palace of Versailles or The flea market of Saint Ouen. All of which are definitely worth a visit.
We have always tended to use Booking.com having said that if your on a tight budget another good site to try as a comparison is Hostelworld, If your looking to compare different sites you can do that on Hotellook, we tend to look on here first to make sure we are getting the best deal.
You can book your visits as you go at the entrance to your chosen attraction or site. Or you could use the following links to book in advance or just to find out what your choices are in the area. GetYourGuide and Tiqets are our go to choices you could try Viator to see how they compare.
For a full list check out our resources page. Don’t forget always shop around to find the best deal for you. What works for us should be good for you but it’s always reassuring to check.
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The Gardens by the Bay
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