Planning – Palakpahwa

The Ultimate Big Island Itinerary: 5 Days of Volcanoes, Black Sand, and Adventure

January 25, 2026 No Comments

If you’ve been following my travel blog for a while now, you know that my husband and I aren’t really the “sit by the pool with a Mai Tai” kind of couple. We love being outdoors, we love a good hike, we love National Parks and we’re usually trying to pack as much as humanly possible into every single day!

For our anniversary last year, we decided to skip the winter chill and headed to the Big Island in Hawaii in April. Our actual anniversary was in January, but we waited until April for that perfect weather window—and let me tell you, it was so worth the wait. Also, it is our annual ritual that we take an island trip every year on our anniversary because we both love islands so much!

The Big Island is unlike any other Hawaiian island. It’s huge, it’s raw, and it feels like you’re visiting four different planets in one week. Whether you want to walk through a literal lava tube or watch the sunset from a black sand beach, this place has it.

Before we jump into the actual 5-day itinerary for Big Island, I wanted to share a few important tips to help you plan your own “delayed” celebration or adventure trip!

How many days are enough for the Big Island?

Honestly? You could spend two weeks here and still not see it all. It’s called the “Big” Island for a reason! We did 5 days of heavy exploring, and while we saw a ton, I’d recommend at least 7 to 10 days if you want to actually slow down and breathe. But if you’re like us and don’t mind a bit of a “hustle” itinerary or don’t have that much time to spare, 5 days will give you a great highlight reel.

Best time to visit?

We went in April and it was perfect. January through March can be a bit rainier (especially on the Hilo side), so April offered that sweet spot of lush greenery without the constant downpours. We did get some light showers here and there, but nothing as major to disrupt our plans. Plus, you beat the massive summer crowds and save money!

What to pack?

Proper Hike Shoes: I cannot stress this enough. The volcanic rock is sharp and slippery. Don’t try to hike Pololu Valley in flip-flops!
Rain Jacket & Sweaters: Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the US, and the Volcano National Park gets cold at night. The weather on islands is usually unpredictable so be prepared for rain or cold and pack accordingly. Also, some spots on the island can get very windy through the day so carrying a light jacket will help.
Sunscreen & Sun Hats: There is very little shade on the lava fields.
Snorkeling Gear: If you have your own, bring it! The water is crystal clear.
Umbrellas: Because it can rain anytime, even if its a light shower, it will be good to carry an umbrella and if you’ll be renting a car and driving around, you can just store it in your car.

Where to stay?

We explored the West, East and South parts of the island so we moved around a bit. We started our trip with the Western part so we stayed in the Royal Kona Resort for the first half of our trip. Its a beautiful oceanfront property and we had a great experience overall. It is very reasonably priced so if you’re looking for a waterfront experience without making a dent in your pocket, check this resort out.

For the second half of our trip, we stayed on the east side of the island and rented an airbnb. However, you could also choose to stay in the Volcano Village which will give you a rustic village experience in the middle of a lush rainforest. It’s so tranquil and feels worlds away from the touristy resorts.

**How to get around (and do you really need a car?)**

Short answer: Yes, 100%. If you remember from my Banff post, I mentioned that having a car is the only way to get true flexibility, and that is even more true here. The Big Island is twice the size of all the other Hawaiian islands combined! You’ll be driving through lava fields, rainforests, and mountain strips—often all in the same day.

Renting a Car: We went with a traditional rental company through Expedia and pre-booked our car before the trip, but Turo is also a huge thing here just like in Canada. We have had a great experience with Turo every time we’ve tried it so I would recommend that as well. If you want a specific “island vibe” Jeep or a 4WD (which you’ll need if you plan on going to the very top of Mauna Kea), Turo is a great option.
Do you need 4WD? For this specific itinerary, a standard SUV or even a sedan is fine. We rented a standard SUV and that worked just fine for us because most of the main spots we hit like Volcano National Park and the Hilo waterfalls are on well-paved roads. However, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to do some off-roading or head to certain remote beaches, 4WD is a lifesaver.
Public Transport: There is the Hele-On Bus, and it’s actually free right now! But, it’s mostly designed for locals commuting between Hilo and Kona. For a “packed” itinerary like ours where you’re hitting five different spots a day, the bus just won’t work. It would take you hours to get where a car takes you in 30 minutes.
Pro Tip on Gas: Gas is expensive on the island, and stations can be few and far between once you leave the main towns. Never let your tank get below a quarter, especially when you’re heading toward the South Point or the Chain of Craters Road—there are zero gas stations inside the National Park!

And now, let’s dive into the fun part – the itinerary!

DAY 1 – LANDING IN KONA

We landed around 7:00 PM at the Kona International Airport and kept it super simple. Since we knew we had a packed day the next day, we just stayed at a spot close to the airport to avoid driving too much.

Pro-tip: Pick up your rental car and grab some basic snacks/water tonight so you can hit the road early in the morning!

DAY 2 – KONA WEST & NORTH COAST ADVENTURE

This day was all about those dramatic Northern views of the island and some local vibes. You will need proper hike shoes for this day because it includes hikes and trails so make sure you prepare accordingly. Also, make sure to carry a light jacket as some viewpoints can get very windy. A hair scrunchy/rubber band would also be handy if you don’t want your hair getting messed up from the wind.

Here is a google map link that you can follow for this day.

Stop 1 – Lapakahi State Historical Park

This place was incredibly peaceful and offers some amazing views of the ocean but it was very windy. Its a partially restored coastal village that dates back over 600 years. It was so cool to walk among the ancient stone ruins and see exactly how the early Hawaiians lived and fished—it really gives you a deep respect for the land before you continue your drive.

Stop 2 – Pololu Valley Lookout

Next stop was the Polulu Valley Lookout. The views are stunning and its one of those places where the photos just don’t do it justice—the contrast between the deep green cliffs and the crashing blue surf is absolutely wild. Standing at the top gives you that “edge of the world” feeling, and it’s the perfect spot to just take a breath before you start the trek down to the black sand floor.

Below are some pictures from this lookout.

Stop 3 – Pololu Trail Hike

It’s a rocky 0.9-mile trail that takes less than 30 minutes. It leads to a spectacular black sand beach. It gets steep and slippery.

Stop 4 – Historic Hawi Town

After the hike, we explored Hawi for a bit for that old-school Hawaii charm. Its a colorful, quirky town that was once the heart of the sugar industry but now feels like a hub for local artists and cute boutiques. We loved walking past the bright storefronts, and honestly, the laid-back, ‘old Hawaii’ vibe here is exactly the kind of off-beat experience we look for on these trips.

We stopped and grabbed lunch at the Bamboo Restaurant and the food was delicious.

Stop 5 – Kuki’o Beach

On our way back to the resort, we made a stop at the Kuki’o Beach. It is basically tucked away behind a gated resort area but you can still go in. It’s a stunning stretch of white sand and lava rocks where we saw some of the biggest sea turtles just chilling on the shore. It’s much quieter than the main tourist beaches, making it the perfect ‘secret’ spot to just soak in the views for an hour. You can also hang out here if you want to catch a beautiful sunset. It was very windy here as well so be prepared.

Stop 6 – Kua Bay (Maniniʻowali Beach)

This was our last stop of the day and was truly “jaw-dropping” moment. Try to reach before 7:00 PM for the sunset. Bring a hat/umbrella because there is zero shade here!

We ended the night at Foster’s Kitchen. Highly recommend their Coconut Grove location!

DAY 3 – THE DEEP SOUTH & VOLCANO BOUND

We headed south today to see the most southern point of the entire US!

Pro tip: Make sure to pack lunch before heading out if you’re going to be following this itinerary as is. There are not many spots on the way so if you don’t want the stress of finding something last minute, go prepared.

Here is the link to the google map that we followed for this day.

Stop 1- Greenwell Farms

You can’t come to Kona and skip a coffee tour. We did the 10:00 AM tour and here’s the link we used to prebook our tour online. If you plan to do this one, plan to arrive 10 minutes early. I highly recommend this tour because it was a very insightful tour, specially for a coffee lover like me. Our tour guide walked us through the whole process of growing coffee beans and we also saw the plantations and got to walk around their massive property. They also had free coffee samples for us to taste, and we got back some coffee beans too.

Stop 2 – Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

This is a culturally significant place for the Hawaiian people and you can learn more about the ancient practices and rituals of the native Hawaiians here. Its often called the ‘Place of Refuge and its right on the water with these dramatic black lava flats and towering palm trees (as shown below in the pictures) which makes a beautiful scenery.

Stop 3 – Kalae (South Point)

This is where Polynesians first landed and this historical area is the southernmost point of the Hawaiian Islands and the second southernmost point in the United States.. The views of the Ka Lae cliffs are expansive and wild. We even saw ruins of an ancient temple.

Stop 4 – Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach

Keep an eye out for sea turtles (see the third picture below)! The sand was jet black and so unreal.

Stop 5 – Volcano Village

Volcano Village is a rustic village in the middle of a lush rainforest and is famous for its beauty and tranquility. We drove through this village, grabbed dinner here and then checked into the airbnb on the eastern side of the island, close to the village.

DAY 4 – HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

This was the most awaited day for me from our entire trip because I was excited to see the Lava rocks and the craters.

Pack a sweater for today! The elevation makes it much cooler than the coast. Here is the google map link for this day.

Stop 1 – Kilauea Iki Crater

We did the short hike down into the crater. Its a 4 miles round trip with medium difficulty level and it truly feels like walking on another planet. If you only plan to do one hike through the entire trip, then this would be the one I’d recommend.

Tip to avoid crowds: Park at Devastation and do the 6-mile loop from Byron Ledge. The scenery includes panoramic views of Kīlauea caldera, Mauna Loa (on clear days), and native forest with tall tree ferns.. Also, start the hike as early as you can to beat the crowd.

Stop 2 – Thurston Lava Tube

A quick, 20-minute walk through a tree-fern forest leads you into an illuminated lava cave. It is an easily accessible and very interesting lava tube close to the Kīlauea Iki parking lot. You can park at the Kīlauea Iki Overlook which is connected to the lava tubes by a very scenic half-mile hike. This was our first time visiting a lava tube and it was insane!

Stop 3 – Mauna Loa Strip Road – Scenic drive to the Mauna Loa Lookout

The Mauna Loa Strip Road is an 11.2 mile (one way) road which takes you to the Mauna Loa lookout point at an elevation of 6,662 feet (2031 meters). So we took this scenic route and it rewarded us with these expansive, panoramic views of the Kīlauea caldera and the coast far below. The views of the landscape were gorgeous from the top so I highly recommend this drive but keep in mind that this is going to be a bit of a climb for your rental car so plan accordingly.

Stop 4 – Chain of Craters Road Scenic Drive

If you have the energy, drive all the way to the ocean where the road literally disappears under a sheet of lava.

Stop 5 – Night Viewing

We went to the Jaggar Museum parking lot (the museum is closed but the lot is open) and walked to the fence to see the glow of the lava lake. It’s a “once-in-a-lifetime” sight so I highly recommend doing it in the night.

DAY 5 – HILO TOWN AND RAINBOW FALLS

This day was all about exploring the town of Hilo on the eastern side of the island.

Stop 1: Breakfast at Ken’s Pancake House

A total island staple. This is a very famous spot for breakfast and their pancakes are to die for!

Stop 2 – Hilo Downtown

We spent the morning walking around the shops and enjoying the downtown vibe. If you’re up for a history lesson, try visiting the Tsunami museum. Or you could also visit the Hulihe’e Palace which is the summer home of the Hawaiian ali’i like King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. Or you could try some more Kona coffee at the Kona Coffee And Tea Company or some chilled beer at the Kona Brewing Company. There’s plenty of places to eat and drink at in the downtown so you could spend a couple hours here and grab lunch before heading to the next stop.

