5 Things You Must Experience When Visiting Paris

The streets bustle with people from all over the world. The air is filled with a range of smells-from coffee to crepes, to fresh baked goods and at times, cigarette smoke.

Walk around and you'll discover locals trying to make it work, tourists out sightseeing and perhaps even military officials holding machine guns.

This is Paris.

A city that's long had its ups and downs, tourism still remains undeterred. Don't let recent terror attacks prevent you from visiting Paris. Attacks can happen anywhere; We can't let them stop our desire to travel and see the world and all its beauty.

And Paris, she is beautiful.

The City of Love should be on every traveler's bucket list to visit at least once. The city is what you make of it, but here are a few things to consider experiencing during your visit.

Eiffel Tower

When in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower is a must. And when I say seeing it, I mean more than just walking by. You need to experience it.

Go to the second floor and summit for incredible views of the city, (or at least visit the first floor if scary heights aren't your thing). You can also take amazing photos of the tower from the grounds around it as well as all over the city. Check out the most photogenic places around Paris in order to get the best pictures of the Eiffel Tower.

If your time is so limited that you only have one thing to do, a stop at the Eiffel Tower is still where you need to be. Few things in the world are greater than seeing this massive structure. I definitely recommend purchasing your ticket online here before going so that you can avoid lines.

Museums

Want easy access to over 50 museums and monuments without paying a fortune? Buy the Paris Museum Pass and you're set! If you love art and history and were already planning to visit a few museums, this is your best bet.

Purchase either the two, four or six-day pass and you'll get entry into Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre (you have to see the Mona Lisa!), Château de Versailles and so much more.

Be prepared to walk up a bunch of steps at most of these museums, but the sights all around you are worth it.

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Transportation

It's no secret that Paris is a massive city. You can try walking, but your feet will surely thank you if you spend some time on the metro or a hop-on-hop-off bus. (Drivers in Paris can be pretty wild, so I would advise one of these methods over getting in a taxi or car service.)

With the metro, you'll get the experience of living like a local, riding the underground train to get to your next destination. If you know you plan to ride this, buy a packet of tickets to save yourself some money.

Personally, I love a good hop-on-hop-off bus, as the guided tour gives you a great overall view of the city. Not only will you learn new things, you can come and go as you please. Paris has multiple buses to choose from, as well as day and night tours. Check out Big Bus Paris or City Sightseeing Paris.

But if you do feel like walking, there are different free tours, as well as specialty tours like the Paris Celebrity Tour, which allows you to discover the history of famous artists and celebs who lived in the city. Additionally, there are several different bike tours for those who enjoy riding around.

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Food

From simple eats to fine dining, Paris has it all.

The food can get pricey, so if you're strolling the city and want to eat at a café, check out the menu beforehand and see if you're comfortable paying that much.

Paris must haves include: eating outside at a café, trying escargot (who knows, you might come to love it!), devouring a crepe (get one with Nutella, bananas, strawberries and thank me later), feasting on a baguette (or two) and enjoying the macaroons and other sweets at Ladurée.

You also can't go wrong with grabbing a bottle of wine, a sandwich or wrap from a grocery store and enjoying a peaceful dinner with your loved one by the River Seine. Not only will you save money this way, you'll also be creating a lasting memory thanks to such stunning views.

The River

Speaking of the River Seine, there are many ways to experience it. If you did a light dinner by the river already or you'd prefer something more elegant and wish to upgrade, you certainly can jump aboard one of the river boats. You'll need to plan ahead of time if you wish to do one with a meal, though.

The Bateaux-Mouches are terrific for sightseeing. These river boat cruises give travelers a different view of Paris than anyplace on the street can.

Another stellar way to soak in the River Seine? Walking across the many different bridges. Bring your own lock and key or purchase one from a street vendor if you and your significant other want to partake in the love locks featured throughout the city's bridges over the River Seine.

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