The city of lights is the most romantic place on the face of the world. It screams romance and love. The French capital is the second most visited tourist destination of Europe after London.
Audrey Hepburn said Paris is always a good idea, and she was right! The Eiffel Tower, Arc du Triumph, the weather, and the cute European cafes and whatnot, the whole city is a picture-perfect place, and love is always in the air.
You will find a hundred websites and travel agencies giving travel tips and guides to Paris, there are so many articles out there telling you the best spots to hit, the trendy cafes, and the best destinations to go where and when. The stunning city of lights is full of culture and has inspired so many films, books, and artists. The French city is just not about the great Eiffel tower; it has so much more to that. There is so much art in that city and so much culture; when you are there, it feels so lush; it feels like you are in another world.
Paris has something for everyone. The city of lights attracts style and sophistication; it combines the old and the new, historical city with new trends, markets to high-end luxury stores, cultural and the new. It has everything traditional and everything contemporary.
There are a thousand reasons to go to this beautiful city; it is hard to think of a reason not to. It is not just about the city’s historical monuments; Paris has so much more than just that. Some say that their only reason to visit Paris is for the delicious food and the wine. The city of lights has over 70 plus Michelin starred restaurants, who doesn’t want a taste of that, am I right?
The list could go on and on, but is there anyone who is actually finding reasons to go to Paris? Exactly, so here is a little tour guide for you to help you hit all the famous spots and also the hidden gems in your next visit to the stunning city of lights.
City of Lights Tour Guide
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Eiffel Tower
The first place on our list obviously goes to the Eiffel Tower, also known as la Tour Eiffel. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. It is said that looking at the Eiffel tower is an unforgettable experience; it is overwhelming for them. The Eiffel tower is like a symbol of Paris now, you think of Paris, and the first thing that comes to your mind is this stunning tower. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, this 324-meter-long (81 floors/storey building) iron tower is a sight not to miss.
Queues are booked long in advance to go up in that elevator and look at the city from the top. You will find multiple tour guides giving a history lesson on the tower, which is actually very interesting to hear.
This very tourist destination of the city of lights kind of help justifying its name, at night, the whole tower is shimmering with gold lights, and it is a view that is just awestruck. It is hard to remove your eyes from that view of golden lights glimmering all night long. Your trip to Paris is definitely incomplete without going here; once you reach the top, you get to gulp in the panorama view of the stunning city. At the top of the tower, you also get to spot the office or also said the secret apartment of Gustave Eiffel.
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Disneyland Park
Many guides will not list this as the second place to go, but we know how to make your trip and not make it just about hitting all the architectural spots of the city. Disneyland Paris is literally a dream come to reality for both little ones and adults.
The famous theme park is another world to be in, you feel magical, and you are surrounded by all the characters you grew up watching. It has uncountable rides, shopping, entertainment, resorts or hotels to stay in, and whatnot.
The whole Disneyland Paris actually has two parts: the Disneyland Park and the second is the Walt Disney Studios Park, and there is also an area of Disney village for mainly shopping and dining. While Disneyland Park has many rides, the Walt Disney Studio Park is somewhat at the business side where they show all the Disney movies, and there are movie-themed rides and attractions on that side of the park.
Some of the rides not to be missed when you are at Disneyland are Phantom Manor, Big Thunder Mountain, Adventure Isle, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Sleeping Beauty Castle and also Indiana Jones ride is also must-do. The theme park is open 365 days of the year, but there must be some variations in timings according to the seasons or holidays.
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Arc De Triomphe
This monument was dedicated to all soldiers of Napoleon’s wars and the French Revolution to tribute them and their sacrifices. The monument has become a national monument of France as it holds such patriotic feelings to it.
It is so rich in architecture and holds so much depth in all its structures it is amazing. Arc De Triomphe has all the names of its French generals and their victories. It has inspiring quotes on the outside and the inside of the monument. On the underneath, there is a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. Arc De Triomphe lies on the Champs-Élysées avenue, which is our next destination on the list.
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Champs-Élysées Avenue
The next spot on our City of Lights tour guide is our shopaholics; this is a 2 km long shopping place that is not to be missed. It screams posh and luxury shopping; this avenue has Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany, and almost all the global luxury brands you’d want. Shopping here is just another experience; with a little extra budget for this trip, you get to experience luxury on another level.
There are also fast-fashion stores on this avenue like H&m, Disney store. The avenue also has new trendy cafes and fine dining experiences that are perfect to pair with a little shopping and places like McDonald’s and Starbucks and other famous chains for students and people on a budget.
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Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Another architectural symbol of Paris is Notre Dame. The stunning cathedral has one of the most elegant displays of Gothic architecture in France and Europe. The construction of this cathedral started in 1160, but it took amazingly long, 200 odd years, to complete its construction.
