This is a sponsored post, as always opinions are our own.
We have yet to visit Paris, but like many other bucket list cities we want to visit, we love coming up with a plan of what to see when we finally do visit.
These are a few of the many things I want to see when visiting the “City of Light.”
Eiffel Tower
Ok, going to Paris for the first time and not visiting the Eiffel Tower is like wearing only one shoe with your outfit. It’s practically a must!
Even if you don’t want to climb to the top of it for a view, you should still at least get a cool Eiffel Tower photo op. When we visit Paris, we will more than likely go to the top because it’s high on Tristan’s list (no pun intended!)
He is so fascinated with the Eiffel Tower and loves seeing pictures of it.
Versailles
Ever since Sofia Coppola’s movie, Marie Antoinette I’ve been inspired to visit the Palace of Versailles. Versailles is where King Louis XIV ruled France instead of in the busy city of Paris. He wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris so he moved the entire royal court to Versailles which today can be reached by train from Paris within 45 minutes.
One thing I recommend as a huge time saver is visiting Versailles with a guide from The Paris Guy. You may have read about them in an earlier blog post for their tour group based in Italy (my favorite country!) called, The Roman Guy. Check that post out for some great tips about things to do in Rome.
Not only will your guide accompany you on the train from Paris to Versailles, but you will also skip the long line to get inside (especially if going during peak season) and enjoy a guided tour of the palace’s Grand Rooms with freedom to roam the gardens. The tours are also consisted of a small group so you wouldn’t feel overwhelmed and rushed.
Their guides are also well experienced in French history and the city of Paris. The Paris Guy’s tours are known for being super informative and fun, so you will not be bored!
Notre Dame
Although we visited Montreal’s Notre Dame (which is a loosely based replica of Notre Dame in Paris) I am sure that visiting the original will be a surreal experience.
I love stepping inside historic churches and hearing the tales that go along with it.
The Catacombs
Am I the only one who jumps at the chance to view catacombs if available in a city I’m visiting?
The Paris Catacombs have always been on my Paris trip list, especially after viewing the catacombs in Rome. Somehow, we always manage to end up somewhere underground on our trips. That’s one of the cool things I love about traveling – you get out your comfort zone!
Sacre Coeur Basilica
Revisiting Montreal, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur Basilica) reminds me so much of Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal.
While they may not look exactly alike, these domed beauties both sit high on a hill (300 steps to get to Sacre Coeur Basilica and 283 steps for Saint Joseph’s Oratory.) I love finding comparisons between historic places on our travels.
I wonder if there is a shuttle service to the top of Sacre Coeur Basilica like at Saint Joseph’s Oratory?
The Louvre
While DaVinci’s famous Mona Lisa painting can be seen in the Louvre, I also love that it houses works created by my other Italian favorites: Botticelli and Raphael. I totally bought replicas of their paintings in a gift shop in Florence – guilty!
The Italian Renaissance is my absolute favorite period in Italian art and I’m glad it can be seen in Paris.
There is so much more to see and do in Paris, the list is endless!
You can see the Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, Luxembourg Gardens, Champs-Elysees, shop, eat, the list goes on!
Do you have anything to add to our Paris highlights as a first time visitor? Comment below and share this post!
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