Its Easy to Love Paris
A romantic hug in Jardin des Tuileries, Paris; (c) Amine Photographe / PEXELS
With 7.1 million residents and 37.3 million visitors in 2025, Greater Paris is the world’s magnet for tourism. Does crippling traffic limit the places one can visit in a day? Do cookie-cutter malls sap the city’s soul? Can visit all the major attractions in 3 days? No, No, and No.
You’ll be thankful that Paris has one of the world’s best combinations of Metro Rail, Suburban Rail, Trams, Tourbuses and River-buses to navigate the city. Only a few major attractions have long lines. After you visited the major attractions there are too many medium and small attractions to list.
Each Soul Of America staff member has been Paris. My wife and I have been 3 times for 23 days. Our son added perspective from a 6-day visit. My daughter attended Sorbonne University in Paris for 2 years. We are also proud to have travel guide contributions from Monique Wells, the founder of Entree to Black Paris.
One thing we all agree on. A 10-day visit is not enough.
Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris & Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, and Palace of Versailles ensure that every visit is memorable, but they are insufficient to make “Paris Easy to Love.” Five other factors accomplish that task with bold panache.
First, most of central Paris has Haussmann architecture from 1853-1870 that makes each block walkable and feature a Classic uniformity that’s easy on the eyes.
Second, mostly underground Paris Metro and RER Suburban Rail stations blanket the city within 3 blocks of every attraction. People of all ages ride the Metro, RER, tourbuses and local buses.
Third, Parisian government helps small businesses survive and retain local help.
Fourth, Parisian government has eliminated freeways & reduced soul-crushing parking lots, while increasing green space and bike lanes.
Luxury travel maven Stephanie Jones on Esplanade du Trocadero; follow www.theselfishluxurytraveler.com
Savvy Tourists should consider at these attractions with small or no lines:
• After Notre Dame & Sainte-Chapelle, visit rest of Ile de la Cite (1 day)
• Sacre Coeur Basilica & Montmartre (1 day)
• Jardin du Luxembourg (1 day)
• Paris Opera House, Galeries Lafayette & Au Printemps (1 day)
• Cafes & shops at Place Vendome, Jardin du Palais Royal & Bibliotheque National (1 day)
• Jardin des Tuileries, Musee l’Orangerie & Place de la Concorde (1 day)
• Hotel des Invalides & Musee Rodin (1/2 day)
• Explore designer fashions at La Samaritaine & Louis Vuitton (1/2 day)
• Walk around & dine on Ile Saint-Louis (1/2 day)
• Saint Sulpice Church & Saint-Germain-de-Pres (1 day)
• The Pantheon, Sorbonne & Paris University area (1/2 day)
• Grand Mosque of Paris & Jardin des Plantes (1/2 day)
• Book a Seine River lunch or dinner cruise
• Relax in scenic Parc Monceau (1/2 day)
• Shop & dine in Little Africa (1/2 day)
• Jardin, Museums & Place du Trocadero (1/2 day)
• Louis Vuitton Foundation & Bois de Boulogne (park) (1/2 day)
• Chateau de Fontainebleau (1/2 day)
• Casual walks in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Le Marais and Rue Cler (1 day each)
Thomas Dorsey enjoying a lunch cruise on the River Seine; (c) Soul Of America
An endless supply of little things heap more love on Paris.
Have a Croque Monsieur sandwich with fine coffee at a boulangerie near your hotel. Spend at least two days wandering around without a plan. Stumble into dozens of small businesses selling hand-made gifts, rare books, manuscripts, collectible magazines, unique garments, arts and crafts. I also like the small (unlicensed) merchants selling hats and trinkets for cash.
The list of good eateries from cheap to high prices is longer than your arm and satisfying to every budget. Lastly, don’t forget to ride Metro Line 6 over the Seine River. You’ll love postcard views of the Eiffel Tower.