Fun fact about this tourist spot is that Notre Dame remained the tallest building for centuries, with just being 70-meters high and the most precious symbol of Paris long before the Eiffel Tower. To take in all the beauty, it is advised by many to take a walk around the cathedral and look at the impressive architecture of that time and then take the stairs of one of the twin towers to get a view of the stunning city. This might be exhausting, but the view is breathtaking for sure.
This destination is a must-go for people who look at architecture and history; it is not to be missed.
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Louvre Museum
In la Ville lumière (little French for you), you will come across art in every street. The streets of the city have so much inspiration that there is art and artist everywhere. And it is no surprise that the most visited art museum in the entire world is in Paris – the Louvre museum.
The palace was once home to France’s kings, and it is one of the most important places in the city. Tourists who are not even interested in art will also go here to look at the stunning palace. The museum’s entrance is through a huge glass pyramid, and there are 3 other smaller glass pyramids.
The magnificent museum sits on the bank of the Seine river; people love to pose by the beautiful pyramids and get mesmerized by the stunning architecture they are surrounded with. The museum has antique art dating back from the 6th century BC to the 19th century AD, and at this time, it has over 35,000 pieces of artwork there.
It is a place that you cannot give up on going when you go to the beautiful city of lights.
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Cruise of the Seine
The best way to soak up the stunning city of lights is to get on this very cruise. This gives an entirely different eye angle to look at the beautiful spots we have listed above. It lets you look at them from the river point – Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre museum. While you are on a cruise, all the great sights of the city scream luxury, doesn’t it?
The timing of the cruise all depends on you. While a daytime cruise lets you appreciate all the great sights in the sunshine, the evening cruise is all about a romantic vibe. All the city’s great landmarks have amazing lights (aka city of lights) add an entire mood to the romantic cruise evening. It is all very magical.
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Moulin Rouge
The world-famous cabaret Moulin Rouge is also said to be the birthplace of the famous French Can-can modern dance that offers glamorous evening shows. Some of the most famous shows there are Crazy Horse, Moulin Rouge, and Lido de Paris. You can even have a VIP table booked and be a ‘matinee.’
The name Moulin Rouge has been taken all over the world to glamorize and attract people. It is now counted as a whole vibe in today’s world. The cabaret style has inspired a lot of entertaining nights worldwide, for example, in Las Vegas.
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Montmartre
Montmartre is a large hill located in the northeast of Paris; this place is best for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the top and, in my suggestion, also The Wall of Heart.
The hill is full of an artistic environment, and the hub of so many legendary artists like Picasso, Monet, and Renoir had stationed during the Belle Epoque. When you visit, don’t forget to visit the wall. It has “I Love You” written on it 311 times in 250 languages, and it is another feeling to look at it, especially when you are there with a special someone.
The great cabaret Moulin Rouge is also located in Montmartre.
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French Food
Oof the baguettes, the cheese, and the croissants and the wine. French food in as big as Michelin starred restaurants and as cute as local cafes on the street; it is all amazing. Paris has something for everyone, and it always pleases your palate.
Ordering the steak Frites at a brasserie, a croissant or a crepe or some macaroons, you have a perfect dish to fit every mood and all kinds of appetite. Thinking of coffees and pastries is so appetizing. I could go on and on about the French cuisine and the world-famous chefs that work in the beautiful city.
The city of lights has some of the strongest café cultures in the world. It has been part of it for centuries now, and it is now very much engraved in societies. Some of the best cafes in the city are La Fontaine de Belleville, Lomi, Le Fouquet’s, Café de Flore, O Coffeeshop, and many more.
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Gardens and Parks
For such a huge city, Paris has a lot of green spaces. It balances out the city life quite nicely and helps in escaping them too. Nature is super relaxing for people of all ages. Kids love playing with their boats in the lakes, a stroll around the park helps adults get their peace from their busy lives.
There are more than 450 parks in the city, so you can imagine how much greenery this city has. The gorgeous flowers in the gardens are a whole another topic. Some of the famous places to go are the Luxembourg Gardens, the Tuileries Gardens. They are very famous for their statues and flowers. Other famous parks are Jardin des Plantes, Promenade Plantées, Palais Royal Garden. The fun thing is that these are just the tip of the mountain; there are so many parks in the city just waiting to be explored.
We missed other places on the list. You should definitely go to Latin Quarter, Place De La Concorde, Sainte Chapelle, Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris Flea Marke,t and so many other spots.
You will run out of days, but never of places when you are in the stunning city, you always need a reason to come back, right?
Last Updated on by Laveleena Sharma