Visiting Paris is one of the best getaways one can have, undoubtedly. The stunning destinations that you can visit here, and the fine apartments in Paris make this such a dream vacation spot for anyone. Feel free to browse the various entries in this blog and get to know more about this amazing city.

Paris has by far the largest subway system that I have ever been on. There are 14 lines in the city, and the maps can be a bit confusing. That being said, we managed to get around where we needed to go pretty well.
There are some discounted tickets, which we did not buy because we weren’t sure how much we would be using the subway or what the zones mentioned in the pricing actually meant. As it turned out, I think we did ok just buying a ticket as we went.

The subway stations were in a variety of states of repair, some better than others, but I didn’t feel unsafe at any of them. The trains are clean, but can sometimes be crowded. I would recommend it as a good way to get around in Paris when you are visiting. Be prepared to walk though. Many of the subways are large and have lots of stairs to maneuver.

There are 14 lines in the city, and the maps can be a bit confusing. That being said, we managed to get around where we needed to go pretty well.
There are some discounted tickets, which we did not buy because we weren’t sure how much we would be using the subway or what the zones mentioned in the pricing actually meant. As it turned out, I think we did ok just buying a ticket as we went.

The subway stations were in a variety of states of repair, some better than others, but I didn’t feel unsafe at any of them. The trains are clean, but can sometimes be crowded. I would recommend it as a good way to get around in Paris when you are visiting. Be prepared to walk though. Many of the subways are large and have lots of stairs to maneuver.

The Arc de Triomphe is more magnificent in person than from the photos. We arrived in the daylight, but stayed to see it at night. At the end of the Champs-Elysees, it is incredibly beautiful. Twelve avenues radiate from the Arc at the center, absolutely making it the largest roundabout I have ever seen. You can go to the top of the Arc, but we didn’t do that having visited both the Eiffel Tower and Sacre-Coeur.

Champs-Elysees is a very wide boulevard, and has the widest sidewalks I have ever seen! There is every major designer and many boutiques along this historic street. There are sidewalk cafes, restaurants, bars, theaters and more. Take your credit cards when you visit!

This church located on a hill in Montmartre is definitely worth a visit. The best view of the church itself is from the bottom in the gardens below, but the view from the top is spectacular. On the day we went, it was overcast, but you could still see all of Paris below. This is the second highest point in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower.

If you get off at the Abbesses metro stop, pay attention to the folks waiting in line for the elevator. There are a tremendous number of stairs to get out of the Metro station. I would recommend using another one nearby and walking the street to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur. There is a funicular that will take you up the hill to the church (thankfully) or you could walk off those crepes and take the stairs!

The Montmartre area itself was the one disappointment we experienced in Paris. The guide books bill it as an “artsy” place to visit with galleries and street artists. We did not find this to be true at all and instead found junky souvenir shops, and used clothing stores (and I don’t mean vintage). Try to go on a clear day for the best views!

Paris has the Louvre, but by far, my favorite museum was the Musee Marmottan. Paul Marmatton was an art historian and he created this museum in a 19th century mansion. Claude Monet’s son bequeathed 65 paintings by his father, Claude Monet.

Some of his most famous paintings are located in this museum. Part of Monet’s personal art collection is also housed here including paintings by Camille Pissarro, Pierre Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. The museum also houses a large collection of illuminated manuscripts.