Paris, France’s capital, is both a major European city and a global centre for art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. The Seine River and wide boulevards cut through its 19th-century cityscape. A world-renowned European country. It has been dubbed “the city of love” by the greatest poets, writers, actors, and musicians who found inspiration in this city’s mesmerising beauty. The scent of freshly baked croissants wafts through the air, and flowers adorn the cobblestone streets. If you ask anyone in the Philippines which country they want to visit, Paris, France will be at the top of their list. I have visited Paris with my family and I am excited to share with everyone this Paris Itinerary for 5 days.
France Visa Requirement
As a citizen of a third-world country, we needed a visa to enter France. We have applied for a Schengen Visa in London. The process was quick, and we got our visa approved within two weeks.
The supporting documents we provided are as follows:
- Pre-requisites
- Passport must be valid for another six months before you depart the departure date
- If you are not a national of your country of residence: proof that you are legally resident in that country (e.g. BRP for UK residents).
- Purpose of travel/stay
- Proof of travel. A confirmed return ticket to France (plane, ferry, bus, etc…).
- Reservation confirmation of an organised trip or any other document describing the planned programme. We have provided copies of our booked trip to the Eiffel Tower and other booked & paid tours.
- Socio-professional situation
- An employment letter dated and, on the employer’s, headed paper confirming, employment status, salary etc.
- For my children: We requested a letter from their school, confirming that they are currently enrolled.
- Funds
- Last 3 months’ worth of bank statements (UK current account) showing your full name and address and proving that you have enough funds for the whole duration of the trip, or traveller’s cheques presenting the same guarantees.
- Accommodation
- Hotel booking from Booking.com, showing your full name as well as dates and address of stay.
- Travel insurance
- Travel insurance certificate, use the SafetyWing search widget below to find the travel insurance that best suits your needs.
If you want to know if you need a visa to enter France, please check here:
Paris from London Through EasyJet
We booked our flight through Skyscanner, which is very secure and offers the best flight deals. EasyJet was the airline we used; for a return flight for four people, we only paid £200.24, which was the best deal we could find.
We arrived in Paris at around 9:30 in the morning. We had booked an airport taxi to take us from the airport to our hotel after our 2.5-hour flight from London.
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Accommodations with Booking.com
HotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon is the perfect choice for travelers seeking comfort, affordability, and accessibility during their visit to Paris. Situated just a stone’s throw away from the Porte de Châtillon, this hotel boasts a prime location that allows guests to easily access some of Paris’s most iconic landmarks and attractions.
The hotel offers a range of well-maintained and cosy rooms that cater to different accommodation needs. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or a family, you’ll find a suitable room that provides a comfortable and peaceful environment for a restful night’s sleep. The rooms are designed with simplicity in mind and come equipped with essential amenities such as comfortable bedding, en-suite bathrooms, and flat-screen TVs.
During our stay we have booked the Cabrio Family Room with Private Bathroom it has 2 single and 1 double beds. The metro station is only about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Every morning, we’d go to a bakery for croissants and macaroons. There are also coffee shops on the way to the train station where we would eat breakfast.
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Getting around Paris
Taking public transportation is the most cost-effective way to get around Paris. We did not encounter any Metro or Subway delays during our trip to Paris. Buses were also extremely dependable. I would recommend purchasing a “Carnet,” which is a 10-ticket pass that is now only 15 euro, which is significantly less expensive than purchasing a 2 euro single ticket.
Paris Itinerary Day 1 – Settling in the hotel
We stayed in the hotel room for a few hours to relax before heading out for late lunch. When we arrived in Paris, it was raining, so we waited for it to stop before heading out for food.
Av. de la Prte de Châtillon and Av. Jean Moulin are lined with restaurants and shops. We chose Crêperie Rouge Pomme for our first French lunch/dinner, because it was the closest one and was not that busy. We were so hungry that when the food arrived, we didn’t bother taking any more photos.
After eating, we walked around the neighbourhood and bought some gourmet breads and crisps for late-night snacks.
