4 Nights in Paris
Our visit to Paris began with a smooth and efficient Eurostar journey from London. We checked into our hotel near Notre Dame Cathedral, an ideal central base that made it easy to explore the city on foot. From the outset, walking along the banks of the Seine became part of the pleasure of the trip, offering a scenic and unhurried way to move between neighbourhoods and landmarks.
One of our first visits was to the Centre Pompidou, its bold, high-tech architecture standing in sharp contrast to the historic streets around it. Inside, the contemporary art collections were impressive, but it was the rooftop terrace that provided our first sweeping views across Paris, capturing the scale and elegance of the city. Later, a sightseeing cruise along the Seine offered a different perspective, as Paris’s most recognisable monuments appeared illuminated against the night sky.
Time spent around Notre Dame Cathedral revealed the extent of the restoration work following the 2019 fire. Despite the ongoing repairs, the cathedral’s presence remains powerful. Inside, the space felt brighter and cleaner than ever before, with restored paintings now vivid in colour and detail. Nearby, the Musée Carnavalet offered a richly layered account of Parisian history, its carefully curated displays tracing the city’s development across centuries. A short walk away, the Maison Victor Hugo in the Place des Vosges provided a more intimate experience, allowing us to explore the writer’s preserved rooms and personal belongings.
A substantial part of the visit was devoted to the Louvre. Returning to this vast and world-famous museum was a highlight, and careful planning allowed us to balance revisiting iconic works such as the Mona Lisa with time spent among the sculpture galleries and antiquities collections. Despite the scale of the museum, the experience remained calm and rewarding.
Following the river once again led us to the Musée d’Orsay, housed in the beautifully converted former Gare d’Orsay railway station. The Impressionist collection, featuring works by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh, was particularly striking. A short film explaining the transformation of the station into a museum added valuable context, and a visit to the elegant café completed the experience.
Exploring Montmartre provided a change of atmosphere. Reaching the hill by funicular, we visited the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, where expansive views stretched across the city. Wandering through Montmartre’s narrow streets, we passed the Moulin de la Galette, a site closely associated with Impressionist painters, before ending the day with an evening performance at the Moulin Rouge — a lively and colourful reminder of Paris’s long tradition of spectacle and entertainment.
Throughout the trip, walking played a central role, particularly along the Seine and through historic neighbourhoods. Moving through the city on foot allowed us to absorb its atmosphere more fully, discovering small streets, quiet squares and unexpected views along the way.
The journey home offered time to reflect on a visit that balanced art, history and the simple pleasure of experiencing Paris at street level. It is a city that invites return, and one I am already looking forward to visiting again
