6-Day Travel Itinerary in Paris (Day 1)
10 Jul, 2020
Day 1: Eiffel Tower - Arc de Triomphe - Champs-Élysées - Tuileries Garden.
I told many of my friends that Paris is my favorite city. Contrary to popular belief, it's not because I found Paris romantic. I adore this city so much because it offers almost all the things I desire: gorgeous architecture, beautiful gardens, golden palaces, lots of entertainment options and strong food culture. Not to mention all those world-class fashion brands that make girls scream.
When it comes to Paris, I can keep talking non-stop. To make things easier I break down the journey into multiple posts listed below:
(This is a 6-day itinerary suggestion based on my 2016 solo trip and 2019 Christmas visit)
- Day 1: The Sights That Everyone Talks About
(Eiffel Tower - Arc de Triomphe - Champs-Élysées - Tuileries Garden) - Day 2: The Versaille Palace
- Day 3: Local Spots and Museums (Panthéon - Luxembourg Gardens - Boulevard Saint-Germain - Rodin Museum - Musée d'Orsay)
- Day 4: Churches and Neighborhoods (Sainte-Chapelle - Notre Dame de Paris - La Conciergerie - Le Marais - Montmartre - Sacré-Coeur) — coming soon
- Day 5: The Louvre and Shopping (The Louvre Museum - Palais-Royal - Place Vendôme - Palais Garnier - Galeries Lafayette) — coming soon
- Day 6: Day trip to Provins — coming soon
- Food in Paris / Safety /Transportation — coming soon
Day 1: The Sights That Everyone Talks About
Eiffel Tower - Arc de Triomphe - Champs-Élysées - Tuileries Garden
These attractions were what many think about when it comes to Paris, the must-visit. They are also very close to one another that you might complete within 3 to 4 hours. Since my hotel was near the Eiffel Tower, that was the first thing I checked out. People have been talking about the Eiffel Tower forever and how it is always associated with romance. So to be honest, I was a little jaded and wasn’t really looking forward to it.
To actually see the Eiffel Tower in person, however, was a very different experience. I remembered the moment walking up to it, seeing how imposing yet graceful the tower was. I was absolutely amazed by the intricate details in the design. This is indeed an architectural masterpiece.
From the Eiffel Tower, walk for another 10 minutes and you will reach the Arc de Triomphe. Be sure to walk 360-circle around this arch as the perspective changes from different angles. It’s quite interesting.
Arc de Triomphe leads up to Champs-Élysées, a famous shopping street in Paris. However, since most of the brands there are similar to what I see in the U.S. - think Zara and H&M, I was not impressed.
As you walk on Champs-Élysées, you will soon notice the Petit Palais and the glorious golden door. It will make a perfect backdrop for wedding photography, which I guarantee you will see a lot in Paris ?.
Look towards the Seine river you will find the beautiful Pont Alexandre III
Keep walking on the Right Bank (known as "Rive Droite" in French, meaning the right side of the Seine river), you will find the Tuileries Garden. In spring, it’s beautiful with green trees lined up on both sides. During Christmas time, they often set up a Christmas market here.
Soon you will reach the magnificent Louvre Museum. Once upon a time, it was a palace where French Royalty lived.
The first day's sightseeing ended here as I arrived in the afternoon after a long 10-hour flight plus a 1-hour taxi ride into the city.
I had dinner at a restaurant that was featured in Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. It is called Les Cocottes near the Eiffel Tower, and yes in 2019 you still don't need reservation to dine in. They have seatings at a bar which was ideal for someone dining alone. No worries, I will definitely talk more about my food journey in Paris. Food deserves a post on its own. ?
