The Eiffel Tower is the crown jewel of Paris. It’s as breathtaking as in the movies, and stunning both day and night. Little known fact, the Eiffel Tower was originally meant for Barcelona. The city rejected Gustave Eiffel's plans which he took to Paris and the rest was history! During the day, bring a blanket, picnic basket and some wine to relax on the lawn like the Peresians. In the evening, the Eiffel Tower lights up and you can find bars nearby with the perfect view. You can also go up to the top of the tower but instead I would recommend visiting the Terrass Hotel for a rooftop view of all of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

The Sacred Heart of Paris is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the heart of Jesus. The surrounding area is full of life with vendors, cafes, and even a couple of rides for kids. If you take the metro, get off at the Boulevard De Courcelles stop. It’s a bit off the beaten path so I would recommend staying half of the day. Relax, enjoy the view and grab a bite to eat! Don’t forget to bring your Euros, because the vendors have fantastic food & unique souvenirs.

The Louvre is one of the most insane museums in the world. It’s the home of the Mona Lisa (it’s way smaller than you think), the Raft of Medusa Oil Painting and Michelangelo’s Dying Slave sculpture. The museum is massive and full of famous sculptures, paintings and more. You can buy your tickets here, but remember that if you are a student there are days where you can visit for free or at a lower cost.

The Notre Dame was a Catholic cathedral in Paris and considered one of the best examples of French Gothic Architecture. If you visit my Barcelona page, you can see the similarities in the Gothic Cathedral. Unfortunately, in April 2019, Notre Dame caught fire and most of the cathedral collapsed. I know you can’t go inside but it’s still worth visiting to see what’s left of the Cathedral.

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument meant to honor those who died for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. You can visit the rooftop but you have to climb up a pretty long flight of stairs. I saw it from afar and it was beautiful especially in the evening. As cool as the Arc was, the real excitement for me was the 12 lane roundabout that surrounds the arc. I could sit for hours watching the cars dodge each other in this maze. It’s like watching an “almost accident” that never really happens.

Versailles

Versailles was the residence of the royal family of France up until the French Revolution. You’ll feel like royalty when you walk through the gold gate filled with 100,000 real gold leaves. You can buy a ticket here and choose between the free or paid options depending on the experience you’d like to enjoy. Don’t forget to visit the gardens out back, and if you can, rent a paddle boat! You can get to Versailles from central Paris by taking the RER train C.

Panini

Find yourself a street cart and buy a panini, you won’t regret it! Typically in America I don’t often eat from street carts, but in Paris the smallest food carts and restaurants were the best. If you’re unfamiliar, a panini is like a sandwich but on focaccia bread and pressed together with a “panini press” that makes for a crunchy but perfect outer shell.

Crepes

I should have added Crepe as an experience along with a food because watching your crepe being made is almost as good as eating it after. There are tons of stands selling fresh crepes of every kind. A savory crepe is something you might try for breakfast while the sweet ones are more of a dessert. Honestly, you’re on vacation so go for dessert for breakfast like I did!

Wine

I have yet to find someone who doesn’t like wine, but in Paris it’s just perfect! You can find wine in almost any restaurant but my favorite activity was to grab a bottle f rom the local wine shops and take it on a picnic under the Eiffel Tower. Silly tip but travel with a wine opener, or buy one when you get to Paris because you’ll need it!

Pizza

I think Pizza in Europe is usually pretty fantastic but it’s extra yummy in Paris. I wouldn’t say it’s comparable to Italian pizza, but still a must have if you’re visiting. I usually order the margarita because I’m basic but all pizza is good pizza.