Paris has to be one of the most popular cities in the world, with a reputation for being the most romantic! From the River Seine to the Champs-Elysées, the Louvre to the Moulin Rouge, the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré Coeur … there are so many famous landmarks in this city that instantly conjure up an impression of its history and rich culture. Our one-day trek is packed with these landmarks.
We are in the City on Bastille Weekend, so a chance to see the fine parades that take place on Sunday before we head for home.
- DAY 1: We meet at St Pancras, London, and take an early evening Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. After checking into our hotel, you are then free to enjoy Friday evening in Paris!
- DAY 2: We start early at the Eiffel Tower and set off through its surrounding park, heading for Les Invalides and St-Germain-du-Prés, where we pass the medieval abbey church that gives the district its name. We walk through the Jardins du Luxembourg to the Latin Quarter.
Now on the 'left bank' we walk towards the Sorbonne, the city’s famous University, passing the Great Mosque and the Botanical Gardens, we cross the Seine and head north along the Canal Saint-Martin, passing the Place de la Bastille.
We continue to the suburb of Belleville and then uphill to the leafy Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. From here it’s a short distance to the Parc de la Villette. Following the canal again, we head to the Place de la Republique and follow the large tree-lined boulevards to the arty district of Montmartre.
Now over halfway, we pass the famous Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the highest point of our route, and walk through the narrow cobbled streets of Montmartre. We pass the famous cabaret of Moulin Rouge and begin to head southwest until we arrive at the Arc de Triomphe. We then head down the Champs-Elysées to the impressive Place de la Concorde, and in our last few miles pass such landmarks as the Opera, the Louvre, Pompidou Centre and, crossing over the Seine again, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Our final section takes us along the riverbank, enjoying the views, all the way back to the Eiffel Tower.
- DAY 3: You are free to enjoy Paris on Bastille Day before we meet later on for the Eurostar back on London.