I went up the Eiffel Tower a few weeks ago for the first time in years. I was with my husband and…read moreour two kids, plus my brothers, my sisters-in-law, and my niece, just for good measure. Getting the tickets was a genuine headache, but the on-the-ground experience was not just magical but surprisingly easy. The online ticketing system leaves much to be desired. I wanted to buy eleven elevator tickets, for eight adults and three children, but was only able to check out with nine. I tried to get the last two in a second transaction but got locked out. Apparently, you can't book that many tickets under a single account, something I wish I'd known before I spent all that money on the nine. I emailed the customer service address and while they responded, they were spectacularly unhelpful. I then tasked my husband, my mother, and my brother with buying the last two tickets from different devices, and I don't understand why, but none of them were able to get through. The site was also annoying in that we had to make all of our selections and input credit card information before getting frozen out without explanation. My parents decided they didn't need to go up the tower anyway, as they'd been pretty recently, and that's how the issue resolved. I guess we could've gotten them tickets day of, but no one had the will for it, so the rest of us just went up while they hung out in the park at the base of the tower. My branch of the family was running late for our 4:00 entry and had a fairly stressful time making that long jaunt from the Trocadero to the tower. There was some security to get into the park, but it went quickly, and once we were in, we found the entrance for ticket holders right away. To my amazement, there was no line, and we were riding a diagonal elevator up the tower about as soon as we arrived. I love the Eiffel Tower and loved visiting with my children, who were awed by both the iconic structure and the marvelous views. It's great to admire from afar, but well worth a dedicated excursion. I look forward to going back whenever I'm back in Paris.

Overview: a classic, must-see landmark in Paris…read more ---- Very beautiful landmark and prettier if you see it light up at night. The tower only sparkles when it's dark enough outside to see it. When it's the spring/summer the sun sets very late at night so when I was there, the Eiffel Tower first sparkled at 10pm! We didn't know that, so we arrived around 8pm and waited 2 hours. It then started to rain and we shared one umbrella between 4 people. There are lots of people walking around trying to sell you stuff can be very annoying especially if you came there early and they keep asking you. They walk around with small trinkets, some with drinks like wine, blankets, and even umbrellas when it started to rain. There are lots of people on the grassy field in front of the tower having picnics and waiting for the tower to light up as well. The walk from the metro wasn't too long, but also wasn't that short, but it's Paris so be prepared to walk for everything! It beautiful and was worth the walking, waiting, and being rained on. ---- Overall: beautifully lit up at the beginning of the hour after the sun goes down, for us it was at 10pm! Be prepared to walk and wait, enjoy the views and atmosphere with others waiting to see the pretty lights

This monument was even more magnificent in person than I could have ever imagined…read more Napoleon had it commissioned in 1806 to honor French armies. It wasn't completed until 1836 (after his death). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is under the arch. It's got a flame that's lit daily. Looking at Paris from the top of the arc is incredibly breathtaking. Definitely a must for a first-time visit to Paris.

Quality/Quantity - Another tourist attraction. Crazy busy. Still beautiful and has much history…read more One of many of France's monuments. I like the underground path to get here, to avoid the dangerous traffic. You can pay to go to the top which we did not. I believe you can buy tickets online in advance. Ambiance - See pictures. Service - Self service. Price - Free for us as we did not want to go to the top. 22 Euros, $26 USD to go to the top. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1810...? Final completion was in 1830.

I've been to Montmartre a few times over the years and can't quite say whether I've been inside the…read moreSacré-Coeur. If I have, it was well over a decade ago, and I have seen many churches in the intervening years. What I do know is that I've stood outside it several times, to admire the church as well as the iconic view of Paris from its front steps. We had intended to go inside the basilica on our recent family visit, but we had a sick child and the line was long and exposed to the sun. There were a ton of people up there, as dense a crowd as we saw all trip, everyone trying to enjoy the same viewpoint. Luckily, there was plenty of that to go around. We spent some time admiring the city and taking pictures (my father-in-law's one souvenir was that we send him a family photo from Sacré-Coeur), then wound our way downhill through charming Montmartre. Maybe next time I'll venture into the church, but it's worth going just to walk around outside.

