Paris | The Eiffel Tower illuminated and French desserts in the romantic city
Paris
Paris is the city I've visited the most times. This post aims to compile my genuine experiences from my numerous trips to Paris, including which places are worth visiting, which places to consider, how to get the best deal on a Louvre annual pass, and a few restaurants and dessert shops that I think are worth visiting along the way.
羅浮宮
羅浮宮應該是很多人第一次來巴黎一定會安排的景點，它真的非常大，如果只去一次，很難把所有展區都看完，如果你確定一年內會去羅浮宮兩次以上，我會建議可以考慮買羅浮之友年票，同一個歲數區間的人如果一起買雙人方案，通常會更划算。網路上也有很多詳細的年票攻略可以參考，我自己當時是排沒有預約的那個隊伍，進到地下空間之後，裡面有專門辦理年票的地方，辦好年票之後，一年內可以不用預約、無限次進入羅浮宮，對會重複來巴黎的人來說真的很方便。如果只是一般旅客，買一般票的話就建議提前上網預約，尤其熱門時段人真的很多，不要把時間浪費在排隊上。
羅浮宮附近美食
每次在羅浮宮附近，我們都會去吃一家河粉店，叫做 Com Restaurant，它的價格當然不算便宜，但如果你在歐洲旅行一陣子，突然很想吃熱湯、河粉或亞洲食物，這家會是一個不錯的選擇。
Aux Castelblangeois
羅浮宮附近還有一家我覺得甜點非常好吃的店，叫做 Aux Castelblangeois，它有一些造型比較特別的甜點，櫥窗看起來很吸引人，很適合喜歡法式甜點的人去看看，不過這家店生意很好，店員服務態度我覺得沒有特別好，所以建議大家可以抱著「我是來吃甜點，不是來享受服務」的心態去，甜點本身我覺得值得試試看，但如果你很在意服務體驗，可能就要先有心理準備。
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is my favorite landmark in Paris. Every time I see it, I still find it magnificent, especially when it's lit up at night. The tower truly stands out against the Parisian nightscape. I highly recommend watching the hourly light show. When the tower starts flashing, the scene perfectly embodies the image of "Paris, the City of Romance." If it's your first time in Paris, I strongly suggest making time to see the Eiffel Tower at night. During the day, you can appreciate its architecture, but at night, it offers a completely different atmosphere.
Notre Dame de Paris and Shakespeare Bookstore
Notre Dame Cathedral is a must-see for many visitors to Paris. A quintessential example of Gothic architecture, its exterior is magnificent in detail, and even just standing outside evokes a sense of history. Because it's so popular, it's highly recommended to make reservations online beforehand to avoid long waits. Nearby are several other famous attractions, including Shakespeare Bookstore. This bookstore exudes Parisian literary charm and is a great spot for photos. If you happen to be visiting Notre Dame, consider stopping by Shakespeare Bookstore.
Le Marais
When we first went to Paris, we also visited the Marais district. It's a more artsy and design-oriented area with many small shops, boutiques, cafes, and clothing stores. The overall atmosphere is quite different from the classic tourist areas of Paris. However, I wouldn't highly recommend the Marais district, mainly because many of the shops there have rather expensive items. If you already have specific brands, boutiques, or cafes in mind, then you can make time to check it out.
Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge
Montmartre is a very distinctive district in Paris. Many people say it's not very safe, so I paid special attention before going. However, I was lucky when I went and didn't encounter any strange people. Overall, the experience was quite pleasant. But Montmartre involves a lot of uphill walking, with significant elevation changes. So I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing a lightweight bag, otherwise, it can be tiring to walk around. We walked down Montmartre and ended up at the Moulin Rouge. The red windmill at the Moulin Rouge is very eye-catching. If you're interested in shows, you can also arrange to see a show separately.
On our first trip to Paris, we visited Terra Nera, the restaurant where the chef lived in the show, because we both loved watching "Amélie in Paris." The apartment where Emily lived in the show is right next door, so if you're a fan, you'll find that interesting. However, personally, I thought the food was just okay. If you're not a big fan of the show, you don't really need to make a special trip there; you'd be better off spending your time at other restaurants.
We also went to a very beautiful French restaurant called Le Café du Commerce. The restaurant's space is really unique, with high ceilings, white tablecloths, retro lighting, and plants in the atrium, creating a beautiful overall atmosphere.