Let’s face it, there are certain things you just have to see when you visit Paris. Yes, certain sights are popular and, at times, crowded but they’re popular for a reason. I can’t imagine planning my Paris holidays and not including the sights and sounds that make Paris such an amazing destination. Whether you’re spending one day in Paris or planning a 4 day Paris itinerary (or longer), try to include as many of these incredible sights as you can, while still allowing time to enjoy the French art of “flâner”, meaning to stroll and dawdle, in order to simply enjoy being in Paris.
A Few Tips and Advice Before You Start Your Paris Holidays
1. Get a Paris Museum Pass
We don’t usually get city passes when we travel. Generally, the price of admission truly isn’t worth the cost of the pass. This is especially true with respect to passes for children. That said, the Paris Museum Pass is absolutely worth its price. Note though, I’m talking about the Paris Museum Pass and NOT the Paris Pass, the latter of which is much higher in price.
The Paris Museum Pass covers most of our 10 best sights for your Paris holidays plus many, many more that are hidden gems in Paris. A Paris city break is always fantastic and the pass will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest. Now, it’s always a smart move to double check the admission prices for the places that have made it into your Paris itinerary to make sure the price is worth it for the sights you plan to visit but an additional bonus with the Paris Museum Pass is that it also allows for skip-the-line entry into many of the most popular sights. Make sure to take that into account as well.
2. Get to know the Paris Metro system
The Paris Metro is wonderful and will make your days so much easier. You don’t need a pass for the metro unless you’re staying outside the central area. Then, it may be worth it. That said, you should make a point to have tickets on hand so that you can hop on the metro or bus whenever you like. We recommend adding the purchase of transit tickets to day 1 of your Paris itinerary.
Paper Tickets
If you are planning to use paper metro tickets, it’s best to get a carnet (booklet) of metro passes with one being used for each trip. There is a discount to buying them in the booklet of 10. There are carnets for both adults and children. Keep your ticket until you leave the metro station because inspectors could ask for your ticket. And don’t mix up the used tickets with the new ones resting in your pocket!
The new “Navigo Easy“
Paris has introduced a new ticket system and will be phasing out the paper ticket system mentioned above. Navigo Easy involves the purchase of a plastic card (2€ each) to which daily tickets or carnets can be added. The cards can be purchased at any ticket location and each person travelling must have their own card.
3. Be aware of VAT
All items have VAT (sales tax) included in the price. It is not added at the time of purchase.
If you’re visiting from outside the EU, you may be able to claim back your VAT when you leave. This may be available for purchases over 175 euros. Keep a copy of your passport with you when you shop and ask if the store does VAT refunds. If so, they will complete a form that you need to keep. On departure from the EU, get the form stamped at the customs desk and either attend a VAT refund desk or pop it in the mailbox. It does have to be mailed from the EU so don’t bring it home to mail!
If you are visiting more than one EU country, you don’t have to do anything right at the end of your Paris holidays. Just keep collecting the VAT forms as you shop other EU countries and make your VAT claim just once, when you leave the EU.
Assuming you will be leaving the EU by train, remember, all items for which you are claiming VAT refund must be in your carry on as they must be able to check that they are unused. Don’t wear those fancy shoes on the way home! Note that some airports also have a VAT refund desk before security so you could go there prior to dropping your checked baggage but you should verify that before going to the airport so that you pack your items in the right location.
Visitors can check with the French customs website for more details and information.
4. Tipping in Paris
Tipping in Paris is not obligatory. It is not thought of as an insult if you do not tip after a meal. Servers do not depend on tips for their livelihood. In fact, tip and taxes are both already included in the price that you see on the menu. At the bottom of your bill, you will also see “service compris”, tip included.
If your meal was exceptional, you can leave a small something to express your thanks. This is generally from €1 to €5, generally rounding up the bill from, for example, €52 to €55. From our experiences, if you are paying by credit card, any tip you leave would still need to be paid in cash as there was never an option to leave a tip when paying by credit card.