Sacre Couer on the hill of Monmartre provides the best 360 degree views of the city of Paris,…read moreparticularly if you venture to climb the 300 steps to the top dome (for 7 euros). Entrance to the basilica is free, and it's opened from 6am until 10:30pm. It was built with the "self cleaning" Chateau-Lando stone from France, and the rain and weathering keeps it white. Crowds linger on the steps and around the overlook areas. Vendors try to sell you cheap locks to put on the surrounding fencing (the locks covering the fences-even with signs saying "no locks permitted" are an eyesore and should be removed). Security line checks are long and in February 2026 we waited about 30 or 40 mins to enter. I can only imagine what chaos it is in the high season. The basicalla is beautful inside and well worth checking out, although quiet and repect are required as there are masses going on. For this visit the crypt was not available to enter, which was highly disappointing There is also a small train trolly like vehicle right outside that will take you on a 30 minute ride around Monmartre for 12 euros. We thought it was a bit cheesey and touristy at first, but it really was worth it! Sacre couer is majestically beautiful!

Brando and Benjamin…read more Who could resist the opportunity to traverse the cobblestoned street where Ben Franklin had walked? To imagine him hobbling along, walking stick glazing the quarried granite setts, his leather frock dangling open, knee britches askew. His shoes well worn (gotta keep up appearances when you're begging for loans!), beaver fur hat in place atop his bespectacled head, and speaking his fractured French. He might have stopped to purchase chocolat, or tip his hat and curtsy to some charming ladies in his Mr. Magoo fashion. Dr. Franklin was a showman. Ruffles and velvet were for court, this was his home, and he knew that all eyes were on him, appearances were important. Rue de Passy runs from one of those odd little roundabouts that converges seven streets, one of which is rue Benjamin Franklin. If you move north-east and turn south, rue de l'Alboni will lead you to the Passy metro stop. Go further, and down many steps (great place for a early morning workout!), you'll find the Seine. Turn north-east again (that's a left!) and in a couple of blocks you'll see Pont d'lena and Tour Eiffel. Which, you can see from rue Passy, but not in all it's majestic splendor. Passy is not a tourist trap. It's French living. I didn't clock it, but it took me about fifteen minutes (give or take), but I walk fast. If you follow the southwesterly direction, you find excellent boutique shopping, eateries, the Majestic Passy theater, Passy Plaza, and Franck et Fils department store. At the end, there is a huge open market to the left (I forget the name). Rue Passy is the heart of the 16th Arrodissement. Limestone building are truly art in and of themselves. The people living here are educated and affluent, but not at all pretentious. Smiles are in abundance as you walk along, good nature is a way of life. Oh, about Brando? This is the street and apartment when Brando's "Paul" meets Schneider's "Jeanne" in Last Tango in Paris...we all know how that turned out. I was gonna end this review with Marley's lyrics to "Jammin" and hook a Ben at the front...but maybe, no. You get the picture. Aloha :)

A five minute walking detour near the Eiffel Tower…read more It's a visual thing. If you love Art Nouveau and can't get to Barcelona, here's one to check out. This unique apartment building at 29 Avenue Rapp in Paris, was designed by architect Jules Lavirotte. It was built between 1899 and 1901. It is probably the best-known example of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris. The fabulous exterior is decorated with sculptures and tiles made by Alexandre Bigot. I love all the curves windows, especially on the main front door. They are like eyes watching you. The intricate iron work. So many sculptures, it's an inside out art museum. Don't you just wish you could go inside.

