france trip essay

Art & Culture Travel Blog

My travel diary: three days in paris.

• Tea Gudek Šnajdar

Paris is one of my favourite cities!

I’m so in love with its museums, French cuisine and the city’s vibe. I’m pretty lucky Paris is only three hours away by train from Amsterdam. So, I’m there quite often. However, recently, I was in Paris for the first time on a solo trip. It was a mix of business and personal trips, so I had enough time to enjoy the city during my short trip. Well, here is my travel diary with things I did during my three days in Paris.

Three days in Paris

Day one – fashionable paris.

This post contains some affiliate links.

I caught an early train from Amsterdam and was in Paris already at 10 am, soI had the whole day to explore the city. It was a rainy, grey Monday morning, and I felt like I was the only person in the city. Paris is usually packed with tourists, but its streets were almost empty this time. I had a feeling like I travelled to some different time when it was only the city of Parisians and a few travellers.

And I was one of those travellers… Explorers… Having the city only for myself.

⤷ Read more : Beginners’ art & culture guide to Paris

Palais Garnier & Coco Chanel

I took a walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg, where my hotel was located, towards the Seine River, Louvre and Palais Garnier.

Before my trip, I read Christina Henry de Tessan’s book ‘Forever Paris’ . She created several self-guided tours around Paris through which travellers could follow in the footsteps of some famous people that used to live there.

I decided to follow the life of Coco Chanel. My tour started in front of the Opera Garnier, from where I continued wandering around the neighbourhood. I’ve passed next to the first Chanel store, one of the apartments the famous designer used to live in and next to the place where she used to have her morning coffee.

There is something special in reading about someone’s life and then strolling the streets where that person lived. Somehow, I could almost see Coco Chanel rushing through the small side streets from her apartment to the office with some new fashion drawings under her arm.

⤷ TIP : When in Paris next time, explore Opera Garnier! It’s a beautiful building, and you can learn a lot about it with this self-guided tour around it .

Marais, street art & vintage shops

My first day in Paris was reserved for immersing in Parisian fashion. I had a nice and delicious lunch in one of the restaurants with a view of the Opera Garnier. And decided to spend my afternoon exploring some famous vintage shops in the Marais neighbourhood. I’ve never spent much time in that area, and it was such a  pleasant surprise. I loved its picturesque streets filled with small cute stores, cafes and restaurants. The whole area has such a relaxed vibe.

It’s filled with street and I loved spotting it all around me. I didn’t have enough time to join some of the street art tours this time, but would definitely like to do that on one of my future trips to Paris.

Marais is well known for some of the best vintage stores in Paris. You never know what you’ll find in them – Dior earrings or some other gem from the 1980s. Well, I wasn’t so lucky… But, I definitely enjoyed visiting them, checking the clothes they have and talking with other shoppers (who were some of the coolest people I’ve met in Paris).

I felt a bit sick that day, so I returned to my hotel early. I got myself a nice cup of hot tea and went to sleep.

⤷ Read more : Check out my post about exploring Paris like a local for more ideas about things to do and see in Marais.

Day two – Impressionists’ Paris

Looking for impressionists at montmartre.

When I woke up the following day, I was feeling much better. So, after breakfast in a restaurant close to my hotel, I was ready for some sightseeing again. Day two was reserved for learning more about and exploring the French Impressionism in Paris. It’s one of my favourite painting styles, and I am in love with that time, the bohemian lifestyle and the culture at the end of the 19th century.

⤷ Read more : Impressionists in Paris

I decided to take a tour around the Montmartre neighbourhood and learn more about the Impressionist painters that used to live and work there. I met my guide below the Sacré-Coeur Church, and we went to Montmartre, where he showed me some places important for the Impressionist movement in Paris.

When we left the most popular area of Montmartre behind us, some streets and houses still looked the same as they did at the end of the 19th century. I could almost imagine carriages strolling through those streets and music coming from the small cabarets.

The most special place for me was the house where Vincent and Theo van Gogh lived together during the two years Vincent spent in Paris. The painting Van Gogh painted while looking through the window of that apartment is displayed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam . I know the painting so well, and once standing there, the place almost felt familiar to me.

⤷ Read more : Locations linked to Vincent van Gogh in Paris

Musée d’Orsay

After a short break and some tarte tatin , I went to the Musée d’Orsay. That’s THE museum to visit if you want to see some of the most famous modern paintings. And it’s home to one of the best Impressionist collections in Paris.

⤷ Read more : Impressionists at Musée d’Orsay

The building in which the museum is located is a piece of art and history itself. It was built as a train station at the end of the 19th century and later converted into a museum. Visiting it will provide you with a fantastic combination of industrial architecture and a modern art collection.

