5 Things That Surprised Me About Traveling to Paris (Plus My Best Tips for First-Time Visitors)

When I boarded my flight to Paris, I had a plan.

Actually, I had several.

Like many first-time visitors, I had a list of everything I wanted to see: the Dior exhibit, Notre Dame, Versailles, Montmartre, the Opéra Garnier, the Arc de Triomphe, museums, cafés... I wanted to experience as much of Paris as I possibly could.

Before we left, we reserved timed tickets for many of the attractions we knew we wanted to visit. I had researched restaurants, mapped out neighborhoods, and even had ideas for where to start each day. As both a travel advisor and a tourist, I genuinely enjoy the research and planning part of the process.

But what surprised me most wasn't what we saw.

It was how Paris made me slow down.

The moments I remember most weren't on my itinerary. They were the moments relaxing over coffee and croissants, wandering down streets with no destination, lingering over lunch, discovering incredible restaurants by accident, and sitting in front of a Monet painting with nowhere else I needed to be.

Paris taught me that you don't have to see everything to experience everything.

1. Planning Ahead Actually Gave Us More Freedom

One of the best decisions we made before leaving home was reserving timed tickets for many of the places we knew we wanted to visit, including Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Arc de Triomphe.

While other visitors were waiting in long lines hoping to get in, we walked right to the entrance and started enjoying our day.

That extra time became one of the greatest gifts of the trip. Instead of standing in line, we wandered neighborhoods, browsed little shops, stopped for coffee, and discovered places we never would have found if our schedule had been delayed.

Planning ahead didn't make our trip feel rigid.

It actually gave us the freedom to be spontaneous between reservations.

As a travel advisor, this is one of the biggest pieces of advice I give clients visiting Europe. Reserve the attractions that matter most, then leave room in your schedule for the unexpected.

2. Paris Is Meant to Be Explored on Foot... So Wear Comfortable Shoes

I packed cute shoes.

That lasted about one day.

By the end of our first full day, my feet were begging for mercy, and my On Cloud sneakers became my shoes for the rest of the week.

We averaged nearly 20,000 steps every day, and I quickly realized everyone in Paris walks. You'll climb Metro stairs, hike city blocks, walk miles of cobblestone streets, and stand in line on the train, in the museums, and in front of iconic sites until your feet cry uncle.

I stopped worrying about looking like a tourist because I noticed plenty of locals pairing stylish outfits with practical sneakers.

Comfort wins in Paris.

Trust me.

3. The Best Memories Weren't on My Itinerary

Some of my favorite moments happened because we simply said, "Let's go."

On our very first evening, we decided to visit the Musée de l'Orangerie before it closed. We still had to wait in line, and I wasn't sure if it would be worth squeezing into our first day.

It absolutely was.

Walking into Monet's Water Lilies rooms completely took my breath away.

As a photographer, I'm always paying attention to light, color, and the little details that tell a story. I found myself sitting quietly, taking in those enormous paintings instead of rushing through them. There was nowhere else I needed to be.

Another unexpected favorite was dinner at a small truffle restaurant we stumbled across near our hotel. We hadn't researched it or made reservations. We simply walked by, thought it looked inviting, and decided to go in.

It ended up being our favorite meal of the entire trip.

It reminded me that while planning is important, leaving space for surprises is just as valuable.

4. Slow Mornings Became My Favorite Part of Every Day

Back home, breakfast is usually something quick before the day begins.

Paris changed that.

One morning we found ourselves sitting outside at Café de Flore with café crème and warm, flaky croissants while the city slowly woke up around us.

People weren't rushing.

They lingered over conversations, read the newspaper, watched people pass by, and simply enjoyed being present.

I realized I didn't have to fill every minute with sightseeing.

Those slow mornings became just as memorable as visiting the famous landmarks.

The same was true at lunch.

Instead of squeezing in a quick meal before rushing to the next attraction, we lingered over lunch with an Aperol Spritz, enjoying the conversation and watching the afternoon unfold around us.

It was one of the most Parisian lessons I brought home.

Sometimes the best part of traveling isn't what you see.

It's how the place teaches you to live differently, even if only for a week.

5. Some Views Are Worth Every Step

If you're trying to decide where to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, here's my recommendation.

Go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Fair warning: you'll earn that view. The spiral staircase feels endless.

But once you reach the top, you'll understand why it's worth every step.

Looking out across Paris as the sun began to set, seeing the twelve grand avenues radiate from the Arc, and then watching the Eiffel Tower begin its sparkling light show was one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Personally, I think it's one of the best views in Paris.

Paris Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

If you're planning your first trip to Paris, here are a few things I'd do again without hesitation:

• Reserve tickets before your trip. Popular attractions like Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Arc de Triomphe often have long lines or sell out. Booking ahead saves hours and makes your days much more enjoyable.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes. We averaged nearly 20,000 steps a day. Your feet will thank you.

• Learn the Metro. Google Maps makes navigating Paris incredibly easy and tells you exactly which Metro line to take.

• Carry a portable phone charger. Between Google Maps, taking photos, and accessing reservations, your phone battery disappears quickly.

• Leave room for spontaneity. Don't schedule every minute. Some of our favorite memories came from simply wandering.

• Be adventurous with the food. Paris is the perfect place to step outside your comfort zone. I finally tried escargot for the first time and loved it so much that I ordered it two more times during the trip! From buttery croissants and fresh baguettes to rich French onion soup, incredible pastries, and unforgettable dinners, the food was every bit as much a part of our trip as the sightseeing and shopping. You never know what might become your new favorite until you give it a try.

• Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Arc de Triomphe. In my opinion, it's one of the best views in the city.

• Enjoy at least one slow breakfast. Find a sidewalk café, order a café crème and a croissant, and simply watch Paris wake up. It became one of my favorite parts of every day.

• Plan one unforgettable dinner. One of our favorite evenings was at Le Train Bleu. Between the stunning dining room, incredible history, and wonderful food, it became one of those meals we'll always remember.

Paris Isn't a Checklist

Before this trip, I thought traveling well meant fitting as much as possible into every day.

Paris reminded me that travel isn't about how many places you can check off a list.

It's about how those places make you feel.

When I think back on this trip, I don't immediately picture Versailles or Notre Dame.

I remember the smell of fresh croissants drifting out of neighborhood bakeries. Sitting in front of Monet's paintings longer than planned. Discovering an incredible little truffle restaurant by accident. Laughing over long lunches that stretched into the afternoon. Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle from above the city. And realizing that saying "yes" to trying escargot turned into one of my favorite food memories from the trip.

Those are the memories that stay with you.

As a travel advisor, those are exactly the kinds of trips I love helping my clients create.

Of course we'll make sure you see the iconic landmarks, but we'll also leave room for the experiences you can't schedule. The quiet café you'll stumble upon. The hidden street you'll wander down. The meal you'll still be talking about years later.

Because in the end, those are the moments that turn a vacation into a story worth telling.

If Paris is on your travel list, I'd love to help you plan a trip that gives you the best of both worlds: the must-see sights and the freedom to slow down enough to truly experience the City of Light.

You can start by submitting an inquiry or sending me an email: rachael@goodtrip.biz