PARIS, FRANCE

Paris may be the most famous city in the world and it certainly lives up to the hype! The City of Lights, or City of Love, is fashionable, awe-inspiring, and gorgeous! Some of the most well-known landmarks in the world reside in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame. While it is very metropolitan, it also has plenty of city parks and green spaces spread out across the city. It is a place in which one visit is never really enough. Like most of us, I look forward to visiting again!

Attractions:

  • Eiffel Tower: This architectural marvel, constructed in 1889, is a European icon and the most prominent structure in the world! Going to the top floor (276m tall) costs €26.10 and visiting the second floor (116m tall) costs €16.70. From June-September, it is open daily from 9:30am-11:45pm. The rest of the year it is open from 10:30am-6:30pm. I recommend buying your tickets a few days in advance as slots sell out quickly!

  • Musée du Louvre: The Louvre is both the largest and most visited museum in the world! Originally built as a fortress, it houses art dating back to the sixth century BC! Online tickets cost €17 (inclusive of entry within 30 minutes of arrival). In-person tickets cost €15 and could come with a 1-2-hour wait in line. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, but is open every other day from 9:00am-6:00pm. Say hi to da Vinci’s Mona Lisa for me!

  • Notre-Dame de Paris: This church is absolutely legendary; its gorgeous rose windows are world-renowned! Unfortunately, in April 2019, a fire decimated Notre-Dame and tourists are not expected to be able to visit until at least 2024. Generally it is open daily from 8:00am-6:45pm and free to enter (visits to the tower and crypt cost €8.50 and €6 respectively).

  • Arc de Triomphe: Another Parisian favorite and easily my favorite view in the city! At the top, visitors get an amazing 360-degree view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It is open daily from 10:00am-10:00pm and costs €13; do not let a long line deter you! To get to the Arc, there is an underground tunnel which can be found here; do not try crossing the traffic circle! The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also found here.

  • Champs-Élysées: This world-famous street stretches nearly 2km from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. If you like window shopping, you will have a field day here!

  • Musée d’Orsay: In any other city, the second most-visited art museum in Paris would be #1! Tuesday-Sunday, it is open from 9:30am-6:00pm (closing time on Thursdays is 9:45pm). This museum houses pieces from the works of Matisse, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and Rodin! Entrance costs €12.40, but to see all the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, there is an additional €10 cost. On the first Sunday of every month (or if you are under 18), admission is free!

  • Sacré-Cœur Basilica: This stunning church is located in Montmartre, a 25-minute metro ride from the city center. Depending on where you are coming from, take Metro Line 2 (to Anvers) or 12 (to Abbesses); both stops are a 10-minute walk from the church. You must catch a sunset here as seen in the picture at the top of this page! The church is free to enter and open daily from 6:00am-10:30pm.

  • Luxembourg Gardens: One of the most relaxing and beautiful places in Paris! I highly recommend chilling out here for a few hours. It is free to visit and the surrounding area is lovely!

  • SANDEMANs Free Walking Tour: Similar to most European cities, Paris has a free tour in which you pay what you think the tour is worth at the end. It is a fabulous way to get your bearings of the city! The 3-hour tour picks up daily at Saint Michel Fountain and ends at the Louvre; click here for more information.

  • Les Catacombes de Paris: In the late 1700s, there were health concerns tied to Paris’ cemetery. After “much” thought, the unusual decision was made to transfer the cemetery’s six million bodies underground. Since 1809, this site has been open to the public! It costs €24 to enter (an audio guide costs €5 additional) and it is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:45am-8:30pm.

  • Sainte-Chapelle: With over one thousand stained glass windows, this church, built during the Rayonnant Gothic period, is one you should prioritize visiting! Entrance costs €11.50 and worth every penny. It is open daily from 11:00am-7:00pm.

  • Monet’s Garden: These famous gardens, located in Giverny, are the former home of French impressionist painter, Claude Monet. They are a perfect day-trip from Paris! To get here, take a train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Gare de Vernon-Giverny; the ride is 50 minutes and costs €9. From Vernon, you are 3 miles (5km) from Monet’s Garden. You have four options. Option 1 - walk (free; 60 minutes). Option 2 - take the shuttle bus (€10 round-trip; 15 minutes). Option 3 - hire a bicycle (€14/day; 25 minutes). Option 4 - hop in a taxi (€20 one-way; 10 minutes). From April-November, the gardens are open daily from 9:30am-6:00pm; admission costs €10.50. Snap a photo of the Japanese Bridge!

  • Other spots to check out in Paris include: Palace of Versailles, Tuileries Garden, The Centre Pompidou, Disneyland Paris, and Les Invalides!

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Accommodation:

  • St Christopher's Inn Gare du Nord: This hostel is just 2 minutes walking from Gare du Nord and has a huge bar perfect for socializing and meeting other travelers! It is also very accessible to the city center. The Gare de l’Est metro station is 5 minutes from the hostel and connects to Metro Lines 4, 5, and 7.

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Transportation:

There are numerous train stations across Paris, making travel confusing. Long story short, your end destination will determine which station you use (as noted below). The main bus station is Bercy Seine; all buses below leave from here.

Paris has two major international airports: Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Below is transportation information for each:

  • Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is 19 miles (30km) northeast of Paris and accessible via bus, train, airport bus, and taxi.

    • Local Bus: The ride is from CDG to Porte de la Chapelle (#350) or Place de la Nation (#351) is 75 minutes and costs €1.90; buses run every 30 minutes. From Porte de la Chapelle, you can transfer to Metro Line 12. From Place de la Nation, you can transfer to Metro Lines 1, 2, 6, or 9.

    • Réseau Express Régional (RER) B Train: The ride from CDG to Gare du Nord is 30 minutes and costs €10.30; trains run every 15 minutes.

    • RoissyBus: The ride from CDG to Paris Opéra is 1 hour and costs €13.70; buses run every 15 minutes. From Paris Opéra, you can transfer to Metro Lines 3, 7, and 8.

    • Taxi: The ride is 45-60 minutes and costs €60-€65 depending on the time of day.

  • Orly (ORY) is 12 miles (20km) south of Paris and accessible via bus, tram, airport bus, train, and taxi.

    • Local Bus: The ride from ORY to Porte de Choisy (#183) is 40 minutes and costs €2; buses run every 30 minutes. From Porte de Choisy, you can transfer to Metro Line 7 or Tram Line 3a.

    • Tram: The ride from ORY to Châtelet is 1 hour (indirect) and costs €3.80. From ORY, ride Tram 7 to Villejuif–Louis Aragon (30 minutes; €1.90). At Villejuif–Louis Aragon, transfer to Metro Line 7 and board the next train to Châtelet (20 minutes; €1.90).

    • OrlyBus: The ride from ORY to Place Denfert-Rochereau is 30 minutes and costs €8.30; buses run every 15 minutes. From Place Denfert-Rochereau, you can transfer to Metro Lines 4 or 6.

    • OrlyVal: The ride from ORY to Gare du Nord is 45 minutes (indirect) and costs €12.10. From ORY, ride the OrlyVal metro shuttle to Antony (10 minutes). At Antony, transfer to RER B and board the next train to Gare du Nord (30 minutes).

    • Taxi: The ride is 30-45 minutes and costs €35-€40 depending on the time of day.

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