Paris – a 3 to 4 day guide, plus the road there via Vienna and Reims

Paris needs no introduction. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, boulevard cafés and bridges over the Seine – the city is a dream for millions. Yet it’s easy to get lost in the sheer choice. Here’s how to plan 3–4 days, plus the classic coach route from the old programmes via Vienna, Reims, Munich and Salzburg.

What to see

• The Eiffel Tower – go to the top, or at least the second floor. Every evening, on the hour, it sparkles with thousands of lights.
• The Louvre – the world’s most visited museum, with the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Book a time slot.
• Notre-Dame – open to visitors again after the restoration that followed the 2019 fire.
• Sainte-Chapelle – the Gothic chapel with the most beautiful stained glass in Paris.
• Montmartre – the Sacré-Cœur basilica, Place du Tertre with its painters, and the lanes of bohemian Paris.
• The Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe – with a view over the whole city from the terrace.
• The Musée d’Orsay – the Impressionists in a former railway station.
• The Marais and the Latin Quarter – for strolling, cafés and small shops.
• A boat trip on the Seine – especially in the evening.

Versailles

Twenty km from Paris is Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles, with the Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments and vast gardens with fountains. Allow at least half a day.

The “Two Baroque Capitals” coach route

The old programme linked Paris with Vienna and the Alps:

1. Overnight drive from Sofia to Vienna.
2. Vienna – a tour of the Ring, the Belvedere, the Hofburg and St Stephen’s. See Vienna.
3. Reims – Notre-Dame de Reims, where the kings of France were crowned, and the champagne cellars of Champagne.
4. Paris – three days.
5. Munich and Salzburg on the way back. See Neuschwanstein and Salzburg.

Getting there and around

By air – direct flights from Sofia to Paris (about 3 hours). From Charles de Gaulle airport, take the RER B train to the centre.

In the city – the metro is dense and convenient. A weekly Navigo pass or a pack of tickets is better value.

Practical tips

• Book the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Versailles online – otherwise queues last hours.
• Watch out for pickpockets on the metro and around tourist sights.
• Many museums are free for EU residents under 26 – bring ID.
• Have lunch with the set menu (formule) at a bistro – it’s cheaper than dinner.