Paris Itinerary Day 2 – Pont De Arts – Louvre Pyramid – Champ’s Elysée – Arc de Triomphe
We started our day early as we know how busy day 2 is going to be.
Our first stop was Pont de Arts. We took Metro 4 from Porte d’Orleans then got off in Saint-Germain-des-Pres. From there we walked down the road to Pont de Arts bridge. We just followed Google Maps for directions, it was about 10 minutes walk, but it took us longer than that because there are so many beautiful establishments I could not resist from stopping and having a quick look around.
The Pont des Arts
The Pont des Arts, also known as the Passerelle des Arts, is a pedestrian bridge in Paris that spans the Seine. This is a well-known bridge that has appeared in films such as Amelie (2001) and the Korean television series Lovers in Paris. Couples are known to inscribe their names on the lock and then throw the key into the Seine River. Apparently, due to the popularity of the bridge and the love gesture, in 2014 a portion of the bridge collapsed due to the weights of the padlocks. In 2015 the city begun to remove the locks and putting love locks on the bridge is no longer permitted.
The picture on the left is just some of the few love locks that was left on The Pont des Arts bridge.
There are other ways to express love and treat your partner with extra care. While cruising down the Seine River, you can book a three-course dinner. I highly recommend the tours listed below; they are well worth it and are ideal for couples and families.
The Louvre Pyramid
Next in our Paris Itinerary is The Louvre Pyramid. We took a 10-minute walk from the Pont de Arts bridge to the Louvre Pyramid. The Pyramide du Louvre is a large glass and metal structure that serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum.
The Louvre Museum, known simply as the Louvre, is one of the world’s most famous and prestigious art museums. Located in the heart of Paris, France, it is not only a cultural icon but also a historic monument. The Louvre is renowned for its vast and diverse collection of art and historical artefacts, spanning from ancient civilizations to the 19th century.
Visiting the Louvre: The Louvre is a massive museum, and it’s advisable to plan your visit in advance. It’s recommended to purchase timed skip the line tickets it is now only £14.70/person (prices Sept. 2023). I would highly recommend getting timed skip the line tickets as you do not want to be waiting for hours in the line.
The museum is divided into several wings and levels, so it’s a good idea to have a plan for what you want to see. Many visitors aim to see the highlights, such as the “Mona Lisa,” but there is much more to explore beyond the famous paintings.
Jardin des Tuileries
We took a break at the Jardin des Tuileries, a lovely garden that once housed a palace that burned down in the 1800s. The Jardin des Tuileries, often simply referred to as the Tuileries Garden, is one of the most famous and beautiful public gardens in Paris, France. Located in the 1st arrondissement, between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden is a historical and cultural gem in the heart of the city.
Then we had a quick meal at Jardin des Abords du Petit Palais, which opens onto a charming interior garden. They serve a simple and original menu and are a true haven of peace in the bustling Champs-Elysées district.
We then walk down the Champs-Élysées and past Place de la Concorde. I had no idea what Luxor Obelisk was when I first saw it. I just thought, it looks great and important to be in the middle of Place de la Concorde. Then I discovered that the French had stolen the Luxor Obelisk from the Egyptians over 3,000 years before.
Champs-Élysées
The Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous avenues in the world and is often referred to as “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” It is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, and stretches for approximately 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Visit the Arc de Triomphe at Place de l’Étoile. Reach the top of the Champs-Élysées and feast your eyes on breath-taking panoramas of the world-renowned City of Love.
That concludes our Day 2 in Paris, there are lots of walking and long queues. I would highly suggest for you to consider buying “Skip The Line” tickets. There are a lot to see in Paris skipping the lines will give you more time to explore this beautiful city.
Paris Itinerary Day 3 – The Eiffel Tower – Moulin Rouge – Montmartre
Paris Itinerary Day 3 necessitates endurance and patience. On our Day 2 city tour, I discovered that bringing a comfortable slipper will be beneficial. I had no idea how long and difficult day 3 would be; fortunately, I trusted my instincts and brought flat slippers. You’ll understand why in a moment.
