Take the Roissybus from CDG airport to Paris-Opera area. Journey time is approximately 60 minutes, depending on traffic. Roissybus operates every day, every 15-20 minutes. Cost is 12 euros per person. The bus will drop us off in front of the Garnier opera. It is approximately a 20 minute walk from the opera to the hotel. While at the airport with wifi, also check to see what uber fares are. If it is only 10 euros or so more, it may be more convenient to simply take an uber. Taxis will run closer to 50 or 60 euros and are not worth it. & : The RER, while it looks similar to the Metro, is actually a different train system that mainly serves the areas outside the city. So when you're traveling throughout the city make sure you're using the Metro and not the RER. Metro stations will be labeled with a large "M". Always note the zone to which you want to travel to be sure that you buy the appropriately priced ticket. Each Metro line is labeled by a number (and they are color-coded but people refer to the line by its number) and the direction of each line corresponds to its terminal station. Don't worry if you get accidentally get on a train going the wrong direction as you can get off at the next stop and get on the correct train without having to purchase another ticket. There are multiple types of tickets you can purchase but we generally recommend purchasing a zone 1-2 carnet (a book of 10 single use tickets). The book of 10 tickets currently costs 12.70 and is valid on the metro, bus, tram, the
Montmartre funicular, and RER (within zone 1). This ticket is called the T+ ticket. This will allow you to use the metro within Paris. To get to your destination, determine the closest Metro stop and which line or lines will get you there. The lines are color-coded and numbered, and you can tell their direction by their end-of-the-line stops. For example, the La Défense/Château de Vincennes line, also known as line 1 (yellow), runs between La Défense, on its west end, and Vincennes on its east end. Once in the Métro station, you ll see the color-coded line numbers and/or blue-and-white signs directing you to the train going in your direction (e.g., direction: La Défense). Insert your ticket in the automatic turnstile, reclaim your ticket, pass through, and keep it until you exit the system (some stations require you to pass your ticket through a turnstile to exit). The smallest stations are unstaffed and have ticket machines (coins are essential). & : Considering buying an unlimited day pass for the Metro. Pre-purchase two Hop On, Hop Off bus tickets valid for one day + a one hour Siene River cruise. HOHO Bus routes are as follows in this order, but we can get on and off at our leisure. The HOHO bus only runs from 9 AM to 5 PM each day. However, Ubers and taxis are readily available or we can attempt to take the metro back. Classic Route: Stop 1: Eiffel Tower Stop 2: Champ de Mars (Avenue Joseph Bouvard) Stop 3: Opéra Garnier Stop 4: Louvre-Pyramide (Big Bus Information Centre, 11 avenue de l Opéra) Stop 5: Louvre-Pont des Arts Stop 6: Notre-Dame Cathedral Stop 7: Musée d'orsay Stop 8: Champs-Elysées Stop 9: Grand Palais Stop 10: Trocadéro Montmartre Route: Stop 1: Louvre - Big Bus Information Center (Stop 4 on Red Route) Stop 2: Pigalle - Moulin Rouge Stop 3: Sacré Coeur Stop 4: Gare du Nord Stop 5: Musée Grevin Italicized stops indicated those that are within walking distance to our hotel, which is why the HOHO bus is likely a waste of money. Taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees is more efficient if we can figure out the routes when we get a map in our hands. Visit the Catacombs (pictured below) around lunch time on Sunday.
