Paris City Guide – Paris Travel Tips

Louvre Museum

Louvre Museum is one of the most important histories and art museum from Paris, France and the world.

It contains over 380,000 objects and its displays around 35,000 of Greek antiquities, Etruscan and Roman antiquities, Egyptian antiquities, Islamic art, sculptures, paintings, icons and Christian paintings.

The most famous painting from the Louvre is Leonardo da Vinci’s, Mona Lisa, It’s perfect for art lovers who what to see their collection from Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and so on. Entrance fee cost 17 euros.

From the Louvre Museum, you can have a nice walk until Arc de Triomphe through the Jardin des Tuileries. This garden is the oldest and the most important French garden which extends to Place de la Concorde.

It was created by Catherine de Medici and became a park after the French Revolution, from here you can continue your walk to Arc de Triomphe on Champs-Élysées avenue.

Champs-Élysées

Champs-Élysées avenue is the most known avenue from Paris, famous for luxury shops, theaters, cafes and also known the annual Bastille Day military parade and Tour de France cycle race.

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe is situated at the end of Champs-Élysées avenue and is the most famous monument from Paris and honors those who fought and died in France Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.

Beneath this arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from First World War.

Musee d’Orsay

Musee d’Orsay used to be a train station, it is along the Seine river opposite the Louvre. The museum holds paintings, sculptures, photography and furniture.

It has the largest collection of impressionist painting including Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir.

Entrance fee cost 12 euro and if you want also to visit Musée de l’Orangerie (art gallery of impressionist paintings) cost 16 euros.

Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden from Paris. Since 1993 includes many museums, wallabies, alpine plants, archives, libraries, greenhouses, a zoo (ménagerie) and it’s great for a promenade.

The entrance is for free for École de Botanique, Jardin Alpin, Jardin des Iris et des Plantes vivaces, Jardin de roses et de Roches but you can book some tours that would cost you around 7€.

Le Marais

Le Marais, it’s a historic district, used to be aristocratic and has many important architectural and historical buildings.

After the French Revolution, this district wasn’t any more an aristocratic neighbourhood and became a popular commercial area which attracts Jewish communities.

This area is famous also because it became a centre of the LGBT community since the 1980s.

It also is known as a fashionable district, fashion houses, fancy restaurants, here you can find a Chinese community which started to appear during World War I.

Basilica Sacre-Coeur

Montmartre it’s a famous hill in Paris also known for Basilica Sacre-Coeur. People are coming here for a great view of Paris, it’s a perfect place to hang out, to see the sunset. Looks like a village and during Belle Epoque many artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Monet works and had their studios.

Parc de Belleville

Parc de Belleville is a park with the best views of the city, it is the highest park in Paris and has a nice neighbourhood to explore. It’s multi-ethnic neighbourhood, many German Jews settled there in 30’s and later in 60’s Algerian and Tunisian jews came. Also here is one of the city’s two Chinatowns. It’s full of life, colour and you will enjoy being here.

Galeries Lafayette

If you are a fashion lover you must not miss Galeries Lafayette. A visit here is a “must” for those enjoying what makes Paris, well, “PARIS”. Be sure to tour all the Galleries not only to see the astounding variety of goods and foods but also to admire the architecture, including the stained-glass dome and to enjoy the spectacular views from the roof. And don’t forget to pick up a few goodies at their “Gourmet” store across the street.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral it’s a medieval Catholic cathedral also knows for his beautiful French Gothic architectures.  It became famous after was published Victor Hugo’s novel called “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

Entrance is for free and for this reason the queue can be huge. The area around packed with tourists but plenty of opportunities for photos. It’s worth going in if you have time and queue isn’t too bad.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg is a “don’t miss” place to see Parisians relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Some are reading around the fountains, some running the ‘track”, Children playing with boats at the lake, etc. Beautiful flowers, interesting and lovely classical statues of past queens of France, there is something for everyone here.

This wonderful walk to Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont provides a great change of pace from the busy streets of Paris. Perfect for walk, jogging and cycling. On a hot summer day, there was plenty of shade, drink stops, toilets and access back to the city along the way if you didn’t want to do the entire walk.

Petite Ceinture

Petite Ceinture is abandoned old train tracks around Paris. When you get there you see a fence and quite a few holes where you can crawl through, but we personally found it easiest to go through a large opening that had been cut out and was hidden behind a cardboard sign.

Parc de la Villette

Parc de la Villette it’s a nice park, here you can find a space to rest, play and attend auditions. It’s a very huge place and here you can find a big area with a theater, concert hall, exhibition centres and artist playing around.

From the Jaurès subway station to the park you will find lots of activities to do, like cinemas, pools and riverboats. Every year at the summer the City Mayor open there Paris Beach spaces like do at River Seine. Go ahead and find space for arts and the parc itself. It is a really good place to visit and stay.

Shakespeare & Company

Shakespeare & Company is an independent bookstore nestled in the 5th Arrondissement. Here you can find new and used (English) books of all kinds as well as a café. The store also hosts several events each month, inviting the public to meet authors to discuss their works and writing.

Shakespeare & Co is truly a treasure in the heart of the Latin Quarter. It’s a place steeped in history with unforgettable charm and character that has been years in the making.

The store is very popular, especially on Sundays. I recommend visiting on a weekday, (evenings are ideal!) to have the best experience possible.

Outside of city

Fontainebleau: forest, castle, climbing. Endless opportunities for biking, hiking, and rock climbing. Hundreds of trails, some still show pavements that are 200 years old.

The palace is located near to Paris at one hour drive. Entrance cost 12 euros for an adult without an audio guide.

The palace used to be home of kings of France and the Bonaparte family and has plenty of paintings.

Chateau de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles was the residence of former kings like Louis XIV. Versailles, the previous capital of France.

Versailles is not very far from Paris in mileage, but the normal RER C train you would take was under repair so we were told to take alternates.

If you want to make the most of your time you MUST book a tour through the Versailles website. It’s only 10 euro and it allows you to skip the line and enter through the right side entrance. It also gives you a tour of areas off-limits to the general public.

After the hour and a half tour, you are free to visit the rest of the palace. Do yourself a favour and avoid the lines and enjoy the small group tour.

Foundation Monet in Giverny

Foundation Monet in Giverny is one place you do not want to miss while visiting Paris. The gardens are absolutely beautiful and so well maintained. You can feel like you walked into one of Monet’s lily pond paintings. Monet worked tirelessly in his gardens for over 40 years.

Visiting his home can be a pure joy with his famous yellow kitchen. Many replicas of his painting are displayed in his artist studio and all around the home.

The home and gardens are about 90 minutes out of Paris. You can take a bus tour. The estate is scheduled for over a million visitors this year, so be prepared to bring along your patience.

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park from Paris is out of this world, a wide sprawling attraction with something for everyone. The palace is beautiful especially during the late night display with fireworks and laser show are incredible.

Food is reasonable depending on what and where you eat. Lunch with the princesses is spectacular and a great time to meet the stars.

Parc Asterix

Parc Asterix it’s also a theme park as Disneyland a great place for families and kids, definitely French, with mythological characters.

La Defense

La Defense it’s a major business district near Paris famous for La Grande Arche inaugurated in 1989. Here “first generation” skyscrapers. Most popular skyscrapers are Tour Signal, Tour Phare, Hermitage Plaza, and Tour Generali.

Here are some places to visit, of course, you can find more interesting places to visit.

Paris it’s a perfect city to escape, especially if you are from Europe, It’s a great market for shopping and fashion and can be also for the budget.

If you have other questions feel free and leave a comment. Until then, you can read more articles about other beautiful destinations.