It’s hard to believe that my first visit to Paris was already eight years ago! Since then, I’ve visited a total of four times. It’s still my favorite city after all this time, and I was really excited to travel there with my mom this past summer. We spent four days exploring, and I revisited some of my favorite spots while finding several new ones along the way.

Day 1 – Cafés and Cathedrals

We arrived in Paris in the morning and took the RER B train from Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare du Nord station, which cost 11 euros for a one-way ticket. From there we took a taxi to our boutique hotel (the lovely Hotel Beige) in the 9th arrondissement. We ate at a nearby café and then began sightseeing.

Lovely view from our hotel

Our first stop was the Pantheon, where Marie Curie, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and many others are buried. We then stopped by Shakespeare and Co. (a cute English-language bookstore) and walked around the outside of Notre Dame. Unfortunately the inside is still closed due to the 2019 fire, but it is still worth seeing the outside of the cathedral. The inside is expected to reopen in December 2024. Next, we went to Sainte-Chapelle chapel, which was just as beautiful as I remembered! The chapel is one of my favorite places in the city. Afterwards, we stopped at another café before getting dinner and heading back to the hotel for some much-needed rest!

The inside of Sainte-Chapelle is absolutely stunning!

Day 2 – More Sightseeing and Moulin Rouge

We started the day with a late breakfast at a café close to our hotel. We then headed to the Arc de Triomphe via the metro, which is super easy to navigate. Day passes can be purchased for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days and allow you to travel through Zones 1-3, which cover all of the inner city. After exiting the station, look around for the underground tunnel that will take you across the busy roundabout to the Arc  (it can be a bit tricky to spot). Once you arrive at the Arc, you can go to the top for 16 euros. In my opinion, this is the best view of Paris! You can see the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower as well as the rest of the beautiful city. Don’t miss the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the bottom of the Arc, which is free to visit.

The Arc from a distance

Gorgeous view from the top of the Arc

Our next stop was the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, which is a picture-perfect avenue just a short walk from the Arc. The name is French for Elysian Fields, and it truly is a Parisian paradise! There are a lot of fancy restaurants and shops, and it’s a fun place to do some window shopping (or actual shopping if you want to splurge). We had a quick lunch on the avenue, and then stopped for dessert at Ladurée, a famous macaron shop.

Macarons at Ladurée

From there we took the metro to the Montmartre neighborhood, which is a charming area in the 18th arrondissement. Our first stop was Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which is a Roman Catholic church perched on top of a big hill. I highly recommend taking the funicular to the top, especially if you’ve been walking all day! It’s also free if you purchased a metro day pass. Entry to the basilica is free, and the views of Paris are beautiful from the hill. If you want to see even more, you can pay 8 euros to climb the 300 steps to the Dome of the basilica for 360-degree views of the city. We climbed the Dome and were rewarded with beautiful scenery and some encouraging signs along the way.

One of several encouraging signs on the way to the basilica Dome

Views from the top of the Dome

Next, we got cleaned up for dinner and then had the most amazing raclette at La Taverne de Montmartre. Raclette is a type of Swiss cheese that is melted with a grill/cheese melter and then poured over food, similar to fondue. Ours was served with potatoes, meat, and bread and it was so good that we finished almost everything!

Our delicious raclette meal

Our last stop of the day was the 9 PM showing of Moulin Rouge. I had previously seen the Broadway musical before, but otherwise had no idea what to expect. The show exceeded both of our expectations and was absolutely stunning! I won’t give too much away, but we were so impressed by all of the performances. I highly recommend going to a show while in Paris – it’s worth the cost! It was another perfect day in the city.

The famous Moulin Rouge windmill

Day 3 – Day Trip to Mont Saint-Michel

We got up around 6 AM to head to Montparnasse train station, where we took a 4-hour train to Pontorson station. From there, we rode a shuttle bus to Mont Saint-Michel, which is a tidal island and abbey in Normandy. The train ride was freezing, so I recommend bringing something to help keep warm. We found some baguettes in the village, then hiked up the hill to the abbey. The architecture and history were interesting, but everything was either in French or had no signage at all. If you visit, an audioguide is a must. After exploring the abbey, we spent some more time in the village and found some espresso and crêpes. We also found a place to buy more baguettes for the train ride back (it was only 4 PM but most shops were already closed, so plan ahead). We took the shuttle bus back to the station and then had another 4-hour journey back to Paris. It was late when we got back to the city and we were pretty tired, but we powered through and went to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. It was just as mesmerizing as the first time I saw it sparkle!

Mont Saint-Michel

The Eiffel at night

Day 4 – Our Last Day in Paris

We started the morning with a set breakfast at a café near our hotel, then headed to the Eiffel Tower to go up to the summit. I was really excited because the tickets were hard to get! Tickets go on sale at 8 AM Paris time exactly 60 days out. Be sure to set an alarm to purchase them at this time, because they sell out quickly. We rode two elevators to get to the top, then celebrated with a glass of champagne. Tickets are 30 euros, but I think the experience is worth it.

Champagne on the Summit

We stopped for croque madame sandwiches (a French classic!) and then headed to the Louvre Museum. We saw the Mona Lisa first, which was just as small as I remembered. Seriously, it’s tiny. We then found two of my favorite paintings, The Raft of the Medusa by Géricault and Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix. We also saw the Venus de Milo and the Great Sphinx of Tanis sculptures. You could spend several days in the museum if you are an art lover. We only stayed for a few hours but were able to see most of the main attractions.

The famous Louvre

Liberty Leading the People, one of my all-time favorites

Our last stop was the Paris Catacombs. They were just as impressive as I remembered them and still just as cold (bring a jacket!). The catacombs hold the remains of more than six million people and are a must-see if you aren’t too frightened by the idea. Finally, we headed back to our hotel’s neighborhood for one final dinner. It was another highly successful visit to Paris, and I can’t wait to visit again someday!

Some of the Catacombs’ 6 million inhabitants