Day 1
Departed London Gatwick on an 8 AM flight to Paris Orly Airport.
The plane was nearly empty, so I had a window seat and a whole row to myself—thank you, Vueling! I traveled with underseat baggage only, but be careful—Vueling’s size limit is 40 x 30 x 20 cm. My bag was slightly oversized, but luckily, they didn’t check. I even managed to store it in the overhead compartment, which was a nice bonus.
The flight was delayed by about 20 minutes due to some technical issues, but after 50 minutes, we began our descent into Paris. You can just about spot the Eiffel Tower in the photo!
Paris Orly is closer to the city center than CDG, making it a great option—plus, it’s much quieter.
After landing, I took a bus to the terminal, then went through a short security queue and got a passport stamp (as London is no longer in the EU). But hey, it’s always nice to collect those stamps! There were a few duty-free shops, but I didn’t stop to look.
Next, I had to get to my hotel, Le General. Google Maps estimated an hour’s journey. Uber was quoting €40—probably a good option for a family of four, but a bit pricey for me. So, I decided to take the metro. It’s just a 2-3 minute walk from the airport, making it a convenient choice.
I bought the 5-day travel pass for €76, which gives access to all public transport—unfortunately, there’s no 4-day option. Maybe it would have been cheaper online, but at the time, I had no idea, ha! The ticket machines have an English translation option, making it easy to use, though there was a 15-minute queue.
Once I got the pass—just a simple paper ticket, not as fancy as I expected—I took the metro to my hotel.
The journey took around 50 minutes with one change, but the Paris Metro is superbly signposted, and with Google Maps, it was easy to navigate.
I arrived at Le General about two hours before check-in.
I thought I could at least drop my bags and then explore or relax in the lobby, but luckily, the room was ready. I was greeted with a welcome drink and some snacks, which was a nice touch.
By now, I was really hungry. I’ll admit, I’m pretty lazy when it comes to traveling—I’m not one of those people who likes to go off the beaten track. The hotel was in a lovely area, near Republic Square, and there was a McDonald’s nearby. I checked the menu and found they had a veggie option—a soy patty. Perfect! It was a little dry, but I didn’t mind. I also picked up a McFlurry. It had so much more chocolate sauce than in London, ha!
I still had more than half a day left, and with clear blue skies, I thought—let’s see how much I can fit in!
I took the metro to the Arc de Triomphe. Tickets to go to the top were €16, and I had to queue for around 30 minutes. Since this was off-peak season, I’d definitely recommend booking in advance if you’re visiting in summer.
There are 284 narrow steps to reach the top, so only take this route if you’re fit—I saw plenty of people struggling! There are lifts available as well. At the top, there’s a small gift shop, but it doesn’t sell water, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids beforehand.
The view was incredible—perfect for admiring the city and watching the chaos of the roundabout below!
Next, I visited Galeries Lafayette, just a 10-minute metro ride from the Arc.
Near Galeries Lafayette is the Palais Garnier, so I took a quick photo before heading inside.
Galeries Lafayette has all the designer shops—you name it, it’s there.
Think Harrods, but on a bigger scale, even the roof is nice. It’s also free to go up to the rooftop for a stunning city view. If you can’t make it up the Arc, this is a great alternative—and it’s free! Plus, there are public toilets inside, which is always a bonus.
Opposite Galeries Lafayette, there’s a food court under the same name.
Feeling hungry, I decided to check it out. If you love croissants, pastries, éclairs, or babka, this is the place for you. For me, all the sweet treats were delicious—rich but not overly sweet. Prices ranged from €5-€7 per treat.
I decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel to relax.
It had been a hectic day, so it was good to take a break and avoid burning out. But if I’d been feeling more energetic, I probably would have gone out to eat and see the sights.
Day 2
Today I had pre-booked the Louvre for the afternoon.
It was €22 for a timed entry ticket. I thought booking ahead would help avoid queues—more on that later, ha. The journey from the hotel only took about 20 minutes. I checked Google Maps and decided to see a few sights along the way since it was a lovely sunny day.
I walked along Rue de Rivoli, passed Hôtel de Ville, and a few other beautiful buildings—I wasn’t exactly sure what they all were, but I really think exploring Paris on foot is worth it. I then strolled along the Seine, and from the outside, saw the Monnaie de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame, and crossed the Pont des Arts (a scenic bridge over the Seine).
There was about a 30-minute queue to go inside Notre-Dame, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the time.
I walked over to the Louvre and was seriously thirsty, but couldn’t find anywhere selling water.
