Paris Day 2 – The Eiffel Tower & Iconic Paris Moments

This post is part of our Europe travel series. If you missed the beginning, you can catch up here. In the previous post, I shared our visit to Rouen, you can read it here. To read about our time in Paris Montmartre, click here.

On the morning of May 25th, we left Montparnasse Station and headed to the Place de la Concorde, a large and famous square in the heart of Paris. The wide-open space, lined with tall columns, distant trees, and elegant fountains, shone softly under the cloudy sky. Two big fountains—the Fontaine des Mers and the Fontaine des Fleuves—added movement and life to the square, representing France’s sea and river trade. But beneath its beauty is a sad history: this is the same square where King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, and many others were executed during the French Revolution.

At the center stands the Luxor Obelisk, a 200-ton gift from Muhammad Ali of Egypt. Moving it to Paris took over thirty years, but now it rises proudly, linking different lands and times. That day, as a light drizzle fell, the square—with its fountains, obelisk, and monuments—looked even more atmospheric, almost timeless.

Next to the square lie the Tuileries Gardens, one of Paris’s most famous green spaces. Created in 1564 by Queen Catherine de’ Medici for her Tuileries Palace, the gardens were later redesigned in the 17th century by the legendary landscape architect André Le Nôtre, who also designed the gardens at Versailles. Over the years, the Tuileries have seen it all—royal celebrations, public gatherings, and even political events.

We loved strolling along the wide, tree-lined paths, soaking in the calm and beauty, as we made our way toward the Musée de l’Orangerie.

The Musée de l’Orangerie is home to Monet’s monumental Water Lilies paintings. Since the museum is small and can get crowded quickly, we booked early morning tickets online. Having visited Monet’s gardens in Giverny just the day before, we were even more excited to see the Water Lilies in person.

Stepping into the gallery was awe-inspiring. The paintings stretch across the walls, two meters high and sixteen meters wide, wrapping the room in color and light. Even at eighty, struggling with cataracts, Monet created these masterpieces that seem to shimmer and move, perfectly capturing the calm, serene beauty of his garden pond.

The museum houses many remarkable works, from André Derain’s The Mandolin Player and The Kitchen Table to Picasso’s Woman with a White Hat and Rodin’s The Last Vision. And these are only a few among many others that fill the galleries. Each piece seemed alive, making the hours pass without us even noticing.

Before that we would like to visit Pont Alexandre III, one of the most beautiful and ornate bridges in Paris. The bridge was built between 1896 and 1900 for the Exposition Universelle. It was named after Alexander III of Russia to honor the strong friendship and political alliance between France and Russia at that time.

That morning, we headed to Pont Alexandre III. As we walked across the bridge, we admired the golden statues, intricate sculptures, and elegant Art Nouveau lamp posts. From the bridge, we also enjoyed beautiful views of the Seine River and the surrounding Parisian landmarks.      

It was almost lunchtime by the time we left the museum. We took a tram to Marché Grenelle, one of Paris’s lively open-air markets. The market buzzed with vendors selling fresh flowers, cheeses, breads, and more. We stopped at Les Fermes du Périgord Noir, a stall bringing flavors from southwest France, and picked up a crispy roasted chicken. Finding a spot along the Seine, we savored our simple yet perfect meal.

Our photographic quest took us to Pont de Bir-Hakeim, but the morning rain and a teasing wind made capturing the Eiffel Tower’s majesty a challenge. We pressed on to the Trocadéro Gardens, where the clouds finally parted, and the tower stood in all its glory, framed perfectly against the Parisian sky.

By late afternoon, we visited Carette, a charming café dating back to the early 20th century, once a gathering place for scholars and artists. There, we savored delicate macarons and rich hot chocolate, the flavors as exquisite as the city itself.

From there, we took a leisurely walk through a Parisian neighborhood. It was quiet, with tall and ornate buildings lining the streets. It was around nine in the morning, and locals were busy heading to work. After enjoying the peaceful morning walk, we continued toward Champ de Mars.

With green lawns stretching across the park and clear blue skies above, the majestic Eiffel Tower stood right before us. We loved the view of the tower from there more than from any other place in Paris.

From Carette, we strolled to the Palais-Royal, a historic meeting place during the French Revolution. Today, locals move gracefully through its colonnades and gardens, giving the space a living heartbeat beyond its storied past.

Nearby, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs showed dancers moving gracefully across open floors, their steps in time with the soft rustling of the leaves—a perfect blend of art and motion.

Our path then led to the Arc de Triomphe, a monument to French soldiers. While we did not climb its many steps, the surrounding Champs-Élysées called to us with its world-famous shops and bustling energy. Here, we paused at Pierre Hermé, the “Picasso of Pastry,” to enjoy macarons that seemed almost too beautiful to eat.

As dusk fell, we made our way to Montparnasse for dinner at Himalayan Indian Restaurant, savoring a warm meal after a day brimming with sights, sounds, and colors. By 10 p.m., we returned to our hotel, tired but happy. Paris had shared its history, beauty, and flavors with us. 

The next morning, we set off for the Loire Valley, a place we had long dreamed of, with its enchanting palaces and gardens. You can read those special moments here. To follow along with our next day in Paris, click here.