WHAT CAN YOU VISIT IN PARIS? - THE MOST INTERESTING TOURISTIC SITES
I couldn't not write an article about Paris, my favorite city. Even though it's been a while since I visited it, every time I look at the photos from there, I manage to relive the moments spent in this wonderful city.
Paris does not need much introduction. Maybe many of us, before visiting this city, do not have high expectations, precisely because it is extremely popular and seeing so many photos of the Eiffel Tower or Moulin Rouge all over the internet, it doesn't seem like anything special. At least that's how it was in my case. I wanted to get there, more out of curiosity, not because I had special expectations. Maybe that's why I fell in love with this place.
When I travel, I prefer to visit new places every time, because there are too many beautiful places in this world to visit the same ones every time. Paris, along with Positano, are the only places I have visited and to which I would like to return. Even if all the places I have visited have something special, I believe that I have not allocated enough time for these two. If for Positano I would allocate another 3-5 days in the future, in Paris I would like to spend at least a month, to be fully satisfied😁, especially because I only spent 3 days there... absolutely not enough for there are many things to check in this place.
And to not think that Paris is perfect, I must also tell you about the negative parts right at the beginning. The one that shocked me the most was seeing men urinating on the street. In some places of the city there are urinals in the open air, in plain view of everyone... The filth is at its home, I have not seen any other European city dirtier than this one, including the road from the airport to the city looks like a mess. If I had only seen Paris and the respective highway, I would have concluded that the whole country is like this, but it is not. Another negative point is the excessive crowding at the tourist attractions, to which every tourist obviously contributes, including us and I know I shouldn't complain about this aspect, but it is good to know, especially if you are pressed of time, add a few good minutes or even hours to stand in line.
HOW TO GET TO PARIS:
Paris has got 3 airports with lots of international flights. If you come by a low cost flight, most probably you will land on Beauvais Airport, situated at 80 km of Paris.
From Beauvais airport, there are regular buses to Paris, more precisely to the Porte Maillot station. In the airport there are signs and indicators that guide you to the station, and the ticket costs around 17-20 euros and can also be purchased online. The bus journey takes one hour and 15 minutes.
Another, slightly more expensive option is a private transfer, details here.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport, the easiest way to get to Paris is with the RER train, which runs to the stations: Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les-Halles and Denfert-Rochereau. There is the option of private transfer, details here.
WHERE ARE YOU STAYING IN PARIS?
Paris is recognized as the city with some of the most expensive accommodation units and conditions that leave much to be desired. I looked for several accommodation options on Booking, and the ones that seemed the best to me, I leave them here:
La Maison Rouge - accommodation unit with double rooms. It is located near the Porte D'Ivry metro station, the internet is included in the booking price, it has private parking and a garden;
We Loft - accommodation unit with double rooms. It is located near the Rue Saint Maur metro station, the internet is included in the price of the reservation and it has private parking;
Hôtel de Roubaix - is a hotel that has double or twin rooms, as well as single or triple rooms. It is located in the central area, quite close to most tourist attractions;
Hôtel Le Ballu - is a hotel that has both double rooms and apartments that can accommodate up to 5 people. It is located near the Place de Clichy metro station. It has an indoor pool, bar, restaurant and parking;
Hotel Bloum - is a hotel that has both double and single rooms. It is located near the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette metro station. It has a non-stop open reception, the internet is included in the price of accommodation and there is the option of room service;
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN PARIS:
Paris has the best public transport, compared to other cities I've visited. The metro is well developed and moving around the city much easier. In addition to the subway, there is also the option of buses, which we did not use because there was no need.
Metro tickets can be bought either from the machines at the entrance to the stations, or from the counters. The ticket must be kept throughout the journey.
Another transport option, where you can admire the city's architecture, is by purchasing a ticket for the convertible bus (hop on, hop off bus). You have the option to buy both a ticket that is valid for 24 hours and 48 hours, with unlimited trips and a cruise on the Seine included in the ticket price. Details here.
PLACES TO VISIT IN PARIS:
Galeries Lafayette
I visited this place for the beauty of the interior, not for shopping. The building itself is an architectural jewel, and if you arrive there during the day, you have access to the roof, from where you can admire the view of the city. If you are a fashion lover, weekly fashion shows take place and tickets can be booked here.
