What To Pack (Paris Edition)

So you’re going to Paris? SCORE! The City of Light is a crowd pleaser and every bit as magical as you imagine it’s going to be. From the magnificent Eiffel Tower, the mysterious Mona Lisa to the glorious Palace of Versailles, the city is sure to take your breath away.

While you’re sure you will have a great time, what you may not be so sure about is how to pack. Not to worry, we’ve got you!

Since we are heading there ourselves in March, I’m going to focus this packing list on spring travel in Paris. The weather is all over the place in Paris regardless of the time of year, but you can expect spring in Paris to involve cooler temps and rain.

When tackling a large task like packing, remember to pack light. Bring along layers versus large bulkier outerwear. Parisians are also fashion savvy, so if you don’t want to stick out as a tourist leave the baggy pants and sneakers at home. Also keep in mind that you’ll be hauling your luggage all over the place, not just on the plane, so keep it simple!

My suggestion is always to condense your necessary items into a carry-on size bag if possible. This lowers the risk of your bag getting lost or delayed. You will just want to make sure the bag meets the dimension requirements for the airline you’re traveling with.

If you are traveling with us, you can read up on Delta’s dimension requirements here.

Here is a list of essential items you won’t want to forget to pack.

Travel Aids

·         Chewing gum

·         Meds for motion sickness and sleep

·         Travel Pillow

·         (The airplane will likely supply earplugs, headphones, and a sleep mask so you can leave those at home unless you are partial to your own).

Clothing and Accessories

·         Comfortable walking shoes

·         Shirts (short and long sleeved) Think layers!

·         Socks and underwear/bras (thermals too!)

·         Watch

·         Jewelry

·         Pants/jeans

·         Pajamas

·         Glasses/contacts

·         Sunglasses

·         Belts

·         Dressier outfit

·         Raincoat and/or umbrella 

·         Warm waterproof jacket/fleece

·         Jackets/Gloves/Scarves

·         Collapsible tote/duffel bag for dirty clothes, souvenirs (if only using a carry-on)

·         Luggage tags

·         Journal (if planning to document your trip)

·         Backpack or daybag

Toiletries

·         Toothbrush

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Mouthwash

·         Shampoo/conditioner

·         Soap

·         Deodorant

·         Hairbrush/comb

·         Hand sanitizer

·         Straightener/curling iron (If you have wattage converter-France uses 230 Voltz)

·         Hair styling products

·         Hair accessories

·         Cleanser

·         Moisturizer

·         Shaving Cream

·         Razor

·         Perfume/Cologne

·         Makeup

·         Makeup Remover

·         Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable)

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail File

·         Hand wipes

·         Tweezers

·         Cotton swabs

·         Tissues

·         Lint Roller

·         First Aid Kit/Band Aids

·         Lip Balm

·         Washcloths (not standard in European hotels)

·         Any medications (in addition to a copy of any prescription)

·         Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)

·         Saline Solution (if applicable)

Money

·         ATM card (Call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts.)

·         Personal credit card (also make sure to notify lender of your travel plans)

·         At least $50 converted to the currency of the first country that you’re visiting (France is on the Euro)

·         Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing

Electronics/Technology

·         An alarm clock (Many hotel rooms won't have one.)

·         An adaptor/converter (Iceland uses type C and E outlet plugs. More info here.)

·         Camera with extra batteries or charger

·         Cell phone and charger (external chargers are worth the investment too!)   

Documents

·         Passport—(Remember to leave one copy of it at home and bring a couple more copies on tour, in case your passport gets lost.)

·         Emergency contact information

·         A copy of your medical insurance card (and trip insurance if you’ve purchased it)

·         A copy of the tour itinerary

·         A list of important phone numbers 

·         Addresses to send postcards home

·         Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.)

·         List of medications/prescriptions

Carry-on bag

Here’s a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed:

·         Passport

·         Money

·         Money Belt

·         Airline boarding pass

·         Toothbrush and toothpaste (Check tsa.gov for current security requirements.)

·         Hairbrush

·         Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)

·         A change of clothes (in case luggage is delayed)

·         Medication

·         Any valuables

* If traveling with Land + See, we will do a full day of touring when we first arrive in Paris, so pack anything in your carry-on that you might need for that first day. We won’t check into the hotel until late in the evening.

Hopefully this helps ease the burden of knowing exactly what to pack. You know yourself and what you need so if you see something on the list you know you just won't need, skip it! Now that you're done packing, let's get back to our countdown! If you're like me, you've got this itinerary pinned already and you check it daily, but I'll throw it on here anyway so you can get in the Parisian groove! Paris + Amsterdam

Let the countdown begin!

The Top 6 Things to See in Paris (Because let's be honest, picking only 5 is too hard)

With millions of traveler’s visiting Paris every year it’s understandable why many of its landmarks are some of the top tourist attractions in the world (with good reason). First time visitors can often be overwhelmed trying to prioritize which attractions to visit and how long to spend at each one. We hope this list helps you identify those that might capture a little piece of your heart, and make you leave saying, “Paris Je T’aime!”