5. Beware of Pickpockets in Paris
You will see signs at many popular tourist sights but it cannot be stressed enough, there are many pickpockets in Paris that prey upon unsuspecting tourists. This is a surefire way to ruin your Paris holidays! Do not keep your wallet in your back pocket and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
John does not carry his wallet when we travel. The kids don’t keep their phones in their back pockets. We started travelling with the kids when they were young and I knew we’d get distracted so I invested in a few PacSafe purses. I still love them. The zipper hooks closed so it is essentially locked and I wear them cross body. I know that I can focus on photography or the kids without having anything stolen from my purse. You don’t need to purchase a secure purse or wallet but you do need to be aware of your surroundings.
Note: There are a few tricks to be aware of that have been used by pickpockets for years:
- A person approaches you saying they found a golden ring nearby. Is it yours? You can say ‘No merci” or just keep walking. There is likely a friend nearby to assist them if you get distracted.
- A person approaches asking you to sign a petition. Just say ‘No merci’ or ignore them. Again, there is likely another person watching for you to stop and talk with them.
- Don’t leave your phone, wallet or anything of value sitting on a table or your purse hanging on the back of your chair. You are leaving yourself open to having it taken when a group of children or adults create a distraction nearby or when someone lays a newspaper on top of it and leaves with the paper and your valuables.
Tried and True Places to Visit and Sights to See during your Paris Holidays
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is the first thing most people picture when anyone mentions Paris. It is the most popular sight in Paris and rightfully so! But, did you know that the Eiffel Tower was actually meant to be a temporary structure? It was built in just over two years by Gustave Eiffel for the World’s Fair in 1889 and was meant to be dismantled after the two-year exhibition.
Today the Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world and greets millions and millions of visitors every year! If you plan to travel up the tower on your Paris holidays, either by stairs or by lift, you really need to plan in advance.
- If you plan to take the elevator to the 2nd floor or the top, or take the stairs to the 2nd floor and not visit the top, book your tickets online at the Eiffel Tower ticket office. This will provide you with a time-stamped ticket and allow you to skip the very long ticket line.
- Arrive 15 minutes early so that you can go through security and be in place at the time on your ticket.
- On arrival, head to the correct pillar. The correct pillar will depend on whether you have lift tickets, whether you need to purchase lift tickets or whether you need to purchase tickets for the stairs.
Note: If you plan to walk up to the 2nd floor instead of taking the elevator and then take the elevator to the 3rd floor, these tickets can only be purchased at the Eiffel Tower. We suggest that you either choose to only walk to the 2nd floor or plan to take the elevator your entire route and possibly walk down in order to purchase your tickets online and avoid the ticket purchasing lines at the tower.
Once you head upstairs, the fun begins! Take the elevator or stairs to the 2nd floor and immediately hop in line for the lift to the 3rd floor. You could wander the 2nd floor first but we prefer to head directly to the top and then work our way down.
Beware that at the very top it will feel incredibly high … because it is! I am not a fan of heights and on our first Paris holidays sweet Lucas took my hand to bring me out of the elevator and held it the entire time on the 3rd floor. I’m so glad he did because I almost took the lift right back down to the 2nd floor!
The 3rd floor is not large but I can’t imagine going up the Eiffel Tower and not going right to the top. Spend a bit of time here, circle the outside, have a peek at Gustave Eiffel’s office, and maybe enjoy a glass of champagne to celebrate your journey.
When you’re ready, take the lift back to the 2nd floor and explore. The views are incredible! Take your time. There is no limit on the amount of time you can spend at the tower. If you’d like, have a taste at the macaron bar or look into the gift shop (the largest is on the 1st floor so you may prefer to wait).
As you head to the 1st floor, you have the option of taking the stairs or the lift. The choice is yours! The kids and John opted to take the stairs and loved the experience while I took the easy route, the lift. While the 1st floor does not have the magnificent height of the other floors, it has other wonderful features. Experience the glass floor which allows you to watch the visitors below on the esplanade, enjoy a light lunch or an ice cream with incredible views, play with some of the hands-on exhibits, watch cinema show which is projected on three walls, and more.
