Blue waters, pristine beaches, verdant valleys, world-class wines, incredible monuments, ruins, and a stunning coastline bordered by a wealth of history make France a perfect destination for a memorable getaway. The world’s most beautiful wonder and the magical country will leave you utterly enchanted with its oh-so-amazing charm. Heavily buzzing with an electrifying vibe all around, this country is perfect for a beautiful trip! Also famous for love affairs and romantic vibes, it is a heavenly destination packed with the best places to visit in France that you should explore at least once. Arts, culture, handicrafts, delicious food, warm-hearted people, the height of the sky-kissing mountains, the sparkling beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night, the heavenly weather, and the list goes on; words fail to describe it. Having visited Stockholm city in Sweden and Geneva city in Switzerland, I have gained much knowledge and experience, which I have already shared with everyone. Those following my previous articles may have correctly guessed that today’s article will be about my travel experience in France.
Preparation:
As soon as my tour in Geneva was over as planned, preparations began to arrive in Paris, France. I arrived at Geneva airport on time as an EasyJet flight from Geneva to Paris was booked in advance, and my flight was scheduled for 7 pm. Geneva Airport has a separate entry gate called the France Sector for passengers going to France only, where only security checks are carried out. I went to the lounge and discovered the flight was canceled due to a mechanical fault. It was not possible for me to fly to Paris that day as there were no seats available on EasyJet’s onward flights, as it is budget-friendly and booked at least a week in advance.
On the other hand, I have already booked a hotel for two days in Paris. Finally, I had to take an alternative route and reach the bus station from Geneva airport within 20 minutes. After getting to the bus station, I couldn’t find any way to buy the ticket and was trying to talk to people associated with different buses. Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk to anyone about it because none of them could speak English. After some time, I found someone who could speak English, and he advised me to install the Omio app and book the tickets online. It should be noted that all transport companies here sell tickets through various agencies. Finally, I installed and registered the Omio app and bought the bus ticket from Geneva to Paris. The bus departure time from Geneva was 10:30 pm, another two-and-a-half hour wait.
At the end of the waiting, I boarded the bus five minutes before departure and sat in my seat. The bus left on time, and after about seven hours long, I reached Paris. Now it’s time to get to the hotel. I usually book a hotel near the airport if I go to the destination by plane and near the station by bus or tram. Here it is reversed, and the distance to the hotel is about twelve kilometers from the station. There are usually no trams and very few buses in Paris at night. I got information about a direct bus with the help of google but missed that too. Finally, after going some distance in one vehicle, walking some distance, and again in another, I reached the hotel. Then I checked in at the hotel, freshened up, and slept briefly. Then at around 10 am, I bought breakfast from a nearby supermarket, ate in my hotel room, and went out to explore Paris.
Sightseeing:
From the Boulevards to the seaside resorts of Paris’ Cote d’Azur, France is known as one of the most charming countries in the world. Fairytale fortified castles, ornate and picturesque churches, and picture-perfect villages encourage tourists to travel to France easily. However, of course, no trip to France would be complete without a visit to its capital city. Paris is home to some of the world’s most prominent landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral. There are also many famous museums, art galleries, and shops to explore.
Paris: If one wants to see a beautiful country, one should go to Egypt, and if one wants to see a charming city, one should go to Paris. It is not my words but the experience of wise and virtuous people. Paris, a city rich in art, literature, and culture, is true to the saying, “You are half the city, half the imagination.” Paris is one of the most beautiful and modern cities in the world. The French cannot be compared to the standard of civilization. I have heard the name of this city from afar, which is made up of thirty-two bridges. Paris is a city not only to see but also to feel. Paris’s Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, restaurants, fashion, everything is from another world. Everything has a unique impression of an artistic, creative, romantic mind. In the 18th century, Paris was called the ‘City of Light’ as it was the first city in the world to install electric lights in the streets and played an essential role as a center of education and knowledge. One cannot help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of Paris when the dark Paris lights up after dusk. It is not unusual to get lost in joy when visiting Paris. Paris has no match for wide streets like a football field. If you want to walk across the river, you can see the whole city of Paris. What is not in Paris? Paris has everything to satisfy the thirst for travel. The people of this country are as rich as their cultural heritage. Paris is a city with a rich culture of thousands of years.
