Account of our first family Trip to Europe in June-July 2019.
- Paris Day 1
- Paris Day 2 - Disneyland
- The Return Day 1 - Friday
- The Return Day 2 - Saturday
- The Return Day 3 - Sunday - Free Museums
- Paris Return - Day 4
- Paris Return Day 5
- Paris Return Day 6
Paris Day 1
We started and finished our European trip in Paris. We stayed for 2 days upon arrival, then continued to London, Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels, and returned to Paris where we spent 6 more days.
Choosing the number of days wasn't easy. Initially, we planned to stay longer at the beginning to adjust to the time difference and rest, but we rescheduled our itinerary to match the first weekend of the month in Paris, when many museums offer free admission, including the Louvre.
We arrived in Paris early in the morning. The surprise was how long it took us to exit Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
International flight arrivals are concentrated in practically a single terminal, and for non-EU passport holders like us, the passport control queues are very long.
Oh! Before we forget... if you're concerned about internet access abroad, we recommend an eSIM with proven coverage; check out regional plans at this link.
Traveling straight to the magic? If your destination from CDG airport is Disneyland Paris, you can book the high-speed train (TGV) on Omio. It is by far the fastest and smartest option: it drops you off right at the park station in just 12 minutes! Perfect for optimizing your time if you prefer trains over long bus transfers.
Hotel
We reserved a stay at Absolute Hotel Paris. It is very well located near the RĂ©publique station, which connects to multiple metro lines. From RĂ©publique station, walk towards the Canal Saint-Martin (2 blocks away), cross the canal, and you'll find the hotel diagonally to the right. The neighborhood is filled with picturesque bars and a charming atmosphere created by the canal.
Here is a picture of the hotel surroundings:
We were incredibly lucky to see the Eiffel Tower right from our hotel room window! In fact, that was the very first time we saw it in person.
How to Get Around
How you move around Paris shapes your experience. Here is our strategy using the metro and alternatives to make the most of your time.
The Paris Metro: Key Info & Modernization - Updated 2026
For getting around the city center, the metro remains the undisputed king. However, system updates have improved the experience:
- Goodbye to Paper Tickets: Classic individual cardboard tickets (Ticket t+) are practically extinct. Everything is now managed digitally through the Navigo Easy rechargeable card or directly via the official mobile app.
- Reference Fares: A single digital ticket costs €2.15, while a digital 10-trip "carnet" costs €17.35.
- Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass: Remains an unbeatable option if you travel Monday through Sunday. Its current price is €32.40 (plus a €5 non-refundable fee for the physical card). It covers Zones 1 to 5, including transfers to airports (CDG/Orly), Versailles Palace, and Disneyland Paris. Note: A physical passport photo is still required!
⚠️ Avoid Fines! Important Ticket Validation Rules
In Paris, ticket inspections are frequent and fines are collected on the spot. Having a valid ticket is not enough—proper validation is mandatory depending on the mode of transport. This rule applies equally to traditional cardboard tickets and Navigo cards (physical or digital on mobile).
- 🚇 Metro & Buses: Validated only upon entry. Scan your pass or insert your ticket when boarding buses or passing metro turnstiles. When exiting, doors open automatically without needing to re-scan (always keep your ticket until exiting the station completely).
- 🚆 Trains (such as RER): Must be validated both upon entry and exit. RER exit gates will not open unless you insert your ticket or tap your Navigo card. Losing your ticket mid-journey prevents exit and incurs a fine.
📱 How to Use Weekly Navigo on Your Mobile Phone (App)
You no longer need to purchase a physical Navigo Découverte card (saving you €5 for the plastic card and eliminating the need for a printed photo). You can buy and store your weekly pass directly on your smartphone using official apps like Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités.
⚠️ Golden Rules to Keep in Mind:
- 👤 One Phone = One Traveler: Passes are strictly individual.