Peeking through the girders 
Looking at the Esplanade below
As with your walk from the 2nd to 1st floor, you can choose to take the stairs or the lift to the esplanade. Terra firma!
Once on the ground, don’t take off right away. Look up!! The view of the intricate angles of the Eiffel Tower from below is actually one of my favourite sights in Paris. It is amazing that this was built by hand in just a little over two years. Notice that the elevators and stairs travel up through its main pillars and not the center?
Note: Since you’ll likely book your tickets in advance, we recommend adding your visit to the end of your Paris holidays. By doing so, you can have a bird’s eye view of many of the incredible sights that you’ve already visited.
Should we do a tour?
There are many tour operators that provide tickets and tours of the Eiffel Tower. Some are group tours and others are private. My thoughts? You don’t really need a tour to visit the Eiffel Tower. If you purchase your tickets in advance, you will have a specified time to enter so there is no advantage to a skip-the-line tour. Plus, everything you see on the tower is, in my view, self-explanatory and preferable to do at your own pace.
A few years ago we did do an official Behind the Scenes Underground Tour of the Eiffel Tower. This tour amazing but hasn’t been offered for the past few years. We were able to visit below the tower, learn the history and intricate details on how it was built, learn how the original lifts operated, see how the newer lifts work, and so much more. We were then taken up the Eiffel Tower by the guide and permitted to enter an area that others cannot. There were definite perks to that particular tour but these are not offered by other tour operators. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what we found below the tower!
The original lift system
What if we don’t want to go up?
Even if you don’t go up the tower, we really recommend that you make a point to visit during the day. Get as close as you can and look upwards. Notice the intricate rivets that were put in place by hand over a hundred years ago. It’s only when you get close to the tower that you can feel how truly magnificent she is.
What else can we do to enjoy the Eiffel Tower?
While we love visiting the tower itself, you also really need to see it sparkle. Find a spot on one of the bridges crossing the Seine and wait. Every evening from sundown until 1am, on the hour, the tower sparkles. It makes my heart drop every time.
Check out our upcoming Hidden Gems in Paris for a few other ideas to enjoying the Eiffel Tower.
2. Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is the quintessential Paris museum.
It’s what one would expect of one of the world’s greatest collections of art …. large, opulent, historic and truly unforgettable. It is all of that and more.
It is incredible but, to truly enjoy it during your Paris holidays, we have a few recommendations.
Please, please, don’t plan to explore the entire museum during your visit. It is truly massive and after a few hours, it will all simply blend together. To really enjoy the Louvre, we recommend limiting your visit to a maximum of 3 hours. A two-hour visit may even be better, depending on what you truly wish to explore.
On that note, we also recommend having a quick look online to narrow down the areas you wish to see. Do you want to limit your visit to the well-known pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo? Do you want to explore the defensive fortress found below the Louvre? Do you want to see an Egyptian mummy or explore Renaissance paintings? Your interests should guide your visit.
Honestly, I have another recommendation and those that follow us regularly won’t be surprised. We recommend that you hire a guide, at least for your first visit. Specifically, we recommend that you hire a private guide for the Louvre. You can have an amazing 2.5-hour experience and visit the most popular pieces of art without dealing with crowds or getting lost. You can also learn about other works at the museum from someone who has a background in art history. Finally, if you’re travelling with children, you can hire a guide that will include activities that they will truly enjoy.
During our guided tour, we explored the medieval Louvre below and then met some mummies as that was high on the kids’ list.
We then saw the Mona Lisa, learned about Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike) and other incredible Greek and Italian sculptures.
Venus de Milo 
Artemis with a Doe
Winged Victory of Samothrace 
The Mona Lisa
We also explored other incredible works of art. In each room, our children went on a ‘treasure hunt’ planned by our guide, while we learned about the artwork.
