I've been to Paris a number of times over the years, and I've probably ended up on Avenue des…read moreChamps-Élysées at some point during each trip. It's an iconic street in the 8th arrondissement, running a little over a mile between Place de la Cocorde and Place Charles de Gaulle, marked by the Arc de Triomphe. The avenue is wide and beautiful, famous and important, a tourist attraction and a center of city life. It's always teeming with people, but spacious enough that I've never felt it to be unbearably crowded. It's lovely both day and night, and I enjoyed seeing it in December when it was lit up for Christmas. The street is lined with shops and restaurants of the most tourist-grabbing kind. I've been to the Monoprix and paid money to use the bathroom at Galeries Lafayette. I've also been inside the flagship Louis Vuitton, a landmark building shaped and decorated like the brand's monogrammed luggage. Whether you're in Paris for the first or hundredth time, the Champs-Élysées is always worth a stroll. You can go to the Apple store or buy luxury perfume, but the main attraction is really the street itself.

Avenue des Champs-Elysees is a famous luxury shopping area in Paris. This area comes highly…read morerecommended on travel guides, but to me it's only worth a quick stroll, or if you're on a time limit, skip it all together. With globalization, I basically have all of these high-end flagship stores in my area, so I don't feel compelled to buy anything here. I would only recommend it if you have a specific limited edition item you can only get in Paris.

Montmartre is a large hill (130m/430ft high) in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Known for the…read moreSacré-Cœur Basilica and the Moulin Rouge, there is plenty to see and do in the Montmartre area, as well as numerous restaurants. It's a nice neighbourhood to walk around, and if you want some exercise, there are plenty of stairs and elevation. There is also the Montmartre funicular, which runs along the Rue Foyatier up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, to save people from walking up the 222 stairs. Our hotel was in Montmartre, and we loved the area -- I would definitely stay in Montmartre again. We spent our last day in Paris (April 8) walking around Montmartre, and it was one of my favourite days on my three week trip to Europe. While we didn't go into the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, we walked past it. We also stopped in to take a look at the Église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre and the Dali Museum, which were nearby. But the highlights of the day was the Montmartre Cemetery and the busker playing the accordion, with his cat. [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France]

Visiting Montmartre is a must when you are visiting Paris ! "Montmartre's most famous landmark is…read moreSacre Coeur and it sits high above Paris and is visible from much of all of the city. This small quaint city is famous for the men and women who sell there paintings as well as paint your portraits as you sit ! Their stores and boutiques are amazing as well as their small restaurants. It is so nice to walk the cobblestone streets and just spend the day here with friends and family .

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 :)

Yes. Come do the touristy things like shopping, eating, and sightseeing. But also consider this…read moreplace with a spin to the sightseeing portion with a historical twist. The admissions price you pay is worth it. You just don't see this type of local flair anywhere else. Soak in the history about Paris and also its darker side. Your perspective about things will change, for most people anyway. The takeaway the hubs took from this experience is that nothing really matters at the end. It's a real eye opening experience TBH. As you wander the dark corridors, you will see piles of real human bones piled in neat stacks. It was saddening to realize that these were once human beings. Now they are part of a collection of unknown souls. It was just a down to earth experience. The audio tour will allow you to wander at your pleasure so there's no real rush or live tour. Book early because spots are limited!

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!]

During an excessively rainy day, Jamie W and I ducked for cover in four of Paris' fabled covered…read morepassages. The vintage 19th-century architecture remained consistent throughout, but this one was different from the others. First, it wasn't part of the same sequential path of the other three (Panoramas, Jouffroy, and Verdeau). It actually continues the street that bears the same name, Rue Choiseul. Second, it's easily the city's longest passage at over 190 meters. The length showcased the especially tall glass ceiling for a passage. And third, the mix of retail businesses was decidedly more eclectic and global. Instead of the antique dealers, ye olde booksellers, and stamp collectors that populate the other passages, there are lunch hour fast food eateries as well as Japanese and Korean toy, stationery, and pop merch shops. So if you have a sudden hankering for oyakodon, now you know which passage to target. RELATED - Exploring Paris? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/TDhdgjoONI

My apartment was located in Passage Choiseul . There are many great retail shops and food stops to…read morechoose from.

