Paris - Gorgeous by Day, Magic by Night

Since I was a little girl Paris seemed like the most magical place in the world. I would watch movies and TV shows and always dream of going there one day. Walking along the river banks, climbing the Eiffel Tower, hearing music in the streets, visiting museums, eating macarons...finally this dream of mine came true! Paris is gorgeous by day and complete magic at night.

In this post I will share with you all the incredible sights to see during the daytime and all of the magical spots to see once the sun sets!

By Day

Sacre Coeur

Once you have settled after your journey to Paris head over to the Sacre Coeur. This is a beautiful Roman Catholic church that has a large staircase to reach it, offering amazing views of the city.

Louvre Museum

A place you will NOT want to miss! Before you even enter the museum the courtyards, pyramid, and all surrounding areas of the museum are worth checking out! When you finally go into the museum you will be amazed at all of the exhibits they have to offer! For my tour I paid a little extra for the audio Nintendo tour because I get very interested and like to learn about what I am seeing. Whenever you walk into a new room the tour has GPS so it will let you know that you are entering a new exhibit and whichever piece you are interested to learn more about. If you are an art lover like me, be prepared to spend your entire day there! The Louvre is huge and kind of like a giant maze, so even after a long day spent there I definitely did not get to see everything.

Luxembourg Garden

The Luxembourg Garden is a massive park offering tons of beautiful flowers in the gardens, fountains, many places for photo opportunities, and benches to sit and take in the views. This is a great place to visit to relax for a while, picnic, and people watch.

The Seine River

Take a stroll along the Seine River while exploring the city. You will be shown great views, unique bridges, and places to sit down an relax along the river bank.

Pont Alexandre III

While you are walking along the Seine River, find the Pont Alexandre III Bridge which spans across it. This is one of the most beautiful bridges you will see in Paris. Bring your wine, macarons, and any other snacks you may have and enjoy it while on this gorgeous bridge!

Laduree

Visit L'aduree to satisfy any macaron cravings you may have! This is THE place to buy macarons from, tons of variety and so many flavors!

*Tip: If you don't care about getting a fancy box ask for no box and they will give you a basic one or a paper bag. The fancy boxes are extra money, but if you want one they are very pretty!

The Eiffel Tower

This is probably already at the top of your list but I still am including it because it's a necessity! The Eiffel Tower is way bigger than I imagined and incredibly impressive. You can go to the first, second, and top levels of the tower either by elevators or by stairs. I chose to walk on the stairs up to the second level and found that everyone seemed to take the elevators so I was happy with my choice! I hardly bumped into anyone so it felt like I had the whole tower to myself. Climbing during the day offers you amazing views of the city whereas at night you won't see as much of the city but you will definitely have that magical lit up view of Paris, so the choice is yours! (Or do both!) When viewing and photographing the Eiffel Tower be sure to see it in all 3 stages: daytime, night where it's lit up, and twinkling! I had no clue that it twinkles so that was sure a surprise! I believe it twinkles for 10 minutes every 30 minutes or so.

Musee D'orsay

In addition to seeing the Louvre another museum to check out would be Musee D'orsay. It offers displays of paintings, sculptures, and photography. If you decide to visit this museum be sure to find the clock tower window to get a really cool photo opportunity.

Champs Elysees

If you love shopping this street is for you. Champs Elysees is a long avenue full of all sorts of shopping opportunity.

Arc de Triomphe

While making your way towards the Champs-Elysees area, find one of the most famous monuments in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe! You can safely get to it through an underground walkway if you want to climb and see the views from up there.

Sainte-Chapelle

Roam the streets to find this royal chapel! It is full of beautiful stained glass windows and definitely worth viewing!

Paris Treats

I mean you are in Paris so you might as well treat yourself! Indulge in macarons, crepes, french pastries, big mugs of coffee, chocolates, baguettes, and all of the delicious treats Paris has to offer!

If you have never tried Black Currant before that is flavor I definitely recommend trying while you are there! They have black currant flavored macarons, ice cream, and other treats!

By Night

The Louvre

You spent your day inside the Louvre being constantly amazed, well just wait until night time! Make your way to the pyramid courtyard outside of the Louvre and watch as Paris comes alive. Stars light up the sky, the pyramid glows, a cello player plays his music in an archway, proposals are happening. It is an incredibly romantic and magical sight. I heard a man playing a cello from far away and I followed the sound, sat down in front of him and watched him play for around two hours. I was completely present, completely in awe with how beautiful life is, I am sure you will have a similar experience.

Eiffel Tower

Pack for a picnic, find a good view of the Eiffel Tower and watch the sun set behind the tower, the perfect way to end an amazing day. A perfect date spot or just a great moment to experience while in Paris.

Another romantic place to take a special someone would be going up the Eiffel Tower at night when the whole city is lit up.

Sunset Cruise on the Sienne River

Hop on a boat and take a sunset cruise on the Sienne River. You can learn about Paris, see a different view of the city, and watch a beautiful sunset.

If you don't feel like taking a boat ride, the river is still an amazing place to take in during the evening. There is lots of live music around, lights, and great places to sit and be in the moment while being surrounded by so much beauty.

Whether it's daytime or evening in Paris, the city offers amazing views, romantic moments, and magical experiences.

Which place in Paris stands out most to you?