Stop 3 – Rainbow Falls

A short hike to the top of the falls. If you go in the morning, you might actually see the rainbows in the mist! It is a massive 80-foot waterfall within Hilo town itself.

Stop 4 – Onomea Bay and Liliuokalani Park

One of my absolute favorite scenic detours was the Onomea Bay drive. We took the ‘4-mile scenic route’ off the main highway, and it honestly felt like driving through a tropical tunnel—everything was so incredibly green and lush. We got a bit of light rain on our way which made the greenery look even more beautiful. We also stopped to walk a bit on the Onomea Trail, which leads you down toward the bay, and the view of the turquoise water crashing against the jagged cliffs is just stunning. It’s the perfect spot to pull over, stretch your feet, and just stare at the ocean for a bit—definitely a ‘must-do’ if you’re exploring the Hilo side!

We ended the day with a beautiful Japanese-style garden right by the ocean called the Liliuokalani Park. Admission is free to I would highly recommend checking this place out.

DAY 6 – THE HAMAKUA COAST

This was our last day on the island so we decided to take the scenic route back to the airport through the East part of the island.

Here is the link to our google map for this day.

Stop 1 – Akaka Falls

An easy 0.4-mile loop trail through a lush rainforest leads you to a massive 442-foot waterfall, which is the most famous waterfall in the state of Hawaii. There is a parking cost of $10 and an entrance cost of $5 per person for non-resident visitors. The hike itself is beautiful because it takes you through the rainforest, the view of the falls is stunning and we also had some coconut water on our way back which was really refreshing.

Stop 2 – Hamakau Scenic Drive

The Hamakua Coast drive along Highway 19 is honestly one of the most beautiful stretches of road I’ve ever seen. It’s known as the ‘Heritage Corridor,’ and it takes you along the northeastern slopes of Mauna Kea, where you’re constantly surrounded by deep green gulches, towering sea cliffs, and waterfalls tucked away in every corner. We loved that it wasn’t just a straight highway—there are so many one-lane bridges and little pull-offs where you can see the ocean crashing against the rocky coast below. It feels worlds away from the dry, volcanic landscape of Kona, and it was the perfect way to spend our last morning soaking in the lush, tropical side of the island. Again, most look out points on this scenic drive were very windy so be prepared.

Stop 3 – Historic town of Honoka’a

We stopped in this historic town for lunch before the final leg of the drive. This town was once a bustling sugar plantation hub, and today the main street is lined with these charming, colorful wooden storefronts that house everything from antique shops to local boutiques. It has a much more rugged, authentic ‘cowboy’ (Paniolo) feel than the resort areas in Kona. If you have time, you could pop into the Honoka’a People’s Theater—it’s been around since 1930 and is such a cool piece of island history!

Stop 4 – Waipio Valley Lookout

Known as the “Valley of Kings”, its one of the most culturally significant spots for the native Hawaiians and a hotspot for the traditional cultivation of the locally prized “kalo” or taro crops. This lookout point offers some really stunning views of the valley.

Stop 5- Waikoloa Village

One last stop for a coffee before heading back to the Kona airport for our flight.

The Big Island really is a “choose your own adventure” kind of place. Whether you’re standing on the edge of a volcanic crater or driving through the lush tunnels of the Hamakua Coast, it’s impossible not to feel the raw energy of this island. It was the perfect way for us to celebrate our anniversary—even if it was a few months late! If you’re someone who loves being on the move and discovering those off-the-beaten-path gems, I hope this itinerary helps you plan a trip that’s just as memorable as ours was. Just remember to pack your hiking shoes, keep your gas tank full, and leave a little room for the unexpected magic that always seems to happen in Hawaii!

For itineraries on other islands in Hawaii such as Oahu, follow this link.

Spain, Travel

3 days in Seville: A complete Seville itinerary for first time visitors

December 27, 2023 4 Comments

Seville, pronounced as suh·vil, is a city in South Spain in the Andalusia region. It is very well known for its magnificent architecture, rich history and beautiful gardens. The historic neighborhoods and the lively atmosphere have always attracted tourists and it’s on the bucket list for many travelers. My husband and I visited Seville for 3 days in November as part of our 14 days trip to Spain. We covered a few other cities as well and Seville was our second stop after Madrid. This blog aims to provide you with our detailed Seville itinerary to help you plan your perfect vacation.

Because Seville has a lot to explore and enjoy, 3 days is not really enough in my opinion. But that’s all the time we had so we planned this trip meticulously to make sure that we were able to pack as much as possible in these 3 days. So, if you plan well you can still do a lot in 3 days.

So, let’s jump right into our itinerary!

DAY 1

9:00 AM – Breakfast

We started our day with a nice breakfast at a cafe called Biomio. The reason we picked this cafe was because it was a short walk from the Real Alcazar which was our first stop for the day. Also, this cafe is well rated on Google. Their coffee was good so I would recommend this if you’re going to be visiting the Real Alcazar because it’s a 4-minutes walk from there.

10:00 AM – Real Alcázar (Must do on your Seville itinerary)

The Real Alcazar is a royal palace in Seville and is one of the best historical sites in the city. This has to be on the top of your list. This palace was declared a UNESCO World heritage site in 1987. It has Moorish and Christian influences and is built using brick, metal, wood, plaster and tile. One of the best parts of this palace is its beautiful, lush green and huge gardens. The day that we went on was a perfectly sunny day so these gardens looked even more beautiful. So I would recommend checking the weather before visiting. Try to schedule it on a sunny day to get the best experience.

Because it is one of the top tourist destinations, it gets very busy as the day progresses. So, I would also recommend making advance reservations online. Here’s the link to book your tickets and I would recommend taking the audio guide option. You can also book your tickets through Get Your Guide as that can sometimes be cheaper. You don’t need to carry your headphones for the audio guide because that will be provided in the palace. Also, food and drinks are not allowed inside the palace so don’t carry anything with you. There is a cafe inside for coffee and small bites. The palace is huge and you will be walking a lot so dress comfortably and wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Allow at least 2-3 hours to tour the whole palace.

A fun fact – Some parts of this palace such as the Ambassadors’ Hall, Mercury’s Pool, the Baths of Maria de Padilla, and the gardens were used as filming locations for the famous series Game of Thrones. So, be sure to check these out if you’re a fan of the series.

1:00 PM – Lunch

There are a lot of places to eat outside the palace and we picked an Italian place called L’Oca Giuliva. Their pasta and wine options were great so I would recommend this place if you’re in the mood for a nice Italian meal.

2:30 PM – Cathedral of Seville

After lunch, we made our way to the Cathedral Of Seville which is just a 2-minutes walk from the royal palace. This church was also declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987. It’s a huge cathedral and has such beautiful architecture outside and inside. It also has a very interesting history in that it was a mosque originally but was converted into a church by the Christians that conquered Seville. There are a lot of beautiful religious artworks inside the church that you can enjoy as well. In this church you will also find an amazing statue of the Tomb of Christopher Columbus being carried by rulers of 4 kingdoms.

Here is the link to all the ticket options and for this as well I would recommend booking an audio guide. Check Get Your Guide before booking as they can sometimes offer package deals, with an option to skip the line. After exploring the church, head over to La Giralda which is a bell tower of the church. We had to climb 35 floors to get to the top of the tower but the breathtaking views at the top made it worth it. It took us around 2 hours to finish the whole tour.

5:00 PM – El Arenal

El Arenal is a very traditional neighborhood in Seville and is at a walking distance from the cathedral. It is located between the cathedral and the Guadalquivir River. So, once you’re done exploring the cathedral you can walk down here and enjoy the vibe. It’s a very busy tourist area and also very lively. We grabbed coffee and spent some time just walking around and soaking in the ambience. We also walked up to the riverwalk and the Torre del Oro tower. We climbed up the tower and saw a beautiful sunset.

7:00 PM – Dinner and drinks

From the tower, you can walk up to the other side of the river through the bridge as there are a lot of great bars and restaurants here. So spend some time in these bars and sip on the delicious Sangrias to end the day.

DAY 2

9:00 AM – Breakfast

We started our second day with a nice breakfast and coffee at the Jester Cafe. As with all other cafes, their coffee was amazing so I would recommend giving this place a try.

9:30 AM – Italica Tour

The first half of our second day was all about exploring Italica. Italica is the oldest Roman city on the Iberian peninsula and has been declared a world heritage site. Seville has a lot of Roman ruins in different parts of the city but Italica is one of the most impressive ones. It has also been used as a filming location for the series Game of Thrones. If you want to get a glimpse of the Roman way of life, I would recommend adding this tour to your list.

Italica is just outside the city of Seville so you can book a guided tour from Get Your Guide. Here’s the link to our tour. This was a guided group tour so we were picked up by the tour company from a common meeting point and then driven to Italica in the bus. There are around 3-4 pickup points so you can choose your pickup from the point closest to your hotel. The drive was about 30 minutes to Italica where we spent about an hour and a half. Our second stop was the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo which was also a great place to see.

An important tip on visiting Italica – It’s completely outdoor so make sure to carry a water bottle, sunglasses and a hat. If you’re going in the winter months, plan to dress in layers as it can be a bit chilly and windy. And wear a comfortable pair of shoes as there’s a lot of walking involved.

2:00 PM – Lunch

We got back from the tour around 2:00 PM and made our way to the Santa Catalina neighborhood. This is a very nice neighborhood with a lot of architecture and nice restaurants. So we stopped here for lunch at a nice vegan restaurant called Ringo Banana. This restaurant has the best homemade peanut butter I have ever tasted and their veggie burger was also delicious.

3:00 PM – Walk around Santa Catalina neighborhood

After lunch, we just strolled around the neighborhood. Because it was a Saturday, it was bustling with crowds and was very lively. There are also many local shops so you can shop and explore if you’d like.

5:00 PM – Metropol Parasol

This is a very popular tourist attraction so it should be on your list. The Metropol Parasol is basically a huge wooden structure designed by a German architect named Jürgen Mayer. The structure looks like a mushroom and is known as Las Setas de la Encarnación. If you want to go up to the top to get the views you will need to buy tickets. It’s a great way to enjoy the sunset and also get great views of the city center. We just hung out at a bar right below this structure and sipped on Sangrias while marveling at this beautiful structure. The Sangrias we had at the bar were some of the best ones I have ever had so I would highly recommend grabbing a table at the bar and trying a Sangria.

7:00 PM – Opera

A traditional opera typically is organized in a theater setting. However, the opera that we booked was in an outdoor setting in Palacio De Las Dueñas which is a historical palace. That was one of the reasons why we wanted to see this opera because it was something different. The opera is based on a very famous story of “Carmen” by Bizet and it took place in the courtyard of this palace. It doesn’t happen all year round and there are only a few calendared dates when this Opera takes place in this palace. We got lucky in that the day we were in Seville was the opening show so we were able to attend.

Here’s a link to check the show availability and book tickets. Make sure to check the available dates and plan accordingly. We booked a 7 PM show and had to get there 15 minutes before the show started. Since it’s in a patio setting, it was really cold so we made sure to dress in layers. The show lasted for about 75 minutes and it was amazing.

9:00 PM – Dinner

For dinner, we tried a famous Tapas bar in the area called El Rinconcillo which was a 3-minutes walk from the Opera. It’s well rated on Google and has a lot of Tapas options to choose from. It’s a good bar to enjoy some nice tapas and drinks.

DAY 3

10:00 AM – Barrio Santa Cruz

We started our day exploring the Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood. It’s an old Jewish quarter with narrow alleyways and streets that you can wander about. These narrow streets lined with colored houses are just beautiful to look at. There are also some old churches and little squares with fountains or statues that you can stop and look at. You can also grab breakfast here as there are many good cafes in the area. Some interesting places to stop and look at are – Rosina’s balcony, Callejón del Agua or Water Alley and Jardines de Murillo or Murillo Garden.