#6 – The Palace of Versailles

This one hits number six on our list because of its sheer beauty and historical significance. No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to this glorious work of architectural majesty, commissioned by King Louis XIV himself as a home-away-from-home, and located just outside the city center. The luxury and opulence is on display from first arrival as even the entry gate is overlaid with pure gold—It’s no wonder the French people took issue with such excess with times as hard as they were. See both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s private chambers and take a stroll through the glorious Hall of Mirrors. The palace is home to an impressive art collection including “The Coronation of Napoleon in Notre Dame” and was the site of the signing of the famous Treaty of Versailles, the document officially ending WWI. Complete your tour with a stroll through the Palace Gardens. There you will find a seemingly endless labyrinth of fountains, flowers and sculptures as far as the eye can see. It’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and enjoy a nice ice cream cone or some freshly-made macarons, both readily available on the grounds. Make sure you set aside a few hours to really take in this glorious work of art.

#5 Notre Dame de Paris

If you’re in Paris you cannot miss the glorious Notre Dame! Known affectionately as “Our Lady of Paris,” this titan of French gothic-style architecture will leave you speechless. Explore the cathedral and see why it inspired Victor Hugo’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” From the stained-glass windows, to the naturalist sculptures, and significant religious relics, it’s no wonder why this Cathedral comes in at the top of the list as the most visited church in the world. For a few euros, travelers can even climb to the top of the tower and take in a breathtaking panorama of the city skyline. For the romantic-at-heart, lovers can leave their mark on the famous love-lock bridge nearby by placing a padlock on its rails. It is said that throwing the key into the Seine represents an unbreakable love. While the government has been cracking down on this practice lately, you can still see rebellious lovers carrying on the tradition and further solidifying Paris as the city of love.  

#4 Louvre Museum

At number four we have the Louvre Museum in the heart of the 1st arrondissement. Because of the high number of visitors it attracts, it has been named most visited museum in the world.  With over 300,000 pieces of art in its collection, 38,000 of which are on public display, it’s easy to see why the Louvre attracts so many art lovers each year. Among the most famous works visitors can admire are da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. You’ll definitely want to set aside a few hours to explore this vast museum. The collection includes antiquities from the ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan civilizations, a vast array of prints, drawings and sculptures, decorative arts and so much more. There is something for everyone. Visitors can do a little shopping or grab a quick bite to eat at any of the shops and cafes located just below the museum. The building itself is housed in the former Royal Palace and the various wings are set up along the former Royal Apartments throughout. Make sure you take time to explore the vast Tuileries Garden just outside the Museum as well. The garden stretches all the way from the iconic glass pyramid to the Place de la Concorde. The Egyptian obelisk in the square stands in place of the guillotine that took both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s head. Visitors today will notice breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower and the carousel as they take a relaxing stroll through the garden.

#3 Montmartre

One of the most quintessentially Parisian experiences is taking a stroll through Montmartre, a section of the city located atop a hill in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. Montmartre and has a rich artistic history mostly due to the famous artists that once inhabited its streets. Home to artists such Monet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso and van Gogh, Montmartre is oozing with artistic inspiration and creativity. Take time to visit the Sacre-Couer Basilica or “Sacred Heart” located on the highest point in the city, and serving as a stark contrast to the rebellious neighborhood it sits amongst. Visitors can also visit the famous Moulin Rouge, the birthplace of the Can-Can dance, and inspiration for Baz Luhrman’s film “Moulin Rouge.” Montmartre is the Paris most visitors come to see, an endless array of street performers, artist and musicians. Soak it all in as you sit at a streetside café watching the city come alive.

#2 Eiffel Tower

Our number two comes at no surprise. No trip to Paris would be complete without a stop to the most iconic structure in the world, the Eiffel Tower. Visitors can view it from many spots in Paris, from the street, a café window, a rooftop terrace, from the Seine, along the Champs Elysees, but nothing rivals a trip to the top! Travelers have two options to ascend this mighty structure: by lift, or by tackling it’s 669 stairs on foot! This trek is not for the feeble, but will be worth every single sore muscle! Those that brave the climb will be rewarded with one of the most breathtaking views of the city, and one that can’t be seen from anywhere else in Paris. Nighttime visitors will get to witness as the tower comes alive, sparkling every hour on the hour. Enjoy a glass of champagne from the first floor or book a reservation in advance at the world famous restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel. Few experiences will rival the Eiffel Tower, so make sure you add it to the top of your list if you plan to visit Paris.

#1 Catacombs

Our number one location in Paris may come as a surprise. While it is on the macabre side, the underground Catacombs de Paris are a MUST SEE! Located deep below the city streets, this underground ossuary houses the remains of over six million people.  Serving as resolution to Paris’s overflowing cemeteries during mid-to-late 1700s and its literal lack of after-life real estate, the Catacombs were created in the former mines that tunnel for miles underneath the city. The walls are constructed with actual human remains with femurs and skulls lining the walls from floor to ceiling. While this may seem like something out of a horror film, visitors will find the catacombs oddly serene. Public events are sometimes held in these subterranean caverns, offsetting the ominous feeling one might typically associate with a venue of this nature. Visitors should plan on spending roughly an hour on this tour, and should get in line early, as this not-so-secret treasure has become a bit of a hot spot lately.

With so many amazing possibilities, it’s no wonder Paris is one of the top tourist spots in the world. One thing’s for sure, you can’t go wrong with Paris. Whether you are on a long layover, or have set aside a week or more, you will be sure to have a plethora of once-in-a-lifetime experiences to choose from. For more inspiration head to our Paris + Amsterdam itinerary at www.landandseetours.com/paris.

Happy travels!