⤷ TIP : To avoid queueing in front of the museum and waiting to get in, buy your Musée d’Orsay online ticket before your visit.

Musée Marmottan Monet

My guide gave me an excellent recommendation for a lovely little restaurant close to the Musée d’Orsay, called Les Antiquaires. After a delicious lunch there, I went to another museum with one of the best collections of Impressionists’ paintings in Paris – Musée Marmottan Monet.

⤷ Read more : What to see at the Musée Marmottan – Monet in Paris

I visited it a few years ago on a student trip and have wanted to return since. The museum has a beautiful collection of one of the best female Impressionists – Berthe Morisot. And the most extensive collection of  artworks made by Claude Monet . It’s not a busy museum, so there is a lot of space to enjoy some of the masterpieces of Impressionism in peace and quiet. I’m always wondering why everyone is rushing to see Mona Lisa, while there are many beautiful museums around the city, like this one.

After this trip to Paris, I’m even more in love with Impressionism than before. If the hygiene level were just a bit higher, I would love to live during that time. I would be an art dealer and go on little trips to nature to paint with Monet and Renoir. Oh, those sweet dreams…

⤷ TIP : Here is the online ticket for Musée Marmottan – Monet

⤷ Read more : Best museums in Paris

Day three – Modernist Paris

My last day in Paris started with one of the best breakfasts and the most amazing coffees I have ever tried. I had breakfast at a charming restaurant, Carette, located close to Trocadero. I’m sure it will become my new favourite place in Paris.

Since I have been to Paris many times, I know the city quite well. However, there was a part I was always kind of missing – the Modernist Paris. It played an essential role in shaping the city – Art Nouveau metro entrances and Eiffel Tower are just the most famous examples of architecture from that time.

To learn more about it, I decided to join a walking tour called the ‘Modernist Architecture’. During the tour, we explored some of the modernist buildings, learnt about the movement and visited Foundation Le Corbusier and the modern architecture exhibition in the Palais de Chaillot ( here is the online ticket for it ). It was so interesting to see how the Modernist movement shaped the way we are living today.

After the tour and a quick lunch, it was time to catch a train back to Amsterdam. My three days in Paris were dedicated to art, mostly Impressionism and modern architecture. I also tried to learn more about some of its famous former citizens like Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Coco Chanel.

However, once again, I have realised solo travel isn’t bad. And that French are some of the nicest people out there, who know how to cook well and enjoy life. Well, maybe my next visit should be dedicated to learning how to enjoy life like a Parisian.

Au revoir!  Until the next time, my dear city!

⤷ TIP : If you plan to visit Paris and some of its cultural sites, consider buying Paris City Card. You’ll get free or discounted entrance to many of them with it. Here is the link with more info about it .

france , impressionism , paris , solo traveling , Travel diary

France Itinerary with Paris, Versailles & Colmar Tour for First-Timers

When we were planning our first trip to Europe, France was not included in the itinerary I initially had in mind.

Yes, I was in love with the thought of visiting France for the first time, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good choice considering: (1) We were starting/ending our trip in Greece; (2) We only had three weeks for our Euro trip; and (3) There were a lot of other equally compelling places we wanted to see that were closer to our starting/end destinations.

In the end, we somehow managed to fit a quick trip to France after realizing it won’t be a proper 1st Eurotrip without stopping by Paris. Visiting a lot of places in Europe in a short time is easy to do thanks to the region’s well-connected flight and high-speed train network.

I’m am relieved that we did not skip Paris! I got emotional many times during the trip, especially with the experience of seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, getting close to Mona Lisa, watching Moulin Rouge live etc. Clichéd and touristic as it may seem, these are still very worthy travel goals to achieve.

Wanting to see a bit of France outside of Paris, we found ourselves in Colmar, a charming fairytale-esque city near the Swiss-French border.

How to spend 5 days in France?  Check out my recommended France itinerary below. The sample itinerary is easy to follow or customize in case you plan to go for 4 days, 6 days or more. Scroll down to see the detailed do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary blog, followed by a budget/expenses breakdown and lots of extra travel tips.

Follow me on Instagram

Trip Checklist

Before we go on with the actual itinerary, here are things you might need to prepare and bring for a hassle-free trip.

I’ve posted a lot of discounts on this guide. Make sure to check them out and pre-book online to save money, time & avoid the hassles of bringing/exchanging cash during your trip.

France Itinerary Blog Contents

France Trip Checklist

France Itinerary

France budget, where to stay in paris, where to stay in colmar.

France Travel Tips

See More Travel Guides & Blogs

This sample 5 days and 4 nights (5D4N) France itinerary will take you to many of the top attractions in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe & more. It also includes a day tour to the Palace of Versailles from Paris and a 1-night side trip to Colmar Old Town.

