I traveled for more than 2 years and, honestly, no other city stole my heart like Paris did. I still consider Paris the most beautiful city in the world. This month, I will be featuring different places in the city: restaurants, monuments, and: my secret places which most tourists do not know.
To start, let’s talk about my 5 favorite monuments in Paris.
Tour Eiffel
A classic that we never get tired of it.
I remember the 1st time I saw the tower in 2011 I was actually very disappointed: I thought the tour would be taller. Today, 7 years later, I look at her and think how lucky I was to live and admire “her” for so long.
Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was never built with the intention of becoming the symbol of the city? In fact, the Eiffel tour was constructed for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 (an event to celebrated 100th anniversary of the French Revolution). However the tower’s success was enormous, after all at the time this was the tallest building in the world, and French decided to not destroy the tower as originally planned. LUCKY US 😀
Every night, every hour on the hour, the tower is covered in golden lights and sparkles for 5 minutes.
Practical Questions:
- Metro: Trocadéro (line 9), Bir-Hakeim (line 6) and École Militaire (line 8)
- Price: from 10€ (discounts for people between 12-24 pay less)
- I advise you to buy the ticket online to avoid a long waiting line
Arc de Triomphe
Located on the Champs Elysées (the most expensive avenue in the city), the Arc de Triomphe is not a random arch. This monument honors those who fought and died for France during World War II. In addition, this is also a historical arch that traces the evolution of time between the Arc de Triomphe de Carousel (near the Louvre) and the Grande Arche de la Defense (located in the business area).
Practical Questions:
- Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Étoile (line 1)
- Price: 12€ (free entrance for people less than 26 years old)
- The best moment to “hike” the arch is at the end of the day to watch the sunset and the night lights of the Champs Elysées.
Louvre
I remember when I arrived in Paris in 2011, a Chilean friend told me: “you need at least 3 days to visit everything in the Louvre.” I thought, she was crazy! It was only when I saw the size of the museum that I realized that she was right. For those who like art and do not have much time, I think it is worth investing on a guide. The museum is really big and has way too many things to see. For those who only go for the Mona Lisa then, the story is different.
Practical Questions:
- Metro: Louvre (line 7)
- Price: 9€
- The museum is closed on Tuesday
- If you wish to hire a guide, have a look at CITYWONDERS
Sacré-Coeur
Located in one of the coolest areas of the city, Montmartre, the Sacré-Coeur offers us the most impressive view of the city. The only “downside”: the church is ALWAYS crowded, no matter which day of the week. BUT can anyone deny the charm of the Sacré-Coeur?
Practical Questions:
- Metro: Abbesses (line 12) or Anvers (line 2)
- Free entrance
Notre-Dame
I remember being small and disliking The Hunchback of Notre Dame movie. The story is so sad that when I arrived in Paris, I thought I would not like this monument at all. However, today Notre Dame Cathedral is now one of my favorite monuments. Who has been here? What do you think?
Practical Questions:
- Metro: Cité (line 4)
- Free entrance but there is always a line to get in the cathedral
SUPER TIP
- For those who are planning to visit Paris, all museums and monuments are free on the 1st Sunday of each month. If you are less than 26 or a student: you are lucky because entrance is free (almost everywhere) for you.
- In the most tourist areas, beware of pickpockets. Paris is far from being the safest city in Europe.
Hope you liked this post.
Beijinho,
Daniela