12:00 PM – Plaza de España (Must do on your Seville itinerary)

Next, we made our way to the very famous Plaza de España which is another must-do in Seville. I had read a few blogs that recommended this place so I added it to our Seville itinerary but had no idea what to expect. And, man oh man! I was left awestruck when we got here. I don’t think there is a single word that can describe the beauty and grandeur of this place.

It is, undoubtedly, one of the most magnificent plazas in Europe. Along with the Real Alcázar, it should be at the top of your list of the best things to do in Seville. It’s a huge semi-circular plaza with stunning architecture and was built in 1928. There’s a huge fountain in the center, an emerald green canal that runs along the perimeter and colorful bridges. There are also tap dance performances that take place in the center of the plaza that you can enjoy for free. Allow at least 1-2 hours to spend time here.

The below pictures will show you what I mean!

2:00 PM – Lunch

After having the best time at the Plaza de España, we made our way to lunch at the Bollywood Indian Restaurant. This place also has really good ratings on Google and their food and service were really good. So if you like Indian food, this place is worth checking out.

3:00 PM – Parque de María Luisa

This is a beautiful public park and is Seville’s largest green space that sits by the Guadalquivir river. This park is spread over 100 acres and strolling through it was one of my best moments of the day. The lush green flora, the beautiful fountains and the artistic buildings were a delight to look at. Because we went here on a Sunday it was quite crowded with families having their picnics, kids playing around and tourists like us enjoying the atmosphere. So, it’s a great way to spend some time in nature after a nice lunch.

Fun fact – We also saw a lot of orange trees in this park and just in general everywhere in the city. There were orange trees lined along the public pathways as well. One of our tour guides told us that Spain sends these oranges every year to the Royal family in Britain where they’re used to make marmalade.

5:00 PM – Train to Granada

We visited Seville as part of our 14 day trip to Spain and our next stop was Granada. Seville was such a magical city that it will always be close to my heart. We had such a great time here and there was just so much to see and do. By the end of these 3 days we were tired but our hearts were so full with all the beautiful experiences this city gave us.

And that’s all as far as this 3-day Seville itinerary goes. I hope you found it useful! If you’re planning to visit other cities in Spain as well, don’t forget to check out my other blogs on this link. This link provides detailed itineraries on other top tourist destinations in Spain like Madrid, Granada and Barcelona.

Spain, Travel

Madrid Itinerary: How to spend the best 4 days in November

December 26, 2023 1 Comment

Madrid has my heart!! I am in love with the Spanish capital. I am already thinking about my next trip here in the summer because I had such a great time here. There’s just so much to do whether you’re a first time tourist or a repeat visitor. The whole vibe of the city is so electric with its beautiful architecture, iconic landmarks, magnificent museums and churches, delicious tapas and sangrias, lively party culture and an upscale fashion scene. Some of my friends asked me what I would recommend between Madrid and Barcelona and my answer was Madrid.

Madrid itinerary

While Barcelona is beautiful as well, it felt more touristy and commercial. Whereas, with Madrid you will have to put no effort to experience the true culture of Spain because it’s just everywhere. But, that’s just my personal opinion and you will see why as you read through this Madrid itinerary.

My husband and I visited Madrid during the Thanksgiving week in November and it was amazing. It was really cold on most days so we had to pack layers. But we enjoyed the whole festive vibe, and the fact that flights were cheaper as it was off-season. So my advice would be to go in the winter if you don’t mind the cold because that way you can save some money on flights and hotels and still get the same experience. However, if you’re planning to visit the islands like Ibiza and La Palma then summer would be a better time. As far as how much time is enough for Madrid, in 4-5 days you can explore all the important tourist spots and get the whole experience if you plan it right.

We planned for 4 days and that was a great amount of time to visit all the famous landmarks, eat lots of good food and shop around. This blog will cover a detailed 4-day Madrid itinerary that will help you plan your trip smoothly. So, here it goes!

DAY 1 in Madrid Itinerary

9 AM – Check-in and Breakfast

We flew into Madrid from the US so we landed at around 8 AM local time in Madrid. We went straight to our hotel to check in and get some rest. Our hotel was in a very good location on Gran Via street, which is the main street in Madrid. And it was also quite affordable for us. Overall, it was a nice hotel. You can book directly through their website here.

After checking in, we headed out to grab a quick coffee and breakfast and we tried this really nice cafe called Mision Cafe which was at a walkable distance from our hotel. One thing that has really impressed me in Spain is their cafes. Their coffee is delicious and their bakery selection is extensive. Their croissants taste so fresh and are so soft. I would highly recommend this cafe if you’re in the area.

1:00 PM – Lunch

After getting some good rest, we got ready and headed out for lunch. We tried this really nice vegetarian restaurant in the area called Artemisa. It has an extensive and very unique menu. So, if you’re in the mood for some nice vegetarian or vegan food, you should give this place a try.

2:00 PM – Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor in Madrid Itinerary

Next, we wanted to explore some famous landmarks. Our first stop was Puerta del Sol. It is a historic semi-circular square that is famous for the bear statue and the strawberry tree (photo below), which is the official symbol of Madrid. We just strolled around and took some nice pictures. Interestingly, this square also has Kilometer 0 which is a stone slab that marks the geographical center of Spain. Because this square is one of the busiest in the city, it’s always very lively so it is a very good place to sit and spend time. There are also little shops all around this area so we spent some time checking them out as well.

We then walked up to the Plaza Mayor which is a 2 minute walk from the square. Plaza Mayor is another stunning historic square in the oldest part of the city and is one of the top places to see. It’s always lively and you can spot street performances, artists, locals and visitors enjoying the ambience. It’s a rectangular plaza that was first built in the 17th century by King Philip III. It has been destroyed three times by fires since then and was rebuilt each time, with the latest reconstruction completed in 1854. According to history, this plaza once hosted tournaments, bullfights, markets, symphonies and executions. You can see the statue of King Philip III in the center of this square. There are Christmas markets during the holidays so if you plan around then, make sure to stop by.

3:00 PM – Royal Palace of Madrid Itinerary

If you are in Madrid, you cannot miss this palace. Not only because it’s one of the top tourist attractions but also because its architecture and grandeur will leave you speechless. With lots of art and fine furnishings, this palace has a lavish interior and impressive exterior. It is one of the largest palaces in Europe and one of Madrid’s most stunning attractions. It has been the official residence of the Royal family since it was founded in 1735. The family still comes here for state ceremonies and as per our tour guide, some of the important geopolitical meetings still take place here.

These days, it’s open to the public and only a few of the rooms are accessible. You can book your tickets through their official website and here’s the link. Be sure to check the last entry time and their operating hours. I would highly recommend getting a guided tour which is only 7 euros more than the basic ticket but provides you with a lot of rich history of the palace. It can take you easily 2-3 hours to finish touring the whole palace so take your time to absorb all the beautiful details and marvel at the stunning architecture. There are many beautiful rooms to visit but my two favorites are – the Throne Room and the Royal Chapel. So make sure to not miss these. The main staircase in the center with 70 steps is also very impressive.

Lastly, I would highly recommend booking your tickets in advance because the daily visits are limited and you will need to pick a time slot.

5:30 PM – Catedral de la Almudena in Madrid Itinerary

The Almudena cathedral is right across the palace and is just a 1-minute walk. It is built in a Gothic style and was completed in 1993. That is probably why it has a modern feel. Interestingly, it has the largest crypt in Spain. After touring the church, we then visited the museum and went up to the dome. From here, we got some amazing views of the Royal Palace, its gardens and the city. There is a fee to access the museum and the dome. Also, they operate for limited hours only so make sure to plan accordingly.

6:00 PM – Sabatini Gardens

Depending on your energy levels, you can walk up to the Sabatini Gardens which are an 11-minute walk from the cathedral. These gardens are in front of the north facade of the palace and are a great place to catch the sunset. Adorned with a large pool, fountains and statues, these gardens aren’t very large so they make for a nice stroll.

7:00 PM – Chocolateria San Gines in Madrid Itinerary

After all the walking, we decided to take a pit stop and try some local churros. Churros and hot chocolate is a very local thing in Spain and you can find it almost anywhere as you walk through the streets. However, Chocolateria San Gines is the place to try the best churros. It’s a historic cafe that has been running since 1894 and almost every blog that I read mentioned this place.

You can get a plate of 3 or 6 churros with hot chocolate. These were the best churros I have ever had in my life! I don’t have a sweet tooth so I really loved that the churros were not too sweet, even though they were lightly coated with sugar. The hot chocolate was also just the right amount of sweetness and they together made a perfect pair. This cafe is open 24 hours from Thursday to Sunday and from 8 AM until 11:59 PM other days.

8:00 PM – Dinner and Drinks

Our final stop for the day was the rooftop at the Circulo de Bellas Artes for dinner and drinks. They say that it’s one of the best rooftops in Madrid to get a 360 degree panoramic view of the city while sipping on delicious cocktails. Their drinks were really good and it was a perfect way to end our first day in Madrid.

DAY 2 in Madrid Itinerary

9:00 AM – Breakfast

On our second day, we decided to try the Hanso cafe for breakfast. I would definitely recommend this cafe because they have such nice ambience and their coffee tastes delicious. Their bakery is loaded with a variety of options to choose from but my usual favorite to go with my coffee is a nicely toasted butter croissant so that’s what I ordered and I was just so happy. A perfect way to start my day!

10:00 AM – The Prado Art Museum

If you’re an art lover then you’re in for a retreat! Even if you’re not an ardent art follower, this museum should still be on your bucket list. It is one of the most visited sites in the world. And the reason it is so famous is because it houses famous works from some of Spain’s best artists like Goya and Velázquez. This museum was established in the early 19th century to display a variety of art forms such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and documents. Among some of the most famous pieces in this museum are Goya’s black paintings, which I thought were quite unique and interesting.

The museum opens at 10 AM every day and here’s the link to buy the tickets. We also bought an audio guide because we really wanted to learn more about the history behind these famous artworks so I would highly recommend getting an audio guide. Since it’s a huge museum, if you don’t want to cover everything, an audio guide will help guide you to the most important pieces of work and will also give you a lot of context on them.

12:30 PM – EL Retiro Park in Madrid Itinerary

Beautiful and lush green public parks is one of the things that Madrid is best known for. So once you’re done with the museum, you can take a nice stroll through this huge park. It is spread across 300 acres and has a very similar vibe as the Central Park in New York City. There are monuments, fountains and themed gardens that you can explore and there’s also a beautiful artificial lake in the center that you can row a boat in if you’d like. We just strolled through the park and admired its beauty.

There is a Glass Palace in the park that should be on your list. It was built to be a greenhouse but now is also an exhibition space. We got lucky in that we were able to see the beautiful fall colors near the lake. If you go in the evenings, this place can get a bit chilly and windy during the winter months so plan to layer up.

1:30 PM – Calle de Alcalá and lunch

Calle de Alcalá is one of the longest and busiest streets in Madrid. If you truly want to soak in the vibe of this city, then you should walk around this street and just enjoy the surroundings. It’s mostly lined with banks, government offices, shops and restaurants so you can just walk around and admire the beautiful architecture of the buildings lined on this street. We stopped by for lunch here at Bumpgreen, which is another great plant-based restaurant.

3:00 PM – Plaza de España

After lunch, we made our way to the very famous Plaza de España which is another must-do in Madrid. This is another beautiful square in Madrid where you can walk around and admire the fountains. There is a huge monument in honor of Miguel de Cervantes in the center. During summers, it’s an even more lively place with pop-up food stalls. We hung out here and grabbed coffee before making our way to the next stop for sunset.