Three days in Paris should be enough to cover the main tourist spots. Add more days if you want to enjoy the trip at a relaxed pace, experience more of Paris, or extend to see more places in France.

Me and my travel buddy,  Gael , actually went to all three places (Paris, Versailles & Colmar) in just 4 days. The trip was doable but the pace was a bit rushed.

We chose Colmar because it was one of Gael’s top travel goals, and it was conveniently located near Zurich (Switzerland), our next destination. You can replace Colmar with any of the myriads of beautiful places to visit near Paris.

Feel free to tweak the activities & timings based on your traveling style, schedule, & attractions that interest you the most.

5 Days France Itinerary – Paris, Versailles & Colmar

Day 1:  eiffel tower & paris tourist spots, flight to paris.

Find cheap flights

Take the earliest flight to Paris to maximize your first day in France.

1000 am: Paris airport arrival

There are three main airports serving Paris:

Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)  — The biggest airport serving most international flights.

Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)  — Closest to Paris city center.

Paris-Beauvais Airport (BVA)  — Served mostly by budget airlines. Beauvais Airport is located farthest from Paris city center.

In our case, we arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

1030 am: Airport to hotel / Paris city center transfer

We used Uber during our trip but I also recommend pre-booking hassle-free private transfers online or going by train.

Getting to Paris city center by train from the airport

The RER B (blue) train line connects Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center of Paris. This is a good option if you’re looking for a quick and cheap way of getting to your hotel in Paris. Travel time by train takes up to 50 minutes.

Navigo Découverte Card

Get a “Navigo Découverte Card” at the airport train station. This contactless smart card offers unlimited rides in Paris RER/Metro trains & buses. It can be used for train rides in Paris’ public transport zones 1 to 5. A weekly pass costs EUR 22.80 + EUR 5 one-time fee for the card.

Here’s a summary of public transport zones in Paris:

Zone 1 to 3 — Central Paris & La Défense.

Zone 4 to 5 — Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, Versailles, Disneyland Paris, Fontainebleau.

Paris Airport-hotel private car transfers  — Enjoy easy transfers to your hotel from the airport (or vice-versa). Travel time by car should take around 40 minutes.

See discounts

Paris Visite Card

Designed for tourists, this smart card offers unlimited travel on Paris’ public transport network, including the metro, buses, and trams. The Paris Visite Card is more expensive compared to the Navigo Card. However, the Navigo Card has timing considerations you need to know when buying. I’ll post more about this in detail later.

The conventional way of taking the train is using single-use tickets. The one-way fare from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the stations in Paris city center costs EUR 10.30.

1130 am: Paris hotel check-in

Ideally, you’d want to stay in a central location near Paris’ top tourist spots. In case you find a nice place to stay that’s farther afield, make sure it’s located near a metro/train station.

Paris hotels, hostels & guesthouses

Cheapest rates Best reviews

Claim tours + attraction tickets booked online

Carefully read the “activity info” & “how to use” info of attraction tickets & tours that you pre-booked online.

The for activities booked on Klook, the designated claiming area of many activities is PARISCityVISION (2 Rue des Pyramides). Stop by here to confirm your tours and get all the physical tickets. You can find their office near the Louvre Museum, which is a convenient area to start a tour of the city.

0100 pm: Start Paris top attractions half-day tour

Paris Hop-on Hop-off Bus  — Book the “Deluxe Tour” with Seine River Cruise, which is inclusive of 2 days HOHO bus pass & Seine River cruise ticket by Bateaux Parisiens. Discount price online is EUR 41.25.

The discount price of the HOHO bus without the Seine River cruise is EUR 29.70 for the 1-day pass and EUR 33.85 for the 2-day pass.

I highly recommended this easy way of getting around Paris. Drop-off/Pick-up points are strategically located near top tourist spots, which means less walking compared to taking the metro trains. PLUS, you can enjoy views on the open-top bus & an audio guide of famous landmarks.

Paris Museum Pass  — This convenient multi-attraction pass offers unlimited access to over 50 museums in Paris and the surrounding region. The 2 days pass costs EUR 48.

You will save money by getting the Paris Museum Pass compared to buying individual tickets to museums featured in this itinerary. Not to mention, it’s also a huge time saver. The total cost of individual entry tickets to the Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Notre Dame Towers & Arch de Triomphe viewpoint already costs over EUR 50.

Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre)

Enjoy a quick photo stop at this famous landmark. Remember not to spend too much time here (for now) because we will be visiting again in the next days, including going inside the museum.

Arc de Triomphe

Climb up the tower to see panoramic views of the Paris skyline & cityscape. From the top, don’t miss the view facing the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées shopping street & La Defense skyline.

