Paris, the city of love or the city of light. Love it or hate it. Paris is a vibrant place packed with things to do.  If you are visiting for the first time or are a frequent travler, there are ways to beat the crowds and enjoy your time no matter what your interests.

Transportation is amazing in Paris, from the airports to the outer cities. When you arrive in Paris, there are a few options for buying tickets for the metro system. You have the choice of buying a prepaid card or a round trip single use pass, which also comes in singles or packs of ten. There is also another option, which is my favorite, a multi day pass for unlimited use in the city center. Officials will, from time to time, board the train cars and ask everyone for the proof of a paid ticket or pass. If you are found without, you will be issued a ticket on the spot. Tickets do not cost that much. Just do the right thing!  Navigating the rail system is Paris is painless. With a simple Google search, you can tell you what train and how many stops away your destination is.

If you want to see the major sights in Paris, your short list most likely has The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and The Arc de Triomphe. These are my suggestions for making the most of these popular landmarks.

The Eiffel Tower

The iconic wrought iron structure  named after the engineer, whose company built the tower, is unofficial the symbol of Paris.  In my opinion, paying to go to the top isn’t  worth the time you will be standing in line or the money. The photos you will be taking from the top won’t be as good as other spots in Paris where The Eiffel Tower  is part of your scenery.  There has been a wall around the tower since 2016 to protect from terrorism.  If you do need an Instagram worthy picture of The Eiffel Tower, then my suggestion  is to talk a walk around the far outside to get the full tower in frame. The top of the Arc de Triomphe also has great views of the Eiffel Tower and city from above.

The Louvre

The Louvre is a huge museum. You can not see it all in one visit. After you buy you tickets far in advance, do your research on what exhibits or pieces you want to see. There are many guides and maps that can help you navigate the four floors of art. The famous pyramid entrance is not the only way to get into the museum. There are two ways to enter underground on metro stops 1 and 7 and have far less wait time then the main pyramid entrance that normally has one to two hour long lines with not protection from the sun and rain. There are also ways to skip the line all together with a guided tour. My suggestion and personal favorite is on level -1 and level 1, the Egyptian art collections. In room 338 on the ground floor level is one of the largest sphinxes outside of Egypt. If you are an art lover you can not go wrong with this amazing display of art. The Louvre is not just the home of the Mona Lisa. Take time to plan ahead to make the most of your time.

Arc de Triomphe

The historic Arc de Triomphe is an honor for those who have fought for France. Their names are engraved in the walls and and the top of the arc are the names of the generals and wars fought. Heading to the top is much cheaper than the Eiffel Tower and has a great view. Take time to read the history of this great monument while you are there.

If you are looking for something  slightly off the beaten path, then look no further than this well-known secret, Latin Quarter. Hidden in this corner of Paris is an amazing nightlife, delicious restaurants, and top-notch bakeries.

Other suggestions  for things to do around Paris are the catacombs. This underground  attraction has the remains of millions of Parisians. Beautifully arranged bones await you in a labyrinth twenty meters underground.

If you are looking for a nice stroll, I recommend Luxembourg Garden. The park sits on twenty-five Hectares of land and is divided into English and French gardens. There are plenty of chairs to relax and take in the lush views. I could spend all day here. The garden  is free to enter and also has guided tours led by one of the parks gardeners.

The iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral has stood for 860 years. There was a fire in 2019, but it is now open again to the public  after a lengthy repair. Inside, there are many great works of art and Gothic architecture. Spend time to see everything this grand cathedral holds, such as the stained glass windows, the flying buttress, and keep an eye out for gargoyles.

There is so much to discover in Paris,  you will need more than one trip. Take time to walk back roads to  find hidden gems. Stop at a cafe and have a drink while the world goes by. Paris is beautiful and can be anything you make it.