Paris Photo Itinerary (Day 1 of 3)

1. Starting point: Place du Trocedaro. This is the place where you will realise that your dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower is finally happening. From Place de Trocadero you can take the pictures you saw in the magazines and on your Facebook wall.

A view of Place de Trocedaro from the Eiffel Tower. You also can’t miss the chance to climb the Eiffel Tower and see the city from above. Don’t forget to book your tickets online and save 3 hours long queue.

Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower. The next thing you”ll see is a large green area called Champ de Mars and at the end there is the Military School of Paris.

Just a few blocks away you’ll find the Army Museum. It contain collections that span the period from antiquity through the 20th century. Photo by Photogra Fer (Flickr) CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For art lovers Musée d’Orsay offers variety of French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. Photo by Sandor Laza (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

3. Place de la Concorde –  one of the major public squares in Paris. The center of the Place is occupied by a giant Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaohRamesses II. There is also an impressive fountain which you can see on the picture above. Photo by Mike Norton [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Tuileries gardens connect Place de la Concorde with the Louvre Museum. It is a perfect spot for a little rest before you head to see Mona Lisa. Photo by Kimberly Vardeman [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

5. You can’t miss the famous Louvre Museum, one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. Note that the Louvre is free for EU citizens under 26 so take advantage of that. In order to skip the lines enter from one of the “secret” entrances – Porte de Lions is just a few minutes away from the main glass pyramids entrance and is usually not crowded at all; or simply enter from the metro at Rue de Rivoli a.k.a. the mall entrance, you enter at the door which has a red and while vertical banner which says “Carrousel.”

6. On your way to Notre Dame stop by Pont des Arts which is the bridge with love locks on it. Try not ot leave a lock because they actually cause great damage to the bridge from the weight. In June 2014, part of the parapet on the bridge collapsed under the weight of all of the padlocks. Instead, take a selfie or just a regular picture.

Notre-Dame Catholic Cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. It’s free for everyone to visit but there is a fee for the Towers.

7. On your way to the final spot you will pass by some notable buildings in the Latin Quarter such as the Sorbonne – the former University of Paris. Nowadays, it houses part or all of several higher education and research institutions. The Latin Quarter itself is a very vibrant and interesting area. It is known for its student life, lively atmosphere and many bistros. Photo by Gouts [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

Panoramic view of the Pantheon in Paris. Another building you should look for is the Pantheon which functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens. Photo by Jean-Pierre Lavoie (Jplavoie) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

8. End point: Luxembourg Gardens. The Luxembourg Gardens are the perfect spot for the final rest. You can spend a nice 1-2 hours roaming around the gardens and glazing the Palace. The garden contains just over a hundred statues, monuments, and fountains, scattered throughout the grounds.