Access to the Arc de Triomphe rooftop is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately

Arc de Triomphe rooftop access skip-the-line-ticket

Redeveloped for the Exposition Internationale of 1937, this complex of buildings and gardens is very popular on Instagram because of its beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)

I’m sure this one needs no introduction. While the sun is out, see the panoramic views from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower skip-the-line entry ticket  — Get this fast-track entry ticket with access to the glass elevator that connects the 2nd-floor view deck to the 276-meter summit.

See discounts See more

Before sunset, you’d want to head out to a good spot where you can enjoy a romantic view of the Eiffel Tower under the golden and twilight hours.

The best views can be seen from Trocadero, on a Seine River Cruise, at the top of Montparnasse Tower, or from Champs de Mars (picnic park/green space).

After sunset, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower sparkle! This spectacular show is scheduled for 5 minutes every hour, on the hour until 1 or 2 am.

0630 pm: Seine River Cruise

Cap your first day with a relaxing cruise along the Seine River. The best time to do this is right before sunset or at night when you can enjoy a (literally) lit view of Paris’ famous buildings.

A Seine River cruise is included in the “Deluxe Tour” of this package . You can also check the links below for more options including drinks, snacks or a dinner cruise.

Seine River sightseeing cruise with optional champagne or snacks

Seine River dinner cruise

Day 2:  Louvre, Montmartre & Moulin Rouge

0800 am: notre dame cathedral & sainte-chapelle.

Start early at Notre Dame Cathedral to avoid the bigger crowds later in the day. Explore the interiors of the church and go up the tower of this world’s most famous Gothic cathedral. Nearby, you can find Sainte-Chapelle, especially known for its beautiful stained glass windows.

Access to Sainte-Chapelle and the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

Skip-the-Line Notre-Dame Towers & Sainte-Chapelle Tour

0930 am: Louvre Museum

If you’re an art lover, this is definitely going to be the highlight of your Paris trip!

Don’t miss these Louvre highlights: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (painting), Winged Victory of Samothrace (sculpture), Venus de Milo (sculpture), Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People (painting), Michelangelo’s The Dying Slave and The Rebellious Slave (sculpture), Lamassus (Sculpture) & Hammurabi’s Code to name a few.

The Louvre museum is the largest art museum in the World and it takes days to explore all the galleries & exhibits. For a casual visit, however, 2 to 3 hours is recommeneded. This way, you’d have time to fit more museums/attractions in your Paris trip.

Entry to The Louvre Museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

The Louvre skip-the-Line admission ticket with audio guide

Louvre district

The area surrounding the Louvre is a good place to wander around on foot. It’s an old part of Paris, so you’re going to find lots of buildings built in different French/European architectural styles, historical sites, as well as shopping and dining spots.

If you’re looking for an affordable French restaurant, we found this place called Bistrot Victoires (6 Rue de la Vrillière). It is one of the top-rated places to eat in the area. The Confit Conard (Duck Confit) is one of their best sellers.

Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay)

Cross the Seine River & visit the Orsay Museum. Housed in a stunning (former) railway station building, this museum is where you can find the World’s largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces.

Entry to Orsay museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass. Check below if you want to book separately:

Orsay museum skip-the-line ticket

0230 pm: Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmartre is primarily known for its history as a haven for artists. The most famous landmark here is the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. Montmartre’s hilly terrain offers nice views overlooking Paris.

Moulin Rouge Show

Before arriving in Paris, the Moulin Rouge show was honestly not in my list of top things to do. While I was watching the show though, I was taken aback with how much I truly appreciated the experience … considering the history and legacy of the Moulin Rouge. If you have the chance, go and watch it. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to watch this show!

You’ll need to dress up for the Moulin Rouge show. Formal attire is advised but there are also a lot of people in the audience wearing long-sleeved shirts, slacks & smart shoes. I recommend that you enjoy the show with champagne.

Moulin Rouge show with dinner or champagne

Day 3:  Versailles and Paris museums

The major activity today is a half-day trip to Versailles. You can either pick a morning or afternoon schedule for the tour. If you prefer not to start your day so early, pick the afternoon trip and spend the morning however you like.

Here are a few suggestions on things to do in Paris during your free time:

Continue your Paris city tour.

Visit more museums + attractions.

Go shopping.

Seek out interesting Parisian cafés & restaurants.

Explore the catacombs.

Have a picnic at Champs de Mars with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

Wander through the cool neighborhoods of Paris.

Marvel at Paris’ architectural gems.

0130 pm: Arrive at Palace of Versailles tour meeting point

The meeting point of this tour (see link below) is conveniently located near the Louvre. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time at 2 pm.