- đź“… Monday-to-Sunday Validity: Even on mobile, the pass follows the strict calendar week (valid until Sunday at 23:59). Weekly passes can only be purchased for the current week from Monday through Thursday.
- 🔋 Watch Your Battery: Your phone is your ticket. If your device runs out of battery during a check, inspectors will fine you as if traveling without a ticket.
When returning to Paris after visiting Brussels, we reloaded our cards to cover our trip to Versailles on the outskirts of Paris as well as transit back to the airport.
Our planned activities for Day 1 included: visiting Palais Garnier (Opera), exploring Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, La Madeleine Church, and finishing the day with a Seine river cruise.
Opera Garnier: A Palace of Opulence and Music in Paris
Visiting Opera Garnier is a delight for the senses. For us, it stands out as one of the most stunning places in Paris—a landmark where every corner holds a detail that leaves you breathless.
This majestic palace was commissioned by Napoleon III to host the grand opera theater. Designed by architect Charles Garnier, it opened in 1875 following years of intricate construction. Upon entry, a lighting display sets the magical atmosphere for the visit.
Highlights You Must Not Miss
The experience begins by ascending the grand staircase. As you move forward, the surroundings reflect the luxury, grandeur, and prestige of 19th-century France.
- The Grand Foyer: Our personal favorite. Its golden ornaments, ceiling frescoes, expansive mirrors, and chandeliers instantly transport you back in time.
- The Main Auditorium: Breathtaking in its lavish decor and lighting. It features the famous 8-ton chandelier, which historically fell during a performance—an incident that inspired the novel The Phantom of the Opera.
- The Library and Costumes: An engaging section displaying preserved period costumes and handwritten musical scores.
- The Balconies and Terrace: Great spots to step outside and enjoy views of the building's facade and surrounding streetscapes.
Useful Tips for Your Visit
- Advance Tickets: Purchasing tickets online prior to your visit is recommended to secure entry times.
- Security Checks: All visitors must go through mandatory security screening queues upon entry, including pass holders.
- Auditorium Viewing Options: Visitors can access the auditorium in two ways: via a guided tour (paid) offering access to lower stalls, or self-guided routes accessing higher balcony views. We chose the self-guided route to fit our schedule.
Below is our Instagram post. Tap the right arrow to browse through photos.
Prefer a Private Tour with an Expert Guide?
For an immersive experience with skip-the-line privileges, consider these guided options:
📱 Extra Tip! Email us at viajoxmicuenta@gmail.com to request an exclusive promo code for your first booking.
Galeries Lafayette
Located directly behind Opera Garnier, Galeries Lafayette is a famous department store known for its retail stores, remarkable interior decor, and stunning Art Nouveau dome.
- The Glass Walkway: Suspended on the 3rd floor, this walkway offers views of the department store interiors and glass dome. While on-site QR reservations are available, booking a slot ahead via their official website saves waiting time.
- Free Rooftop Terrace: Located on the top floor, this open-access terrace offers panoramic views across the Paris skyline, including Opera Garnier and the Eiffel Tower.
Printemps Haussmann Viewpoint
Adjacent to Galeries Lafayette is the Printemps Haussmann Viewpoint. Access to the 8th floor terrace is completely free and offers sweeping panoramic views of Paris, including Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower, and Sacré-Cœur.
Madeleine Church
La Madeleine Church resembles a Greco-Roman temple on the exterior, while its interior features impressive architecture. It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte to honor his army, featuring 52 Corinthian columns surrounding its exterior near Place de la Concorde. Admission is free.
Paris from the Water: A Seine Cruise
A cruise along the Seine offers a unique perspective of Paris's monuments and bridges. Approaching sunset is an ideal time, as the city lights turn on, culminating in the golden illumination and glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower.
Available Cruise Options
📱 Extra Tip! Email us at viajoxmicuenta@gmail.com to request an exclusive promo code.
