If you visit Paris for the first time ever, these spots are a must-visit during your stay. I recommend generally a stay between 3-4 Days in Paris, to see the important things, more than 4 Days, if you really love the city and like to explore further surroundings. If you are fast, you will be able to do all these within 2 days (without croissant-breaks)

1. Sacré-Coeur de Montmatre

Mentioning this one first, since i have been there so many times, i can't count. Let alone during this trip we have been there 3 days out of 4, at least for one hour in the evenings, just because the atmosphere is so nice.

Best to approach Sacré Coeur is to get off at Anvers station downstairs and walk up the tiny road with countless gift shops, towards the cathedral. Then you can either take the small little tram at the left side, or the stairs through the park to get up the hill. When you finally reach the top, you can admire the beauty of the white cathedral in the sunlight from almost any angle. There is one little park at the backside of the church, from where you have a very good view as well.

You can visit the cathedral itself for free, while climbing the tower costs a small fee. The view nevertheless is incredible, from what i have heard. I haven't been up there yet.

Walking lefthandside of the Cathedral you will find a market place with many artists and painters in summer and another line of gift shops, with magnets and any i (heart) paris souvenir.

In the evening the must-thing to do is sit on the stairs in front of the cathedral, facing the buzzing city and listening to some great street-artist performance.

One more thing good-to-know is; don't ever give your finger to any of the endless guys running around Monmatre, unless you want 5 braided armbands in 2seconds that you have to pay for.

2. Moulin Rouge

Very famous, not only from the Cinema, this night Club lies in the amusement quarter of Paris. During night time, i would not stroll along these streets on my own, also not with my mum. But already during dusk, the windmill will be lighten up and you can enjoy the fantastic sight of it.

To come here is pretty easy, since it's on the same line as Sacre Coeur. The station directly in Front of this Etablissment is called Blanche, so if you come later  at night, that is still an option.

3. L'Opéra

From Moulin Rouge or Sacre Coeur it is only some stops to the Parisian Opera, so whilst you are in the area, definitely stop by. The outside of the building is worth a shot, especially when the sunlight hits the golden statues. This has been the very first time i actually visited the Opera and only due to the recent discovery of my love for classical ballet. The parisian Opera is a complement within the city to the gardens of Versailles. If you like to feel like a royal for a short time, stroll through the magnificent rooms with sparkeling chandeliers. Also the stairs remind me so very much of Beauty & the Beast.

4. Le Tour Eiffel

There are several good view points to admire the Tower in it's beauty. To see it in a large scale, one should go to Trocadero, where you can also see the sparkling lights spectacle at night. Every full hour, the tower starts a flickering light session, sparkling like a diamond.

Accessing the actual tower has become more and more difficult, due to strong military protection and strict control. During earlier visits, it was always permitted to go under the center of the tower and take a look up. Nowadways the area around the whole tower is fenced and you can only get closer through security checks and scans. It was by far less busy now, when years ago one had to queue 2 hours to climb the tower.

Climbing the Tower is nothing for people afraid of heights, due to the see-through metallic stairs. Also it is quite tough, so better do it in the morning, when you are still fit.

5. Notre Dame

Well we all know the famous Disney Movie of Notre Dame that is based on the historical Novel Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo. This Cathedral has been built for almost 200 years and is by far the most beautiful and detailed church i have seen. The location on an Island in the Seine puts her in the best light from different angles. While the front with the two huge bell towers and its huge 3 doors is ornamented with hundreds of little christian statues, the side roof and high tops are featuring the famous gargoyles. Nowadays one can climb one of the Towers, visiting the sept and it's beautiful windows is free of charge.

6. Saint Chapelle

Notre Dame is the biggest, but Saint Chapelle the most beautiful Church i have ever seen. This Chapelle is known for it's huge collection of stained glass. The first time we entered the upper big hall, the sunlight was just rising and all the colourful windows started to sparkle and exlode in brightness. I kept asking myself how so much glass and so little stone can hold the beautiful ceiling. Most interesting is, that every window looks different and one can read big Parts of the Old and New Testamend in the huge framed glasses at the sides, while the rounded end apse shows the Passion and Infancy of Christ.

