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To Paris, With Love

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

This fall I was lucky enough to spend 8 beautiful days in the City of Lights with three of my favorite friends. We sat in cafes under brilliant blue October skies. We laughed harder than I’ve ever laughed before. We Instagrammed pictures of our food and each other.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!Lauren, Stephanie, Sommer, Amanda

We were there just over a month before the tragic terrorist attacks in November occurred. Since then my thoughts and deepest sympathies have been with the victims and their families of this senseless attack. I can’t imagine the horror and terror they had to go through.

Whenever something like this happens, people invariably ask me, “Doesn’t that make you nervous to travel?” It does make me deeply saddened for those affected, and sincerely grateful for the health and wellbeing of my loved ones. However the reality of this world is that tragedies can happen anytime, anywhere, at home or overseas. In our schools. In our theatres. In our shopping malls. It’s horrific. But what kind of life is spent constantly worrying about what might happen? The only thing we can do is not let it stop us. We can’t let uncertain possibilities keep us from living this short life we’ve been blessed with to the fullest.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

In light of the attacks the tourism industry in Paris will suffer. Local shops, cafes, and businesses will suffer. Their owners and employees and families will suffer. On top of the tragedies they have already suffered. The best thing we can do for Paris right now is to not stop traveling, but to keep traveling, and keep supporting these local businesses. They need us now more than ever.

In this article I’d like to share my favorite things to do in Paris — walking tours, neighborhoods, cooking classes, famous sites, landmarks. All the things that make Paris the city of lights, the city of love, and the city of romance.

If you’ve ever considered traveling to Paris, here are the things you definitely don’t want to miss.

 

Notre Dame to Arc de Triomphe Walk

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

This is one of my favorite walks in Paris. You start at the gothic Notre Dame cathedral, cross the Seine River, pass the Louvre museum with it’s iconic glass pyramids, walk through the Tuileries Garden and the golden Place de la Concorde, then stroll down the ultra swanky, high-end boutique-lined Champs-Élysées before arriving at the Arc de Triomphe.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

From beginning to end it’s about 3 miles, and will take around 2-4 hours. A good half-day walking tour / activity.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

I like to start at Notre Dame early (they open at 8am), when it’s quieter and less crowded.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

There are hardly any lines at this time and you can easily get right in to see the cathedral.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

After a quick walk through the cathedral, be sure to walk around and see the back! This is my favorite view of Notre Dame.

You can also go up to the top, but I don’t think it’s worth it. When Kevin and I went last spring, we got there 30 minutes before they opened, waited in line for an hour, and you only get to stay at the top for 5 minutes. The view is okay, (click here for our photos from the top of Notre Dame) but not worth the wait if you only get to spend 5 minutes. Wait and go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe!

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Here’s the view from the Arc de Triomphe. Around the Arc de Triomphe is an 8 lane roundabout with NO lines separating the lanes. It’s a free for all! The roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe is the only place in Paris where car insurance doesn’t cover. If you get in a wreck at the Arc de Triomphe, your insurance won’t cover it! It’s fun to go up and watch all the cars and crazy tourists trying to cross the street!

Note: There is an underground entrance to the Arc de Triomphe so you don’t have to be one of those crazy tourists crossing all those lanes of traffic! :)

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

You can see all over Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Up at the top of the hill is Montmartre, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris. More on that below.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

And of course, the one and only Eiffel Tower.

Here’s a map from Notre Dame to the Arc de Triomphe, with all the highlights along the way.

 

Montmartre

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Montmartre is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris. If you have another half-day in Paris, spend it getting lost in Montmartre.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Montmartre is the highest point in the city, and home to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, which has a stunning view of the city right on the steps of the church.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

It’s also the home to many of the great artists and writers living in France for the past 200 years. Picasso, van Gogh and countless others lived and worked in these cobblestone streets.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Montmartre is filled with colorful cafes, windmills, watercolor paintings, and charming narrow side streets that should not be missed.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

For more can’t-miss views in Montmartre, be sure to check out our Walk Through Montmartre guide. It starts at the top of the Sacre Coeur and ends at Moulin Rouge. My recommendation is to go in the morning. It gets crowded as the day goes on!

 

Hidden Paris Walking Tour

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

When Kevin and I were in Paris in the spring, we created a Hidden Paris Walking Tour. It’s a short self-guided tour with some of the hidden, lesser-known sights in Paris that you might walk right past if you didn’t know they were there!

