by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:27th February 2018

Ooh la la, surely it has to be Spring…

Chatting about France is probably one of my and Gary's favourite subjects, and living in the southeast of the UK, we don't need much of an excuse to jump in the car and head across the English Channel and explore more of France on Le Shuttle.

However, this time, we're talking about Paris, and a trip to this multicultural city is as easy as catching the Eurostar and journeying through the countryside of northern France.

So, grab your passport, brush up on your s'il vous plait and merci, and head to the city of luuuuuv. 💖

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Our look at Paris

How to get to Paris

- By Train
From the UK we can get to Paris in just over two hours from London St Pancras Int'l on the Eurostar. You'll arrive at Paris Gare du Nord, and you can pick up a taxi or jump on the Metro from there.

- By Air
Two major airports serve Paris: Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. You can check out your flight options by using Booking.com. That's right; they don't just do accommodation.

Booking.com Search FlightsImage
Booking.com Search FlightsImage

Discovering the architecture of Paris

in its many different forms
The Eiffel Tower: When you think of Paris, one of your first thoughts will probably be the Eiffel Tower, and why not? An icon of this beautiful city, standing majestically along the River Seine.
Looking upwards to the Eiffel Tower on a bright day in Paris
The Eiffel Tower
The River Seine: Some of Paris’s most impressive architecture can be found along the Seine. Take a stroll along the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) day or night, and you’ll love the remarkable skyline that opens up before you.
The river seine as it flows past the cathédrale notre-dame de paris on a summer's day
Notre Dame alongside the Seine

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Explore the history of Paris

And its magnificent stories
Notre-Dame: Well, this city has centuries of history along nearly every boulevard. One of my favourite areas in Paris is around the Notre-Dame Cathedral, where I can discover the cobbled lanes and streets through Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.
A statue to Charlemagne and his knights in front of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris reflected in early spring light under deep blue skies
Notre Dame in the spring sun
Arc de Triomphe: A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a stroll along the Champs Elysees; from the Arc de Triomphe, head down through the tree-lined avenue to the Place de la Concorde.
A close-up shot of the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris's infamous roadabout taken on a bright day with bright white clouds scattered across a blue sky.
Image Caption
Sacré-Cœur Basilica: There so many things spring to mind when you think of Paris, and another icon is the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and its intriguing surrounding streets of Montmartre. This is a lovely area to sit and watch the world pass by.
The white stone of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris set against a deep blue sky.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Did you know?

That the banks of the River Seine have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

The Arts and Culture of Paris

Something to suit all tastes
The Museums: Perhaps not always on everyone's city "to-do" list, but I do enjoy visiting a gallery. If you are only in Paris for two or three days, it can be a tough choice. Will it be through the doors of the enchanting Pyramid at the Louvre to visit the Mona Lisa or to the Musée d'Orsay to see the masterpieces of French Impressionism? Mmmmm, I loved them both.
The courtyard of the louvre art gallery and museum in paris with its now iconic glass pyramid in the centre.
The Pyramid Entrance to the Louvre
The Moulin Rouge: To kick off your evening, why not visit the Moulin Rouge, another icon in this fascinating city and sure to be a highlight of your trip?
The roofline of the Moulin Rouge focusing on the bright red mill that takes centre stage set against a deep blue sky
The Molin Rouge

Palais Garnier: If a little more high culture is your thing, then why not pick up a performance at the Paris Opera?

There's an ever-changing mixture of Opera, Ballet and concerts throughout the year.

The ornate 19th-century palais garnier concert hall with its ornate facade that is home to the paris opera and ballet.
The Paris Opera

If you've yet to discover the beautiful architecture in Paris, and the pleasure of strolling along the River Seine at sunset, then you're in for a treat.

I find DK Eyewitness travel guides invaluable, they're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.

We used a previous version of this book to plan our Paris adventure, now you can grab the revised copy.