L'ile aux Cygnes or Swan Island is an artificial island on the river Seine. You can find a scale…read morereplica of the Statue of Liberty here. Obviously not as impressive as its big sister in New York but still kind of cool. The island is quite a bit out of the way but perfect if you want a little break from other tourists.

Rue Crémieux is an absolutely adorable and picturesque street just a short walk from Gare de Lyon…read more Lined with pastel-colored houses and blooming flower pots, it's a peaceful spot that feels like a secret escape in the middle of Paris. Definitely worth a stroll if you're in the area--perfect for a quick photo stop or a quiet moment away from the bustle.

Rue Crémieux is a quaint little hidden neighborhood in Paris. It reminds me of Notting Hill in…read moreLondon. We lucked out visiting this beautiful street and took some liberty memorable photos. But please be mindful and respect the residents. All you need is a few minutes for some photos you'll cherish.

Free public art in Paris, France…read more.. Our friend was so excited to share this landmark... The Wall of Love Le Mur des je t'Aime is translated to The Wall of I Love Yous... (plural) It features the phrase, "I love you" in many different languages. On 5.11.26, it was still being repaired, so the English phrase was blocked from view. Maybe when we visit again, we'll be able to see it! Notes: we found free street parking a couple of blocks away. On the way to The Wall, we passed many shops and a carousel!

I visited the Wall of "I Love You" in Montmartre while exploring the Abbesses neighborhood in…read moreParis. It is a small but meaningful landmark tucked inside Square Jehan Rictus, just steps from the Abbesses metro station. The installation is composed of deep blue tiles covering an entire wall with the phrase "I love you" written in more than 250 languages. Seeing the same message expressed in so many languages creates a simple but powerful visual statement about love and connection across cultures. The design is minimalist but thoughtful. The white handwritten text contrasts beautifully with the dark blue background, while small red fragments scattered across the wall symbolize pieces of a broken heart that humanity can reunite through love. Although the site itself is not large, it carries a quiet charm that fits perfectly with the artistic atmosphere of Montmartre. Visitors often stop to find their own language on the wall or take photos in front of the installation. Overall, the Wall of "I Love You" is a small but memorable stop in Paris. It may not take long to visit, but it captures a poetic and symbolic moment that reflects the romantic spirit often associated with the city.

Incredible! My friend and I were in Paris for the night and are both gluten free and were not…read morenecessarily looking for Parisian food. Wanted somewhere we could dress up, have great wine, and be near the Eiffel Tower. This checked all the boxes. The inside is STUNNING! Quite small, but it looks like it has been there for a very long time and all the decor looked handmade and artful. It just felt so warm and lovely in there. Our waitress was kind, and our encounters with her were brief. She was an expert. Never had to ask for water, for plates to be taken, for refills of drinks. She made the experience so seamless that it just felt like everything happened magically as we thought of it. I feel like it's common for places to have gluten free penne, but Su Misura has gluten free...everything. We both went with tortellini since it's rare to find in gluten free form. Also got some artichokes and a salad, plus the free gluten free bread. It was all incredible. The whole evening was magical. This is a place to go to feel like a true Parisian...a Parisian who is in the mood for Italian dining that is.

I had no idea that this was a gluten-free restaurant. Everything that I had was quite good…read more We were pleased with the selection of organic wine. The lamb shank and the lasagna Bolognese were both delicious. The eggplant was also difficult to pass up. Service checked all the boxes, but was nothing terribly special. The restaurant is located near the Eiffel Tower and has a quiet and quaint ambience.

It was raining and the seafood restaurant we wanted to try does not open until 7 pm. We decided to…read morewalk in at Gloria to have appetizers to tide us over. The Ravioli Croccanti was surprisingly a super delightful dish. The crispy ravioli was stuffed with burrata, parmesan cream, pesto and prosciutto. This dish scored so high when it comes to craveability factor. I could not say the same about the other item ordered - the Vitello Tonnato which was veal with tuna sauce was how it was described. I will skip the veal and double down on the Croccanti.

Wow! What an…read moreincredible meal! Pizza & Pasta combo was incredible! Carbonara & Pizza Parmigiana with a 1/2 bottle of Chianti for $54,00 €. Amazing!!!