Why is Paris called the city of love? Honestly, that’s a difficult question and you might get controversial answers to this!! But, we hope you might find your answer after reading this short article.
The beauty of the French Capital
Paris, the capital of France, is known to be one of the world’s most elegant cities and has been drawing visitors for centuries. From it’s wonderful historic monuments to its exceptional cuisine, it is a destination unlike any other. The city preserves its famous skylines under UNESCO heritage protection which limits buildings to six stories. These carefully preserved buildings kinda enhances the romantic appeal of the city too. A stroll across the narrow streets of Paris with historical buildings everywhere is something that everyone ought to experience at least once in a lifetime. Someone truly said “You can’t get lost in Paris and there is something always beautiful around the next corner”.
It’s not just the city but also the personality of the locals that truly reflects what Paris is. We were amazed by the sheer number of negative responses that we have seen over the internet about the rudeness of Paris locals. While we are unaware as to why this conclusion was reached at, we honestly feel that the people of Paris, their culture and their way of life is just amazing. The locals love French, and not many actually converse in English although most of them understand the language. If you learn a little bit of basic French, you can easily get along with the people here and in fact, find them to be approachable, friendly and hospitable. By the way, did you know that French was voted the sexiest language in the world according to a poll published by the language learning app Babbel?
Why is Paris so popular?
As per the recent statistics, more than 30 million tourists visit Paris every year. Paris is popular among tourists for the same reason that New York city is – some of the world’s greatest artists memorialized this city. Many writers, musicians, poets, craftsmen etc. lived in Paris and later gained world fame. In addition to this, how many of us seen films that depict Paris as a romantic city? How many famous fashion brands have originated from Paris? All this accounts for the popularity of this place. Paris is well hyped but it delivers on that hype. We remember the first time we visited Paris, we were pretty much in awe the entire time.
Top tourist attractions in Paris
Paris is a dream city for tourists!! There are plenty of great sites here that can appeal to almost anyone. Whether you love history, art, food, culture or are just looking to sip a cafe au lait while you watch the Parisian landscape, you will find that Paris is the perfect destination for your next vacation. Whether it is your first time or the 50th time visiting the France capital, the magical sights, sounds and experiences here are always invigorating and refreshing. While you can actually spend over a week here, we have listed few of the important place you must visit that will make your trip worth while.
A late evening cruise on the River Seine
Honestly, when we visited Paris, we were quite hesitant on going a river cruise as we had done this in almost every city that was surrounded by a water body. But, a lot of travelers whom we spoke to highly recommended the sunset river cruise and we just decided to do this!! And my oh my – not for once did we regret that decision!! That one hour cruise was mind blowing and a treat to the eyes!! There are two spectacular things that you see while you are on the cruise – A beautiful sunset over the River Seine and the glittering Eiffel Tower’s light show, which is pure magic. The twinkle lights reflect on the dark water and you would find all the passengers oooh and aahhh the whole time !! Definitely a goosebumps experience!!
The Arc De Triomphe
The Arc De Triomphe is a majestic monument that was built to honour those who fought and died for France during the French revolutionary and the Napoleonic wars. Inscribed on the beautiful walls of this monument are the names of all the French victories and generals. This monument stands in the center of the busy Place Charles De Gaulle. Once you are near this intersection, you need to take a short walk underground to get under this monument. The carvings here are so intricate and flawless that you can sit and gaze at this beauty for a few minutes at least. While here, you can also choose to pay and get to the top to get an amazing 360 degree view of Paris, which is actually worth it.
Sainte-Chapelle
Have you ever been surrounded by over 1000 stained glass windows? The feeling is just amazing!! This Royal Chapel in Paris features a truly exceptional collection of 1113 stained glass windows. This was built by Louis IX to house the relics of the Passion of the Christ. The entry to this Chapel is on the lower level which is itself quite beautiful with it’s archways. To get to the upper level, you must walk up a narrow, dim and spiral stairway with worn marble stairs. While you might be wondering where the heck you are going, you would be left mind boggled once you reach the top. The 360 degree view of tall stained glass is awe inspiring and NIRVANAH!! While we were here, we just stood there at the center of the hall spinning round and round capturing some amazing videos. We still love showing these to our friends and family!!