7. Palais Luxembourg

Another maybe less popular spot for Sunday strolls and picknick in Parcs is the Palais du Luxembourg. Lying quite far away from the rest of the touristy spots in the 6th Arrondissement, one has to travel a while south to get here. Little sister of the Palais du Versailles, the palace is used by the state today.

8. Champs-Elysée & Arc de Triomphe

I always walked the Champs-Elysées starting at Charles-de-Gaulle Étoile and ending at the Louvre. I don't know why, but generally this is the nicer way to walk. If you get off at the Arc de Triomphe, take the left-sidewalk, since here will be the nicest shops and cafés. On the righthand sidewalk you will find other luxury stores like Louis Vuitton ect. You can drink a latte to go and observe the busy bees around you, walking towards Grande and Petite Palais, through some nice alleys, ending at Place de la Concorde. From here you can continue and enter the Gardens of the Louvre, or you walk to the river, where you will have a fantastic view onto the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffeltower.

9. Ponte Alexandre III

Paris most famous and beautiful bridge is located on same latitude with Grand and Petit Palais, close to Champs-Elysée. Most remarkable are the golden Statues at the start and the end, and as well the beautiful decorated statues in the center of the Bridge. Even the streetlamps are a piece of Art. From here you will have a fantastic view over the river, facing the Eiffeltower in the West.

10. Le Louvre & Jardin de Tuileries



Being honest, i have never actually been inside the Louvre, but let alone the outside Facade speaks for itself. To actually visit this huge Castle Museum, one has to plan 1-2 Days and have a high interest in Arts. Time we never had to spare so far. Very famous is the glass pyramid entrance. Furthermore right in front of the museum, one can find the small Arc de Triomphe and on a clear day, you will be able to see all arches within each other from here, even up to La Defense.

I have been so  many times in Paris, but there is still so much more to see. This trip we focused on a mixture between our favourite typical touristic sights and spots we had never been to before. 

If you really want to see some secret spots in any city you go to, you should put aside your lonely planet (although these are really good) and browse through tripadvisor and instagram. Especially the last one is really good to find less popular and extraordinary sights. 

All the below spots i found through instagram, so they are gaining a lot of fame recently. Better be fast, before they get overcrowded as well. 

Musée D'Orsay

This museum lies opposite the river at the same level as thee Jardin de Tuileries. It has it's own metro station, so if you don't want to walk, it's pretty easy to reach with the yellow big line. 

The main reason i wanted to visit the musuem is the restaurant behind the big clocktower. From here you have a fantastic view on Sacre Coeur (my mum's very favourite spot in the city) 

To access the restaurant, one actually has to pay entrance to the museum, which is 12€ per Person. I was getting quite upset, since a musuem visit was not on our plan and paying this much, just for a view and a probably more expensive drink in the restaurant, let me rethink the need of this visit. 

Anyhow we decided to pay, since we extra came, but very luckily the security guard had heard that we really only want to see the clock. So on our way to the cashier, he stopped us and muggled us in through the gift shop. So we actually got this museum visit for free, but as i have seen it now, it's also worth paying for. It reminded me very much of the MET in New York, although it is much smaller. Basically we only found the clock with the restaurant, but realised afterwards, that there are two, when we had a look from the outside. Nevertheless we could not find the other one, that has the better view. So take your time to explore all corners of this Musuem. 

Grande Mosquée de Paris

Being a real fan of arabian architecture, my biggest wish is to see Marrakesh one day. Nevertheless, this is not an option as a lonely blond woman for now. If you like the flamboyant decorations and arches, you should come to the mosque in paris, lying very close to the Institut du Monde Arabe. 

The Complex of the Mosque is quite big and featuring a small café in a beautiful garden, a huge garden inside the Mosque itself, a tower and several rooms for praying. If you visit, please check the praying hours before due to respect. 