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Of course I wanted to share these hidden gems with my friends. Check out our Hidden Paris guide for all the sights and a printable map. It can easily be done in an hour or two in the afternoon.

 

Rue Cler

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Rue Cler is one of my favorite pedestrian shopping streets in Paris! It’s close to the Eiffel Tower, so you should definitely check it out. Here’s another post I wrote about Rue Cler and all the fun shops you can find on it.

 

Eiffel Tower

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

The first thing you should do when planning a trip to Paris is book a Skip the Line Eiffel Tower Tour with Fat Tire Bike Tours for your first day in Paris. My favorite one to take is the sunset tour. You get to see the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower right during the “golden hour” and be at the top as the sun sets over the city.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

The tour is the best way to orient yourself in the city. It stops on all four sides of the tower with views facing, north, south, east, and west. At each location our guide pointed out significant landmarks and gave us interesting backstory and trivia about each site. It was entertaining enough that we could remember most of the details for the rest of our trip, and anywhere we went we could point out the landmarks and remember the most important facts about each location. We definitely felt more comfortable and familiar with the city after the tour, like we had already been in Paris for a few days. A great introduction to the city!

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

Loved seeing the shadow of the tower.

Explore the best neighborhoods in Paris and see all the iconic landmarks with these FREE Paris Walking Tours Maps!

This was our view looking northwest over the Seine river, towards the Trocadéro Gardens. The Trocadéro Gardens are a great place to watch the sunset at the Eiffel Tower.

I have more favorite things to do and see that I want to share with you, but I’m going to put them in the next post. Stay tuned! :)

 

Where to Stay!

Oh! And for those who asked, we stayed in a Girls Guide to Paris apartment. We LOVED IT. It was huge, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, dining room, two living rooms, in a great location. I’m writing an entire post all about it. But it was the perfect place for us all to stay together with tons of room for us to hang out in the living areas at night. Here is the exact apartment we stayed in. If you are looking for a place to stay in Paris, I HIGHLY recommend it!

 

How to Get Around

We loved walking all over the city everywhere we could, but sometimes you just need a taxi. I was so glad to learn there was Uber in Paris! Have you heard of Uber?? It’s your own personal, private car service and it’s cheaper than a taxi. All you do is download the Uber app, and it will show you where drivers are near you, and tell you how long it will take for a car to get to you. Usually a car can be there in less than 5 minutes. Just click Set Pick Up Location and your private car is on it’s way. You even set your destination so you don’t have to worry about your driver not speaking English and not knowing where to take you. It’s all done through the app. They also usually will have a bottle of water in the car for you. Perfect for weary sightseers!

The Uber cars in Paris are SO nice. We rode in Mercedes, BMWs, Jaguars, and Audis all week. You can watch the car live on the map as it gets closer to your location. It will send you a notification on your phone when your car gets close so you know when to go outside. No more waiting outside in the freezing cold or rain for a taxi! You add a credit card or Paypal account to your Uber account, so you never to worry about paying the driver. It’s all done through the app — no money exchanges hands. You get in the car, the driver takes you to your location, and you get out. No fumbling with paying, you can just get out and leave! Tip is even included. It says so on their webpage – it’s built into the price of the service. Uber is seriously the fastest, best, and safest way to get around Paris.

Use this link to sign up with Uber to get your first ride free!

 

Until next time!! xoxo

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10 Responses
  1. Barbara

    Wow, am I ever glad I came across your site! OMG, I googled “Good sunrise sunset places in Paris” and you were second from the bottom of the page! Glad I clicked.

    Anyway, I’m planning the ultimate trip of a lifetime to Paris, going solo (for my *ugh* 50th birthday in 2019), and am also into photography, so I’m trying to work photo shoots into my sight-seeing. I live in South Florida and recently joined a camera club. We go on a lot of field trips with pros, so I’m getting better and better at taking pictures in manual. I’m hoping by the time I get to Paris I should have a pretty good grasp of my camera and be able to handle it like a pro (LOL well, I’ll try anyway!). I recently bought a Nikon D7100 (with kit lenses) and your lens selections and settings were very helpful! I think I’ll be buying the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens soon. I too am reading all I can on the relationship between aperture, ISO and shutter speed. I understand all of them separately, but have a bit of trouble making them work together. I have to literally stop and think it through before I shoot. Hopefully that will come to me faster and faster and be second nature to me come Paris time.