We thoroughly enjoyed this half-day tour to Versailles, which included roundtrip transfers, a professional guide, and most importantly, skip-the-line access to the Palace of Versailles & gardens. They hand out individual headsets, so you can hear audio commentary from the guide while you’re busy taking Insta snaps.

Palace of Versailles & gardens guided tour + transport from Paris

0200 pm: Depart from Paris

Palace of versailles.

This was definitely my #1 travel goal in France and it did not disappoint. The royal rooms and halls were impressive! We would have missed a lot of interesting facts & details had we not gone on the guided tour.

Gardens of Versailles

After the guided tour, enjoy some free time to roam around the palace and the gardens on your own.

0600 pm: Arrive back in Paris

Montparnasse tower.

The highlight here is the amazing view of The Eiffel Tower. The best time to go is before, during, and just after sunset. The entrance fee costs EUR 18 per adult.

Montparnasse Tower observation deck admission ticket

Day 4:  Colmar trip from Paris

0720 am: paris to colmar train.

Arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure. If it is your first time to travel by train in France, allot a longer allowance, especially if you plan to book your ticket at the station.

Trains to Colmar usually depart from Paris at Gare de l’Est station. Travel time is around 2 hours and 30 minutes on direct high-speed trains. Pre-book your train ticket online (well ahead of your travel date) to grab cheaper fares. The train fare is usually around EUR 50 for tickets booked in advance and could go up to EUR 100+ on the day of departure.

Paris to Colmar train tickets & schedule

0940 am: Arrive at Colmar Train Station

The main train station in Colmar (Gare de Colmar) is conveniently located just outside the Old Town. Walking distance is around 15 minutes.

1000 am: Colmar hotel check-in

Book a room in Colmar City Center or near the train station. There many places to stay within easy walking distance to the main tourist spots in Colmar Old Town.

Colmar hotels & hostels

1030 am: Start Colmar walking tour

Little venice (la petite venise) & colmar canal.

Our favorite spot in Colmar! Little Venice (La Petite Venise) is where you can find pretty houses lined on both sides of the canal. We went here early morning on our second day and enjoyed the whole place all to ourselves.

Colmar Old Town

Colmar Old Town was compact and filled with lots of beautiful centuries-old buildings. The place looked like it could pop right off a storybook. It’s not hard to imagine being transported in the charming village location of Beauty and the Beast.

Colmar is a lovely place to get lost in. It’s a small and very walkable. You could see the main highlights in half a day. Make sure to get your fill at the many streetside pastry shops and cafes.

Day 5:  Train to Paris or onward destination

You have lots of options on what to do next: (1) Continue your walking tour of Colmar, (2) take the train back to Paris or (3) move on to a huge list of other places to visit in the surrounding region.

Stay in a central location near Paris’ top tourist spots. In case you find a nice place to stay that’s farther afield, make sure it’s located near a metro/train station.

Check discounts See more

Click below to compare rates and Paris hotel reviews within your budget.

Where to book

Book your room through these trusted booking sites. I use them frequently to grab rock-bottom prices & enjoy convenient bookings. Click below to confirm the lowest prices:

Booking.com Airbnb Agoda

Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons.

Click below to compare rates and Colmar hotel reviews within your budget.

France Travel Tips Before You Go

How much does the train cost from the airport to paris city center, paris metro cards and train ticket fares, paris transport zones, should i get a navigo card or a paris visite card, pre-book your france tours & attraction tickets online, should i book my france hotel online.

The one-way fare from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris city center costs EUR 10.30 using a single-use ticket. From Orly Airport, the one-way fare is EUR 8.30. There are no direct trains from Beauvais Airport to the city center. The one-way shuttle bus fare from Beauvais Airport to the city center is EUR 17.

For convenient train rides on the Paris Metro train lines (Central Paris) and the RER train lines (greater Paris/Île-de-France area), consider a “Navigo” or “Paris Visite” metro card instead of buying individual train tickets. These contactless smart cards are time and money savers, especially if you plan to travel often by train.

Here is a summary of Paris metro cards and train ticket fares:

Navigo Découverte card  — Offers unlimited rides on Paris Metro/RER public transport network. This electronic smart card is sold as a weekly or monthly pass. In addition, you can choose a “two zones” coverage (if you’re traveling within Central Paris only, for example) or the “five zones” coverage that includes trains to CDG Airport, Versailles, Disneyland & the greater Paris area. The Navigo card cannot be used on trains to/from Orly Airport.

Paris Visite card  — Similar to the Navigo Card, it also offers unlimited rides on the Paris Metro/RER public transport network. Designed for tourists, this electronic smart card is sold as a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or 5-day pass. In addition, you can choose a “three zones” coverage for Central Paris or a “five zones” coverage for the greater Paris area. The Paris Visite card is valid for trains to/from Orly Airport.