Beautiful spot!! The…read morebridge is huge. Lots of traffic comes through here! So be careful if you are walking around. People drive fast through here and will run your butt over lolol We came here for some engagement photos. And we hired a photographer to capture the special moment. This is a busy area! Lots of people walking around and doing the same thing- trying to capture the romantic moment. The pictures came out beautifully! The Eiffel Tower he background and the Seine River. You can't beat that! Picture perfect location! As long as you don't mind doing crowd control for your photos and the smell of gasoline lol and the sounds of cars driving by. Video is probably not ideal here due to that. But a picture is worth a thousand words right? :)

This is one of my favorite landmarks in Paris. It's a two level steel structure that connects the…read more15th and 16th arrondissements across the Seine. The top level is for the metro train and the bottom is for motor vehicles. The bridge was completed in 1905 and the architectural detail is amazing - the light fixtures are art in themselves. Pay attention to the support girders and even the sculptures on the sides that can only be seen by passing boats and barges. Get off at Passy on the line 6 metro and walk down hill to the bridge and then cross over. Stop at île aux Cygnes for a picnic (don't forget the wine) then walk another 20 minutes to the Eiffel Tower. The bridge is a great place from which to photograph the Eiffel Tower.

From the owner: Histoire de l'image et du son Ce musée abrite une des plus belles collections d'Europe d'appareils…read morede radio et de télévision de 1898 à nos jours, ainsi qu'une reconstitution des premiers studios. Il retrace ainsi l'histoire de l'enregistrement du son et de sa diffusion, des origines à nos jours -du Tam-tam jusqu'au CD-, et de la Télévision. Au cours de la visite guidée, il vous sera proposé une présentation de la construction de la Maison de la Radio datant de 1963 ainsi que des activités de Radio France.

The Musee de l'Armee is located in the Hotel des Invaldies, which also houses the grand tomb of…read moreNapoleon Bonaparte. Hotel des invalides was the creation of Loius XIV and originally was a hospital and retirement home for military veterans. The museum has many different sections to visit and houses one of the largest collections of military weapons and other objets from the middle ages to the present. It also houses the St Louis des Invalides Cathedral. We visited in February 2026 and paid 17 euro each for entrance fee. Its opens at 10am and closes at 5:50pm. Plan to spend at least 3 to 4 hours here. We were here for the entire day and still did not get to see everything. Audio guides are free as long as you leave an ID with the desk. I would recommend getting the audio tour. There was massive construction going on in the enormous courtyard, so unfortunately this was not accessible. There is a cafe near Napoleans tomb which which we stopped on for hot chocolate and croissants and to rest.

This is a cool museum to visit. It once was and still is a hospital for veterans. If you like…read moreNapoleonic history then this is a MUST SEE museum. I personally enjoyed it. I cannot emphasize enough how cool and vast this museum is. Super worth seeing. Started in the weapons gallery. So many swords, knives, shields, and other weapons from different eras like the French, Ottoman Turks, the Japanese and so forth. Then went to the big French/Napoleon exhibition. Wow. So much information, portraits, videos, and stuff to learn. You could spend the entire day here. So many rooms and hallways to see. Finally finished with Napoleon's tomb. Wow! What a casket for one man. Definitely their crown jewel. What Abraham Lincoln was to us, Napoleon is to the French. Definitely visit this museum!

Absolutely one of the best experiences ever. It is a must to get the Audio Guide Tour - so…read moreinformative on th History of Paris and The Catacombes. We unfortunately had 105 degree weather in Paris and literally this tour was a "cool" experience for the history and the temperature - literally. Also the little gift shop after is a must - I smile every morning using my spoon and have a pair of gloves that I will be wearing as well. This and Jim Morrison's Grave was my two favorite things.

The major thing we wanted to do in Paris was visit the catacombs, an underground ossuary containing…read morethe bones of more than six million people. The catacombs are part of Paris' abandoned mine and quarry network, and bones were moved to the catacombs because the cemeteries were running out of space. The first bones were transferred from the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents after the cemetery was closed in 1780 due to overuse. The catacombs are an extremely popular attraction, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as a limited number of people are admitted each hour, and with good reason -- the experience would be extremely unpleasant if overly crowded. However, you can only purchase tickets one week in advance, and the catacombs are not open on Mondays. The two full days we were in Paris were Sunday and Monday, so I had to ensure that we were able to get tickets for Sunday April 7. Fortunately I was successful! Tickets were €29 each, although per the website, they are now €31. Unfortunately, the catacombs are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues -- the 1.5km long route has 243 stairs -- 131 to descend and 112 to ascend. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and if you want to see bones and skulls (no full skeletons, though), the Paris catacombs won't disappoint! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Beware of stairs!]