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1 day Paris itinerary: from bonjour to au revoir


Bangladeshpost
Published : 07 Aug 2019 09:55 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 10:35 AM

Gazi Md Riasat Amin
I never knew the charm of spring
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling

Song “April in Paris” by ‘Ella Fitzgerald’

17 May 2019, this date will always be shining in my calendar like a tremendous memory as I was blessed with the opportunity to visit “Paris”—the magnificent and ultimate romantic city in world! It was a ‘single day’ visit in Paris and every second of it is still alive in my mind. My itinerary for one day in Paris is a loop that took me to the city’s classic sights and beautiful neighborhoods with some tasty treats along the way.

I started in “Hôtel de Ville” as it was just close to our bus station, but you could start at any point. There are no ugly sections on this route—it is all gloriously Parisian. But if you are about to make a single day visit I would rather suggest you to make a route plan. I designed my route plan based on three factors: picking up the “must go” places by counting the nearest distances between them, availability of vehicles and following “a merry go round process”. I also counted the time I will spend on each place and travelling time from one place to another. Believe me it really helps! And throughout the planning, Google helped me all the way.

If I have to give you a short highlight of my visit then I really loved the Louvre museum where Mona Lisa resides. Of course, with just a day in Paris, this won’t let you see anything else if you want to really explore the Louvre. But if you want to see a lot of highlights in Paris, I suggest you limit yourself to about two hours. Entry is ticketed (costs 15 Euro per person), and as one of Paris’s most popular attractions, the lines there can be long.

I could not and was not allowed by myself to avoid seeing the Eiffel Tower, and a visit to this huge wrought iron tower was a definite must for my day in Paris! Of course, you don’t have to go to the very top to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, or in fact, to climb it at all. You can enjoy excellent views of the tower from the Champ de Mars gardens, as well as from the Trocadero on the other side of the River Seine. But if you want to climb to the top of the tower you will be requiring a ticket costing 50 Euro, otherwise it’s free to enter with a tight security screening. 

Do not forget to try coffee and crepe from nearby shops (you will find many). Famed for the “love locks” that couples once clipped to its railings, Pont De Arts has shed some weight in recent years, but not its amorous associations. These days, the pedestrian-friendly bridge is perfect for sightseeing or picnicking. I loved the bridge and the view of Seine River from it.

From culture to consumerism! The Champs-Élysées is the most famous shopping street in Paris, particularly for luxury items. It’s over a mile long and is home to everything from car brands to clothing stores to French macaroon shops. I really loved the surrounding vibes of one of the major streets in Paris for celebrations.

Well, if you are willing to make a trip to Paris, save these suggestions which will help you to move in Paris: learn the metro system, try the boulangeries and pastry shops, visit the Paris museums, check out Paris from above (from Scare Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and even the roof top of the Galleries Lafayette), try to enjoy Eiffel Tower at night and learn how to move in Paris by keeping yourself safe from pickpockets (do not stop if anybody calls you from behind and tries to give you something).

In a nutshell I love Paris. I love Paris in the spring, I love Paris in the fall, I love Paris on a Monday, Tuesday, Sunday afternoon… I just love Paris. As a young boy, Paris was always the city that fascinated me most and now, I feel that the love affair just continues to grow stronger. Below you will find my favorite quotes about Paris to inspire your own journey… and believe me, they will do just that! “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” – Thomas Jefferson” “An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.” -Friedrich Nietzsche So, thinking of visiting Paris soon? Bon Voyage!