Mobilis day pass  — A one-day travel pass (magnetic ticket) that allows unlimited travel in your choice of selected zones, or all zones.

Single-use tickets  — One-way/point-to-point tickets. The train fare is EUR 1.90 for single journey tickets called “t+ tickets” valid within Central Paris.

Here’s a summary of notable places covered by public transport zones in Paris:

Zone 1 to 3  — Central Paris & La Défense.

Zone 4  — Versailles & Orly Airport.

Zone 5  — Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland Paris & Fontainebleau

The Navigo card is a much cheaper option compared to the Paris Visite card. The Navigo card, however, has some timing considerations you need to know.

On a 5-day trip to Paris, I recommend that you get a Navigo weekly pass if you arrive in Paris on a Monday up to Thursday. If you are arriving on Friday or on a weekend, I suggest you get the Paris Visite card covering zones 1-3 (for Central Paris) and buy the airport train tickets individually. You can easily get these cards at the airport train stations.

The Navigo weekly pass is sold on a per week basis. Meaning, you can only buy the pass valid for the current week if you arrive in Paris on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The validity ends on Sunday. If you arrive and purchase the Navigo card on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it will be valid for the next week (starting next Monday) so, you’ll need to purchase separate passes/tickets to use for the current weekend.

Here’s a comparison of costs for your reference:

I often book online to enjoy discounts and cashless convenience during my actual trip. Always check prices of tours and attraction tickets on these booking sites:

Klook GetYourGuide

Prices are often cheaper than booking on-site. Huge discounts on many activities.

Maximize your trip! Avoid wasting time queueing at ticket booths & shopping for tours.

Get a good idea what to expect. Knowing all the inclusions/non-inclusions & reading user reviews is very helpful to make an informed decision.

Earn rewards points for every booking.

Pay in your home currency. Worry less about bringing cash/exchanging currencies.

If you’re booking tours and you’ve already finalized your travel dates, book early, especially if you are traveling with family/friends to lock-in those open slots for everyone in your group.

Book your stay sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms tend to get fully-booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons.

I frequently book my stay with the sites below to grab rock-bottom prices & enjoy hassle-free trips. Click below to see today’s lowest prices.

Agoda Booking.com

Having hotel reservations is very important when traveling abroad because immigration officers often require tourists to provide the address of their accommodation. In addition, here top reasons why I prefer to book online & why you should too:

Wide selection of hotels/hostels.

Often cheaper prices than walk-in rates. Earn rewards points for every booking. The more you book, the more you earn!

Trusted by millions of travelers. Read reviews from actual staying guests.

Instant confirmation and free cancellation on most properties.

Pay in your home currency. Worry less about bringing cash/exchanging currencies. Convenient & secure payment by credit card or Paypal.

Fast customer support.

Don’t Stop Here

Did you find this travel guide helpful? Share your France experience & tag #detourista. Follow trip updates on:

Instagram  @detouristaHQ

Facebook  @detourista

Check out these pages for more travel inspiration beyond France:

Don’t leave yet. There’s more!

Discover more blogs and travel tips in:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

July 27, 2019 at 7:36 pm

Hi just wanna ask po kung sa UAE ka nag apply ng schengen visa at ilang mons binigay sa inyo? Thanks po. God bless :)

July 28, 2019 at 12:37 am

I applied in PH po

October 12, 2020 at 9:04 pm

Thanks for sharing this post.. France is really a great place to explore..

Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description Essay

For several millennia now, France has been at the core of European economic and cultural renaissance, and the heritage of this wealth, liveliness, and experience is clearly evident in the astounding multiplicity of things to see in a normal expedition of the country. Indeed, the sheer physical and cultural diversity offered by the country would be almost difficult to deplete in a lifetime of visits. One would be safe to argue that France is adequately endowed with very many attractions that serve to connect the visitors to the origin and essence of European civilization, at least according to what history books teach us. I personally found this to be true after I undertook a trip to the country of many wonders in the fall of 2008.

There are very many attractions in France that five, ten, or perhaps twenty holiday days may never be enough for a typical holiday maker to sample the beauty and elegance of the country. I was mainly attracted by the richness of cultural attractions in the country, which transformed my holidaymaking tour into an educational expedition of some sort. I had previously viewed some TV documentaries about the Gothic cathedrals of the north and the Roman monuments of the south, and read about Dordogne’s prehistoric cave-paintings, but never did it occur to me that I would have the opportunity to experience the breathtaking sceneries firsthand. But here I was, sampling the mesmerizing and well kept cultural artifacts in person. I must say it was a huge educational experience for me especially after I attended several lectures about the historical and cultural importance of the monuments.

