Eiffel Tower
Paris's defining landmark. If going up the tower matters to you, check current ticket arrangements before travelling rather than relying on walk-up availability.
🇫🇷 ParisReturning visitorsDisneyland Paris · 2016
Paris — a city we genuinely love coming back to
Paris has been part of our France story across repeated visits, and our view of it is refreshingly uncomplicated: we like it. Brilliant food, enormous cultural depth and enough museums, monuments and neighbourhoods to make the idea of “doing Paris” in one trip fairly ridiculous. And in 2016, we added a very different Paris experience — Disneyland Paris.
🗼 ParisRepeated visits
🎨 MuseumsDays of choice
🥐 FoodA major pleasure
🎢 2016Disneyland Paris
Paris from IrelandMuseumsArchitectureDisneyland ParisFrench language
🗼 Our Paris Story
Forget the stereotype — our experience of Paris has been a good one
Our main France page describes Paris as a genuinely lovely city, with brilliant food and more to see than you could comfortably fit into a single visit. We've also never bought into the lazy idea that Parisians are automatically rude. Speaking French certainly helps us, but our own experience simply hasn't matched the stereotype.
One of the advantages of returning to France over many years is that Paris doesn't have to become a frantic checklist. The city has enough depth to reward repeat visits: major landmarks when you want them, museums that could occupy days by themselves, and neighbourhoods where the pleasure is simply being in Paris rather than racing to the next attraction.
🇫🇷 Speaking French helps
Nicola being a French teacher is part of our wider France story. Being able to communicate comfortably in French changes the experience — particularly when asking questions, dealing with practicalities or simply having a proper conversation.
🧭 Don't try to “complete” Paris
For a first visit, choose the things that matter most to you. Paris is too large and too layered to turn into a sensible one-day checklist, and the museums alone can absorb a huge amount of time.
✨ Paris Highlights
The famous sights are famous for a reason
These are useful starting points for planning your own Paris trip. We're deliberately presenting them as visitor highlights, not pretending that every landmark below represents a specific personal memory from our source page.
The Louvre
One of the world's great museums and far too large to absorb properly in a rushed visit. Decide what you most want to see before you arrive.
Notre-Dame
A landmark at the heart of historic Paris. Visitor access and arrangements can change, so use current official information when planning.
Musée d'Orsay
A major art museum in the former Gare d'Orsay, particularly famous for its nineteenth- and early twentieth-century collections.
Montmartre
A hilltop district associated with artists, Sacré-Cœur and some of the city's most recognisable streets and views.
The Seine
The river gives Paris its geography. Walking its banks or seeing the city from the water can help connect landmarks that otherwise feel scattered across a map.
🎢 Disneyland Paris
We went in 2016A very different Paris day
Yes, the Disney magic got us too
We visited Disneyland Paris in 2016 and our existing France page remembers it as brilliant — a magical atmosphere, great rides and, for Irish travellers, a much more accessible Disney option than crossing the Atlantic.
That's the personal part. For your own trip, ticket types, park access and reservation systems can change, so check the current arrangements for your dates. We're not going to invent a list of rides we supposedly went on just to make the story longer.
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🚗 Explore Paris from Home
Drive From HomeParis · France
Take a virtual drive around Paris
Before you go — or when you simply fancy Paris from the sofa — Drive From Home lets you explore the city virtually and get a feel for the streets before tackling them for real.
🎟 Plan Your Own Paris Trip
Browse Paris experiences with GetYourGuide
Paris has an enormous choice of museums, tours, cruises and attractions. Browse current options below; the widget is for trip planning and doesn't imply that we personally took the exact tours shown.
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Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
💡 Paris Without the Panic
A few sensible planning principles
Group your sightseeing
Paris is large. Grouping attractions by area is usually more pleasant than zig-zagging across the city all day.
Check tickets ahead
For the major attractions you care most about, check current official ticketing and reservation arrangements before your trip.
Use public transport
Paris has extensive public transport. Check the current network, fares and any service changes for your travel dates.
Our approach: leave room for Paris itself. A perfectly efficient itinerary isn't necessarily the best way to enjoy a city you've travelled all that way to experience.
Common questions
Paris FAQ
Do we actually like Paris?
Yes. Our France page describes it as a genuinely lovely city with brilliant food and far more to see than one visit can comfortably cover. Our own experience hasn't matched the tired “rude Parisian” stereotype.
Did we go to Disneyland Paris?
Yes — in 2016. We loved the atmosphere and rides, and its accessibility from Ireland is a major advantage compared with travelling to the American Disney parks.
How many days do you need in Paris?
There isn't one correct number. Several days gives you much more breathing room, but the best length depends on whether your priority is major landmarks, museums, food, neighbourhoods or day trips. Don't try to see everything at once.
Should I book Paris attractions ahead?
For popular attractions that matter to you, it's sensible to check current ticket and reservation arrangements before travelling. Avoid building your trip around old prices, opening hours or booking rules.
Is speaking French necessary?
No, but we find speaking French genuinely useful. Even a few polite phrases can make everyday interactions easier, while Nicola's fluency gives us a particular advantage when we're travelling in France.
🇫🇷 More France
Paris is only one chapter of our France story
We've been returning to France since 2006, from Brittany and Normandy to the Loire Valley, Provence, the Côte d'Azur and Alsace.