Paris is as romantic and glamorous as it’s portrayed in every movie. The 2000-year-old city mixes modern luxuries with charm-filled history. At times I would pause and realize the people that were walking around these same streets.
I’m here for work and have a sunny winter Saturday to explore. In my opinion, when the sun shines in Paris, you’d better go outside and take advantage of it. Especially in the winter. And the city is very easy to explore. I opted for walking, but they have trains, buses, bikes, scooters, etc.
Walking the city is pretty simple because none of the popular sites are very far apart. I set a rough plan to walk towards the Eiffel Tower stopping at the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Grand Palace, and countless gardens along the way. Before I knew it, I was 8.25 miles into a walk and I’d seen most of the famous sites in Paris.
Don’t let the number get to you because the other beautiful gift that Paris has to offer is sidewalk cafés. Whoever prioritized small tables where all of the seating is facing out for prime viewing was BRILLIANT. Incorporate some stops at a café for a coffee, mimosa, lunch, dessert and soak up a relaxing afternoon
Notre Dame – The Cathedral caught fire on April 15, 2019. They are currently in a reconstruction phase. While this prevents getting very close to the building, they’ve done an amazing job explaining what is going on, where some of the artifacts are, and how they are restoring the structure on walls surrounding the Cathedral. The courtyard in front of Notre Dame still provides a beautiful photo op for your trip.
Pantheon – A 15-minute walk from Notre Dame, the Pantheon was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The desire to outdo St Peter’s in Rome and St Paul’s in London, this massive structure sits at the top of a hill and is quite stunning. They have benches surrounding the structure, it’s a great spot to sit and soak up the beauty.
Louvre Museum – Sign up early if you plan to go into the Louvre. I visited after a Covid wave and they still had timed entry. But if you are like me, and didn’t want the brave the masses of people, it’s still work stopping by for the iconic photo of the building. Pass by, or grab some lunch and picnic in the grasses around the venue.
Eiffel Tower – On this trip, I walked by the Tower in the middle of the day. It was really busy with tourists. If you aren’t into the crowds, you can get a great photo op from several blocks away. If you go in the evening, it’s pretty stunning at sunset when the lights come on.
Arc de Triomphe – at west end of Champs-Élysées. The large arch is a stunning site for a photo op. And then stroll down Champs-Élysées to shop high-end fashion.