Louvre Museum is not to be missed if you arrive in Paris. It is the most visited museum in the world, a title it deserves, it is the most delightful museum I have ever seen. Leaving aside the famous paintings such as the Monalisa, the Wedding in Cana, Liberty Leading the People, the Virgin Between the Rocks, etc., the building that houses the museum is truly spectacular.
To visit this place, set aside a few hours, or if it's not too tiring, even a day. I recommend buying the tickets online, from the official website. Even if you choose not to buy tickets online, you must make a reservation before you get there, whether you have free tickets or not. If you are under 26 years old, the visit is free, only ID card or passport is required to prove that you are an EU citizen.
The museum is quite crowded, especially in the areas with famous paintings and sculptures. At "Monalisa" there is a queue all the time, but the good part is that you can photograph it without anyone entering the frame. The painting is quite small and if it hadn't been so popular, it probably would have gone unnoticed.
Versailles Palace
I recommend setting aside a whole day to visit this place, both for the palace and the gardens. According to the official website, it is necessary to book online the times you want to visit. Just like at the Louvre, people with EU citizenship, under 26 years of age have free acces.
To get there, there are several options: bus, RER train, SNFC train, taxi. We chose the SNFC train option, which departs from Montparnasse station.
In some rooms, it was used red marble, one of the most expensive types of marble, brought from Italy, and most of the metal details of the palace being polished with gold, including the fence at the entrance and the roof. The construction of this palace was like a slap in the face to the French people of the 17th century, who lived in rough conditions.
At the "Chateau de Versailles" three of the kings of France lived successively, the last one being Louis XVI, who, together with his wife, Marie Antoinette, used to organize not really modest parties and balls here. This, combined with other wrong decisions, represented the icing on the cake for the French people, leading to the end of the monarchy in France.
The room of mirrors, the room I liked the most. The famous Versailles Peace Treaty was signed here.
The Sacre-Coeur Cathedral, built at the top of Montmartre hill, is the second highest place in the city, after the Eiffel Tower, and at the same time, it is the second most visited cathedral in France (if we include Notre Dame which is currently closed for restoration and which would take first place).
The architectural style of the cathedral was inspired by that of Saint Sophia in Constantinople and San Marco in Venice. Both the interior and the exterior have Romano-Byzantine influences.
Access is free, both inside and for the towers. Although the church is open until 22:30, the access to the towers in closed when is dark outside.
Notre Dame Cathedral, which we managed to see before the fire, which I hope, did not destroy the wonderful paintings inside. The exterior is not the most spectacular, but the interior is the strong point of this place. At the moment, it can be admired from a distance, the restoration works have not yet been completed.
A walk through the streets of the city is not to be missed. The city is a work of art, or rather, an open-air museum. On any street you choose to walk, you will be able to admire original architectural details.
Don't miss a walk through the city in the evening as well. Both the Eiffel Tower and the Montmartre neighborhood are even more interesting after dark, and the vibe of the city is indescribable.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND TOURISTIC PLACES IN PARIS:
- boat ride on the Seine, tickets here;
- climbing the Eiffel Tower, tickets here;
- cabaret show at Moulin Rouge and Lido;
- Catacombs, ticket here;
- Orsay Museum;
- Opera Garnier;
- Arc de Triomphe, tickets here;
- Atelier Brancusi;
CONCLUSION ABOUT PARIS:
Paris is a city of contrasts. As enchanting as the architecture and beauty of the buildings is, it can be as dirty and smelly. Also, the city is known to be full of pickpockets. We didn't have any unpleasant experiences, but it's good to take care of your personal items. To avoid unpleasant situations, it is best to make a copy of your passport or CI to keep with you and leave the original at the hotel, you do not risk being left without documents in a foreign country, in case they are stolen bag and/or wallet;
Also, the city is extremely touristy and if you want to save some time, buy tickets online for the tourist attractions you want to visit (I left links to the official websites next to each location I visited, see above);
If you want to get a little into the Parisian atmosphere, I leave some films about Paris: Marie Antoinette, Midnight in Paris, Two days in Paris and An American in Paris.
Read also about other great cities in Europe: Barcelona, Malaga, London, Dublin or about another French city, Calais.
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