I have wanted to visit Paris every since I was a little girl. Being known for the city of love, I knew, even before I stepped off the plane, how much I would enjoy my trip. And, it is, without a doubt, the most beautiful city.
Paris is full of things to do, whilst me and my boyfriend managed to do the main tourist attractions, unfortunately there were a few we weren't able to see due to only being there for a weekend (and deciding to walk everywhere which seemed to take up most of our time). But, no matter where you are walking, you're sure to not be disappointed with the views and architecture of the city. The city is packed with beautiful buildings, cultural landmarks and incredible food, the city is a must-visit for everyone.
Despite an hour and a half delay flying from Bristol with BMI Regional (who gave us complimentary food and drinks) on Saturday 11th July, we arrived to the lovely Novotel Paris 17 Hotel. We stayed at this hotel for 3 nights and it was located just on the outskirts of the city centre, which I thought was a little better as it was located away from the heavy tourist areas. Despite the hotel being an hour walk away from the Eiffel tower, the louvre and even further from Notre Dame Cathedral, it was lovely to take in the beauty of the city and explore a different landscape. The walking, from the hotel, was of slight concern on the second day and looking back, I wish we purchased the Hop on Hop off bus ticket to rest our legs a little bit, but overall some of our most beautiful pictures and memories came from the walking.
Must see attractions:
Eiffel Tower
So, I am almost certain you have read about the Eiffel Tower countless times but It truly lives up to everything you have heard. We visited the Eiffel Tower as soon as we got to Paris. Being a spontaneous decision, we found the walk there slightly stressful but more so exciting. Surprisingly, given the height of the Tower, we couldn't see it above the buildings, so we used our initiative with the help of google maps to locate it. I was surprised at how amazing it actually was. We didn't book our tickets in advance so we queued for about an hour and a half which in the 33 degree heat did seem like forever. However, reaching the second level was more than worth it. The view was unbelievable and indescribable. It is definitely something you have to see.
The Louvre
The Louvre is essential if you are visiting the city. Again, just like the Eiffel Tower, we walked over an hour to find it (but the walk was worth it as we came across a Christian Dior exhibition that I absolutely needed to see). Lucky for us, there wasn't a long queue and we were able to see what we wanted all within reasonable time. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Mona Lisa but it gives us an excuse to go back! Of course we had our typical tourist moment, standing on top of boxes to initial look as if we were touching the top of the triangle.
Arc De Triomphe
For some relaxation time, Arc De Triomphe is an absolute must. If you are someone who still wants to be in the heart of the city but without the rush, this is perfect for you. You can still indulge in architecture and the famous landmark but, it has a huge surrounding area located with lots of benches and siting areas. We stayed here for an hour or so enjoying the weather, eating food, whilst still feeling connected. Despite the huge chaotic ring road that surrounds Arc De Triomphe, it was still pleasantly peaceful.
Christian Dior Exhibition
Another must-see, if you visit Paris between July - January, wasn't exactly something planned. On the way to Louvre we came across the Christian Dior Exhibition and I can honestly say I was desperate to visit so, I managed to drag my boyfriend! Being a fashion addict, it was an amazing experience. Of course the whole experience wasn't just a vision of his garments but, it was a journey through Dior's life transitioning into his elegance reputation. It was more amazing than I could've ever imagined. One of my favourite parts was looking into the sketches to see how a drawing became a garment. I'm pretty sure my boyfriend secretly enjoyed it.
The Food
We discovered that food within central Paris was super expensive (18 euros for a glass of wine!) so we managed to locate a few little cafes that suited our needs perfectly. We stuck to sitting outside in the seating area because its something we never usually do and for us it was perfect. Most of the cafes were located in peaceful areas with beautiful landscape. Of course you can't escape beauty in this city. We surprisingly didn't come across any French delicacy but we were content with gigantic baguettes, salads and ice creams. I'm a huge foodie so having lots of options was essential.
So, hopefully this post expresses my love for Paris. We spent several periods of the day walking through parks, eating Ice cream and of course being the shopping addict that I am, visited the high street stores. We also visited Notre Dame Cathedral which definitely lived up to its reputation of being extraordinary. However, unfortunately we didn't go in due to the queue being insane. I would suggest saving up for a trip to Paris as the tourist areas are expensive. But I must say, it is worth every penny. As soon as we came back from Paris we decided to look into exploring Italy so keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming blog post!
Love
Ella
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