Budget trip to Paris

Co-existence of classics and modern architecture: The Louvre

For many of us, Paris is the dream city, and we want to go there at least once in our lifetime. The city is majestic in true sense and everyone who has been there, fall in love with the city instantaneously. But most people think Paris is very expensive and unreachable. On the contrary, Paris is pocket friendly and can be toured on budget. So, those who thinks that Paris can be only seen through movies, here is your deal breaker.

‘Paris Pass’ is actually that deal breaker. Metro rail is the lifeline of this city and has connectivity beyond the main city. Next, your phone needs to have a local data package, and Google Map is the ‘Pied Piper’

1. Louvre Museum

World’s largest art museum, Louvre Museum houses more than 40,000 artifacts and a must-go place. It is located on the bank of River Seine, approximately 230 years old, gets a footfall of average 10 million visitors every year. With these exciting facts in mind when you step onto its courtyard, magic happens. The long rectangular palace has a crystal pyramid at its center, which is the newest addition of this museum. Paris Pass gives you free entry to this place. The museum also has cafeterias, restaurants, souvenir shops, library where you can sit and relax awhile in between the trolls. For a complete tour, you might need 3-4 days.

2. Eiffel Tower

Paris is Eiffel Tower. Grandness of this iron structure can put you in awe. Before I visited Paris, I used to think, what’s so special about that tower? It’s merely a structure! But when I stood in front of it, I realized how gorgeous it is. Especially when the light show starts after dawn, at every hour till midnight. There are lift services and restaurants on the levels of the tower, you can book it online, and can enjoy the majestic view of the city.

3. Montmartre

Like we name sections of our city as sector in India, in Paris, it is arrondissement. So, Montmartre is in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. This is basically a hilly area of Paris, famous for its scenic beauty, churches, nightlife and gardens. This is a little off place from the proper city of Paris and hardly 3-4 mile from Eiffel Tower. One can take bus to reach there. There is a free rope-way service to reach the top of the hill where you will find the white domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. If you have watched Emily in Paris in Netflix, you can surely relate this place where Emily and Mindy does their night out party. The famous Moulin Rouge is also in this area. There is a flea market at the foothill of Montmartre. Not many tourists visit this place, but it’s worth visiting. You can do the pocket friendly shopping. Just that you need to be extra cautious while handling the money and while bargaining.

4. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

This cathedral is at the 4th arrondissement of Paris, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. This place is famous for remaining the witness of numerous historic events since 1163 AD like coronation of French Emperor Napoleon, shelter during the World War II, French Revolution and so on. It is famous for its size, antiquity and architectural importance. With the recent fire in 2019, the cathedral is temporarily closed for visitors, but it’s a must place to visit. Even from outside, the great, grand structure is will leave you awestruck.

5. Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the famous monuments in Paris, built at the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues of the main Paris city. It is built in the memory of the soldiers who fought at WWII and French Revolution. The roof of this monument is open for visitors and stairs to the roof is a fine example of architecture and engineering. Once you start climbing the stairs, you cannot stop, the narrow stairs are unidirectional and have no landing in between. After climbing 280 stairs, you reach to the small war museum and from there you can go to the roof. Once you reach the roof, it’s mesmerizing. You can see the entire Paris, like a bird’s eye view.

6. Champs-Élysées

The Champs-Élysées is the famous avenue of Paris, which connects the Arc de Triomphe with the Place de la Concorde and is considered to be one of the world’s most famous and expensive commercial streets. All famous fashion brands have their most expensive stores on this avenue. Window shopping and the rich buttery smell of croissants are free of cost.

7. Musée du Parfum Fragonard

The museum of perfume. French are known for their passion for fragrance and this museum is a hidden gem. Located in the Opéra Garnier quarter of Paris, it’s a real olfactory journey. It also has the perfume shop souvenir store.

8. Boutique Lindt Paris Opera

If you are a chocolate lover, this place is a must-go. Unlimited types of chocolate, and you can pick your favourites.

9. Le Musee Gourmand Du Chocolat – Choco-Story

This is another not so famous place but worth visiting. Chocolate-themed museum which has galleries of cocoa history, and chocolatiers offers chocolate tastings, tours and quick workshop of chocolate making.

10. Vineyard experience

If you are interested to know more about wine and champagne, you need to visit Reims, a city not too far from Paris. Reims is situated in northeastern France’s Grand Est region. It’s the unofficial capital of the Champagne, the wine-growing region, and many of the champagne makers are headquartered there, offers tasting and cellar tours. Daily train runs from Paris to Reims and there are plenty of vineyards from where you can choose a complete guided tour. Not all vineyards have English tours but mostly have. Other preferred languages are French, Spanish and Flemish. Taittinger is recommended as this century old family-owned champagne and winemaker houses their cellar in one of the UNESCO heritage limestone caves. The experience is unique and at the end of the tour you can taste the champagne and wine they make.

Reims has another Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims which is a much smaller version to that of the Paris’ but for over 1000 years, almost all the kings of France were coronated in this Cathedral. You can stay there for a night or two, or can come back to Paris on the same day.

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10 places you don’t want to miss in Paris