Eiffel Tower: When you hear the name Paris, an image of the Eiffel Tower comes to mind, which is one of the symbolic attractions among visitors. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was one of the 7 Wonders of the Middle Ages and is still the main attraction of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Parisian culture, is illuminated every night with about five billion lights that change their color repeatedly, and the sight of this sight at night cannot be understood without seeing it with your own eyes. I had to go there and stand in a long line to get in, even after buying tickets online, to avoid the crowd. I finally saw one of the world’s most iconic structures, the Eiffel Tower, up close. Along with climbing the stairs from the ground floor to the second floor, adventurous tourists can fly from the ground floor to the second and highest floors through the glass elevator. However, you must take chances by braving the crowd, collecting tickets, standing in queues, and maintaining serials.
Place de la Concorde: Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris, a popular hangout for locals and tourists, right in front of the Tuileries Gardens. Thousands of Parisians pass by this vast, lighted, and cheerful octagonal Public Square every day, and many tourists come, sit or stand to observe the rhythmic bustle of Paris. Now the main attraction of this square is an Egyptian monument, ‘Obelisk of Luxor.’
Louvre Museum: One of my regrets about this trip to France is the Louvre Museum which I could not visit due to lack of time. After the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum is France’s most popular, prestigious, and famous tourist place. The museum houses Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece Mona Lisa and the first-century Venus de Milo sculpture. The museum is home to world-renowned masterpieces and displays the best examples of history from the earliest days of ancient civilizations to modern civilization. The collection of the Louvre Museum is so extensive that even if you were to look at each item for 30 seconds every day without a break, it would take you at least 100 days to see everything.
France also has artistic masterpieces Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, the famous hero Napoleon’s victory monument, the coastal city of Cote d’Azur, the UNESCO-listed pyramid of Mont Saint Michael, the Loire Valley familiar as the Garden of France, the historic city of Orleans, the Palace of Versailles, the Rodin Museum, Disneyland, etc. I will explore these if I visit again in the future.
Cost:
Costs in France are relatively low compared to other European countries. I bought my plane ticket from Geneva, Switzerland, to Paris, France, for $30, about three thousand BDT. However, the bus cost me 74 Swiss francs, almost three times more than the plane ticket. Booking a room in a three-star hotel for two days in Paris cost me more than nineteen thousand BDT. I booked the hotel previously while in Bangladesh before going on the trip, so I mentioned the cost here in taka figures. After arriving in Paris, it cost 7 euros to buy my breakfast from a super shop near the hotel. Even if you are a food lover, there is nothing to worry about when you come to France because you can easily find excellent and halal food here, even Bengali food. When you get hungry, you can find various budget-friendly food at roadside eateries in France. However, the budget depends on where and what to eat.
Some Essential Tips for France Tour:
- The weather in France can vary depending on the time of year and the region you are visiting. Be sure to pack clothing that will be appropriate for the weather conditions.
- Museums and tourist spots in France are almost always crowded, so try to book tickets online to avoid the hassle.
- The cost of food in the restaurants around the museum and the Eiffel Tower is very high.
- In European cities, it is best to take a hotel near the City Center because living and dining nearby a City Center has a bit of convenience.
- You can reduce costs by staying with a local or French family as a paying guest.
- Streetside tap water in Paris is safe to drink, so there is no need to buy water separately.
- Paris by day and night is entirely different, so the opportunity to visit Paris by night should not be missed.
- Photographing the illuminated Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum at night is punishable by copyright infringement, so do not take any photographs without obtaining permission from the appropriate authorities.
- Learn some French before you go. Although many people in France speak English, it’s an excellent idea to learn some basic French phrases that will help you interact with the locals and make your trip more enjoyable.