The Eiffel Tower
The tower has 3 floors, there are restaurants and café shops on each floor, so you will not go hungry or thirsty. I counted 704 steps to reach the second floor of the tower. I wanted to go to the third floor but I did not know it is only accessible via the elevator. So we missed the opportunity to see what’s on the 3rd floor. The views on the second floor was still amazing. You will have a 360 views of the city. It took us about 4 hrs to finish our Eiffel Tower tour, we started at around 11am then back to the ground at 2pm. Told you bringing slippers was my best decision.
How to get to The Eiffel Tower
The route from our hotel to the Eiffel Tower was different. We walked down to Jean Moulin to catch the T3a Tram instead of taking the metro. After getting off at Pont du Gaigilano, we walked to the next bus station and boarded bus C. The bus stops at the Champs de Mars Eiffel Tower; you must walk for approximately 10 minutes to the tower where people are queuing to climb the Eiffel Tower.
We did not book a Skip the line tickets so we were in the queue for almost an hour. There are 2 options when climbing the tower by stairway or the elevator (Direct Access). Kiko (my kids father) said we should do it by stairway, it was the cheapest and we can enjoy the experience more. Which was to me was a fair point. So I agreed, we are climbing the 984′(330 meter high) tower on foot.
My Eiffel Tower Tour Tips
If you are planning to climb the Eiffel Tower please remember these tips.
- Buy the skip the line tickets, honestly, do not waste your time in the queue.
- Wear comfortable shoes, trainers or flats slippers.
- Go all in. Summit the tower. Do not be like me. Do not miss the opportunity of the views of the 3rd floor.
- If you are physically fit, climb the stairwell; otherwise, take the elevator. The price difference is hardly noticeable. Because I was too lazy to check the prices, I assumed it was that high and agreed to take the stair way.
- Book guided tours because the Tower is more than just a structure. Its history tells the story of how it became one of Paris’s most well-known tourist attractions.
Montmartre also known as The Mountain of Art
After hours spent on the Eiffel tower, the next stop on our Paris Itinerary is Montmartre.
Montmartre is a large hill in the northern part of Paris. It is known for its artistic history. I am not an fan of art but I do know how to appreciate them. The only famous person I know that was from Montmartre is Pablo Picasso. A famous basilica, The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre sits on top of the hill. Montmartre is also Paris’ nightclub district.
Before walking up the hill of Montmarte we decided to have a quick lunch at QUICK. Quick and simple, no booking required fast food in Paris. We were starving, it was a quick fix to “fill the hole”.
When you reach the top of Montmartre, you will see many aspiring painters and artists displaying their works. Some artists will approach tourists and offer to draw their pictures on the spot; it can be expensive, but you can bargain. My son’s caricature painting cost us only 30 euros.
When we walked on the high street of Montmartre I saw many night clubs, one of which is the famous Moulin Rouge. The street also has a lot of shops that sells adult toys. Be very cautious when you go around this area with young teenagers as you will be bombarded with questions you might not be prepared to answer.
From Montmartre we then took the M4 metro from Chateau Rouge to Denfert-Rochereau where we had our dinner. After dinner me and my daughter Zoe walked back to our hotel while Kiko and Yael rented an electric scooter and scoot back to the hotel.
Here are more Paris Itinerary travel tips
- Do not plan to visit the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre on the same day. You will miss out on a lot if you do this. There are so many interesting things around Montmartre, but we were exhausted from climbing the Eiffel Tower and didn’t have the energy to explore it.
- Do not miss seeing The Moulin Rouge! I saw it in London and it was incredible!
- Book a tour guide; there are many hidden gems that only locals or tour experts are aware of. Booking tour guides will help you discover these hidden gems, making your trip to Montmartre more worthwhile. Here are my suggestions for guided tours.
Paris Itinerary Day 4 – Louvre Museum – Cathedral du Notre Dame – Catacombes de Paris
Our Paris Itinerary Day 4 began late. This was due to our exhaustion from the previous day’s touring.
Louvre Museum is the first in our itinerary. It is home of the most famous artworks in the world, such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The museum also has a huge collections of sculptures like Venus de Milo and The Adonis.
