You can never complete your trip to Paris if you don’t take the time to visit the Eiffel Tower. I mean, how could anyone miss it?

The Eiffel Tower was meant to be a temporary exhibit during the 1889 World Fair, as it functioned as an entrance arch to the event. Today, it becomes one of the most popular monument architectures in the world which named after Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed and built this tower. 

It is free to see the Eiffel Tower. If you wish to experience climbing the tower, then you will have to pay. The entrance ticket to the top is priced at €15 for adults. You can climb the stairs to the top, but most of the time, they close it off and make visitors to use the lift (especially for the long lines).

*Tips: if you want to avoid long ticket queues, do book your ticket online. 

Although I didn’t climb it myself but the view is spectacular enough in my opinion. Here’s some suggestions, bring a blanket, get some food or even get your favourite wine and you can have a small picnic there! And if you can, stay up for a little bit longer until the sun goes down because it is in those moments when the Eiffel Tower truly transforms into breath-taking structure in the night!

Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

2. Two Arc de Triumphe (Triumphal Arches) 

Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile 

Yes, you heard me right, TWO! Here’s the well-known Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile in Place Charles de Gaulle near Champs-Élysées. Back at 1836, this monument was built to honour those who fought bravely and died for France during the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. Standing under this arc, you can see all the names of the French victories and generals inscribed on the inner and outer surfaces.

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel 

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel is half the size to its eastern counterpoint Arc de Triomphe and located near the Louvre Museum. This arc was completed in 1808 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories in 1805. Look up and you can see the arc is surmounted by a group of men on horses underneath which one finds the names of the battles and treaties of Napoleon.  

Location: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France.

3. Place de la Concorde

This is the largest square in Paris and a park that you should absolutely visit. At eight hectares (20 arces), it is situated along the Seine and separates the Tuilerie Gardens from the beginning of the Champs Elysees. The place has a grim history that of being an execution ground for famous people like Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and others. But after the Reign of Terror, it became a place of peace and harmony.

Location: At the end of the Champs Elysses, 75008 Paris, France

4. Paul Boulangerie et Patisserie 

Visiting Paris can be wonderful. Paul is a French chain of bakery restaurants which established in 1889. It is well-known in serving their best breads, crepes, sandwiches, and MACARONs!

Location: Champs Elysee, 75001 Paris, France

5. Musee du Louvre 
This is not only one of the world’s largest and most diverse museums, but also one of Paris’ historical monuments. Believe it or not, it would actually take at least 2 days in order to truly explore this splendid building with over 35,000 works of arts and its sheer size. The star attraction of the museum would be no other than Leonardo da Vinci’s La Joconde or known as Mona Lisa in Room 6, 1^st floor, Denon. You will be surprised by the crowds with a throng of tourists surrounding the small painting.

Location: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00 (Wednesday & Friday until 21:45), Closed every Tuesday

6. Pont des Arts--Love Lock Bridge

Have you heard of the Love Lock Bridge in Pont des Arts near the Louvre Museum where couples put locks on the rails, after which they throw the keys to the river as a sign of their ‘eternal’ love. However, the authorities have decided to take those down. But fear not, there is new bridge (Pont Neuf) where you can still see some leftover locks there just not far away from the original Love Lock Bridge. Well, Paris will still remain to be a city of love.

Location: Pont des Arts, 75006 Paris, France

7. Cathédrale NotreDame de Paris

Last but not least, you shouldn’t miss the masterpiece of Gothic architecture in France, the Notre Dame cathedral. Take note that cathedrals are different from churches. Victor Hugo the novelist created a French Romantic/ Gothic story ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’, published in 1831. The original French title refers to Notre Dame Cathedral, on which the story is centered.

Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame-PI. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

Every time when the trains depart, it feels like we are on a train where it drives us away from our world and leads us to Hogwarts. A large castle somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland, where it grounds with sloping lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches, a loch (the Black Lake), a large dense forest (the Forbidden Forest), several greenhouses and a full-size Quidditch Pith (the most popular activity in Hogwarts).

Although Harry Potter and his friends board the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station, the exterior that used in films was the place where we stepped on, St. Pancras Station. Do you remember where Ron and Harry park the Weasleys’ Ford Anglia in the corner of the courtyard during The Chamber of Secrets and later fly off over the station?

As any fan of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series will know, King’s Cross is where students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy catch the Hogwarts Express. The Hogwarts Express departs from Platform 9^3/4 at King’s Cross Station, which is the arched wall between platforms 4 and 5.

2. Platform 9^3/4 – an express that heads toward your magical realm.

Credits to: www.universalorlando.com

Once enter the station, we keep straight ahead and follow the sign that points to Platforms 9 to 11 on the west side of the station. There we find a trolley disappearing into the magical realm through a wall with the sign: Platform 9^3/4.

Credits to: http://www.the-magician.co.uk

Even though is not an actual film location, this brown brick has become an attraction to Harry Potter fans from all over the world. There is a sign where the station staff placed a luggage cart against the wall which looks as though it is half way into the wall, as though some young wizard or with is actually proceeding on their way to board the Hogwarts Express! You can take your photographs, pushing the cart as you too are on your way to the magical realm!

3. The Harry Potter Shop – get your wand in Ollivander’s wand shop.

Continue past Platform 9^3/4, look your way a little further along on the right and there you would find The Harry Potter Shop, a shop that you do not wish to miss.

Styled to resemble Ollivander’s wand shop, complete with wooden panelling and lots of draws as you recalled from the films, the Harry Potter Shop has something special for everyone.

As you step inside the magical shop that recreated to look like Ollivander’s wand shop from J.K. Rowling’s book. You can find all the Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff merchandise as a true fan could ever want.

You can find collectibles items such as wands, time turners, and Hogwarts school jumpers sorted in house colours, bedding and blankets that featuring your favourite school house.

This is the perfect place for you to dress in and be your favourite character by purchasing their wands, fancy dress costumes, and sets of robes.

If you are looking for some souvenirs, there are some smaller items like board games, key rings, mugs, mobile phone cases, soft toys and action figures that suitable for more modest budgets.  


Best sellers:
A brass effect stamped Platform 9^3/4 logo key ring ad replica of the Hogwarts Express train ticket that takes Harry from London to Hogwarts. The keyring is exclusive to Platform 9^3/4 . 

Personalized Hogwarts Acceptance Letter -- £15.00