Paris, one of the world’s most visited destinations, is renowned as the city of love and lights. Having visited four times, I’ve experienced its diverse offerings, from sightseeing and shopping to dining and exploring museums. And in this blog, I will be listing some of the top things to do in Paris.
The Eiffel tower
Located in Champ de Mars, 7th arrondissement, the Eiffel tower is an absolute must visit when you visit Paris. You can walk up, or take the lift up. I chose to take the lift up, it is a very long way up! And once you’re up there, there are spectacular views of the city. Also, the Eiffel tower has a restaurant (booking required in advance) and a small cafe. There is a secret room, known as Gustave Eiffel’s secret apartment, located on the top floor of the Eiffel tower, which the public can’t enter, but his office can be seen from the outside.
Fun fact: The Eiffel Tower is also famous for AJ Hackett performing a bungy jump off the Eiffel tower, which led to his arrest – in which he was released after a short time. This stunt gave way to the commercialization of the bungy jumping, as we know it today, with the first commercial site at the Kawarau Gorge in Queenstown.
Tip: Choose a nice day to visit, it won’t be as great if the weather is bad. Also, check the official site to make sure it isn’t closed on the day you plan to visit.
Dior Gallerie
Fashion lovers, this one is for you. Located in the 8th Arrondissement near Avenue Montaigne, this fashion museum showcases garments, outfits and accessories produced by the house of Dior, and tells you all about the history of Dior and how the brand started. At the end of the visit to the museum, there is a cafe offers a diverse selection of high-end gourmet dishes.
Being a fan of this brand, I have a few pieces from Dior myself, including a visor, a twilly scarf and a small bag (which was gifted to me by my aunt). If you are a fan of this brand, I highly recommend visiting this place and learn about the history of Dior. If you want to treat yourself also, I do recommend shopping at Dior, given the quality and the artistic nature of the pieces they sell.
YSL Musée
The YSL museum is another great place for fashion lovers to visit. This museum is, although much smaller than Christian Dior’s museum, it showcases a lot of fashion and couture garments created and designed by YSL himself, in addition to explaining the history of this brand. It is not terribly far by walk from Place Du Trocadero, in the 16th Arrondissement, which is where you can enjoy a great view of the Eiffel tower.
If you’re a YSL fan with some money to spend, I recommend purchasing a YSL bag, accessory, or clothing item. The thing I like about YSL is that their designs are classic, and are often easy to use in an outfit.
Galleries Lafayette
Galleries Lafayette is one of the world’s most famous shopping centers, known for selling mid to high end brands such as Chanel, Fendi, Prada – as well as local French brands, such as Tressé and Les Néréides. It is situated in the 9th Arrondissement, in the Opera District, within very close walking distance of both Place Vendome and Palais Garnier. Not only is it an excellent shopping destination with a wide variety of brands and price options, but it also sells high quality treats and liquor, with a small bottle of cognac even being priced around 8 Euros!
Additionally, you can go to the top of the complex to have a good view of the Eiffel tower – and take photos from up there! Moreover, on the 4th floor, you can book a free spot to take photos of the complex from a glass platform from the 3rd floor of the complex.
Place Vendome
Place Vendome is another prestigious precinct known for shopping in Paris. This square, located in the 1st Arrondissement, near Palais Garnier and Galleries Lafayette, features luxury boutiques like Schiaparelli, Cartier and Chanel. It is also home to the famous Ritz-Carlton hotel, in which many celebrities have there. I have shopped there once, and it was in the Schiaparelli boutique – which was actually an experience in itself, as it is one which celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner frequent this iconic boutique for shopping and fittings. If you have the funds and want to indulge, this precinct is a great shopping destination. I briefly visited during Christmas and admired the festive decor in the square, making it a wonderful place to be during the holiday season.
Moulin Rogue
The Moulin Rouge, located in the 18th Arrondissement in the Montmartre region, has night time entertainment shows, which are wildly entertaining, with dazzling outfits, outstanding performances, and musical segments. When you book it, it comes with at least two options – one with just champagne for the night (which is an optional add on), or one with dinner options. We chose the one with champagne as we decided not to have dinner there. It is also good that these shows are at night, and not in the day, not just because night time is more spectacular – but also due to convenience and potential issues arising in the day that create inconveniences – for one, when we were in Paris back in July last year, we were just so lucky to make it to the Moulin Rogue, because earlier in the day, the train that we took from Geneva to Paris, got caught up in the TGV attacks! For more info on tickets and prices, visit the site here.
Other places well worth visiting, as well as things to do:
- The Louvre – known for it’s art (including Mona Lisa), history and sculptures.
- Arc De Triomphe -For city views and insights into its history.
- Palais Garnier – to view art, learn about it’s history and explore the infamous opera theatre.
- Place Du Trocadero – for great, picturesque views of the Eiffel tower.
- Take a cruise of the river Seine.
Tips:
- Watch out for pickpockets, they are sneaky and use various ways to scam anyone out of money, even locals aren’t immune to such scams. Please be aware that with the recent expansion of the Schengen Zone (thanks to the European Union), the pickpocketing situation might get worse – given the majority of scammers in France come from countries in Eastern Europe with a questionable history – such as Bulgaria and Romania, so be alert at all times. I have done a blog on how to avoid scams, and you can read it here.
- Galleries Lafayette is an amazing place to not only go shopping, but the top of the shopping Centre has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower, and sells really nice chocolate and treats. Do note that going to the top should be done on a clear day, as fog or smoke will make visibility of the Eiffel Tower hard.
- It is highly recommended to book the Dior Gallerie, tickets can sell out, and you can buy a door ticket entrance if you are lucky. We were very lucky to have gotten in to Dior that day as we didn’t buy a ticket online in advance.
- For the best time to get a view of the Eiffel Tower, it is highly recommended to visit the viewpoints on a clear, sunny day. Fog or haze can obscure the tower, sometimes making it invisible, as noted in various Paris travel groups.
- The Moulin Rogue contains elements of nudity, and segments which could arguably be of a sexual nature. This may not be suitable for young children, or those who have religious or cultural sensitivities to nudity and sexual related themes. Also, there may be a certain dress code, be sure to check the website for more info.
NATALIE DUNN 
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