Tessa’s Top 5: Paris
Top 5 Things to do in Paris? I got you! Forewarning: yes, this list probably sounds basic, but I have done everything on it, and personally felt they were the few most quintessential Paris activities you can do, and I’ll tell you why in each description. Take it as a first timer’s guide to Paris, from another tourist, so this is what I enjoyed the most, but if you’ve already done it all and you’re looking for more unique ideas, check out another blog post!
Let’s get started with:
1. Climb Something
So here’s the thing, when researching Paris online myself prior to my first trip, I found a lot of conflicting opinions on climbing the Eiffel Tower vs. the Arc de Triomphe, and I ended up choosing Arc de Triumph. I loved the view, and the fact that you were looking at the Eiffel Tower rather than standing on it, which was the big argument for why Arc de Triomphe was “better.” However, I really regretted not climbing the Eiffel Tower after my first trip, so I made it a priority on my second trip, and my honest opinion is that you should do BOTH! I wrote “climb something” on this list, because I think at least one should be a must-do, but if you have the time in your trip, they both give such a unique experience, that I recommend you climb each of them (just wait a day in between to give your legs a break!)
A ticket to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe will cost about $14 USD and I spent about an hour total at the monument, bottom to top and back down. The Eiffel Tower is a little different because there are 3 different levels you can stop at, with different prices for each. A ticket to climb the stairs to the second level costs about $12 USD, which is the highest you can actually climb. The very top of the tower is only accessible by elevator, so you’d climb the stairs to the second floor and then ride the elevator up from there, which costs about $23 total, and is what we opted to do. You can also ride the elevator from the ground to the second floor, but the tickets are more expensive and there’s typically an hour+ wait. When taking the stairs, we immediately started the climb right after purchasing our tickets, which I think was a much more fun experience and you can stop along the way, so it’s at your own pace! We spent almost two hours to climb, stop at each level and enjoy the views, and come back down. I didn’t have any trouble purchasing tickets day-of for these, but you may want to pre-purchase tickets if you’d prefer to take the elevator from the ground up.
2. Seine River Cruise
On my first trip to Paris alone, I did not go on a river cruise because it honestly seemed skippable, but on the second two visits with EF Ultimate Break, they organized a river cruise for us, and I loved it! In May, our cruise was during the day and in January we had a nighttime cruise, and again if you have the time, I recommend doing both! The weather was perfect in May, but chilly in January, so make sure you have your hat, gloves, and scarf if you’re visiting in winter, so you can sit up top. The river cruise is a must-do for me because it's a great way to see a lot of the city, all without having to walk, which you’ll appreciate after being in Paris for several days! I can’t say exactly how much I paid, since both times I’ve been were covered by EF, but I think the simple cruises like we did typically range about $16 USD. You could also try a lunch or dinner cruise, which I think would be really neat and I’d like to try on another trip in the future!
There are several different river tour companies with departures all along the Seine, that are similar enough that it doesn’t matter which one you choose, but different enough to offer a unique experience if you choose to do more than one, like I have! I’ve done the one that departs from Pont Neuf near Notre Dame, and the one directly at the base of the Eiffel Tower. All of our tickets were purchased day-of by our tour directors, so you shouldn’t have a problem if you want to do that for the standard cruise. I would just recommend booking ahead if you have a specific time in mind that you want to go or if you’re interest in a cruise with meals included.
3. Palais Garnier (The Paris Opera House)
Oh. My. Gosh. Dare I say, one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in Paris?? I honestly hadn’t even heard of it until my third trip, when I started searching for things to do in Paris that weren’t the very top search result. I can’t begin to explain how impressed, in love I am with this building – I truly think I could spend an entire day here just people-watching. The Palais Garnier is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and you can enter with a “self-guided tour” ticket for about $16 USD, we booked online here: https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l16/opera-garnier-reserved-access-entrance-ticket-t81297/?partner_id=FBUDG92&utm_medium=online_publisher , but you can also book a guided tour or go see a performance, which is on my list for my next visit! The moment I googled “Palais Garnier” and saw the photos that came up, I knew I had to see it, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for how jaw-droppingly stunning it was inside!
Palais Garnier is on my Top 5 list because 1) I truly thought it was incredible and not hyped up enough, but 2) I think it’s a great alternative to the Palace of Versailles. I’m absolutely not saying “don’t visit Versailles,” but Palais Garnier is right in the heart of Paris, so it’s easier and quicker to get to if you only have a few days to visit, and it’s cheaper (honestly not that much, but still) in case you’re on a budget, and from my experiences it was much less crowded. I also want to mention that the gardens are a big part of Versailles, so if you’re visiting during the winter, maybe opt for Palais Garnier and save Versailles for your spring/summer trip! Both feature prominent and beautiful baroque architecture, so the vibes are very similar, but of course if you do have the time, I always say do BOTH! (Literally in points 1-3 so far, I have technically suggested two must-dos instead of one)
4. Try Escargot
This one is definitely the simplest on the list, but I feel like trying at least one new food should be in the top 5 of every destination, so for Paris, escargot it is! I’ve eaten escargot a lot, even outside of France and I personally love it, but of course: it’s always better in Paris! Escargot can be served in so many ways, if you’re a little more food timid, you can try it with bread or stuffed in something else, just to say you did it, but if you’re down to try it, I think the best experience is to find somewhere that serves it to you still in the shell. Again, with EF, they organized a traditional French bistro dinner for us as a group at Au Bistrot de la Montagne, which is where I had it straight from the shell for the first time, and it was the most fun I’ve had while eating escargot!
5. Eiffel Tower Sparkle (with Champagne)
Saving the most iconic for last, you gotta see the Eiffel Tower sparkle! I know, duh! – I’m not sure that anyone ever has visited Paris and not had this on their list. Honestly though, the first time I saw it, sitting in the grass with friends, drinking champagne we just bought from a random guy out of plastic cups will be a core memory for the rest of my life. This is something I’d recommend doing every night if you can, especially since there are so many different viewpoints to see. You can secure your spot on the grassy side of Champ de Mars, watch the sparkle, and then walk across the Seine to the other side and watch again from the steps of Trocadero an hour later. I’ve never gotten tired of it, and I truly don’t think I ever will. Also did I mention – it’s free! So you don’t have to worry about tickets or anything, just show up and stand in awe.
The Tower sparkles every hour, on the hour for five minutes, but check the official times before you go because 1) the lights will turn off at night and 2) the sparkle times vary depending on the time of year, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Finally, a little bonus if you’re interested, there are always men walking around selling buckets of champagne, and while it does seem kind of sketch, I think it’s worth doing at least once. I’ve done it twice with friends, and we paid about 25 euros for a whole bottle and split it, just be sure to have cash if you’re interested. Now I can’t tell you if it’s just the special effects of the Tower, but honestly the champagne if had here is some of my favorite I’ve ever had!
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