If you do want to visit the Louvre without a guide, you’ll still totally have fun. Just plan to go prepared. Book the day and time for your Louvre visit in advance. Even with a Paris Museum Pass, while entry is free, you need to have a pre-booked timeslot. Take your time and enjoy these incredible masterpieces. Again, don’t plan to see everything. Have a small list and remember, the Louvre will still be there on your next Paris holidays! We can’t wait to return to revisit our favourites and explore a few exhibition rooms we haven’t seen yet.
I should also probably point out. Our first visit to the Louvre was with our three children, at the time, aged 5, 7 and 10. We had no experience with art at all, we just knew we wanted to visit. We booked a local Paris private guide for a 2.5-hour tour and we were hooked. You really don’t need any knowledge of art to enjoy a wonderful museum!
And always have fun!!
Note: At present children up to age 18 are free of charge and admission for adults is included with the Paris Museum Pass.
3. Musée de l’Orangerie
Although it’s very small, the Musée de l’Orangerie is our favourite museum in Paris.
Claude Monet’s Water Lilies were painted on several panels and represent each of the four seasons. Monet donated them to France the day after the ending of the World War I, November 12, 1918. It was intended that they would have their own ‘home’, built as requested by Monet to include doors and windows in specific locations so that light and weather played with the paintings in the way Monet intended. Monet’s Water Lilies moved into the Musée de l’Orangerie shortly after his death.
Before our first visit, I borrowed several Children’s picture books about Monet from the library. Sydney, age 7 at the time, fell in love with his pictures of water lilies. The look on her face when she actually saw his Water Lilies was truly incredible.
As you enter the room of Water Lilies, wander clockwise and experience the seasons. There are benches in the center to just sit and look if you prefer.
Unfortunately when we visited photography was not permitted so we don’t have any photos of the beautiful lilies; however, according to the official website, photography is now allowed.
Note: At present children up to age 18 are free of charge and admission for adults is included with the Paris Museum Pass.
4. Arc de Triomphe
You’ll find the Arc de Triomphe resting stoically at the end of the Champs Élysées. It’s one of those places that you really need to visit during your Paris holidays just to see how huge it really is!
Depending on your starting point, the walk to the Arc de Triomphe can be long. We prefer to take the metro. There is an underground tunnel that will lead you to the Arc de Triomphe so you don’t need to cross through the crazy traffic circle, Place de l’Étoile!
The Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836 and dedicated it to the French military. Whether it is done before or after your visit of the interior, make sure to explore the outside of the Arc de Triomphe while you’re close by. Wander underneath the archway and look up at the incredible detail.
Visit the tomb of the unknown soldier and the flame of remembrance which has been there since 1921. The names of battles and generals are engraved on the stone arches along with carvings and sculptures related to Revolution.
To reach the interior, there are several flights of stairs with stops at different levels along the way to the top. Unlike many historic buildings, there is also an elevator that can be used by those with limitations or visitors with children.
During your visit you’ll be able to visit the museum, the gift shop and the panoramic terrace at the top. Explore the diorama of the Arc to Triomphe itself, peek through the glass floor looking under the arch of the Arc and enjoy the incredible view over Paris from the terrace.
A look down the Champs Elysees to Place de la Concorde
Note: At present children up to age 18 are free of charge and admission for adults is included with the Paris Museum Pass.
5. Jardin des Tuileries
The Jardin des Tuileries was the royal garden for the Tuileries Palace, located near and eventually attached to the Louvre. The Tuileries Palace housed King Louis XVI after his capture when he, Marie Antoinette and their family were forced to leave Versailles during the French Revolution. It was later the home of Napoleon I. It was named after the tile factories that were here prior to the palace being built.
Today the Jardin des Tuileries reaches from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde and from the Seine to Rue de Rivoli. It’s free to access and is a great location to wander during your Paris holidays. You can explore the gardens, enjoy the over 200 sculptures, have a snack and more. There’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying a Kir Royale (a wonderful drink of champagne and crème de cassis) while people watching in the park.