5:00 PM – Temple of Debod

Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain by the government of Egypt and it goes back to the 2nd century B.C. It’s adorned with beautiful gardens that you can walk around but most importantly, it’s one of the best sunset spots. When we went there, it was bustling with crowds. There were street performers and musicians playing around the crowd. It was a very lively atmosphere and everyone had gathered to watch the beautiful sunset. You can also get nice views of the city from the garden here. It’s free to access so make sure to add this to your list.

7:30 PM – Flamenco Show

When in Spain, you cannot miss watching a Flamenco show because it’s such a great way to witness the culture of this beautiful country. The colorful costumes, the tap dance, the rhythmic clapping and singing, and the music will surely captivate you. We booked our tickets through Get Your Guide and here’s the link. There are a few options to choose from for seating and we went for the General seating. There’s a bar inside the theater so you can buy drinks while enjoying the performance. The show usually lasts for an hour and I would highly recommend it.

9:00 PM – Dinner

After the amazing show, we went for dinner at this restaurant called Sanissimo which was a 10-minute walk from the theater. This is also a vegan place and their burrito wraps were delicious.

DAY 3 in Madrid Itinerary

Our third day in Madrid was all about exploring the town of Toledo. Toledo is a small town about an hour drive from Madrid and is very well known for its rich history. So we decided to visit and explore more of its history and culture.

Train to Toledo

You can either drive to Toledo if you have a car or can hire a taxi and it should take about an hour to reach. But an easier option is to just take the train which will take about 45 minutes. We took the train and here’s the link to book. The station at Madrid that you will need to take the train from is Puerta de Atocha. We grabbed a quick coffee in the morning and took a taxi to our station. The train station also has some nice cafes so if you want to get to the station early, you can just grab breakfast here. Our train was booked for 10 AM and we reached Toledo at 10:45 AM.

Mirador del Valle view point

From the Toledo train station, we took a taxi to go straight to our walking tour location. We had booked a free walking tour of about 2 hours that would take us to all the important points in Toledo and also give us more background and context of its history. Here’s the link to our walking tour. On our way to the tour location, our taxi driver stopped at a very famous view point called Mirador del Valle which gave us the most amazing views of the entire city nestled in the bend of the Tagus river. This viewpoint is a must so make sure to tell your taxi driver to stop here.

Walking Tour

We then made our way to the walking tour location and met our guide there. Our walking tour was really insightful as our tour guide Carmen was a local so she knew a lot about the history of some of the most important landmarks in Toledo such as the Toledo Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Magdalena square and much more. A fun fact – Toledo is nicknamed City of Three Cultures because the three cultures i.e. Muslims, Jews and Christians coexisted and their influence has been seen on the monuments here. This city is also famous for making bladed weapons. Our guide showed us some of the swords that have been used in the famous series Game of Thrones and also in movies like Lord of the Rings.

There are also Hop on hop off bus tours that can take you around the city but in my opinion, the walking tour is the best way to explore the city from up close and at your pace. One of the best parts for me of this tour was walking through the narrow winding alleys that gave a very Arabic feel because of the Muslim influence and history. Once you’re done with the tour, you can also visit some of these monuments from inside if you have the time. The walking tour is free but it’s a good idea to tip your guide once the tour is over and the optimum amount is between $10 – $15.

Lunch and Shopping

After our tour ended, we headed for lunch and our tour guide had suggested a nice vegetarian place called Madre Tierra. This place has a great selection of food and drinks and is a good try if you want vegetarian food. Another thing that you should try when in Toledo is their local sweet called Marzipan. Our guide told us about it and it’s a Spanish sweet dish but was invented by the Muslims so it looks and tastes very similar to Muslim sweet delicacies. This is only found in Toledo so make sure you try some before leaving the city.

After lunch, we just walked around the streets and explored some local shops before making our way back to the train station. If you’re interested in shopping here or just checking out the local boutiques, I would recommend checking out this very nice boutique called Koker. They have a very trendy and unique collection of clothes and I bought a few things from them.

Cocktails and Tapas in Madrid

We took a 4 PM train back to Madrid as we wanted to get back before sunset. We reached Madrid around 5 PM and made our way to the cocktail bar Salmon Guru. This is another famous cocktail bar which has a nicely curated menu of cocktails. They have a very intricate and extensive menu so I would highly recommend this if you enjoy cocktails.

And if you’re in the mood for some nice Tapas, you can check out the local fresh food market called Mercado San Miguel. There are a lot of local Spanish delicacies you can try here but if you’re a vegetarian your options will be limited. Nonetheless, this place is worth a visit.

DAY 4 in Madrid Itinerary

10:00 AM – Gran Via street

On our last day in Madrid, we decided to explore the beautiful street of Gran Via. This is one of the most bustling streets of Madrid and is lined with boutiques, retail shops, restaurants and cafes. You can easily spend 1-2 hours just walking around leisurely and soaking in the vibe of this city. We grabbed coffee here in the morning and then just walked around and stopped at some famous buildings like the Cervantes Institute building and the CentroCentro building. There were many tourists like us that were stopping and taking pictures of these beautiful buildings.

We also walked up to the Plaza de Cibeles which is a famous square with huge statues and fountains. You may have driven past it when going around the city because it is in the center of the city but you really need to stop and admire it up close. The fountain of Cibeles is an iconic symbol of Madrid.

12:00 PM – Reina Sofia Museum

This is another very famous museum in Madrid itinerary known for its contemporary art collection. Most of the art pieces here are from famous Spanish artists. This museum is famous mainly for housing Picasso’s famous work Guernica. If you have the time and are interested in art then this might be a good place. It’s free admission and here’s more details on hours of admission.

1:30 PM – Royal Botanic Gardens

These gardens are a very short walk from the Reina Sofia museum so once we were done with the museum, we decided to take a stroll through these gardens. These gardens are spread over 20 acres and were built in the 18th century. There are many outdoor sections and a few greenhouses. The lush green gardens are home to a variety of plants and trees that you can stop and admire. We loved strolling through the pathways and just admiring the different species. It’s a great way to spend some time in nature if you need a break.

2:30 PM – Lunch

We then made our way to lunch at a nice Indian restaurant called Curry Masala. If you like Indian food then this place is a good option for their choice of dishes, service and ambience. It was a good way for us to end our trip in Madrid.

6:00 PM – Train to Seville

After spending the most amazing 4 days in Madrid itinerary, it was now time to head to our next stop, Seville.

I really enjoyed my time in Madrid and it was such a fulfilling experience for me. As I mentioned, Madrid is a perfect blend of culture, architecture and food. So if you’re thinking of visiting Spain, I would highly recommend adding Madrid to your list. Hope you enjoyed this Madrid itinerary!

Leaving you with some more pictures from our last evening in Madrid.

Travel, UAE

4 Days in Dubai in April: The Perfect Itinerary For First Time Visitors

December 13, 2023 No Comments

If Dubai has been on your bucket list, then I would say that go ahead and do it! If the idea of a modern and futuristic city with a stunning cityscape, intricate architecture, iconic landmarks, beautiful culture, happening night life, world class dining and luxury shopping excites you, then Dubai is just the right place for you. It’s one thing to see and hear about the marvels this city has created but it’s a whole different thing to actually witness them in person. I think it would be an understatement to say that I was astonished at some of these marvels when I saw them for the first time.

My husband and I visited Dubai in April of 2022 and spent 4 days there. We also managed to squeeze in a day for Abu Dhabi in this 4-day trip. So if you’re able to plan for longer, I would say take more time with you because there is a lot to discover in and around the city. However, 4-5 days should also be fine and give you enough time to enjoy the best. So, this blog is going to cover some important travel tips and a 4-day travel itinerary for Dubai to help you plan your trip.

Before I jump into the Dubai itinerary, here are some important questions that I want to answer for you all as you plan your trip.

How to get to Dubai?

We were flying in from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi so it was a 3 hour flight for us to the Dubai International Airport (DXB). This airport is the major international hub for this city so I would recommend flying in here, even though there are other airports. Also, this airport is only about a 20-minute drive to Downtown so it would be easier and closer.

However, a good alternative could be to fly into Abu Dhabi and catch a bus or taxi from there to Dubai if the total cost of that comes out to be cheaper. Abu Dhabi is about a 90-minute drive to Dubai and it’s not very expensive. Besides, Abu Dhabi is also a great place to spend a day so you would also get to explore this city as well. So you could consider this option if it works out well for you.

What is the best time to go?

We visited in April and it was really hot. The weather was in the upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and it also crossed 100 degrees on some days. So, I would recommend planning in the winter months i.e. November through March. After March, the weather starts to peak and it can get super hot.

How to get around the city?

The best way to commute is by car. You can either go for a rental car and drive around on your own. For us, that wasn’t an option because we are used to the American style of driving and Dubai is totally different. Plus, the traffic can get crazy there because the streets are always busy. And, hiring a taxi was cheap and almost about the same price as it would have been to hire a rental car. So, we wanted to just have that convenience and enjoy our trip without worrying about driving through the traffic and finding parking everywhere.

So, I would recommend just getting taxis or Ubering if you’re only there for 3-4 days because it would not be so expensive. There is an abundance of taxis in the city so you would never run out of options.

Where to stay in Dubai?

If it’s your first time here, I bet you have all the top sights like Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah on your Dubai itinerary. And these top spots are not at a walkable distance from each other. The distance between these different places is enormous so I would suggest staying in the Downtown because that is kind of central to most of these places. Plus, you will get the whole experience of living in the Downtown which is one of the most bustling areas. However, if you really want a different experience, you could also stay at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina or Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). These are some of the best areas to stay in so check the hotels out here as well.

We stayed at the Gevora hotel which is a 4-star hotel located 10 minutes from Downtown Dubai. I would totally recommend this hotel because not only was it affordable given its location, but also beautiful and felt so luxurious. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable, and their staff is so friendly. They also have a very nice rooftop restaurant which gives you an amazing view of the Burj Khalifa. Plus, it is the tallest hotel in Dubai so if you get a room on one of their top floors, which is what we got, you get amazing views of the city.

How to dress in Dubai?

Given that it was my first time traveling to Dubai, I did have this question on my mind. I was unsure of how women dress in Dubai and what an appropriate dress code is. I did some research on this topic and found that Dubai is not as strict as some other Islamic cities. So, you can take all your dresses, skirts, shorts and whatever else you were planning on. If you’re going to be spending time in the tourist areas then it should be fine to dress the way you like. I saw many other tourists wearing skirts, shorts, short dresses and such. However, some places like Dubai Mall do have a dress code of not wearing anything revealing or skimpy. So keep that in mind and try to not dress up like that anywhere in Dubai. It’s better to err on the side of caution when visiting as a tourist.

How to pay in Dubai?

The currency of Dubai is Dirham so I would suggest taking some cash in the local currency to pay for taxis or any other local activities where you may need cash. However, for shopping, restaurants, and most places, credit cards are widely accepted so you should be fine using your cards. US Dollars are also widely accepted.

And now, here goes our 4-day Dubai itinerary. Enjoy!

DAY 1 – BURJ AL ARAB AND PALM JUMEIRAH

Burj Al Arab

We started our day with breakfast and the most stunning views at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel. This iconic hotel is the world’s only 7-star hotel. So if you’re in Dubai, you absolutely should not miss a tour of this luxurious hotel. Staying at this stunning hotel will definitely be an experience of a lifetime but will also strain your wallet. So if you want to skip the stay, you can still explore it as a visitor.

We explored this hotel by booking a breakfast at the Sahn Eddar Lobby Lounge. The lobby lounge provides stunning views of the gold interior of this hotel. So it’s a great way to not only explore the hotel from inside but also enjoy a very unique breakfast experience. Be sure to make an advance reservation as they don’t allow walk-ins. Also, this lounge has a minimum spend rule of AED 200 per person. I ordered their signature gold cappuccino which is a blend of premium coffee, fresh milk and fine 24 carat gold. And it’s served with Cru Guanaja chocolate marshmallows. It is a must try when you’re here.

