Paris, a city in France, is famous for its bustling museums and galleries, gourmet cuisine, beautiful architecture and latest fashion. Paris’ landmarks are among the most recognizable in the world: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Versailles, the Louvre. From its iconic cafes to famous monuments, the city has so much to offer! This city is famous by the name ‘City of Love.’
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It is always a good time to visit Paris. Depending on where you fly from, you can either make the most of the low-cost airlines flying into the city from other European cities, or take one of its direct flights from further away destinations.
If you ask me, I never wanted to come back from Paris, LOL. It’s one of the prettiest places on earth and I mean it. Here is The Ultimate Paris bucket list made with love for you.
The Ultimate Paris bucket list:
- Eiffel Towel
- The Louvre
- Notre- Dame Cathedral
- Champs Elysees
- Cruise on the Seine
- Montmartre
- Disneyland Paris
- Moulin Rouge
- Les Invalides
- Palace of Versailles
- Luxembourg Park
Eiffel Tower
Paris’s most iconic attraction, the Eiffel Tower, built by Gustave Eiffel was constructed to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution, it is presented at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889. It reaches an astonishing height of 324 meters.
The first floor houses the Eiffel Tower 58 which extends over two levels, 58 meters above the ground. The second floor, has the view at 115 meters above and there’s a diving view on the ground below. On the 3rd floor at 275 meters, the office of Gustave Eiffel. You’ll find binoculars on the second floor of Eiffel Tower and your eyes will capture panoramic view of the city and the Eiffel Tower in the background.
You’ll need to pre-book your tickets for the visit else you’ll find a very long wait line or sometimes may not even find the ticket for that very day. The ascent of the Eiffel Tower is a must to enjoy the magnificent view of Paris.
Entry Fee:
Ticket with access lift – Second floor: 16.60 euros
Ticket with access stairs – Second floor: 10.40 euros
Ticket with access lift – The top: 25.90 euros
Ticket with access stairs 2nd floor + lift – The top: 19.70 euros
Hours: 9:30am to 10:30pm
The Louvre
The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world. The Louvre has it entrance characterized by a sleek glass pyramid. Once you enter, you’d be amazed by its amazing art collection including some of the world’s most famous artworks, like, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and Michelangelo’s “Dying Slave”.
The collection is divided into eight departments: Egyptian antiquities, Oriental antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman, Islamic Art, Sculptures of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modern Times, Objects of art, Paintings and last but not the least Graphic arts.
Entry Fee: 15 euros per person (at museum) and 17 euros (online)
Hours: 9am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the most enduring symbols of Paris. It’s a Roman Catholic cathedral and is considered as one of the finest face of French Gothic architecture in all across Europe. It’s pretty ancient, the construction begun in 1163 and completed in 1345.
This cathedral is a sight with its portals surrounded by his many sculptures and gargoyles that adorn the roof. The interior of this cathedral is stunning- combining rose windows, stunning sculptures and Gothic carvings.
There are 387 steps to the top of the towers. The climb to the top can be exhausting, so carry a water bottle with you. Once you reach to the top, you will get a panoramic view of the region and see the famous gargoyles up close.
Entry Fee: Free Entry
Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. (Temporary closed)
Champs Elysées
Champs Elysees, also known as Arc of Triumph was built in the 19th century. It is the largest monument of its kind in the world. It’s pillars has impressive sculptures adorning it. On the top of the arc, the names of 558 generals and the great victories are engraved.
The panoramic terrace above the door offers a beautiful view of Paris. Engraved on the surfaces are some of the French historic victories, battles and great military leaders. It is one of the most emblematic Paris attractions.
Entry Fee: 13 euros per person
Hours: 10am to 9:45pm everyday except 1st January, 1st May, 8th May, 14th July, 11th November and 25th December.
Cruise on the Seine
Find the best way to visit the “City of Light” enjoying a cruise on the Seine, especially at night. When the sun sets, the monuments gets lit slowly. You can even choose to do this activity even in daytime, I did it at day and it was a scene I will always remember.
You get a panoramic view to the forefront so you can enjoy the beauty of Paris: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Pont Alexandre III and many more.
Entry Fee: Starts as low as US $18 per person. Check here.
Hours: 10am to 12pm (Depends on service providers)
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill located in the north of Paris, 130 meters high, having its name to the surrounding neighborhood. It is best known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacred Heart, at the top.
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When you visit Montmartre, do take a stop at the Wall of Love (Le Mur des Je t’aimes) on which “I love you” is written 311 times in 250 languages.
Entry Fee: Free Entry.