Consider a trip to Versailles via train (7 euros) if we are bored. We will need to take the train from Montparnasse. Nord is closest to our hotel. To travel from Paris to Versailles, you can catch a Transilien line N train from Montparnasse main railway station which will take you directly to the Chantiers train station in Versailles. Visitors staying near Montparnasse will find it is the easiest way to travel to Versailles. This train journey takes less than 15 minutes and is the fastest way to Versailles by train. Versailles Chantiers station is a 20-minute walk away from the palace of Versailles. Otherwise you can catch a bus or take a taxi from Versailles-Chantiers to get to the Palace. If you don t like any of these options or are staying too far from Montparnasse, you can come to Versailles with the RER C train which will take you into Versailles Rive-Gauche station which is closest to the Palace, for RER C (follow our step by step guide here). From Gare du Nord, take RER B to RER C, then go to Rive-Gauch. Getting from Gare du Nord (by our hotel) to Gare Montparnasse: 1. Walk off the Eurostar platform, turn left, and follow the signs for Metro line M4. 2. Take metro line M4 direct to Montparnasse Bienvenue (follow signs 'M4 direction Mairie de Montrouge'). In contrast to other Paris mainline stations, where the metro platforms are more or less directly underneath the mainline platforms, at Montparnasse it's a 700 meter (750 yard) underground walk from the metro station to the mainline TGV platforms through broad well-lit well-signed subways, with moving walkways for the long bits, and several short flights of steps here and there. Allow plenty of time for the transfer, and if you're not good with steps or longish walks with luggage (even with the moving walkways), consider taking a taxi from Paris Nord to the Gare Montparnasse.
Bruges is located in the Flemish Region of West Flanders in Northern Belgium. There are three official languages in Belgium: Dutch, French and German. However, as a Flemish region, the spoken language in Bruges is Flemish. English is also widely spoken, so visitors don t need to worry about a language barrier. The historic city center is a prominent UNESCO World Heritage Site. It s dripping with historical significance at every turn and is a great spot to start your visit. Here are a few things to do: Here is a free walking tour of the city center, which comes highly recommended Water canals are highly recommended and not very expensive Find the massive Belfry tower at Market square. Interestingly, it has been rebuilt three times due to fires. You can tour the museum and, if you have older kids, even climb the 366 steps to the top for a spectacular view Visit Burg Square Visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood Getting there can be done by renting a car and driving (approximately 4 hours each way) or by taking the train. The rental car will cost approximately $75. Tolls average about $40 and gas is quite high in other countries. Parking is quite inexpensive, thankfully. Essentially, a car will cost roughly the same that the train will. The train seems pretty easy to navigate, as it only requires one change. Train options: Take a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1 hour 22 minutes, then make one easy change onto a half-hourly Belgian InterCity train from Brussels Midi to Bruges in around 55 minutes. Thalys trains all have a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and 1st class fares include food & drink served at your seat If you book from Paris to Bruges or Ghent in this way you'll get a Thalys Any Belgian Station ticket (= ABS or in French, TGB). An ABS ticket includes a reserved seat on a specific Thalys departure from Paris to Brussels then onward travel from Brussels to any station you like anywhere in Belgium on any domestic Belgian train you like within 24 hours of your arrival in Brussels. Simple, really! Changing trains at Brussels Midi only takes 5 minutes, you step off one train, walk via the escalators and passageway under the tracks to another platform and step onto your onward train. On the Belgian train there are no reserved seats, you sit wherever you like. They run every half hour, so don't obsess about making a specific connection, if you miss the connection there's another train in 30 minutes!!