They also offer a guided tour of the hotel which is a butler-guided session that gives you a peek into the hotel’s most expensive accommodation – the Royal Suite. You can also tour its atrium which is the tallest of its kind and the UMA lounge. This tour is also a great way to get a closer look into this hotel’s magnificent architecture. You can book it through here.

Ain Dubai

Our next stop was Ain Dubai. It’s a short drive from Burj Al Arab and takes you to one of Dubai’s most stunning waterfront neighborhoods called the Bluewaters Dubai. Ain Dubai is one of the world’s largest and tallest observation wheels. We didnt take a ride on this wheel but here’s a tour if you want to experience this ride. The cabins are fully enclosed and air conditioned so it should be a comfortable and scenic ride.

JBR

The Walk at the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) was our next activity. The beach here is one of the most popular and lively beaches I have been to. It also has a shopping and dining promenade that offers a great mix of upscale entertainment, leisure and hospitality. It’s packed with beach clubs where you can spend some time and sip on a few drinks while enjoying the views of the Arabian Gulf. We also walked along the wooden pier and just enjoyed the vibe.

From here, you can walk to the Dubai Marina, which is a great place to take a cruise from. The cruise is a great way to discover Dubai from a different angle so you can do this activity if you have the time. It also has a very lively scene in the evening with live music and street performances so you can stay back to watch the sunset and then enjoy the nightlife.

Burj Khalifa

After spending the first half of our day and having lunch at the Walk, we then made our way to the most awaited part of our trip – Burj Khalifa. The observation decks on the 124th and 125th floors will give you the most amazing views. And the best time to go on the deck is in the evening when you can catch the sunset and also see the whole city lit up. If you want to go to the observation deck then I would advise on making an advance reservation. Here’s a link to make online reservations in advance.

Dubai mall

Dubai mall is the world’s largest mall in terms of land area. You can shop here for literally anything. And even if you don’t plan to shop, this mall still has to be on your Dubai itinerary. There are some really cool corners to check out in the mall like the Waterfall Wall, which depicts human divers plunging gracefully into the pool of water at the bottom. The mall also has an aquarium and an underwater zoo in case you have time.

Most importantly, don’t miss the fountain show that happens outside the mall every night. The show happens every 30 minutes between 6pm to 11pm and is worth watching. The best time is usually when it gets dark because the tower lights up.

Palm Jumeirah

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai, I am sure Palm Jumeirah is on your itinerary because this is one of the most marvelous creations in Dubai. This artificial island built in the shape of a palm tree is a wonder to admire. It is lined with some of Dubai’s fanciest hotels, resorts, and restaurants. The best way to experience the beauty of Palm Jumeirah, according to me, is to view it from an observation deck. That way, you get to see this beautiful marvel from a top angle and you get a panoramic view.

We booked the tickets for The View at Palm Jumeirah, which is an observation deck on the 52nd level of the iconic Palm tower. And this observation deck provides amazing panoramic views of Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf. Here’s the link to book your tickets.

DAY 2 – DUBAI FRAME, OLD DUBAI AND DESERT SAFARI

Dubai Frame

We started our day with a nice coffee and breakfast at the Common Grounds Cafe located in the Dubai Hills Mall. This cafe is well known for its coffee and has an amazing avocado toast so I would definitely encourage you to try it out.

After breakfast, our first stop was the very famous Dubai Frame. The Dubai Frame is huge! You will be surprised to see that it looks so much taller than what you see in the pictures. It stands at a height of 150 meters, which is roughly about 45 to 50 floors. And it’s built in the shape of a beautiful picture frame, and hence the name. There are two ways to experience it – from the outside and from the inside.

From the outside, it’s free access and you can just walk around, marvel at this magnificent creation and take some pictures. If you want to go inside, there’s an admission fee which includes access to the top most floor from where you can get panoramic views of the most iconic landmarks in Dubai and the older parts of the city. Here’s their official website link if you want to buy the tickets. We just got the general access tickets without any add ons and the experience was worth it. The observation deck is lined with a strip of colorfully changing lighting that looks beautiful. If you have time, you should come back here after sunset because it lights up in the evenings and looks even more beautiful.

Old Dubai

While I was very interested in seeing all the modern and iconic landmarks this city has built, I also wanted to roam around the more traditional part of the city to understand the heritage. And the best neighborhood that will give you a very traditional feel is Al Bastakiya. Al Bastakiya was established in the 19th century and has a very Arabic feel to it. Here, you’ll see buildings made of stone, mud, teak and sandalwood. You’ll also walk across narrow winding alleys which are a signature style of Arab architecture.

We also stopped at the very famous restaurant in the area called Arabian Tea House. The outdoors and indoors of this restaurant are very beautifully built and it has a very nice ambience. The menu is extensive so you can order any kind of Arabic food. I also ordered Arabic tea from their wide range of teas.

Desert Safari

This part of the day was an adrenaline blast for us! Being in Dubai, how could we not experience the desert? So we booked a Desert Safari experience that included the dune bashing experience, camel riding, sand boarding, henna painting, dinner, shisha, fire and dance shows. This experience requires at least 5-6 hours so plan accordingly. And if you’re an adventure seeker, then you will love this experience.

Pickup from your hotel is included in this package. Our driver picked us up in the afternoon and there was one other group with us in our car. We headed straight to the desert and started with the dune bashing experience. It was a thrilling experience. My heart skipped a beat a few times when the car took those sharp and steep turns but that was the fun part of this whole experience. We were then taken to our camp where we had free time to take a camel ride and also do other activities like sand boarding.

After sunset, there were a couple of shows like the fire show and a dance show lined up. We had a nice dinner and shisha while watching the very talented performers. To sum up, it was a great experience overall and I would definitely recommend it. Here’s the link to our experience.

DAY 3 – ABU DHABI

On our third day, we made a day trip to Abu Dhabi. Because Abu Dhabi is a much smaller city compared to Dubai, there are fewer things to do and that’s why we decided to do it in a day. Its very easy to get to from Dubai by car and the ride from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is only 90 minutes. We didn’t want to drive, so we rented a car with a driver for the whole day. It wasn’t a very expensive option for us and was also much more convenient than driving on our own. But you can always drive on your own to get more flexibility. If it’s your first time, though, I would recommend hiring a car with a driver.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Our first stop was the spectacular and very famous Grand Mosque. This was one of the big reasons we decided to make a trip to Abu Dhabi. I have heard so much about the beauty and grandeur of this mosque that I really wanted to see for myself. And as expected, I was left speechless. I was in complete awe when I entered this magnificent mosque. Every element in the mosque such as the beautiful white marble, the solid gold chandeliers, the hand-knotted carpets and the intricately designed floor patterns are just stunning.

An important tip to prepare for your visit – Because this is a deeply religious place, you need to be modestly dressed. For women, they need to be wearing loose-fitted ankle length trousers and no shirts or skirts. Also, arms and head need to be covered. If you are not dressed appropriately, they will stop you at the entrance and have you go back. In case that happens to you, there are multiple shops outside the mosque from where you can rent or buy abayas or head scarves depending on what you’re wearing.

Allow at least 1-2 hours to tour the entire mosque as it’s huge and insanely beautiful. It’s surely one of the most Instagrammable places.

Emirates Palace

A short drive away from the mosque is the stunning Emirates Palace. It is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Unlike Burj Al Arab where you can only access it if you have a hotel or restaurant reservation, Emirates Palace is free to access even if you’re not a guest. So I would definitely recommend going inside and checking the stunning interior out. You can stroll through their beautiful lobby or you can even sit down for a coffee or a meal.

Ferrari World on Yas Island

If you’re an F1 fan like me and my husband, then you will want to add this to your itinerary. Ferrari World is mostly an indoor theme park and it is the first Ferrari themed park in the world. It has the fastest roller coaster. Unfortunately, when we visited their roller coaster was closed so we couldn’t enjoy it. So make sure you check if this ride is open before you visit. There are other rides and experiences as well such as go karting that you can enjoy. There are also many dining options both inside and outside the park. We stopped at an Indian restaurant called Rasoi Ghar and tried their Gujarati thali. If you like Gujarati or Rajasthani food, then you will like this restaurant.

The tickets to the Ferrari World can be purchased from their official website. We purchased the Single day ticket and general admission which was enough for us since we only planned to visit it in one day. Allow yourself at least 2-3 hours here to enjoy it completely.

DAY 4 – GOLD SOUK MARKET

Our fourth day in Dubai was a travel day as we were heading back to Delhi in the evening. So we had the first half of the day and we decided to check out the very famous Gold Souk market in Dubai. If you’re in the market to buy gold then you would know that Dubai is one of the best places in the world to buy gold. Dubai, is in fact, known as the “City of Gold” because of the favorable gold trading regulations. We also wanted to shop for some souvenirs and traditional Dubai sweets so we also decided to make a stop at a couple of other markets like the Dubai Spice Souk market and Old Textile Market. All of these markets are pretty close to each other and walkable. You can also try local delicacies here like shawarma, falafel, Arabic coffee and tea etc. while walking through the streets, you can also smell the mouth-watering herbs and spices. We bought some chocolates and local sweets from a few stores here.

And that was all as far as the Dubai itinerary goes. I hope you found it useful and will bookmark it for your Dubai trip. Thank you for reading!

Travel, United States

5 days in Alaska: An ultimate travel itinerary

October 16, 2023 No Comments

To me, Alaska was a place on the map that I studied about in my geography class when in school. I remember learning about how Alaska is close to the Arctic circle, has these magnificent glaciers and breathtaking Northern Lights. So you can tell that it was more of a distant dream for me to visit Alaska. And that dream came true in 2022 when my husband and I planned a trip here with our friends. We planned for 5 days in Alaska during the fall season and those 5 days in Alaska were the most unforgettable ones for me!

Because Alaska has a vast landscape, it will take at least a week to explore everything. But we could only plan 5 days in Alaska over the week before the Labor day weekend and that was also enough for us to cover most of the key spots. There is a lot to do if you’re visiting as a tourist such as Glacier landing, hiking, helicopter rides, wildlife watching, cruise and scenic drives. But if you plan well, you can do all of this in 5 days in Alaska. So in this blog, I will be sharing our itinerary for spending the best 5 days in Alaska that will help you plan a smooth trip.

But before I jump into the itinerary, here are some important travel tips to keep in mind if it’s your first time here.

How long do you need to visit Alaska?

In terms of the length of time needed to visit Alaska, as I mentioned, plan for at least a week if you can. If not, then with perfect planning you can do a lot in less than a week as well. Everyone travels differently so the things that we wanted to do may not necessarily be on your list. So depending on what you want out of this trip, you can always adjust the length of time.

What is the best time to 5 days in Alaska?

The best time to visit really depends on what you want to do here. Alaska has four seasons and each season has a lot to offer. If you visit in the summer, you will get warm and nice weather to do more outdoor activities. In Autumn, you get to see the beautiful fall colors and the tundra turning red and yellow. While in the shoulder season i.e. anytime after the first week of September, you will be able to see the Northern Lights. In the winter season, you will also be able to enjoy all the winter activities like skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing etc. We visited in the last week of August and we were lucky enough to get the best of both i.e. fall colors and Northern Lights. The weather was cold but not cold enough to stop us from doing things.

What to pack?

Because Alaska weather is very unpredictable and changes rapidly, I suggest packing layers no matter what weather you go in. Pack all your warm clothes such as trench coats, parka jackets, puffer jackets, snow boots, caps, gloves, socks, thermals etc. Also ensure to pack hiking boots, poles if you need, comfortable pairs of active wear, a backpack and rain gear like umbrellas and rain jackets. Keep bug spray and bear spray as well.

How much does it cost for 5 days in Alaska?

