First day in Paris: Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower

In September, Ellie and I kicked off our ten-day Euro adventure by visiting Paris, France. Paris has so much to offer—incredible architecture, bustling riverbanks, delicious food, and a myriad of museums. It’s truly a city for endless adventures. And I couldn’t wait to partake in as many as possible.

A Walk Down Champs-Élysées

Because we arrived in Paris in the late afternoon, we decided to introduce ourselves to they City by taking a brief stroll down Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Champs-Elysées is a wide, tree-lined thoroughfare full of chic restaurants, shops, and boutiques. It is nearly two kilometers long and runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Place Charles de Gaulle, where the Arc de Triomphe is located. 

The Eiffel Tower at Sunset

After strolling down Champs-Élysées and admiring the Arc De Triomphe, we aimlessly wandered around Paris. Eventually, however, we arrived at the Eiffel Tower. Even during the day the structure is absolutely stunning.

Once the sun set, we decided to grab dinner in the area so that we could see the Eiffel Tower at night. At the restaurant, I had foie gras and escargot for the very first time. I devoured every single dish! Parisans, like most Europeans, eat dinner pretty late compared to Americans, so the restaurant was nearly empty.

Paris the City of Love

Once we finished dinner, we stepped outside to a city impressively illuminated with sparkling lights. The glittering buildings, boats, and bridges provided a perfect contrast to the moon-lit sky and the pitch-black canal. Indeed, the picturesque views created the ideal setting for a romantic and memorable moment. It’s no wonder why Paris is known as the City of Love.

The Eiffel Tower at Night

We eventually arrived back at the Eiffel Tower.

Every evening, the Eiffel Tower dons her golden dress and sparkles for the first five minutes of every hour. We arrived in perfect time to see this spectacular event. Completely enthralled and distracted by the Tower’s golden lights, I only manage to take a single photograph. But the bright and finely-detailed lattice tower is forever imprinted in my mind!

Once we finished at the Eiffel Tower, we returned to our room to settle in and to prepare for our exploration of Montmartre the following day.