Yes you’ve read that right! As of 19th July 2019, it was around 15 years since I last went to Paris. I wanted to share with you my experience of revisiting the tourist spots in Paris. At the age of 8 years old was the last time I visited, for my brothers 10th birthday with the parents and grandparents.
I got the chance to head back to Paris on a little holiday with my parents, as my Dad was on a bakery course a few days after. We had 4 days in Paris to explore and revisit the spots that we hadn’t seen for 15 years. It was so surreal being back in the city after such a long time, seeing all of the main sights again with my own eyes to remember them more.
REVISITING THE TOURIST SPOTS // THE TOP 9 IN PARIS TO SEE
Eiffel Tower
The focal point of Paris and one of the symbols of the City of Love. Everyone gathers around the base of the Eiffel Tower with a picnic or takes romantic pictures in front with their love. You can hop in the elevator to the viewpoint floors or the restaurant that is located on the first floor. We sadly didn’t go up the elevator or walk around the grounds of the tower like we did before but we did get to see it quite close up and from the river. Of course we saw it at night all lit up and pretty with their nighly light show before we left.
Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Arc De Triomphe
The Arc De Triomphe, also known as the Triumphal Arch of the Star, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. Standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l’Étoile—the étoile or “star” of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
The top of the Arc is the perfect place to get a good view of the city and especially Champs-Élysées. We unfortunately didn’t get the chance to go up to the viewpoint at the top like we did before but we got to explore the underneath and take lots of awesome picures from different angles.
Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France
Champs-Élysées
Champs-Elysees is a major shopping avenue in Paris, known for it’s mid to high range shops with various other avenues branching off for more high end and designer shops. Such as Chanel, Dior and Tagheuer as well as the luxury hotels. It is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris and runs between the Arc De Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. We had a look in a few of the shops as we walked down towards Place de la Concorde.
Location: Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75007 Paris, France
Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is one of the major public squares in Paris, France. Measuring 19 acres in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city’s eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées. It is mostly famous for the Luxor Obelisk (a 3,300 year old Egyptian obelisk erected on the square in October 1836), the surrounding prestigious hotels, and the two monumental fountains (Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves).
When we stopped at Place de la Concorde there was hoards of retro sports cars, including a whole section of Porsche – which me and dad loved and we took lots of pictures of them. Everyone from around Paris and maybe other parts of France too, came together with their cars and marveled over each one.
Location: Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris, France
Louvre
Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, known as the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and lots of other very famous paitings. The Louvre also has a shopping mall and underground grave located underneath the museum.
Surrounding the grounds of the Louvre is the Louvre Palace, is a former royal palace located on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris. Originally a fortress built in the medieval period, it became a royal palace in the fourteenth century under Charles V and was used from time to time by the kings of France as their main Paris residence. We didn’t go in the Louvre again but we did enjoy the outside grounds.
Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
READ MORE: A Guide To Exploring Paris In 4 Days
Basilica du Sacré Coeur
Also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. It is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. It is a very popular tourist attraction and the second most visited monument in Paris. Construction started in 1875 and was completed in 1914, it was also consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919.
There are great views from the top of the hilltop and you can also see the bascilica from the top of the Arc De Triomphe. We didn’t go inside but we enjoyed the views and the architecture. It was awesome to see Paris from a different side of the city.
Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
Montmartre
Montmartre is primarily known for its artistic history, the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on its summit, and as a nightclub district. The other church on the hill, Saint Pierre de Montmartre, built in 1147, was the church of the prestigious Montmartre Abbey. It is also were you can find Moulin Rouge windmill which is famously the home of the cabaret show of the same name.
Location: Monmartre, 75018 Paris, France
NAVIGATE YOUR WAY AROUND PARIS…
Open this map on your phone whilst in Paris to navigate your way around and visit each of these hotspots…
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret in Paris, France. The original house, which burned down in 1915, was co-founded in 1889 by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. The Moulin Rouge windmill is a major favourite amongst tourists even if they cannot see the show. Even if it’s taking pictures outside or visiting the gift shop which is located just up the small hill next to the windmill.
Location: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
READ MORE: A Guide To The Palace Of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is gorgeous and well worth it if you fancy a day trip out of the city. It’s not quite located in Paris but I’m including it for the sake of it. It’s the original residency of the royal family of France and was even home to Marie Antoinette and the French parliament.
Location: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France
Notre Dame
Notre-Dame de Paris, or simply known as Notre Dame means Our Lady Of Paris. It is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (is one of two remaining natural islands in the Seine within the city of Paris) in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The cathedral was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.
It is still a huge tourist attraction to this day, even after the tragic events of the 15th April 2019, when the structure of the cathedral caught fire.
Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
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Happy travels,
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