This year's Summer Olympics (Olympics 2024) will take place in Paris from July 26th to August 11th. The world's biggest sporting event, held every four years, returns to Paris after exactly 100 years.
I first came to Paris (France) in May 1997 on a business trip, and it was also my first trip abroad. I was truly overwhelmed by the beauty of the city with its old houses, tree-lined streets, and historical architecture.
Later, after having had the opportunity to visit many other cities around the world, I still loved Paris the most, perhaps because of its architecture and romantic beauty.
Exploring this entire city would probably take a week. However, if you only have 2-3 days to visit, here's a suggested itinerary.
Day 1
The Louvre Museum is the world's largest museum, housing millions of works of art and artifacts. It attracts approximately 8.9 million visitors annually. It's advisable to book your tickets in advance (according to your preferred time slot) to avoid long queues.
I've been to this museum three times, most recently in 2016, and I didn't have to queue even though I hadn't bought tickets in advance. Last year, my friends and I, visiting Paris for the first time, had to give up because we hadn't bought tickets beforehand, and the museum staff said it would take about three hours to queue.
The most famous work of art at the Louvre is the Mona Lisa painting by the renowned artist Leonardo da Vinci, painted in 1503.
This is the most famous, most viewed, most written about, most sung about, and most parodied artwork in the world. Unlike before, when you could freely approach, admire, and take photos with this painting, now you'll have to queue for 10-15 minutes due to the overwhelming number of people wanting to see it up close.
After leaving the museum, you should take a stroll in the Tuileries Gardens right in front. In this location, during the 16th century, stood the Tuileries Palace and its gardens. At the end of the 19th century, the palace burned down during the Paris Commune of 1871, and now only the gardens remain.
Today, it is the largest and most important garden in Paris. From morning till night, tens of thousands of locals and tourists stroll and relax in this rectangular garden, which covers an area of 280,000 square meters.
From the Tuileries Gardens, you can walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, which is about 1km away. After the 2019 fire that destroyed the spire and part of the roof of the 860-year-old Gothic structure, the cathedral underwent a complete restoration and is expected to reopen in December of this year.
The cathedral is located next to the Latin Quarter, one of the most popular tourist areas thanks to its hotels, restaurants, cafes, and famous landmarks. Having lunch here is one of my choices whenever I visit Paris.
In the Latin Quarter lies the Pantheon, a burial place and memorial to historical figures and those who have brought glory to France.
Located near the Pantheon is the Luxembourg Gardens, an important Parisian garden, second only to the Tuileries Gardens. Built in 1612, the gardens house the Luxembourg Palace (now the French Senate), the Luxembourg Museum, and numerous monuments and other structures. It's a favorite spot for students in the Latin Quarter, Parisians, and tourists to stroll and meet.
Late afternoon is the perfect time to go up Montmartre hill to watch the sunset. Located at an altitude of 130 meters, the hill is home to the Sacré-Cœur church, from which you can enjoy panoramic views of Paris. Considered the most romantic area of Paris, the hill is home to many artists, both famous and lesser-known.
According to statistics, as many as 4,285 artists, including big names like Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Pablo Picasso, lived in the Montmartre area during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The charming tree-lined streets and small staircases are ideal for a leisurely stroll before enjoying dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area, ranging from casual to upscale.
Day 2
The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Paris and a must-see for anyone visiting the city, is easily visible from many parts of the city. If you want to go up and enjoy the city views, you should buy tickets online in advance and opt for a skip-the-line ticket to save time.
The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, is located in the Champ de Mars park.
From 1889 to 1930, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world. Approximately 7 million tourists visit the Eiffel Tower annually, and since its opening, it has seen around 300 million visits, making it the world's most popular paid tourist attraction.
The best places to take photos with the Eiffel Tower are from the Bir-Hakeim Bridge or from the Chaillot Palace located on the hill in front of the tower. Additionally, the two neighborhoods on either side of the tower are also popular locations for wedding photos. All these spots are just a few minutes' walk from the base of the tower.
After visiting and taking photos of the Eiffel Tower, you can buy a boat ticket to cruise along the Seine River. You don't need to buy tickets in advance as there are many boats and trips throughout the day. The pier is located near the Eiffel Tower. A boat tour takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, allowing you to admire all the famous Parisian landmarks along the romantic Seine River.
After a boat trip along the Seine River, you can walk to the Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris's most famous landmarks, which attracts around 1 million tourists annually. Along with the Champs-Elysées, it's a popular venue for festivals, events, and celebrations of sporting victories and New Year's Eve.
The Champs-Élysées is considered one of the most famous avenues in the world. Along both sides of the avenue are hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and designer shops. Having lunch at one of the restaurants on this avenue is also one of my choices.
When talking about Paris, it's impossible not to mention the bridges crossing the Seine River. There are a total of 37 bridges crossing the Seine, but the most famous is the Pont Neuf. Although the name means "new bridge" in French, it is the oldest bridge in Paris.
Completed in 1607, this was the city's first stone bridge. Before that, all the bridges in Paris were made of wood.
The Alexandre III Bridge, located at the beginning of the Champs-Elysees avenue, is one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris. Completed in 1900 along with other structures such as the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais, the Alexandre III Bridge was a gift from the Russian Emperor Alexander III to France for the International Exhibition in Paris that year.
The bridge connects the Grand Palais and the Invalides, an impressive complex comprising a park, museums, and shrines containing the remains and tombs of heroes and emperors, including Napoleon Bonaparte, the military leader and controversial emperor of France.
If you're a fan of designer shopping, Place Vendôme is a must-visit. Located between the Opéra Garnier and the Tuileries Gardens, it's a quiet area and one of Paris's most luxurious neighborhoods. The buildings around the square are all high-end hotels or luxury boutiques.
The most popular shopping destination for any Vietnamese person visiting Paris is the Galeries Lafayette shopping center, located near the Opera House. It's a large, concentrated shopping area and is notably open every day of the week, while other shops are closed on Sundays.
Today, this store welcomes over 36 million visitors annually, or approximately 100,000 visitors per day. In total, it is the largest and most important store in Europe in terms of sales.
Paris welcomes approximately 47.6 million visitors annually, including 25.9 million international tourists, with summer being the peak season. This summer, hotel costs have increased due to the anticipated surge in visitors to Paris because of the Olympics. However, according to Hotels.com, about 30% of rooms are still available.
Hotels in central Paris are often small because they are located in buildings hundreds of years old and have height restrictions. In return, they offer easy access to the city's main tourist attractions.
Getting around Paris: Public transport such as buses and the subway is very convenient and provides access to all tourist attractions. You don't need to buy tickets; simply swipe your credit card at the entrance and exit stations (for the subway) and the system will automatically calculate your fare.
For bus tickets, you only need to swipe your credit card when boarding, as you only pay once for the entire route. Since all the points of interest and itineraries I suggested above are within walking distance, I encourage everyone to walk to have more opportunities to experience and see this city.
Theft and pickpocketing in Paris are probably among the worst in the world, so be extra careful when you go out. Avoid carrying your passport and large amounts of cash, and always wear your backpack in front of your chest in crowded places. Don't strike up conversations with strangers to avoid being scammed.
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