Welcome to my 2nd post in the Best of Paris in a Week mini-series! If you’re following along with my suggested schedule (below), this is day 2 of an adventure that takes you to all the best sites in Paris!
This chart has my daily recommendations based on which sites are close to each other, and most of them follow a general sort of geographical line to make your tour really easy.
Today’s tour focuses on what I like to call the “iconic triangle.” Following this route, you will see the Pont Alexander III Bridge, the Arc de Triomphe, and (of course) the Eiffel Tower! Along the way, you’ll also have opportunities to visit 2 gorgeous museums and see the Champs-Élysées lit up at night!
Day 2: Explore The Iconic Triangle
If you have the energy, I highly recommend walking at least from the Bridge to the Arc and exploring anything and everything in between during this day. You can technically walk from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, but you’ll probably appreciate the metro by then.
Pont Alexander III Bridge
Start your iconic triangle tour at the Pont Alexander III Bridge, which is easily accessible from the Invalides metro stop. According to Paris’s tourist page, “The Pont Alexandre III is one of the most emblematic bridges in Paris because of its architecture and location,” and I couldn’t agree more.
This beautiful structure arching across the Seine River is truly one of a kind with its decorative lampposts and amazing sculptures in bronze and gold. It’s even more beautiful up close and provides a lovely look at the Seine and easy access to walk down by the water, too.
From the bridge, you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Army Museum, and the Grand Palais, so be sure to look all around!
The Grand and Petit Palaises
After crossing the bridge—and possibly taking a little excursion down the walkway on the Seine—continue to the Grand and Petit Palaises. If you enjoy art in any form, I highly recommend stopping by at least one of these gorgeous buildings. Both of them were built for the Exposition Universelle held in 1900. This was basically a world fair, and Paris aimed to impress everyone with these ornate buildings.
We chose to explore the Petit Palais, and we thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of art there. Most of the exhibits are free to view, and you’ll definitely get your fill of ornate decorations, paintings, sculptures, and even ancient pottery. On top of that, the architecture inside is stunning!
Champs-Élysées
Just a few steps away, you’ll find yourself at the famed Champs-Élysées, and to the left, you can see the Arc de Triomphe off in the distance. The walk to the Arc takes about 20 minutes if you do it all at once, but you should take your time and enjoy the area. The Champs-Élysées is lined with shops and cafes that are definitely worth a peek. If you’re American, you’ll find some familiar brands here as well, like Gap, Sephora, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
The Arc de Triomphe
Eventually, you’ll find yourself at the famed Arc de Triomphe. If you want to get a closer look or even climb to the top, you can go through a tunnel that takes you underneath the roundabout and pops you out beside the Arc. If you do decide to climb, be prepared for a lot of stairs. However, the view from the top is completely worth it.
On a clear day, the Eiffel tower will be visible off in the distance, and the Champs-Élysées will be just lighting up for the evening if you time it right. (See my picture above.)
The Eiffel Tower
After you’ve had your fill of the Arc, head over to possibly the most iconic spot in Paris: The Eiffel Tower. It may be dark when you arrive, but this won’t detract from the wonder of this structure in the least. For five minutes every hour in the evening, the Eiffel Tower lights up in a beautiful display of twinkling lights before settling down to a warm glow.
If you want to ride up the tower, I highly recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of time for an easier experience. Buying them in advance allows you to skip the long line and head right up the tower.
An elevator will take you to the different levels, where you can step out onto balconies and view Paris from every angle. I really cannot describe how gorgeous this city is at night, especially from the heights of the Eiffel Tower.
If you visit in the winter (like us), do be prepared to be freezing out here! There’s no protection from the wind, so dress warmly.
When you’re done gazing at the city, step inside the second level to check out the various shops and, of course, grab some dinner! Enjoy a sandwich or some macaroons from one of the Eiffel Tower’s restaurants and make all your friends jealous.
If you’re not ready to turn in for the evening, I recommend strolling the beautiful area around the Eiffel Tower. Everything is lit up in a magically warm glow at night, and it will give you extra time to appreciate being near the Eiffel Tower.
Read the Rest of the Best of Paris Mini-Series
The Best of Paris in a Week: Disneyland Paris
The Best of Paris in a Week: The Louvre and Montparnasse Observation Tower
The Best of Paris in a Week: Palace of Versailles
The Best of Paris in a Week: Ile de la Cité
The Best of Paris in a Week: Montmartre District
If you want to visit either of the Palais museums and climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, I highly recommend getting a weekly museum pass, which will save you tons on entrance fees. Learn about it in my post How to Vacation in Paris on a Budget.
Thanks for joining me on day 2 of this Paris tour! I hope you get to visit every single one of these amazing places someday soon! If you’d like more guides like this sent straight to your inbox every week, sign up for the weekly blog newsletter! It’s free and you’ll get to join the amazing community of travelers here! Happy travels!
