Landmark in Paris, France…read more.. I've visited this famous piece of architecture a few times before I knew about Yelp. Back in 2000, I was here with my former co-worker. She didn't want to visit because there was a bomb threat. I told her that it's just a threat. How many miles and hours did we fly to just stay in the hotel room? She ended up walking outside with me... LOL! Our friend dropped us off this time to just get photos. He and his wife drove around the block and picked us up in-between stops. Parking is quite the challenge here! Be on your best behavior... some guards with guns marched past us!

I had a 3 pm reserved ticket To The Top and arrived 30 minutes early. I'm glad I did because they…read morewere running behind schedule. Once On Top I was almost 1,000 feet above ground and the views were dramatic. One level is fully enclosed behind large windows and the level above is open air with large metal screens for protection. That day the wind was calm so it was very pleasant to be on that level. On the open air level you can buy a glass of champagne and macarons to celebrate if you wish. Above you the tower rises for about another 100 feet for radio antennas, etc. It costs extra to go To The Top and it is worth it. If you do, go there first and then work your way down to the 2nd and then 1st levels. You can only access The Top by elevator. The 2nd level (400 feet) and 1st level (200 feet) are accessible by elevator and stairway. Remember it's much easier going downhill than uphill. By the way, the stairs are open air but enclosed with metal screens making it impossible for you to fall off. If you are on the 1st level and want to exit it is faster to do so by stairs rather than waiting on the elevator. There are upscale restaurants on the 1st and 2nd levels and there are chairs that you can sit on and enjoy the view. Actually, the famous French landmarks are better seen from the 2nd level than The Top. There are 2 Metro stations within less than 10 minute walking distance to the Tower so getting here is easy. It amazes me that this HUGE landmark was originally designed to be a temporary structure only, They were suppose to take it down but decided it was too popular.

THE GOOD ----------------…read more+ Great aerial view of the city! Obviously not as high as the Eiffel Tower, but still very solid views, ESPECIALLLLY of the Champs Elysees right outside. + Besides the view of the city, there are historical artifacts inside at different points as you walk up. Definitely worth a look when you need a break. + There are restrooms about halfway up the Arc, so don't fret if you just downed a bottle of water. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - The walk up and down the Arc's top is definitely a workout. I'm still tired just thinking about it! There are alottttttt of dizzying steps on the spiral staircase, so mentally prepare yourself for it before embarking. - Crossing the street over to the Arc can be an adventure with no street lights or signs controlling the traffic so cross at your own peril! MIXED THOUGHTS --------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS ------------------------------------- = Buy an e-ticket! You can cut the long line if you do!

This very large French memorial is very famous and a real crowd pleaser. It's free to visit but…read moredoes charge a fee to climb the over 250 interior steps to the roof for the nice views offered there. The Arch is located in the middle of a huge roundabout for vehicles and is only accessible via underground tunnel as it would be impossible to safely walk/run through that crazy circular traffic. Once there, you are on its island and totally safe. There, it's a huge photo op. It is also so interesting to see all of the names of the battles France was involved as they are commemorated on the Arch. Also they list the last names of many ex-French generals that served. Those that have a line under their name died in battle. On the street level is the French Tomb of the Unknown soldier with a short ceremony of it every day at 6:30 pm. You can also look down the Champs Elysee all the way down to The Louvre far away. If you come to Paris, you have to come here for 30 minutes. Then afterward go walking down one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world.

A poor nineteen year old student in Paris, I found a bedroom to rent in the grand salon of a…read morewidowed French government official's wife, who took in students to offset her own need for income. Once wealthy and the daughter of Polish nobility, but now living on a pension and what little she had inherited from the former minister and governor of a colony in French Equitorial Africa, the most gracious Madame V took me under her wing and mentored me in the Parisian life that no longer existed except within her old world apartment and the vibrant galleries of her romanticist mind. She at 60 had more worldly experience than I would ever have, or at least so I believed then. Her fourth floor abode lie on Avenue Theophile Gautier, named for the 19th Century poet, novelist, critic and journalist, who was a strong influence on the Romantic and Aesthetic periods in French arts and literature. He was a contemporary of Balzac, Hugo, Flaubert, and Baudelaire, the giants of the period. He was a friend of Princess Mathilde, who found him a job as a librarian when his other work sank in popularity. I often wondered about this man as I walked the street to and from school and while shopping in the corner boulangerie. In those days I didn't believe in coincidence, and was certain he held a message for me about life. Of course, his extreme romantic reviews about art ("Art for art's sake."), two mistresses and close ties with ballerina Carlotta Grisi with whom he composed the ballet libretti Giselle, all led me to understand that only by complete emersion is creativity and writing about it as descriptively as possible, would ultimate truth be found. Of course, Gautier was far more excessive than I could be, but his influence on my psyche that year was all consuming. I returned to his street a few times after departing Paris, once to visit Madame V and another to impress someone with my knowledge of the city and this bit of arcane literati history. Although refined over the years to allow me to live in balance with my world, both Madame and Theo have had an outsized influence over me. I thank them both profoundly for that.

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!

Walked up hundreds of steps to get there. I believe we were where John Wick filmed that dramatic…read morefight scene. As u get to the top u see two majestic knights on horses protecting the basilica. The basilica is beautiful. Many statues some made of pure silver. and areas to light candles. Long line to get in mostly tourists some are worshippers. The massive beautiful altar is the centerpiece, obviously every minor detail was carefully thought out. Starway to heaven. What an experience. Hope to add more later with some history.

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? :)

You can take some great photos here, both of the view of the Eiffel Tower and of the bridge itself,…read morewhich has really cool architecture. There are often people walking, biking, as well as people who take bridal photos here, so if you're looking for a people-free shot, you may have to be patient.

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!

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!]