Hours: The basilica is open everyday from 6am to 10.30pm (last entry at 10.15pm for visitors). The dome (access from the left side of the basilica) : 9am-8.30pm from June to September; 9.30am-7pm from March to April ; 10pm-5.30pm from November to February.
Disneyland Paris
Visit the fairy-tale Disneyland Paris and join your favorite Disney characters. Disneyland Paris is located 32 km from central Paris. It has two theme parks – Disneyland (with Sleeping Beauty’s castle) and Walt Disney Studios – and marvel at the whimsical surroundings!
Top attractions are Space Mountain, It’s a Small World and Big Thunder Mountain. I guess there is no right age to visit Disney Land. It’s open everyday from 10 am to 11 pm.
Entry Fee: Starts from US $67 per person
Hours: 9:30am to 11pm.
Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge is a cabaret known as the spiritual birthplace of the famous French Cancan. It is located at the foot of Montmartre hill and was built by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidlein in 1889. Moulin Rouge is a popular tourist attraction in Paris, providing entertainment for visitors from around the world.
It offers glamorous evening shows among which the most representative are Crazy Horse, Moulin Rouge and Lido de Paris. You can book for a dinner and show, for a show, for a VIP evening or for a “matinée”.
Entry Fee: Starts from 87 euros per person (for the show).
Hours: Evening to late night.
Les Invalides
The eye- catching golden top of the Les Invalides Dome church is gorgeous and cannot be missed! Thos place is a symbol of the Hôtel des Invalides. It was later turned into a French military memorial which holds a special place Parisian culture.
Inside the monument, there are remains of France’s war heroes (Foch, Lyautey, Turenne, De Lattre de Tassigny, Duroc). There is also the monumental tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte which lies in the crypt and is greatly admired by the visitors.
Entry Fee: 12 euros per person
Hours: 10am to 6pm; Late-night opening until 9pm on Tuesdays.
Palace of Versailles
The Château de Versailles is the most famous castle in France. It was built in the 17th century as a symbol of military power of France. This beautiful palace exudes extravagantly the grandeur of French Baroque architecture.
It has huge complex of buildings, gardens and terraces, lavish decorations, furniture and gilded works of Renaissance art. The Versailles Palace is the most visited attraction near Paris.
Entry Fee: 12 euros per vehicle
Hours: The Palace is open every day except Monday. The Palace opens at 9 am; the Trianon estate opens at noon, from Tuesday to Sunday.
Luxembourg Park
The beautiful Luxembourg Park also known as Jardin du Luxembourg is situated on the left bank of River Seine. The lush green surroundings allow you to take a break from the city’s hustle and bustle. It is a perfect spot for day visit to enjoy a quiet afternoon time with family.
It is very pleasant to walk around the Luxembourg park; as you walk you will see orchard, several varieties of apples, an apiary and a greenhouse with orchid collection. There are 106 statues, a bronze reduction of the Statue of Liberty and 3 beautiful fountains. The Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace) located right inside the park is also worth a visit. It is open everyday from 7.30 am to 8.15 pm.
Entry Fee: There is no fee to enter the gardens, but there is a fee to enter the children’s area which is 2.50 euros per child and about 1.50 for adults.
Hours: Opens between 7.30am and 8.15am, and closes between 4.30pm and 9.30pm according to season.
We visited Paris, the city of love individually with the love missing in our lives hence it was kind of incomplete for us. We now dream to travel it together one day.
Travel Tips
- Book your flights as early as possible, especially on a Wednesday; they are the cheapest option.
- Buy an International travel insurance.
- Carry a copy of passport, hotel address and emergency contact and keep it handy at all times.
- Start your day early to get crowd free places and beautiful pictures.
- Make reservations at advance to avoid standing in long queues at busy seasons.
- Disneyland offers an option to buy undated tickets valid for one year. You can buy it at a cheaper price in advance. Disneyland tickets prices fluctuate with demand, with higher prices during peak periods and lower prices during slow seasons.
- Download offline maps and keep it handy.
- Carry euros in hand for tips, taxi rides, restaurants, purchases at local markets and daily activities; it will make your transactions go smoother and save you money on foreign transaction fees.
- Pack a small travel umbrella, especially during the winter and spring.
- Carry water bottle and sunscreen.
- Wear comfortable shoes to walk everywhere.
We tried to include all the details you need to have a love- filled vacation to Paris. If you have any questions, post them in comments on our Facebook page or email us and we will try to answer as soon as we can. Say hi to us on Instagram. Happy Exploring!! 🙂