In terms of the cost, since we visited after the pandemic we had to pay more for everything from flights to hotels as the costs have gone up significantly. However, we took connecting flights and our flights from Atlanta to Fairbanks with one layover cost us $500 per person. As for the stay, because we were a group of four we decided to do Airbnbs everywhere because that was more comfortable and economical. Here’s the link to our beautiful airbnb in Anchorage and here’s the link for the one in Fairbanks. We had a great experience in both and it was affordable.

How to get around?

We took a car rental for the entire length of our trip to go around because that gave us much more flexibility and comfort. There’s public transport available as well but I’d recommend a car rental, even though it can be expensive. We had Seward, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks on our list so having a car was important. Driving around Alaska is fairly easy as the traffic is not that bad, even in the peak seasons.

What advance bookings do you need to make?

This will depend on what season you go in. Regardless, you will want to book your flights, hotels and car rentals a couple of months ahead to get cheaper deals, especially if you plan to go in the peak season. If Denali National Park is on your list, then you should also book the bus tour a couple of months in advance because this is a very popular tourist activity. We took the Tundra wilderness tour but there are a couple of other options as well to suit your needs. The Seward cruise, Matanuska Glacier Hike, Glacier Landing and the Anchorage Trolley Tour were a few other things we booked in advance. And if Northern Lights is also on your list and you prefer doing a tour rather than going on your own, then you may want to book this in advance as well.

And now, let me jump straight into our 5 days in Alaska itinerary. This itinerary covers a bunch of interesting activities such as hikes, glacier landing, helicopter tour, scenic drive, cruise, wildlife watching and Northern Lights. But you can always tweak it to your liking.

DAY 1 – EXPLORE ANCHORAGE

Breakfast at Black Cup Coffee

We started our Day 1 with a delicious coffee and breakfast at the Black Cup Coffee. I absolutely loved their ambience and the coffee was so good.

Flattop Mountain Trail

Our first stop was the Flattop Mountain Trail and this trail opens up to stunning panoramic views of the mountains. It’s a difficult trail and has some steep inclines so be prepared and take hiking poles with you if you need. The weather here changes rapidly so make sure to dress in layers because as you reach the top you will feel warmer. It takes roughly around 3-4 hours round trip, including stops in between and at the top. You will get beautiful views throughout the hike, but once you reach the top you will be amazed at the breathtaking views of Denali, the Aleutian Islands and Mount Mckinley so I’d totally recommend adding this to your itinerary if you have the time.

Beluga Point Site (Must Visit)

This point is known for spotting white whales swimming close to the shore. Although we weren’t able to see the whales, we were still able to enjoy the beautiful views. This point is on the Seward Highway and you will see a signboard on the right side of the road. They say that it’s a great spot to visit when there’s a high tide because the whales come closer to the shore and there’s a high chance of seeing them.

Virgin Creek Falls

This is on the Seward highway and is a fairly easy and short hike. So we took a quick stop here, walked a couple of minutes and reached the beautiful waterfall. The trail is rocky and can be slippery so make sure you wear sturdy shoes. Also, you’re in the rainforest so carry a rain jacket. Virgin Creek Falls is a great stop on the Seward Highway if you have the time.

Byron Glacier Trail

We continued to drive on the Seward Highway in the Turnagain Arm region to reach the Byron Glacier. The drive itself was very scenic and beautiful. Once we reached the Byron Glacier Trail site, we made our way to the trailhead which is a few hundred meters from the Begich Boggs Visitor Center. The trail opens up to amazing views of the Byron Glacier. It takes about 30 minutes one way and is worth a visit if you have the time.

Visit Point Woronzof Park

After the Byron Glacier Trail, we made our way back to the town of Anchorage. We had plans to explore the downtown and take the trolley bus tour but before that we decided to stop at the Point Woronzof Park. It’s a great place to watch the sunset and wildlife.

Anchorage Trolley Tour

The Anchorage Trolley Deluxe city tour is a great way to explore Anchorage and learn more about its history. It’s a 90-minute guided tour that stops at the iconic locations like Earthquake Park, Lake Hood and Westchester Lagoon. We were also able to see an aircraft cross the road right in front of us. And we also learnt a lot about Alaska’s rich history. There are different types of tours so you can check the official website for more details.

Visit Anchorage Market

Our last stop for the day was the famous Anchorage market. It’s a popular thing to do and is located at the Diamond Center Mall on 88th Avenue. It runs from mid-May to mid-September and is open from Friday through Sunday. And it’s free to get in so I’d definitely recommend checking this quirky market out.

Dinner at 49th State Brewing

We ended our first day with an amazing craft beer and delicious food at 49th State Brewing.

DAY 2 – SEWARD CRUISE AND AERIAL TRAM

Seward Cruise

We planned the first half of our second day for a cruise of the Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the top tourist activities because it takes you up and close to the glaciers and you can actually see the glaciers calving right in front of your eyes. We took the 8-hour cruise option and booked it through Viator. And if you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see the sea animals. However, since this is going be a long ride, here’s a few tips to help you plan this better,

If you have sea sickness then be sure to take a pill before you hop on the cruise. However, on the cruise they will show you the best places to avoid sea sickness and they usually also offer ginger ale or candy to help you feel better but always be prepared.
You can pack some food or snacks for the cruise if you’d like. Although you will get a lunch buffet on the cruise that will be included in your package, if you’d prefer to carry your own food just in case then feel free to do that. Especially, if you’re a vegetarian as that might limit your options. Be sure to submit your lunch selection in advance.
Dress in layers because it will be a bit chilly on the cruise throughout the day. So be sure to wear a parka jacket or trench coat, gloves, cap, a thermal inside and boots. Also carry a rain jacket.
Make sure you go on a sunny day and not when it’s raining or cloudy. The beautiful colors of the water and the glacier views are best when it’s sunny and bright.

This cruise is an amazing way to witness the beautiful green blue color of the water, sea animals like Orcas and the stunning glaciers. And the nice part was that it actually stops for 20 minutes in front of the Holgate Glacier to give you ample time to soak in the view and take pictures. So I would highly recommend adding this 7.5 hours tour to your itinerary.

Alyeska Aerial Tram

The second half of our day was planned for the Alyeska Aerial Tram which is a great scenic ride to the top of Mt Alyeska. It’s a 4-7 minute ride up to the top. We were treated to the most amazing views of the surrounding glaciers and the Turnagain Arm. There are a couple of hikes from here that can take you to more breathtaking views and we did a mini hike to get better views of the glaciers. The entire trip will take you around 1-2 hours if you plan to take a shorter hike and hang out at the top.

Since we had an early morning and a super long day, we decided to not pack the day with a lot of things to do and ended it early with a nice dinner back in the Anchorage downtown.

DAY 3 – MATANUSKA AND KNIK GLACIERS

Matanuska Glacier hike

Day 3 was the most exciting day for me because it was all about glacier exploration. The first stop for the day was the very famous Matanuska Glacier. Matanuska is Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier and is located about two hours north of Anchorage. We decided to hike this glacier which was the best way to experience it up and close. But because it was our first time hiking a glacier, we decided to take a guided tour. We booked our tour through here and it was a great experience.

And here’s a few tips to help you plan this day better,

As with other days, you need to dress in layers on this day as well and this day is mostly going to be very cold since you’ll be walking on the glacier. So make sure to really dress appropriately to be able to embrace the cold. Also check the weather before you go, for a chance of rain.
Make sure to wear snow boots with a strong grip. Although you will be getting microspikes, helmets and poles from the tour guide, it’s important to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes or boots that are also waterproof. I got my snow boots from Timberland and wore them literally every day. They have a thermal padding inside and are waterproof so worth the investment.
This tour doesn’t provide food so make sure to carry your own food or snacks and some water.
Take an empty water bottle to fill water from the glacier. Glacier water is so pure and refreshing.
Take an extra pair of socks because your feet can get wet while hiking on the glacier so plan accordingly.
Stay with your tour guide and your group and don’t try to wander off on your own.
Also, there are a lot of small water pools on the glacier so be mindful to not step into them as they can run very deep.

This hike was one of the most unique and beautiful experiences for me because I haven’t experienced a glacier from so close before. I was able to see small meltwater pools, ice caves and beautiful ice formations. This is a must-do activity in Alaska so it has to be on your itinerary.

Knik Glacier Landing

One of the most exciting experiences you can get in Alaska is Flightseeing. This experience is not just about sightseeing but also about access. There are some glaciers in Alaska, including the Knik Glacier, that are not accessible by land. So we took a helicopter to land on the Knik Glacier, which was one of our best experiences.

We booked our ride for the morning and the helicopter ride was around 30 minutes. We flew over the Knik river and the mountains and it was a beautiful site. Even though I am scared of heights, I totally forgot about my fear because the views were just so incredible. Once we got closer to the glacier, we saw pieces of ice floating in the river – such an amazing view!

The aerial view of the glacier was just stunning. Once we landed we were able to walk around on the glacier and we got around 30 minutes to spend on the glacier. Follow the same tips as for Matanuska Glacier to get the most out of this experience.

One of the most beautiful things we saw when we were here was the melt pools. Melt pools are basically glacial ice that has liquified in the sunlight and warm temperatures. What makes it so beautiful is the pretty blue color of the water. We also explored some glacier formations such as ice caves and ice walls which was equally amazing because we’ve never come across glacier formations before. So, overall it was an experience that I would totally recommend adding to your list.

Visit Hatcher Pass

After having explored two beautiful glaciers, we then made our way to the final stop for the day i.e. Hatcher Pass. This is a stunning scenic route in the Talkeetna Mountains. If you’re driving from Anchorage, just take the Glenn highway and then turn into the Hatcher Pass road, which is a very scenic road leading up to the pass. Once you’re here, one great way to explore the area is through the trails. We took the Gold Cord Lake Trail which is a very easy 1 mile trail that offers amazing views. The hike opens up to a lake and also offers an amazing view of the valley. It’s a great way to explore the pass and if you go during September, you will be able to see the beautiful red and yellow colors of the tundra here.

DAY 4 – DENALI NATIONAL PARK

Denali Bus Tour

Day 4 was all about exploring the Denali National Park. We drove from Anchorage to Denali, and the entire drive was like a beautiful scenery. And because it was the beginning of the fall season, through our drive we saw beautiful fall colors of the tundra. Denali is 6 million acres huge and has the highest mountain peak in North America. Wow!

It’s only open from May-September so it’s a short window to access the park. I would highly recommend planning to visit Alaska when Denali is open because you don’t want to miss it. And if you’re planning to visit, an important thing to note is that only the first 15 miles in the park are open to public cars. After that, you can either hike, bike or take the bus. The shuttle bus is more like a hop-on-hop-off service which stops at a few important points through the park. Its also a guided tour so it was very informative and we learnt a lot about the history of the park. Our driver was also very experienced so he knew exactly the spots where bears frequented through the day. So, because of him we were actually able to spot a grizzly bear, moose and caribou.

The bus ride is typically 5-6 hours and can be more depending on which company you book with. Our ride was around the same time but we had a lot of fun exploring everything at its own pace and enjoying the beautiful landscapes. Each stop was about 15-20 minutes so it gave us ample time to explore and take some pictures. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and it didn’t feel tiring at all. Here’s the link to book the bus tour experience in Denali.

Mount Healy Hike

The Mount Healy hike is not the easiest one but it is the most rewarding one. The views from the top are breathtaking. More so for us because we went in the fall season. The beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red made it a more beautiful sight as we climbed to the top.

The trail is about 2.7 miles one way and takes about 2 hours to get to the top. The initial part of the trail is not as steep and goes through the forest. Almost around the halfway point, it opens to a very nice overlook and some benches.

This overlook also offers amazing views so if you’re feeling tired and don’t want to continue, you can head back from here. But if you can push yourself a bit more, I would suggest going to the top because the panoramic views will be so worth it.