The Louvre
The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind when they hear about the Louvre is Leonardo Da Vinci’s most renowned painting of Mona Lisa. But is that what Louvre is all about – One painting? Not really!! The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and a historical monument in Paris. The incredible glass pyramid and the intricately designed massive historical building surrounding the pyramid portray a blend of modern and historical architecture at its best. The innumerable historical artefacts and paintings that this place offers is beyond imaginable and a pure visual treat. You wouldn’t normally expect such advice for a museum but please do carry a pair of good walking shoes. This place is enormous and walking here can get tiring!! And trust us, you can’t see everything here in a day. So, do plan accordingly.
The Eiffel Tower
The best is always for the last. A trip to Paris is obviously never complete without a visit to this man made masterpiece. The Eiffel Tower stands as the emblematic symbol of Paris and its beauty is beyond what words can describe. It just feels so awesome to just stand under this tower and look up. You’d be amazed to see how humongous this monument is and would wonder what a mastermind Gustavo Eiffel truly was. No matter what time of the year you visit, the Eiffel Tower will be sure to enamor and enchant you with its picture perfect and world class architecture. When this monument lights up in the evening and sparkles, the atmosphere turns magical. This is one of those places that ought to be on everyone’s lifetime travel list.
Don’t miss the Macarons and Croissants!!
Paris has a long culinary history. Some of the world’s top chefs hail from Paris. Did you know that Jessica Preapalto, a French pastry chef, was crowned the “World’s Best Pastry Chef 2019”?
When we visited Paris, we had high expectations of tickling our taste buds with some amazing food and Paris definitely didn’t disappoint. We were particularly fascinated with the Macarons and Croissants. Chetana and I are huge fans of Macarons and honestly, we never knew how tasty and luxurious Macarons can really be until we visited Paris. There are plenty of specialty Macaron shops around Paris and each has incredible variations of Macarons ranging from the classics like salted caramel and chocolate to the modern combinations like rosewater and blueberry. We visited this authentic French luxury bakery called Ladurée that bakes some of the world’s best macarons. Every little bite of this macaron is a short trip to heaven!!
Croissants, on the other hand, are found in almost every Boulangerie in Paris. Have you ever wondered if there is a perfect Croissant? We’d say so, and definitely in Paris!! The packaged croissants that we usually eat are incomparable to the ones we get here. Paris’s croissants are freshly made in pâtisseries and bakeries across the city. The balance of butter and sublime flavor in these crusty and golden croissants can literally just steal your heart away. Nothing can beat a relaxing hour sitting down in a Parisian cafe with some coffee and freshly baked Croissants.
Getting around Paris
We highly recommend the Paris public transport system. This is the most effective mode of transport. We recommend buying the pass that should hold good for the bus and the Metro. The cabs here usually go by the meter. Though they are pretty reliable, we wouldn’t recommend those. Walking, obviously, is the best alternative to public transport. This is one way to explore the hidden gems that you might find on almost every street in Paris. Did you know that you could walk from one end of Paris to the other in two hours?
Paris Travel Tips
- Learn the Basics – Most Parisian do speak a little English but you might get a warmer welcome with some basic knowledge of French.
- Carry cash – A few places are cash only and we are not just talking about street vendors.
- Be cautious about your surroundings – The locals here are nice but beware of pickpockets too, especially during late nights!! And, try to avoid the gamblers near the Eiffel Tower. These are just scams to get your money!!
- When they aren’t smiling, it doesn’t mean they hate you – The locals are usually friendly but some can be effusive. Don’t take it personally!!
- The entire city shuts down in August– It’s not the best time to visit Paris during August unless you want to experience lesser crowds and don’t care if a lot of places are closed.
Now, getting back to our original question – Why is Paris called the “City of Love”? In our opinion, a mix of the architectural beauty, the abundance of Romantic restaurants, the “taste buds tickling” food, the magical landscapes, the culture and most importantly, the amazing locals make this place the “City of Love”. Do you agree with us? Comment below!!
Happy Travels!! xx
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