Paris is my absolute favorite city and I wanted to share my favorite spots. These photos were taken on my last trip to Paris in spring of 2017.
Montmartre
The view from the steps of the Sacré Coeur
Located in the 18th arrondissement, is (in my opinion) a funky area, known as Montmartre. Of course they have the cutest little shops, but the two most popular spots are Sacré Coeur and le mur des je t'aime (the I love you wall in English).
The Sacré Coeur is a beautifully-constructed Roman Catholic Church. The city view from the steps is breathtaking! Just beware of the crazy amount of steps to get to the top!
Nôtre Dame
Standing at the entrance of the Nôtre Dame
Located on the 4th arrondissement (l'île de la cité), the Nôtre Dame is a classic and must-see! The inside of the cathedral is beyond beautiful with stained glass windows and intricate Gothic architecture. There was even a sermon being held as we walked through!
The Seine River
The little stands along the river
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This river runs throughout the entire city. They always have little ferries going downstream, but my favorite part are the little stands alongside the river. Most of the vendors are nice people who are selling cute little trinkets. I bought these adorable prints from one person. I highly recommend walking down by the river bank and looking around!
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore
Located opposite from the Nôtre Dame, the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore was fun to look through, as it is the only English-printed bookstore in the city. The store opened in 1951 and has become a meeting place for English-speaking individuals across the world. This was a must-see, especially when you simply need a break from French. The pink trees outside of the store (as seen in the photo above), were spotted all throughout the city and were most likely the cause of my allergies, but beautiful nonetheless!
Le Louvre
The famous glass pyramids of the Louvre
Located in the 1st arrondissement, le Louvre has become the largest museum in the world. It has been said that there are around 7,000 pieces of art throughout the museum, and more than half were created by French artists. Among the most popular pieces is the Mona Lisa, which is literally protected by a bulletproof case and is surrounded by a large crowd of people at all times. Just beware of pick-pockets near the Mona Lisa because of the crowd and close proximity to each other. This was a beautiful museum, a place where you almost need return to because there's too much to look at in one go-around.
Arc de Triomphe
Located in the arrondissement, the Arc de Triomphe is another popular landmark of the city. It is actually located on its own little patch of land in the middle of a very busy intersection. You have to take stairs underground in order to get up close. Here, you can read the names of battles and the soldiers that fought in them during Napoleon's rule. Down the street is the Champs Élysées which is full of designer stores and tourists. It is cool to walk down and look around, but it has become a very overcrowded area.
The Bridges!
Le pont d'Alexandre III- (the Alexander III Bridge) located across from the National Military Museum (Le musée d'armée)
I know this sounds strange, but the bridges were one of my favorite parts of the city. There are so many that cross the Seine River and each one looks very similar to the one shown in this photo. The amount of detail that went into building this city is truly amazing and something worth appreciating.
Le Tour Eiffel
My friend Erin and I, on the best day of our lives
In Paris, always called the Eiffel Tower in "Le Tour Eiffel" in order to avoid some disappointing looks from the locals. This is clearly the place you need to visit at least once while in Paris. As you all know, it's the most popular landmark of the city and you have to snap at least one picture of it. I recommend standing on the green lawn on the one side across from the Eiffel Tower in order to be able to fit the entire structure in a frame. We always walked along the street near the structure and purchased a delicious crêpe. This is the ultimate Paris experience for sure!