    I haven’t read all of your posts yet (I’ve been working) but will do so soon. I follow Rick Steves from PBS and have all of his guidebooks to plan. But, I love that you’ve listed all of your favorite places and walking tours. I am definitely going to look into them.

    I do have a few questions. If I may…
    Packing and storing camera gear. What did you bring with you as far as camera gear (I certainly don’t want to bring everything I have-less is more when packing) and how did you carry it? I’ve been looking into a camera bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag, per se. More like a purse. And how did you transport it on the plane? I’m thinking of bringing my regular camera bag on the plane, minus any accessories I don’t need. And then for touring, just bringing the accessories I need for that day with me in my day bag, if you can call it that.

    And another question, obviously Paris is a walking city. What brand/style shoes do you wear? I gotta keep my old feet happy with all the walking. I’ve been researching and researching and still up in the air. People say ‘don’t wear athletic shoes or you’ll stick out like an American’. So I’ve been looking for comfortable, sturdy, non-athletic looking, shoes that will keep me happy all day. The ULTIMATE European walking shoe. LOL

    Oh, and since you’ve been there different times of the year, when do you like Paris best and why? I’m leaning toward spring with the flowers and cooler weather, but Paris climate is much like the northern US states, right? So I’m thinking mid to late May or very early June. I’m planning for 2 weeks. I don’t want to hit high season with prices and people, but don’t want it to be too cold either. I’m not much for fall colors. I think its pretty and all, but much prefer blooming rather than dying. I’m really into sunsets and sunrises too. I know you get those all year long. I’m already scoping out the ultimate places to set up and shoot them. I’ll be looking for more as the months go on. I’m also going to do some side trips to Normandy (it will be the 75 anniversary of D-Day that year. Ooooo, I guess I’d better skip early June then.) and the Alsace region. Couple days at each I think.

    So I think that’s enough questions for now. Thanks again for posting all the wonderful information here. I’ll probably have more questions for you in the future as I discover more and more things to see.

    Thanks!
    Barb

  2. Patty

    Awesome post, Amanda! I visited Paris right after graduating college, but I think when I revisit with my husband, your posts will come in very handy and I will be experiencing a different Paris :)

  3. claudia

    Paris is amazing! I never really visited, I was just passing through!
    However, I lived 2 weeks in the Southern France and I recommend it. If you plan to go again, please make sure to visit Marseille, Lyon and Valence!

    PS: Valence is the place where Coco Chanel got married!

  4. Mandi Korn

    What a wonderful post and images to go with it. Paris is definitely on my bucket list of places to go, I just have to find my inner strength and get on a plane. Im almost 40 and still have yet to leave the ground, but your post is making harder and harder to resist, and fight my fears. Again beautiful images and post.

  5. Sybil

    Thank you for this. My husband and I were planning to take our second trip to Paris next year. Having these recommendations, walking tours and activities gives me the itch to visit again. I will certainly be referring to your blog when the time comes!

  6. lesli

    Amanda, what a great post and a great way to look at the dangers in our world. I just loved what you said:
    “…the reality of this world is that tragedies can happen anytime, anywhere, at home or overseas. In our schools. In our theatres. In our shopping malls. It’s horrific. But what kind of life is spent constantly worrying about what might happen? The only thing we can do is not let it stop us. We can’t let uncertain possibilities keep us from living this short life we’ve been blessed with to the fullest.”
    Thank you for that and all the great pictures of the beautiful city that is Paris.

  7. Sandy

    Amanda, this was a great travelogue for Paris. I am curious, at any time was communication a problem? Although getting around with the Uber drivers was an awesome tip, how often did retailers, restaurant servers speak English? I feel like that would be a huge barrier for me, not being able to speak French. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks! Great post.

    1. Amanda Hall

      Sandy my husband, myself and 2 friends were also in Paris in October and had no issue at all with language. We found everyone helpful and many, many places spoke English or had English versions of menus for us to look at. In fact it didn’t take long and we were picking up words here and there and understanding some written French. I think it helps if you learn a few phrases – please, thank you, good morning, good evening etc – before you go so it looks like you are at least making an effort.

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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