Take the fast train to London for the day and use the HOHO bus there to see top sights. HOHO bus also includes a scenic river cruise on the Thames. Total price for each ticket is $38.45 per person. This link here shows all of the inclusions with the ticket and is also where we can pre-book. The Yellow Route, Purple Route, Blue Route, Orange Route, Black route and Green Route cover some of these attractions: Buckingham Palace Westminster Bridge St Paul s Cathedral Kensington, Palace Gate Cromwell Gardens Trafalgar Square London Bridge Royal Albert Hall Big Ben Hyde Park Buses depart: Yellow Route: from 8:30am to 6:30pm, every 10-20 minutes. Blue Route: from 8:20am to 5:00pm, every 20-30 minutes Green Route: from 9:15am to 3:00pm, every 20-30 minutes Orange Route: from 8:15am to 5:30pm, every 20-30 minutes
Purple Route: from 8:10am to 5:05pm, every 30 minutes Black Route: from 9:00am to 6:00pm, every 20-30 minutes Cruise timings: Tower Pier first cruise at 10am last cruise at 6pm. Westminster Pier - first cruise at 10am last cruise at 5:20pm. Tower Pier first cruise at 10am last cruise at 6pm You must exchange physical copy of your booking voucher for bus and cruise tickets at the Original London Visitor Centre (Charing Cross Station) located at 17-19 Cockspur Street Trafalgar Square London SW1Y 5BL. Opening Time: Monday - Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm, Sunday & Bank Holidays - 8:00am to 5:30pm. You may board the bus at any of the stops once the ticket is validated. Also included in the ticket are: Hop-on, hop-off Thames Cruise: Enjoy a scenic cruise between Westminster, Tower Bridge and Greenwich. Just simply show your Sightseeing bus pass and hop on board from the pier of your choice. You will get to see the other side of Westminster from the river Thames and enjoy the panoramic views of London from the water. 2 Walking Tours Jack the Ripper Walking Tour: Recreate the terror of the world's most infamous serial killer. Being in the Whitechapel streets is sure to send a shiver down your spine as your tour guide narrates his murderous acts of 1888. Rock 'n' Roll Walking Tour: Stand in the very spot where Paul met Linda and soak up the good vibes and rock on as our entertaining guides take you around some of London's finest musical areas. You can't stop the Rock and Roll! Changing of the Guard Walking Tour: Witness the traditional ceremony that is the Guard Change alongside St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace. See the Queen's guards up close and personal and watch the changeover as a new set of soldiers come out to guard Her Majesty's Palace. Note: The Changing of the Guard parade will take place at Buckingham Palace on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. On days with no changing of the guard parade, you will be taken to see the changing of the Horse Guard at Horse guard parade, and then to see Buckingham Palace. Departs daily at 9:45am from the Original London Visitor Centre, 17-19 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square
At the top of the house, a five minute display features thousands of sparking lights which are best viewed from Place du Trocadero the grassy park below the tower. Notre Dame Cathedral - (6, Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris) Opening hours: Daily: 8am - 6:45pm - Saturday, Sunday: 8am - 7:15pm Admission: Free Enter the cathedral through the West front Walk around and enjoy the unique architecture, history, and atmosphere After leaving the cathedral do not forget to walk around it and admire its architecture
Facts: A UNESCO World Heritage Site Notre Dame is a Gothic cathedral on the Ile de la Cité It is the symbolic heart of the city and the country Its construction begun in 1163 by Paris' bishop, Maurice de Sully, and lasted until 1334 (171 years) By the 19th century, it had fallen into disrepair and was to be demolished It was author Victor Hugo, who saved the cathedral by leading a successful campaign for its restoration Napoleon was crowned Emperor here in 1804 The cathedral's organ is the largest in France Montmartre Montmarte is the most romantic neighborhood of Paris. The district earned its name after its 130 m high hill. The area is best known for Sacré Coeur Basilica (Sacred Heart) and Moulin Rouge. Rather than having lots of things to see, it offers a charming area to take a stroll. Staircase streets, quaint windmills, and sweeping views characterize the area. The area played an imporant role in belle époque (a prospering period in European social history). Painters and poets such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh used to live here. Wander around on the narrow, hilly streets of Montmartre. Fall in love with streets like rue des Abbesses, rue des Trois Freres, and rue des Martyres Find the windmills on rue Lepic and the famous Moulin Rouge near Blanche metro station. Stop at a patisserie for a freshly baked chocolate croissant, a taste of creamy brie or sharp bleu at one of the many fromageries, a succulent orange you'd swear was fresh from the orchard. Sacré-Coeur (35, rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre, 75018 Paris) Opening