If visiting with children, it’s the perfect stop after exploring the Louvre for a few hours. During the summer months children can let go and have fun with boats on the ponds, trampolines and even a summer fair!
Time your Paris holidays perfectly and you can also enjoy the military flyover on the Fête Nationale on July 14th or watch the bikes of the Tour de France speed by.
Fête Nationale 
Watching the Tour de France
Before you leave, make sure to take a peek at the Egyptian obelisk in the center of Place de la Concorde! It’s one of our hidden gems in Paris.
6. Sacré-Coeur Basilica
We didn’t visit the Sacré-Coeur Basilica during our first Paris holidays and I wish we had. It’s in a totally different part of the city than most other sights and it provides an incredible view. The basilica itself is beautiful and in a different style than most of the other ‘popular’ churches in Paris. And Montmartre itself is a unique area of Paris that we just loved.
Sacré-Coeur Basilica is located in the Montmartre neighbourhood, meaning the Hill of Martyrs. The basilica as it stands today was built in the late 19th century but the location on which it was built has been based in religion for thousands of years. It is said to be the place where Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was decapitated for his faith (have a look at the front of Notre Dame Cathedral for the carving of a saint holding his own head. That’s Saint Denis.)
Sacré -Coeur Basilica can be reached easily by the Paris Metro. There are several stops nearby. If you are just visiting the basilica, take the Metro 2 or 12 and then the funicular or minibus to the top of the hill. If you’re planning to visit more in the Montmartre neighbourhood as we recommend in our hidden gems post, we recommend taking a different route and arriving at Sacré -Coeur by walking from the Lamark-Caulincourt metro stop behind the basilica (we’ll explain this route more in the other post!)
A few tidbits of key information:
Photography isn’t permitted inside the basilica so you may wish to purchase a few postcards at the gift shop.
Sydney and I were asked to have our shoulders covered upon entry. Other than in Italy, this is the only location where we were asked during our Paris holidays but we did have scarves so it was fine. I’m unsure whether entrance would be refused so you may wish to consider having a wrap or wearing clothing that covers the shoulders.
Beware of pickpockets!! It is one of the most prevalent areas for pickpockets in Paris. Ensure you are aware of your belongings at all times and do not keep your wallet in your back pocket. Do not fall for tricks such as people who have just found a gold ring on the ground, people who ask you to sign a petition, people who offer to take your photo, etc.
7. Musée d’Orsay
Located in the Saint-Germain des Pres neighbourhood on the edge of the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay is easy to find as you explore Paris. It is most well-known for its incredible collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art. Most of the artwork is from late 19th and early 20th century France.
The building itself is stunning. It truly feels like you’re wandering through a former palace. Before becoming a museum, it was actually Paris’ central train station, Gare d’Orsay.
While smaller than the Louvre, the museum covers several floors and is large. Don’t try to see it all, especially on your first visit. We recommend that you limit your visit to certain collections; specifically, the sculptures on the ground floor, the Van Gogh collection on the middle floor and the jewel of the Orsay collection on the top floor of the museum.
The Musée d’Orsay has a wonderful sculpture collection on the ground floor. As you explore this collection, make sure to enjoy the incredible building, including the ceiling.
Despite our recommendation to stick primarily to the ground and top floors, if you’d like to visit Van Gogh, and you should, you’ll find his works, including Self Portrait and Starry Night Over the Rhone, in rooms 71 and 72 on the middle floor.
On the top floor you’ll have the chance to visit the most famous artwork at the Musée d’Orsay. You’ll find many of the most famous paintings by Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and Monet. You’re sure to recognize several of them such as Renoir’s Bal du Moulin de la Galette, Degas’ The Ballet Class, and Monet’s Poppy Field and London, Houses of Parliament.
Before you leave the top floor, don’t forget to seek out the clock window for an incredible gaze over the Seine.