No expedition of France can be complete without paying a visit to its capital city, Paris. Referred also as the City of Lights, Paris is seat to some of the most sought after cultural attractions in the world, including the awe-inspiring Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. The tour guides offered a detailed description of the history and cultural importance of these two marvels, and I must say that the educational experience received was an eye opener, especially after I came to learn that the Eiffel Tower is more than a tourist attraction. The tower, built in 1989, has a very special place in the hearts of many French nationals since it symbolizes the French Revolution. To date, the tower is perhaps the most identifiable structure globally.

The Louvre Palace and Museum are also located in the City of Lights. The palace is certainly one of the largest in the worlds, and has a rich collection of cultural artifacts used by the former rulers of France, including the famous King Napoleon. The palace illustrates traditional French architecture and culture dating back to the Renaissance era. It also houses splendid collection of renowned oriental antiquities from the ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek civilizations. The museum is also endowed with sculptures and paintings from the middle ages to present times. The richness and diversity of culture found in Louvre Museum makes one to appreciate the origins and roots of civilization. It is a cultural experience to behold.

It is never enough to talk about my cultural experience in France without talking about its people. The French populace makes one realize that there exist huge potential in diversity. The capital city, in particular, can be described as a convergence of different cultural orientations as nearly all known racial groups are represented. The cultures have been synchronized to bring out their best potential in thoughts, ideas, innovativeness, dressing styles, food choices, among others. The result is that Paris is a sea of beauty and elegance under the auspices of cultural diversity.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, March 18). Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description. https://ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-france-cultural-experiences-description/

"Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description." IvyPanda , 18 Mar. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-france-cultural-experiences-description/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description'. 18 March.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description." March 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-france-cultural-experiences-description/.

1. IvyPanda . "Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description." March 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-france-cultural-experiences-description/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Visit to France: Cultural Experiences Description." March 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/visit-to-france-cultural-experiences-description/.

• Informative Speech: The Eiffel Tower
• The Eiffel Tower as a Form of Art
• IT System for Louvre Hotels
• Mathematical Analysis of the Pyramid of the Louvre
• Using Agile to Minimize Cost and Timeframe in Eiffel Tower Construction
• Madamoiselle Riviere. A Portrait. 1805; Louvre, Paris.
• Touring Paris: What Will Happen When You Get There?
• Public Investment: Louvre Museum
• Louvre Museum: Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"
• The Louvre: John the Baptist Restoration
• Mi'kmaq Culture in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
• Acadian Culture in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Cross-Cultural Mistakes of People Around the World
• Attitude of Being Right
• Two commandments in French

Creating a French Travel Diary

How to write a travel journal or travelogue with french learners, travel journals help you to write and document about the experience you had in paris, france. you can include the written description of the places you have visited, list down your itinerary, the photos that you took during your trip and even the short videos and voice recordings that you made during your time.

With this French language and culture project, students will be able to:

− Produce a travel information packet (flyer, brochure, power point, wiki, etc.) with useful information about a French-speaking region, country, city, or town of their choice.

− Focus on particular French grammatical structures based on their language proficiency.

− Present their travel information to the class in a 10-minute group presentation.

French Level Required

Intermediate, but the project can be adapted to beginning and advanced French learners

Encourage students for weeks prior to this lesson to bring in location specific items such as travel guides (in any language), maps, vacation brochures, souvenirs, photos, ethnic artifacts (clothing, pottery, etc.), and travel website URLS. Make sure the items are identified by the student’s name.

This French class project can take several days, but it can also be spread out and worked on for a series of weeks.

You and your travel companion have a combined budget of $1500.00. Depending on where you chose to go this can be much or not much money1. Each one of you has different interests and likes so you must plan your itinerary accordingly, incorporating activities that will be suitable for both. You will do all these fun things and visit all of these exciting places and bring back information and pictures for a multimedia travelog book and presentation. You want to have a great trip and bring back plenty of memories!

You and your friend will keep a daily travel journal of your week’s stay in the French-speaking region you chose and gather materials to help you remember this incredible trip and be able to share it with friends and family.

You will have 2 signed entries per day (1 per partner), and will need to record the time at which each entry was made. Each French travel journal entry should be about 100-word long (so about 200 words total) and include descriptions of the activities and places you saw (e.g.: hotel you stayed at, restaurants you dined at, sights you visited and weather on the day of your visit, street names. etc.), sketches of things, people, etc. you have seen.

You should also include how much you spent and on what per day. Make sure to stay within budget. Your entries should have a personal feel to them.

Make it seem as if you’re really there. Share your interests, your joys, your pains, etc.

Your daily entries should at least include the following:

1. An itinerary showing where you were the day before and where you are today.

2. The hotel/youth hostel/camping site, etc. where you are staying at.

3. The food you eat, the drinks you have, and where you consume these.

4. The sights and landmarks you visit, the museums you go to. You mention their history and significance, for the museum, the collections that you saw.