Paris Day 2 - Disneyland Paris
If you're planning a visit to Disneyland Paris, here are our essential tips on how to get there, what to bring, and how to make the most of your time at the park.
Disney Tips: Getting There & What to Bring
- Transportation: Take the RER A train directly to the Marne-la-Vallée — Chessy station, which leaves you right at the entrance of the Disney parks. If you are using a Navigo pass (Zones 1-5), this trip is fully covered!
- Park Tickets: We strongly advise buying your tickets online in advance to skip ticket booth lines and secure your date, as daily capacity is capped.
- Food & Snacks: You are allowed to bring your own food and refillable water bottles into the park, which helps keep expenses down during a full day of activities.
Disneyland Paris Park
Disneyland Paris consists of two main parks: Disneyland Park (the classic castle park) and Walt Disney Studios Park. If you have only one day, focusing on the main Disneyland Park is often the best choice for first-time visitors and families.
From Sleeping Beauty Castle to iconic attractions like Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean, the park provides a full day of entertainment ending with the nighttime fireworks and light show over the castle.
Disneyland Paris Tickets & Packages
The Return Day 1 - Friday: Arriving from Brussels
After visiting London, Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels, we returned to Paris for the second leg of our trip (6 additional days).
We arrived by train from Brussels in the afternoon, checked back into our accommodation, refreshed our transport passes, and prepared our itinerary for the weekend's free museum openings.
The Return Day 2 - Saturday: Latin Quarter & Louvre Museum
Latin Quarter Walking Tour
We started Saturday with a walk through the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, this historic neighborhood is famous for its vibrant student atmosphere, narrow medieval streets, bookshops (such as Shakespeare and Company), and landmarks like the Sorbonne University and the Panthéon.
Louvre Museum
In the afternoon, we visited the world-renowned Louvre Museum. Housing thousands of works of art including the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Louvre requires careful planning due to its massive size.
Tip: Even on free entry days or with pass access, reserving a timed-entry slot online is mandatory to manage queue times effectively.
Louvre Museum Guided Tours
The Return Day 3 - Sunday: Orsay, Pompidou & Arc de Triomphe
Orsay Museum (Musée d'Orsay)
Located in a grand former railway station built for the 1900 World's Fair, the Musée d'Orsay holds the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, featuring works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.
Centre Pompidou & Arc de Triomphe
From Orsay, we headed to the Centre Pompidou, known for its high-tech architectural design with exterior industrial piping and modern art collections. Later in the evening, we visited the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées for panoramic night views over Paris's radiating avenues.
The Return Day 4: Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie & Eiffel Tower
Sainte-Chapelle
Located on the Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle is famous for its stunning 13th-century stained-glass windows depicting over 1,000 biblical scenes. Rays of sunlight passing through the glass create an extraordinary display of light inside the upper chapel.
The Conciergerie
Just steps away sits The Conciergerie, a former royal palace turned revolutionary prison where Marie Antoinette was held prior to her execution. Interactive augmented-reality tablets (HistoPad) provided at entry bring historical room reconstructions to life during the visit.
Eiffel Tower
We reserved our evening for the Eiffel Tower. Ascending to the summit gives you sweeping views across the entire city. Seeing the tower illuminate at sunset and sparkle at the start of every hour is an unforgettable milestone of any trip to Paris.
Eiffel Tower Access & Summit Tickets
The Return Day 5: Palace of Versailles
A short RER C train ride takes you to the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles). Highlights include the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Apartments, and the vast manicured Gardens of Versailles with their fountains and canal.
Recommendation: Allocate a full day to explore both the main palace interior and the extensive outdoor grounds, including the Trianon palaces and the Queen's Hamlet.
The Return Day 6: Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
We dedicated our final full day in Paris to exploring the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre. Walking up its cobblestone streets past Place du Tertre (where artists paint outdoors), you reach the iconic Sacré-Cœur Basilica sitting atop the highest point in Paris, offering a beautiful farewell view over the city.