Ended up paying €3 at Subway just for a bottle. I didn’t realise how massive the whole area around the Louvre was, but it was actually really nice to wander around and take it all in.
At the entrance, there were queues everywhere. Signs showed which line to join depending on your ticket time. I thought having a timed entry would mean less waiting, but I still had to queue for almost an hour—so just keep that in mind if you’ve got other stuff planned.
That said, the glass pyramid entrance is definitely worth seeing. If you’re in a rush though, there’s a quieter entrance around the back with much shorter lines.
Inside the Louvre, it was packed—and absolutely massive.
I was in awe of how many portraits and sculptures there were. Honestly, even a full day wouldn’t be enough to see it all. I was in full tourist mode, so I grabbed the free map and went exploring. Each painting has a short description, which is helpful, but there was also a 20-minute queue for the audio guide. In hindsight, I wish I’d picked that up.
After a while of browsing, I went to see the Mona Lisa. There wasn’t a proper queue, just a huddle of people taking photos. Once you get your snap, you’re kind of ushered out—but you can go back for another look. Funny thing though, the Mona Lisa I saw in person looked different to the one I captured in my photo. Maybe it’s just my perception.
Also—just a heads up—this is my first blog, so apologies if my writing style is a bit waffly! I’ll try and be more concise as I go.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t spend too long inside the Louvre—it was just so busy.
I spoke to a couple of people at the ticket desk, and they said it’s much quieter early in the morning, later in the evening, or in winter. Might try one of those times if I visit again.
Once you exit the Louvre, you actually walk straight into a shopping centre. I stopped off at Ladurée for some macarons—and wow, they were amazing. The flavours and customer service were top notch. I’d recommend orange blossom and jasmine tea if you’re into floral flavours. I also grabbed a passion fruit and mango bubble tea which was really refreshing.
There was a beautiful crystal shop too—nice for a quick browse, but very expensive. From inside the shopping centre, there are signs pointing towards the Jardin des Tuileries. Definitely worth a visit. It’s also a great viewpoint to see the Place de la Concorde. From here, you can also walk to the Musée de l’Orangerie.
From here, I decided to walk to Westfield.
I’ve been to the one in Barcelona, so I wanted to see how the Paris version stacked up. It was about a 25-minute walk, and honestly, totally worth it—you get to see some unexpected sights along the way.
On my walk, I passed a Christian Louboutin boutique, the Sculpture Écoute, and the Musée du Louvre metro entrance. Westfield itself is pretty big, spread out over three floors. I popped inside mainly to find something to eat, but the food options were a bit disappointing.
I ended up getting a veggie “Naanwich” from KFC—I’d seen the advert back at the hotel and thought I’d give it a go. There was a deal so ended up getting two haha. Also grabbed some tacos while I was there. Bit of a random combo, but it did the job.
I checked my phone and had already done around 17,000 steps, so I decided to head back to the hotel and chill for an hour—I had an evening tour booked to go up the Eiffel Tower and see the lights in the dark. I paid €36 to go all the way to the top. Just a heads up: don’t bring any large luggage with you as there’s no storage. You can save the ticket to your phone too, so no need to worry if you can’t print it out.
The Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the start of every hour after dusk—definitely worth seeing. I left the hotel two hours before my start time since the tower isn’t in the centre of Paris and I wanted to enjoy the journey. I got off at Alma–Marceau Metro stop to see the Flame of Liberty, which has become an unofficial Princess Diana memorial. There’s a great photo opportunity here too. From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the entrance of the tower. It’s a really scenic walk with so many amazing photo spots. Just make sure to wrap up warm—it was so windy, ha.
Once I got to the entrance there was a security stop where bags are checked. You do not need tickets for this, but it allows you to see the feet of the tower and you can look up. Here are all the ticket booths to if you have not purchased beforehand. There are also unoffical street sellers selling light up Eiffel Towers for a 1 Euro. I purchased one, small souvenior. You can haggle, all depends how much you want too. There are sepearte queues depending on what ticket you have purchased as there are stairs too. I went to the correct queue passed some more airport style secuirty and then queued for 30mins to take the lift to the first floor.
Day 3
One of the highlights of our journey is a visit to the city’s historic district. Here, we delve deep into the city’s past, exploring ancient ruins, centuries-old monuments, and fascinating museums. We’re not just observers, but active participants in the story of this place, each step bringing a new discovery, a new connection to the people who once walked these streets.
Day 4
Our journey wouldn’t be complete without immersing ourselves in the local cuisine. From traditional street food to gourmet dining experiences, the city’s culinary scene is as diverse as it is delicious. Each meal is a celebration of the city’s culture, a blend of flavors that tells a story of its history and people.