5. The recreational activities you do (walk at the beach, hiking, rock-climbing, wind-surfing, horse-riding, etc.). During your trip, you also go see one French movie and attend the concert of a French artist. You will insert photos, sketches, memorabilia, receipts, etc. as you go.

How Do You Organize your Project?

1. To simplify things, we will say that $1 =1 Euro (or the local currency)

3. Meet with your partner to look at your findings and decide how to present your trip’s information as a multimedia travelog.

4. Save all your information, text, pictures, etc. on a flash drive or web space. Write your French travelog as follows:

5. Date and time each entry. If your level is lower intermediate, write in the present tense or ‘future proche’ as if you were writing your entries in the moment.

6. Make extensive use of the vocabulary that you are learning.

7. Label your photos and memorabilia, insert a caption.

This French language and culture project has given you the opportunity to learn about a French-speaking region or country. You should now feel as if you have really been there and have a desire to return to it in reality rather than virtually.  

Bon Voyage!

• Français ( French )

Essay tourism and travel guide

Photo is of Sees at 9 km from Essay

Visit Essay: highlights and tourist information

Essay is situated in the Orne department and Normandy region.

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Essay in Normandy.

Popular places to visit nearby include Sees at 9 km and Alencon at 17 km.

Essay, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Mortagne-au-Perche

Haras du Pin

Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei

Les Jardins de la Mansoniere

Fresnay-sur-Sarthe

Beaumont-sur-Sarthe

Sillé-le-Guillaume

Nogent-le-Rotrou

La Ferte-Bernard

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Orne

Arrange a visit to Essay

Book hotels, car hire and flights.

• Book a visit

Hotels in Essay

Booking.com: best prices

Reserve excursions

Map of places to visit near essay, markets in and near essay.

• Le Mele-sur-Sarthe: market Wednesday (8km)
• Sees: market Saturday (9km)
• Alencon: market Tuesday & Thursday all day & Sunday & Saturday (17km)
• Mortagne-Au-Perche: market Saturday all day (22km)
• Mamers: market Monday (23km)
• Tourouvre: market Friday (30km)
• Argentan: market Tuesday & Friday (30km)
• Fresnay-sur-Sarthe: market Saturday (34km)
• Beaumont-sur-Sarthe: market Tuesday (36km)
• Longny-Au-Perche: market Wednesday (37km)

More information about Essay, Normandy

Tourist attractions near essay, france.

What to do at Essay? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Essay.

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages )

• Saint-Ceneri-le-Gerei (29km)

National Monuments

• Carrouges Chateau (30km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Argentan (30km)
• Nogent-le-Rotrou (49km)

Regional Natural Parcs

• Normandie-Maine (35km)
• Perche (43km)

Remarkable gardens

• Sassy (22km)
• Jardin de la petite Rochelle (41km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Forêt d'Écouves (14km)
• Forêt de Perseigne (15km)
• Signal d'Écouves (16km)
• Mont du Haut-Fourché (32km)

Villages d'etape

(recommended place to break a long journey)

• Tourouvre (30km)

Geography and distances

Essay is in the north of France at 17 kilometres from Alencon, the department capital (general information: Essay is 158 kilometres from Paris).

Geographical Information

Commune: Essay

Canton: Mêle-sur-Sarthe

Arrondissement: Alençon

Department: Orne

Region: Normandy

Postcode: 61500

Distance to Essay

from Alencon (prefecture): 17 km

from Paris: 158 km

from Calais: 291 km

from Nice: 762 km

from Bordeaux: 417 km

from Strasbourg: 552 km

Getting here

Most visitors arrive in one of the cross-channel ferry ports with Caen being especially close, typically within an hours drive. For driving distances to Essay from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner .

We have 10 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Aunay-les-Bois , Boitron , Bursard , Le Chalange , Le Menil-Guyon , Les Ventes-de-Bourse , Marchemaisons , Menil-Erreux , Neauphe-sous-Essai and Neuilly-le-Bisson .

This page in French: Visiter Essay

French Places

We can help you visit any town, village or region of France...

Popular & Useful

① Ideas & inspiration ② Maps of France ③ Explore by region ④ Route planner ⑤ Places (by dept.)

France This Way copyright 2006 - 2024

• Cookies & privacy
• Index of places

Home / Essay Samples / World / Paris / A Journey To Paris, France

A Journey To Paris, France

• Category: Life , World
• Topic: Journey , Paris

Pages: 3 (1286 words)

Views: 2357

• Downloads: -->

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Rome Essays

Singapore Essays

Tokyo Essays

Vietnam Essays

Russia Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service  and  Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->