It’s this last half part of the trail that gets steep and challenging. When you get to the top, the weather can be very windy and chilly so as always, dress in layers and appropriately. And because you will be passing through the forest in your first half, it’s important to carry bear spray because some parts of the trail are frequented by bears during some specific times of the day in 5 days in Alaska. It’s nothing to be scared of as long as you’re in a group or carry a spray, but it’s important to be aware of.

To access this trail, from the Denali Visitor Center hike about half a mile on the Taiga Trail, until you reach a trail junction with the start of the Mount Healy Trail. This trail is one-way, so your return is the way you came. As I said, this is one of the most challenging hikes in Denali but if I had to recommend one hike it would be this one because it has the most amazing views I have ever seen.

DAY 5 – FAIRBANKS

We started our last day in Alaska with a nice breakfast at The Crepery. They have a great menu and everything tasted so well.

Fairbanks Ice Museum

We then made our way to the Fairbanks Ice Museum. As the name says it all, this museum has an exhibition of beautiful ice sculptures so it’s worth a stop. It’s open from May through September so be sure to check the schedule.

Table Top Mountain Hike

If you’re in the mood for a hike, then the Table Top Mountain Hike is an easy 3-mile trail that provides beautiful panoramic views of the White Mountains so you can spend some time here and soak in the landscape. It is also considered one of the most scenic drives in this area.

Chena Hot Springs

This is a very popular activity in Fairbanks and doesn’t matter what weather you go in. It still feels nice to soak into the hot water. Here’s the link to get more details on this activity.

Northern Lights

I am sure that Northern Lights is on your Alaska bucket list if you’re planning a trip here. From my research I had found that the Aurora is only visible between August to April so you would want to plan in these months if you want a chance to see the beautiful Aurora. For more information on real time status, you can visit this link. This tracker was very helpful for us. If the sky is cloudy or rainy, you won’t be able to see the lights. So plan for a night when the sky is clear. Also, Fairbanks is the best place for Aurora viewing. And even if the skies are clear and predicted activity is high, there may still be a chance that you may not be able to see it. So, I would suggest allowing at least 2-3 nights in a row to have a higher chance.

There are many great spots from where you can see the Aurora that are listed here. So depending on where you are on that day, you can decide which spot is the closest and most convenient for you. Since we stayed in Fairbanks on our last day in our 5 days in Alaska, we went to Murphy Dome around 2am in the night and it was a 40-minute drive for us. Note that the drive from Fairbanks to Murphy Dome is packed with dirt and gravel towards the last few miles. And because you will be driving at night, you want to make sure the car is prepared to handle that so that you don’t have to stop midway.

On the night we went on, the activity wasn’t very high because we got cloudy skies so we weren’t able to see the Northern Lights very clearly. It mostly looked gray to us but surprisingly our phone cameras were able to capture it very well as in the picture below. If you want to get great pictures, you can always download a night photography app to capture the beautiful colors.

Northern Aurora

Also, try to find the darkest place so that the colors get captured perfectly. But I would say, don’t stress too much over the photos because it’s more important to enjoy the experience. Also, allow at least an hour to spot the Aurora. Sometimes, it can even take a few hours to get a really good glimpse. So even though I wasn’t able to see the full spectrum, it was still a memorable experience to take back with me.

And that’s all as far as the itinerary goes. No matter how long you plan for, Alaska will always have so much to offer that you’ll feel like coming back. Every season here is beautiful and its landscapes are just incredible. So I wish you a great trip whenever you plan. And hope this itinerary for spending 5 days in Alaska will be useful in your planning process.

Canada, Travel

4 days in Banff: Ultimate Itinerary to see the Canadian Rockies

September 18, 2023 1 Comment

The Banff National Park is one of the best ways to experience the Canadian Rockies and is well known for its beauty. If you live on this side of the world, I am sure Banff needs no mention and is on your bucket list. The two things that Banff is famous for are – beautiful turquoise lakes and glaciated mountains. Banff Itinerary is the oldest national park in Canada, the second oldest in the US and the third oldest in the world. So you can imagine the rich natural history it has to offer.

We visited Banff over the Labor Day weekend in September and the weather was just perfect. I was stunned by the beautiful turquoise color of the lakes and it felt so unreal. These lakes are fed by the glaciers which is what makes this color so blue. I visited some of the best lakes I have ever seen in Banff Itinerary such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake and Emerald Lake. We planned our trip for 4 days in Banff and while that was a short time, it was enough for us to witness the beauty of this place. For me, this was one of the best and most memorable national parks I have visited so far!

So, in this blog I’ll share an itinerary for spending 4 days in Banff Itinerary to help you get the most out of your trip. However, before jumping into the itinerary I’d like to share some very helpful and important tips that can help you be better prepared.

Do you need the Canada Park Pass and how to get it?

Yes, if you’re planning to stop at any scenic viewpoints in the National Parks of Canada (including Banff) then you need a pass. If you plan to just drive through the Trans-Canada highway then you don’t need one but to access any of the national parks in Canada such as Banff Itinerary and Yoho, you need to have a valid pass. There’s two ways to buy it i.e. online and onsite. If you purchase it online, then it can take up to 2 weeks to reach your mail so if you’re less than a month out from your trip then don’t buy online. You can always go and buy it onsite. There are some specific locations in the park where you can buy the pass so check the official park website for more details.

Here’s the link to purchase the pass online. There are mainly two types of passes – Day pass (for a short period of time) and Discovery pass (valid for a year). Discovery pass is best if you would be coming back within the next 1 year from purchasing the pass to visit other national parks included in the pass. However, Day pass is cheaper if this is your only trip to the national parks in Canada that are included in the pass.

However, if you rent a car with Turo or a similar car rental company, then check with them if they can give you the pass on discount. In most cases, the car owners will own the pass so you can just buy it from them along with the car rental and save yourselves the hassle of buying it online or onsite. We got it 50% cheaper with Turo.

How to go around?

We rented our car from Turo as we felt that would be the most comfortable way to get around and also the most flexible. However, there’s also public transport that runs in the park if you don’t want to drive. For example, if you have Cascade Ponds, Johnson Lake, Two Jack Lakeside Campground, Two Jack Main Campground, Lake Minnewanka Lookout, and Lake Minnewanka on your itinerary, you can take route 6 bus.

Roam Transit runs bus service to Lake Minnewanka in the summer months as well. Route 6 leaves downtown Banff Itinerary every 30 minutes and takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the lake. This service operates 7 days a week, and the first bus departs at 8AM each morning.The cost is $2 for adults and $1 for Seniors/Youth. Strollers and crated pets are allowed on board. All Roam buses are wheelchair accessible. So buses can be a good option but having a car will give you a lot more flexibility and driving in Canada is exactly like in the US so I would recommend renting a car.

What to pack?

Bear spray
Bug spray
Hike shoes, socks and backpack
Jackets
Hike poles if needed
Rain jackets
Umbrellas
Sunscreen
Hats/Caps

Best time to go?

The lakes in the park usually start thawing around June so the best time to go is between July through September. After September, the weather starts getting chilly and the lakes start freezing. So if you really want to experience the natural beauty of the lakes and do more outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, then I’d recommend going in summer. But keep in mind that if you go in summer you’re very likely to experience crowds everywhere. And that means you will need to make advance reservations wherever possible and start your day early to skip the waiting lines.

How many days are enough for Banff Itinerary?

Although we went for only 4 days, I would totally recommend planning at least a week in Banff Itinerary. That’s because there’s just so much to do that you’ll need that much time. There are a lot of beautiful lakes that you can explore through hiking, camping and kayaking. There’s also a few beautiful scenic drives and glacier based activities. Apart from that, the Banff Itinerary downtown is worth spending a good amount of time in for its vibe, food and shopping. And finally, apart from Banff there are a few other national parks worth checking out such as Yoho and Jasper. Given that there’s just so much to do, you should plan accordingly.

Do you need travel insurance?

Not really. We didn’t get one as we didn’t feel the need for it. And it’s not mandatory by the Park services and no one really checks. So it’s ok to not have travel insurance, unless you’d be doing a lot of outdoor activities and don’t want to risk not having one.

What is the best way to get to Banff?

If you’re going to be flying in from the US like we did, the closest airport to Banff Itinerary is the Calgary International Airport (YYC). This airport is about 45 minutes drive from Banff downtown and an hour and half drive from the national park. So we flew in the night before and spent the night in Calgary before heading to Banff the next morning.

Where to eat in Banff Itinerary?

For coffee and breakfast, I’d recommend trying out the Whitebark cafe. Their coffee is amazing and they also have a great menu of bakery items that keeps rotating daily.
For food, we mostly tried Indian restaurants and my top recommendations are the Saffron Indian and Masala Banff. We also tried a burger place called The Eddie Burger which was really good.

And now here goes the itinerary for spending the best 4 days in Banff.

DAY 1 – YOHO NATIONAL PARK

Day 1 in Banff was all about exploring the Yoho National Park. The access to this park is covered in the Parks Pass that you’ll need to purchase beforehand.

Emerald Lake

Our first stop was the stunning Emerald Lake, which is the largest lake in Yoho National Park. The lake is beautiful with its turquoise-colored waters and it makes for a breathtaking sight. It’s a very picturesque lake that also makes for a great photo spot. You can either enjoy the lake from the Emerald Lake Lodge, from where you will get amazing views of the lake. Or you can take the lakeside trail, which is a 3.5 mile round trip trail that takes you around the entire lake. On our way to the trail, we heard that some people spotted moose on their way. So, if you’re lucky you may also be able to spot wildlife on this trail. Although we weren’t so lucky.

This lake also makes for a great canoe or kayak spot so if you don’t feel like hiking, then you can always enjoy the lake through kayaking. We saw many people doing it when we were here and it’s a popular activity in this lake.

Takakkaw Falls

These are one of the largest falls in the Banff Itinerary region, at a height of 833 feet. They’re the second tallest waterfall in Canada. There is no hike involved to get to these falls. Once you’ve parked in the parking lot, it’s an easy 20-30 minutes walk to get to the falls. I was left awestruck the minute I saw these falls. They’re massive and you can literally hear the roar of the falls as you get closer. You can walk up as close to the falls as possible and see them from up close. It gets colder as you walk towards the falls, so make sure you have a jacket on.

DAY 2 – ICEFIELDS PARKWAY AND JASPER NATIONAL PARK

This day was about driving through the very scenic Icefield Parkway. It’s a scenic drive between Lake Louise and Jasper. It takes about 3 hours if there are no stops on the way but I highly recommend stopping because there are many beautiful spots along this drive. It can take up almost all of your day if you’re going to be coming back to Banff Itinerary after driving through this parkway, which is what we did. However, if you have the town of Jasper on your itinerary then you can just drive one way from Banff to Jasper and spend the night in Jasper.

It’s completely free to drive through the parkway but because you will be driving through the two parks i.e. Banff Itinerary and Jasper National Parks, you will need the Parks Canada Pass.

There aren’t many gas stations on the Icefields Parkway, so you will really have to plan accordingly.

If you’re coming from Lake Louise you should fill up at the village before getting on the Icefields Parkway and there’s a nice Petro Canada with snacks. We filled up gas before heading out from Banff town and we also packed lunch and snacks for the way. Also, we didn’t get much of a cell phone signal on the Icefields Parkway so we downloaded offline google maps and any other information we needed before heading on the parkway. As far as restaurants go, there aren’t many along the Icefields Parkway.

Here’s all the spots on the parkway where we stopped and I would recommend adding them all to your itinerary.

Herbert Lake

This is the very first stop you’ll come across on the left-side of the parkway as soon as you cross the park gates. It’s literally off the side of the road so there’s no hiking involved to get here. It’s a beautiful lake and offers amazing views of Mount Temple.

