The city of love and culture – we are on our way to Paris
Two days in Paris – a journey brimming with culture, cuisine, and unforgettable moments. From the magnificent Palace of Versailles to the bewildering world of French train apps, and on to the picturesque artists' quarter of Montmartre. Join us on our exploration of the City of Love!
We're spending two days in the French capital, or more precisely, at a campsite just outside the city. Before we even set off, we're already researching the cultural offerings in Paris. For many museums, such as the Louvre or the Palace of Versailles, you should book a time slot; otherwise, you might not be able to access the places you want.
For our first day in Paris, we're planning a visit to the Palace of Versailles, which is actually located in the neighboring city of Versailles. We want to experience art and culture there. We have high expectations, as we visited a castle in Bavaria in February 2024 that truly impressed us (Nymphenburg Palace).
The opaque world of French train apps
Paris, like other cities, isn't exactly ideally equipped when it comes to public transport apps. While there are several apps available for download in the Google Play Store, which one you actually need... we're still not entirely sure. For example, if you download an app to buy tickets, you'll need another to digitally validate them. Both apps indicate that the ticket is already in the other. After some initial confusion, the system works quite well – but you should allow yourself a little extra time to figure it out...
Since this is our first day here, we're planning our journey to the castle by taking the train to the financial district (where we'll have to change trains) to have breakfast at a small bakery. It's here that you really start to realize just how enormous Paris is – over 20 districts, all part of the city.
Breakfast in the financial district at a small bakery called D'Ici et d'Ailleurs
We had actually planned to get our hands on those delicious salami baguettes at the bakery (D'Ici et d'Ailleurs, 4.8 stars on Google Maps). However, they weren't available on Sunday, or perhaps we were simply too early (it was before 8:00 a.m. – we had quite a bit planned). So we opted for a "sweet breakfast," consisting of a croissant, a pain au chocolat, and something that caught my eye because of the price. I was dying to know why a "roll" cost almost three times as much as a croissant (a croissant costs around €1.20) – and it turned out to be a real find. The "New York Roll" is supposed to be a kind of rolled-up croissant filled with custard – just what I was looking for! We then enjoyed our first culinary epiphany in a nearby park. This is the life!
After we've finished admiring the sweets of France and fortified ourselves for the day, we continue on towards the Palace of Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles
After about an hour and a half of travel, we finally arrive at the Palace of Versailles. Here, we get our first reality check: there are seemingly endless numbers of people, all apparently with the same destination: the former hunting lodge of King Louis XIII. We walk across a huge bus parking lot, past street vendors, and join the queue at the entrance – the first one. Things move quite quickly here, and we find ourselves in the palace's "forecourt." Thanks to our reservation, we can join one of the four queues, each of which is admitted to the palace at specific time slots. Once inside, we can finally begin our cultural experience. We can move freely through the palace (at least in theory; the corridors and rooms are packed with people wanting to have the same experience as us). We take a few walks through the different corridors and rooms. Our highlights were just a few rooms (we're simply not that interested in art and culture), e.g. the Hall of Mirrors (through which, by the way, you're not allowed to walk with a three-meter selfie stick – who would have thought…) and the views into the wonderful garden.
Overall, the castle didn't really impress us, especially compared to the beautiful Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, which was far less crowded and still had some authentic room furnishings.
The Palace of Versailles is certainly a "must-see" in Paris and definitely a "jackpot" for art lovers. It was a fantastic experience for us, but we're also sure that Paris has much more to offer.
The artists' quarter of Montmartre
And because of this, after our visit to the castle, we head to the artists' quarter of Montmartre. Here, we book a walking tour (even in German!), where we learn some interesting facts about this Parisian neighborhood, as well as explanations about the districts, how they came to be, and ultimately, why. Before the tour begins, however, we treat ourselves to a fantastic baguette at the bakery "Boulangerie Pâtisserie Sylvain Marie" and enjoy it in front of the Moulin Rouge (our starting point).
The artists' quarter may not be as densely populated with artists as it was a few years ago, but the artistic spirit is definitely still there! Especially when you stroll through the small market square with its cafes, restaurants, and numerous artists. In the square, you can see the artists painting, drawing, and selling their art in their designated spaces – it was a real highlight! And the many people strolling through the square prove that we're not the only ones who think so. Our tour ends at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which, by the way, can also be visited free of charge. From here, you also have a fantastic view of Paris!
We've been traveling for several hours now, so we decide to take a short break at a café with wine, crêpes, and coffee. The Eiffel Tower is still on our bucket list for day one in Paris, and yes, we've bought as many touristy things as we possibly can! So we head towards the Eiffel Tower and stop at the restaurant "Gusto Italia 218," sit at cute tables right by the street, and eat pizza and drink wine.
Guided tour of the Eiffel Tower
Sometime after we've eaten our fill and are feeling inspired, we head to a small office near the Eiffel Tower. A guide is already waiting for us there, and we set off towards the tower with a small group. The guide is incredibly friendly, provides lots of interesting background information about the city and the Eiffel Tower itself, helps us through security, and after about 30 minutes, we take the elevator to level 2 of the Eiffel Tower. There, we receive some more fascinating information about the impressive structure, and then the guide "releases" us into the open.
From here you can see all of vast Paris – and my absolute highlight was watching the sun set behind the financial district. A true paradise of opportunities to take some beautiful photos. We stayed on the tower until sunset, marveling at the City of Love – it's enormous and offers endless possibilities for filling your days, learning, and having fun. The individual moments with the sunsets, the canals, and the little cafés already show how romantic this city can be – when it's not overcrowded.
Our day ended with us sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower in the evening, waiting for its "glittering spectacle." From 10:00 PM onwards, it's transformed into a sea of lights. Very impressive, but not really my cup of tea…
Our first day in Paris has come to an end, and our conclusion is:
Paris is much bigger than you'd think. You spend a lot of time on the metro and trains, but thanks to the people, culture, and cuisine, a visit to the City of Love is always worthwhile – and that's exactly what we'll find out on our second day in Paris.