A few pointers for your visit to the Musée d’Orsay on your Paris holidays:
- If you don’t have a Paris Museum Pass, be sure to purchase tickets in advance. Unlike other museums, the tickets are good for several months so it does allow for flexibility. [Due to Covid-19, even free entry requires advance time slot booking. This can be done online at the official ticket site for the museum.]
- If you’ve purchased tickets in advance or have a Paris Museum Pass, enter through entrance C on the right side of the museum.
- Visit in the morning when crowds are lower and try to avoid visiting during a weekend.
- Start your visit on the top floor of the museum. It is the most incredible so it’s best to head there first, before crowds arrive.
- The Musée d’Orsay is well laid out so it is much easier to find specific artwork than at the Louvre; as such, you don’t need a guide for that purpose. However, if you’d like more information than the informative plaques provide, a private guide for the Musee d’Orsay would be a nice addition to your visit.
Note: At present children up to age 18 are free of charge and admission for adults is included with the Paris Museum Pass.
8. Les Ponts de Paris
On my first visit to Paris I was amazed by the beautiful bridges crossing the Seine. You will undoubtedly pass over a few during your Paris holidays but remember to look closely at them. The intricate detail, beautiful colours and variety between each of these bridges still never ceases to amaze me. While there are many bridges in Paris, we do have three favourites.
Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf (New Bridge) is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. This stone bridge leads from the Left Bank, across the tip of Ile de la Cite to the Right Bank.
The multitude of arches below the bridge allowing the Seine to flow through are beautiful. If you look closely, especially if you take a river cruise, you’ll see mascarons (sculptured faces) that decorate each bracket of the bridge.
Pont des Arts
Pont des Arts is a pedestrianized cast iron bridge. It was once known for the love locks that were added by couples pronouncing their love to each other throwing the keys into the Seine. The amount of metal accumulating in the Seine was not healthy for the river and the weight of the locks on the bridge was resulting in structural problems. The locks would regularly be cut off but it wasn’t until it was banned that the practice of adding the locks stopped.
Pont des Arts crossed the Seine from the Left Bank, directly to the Louvre. It is not only a convenient crossing; the views are incredible. It is a popular place for locals to have picnics and for artists to paint. It is also one of the best spots to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour each night.
Pont d’Alexandre III
This is my absolutely favourite bridge in Paris. The intricate detail at the base, the beautiful gold on each corner and the view of the Eiffel Tower are truly stunning. You have to make a point to get close and cross the bridge to enjoy everything that makes it so unique and special.
Pont d’Alexandre III is one of the newer bridges. It was built for the World Fair in 1900 and commemorates the relationship, at the time, between France and Russia. As such, it was named after Tzar Alexander III. It leads from the Musée des Invalides on the left bank to the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, near the Champs Élysées, on the right bank. While not a pedestrian bridge, there are wide pedestrian sidewalks on each side which makes it quite easy to traverse.
Each of the four pillars represents a time in French history. The golden statues are each a lady with horse and wings. They are made of bronze with gold plate and represent science, arts, commerce and industry.
9. Seine River Cruise
There are many companies that offer cruises along the Seine. Other than dinner cruises, they are similar and offer cruises during the day and evening, generally 1 hour in length. We’ve booked our cruises with Vedettes du Pont Neuf and have loved each of our trips with them. It’s a great way to spend an evening in Paris!
While you can purchase tickets in advance, in our experience, tickets have been easy to purchase a few hours before the voyage. We prefer to book on the day of just to ensure the weather will cooperate. We also prefer to do a night cruise. It provides the best of both worlds if you plan it correctly.
We aim for a voyage that departs at 30 or 45 minutes past the hour, shortly before dark. The route starting towards the Eiffel Tower ensure you’ll be able to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at the top of the hour. This timing also allows you to have a prime view of Paris’ wonderful monuments all alight in their nighttime glory throughout the remainder of the voyage.