Cloud Cakes

The french kitchen has so many pastries and sweets to offer, but unfortunately all of them contain milk or egg. To not miss out, i was desperate to find the best vegan bakery in town and found this cute little place, that offers a huge varation of cakes and even french croissants for breakfast. Forget about LaDuree, which is overrated and come here instead. To come here, take best the Metro to Etienne Marcel station and stroll along the main roads, that offer so many different culinary treats. 

I had a version of a Black Forest Cake and a Tiramisu Muffin, both so delicious, that i would have loved to try the whole menu. Unfortunately croissants were already out, since we came at lunch. So on my next trip to Paris, i will try my very first french croissant here. 

Galerie Lafayette Rooftop

There has always been a restaurant on top of Printemps, but this one has recently been closed for renovation. Another very good view, especially at night can be taken from the Rooftop of the very famous shopping Mall Galerie Lafayette. Half of the platform is though occupied by a bar, so the best view can only be enjoyed when sipping a fancy drink there, but otherwise you get a great glimpse of the Eiffeltower and the Opera for free.

Au vieux Paris



This tiny little hotel/restaurant is the oldest in Paris and lying very close to Notre Dame. The whole fassade is covered by leaves and the colourful furniture outside is placed on the sidewalk, with many little Trees and Plants. While eating typical french cuisine, for a moderate price, you can hear some little canary birds sing in the cage next to you. Also the restrooms are the smallest i have ever been to, guess at earlier times people weren't as big as nowadays.

Well i honestly can't say how very often i actually have been to Paris, but this is my very favorite city in the world. Even New York can't match with it. 

There is one word for each city and Paris word is definitely l'amour. 

There is something so captivating and beautiful about this city, that keeps me coming back again and again, falling in love allover each time. There are so many things to see in Paris, even after being there so often, i discover new spots each time. While all big cities grow and change really rapidly, Paris still has his old charming character. It is dirty yes, but that's just how you take it. 

I like Paris most because of it's architectal features, although i am not an expert. The streets of Paris just have their own character, high houses with these cute little balconies, pressed to each other along endless roads, all somehow ending at the Arc de Triomphe de l'étoile.

 I would say i inherited my love for this city from my mother, who has been even more often than me.

As a perfect birthday gift to us both, we decided to go back again to Paris after a long break, nevertheless the present fear of terror. 

Paris is nice in every season, but i would say that autumn is my very favourite. It is not too hot, still there is a leftover summer breeze and the city is far less crowded.

Travel Time: Middle of October

 Good to Know

How to get around:

Paris has several airports, but it is still very easy to get into town from each with public Transport. We landed in Charles de Gaulle, north of the City and took the RER to Gare du Nord. 

There is a very cheap deal called Pass Navigo, which is a weekly ticket for all public Transport in Paris. It includes all Zones, thence transport to and from the Airport and even further out to Versailles. 

This pass starts on Monday and ends on Sunday, so it is only a really good deal, if you come in the start or middle of the week. Otherwise seperate tickets might be cheaper. 

Regular Transport from Airport to the City costs 10€ each way. 

To buy a Pass Navigo you need to bring a passport size picture to stick onto your Card, which makes it only valid for you. The price for a week is 22,80€ adding a Fee of 5€ for loading the card first time. If you ever come back (which is for sure) you can just reload your card.

Where to stay:

I have stayed in many different places in Paris, but for young people i would definitly recommend St. Christopher's Inn Hostel at Gare du Nord. It is far the best starting point to visit the city, being very good connected to public transport. They offer private rooms as well, we had a 2 Bunk Bed Room with Private Bath. It is indeed small, but you explore the city all day (and night), so there is no need for a very fancy Hotel. If you book a private room, breakfast is also included, as well as an Aperol Drink at the Bar every night between 6-7pm. The Bar directly inside the Hostel has quite a negative touch as well, since the music is insanely loud and you better bring some earplugs, if you got a light sleep.

Culture:

French people are extremely polite, especially when living in Sweden, people are just SO nice! 

They do speak english, but if you make an effort to speak french, they will be even more friendly.

The french food is quite sweet, you will find patisseries everywhere and you will not get around trying Pain au Chocolat, Croissants, Eclairs, Macarons et Baguette naturellement!