How to visit the Big Five in Paris: Video and podcast

It's the podcast season finale and, to say goodbye to our partners My Private Paris, we're pushing the boat out.

Happy April, folks.

It’s been a busy week for The Earful Tower. Me, I’m back in Paris after a jam-packed visit to New York.

And as for the pod, Monday’s episode marked our season finale. Since autumn, we have been working My Private Paris who have thoughtfully crafted some unforgettable day trips out of Paris.

Together we have visited the Champagne region, Versailles, Chartres and Vaux-le-Vicomte and it’s been a real pleasure to be treated so well by company founders, and guides, Marie and Bertrand. Their know-all and know-how are indispensable for any vacation experience you want to make extra-special.

We’ve decided that the best way to bid farewell to this season is to go out with a bang - a private river cruise, taking in the Big Five sights of Paris: Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower and the Seine river.

Marie and Bertrand shared their invaluable wisdom and tips about each of these Paris show-stoppers as we passed them on the boat. We’ve shared their tips below in text form, but you can also listen to the pod or watch the video!

The podcast episode

Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find the episode on iTunes or Spotify or via my website here.

YouTube video

When you’re cruising down a beautiful river on a beautiful boat, in a beautiful city, it would be a shame not to capture it on video. Below you can watch the video that we filmed to accompany the podcast episode. And while you’re at it, why not subscribe to The Earful Tower’s channel for even more videos of this inspiring city.

1) Notre Dame

The cathedral of Notre Dame is Bertrand’s favourite Paris monument and he has many tips to help enjoy it, after having given many guided tours here. The number one tip he gives is to avoid queuing for a potentially long time, and to book a timed-entry ticket.

If you’re interested in having a guided tour, like the kind that Bertrand offers, please be aware that this won’t be possible until after June 9th. In the meantime, guides have been told to stay outside (where they’re supposed to give their tours). Additionally, access to the bell towers of Notre Dame is still closed as the restoration project has not yet been completed.

Lastly, to ensure the best possible experience, Bertrand recommends coming to Notre Dame early in the morning, but a few days into your trip when your energy levels are at their highest.

2) The Louvre

If the idea of visiting the Louvre museum strikes fear into your heart, fear no longer. Bertrand acknowledges that it can seem like a daunting prospect, but with some helpful advice, you can have an enjoyable experience. First of all, book your timed-entry tickets online and strictly stick to that time slot (showing up early will not get you early entry).

Next, if seeing the Mona Lisa is non-negotiable for you, keep it to the end of your visit because it is in an overcrowded and overwhelming space and you will be ready to leave after.

Finally, in a museum which has over 35,000 pieces of work on display, Bertrand advises you to make a game plan of a maximum of five themes you’d like to see - Dutch painters, ancient Egypt, French aristocratic furniture - the list goes on and on. Attempting to see everything or wandering aimlessly will only tire you out and send you straight to the exit.

3) Musée d’Orsay

Marie is an expert on the Musée d’Orsay and praises both the museum itself as much as its contents. There’s no doubt that the Musée d’Orsay isn’t as busy as the Louvre, but it still can get congested, so Marie advises that the calmest time to visit is on a Thursday evening when it’s open late.

As the home of Impressionism, the d’Orsay is considered a pretty highbrow space to visit, particularly for fans of art history.

4) The Eiffel Tower

I can’t think of a site more emblematic of Paris than the Eiffel Tower, but is it really worth visiting? As far as Marie is concerned, you’ll see the tower at its best from the river. Going up the tower is a different experience entirely and not necessarily something Bertrand would recommend above all others.

An Eiffel Tower hack that both Bertrand and Marie suggest is to book a table in one of the restaurants, which gives you direct access to the tower without having to queue. You won’t have access to the top of the tower, but either dining in Madame Brasserie (on the first floor) or the Michelin-starred Jules Verne (on the second floor) gives you the opportunity to explore their respective floors for free.

5) The Seine river

Paris was born on the Seine river, on the Île de la Cité and, as such, deserves an exploration too. The river is the life centre of this city and if you don’t take the time to sit by it or take a boat cruise on top of it, you will miss something essential to Paris. Take a walk, have a picnic, cross one of the 27 bridges - you’re spoilt for choices of how to experience the Seine.

That’s everything for this week and this season of The Earful Tower. Thank you again to Marie and Bertrand from My Private Paris, which is an award-winning travel company creating deluxe itineraries for Paris and beyond. See what they offer here and be sure to let them know that you came from The Earful Tower.

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Oliver