Paris is certainly one of the cities that you need to visit at least once in your life. It feels quite different in the summertime than in any other season, as it is deserted by Parisians and filled with tourists. Both selections have their own advantages, but if you don’t like the cold, make sure to avoid the winter months. Here are a few more helpful tips that will make your stay in Paris more enjoyable.
Travel Without Your Luggage
There are moments when we travel when we find ourselves stuck with our luggage. This can happen when we arrive, as our hotel room is still unavailable, or on the day that we leave since we don’t have a place to keep it anymore. It can also be the case if you only stop by for a day.
Visiting Paris with your hand luggage is not a good solution. First of all, you will rapidly get tired, and pulling it on uneven pavement will give you a headache. Not to mention that you can seriously damage it.
Why would you do so anyway, when there is a luggage storage at the train station Saint Lazare where you can leave them without any worries? Located halfway between the Musée d’Orsay and the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, it is central enough for you to not waste time when you need to pick it back up and head to the airport. In fact, you can get straight to Charles-de-Gaulle Airport by metro, directly from that station.
This will make your life easier, as you will be free to move anywhere you want and to visit any site freely.
Take Advantage of the Public Transportation System
Taking public transportation in certain cities is definitely not a good idea. But in Paris, this is exactly what you need to do if you want to discover all of its parts. The subway lines will take you just about anywhere you want to go, inside the city lines. Rarely will you have to walk more than five to ten minutes when you exit a subway station to get to a particular location.
This makes it a fast and relaxing way to travel. In fact, choosing to move around by car would be the worst decision that you could make. The traffic can be hellish and finding a place to park will make you waste a lot of time. It may be quite costly as well. Also Read.
Instead, visit the city by exiting at any subway station that you like and tour all around it by foot. This way, you will discover the unknown parts of Paris that only a few tourists have had the chance to see.
Take a Walk Through Its Parks
Paris is full of parks, although you wouldn’t be able to tell, as they are quite well hidden inside the city. But if you miss out on walking around them, it will be something important that you have left behind on your trip.
Parks are one of the reasons why Paris is such an amazing city to live in. Ask any Parisians where they go in summer time, and they will name you their favorite park, where they lay on the grass with friends and enjoy a picnic. One of the most famous is the Jardin du Luxembourg. There is a beautiful romantic song with its name in it that you should listen to before strolling its alleys. This park is located on the Left Bank and is one of the most loved ones in Paris.
It is partly due to its beautiful flower beds, statues, and fountains, as well as its large pond. Visitors head there to relax and admire its beauty. Let’s also mention Bois de Vincennes, which is the largest public park in Paris. This one is located on the eastern side of the city and features several lakes, an arboretum, a zoo, and a botanical garden. You won’t regret taking this advice.
Things to Do in a Nutshell
There are simply too many sites to visit and attractions to enjoy in Paris to create a complete list in this article. But let’s name a few to conclude so that you have a place to start. In terms of museums, there are three musts: The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Rodin House. Check out this post too.
In terms of free attractions, you have to visit a few churches, including the Basilique du Sacré Coeur and Notre-Dame de Paris.
Check out the Eiffel Tower and walk by the Seine River. Finally, try as many French restaurants as you can, to taste a unique cuisine that you will still dream of when you get back home.