Musee d’Orsay 
The clock at Musee d’Orsay 
Eiffel Tower at night 
Notre Dame before the fire 
Pont Alexandre III at night 
The back of Notre Dame
The Vedettes du Pont Neuf can be found on the left bank where the bridge meets the shore. People have been known to bring some cheese, bread and wine to enjoy on the grass while waiting for their cruise.
10. Eat crèpes!
Ok, so this clearly isn’t a tourist attraction or popular sight but seriously, you cannot leave Paris without having crèpes …. well, to be honest, you also need to try at least a few macarons and mille-feuilles too!
You can find crèpes throughout Paris. There are little kiosks with simple wall openings in the Latin Quarter, around St. Germain-des-Pres and closer to the Eiffel Tower but our favourite was a bit further away.
During our morning exploring the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and Montmartre, we popped into the Creperie Broceliande on Rue des Trois Freres for lunch. Their crèpes were fantastic!!
Crèpes come in two forms: galettes which are savory crepes made with buckwheat and sweet crèpes. Whichever strikes your fancy, you will love. We each chose one of each (it was lunch after all) and they were all delicious!
Final thoughts:
Well, there they are, our thoughts on the top 10 sights to visit during your Paris holidays. Remember though, Paris is also filled with amazing spots that don’t make all the travel guides. In our next post, we’re going to introduce you to the lesser known spots in Paris that aren’t on our top 10 list. Many of these are right next to our top 10 sights so try to include a few when planning your Paris holidays.
Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you purchase products or services through these links, we may earn a small commission. But don’t worry, this will never cost you any extra. As always, all views and thoughts are our own.
12 Comments
Suzanne · July 16, 2020 at 8:18 am
You’ve really picked out the best of Paris’ sights and put them with some very useful tips for visiting. Will bookmark this for my next visit, thank you.
Candy · July 14, 2020 at 8:10 pm
I had no idea the Eiffel Tower was meant to be temporary. What a fun tidbit. Great tips on pickpocketing and the transit system. The Paris Museum Pass seems worth it especially if you get to skip some of the lines!
Arv! · July 14, 2020 at 9:32 am
This is such a detailed and awesome guide. Last year, when I visited Europe I skipped Paris because one needs at least 2/3 full days. I didn’t have that! I do want to undertake a few tours as mentioned in your post. Pont des Arts is definitely on my list too. I have always felt the Eiffel Tower viewing deck is kind of over rated though.
Emma Riggs · July 13, 2020 at 10:28 pm
The Paris Museum Pass sounds pretty good. I agree, it’s always worth checking to see what’s included, work out the pricing without the pass and weigh up if it’s actually the cheaper option or not. It’s interesting to hear about the long-term impacts of the Love Locks being added to the Pont des Arts bridge. I was wondering how throwing all of those metal keys into the water would be a good thing.. maybe I’m just too logical for love haha.
Alison · July 13, 2020 at 1:53 pm
This is absolutely fabulous! I’ve been to Paris several times, and been to all these places and more and this is an excellent, and wonderfully detailed, post for first-timers. And your photos are awesome!
Nancy · July 13, 2020 at 8:51 am
Thanks for all the tips! We loved our visit to Paris a few years ago, but it wasn’t nearly long enough. We didn’t even make it to the Louvre. I hope to go back and dig deeper into the lesser-known spots.
Joanne · July 13, 2020 at 9:54 am
Hi Nancy. You will love the Louvre when you’re finally able to visit!
Beth · July 13, 2020 at 4:15 am
This is a fantastic article on planning for a trip to Paris. Thanks for the tips on keeping our valuables safe too. It’s so good to be aware of these things so we can identify them if they happen.
Joanne · July 13, 2020 at 9:55 am
Thanks Beth! These tips are also good for other European countries. Some have more of a problem with pickpockets than others.
molly · July 13, 2020 at 2:09 am
Great post! From tipping to pick pockets – all questions are answered. I have not been to Paris but would love to go, not only for the culture, but also for the beautiful bridges! I had no idea!
Joanne · July 13, 2020 at 9:55 am
Hi Molly. I hope you get to visit Paris one day!
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