We got in the museum at around 12:30pm, you can buy the entry ticket from the museum or you can get it online. Our entry ticket was at 2pm so we just sat down the floor waiting for our turn to go to the museum.
Visiting the Louvre: The Louvre is a massive museum, and it’s advisable to plan your visit in advance. It’s recommended to purchase timed skip the line tickets it is now only £14.70/person (prices Sept. 2023). I would highly recommend getting timed skip the line tickets as you do not want to be waiting for hours in the line.
The museum has 21 galleries, it will take approximately 2 hours to go around to really enjoy and appreciate the arts.
The Mona Lisa I believe is the most protected piece of art in Louvre Museum, they have put barriers around it so no one can get close to it.
Cathedral du Notre Dame
After feasting our eyes on stunning works of art from around the world, we proceeded to our next destination, the Cathedral du Notre Dame. Many important religious and historical artefacts are housed in the cathedral, including the crown thorn that is thought to have been worn by Jesus Christ. But for me I want to see Notre Dame because of the animated film, The Hunched Back of Notre Dame. Apparently, when we went to see the famous cathedral, it was still closed due to the fire that happened on April 15, 2019.
Please Note: The reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is announced for 2024. A Te Deum is planned for 15 April 2024, exactly 5 years after the fire. The supervision of the restoration is entrusted to the architect Philippe Villeneuve. Source: ParisInfo.Com
Catacombs of Paris
We took a 20 minute bus ride from Saint-Michel Notre to the Catacombs of Paris.
The catacombs is located underground of Paris. Approximately six million skeletons are in Paris underground catacombs. There are 131 steps to go down. Certain restrictions are in place please make sure you read them before visiting the Catacombs of Paris.
Mass graves in the Les Halles district, such as those in the now-closed Saints Innocents Cemetery, were overcrowded with improperly disposed of bodies in the late 1700s, creating unsanitary conditions that led to the spread of disease. Saint Innocents was closed down, and in 1786, the Paris police moved all the remains buried in the cemetery to an underground network of ancient limestone quarries – the now-famous Catacombs of Paris, located south of the former city gate near Place Denfert-Rochereau. Source: BBC.com
Paris Itinerary Day 5 – Jardin d’Acclimatation – Final day
Our flight back to London was not until 9pm so after packing all our luggages, we headed out for lunch and went to Jardin D’Acclimatation.
Jardin D’Acclimatation is a theme park like Disneyland but smaller and less expensive. There are 45 activities available in the park, which was fine with us because we’re just trying to make the most of our time in Paris before returning to the UK.
There are small play area for small children and fun rides for young teenagers. If you are on a budget Jardin D’Acclimatation is a good alternative to Disneyland, as you can see my children had fun. If you are interested to know more about the list of activities they have you can read about it on their website.
Where to eat in Paris : Favourite Restaurants
There are so many restaurants and cafés in Paris that finding a place to eat was never a problem. We did not pre-book a table because we walk around a lot; instead, we go to any restaurant that has a table for us. We tried a lot of restaurants, and they were all great, but there are a few that stand out. Because they were delicious, surprisingly inexpensive and the total experience were just amazing.
Léon (63 Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris, France)
Best place for MOULES! Honestly it was so good, I am drooling right now. They served the Moules in big bowls with bread or chips. It was my first time trying French Moules and it has been my favourite Moules dish and I even learned how to cook them myself.
Maison Peret- Bistrot à Vins
If you have not tried Escargots and want to try it for the first time without being disappointed, then Maison Peret- Bistrot à Vins is your place. The restaurant was so busy when we got there, we did not book a table but we really wanted eat there, the waitress was so accommodating that she has offered us a table right away.
Roger La Grenouille
Another great food to try in France is there frog dishes. Roger La Grenouille is a highly rated frog restaurant, booking a table is highly recommended. The food were so good, we ordered all 4 desserts they have on the menu at that time.
Our five days vacation in Paris was all worth it. I know there are a lot that we have not seen but we enjoyed our time in Paris. I will definitely come back and will make sure to skip the lines and book guided tours to learn more about the history of this gorgeous city of love! To find out what activities available in Paris, use the activity widget below.
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