The Travel Diaries: Travelling Alone In Paris

Hi everyone! I know I’ve been a bit quiet on here recently, but I’ve had the most hectic month! I’ve actually just came back from travelling alone in Paris as well as a family vacation to Corfu, and I can’t wait to tell you all about them.

You know that place you’ve always dreamt of going, spending years planning out what you’d do? Well, that’s what Paris was for me. And I can honestly say it was even better than I could’ve imagined! I had the most amazing four days, and I’m so incredibly grateful. Because Paris gave me some of the most magical moments of my life!

So let’s get into them!

Day One

After a short flight, I arrived in Paris! Honestly I struggled a lot to get to my hostel from the airport (we’re talking two missed buses and some difficulties with the Metro) but it made arriving all the sweeter. I was so proud of myself for getting there!

I wasn’t there long, though, as I was meeting up with some people I’d met through Instagram for a picnic at Champ De Mars! I made a quick detour to the supermarket to grab some goodies and then I was off. It didn’t take long to get there – but finding the group, on the other hand? That’s another story…

I was absolutely mortified when I confidently strode up to the wrong group with my bag full of food and a smile on the face before saying “Hey! Is this the Instagram picnic group?” and they looked at me like I was crazy, responding with a short “no”.

Thankfully I got over it, and I found the right group in the end! I made friends with people all across the world – Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, America – and I was so surprised at how easy it all was. There was one person in particular I instantly clicked with – Charlie (name changed) – but more on that later!

The whole night felt like something out of a movie. Watching the sunset over the Eiffel Tower was something I’ll never forget, and seeing it sparkle was absolutely spectacular.

Day Two

I woke up nice and early to visit the Louvre! I had a ticket booked for 9am (as soon as it opened) but still got there half an hour early – which I’d really recommend, because by 9 the queue was horrendous!

I know everyone always says that that The Louvre is massive but I don’t think I fully realised just how massive – it’s impossible to see everything in one day, so I’d recommend just priotising a few areas (although seeing Mona Lisa in person is a must!) You’ll also find a small cafe with a terrace offering some great views of the museum’s exterior, which is well worth stopping at for a drink.

Afterwards, I met up with Charlie, and we visited La Menagerie, Le Zoo Du Jardin Des Plantes! There were so many interesting animals (even if I couldn’t understand the information signs, which were in French) and it was really nice spending time with a fellow traveler too. He was such a lovely person and we had a great time together!

Then we wandered over to the gardens, which had some really beautiful flowers! We sat and chatted for a while and just took in each other’s company. He was a really great listener and his directness was so refreshing.

After an hour or so, we headed over to a cafe before visiting the Choco Story chocolate museum! I love chocolate (don’t we all?!) and it was fascinating uncovering more of its history. The all you can eat chocolate was a nice touch too! There’s even a short demonstration, which I really enjoyed.

By then it was getting pretty late, so I returned to my hostel to grab some dinner and get ready for the evening. I didn’t have anything planned – I wanted to do a Seine river cruise, but unfortunately I couldn’t find one – but it ended up being a blessing in disguise because it meant I could climb the Eiffel Tower!

With that being said, I do really recommend booking ahead if you can – I was in the queue for nearly an hour! Unfortunately when I tried to book it was already sold out, which is crazy considering it was the day online bookings opened.

Honestly, the climb was grueling – make sure to bring plenty of water with you as I ran out and had to buy one, which was 6 euros! – but the views were so worth it. I was actually up there during the sunset as well as when it sparkled, which was awesome. It’s definitely a must for your first time in Paris!

Day Three

Day three began with another early start – this time to go to Marche Bastille, a local market selling everything from food to clothes to souvenirs to tech accessories. I ended up picking up some cute souvenirs for a much better price than the shops!

Then I headed over to the iconic Trocadero steps! It had some really amazing views of the Eiffel Tower and was definitely well worth a visit.

Next, I headed to Palais Garnier, where I was meeting Charlie! It’s such a beautiful building and the interior is so majestic. You can even go onto the balconies and look inside the theatre, which was a nice touch!

Afterwards, we decided to visit Musee D’Orsay – another iconic Parisian museum. Charlie really wanted to check out the Van Gogh pieces so we made sure to track them down. You can also see the Insta-worthy clock at the very top, as well as plenty of other unique pieces by other artists.

Charlie and I parted for the third and final time and then I headed to Montmartre! It’s such a lively area and I really recommend spending a good few hours there as there’s so much to explore – I actually ran out of time. Still, I managed to see the famous Sacre Coeur and do some much needed shopping at Place Du Tetre, so I’ll take that as a win!

By that point I was pretty tired, so I headed back to my hostel to get ready for the evening. I decided it was about time I saw the Arc De Triomphe and ended up climbing it, which was intense! Still, I made it just in time to watch the sunset over Paris, so it ended up being a perfect final night.

I had quite an early night as I still had to pack for the following day, and I was absolutely exhausted! I did 30,000 steps that day, which I still think is crazy.

Day Four

My last day in Paris began with a trip to the Latin Quarter! I checked out Pont Des Arts and Pont Neuf, which both offered some lovely views, before going to the Notre Dame. It’s currently being rebuilt from the 2019 fire but I still had to check out the stunning exterior for myself!

Then I paid a visit to Shakespeare and Company – a must for any fellow book lovers! I really wanted a tote bag but unfortunately I’d went over my budget the previous day so had to settle for some postcards. Be warned that it is extremely busy there – I’d recommend getting there for opening hour to avoid the queues.

Another old bookshop worth visiting is Abbey Bookstore, which is packed with books and much quieter! The owner is really friendly and eager to help you find the book of your dreams.

This was followed by a visit to Saint Chapelle! It was actually so much bigger than I imagined and the interior was absolutely breathtaking. There’s so much to explore and, if you’re religious, you can even light a candle to go with your prayer.

Afterwards, I headed to Galleries Lafeyette, as I really wanted to see the view from the top! It’s a really massive store selling pretty much anything you can imagine and has a rooftop restaurant, too. It was a little pricey for me, though, so I checked out the view before heading to a cheaper cafe inside!

My final destination was the Musee d’Art Moderne de Paris. Entry is free and they have some really unique pieces! Honestly I wasn’t expecting much but it was a lot bigger than expected and ended up being the perfect way to round off my time in the city of love.

I honestly had the most amazing time and I’m so incredibly grateful for it. I got to explore my dream city and see some truly spectacular sights, all while meeting the most amazing people. It still doesn’t feel real!

I have so many more exciting posts coming up all about my summer and I can’t wait to share them all with you – so please make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any!

Have you visited Paris before? Will you be making a trip soon? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next adventure,

Ceri x

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