hours: Daily: 6am - 10:30pm Admission: Free The Sacré-Coeur is a spectacular white Roman Catholic church on the top of Montmartre hill It stands on the highest point in Paris Its full name is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris The basilica was built 1876-1919 as a memorial to the French soldiers who died in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) The construction was financed entirely from donations It offers breathtaking views both from its front steps and its dome After wandering around the small, narrow and hilly streets of Montmartre take the funicular to the top of the hill to this staggeringly beautiful basilica Enjoy the atmosphere, visit the church and have a walk along the small and narrow streets on top of the hill The views over Paris are gorgeous from there
Champs-Elysées Champs-Elysées (Elysian Fields) is one of the best known avenues in the world connecting Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. It came into existence when the royal gardener, André Le Nôtre, planted trees beyond the border of the Tuileries Garden First it was called Grand Cours (Great Way). It earned prominence and became the prime place of socializing and entertainment in the mid-19th century. Since Napoleon's funeral in 1840 it became the route for state funerals, processions, parades and city events. The Rond Point des Champs-Elysées is the nicest part featuring chestnut trees and flower beds Hotel des Invalides (Place des Invalides, 75007 Paris) Opening hours: April 1 - September 30: 10am - 6pm, October 1 - March 31: 10am - 5pm, Admission: 9 Hotel des Invalides is a magnificent building complex dedicated to France's military history It was built between 1671-78 by King Louis XIV as a military hospital and a showcase of the country's military power Napoleon is buried here His tomb is located right under the golden dome of the Dome Church Musée de L'Armée (Military Musuem) displays historic weaponry and armor worn by kings (including Louis XIV) Musée des Plans Reliefs exhibits the collection of scale model cities used for planning military attacks by military engineer Vauban Some part of the complex still accommodates military offices Admire the magnificent building from the square in front of the main entrance Enter the impressive cobbled courtyard Head to the opposite side of the building complex and have a glimpse of the Dome church One single ticket gives access to the following museums: Musée de l'armée, Tomb of Napoleon I, Historial Charles de Gaulle (closed on Mondays), Scale-Models Museum, and Order of the Liberation Museum
Eiffel Tower - 5, avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris Opening hours: Elevators daily: 9:30am - 11:45pm, Steps daily: 9:30am - 6:30pm, Elevators and steps from June 18 to August 28: 9:30am - 12:45am Admission: 13.1 Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower built in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition The tower got its name after its builder, Gustav Eiffel, who also created the framework for the Statue of Liberty The tower was built temporarily among much controversy, but soon became Paris' main tourist attraction With its 324 m it used to be the world's tallest building until 1931 (Empire State Building) and it remains the tallest in Paris It is so sound that it never sways more than 7 cm (2.5 in) in strong winds THINGS TO DO THERE Visit the information area on the first floor to get the history of the tower Enjoy the beautiful view of Paris from the second floor Explore the top level with some more breathtaking views of Paris The Eiffel Tower has 3 floors Before buying your ticket you have to decide whether you only want to go to the second floor or you want to visit the top floor as well You have two options for getting to the first and the second floor: take the stairs or the elevator To get to the top floor you have to take an elevator from the second floor (there is no direct elevator from ground level to the top floor) On the second deck usually there is a line to the elevator to the top If you buy your ticket online you can jump the queue only at the main entrance (go straight to the reserved entrance), but from the second floor the elevator to the top is the same line for everyone (in case of bad weather the access might be restricted) The lines seem to be shorter at night and the tower and city are beautifully illuminated The basic Métro ticket is a small piece of cardboard (formerly mauve, now white) with a magnetic strip that costs 1,90. It's issued by RATP, the transportation authority for the Paris region. You can save money by purchasing a carnet of 10 tickets for 14,50 from vending machines near the turnstiles in Métro stations. (A carnet is simply a stack of individual tickets.) If you're traveling with a children, see the "Tips" section below.
A single ticket will take you anywhere within the city of Paris on the Métro and RER networks, and you can transfer between lines--or between the Métro and the RER--on the same ticket. You can also use T+ tickets on buses and trams, although you can't transfer between the Métro and RER and buses or trams on the same ticket.