DK Paris Cover

Relaxing in Paris

Taking the weight off your feet
The Gardens: On any trip, you should always try to fit in some downtime; Paris has some lovely gardens and parks to sit and relax in and enjoy the family atmosphere. We particularly enjoyed Le Jardin du Luxembourg and Tuileries Garden.
Looking across the boating pond in the Jardin du Luxembourg towards the Palais du Luxembourg.
Palais du Luxembourg in Le Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, France
A River Cruise: However, if time is of the essence, catch a boat along the Seine. You can soak up the passing cultural sights while giving your feet a rest.
A pleasure boat on the Seine heading between the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis with the impressive architecture of Paris as a backdrop.
A boat trip on the Seine

Discover the taste of Paris

Food & Drink
Café Life: A highlight of any of our trips around the world is always experiencing the local delicacies, and French culinary experiences are always ones we look forward to; perhaps what arrives in front of you may not always be what you were expecting, but hey that’s the fun of it.
A small cafe in Paris, typical of France's capital.
A Parisien café
A street scene in Montmartre outside Le Consulat on a bright sunny day with people enjoying lunch at tables outside the restaurant.
Café culture in Montmartre
Pâtisseries & Boulangeries: Whether it’s cheese and bread with a crisp glass of wine or indulging in the patisseries that Paris does so well, you’ll love it.
An elegant woman passing by I traditional artisan boulanger pâtissier on side road in Paris. The front of the art deco styled shop is panelled in wood with 2 large windows displaying chandeliers inside, there is a deep burgundy canopy covering the upper portion of the store.
Artisan Boulanger Patissier

Paris's hidden gems

Our little pleasures

That Book Shop: Strolling around any city, there are always things that will make you smile, and Paris is not short of these. I couldn't help but browse around the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, and I bought an old tiny French-English dictionary.

Outside the bookstore, I discovered one of the many Wallace drinking water fountains. These fountains, a testament to the city's resilience, were a gift from Englishman Richard Wallace. They were a response to the destruction of Paris's water system during the 1870 Franco-Prussian war, a significant event in the city's history.

The historic Shakespeare and Co bookstore with the cast iron Wallace fountain, providing free drinking water to all in Paris
Shakespeare and Company
Parisian Style: I also enjoyed the little book stalls hugging the Seine and the intricate Art Nouveau Metro station entrances.
The Metro station of Cité, on the Île de la Cité, with its beautiful art deco decoration, including railings signage and lighting.
The Metro station of Cité

Have we tempted you yet?

Our favourite hotel in Paris is the Maison Colbert Meliá Collection. Now, it's not cheap, but it's tucked away in a quiet street, just a short distance from Notre Dame, and offers 5-star service.

However, Paris is packed with options for all budgets, so why not check out Booking.com to see what suits you?

Booking.com

Something different in Paris

The not so well known

A Canal Boat Trip: If you have time on your side, it is certainly worth taking a canal boat trip along Canal Saint-Martin.

A little bit of Paris that is not always on a tourist “must-see” list.

Looking along the Canal Saint Martin towards a lock before the waterway heads underground the streets of Paris
The Canal Saint Martin
Père Lachaise Cemetery: Anyone who follows us will know that I have an unusual interest in discovering the history of local cemeteries and churchyards, and Paris was not going to escape this.
A pair of tombs on the Avenue Des Peupliers within the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France
At the entrance of Père Lachaise Cemetery
A collection of family mausalems at a junction in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
Many paths in the Père Lachaise cemetery
We took a metro ride to Père Lachaise Cemetery, wandered around the weaving paths and overgrown gravestones, and discovered the resting places of Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and Oscar Wilde (to name a few).
Featured image for “Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris”
Nov. 22, 2017

Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris

So, a little unusual

Paris always has more

For next time
It is always good to leave a destination wanting more, and Paris is no exception. Amongst the places we still want to visit in this enchanting city are the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, the Catacombs of Paris, and the Palace of Versailles.

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