Cruising on the Seine with a side of Paris

If you're ever planning to cruise on the Seine River make sure and plan at least one day in Paris. All river cruises on the Seine start and end in Paris, which makes it almost effortless to extend your flight schedule or tack on another vacation day. 

We were lucky enough to have a cruise that started on a Monday and arranged our flights to land on Saturday morning, giving us just over 48 hours to explore the city. The easy part was booking the flights, the hard part was deciding how to spend our time exploring the 20 iconic arrondissements of Paris. Being young, pretty fit, and on a bit of a budget we decided to explore the way the locals do, on foot and via the metro.

Purchasing a 2-day metro ticket was simple enough and from there we could be within a few blocks walking distance of most sights. Starting with the Arc de Triomphe we climbed the narrow winding spiral staircase that takes you to the 360° view of the city. Looking out over Paris from this birds-eye view and seeing the Eiffel Tower looming over the buildings, it finally sank in - I had made it to Paris! After taking in the view and snapping plenty of panoramas and selfies we headed across the city. Strolling through quieter neighborhoods we made it to the top of Montmartre where the afternoon sun hit the white limestone of Basilica of Sacre Coure in a blinding way. Looking south over the stone steps crowded with teenagers, tourists and trinket sellers, you get another spectacular view of the sprawling city. Each area we wandered through had fun cafes and outdoor seating, with an aperitivo in hand we enjoyed people watching as the sun ducked below the buildings. In an effort to stave off the jet-lag and feel like normal humans we called it an early night. 
For our second full day the priority was to walk as much as possible and see everything in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. A stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries in the baking July sun led us straight to the Louvre. We admired the iconic glass pyramid that marks the entrance to the extensive museum, which was once a royal residence for the French monarchy, before heading south across the river. 

We had planned ahead and booked a Hidden Paris Bike tour that lasted about 2 hours. We tested our maneuvering skills through narrow cobblestone streets and crowded bustling avenues. Learning about Le Marais, once the city's Jewish quarter and now a hip shopping and boutique neighborhood. Seeing remnants of the walls that once encircled the city, and marveling at the Place des Vosges (the oldest square in Paris, with the it’s King and Queen palaces on either side) were all part of the adventure.  An afternoon drink along the Seine was a must. If you are ever in Paris during the summer take a break and go down to the banks of the river for Paris Plage. The walking paths are lined with kiosks serving beer and wine and plenty of tables to grab a seat and enjoy the summer atmosphere.  Lastly a trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Eiffel Tower! Dodging the crowds, and guys pedaling mini Eiffel towers to take home, we made it around to the gardens and iconic photo taking spot. It was much larger than I had imagined and an impressive feat of architecture to admire up close. The most impressive thing was watching it sparkle, which happens for 5 minutes at the top of each hour from dusk until 1:00 AM. 

These are just a few of the highlights from our mad-dash through the city of love. There is never enough time and my list of things to see and do the next time I visit the city has only grown, but for a first timer getting to explore Paris I absolutely loved it!