Paris Day 1 – Montmartre Magic

This post is part of our Europe travel series. If you missed the beginning, you could catch up here. In the previous post, I shared all about our time in Bruges you can read that here.

Visiting France felt like a dream come true. Its rich history and vibrant culture make every corner unforgettable. For our trip, we focused on Paris, the Palace of Versailles, Monet’s gardens in Giverny, Rouen, and the Loire Valley—each place promising a blend of history, art, and beauty.

Paris was once a small Celtic village on the banks of the Seine River. Today, it has grown into one of the most important cities in the world. Over the centuries, Paris has witnessed power struggles, hunger, artistic brilliance, revolutions, and upheavals—traces of all of which are still visible across the city. We stayed in the Montparnasse area, a neighborhood that felt lively yet local, with the nearby train station making early trips to Versailles easy.

On May 22nd, we left Ghent in Belgium. Boarding the train around 9 a.m., we changed trains at Brussels, and by the time we reached Paris, it was already noon. With many train stations in the city, we headed straight to Gare du Nord— “Gare” means station, and “Nord” means north, so we had arrived at the North Station.

The steady flow of people inside the station felt like a waterfall roaring after a gentle river stream; seeing such a crowd right after quiet Ghent was almost overwhelming. Before the trip, we had watched videos about Paris transportation passes, but none of it seemed very helpful in reality. Initially, we had planned to buy a weekly pass but eventually decided to download the app on our phones and get a one-day pass instead.

By the time we boarded a train from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, it was around 12 noon. We had booked a Novotel hotel in that area. Stepping out of the station for the first time, the sight of the Eiffel Tower in the distance gave us an instant thrill it felt even more impressive than we had imagined.

Just five minutes’ walk from the station, we reached our hotel. The room was decent, though not very spacious or luxurious. Since we didn’t have much luggage and had packed our clothes in cubes, everything fit comfortably; otherwise, it might have been a struggle. The bathroom had both a bathtub and a shower, which felt a bit cramped. There was also a small separate room for the wardrobe.

After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we stepped out for lunch. Seeing the long lines at nearby restaurants, we decided to skip them and went to a nearby boulangerie. In France, bakeries are called boulangeries. We grabbed a couple of sandwiches and ate right there. That day on our itinerary was Montmartre and the Palais Garnier (the Opera House). We first headed to the bus stop to go to the Opera House, and luckily the bus arrived quickly. 

The Opera House was designed by Charles Garnier, which is why it’s also known as the Palais Garnier. Every column, wall, curtain, and window inside was exquisitely ornate. We had planned to spend just an hour exploring, but the sheer beauty held us captive, and two hours later, we finally tore ourselves away.

Built in the 19th century, the Opera House still hosts opera performances and ballet shows, keeping its magnificent tradition alive to this day.

By around 5 p.m., we headed to the Montmartre area by metro. The ride was smooth, and soon we arrived at one of the most charming neighborhoods in Paris, known for its artistic history, lively streets, and beautiful views of the city. In the 19th century, Montmartre was a small village just outside Paris, but it soon became a hub for artists and developed a vibrant art scene.

Our first stop was Moulin Rouge, a former windmill that was later converted into a theater. It is famous for its cabaret performances, including the lively French cancan dance.

From there, we visited the Wall of Love, where “I love you” is written in 248 languages on blue enamel tiles. Telugu was also included, though not perfectly rendered.

As we walked along the streets, we saw hundreds of shoes hanging on power lines. Perhaps it was a playful act by children or a symbol of lovers meeting even in heaven or maybe just a mysterious local custom. 

Next, we went to Le Moulin de la Galette, a French restaurant housed in an old windmill. The area, with its vineyards, windmills, winding roads, and brick houses, has long inspired countless artists. Famous visitors included singers like Dalida and painters such as Renoir and Van Gogh.

We also stopped at a statue of singer Dalida, who was born in Egypt to Italian parents and settled in Paris. She performed songs in French, Italian, Arabic, English, German, and Spanish. The statue stands in front of her former residence.

Art in Montmartre is visible not only in museums but also in the streets. One wall features a sculpture of a man walking through it, inspired by the story Le Passe-Muraille by French writer Marcel Aymé. In the story, a man named Dutilleul discovers he can pass through walls, using this power to commit mischiefuntil one day, the magic fails, leaving him stuck in the wall. Tradition holds that touching his hand brings good luck, and visitors line up to shake it.

We then walked to La Petite Maison Rose, a pastel pink building at a street corner. The restaurant owner, inspired by Spanish architecture, painted it pink, and climbing green vines added a charming touch to the cool evening.

From there, we headed to Place du Tertre, where great artists like Picasso, Modigliani, and Valadon once gathered. Even today, artists paint, sell their work, and create portraits for visitors, while others watch from nearby cafes. By the time we left, it was around 7 p.m., and the lively scene had left us delighted.

Next, we climbed the steps to Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The area around the basilica was bustling with activity violinists playing music, people dancing, and vendors selling Eiffel Tower souvenirs, bracelets, and bottled water. From the steps, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Paris. Nearby, we also saw the Sinking House, an optical illusion that makes the building appear tilted.

After our climb, we decided to take the funicular down for a safer descent. By around 8 p.m., we found a cozy Italian restaurant tucked between four streets and enjoyed pizza with a surprisingly delicious spicy chili oil.

Night had fallen, but even though we were tired, our excitement wasn’t over. We couldn’t resist seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle. Heading to Champ de Mars, the park in front of the tower, a gentle drizzle fell, adding a soft shimmer to the city lights. Up close, the Eiffel Tower felt magical, and as it sparkled like scattered diamonds, we stood there for about fifteen minutes, captivated by the dazzling display.

By 10 p.m., we finally took a bus back to our hotel. We hadn’t anticipated covering so many places on our first day in Paris, yet the city had already left us completely mesmerized. The next day, we were off to visit the Palace of Versailles. You can read those memories here.