Who knew a city in France could easily hold a special place in your heart. Paris will always be special to me as it’s the first city where I took the leap of taking a solo trip. My visit to Paris occurred during the month of July overlapping with Bastille Day. 

Paris is a city that is not short of things to do and is also a city that can make you lose track of time as you wander the streets admiring the different buildings as well as eateries/ drinking places. Paris is a city where you are able to sit outside a restaurant whilst enjoying a drink as you watch the world go by. 

Attractions are certainly spread across the city, there are some within walking distance of each other but there are some others where you will rely on transport. 

Located in the 7th arrondissement one of the main attractions in Paris is the world famous Eiffel Tower which stands at 330m tall. This can be seen from various parts of the city and you are also able to go up the tower to enjoy views of the city. Tickets for this do sell out quickly so I would recommend booking early to avoid disappointment, there are two different types of tickets for visiting Eiffel Tower. Tickets can be bought to go to the second level or to the top of the tower, both of these can be bought with access via stairs or lift, there are 600 steps to access the second level. There are restaurants located on the first and second level of the tower. One of my favourite spots for views and photos of the Eiffel Tower was from the street of Rue De L’Universite. 

Another famous site to visit in Paris is Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral which translates to Our Lady of Paris, this was seriously damaged in 2019 due to a fire but there is repairs ongoing. Notre Dame is located in the 4th arrondissement along the Seine River. It is a medieval catholic cathedral which is considered to be on the finest examples of French Gothic architecture with three pipe organs. Located a short walk from Notre Dame you will find the popular English language bookstore known as Shakespeare and Company which was opened in 1951 and given the name in 1964. 

In the 8th arrondissement you are able to find Avenue des Champs-Elysees which is 1.9km long and 70m wide. Champs-Elysees is known for its theatres, cafes and luxury shops as well as the finishing point for the cycling race Tour de France. Located at the western end of the Champs-Elysees is Arc de Triomphe standing at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle with twelves radiating avenues where Arc de Triomphe is shared between three arrondissements (16th, 17th and 18th). Within the monument you will be able to see names of all French victories and generals inscribes on the inner and outer surfaces as the monument honours those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Beneath the monument vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War 1. 

If you are someone who likes to visit museums there are plenty to visit whilst in Paris. Musee d’Orsay which is located on the left bank of the river Seine and used to house the Gare d’Orsay which was Beaux-Arts railway station. This museum is home to mostly French art from 1848 to 1914 and is home to the largest collection of impressionist and post impressionist masterpieces in the world. One of the most famous museums in the world is the national art museum the Louvre. Located in the 1st arrondissement on the right bank of the river Seine. It is home to the famous painting Mona Lisa. Pre booking tickets for your visit to the Louvre are recommended so that you aren’t spending too much time waiting in the long queues, tickets are currently €17. 

Heading to the 5th arrondissement is the Pantheon. This monument in the latin quarter was originally intended as a church dedicated to Paris’s patron saint.

Fans of opera are likely to be familiar with Palais Garner which is a historic 1,979 seat opera house in the 9th arrondissement. Tours are available of Palais Garner, entrance is currently €14. On my visit to Paris I didn’t go inside but its supposedly stunning as well as extravagance and is worth visiting to see the grand staircase. 

Making your way to 18th arrondissement you will find Montmartre which is a large hill and is famously known for it’s artistic history as well as being a nightclub district. On the summit of the hill you will also find the white domed Sacre-Coeur which is a Roman Catholic Church overlooking the city of Paris. There is a little tourist train which will take you on a tour around Montmartre as well as its village with cobbled streets which are lined with restaurants and shops, the train will also take you to the famous Moulin Rouge. 

If you are wanting to enjoy views across Paris another place to go without a charge is Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann. To access this viewpoint you have to take some stairs from the 6th floor of the store which is worth it as you will enjoy 180 degree panoramic views including Eiffel Tower. A visit to the Galeries Lafayette store is also worth doing as its stunning with its architecture that is art nouveau.

A visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a cruise along the river Seine. This was something that was not a high priority on my list but I did do it and I’m glad that I did as it allowed time to sit and chill whilst enjoying some wonderful architecture as the boat cruised along the Seine. The trip I did started from near the Eiffel Tower and tickets were able to be purchased on the day.

When exploring Paris don’t be afraid to do some exploring on foot as you will likely come across some wonderful streets that are lined with shops and restaurants. Around Paris there are plenty of restaurants to choose from with seating outside that allow you to sit and people watch which is something I love to do. 

Paris is a city that I would certainly like to rerun to in the hope of exploring more. 

What are some of things that you like to do when visiting Paris?