Hector Lake

This was our second stop on the parkway and we saw this lake from a pullover point as we didn’t want to hike. From this point, the colors of the lake were stunning. However, there’s also a trail that takes you closer to the lake if you’d prefer that.

Bow Lake

Bow lake is another stunning lake because of its beautiful aquamarine color. This lake is one of the largest in the park and offers beautiful views of the mountains in the background. We spent some time on the pull-off point on the side of the road which offered amazing views of the lake. And then we drove up to the Num Ti Jah Lodge from where we got closer access and better views of the lake. The cafe here offers beverages and bakery items so you can take a break and soak in the views of the lake while sipping on your hot tea.

Peyto Lake

As I said earlier, this lake was one of my most favorite lakes in Banff Itinerary. The colors are just beyond real and I couldn’t believe my eyes! It’s the third most popular lake after Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and I can see why. I don’t think there’s a way to access the lake from a closer point. The only way to see it is through a scenic viewpoint which is a short walk from the parking lot. So once you’ve parked, you can keep walking towards the signs to the lake and it will lead you to a scenic lookout point from where you can see this stunning lake. It was a jaw-dropping moment for me!

Mistaya Canyon

This one is also a popular spot and to reach here, you will have to hike a 0.5 km short trail to a well-maintained fenced bridge. The sight of the powerful gush of water cutting through the rocks is just beholding.

The Weeping Wall Viewpoint

This is just a set of cliffs that will come on your right as you drive through the parkway. It can be seen from the side of the road. It has its name because the water flowing down in a series of waterfalls gives the impression of weeping. The biggest of which is called ‘Teardrop’.

Athabasca Glacier

From this point onwards, you’re in Jasper National Park. The scenery will change a lot as you enter the park because you’ll now be driving among the glaciers. It’s an impressive sight to watch the glaciers from so close. There are glacier walking tours that take you on the glacier but since we had our Icefield Skywalk tour booked, we skipped the glacier walking experience.

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

This was our second last stop for the day and I was really looking forward to this experience. An important thing to note is that there is no parking on the skywalk location so don’t drive all the way up to the skywalk. The car will need to be parked at the Glacier Discovery Center which is a little before the skywalk deck. And from here, you will then board a bus that will bring you to the skywalk. The skywalk deck is a glass bottomed bridge that extends out from a cliff edge and has a height of 300 meters from the valley floor. It was a scary experience for me walking on the glass deck at first because its so high up.

But as you look down through this glass floor, the views of the glaciers are just magnificent. There’s also a waterfall in the distance and the panoramic views of the glaciers make it worth the experience. I would highly recommend booking your spot online in advance because it can get very busy during summer months.

Columbia Skywalk - Day 2 of the 4 days in Banff

Sunwapta Falls

If you have some time left and are not too tired, I’d recommend continuing your drive towards Jasper and stopping at the Sunwapta Falls. There’s two falls here – Lower and Upper and both are equally stunning. The Upper one can be accessed through a hike but it’s an amazing experience.

DAY 3 – BANFF ITINERARY NATIONAL PARK

This was the day that I was looking forward to the most because we had Lake Louise and Moraine lake as part of our itinerary for this day, which are two of the best lakes in the park.

Lake Louise – Shuttle Reservation

Lake Louise is the best lake in Banff for the same reasons as others i.e. stunning blue water and amazing views of the mountains. Because it’s the top tourist destination in Banff Itinerary, it naturally gets very busy so I highly recommend coming here as early as possible. There are many ways of exploring the lake and the two ways we chose to explore it were through hiking and kayaking. Although we had a car, I had read in many blogs that the parking lots in the lake fill up very fast and usually by 9AM the lots are full. So, we didn’t want to risk not getting a parking spot and we decided to take the park shuttle.

There are two reservation types for the park shuttle – regular and last-minute. Both are reserved online through this link but the difference is that if you want a regular parking spot, you need to make a reservation way in advance i.e. 2-3 months from your trip date. However, if you couldn’t make that for some reason, you also have last minute shuttle reservations spots left. But these open only 48 hours before your trip date around 10AM EDT and they get filled up within 5-10 minutes of opening. So be very fast with these bookings and make sure you’re able to book right at 10 AM EDT to ensure you seats in the shuttle.

Another important tip

One tip from our personal experience is that they may say the parking spots in the lake are full but that may not always be the case. So, if you really want to try your luck you can take your car to the parking lot of the lake and even if they say it’s full, you can try to find a spot. You might get lucky if there’s 1 or 2 spots still open. To board the shuttle, you will need to park your car at the Lake Louise ski resort from where you can take the shuttle to and fro from the lake.

Another important tip – If you book Lake Louise shuttle, it will take you straight to Lake Louise but as long as you have these tickets, you can use the Lake Connector shuttles to go to Moraine Lake. So one shuttle ticket can give you access to two lakes. And this shuttle ticket is a round trip so it can take you back from either of the lakes to the parking lot where you parked.

Lake Louise – Hikes

There are many hikes at the lake like Lake Agnes Tea House, little beehive, big beehive and Plain of six glaciers. We only did the Lake Agnes Tea House hike because we didn’t have more time but I would suggest also adding little and big beehive hikes to your itinerary because the views are so rewarding.

The Lake Agnes Tea House hike is a very popular one. I would say it’s a moderate hike and definitely not easy. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the tea house and it took us through the forests. There were 1-2 viewpoints on the way from where you can see a top view of the lake and the colors were gorgeous. The hike starts from the lakeside trail and you can just keep following the signs that will lead you on this trail.

Once you’ve reached up here, you will be able to see the beautiful Lake Agnes and the tea house. The tea house is very old and dates back to 1905. We spent around 1-2 hours up here soaking in the views of the lake and the mountains around. We also had our lunch here before heading down. You can either buy food from the tea house or bring your own. The tea house has a great menu including hot beverages, sandwiches and desserts but it always has a long wait of at least 1 hour so plan accordingly if you want to dine at the tea house.

If you have the time and energy, you can make your way to the little and big beehive hikes as I have heard the top views from here are just incredible.

Lake Louise – Kayaking

Another activity we did in Lake Louise was kayaking which we did early in the morning to save ourselves from standing in the lines. Here’s a complete guide on how to plan this activity and things to keep in mind so I recommend going through it.

Lake Louise - Day 3 of the 4 days in Banff

Moraine Lake

The next stop after coming back from the Lake Agnes Tea House hike was Moraine Lake. We took the connector shuttle near the parking lot and reached Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake is equally stunning and has beautiful glacier fed blue-green water. The two hikes I would recommend here are the lakeside shore trail and the Rockpile trail. While the lakeside shore trail will take you along the shore of the lake from where you can access it more closely, the Rockpile hike is a series of steps that will give you top views of the lake. This hike is not difficult and offers stunning top views of the lake. We spent around 1-2 hours at Moraine Lake before heading back to our car parking.

Bow Valley Parkway

Our last plan for the day was to drive through the scenic Bow valley parkway. This parkway also has a few scenic lookout points that are worth stopping at. The bow valley parkway takes you back to the Banff Itinerary downtown from Lake Louise. The whole drive is about an hour long but if you plan to stop at scenic points on the way it can be longer.

Also note – Parks Canada has approved a three-year pilot that restricts vehicles every day from 8am to 8pm from May 1 to June 25, 2023 and from September 1-October 1st, 2023 only along the eastern 17-kilometer section of the parkway to allow for vehicle-free cycling. This closure is between the Fireside Day-use Area and Johnston Canyon. So if you would like to go to Johnston Canyon during this time it’s recommended to cycle in (make sure to bring a bike lock!). Your other alternative is to access Johnston Canyon via the Castle Junction exit.

Here are some points that are worth stopping at on the Bow Valley Parkway,

Morant’s curve – Apparently, this is the most photographed spot in the Rockies and it overlooks a train track and an epic valley. The best sight is when the train is passing along the river, with mountains in the backdrop.
Storm Mountain Lookout
Castle Cliffs lookout – Offers amazing views of the Castle Cliffs
Castle Mountain Lookout trail – It’s a 4.5 miles round trip trail that offers stunning views of the Castle mountain
Moose Meadows – If you’re lucky you might be able to spot a moose here
Johnston Canyon – This is a very famous stop on the Bow parkway. There are two falls here – lower and upper. The lower one is a short 1.1 km hike so it took us around 30 minutes to get to this point. The hike opens up to a bridge that is a great view point to see the lower part of the falls. If you want to go to the upper part, the hike will continue for another 1.7 km and get steeper. We didn’t go to the upper falls because we didn’t have a lot of time to hike up and back. But the views were equally amazing from the lower side.
Vermilion Lake viewpoint – Catch the sunset here

Johnston Canyon - Day 3 of the 4 days in Banff — *Johnston Canyon – Lower falls*

One tip on visiting Bow Valley parkway – I would recommend doing this drive in the morning on your way to Lake Louise. This is because the sun will be on the opposite side to the look out points so you will be able to see the mountains more clearly. By evening, the sun comes behind the mountains so it can be a little hazy.

DAY 4 – BANFF ITINERARY DOWNTOWN AND LAKE MINNEWANKA

Banff Itinerary Downtown

We spent our last day here exploring the downtown. The first half of the day was just about grabbing coffee, walking around downtown, shopping and having lunch. We shopped for a few souvenirs and its here that I came across this amazing boutique called House of Angelica. Their collection is so chic and it’s mainly imported from Italy and Australia. So if you’re in the downtown and have some time, I’d suggest stopping here.

For lunch, we stopped at this really nice burger place called Eddie Burger. Their black bean burgers were delicious. We also tried the local Canadian beer.

We also stopped at the Cascade of time gardens which was a beautiful sight. There were so many species of plants and so many beautiful flowers that it was just so beautiful to watch.

Banff downtown- Day 4 of the 4 days in Banff — Banff downtown

Cascade of time gardens- Day 4 of the 4 days in Banff — Banff downtown

Two Jack Lake

This lake is much smaller than others but it’s equally beautiful. It offers a stunning view of Mount Rundle in the background. There’s also a hike along the shores if you really wanted to get more incredible views of this lake.

Lake Minnewanka

This is an artificial lake and the second largest in the national parks in the Rockies. This lake is really enormous and is very beautiful. This has to be on your itinerary because its equally stunning when compared with the other top lakes. Like all other lakes, there are many ways to explore this one. You can either hike up through the different trails here or explore through the Lake Minnewanka Cruise option which is an hour-long scenic boat ride that goes around the lake.

If you don’t want to do the cruise, you can also kayak or canoe here but keep in mind that if this is your first kayaking experience, it might be better to do it in the other lakes like Lake Louise or Moraine Lake that are relatively smaller and easier to navigate through. This lake is really huge so it can be difficult to row if it gets too windy.

Lake Minnewanka - Day 4 of the 4 days in Banff — *Lake Minnewanka*

Cascade Ponds

Our second last stop for the day was the beautiful Cascade ponds. This is quieter than other spots and makes for a great picnic spot overlooking the Cascade mountain. We just walked around the side of the ponds and stopped at a picturesque bridge that crosses the ponds. This was a very surreal and beautiful spot to sit in peace and soak in the view of the mountains.

Norquay Lookout

How could we end our trip without catching a sunset? So our last stop was this lookout point which makes for an amazing sunset point. From the parking lot, it’s an easy walk and leads up to the lookout point overlooking Banff. It was one of our most memorable sunset experiences.

And that’s all for this itinerary! I really hope this itinerary is able to help you better prepare for your Banff trip. I cannot explain in words how I feel about Banff Itinerary because its beauty is just incredible. So, I really wish you all get a chance to visit and have the best time here. Thanks for reading this blog!

Here’s another important planning guide if you are planning to canoe at the Lake Louise.

Switzerland, Travel

4 days in Switzerland – The best travel itinerary

September 17, 2023 2 Comments

Hello, hello!! I am back with yet another travel itinerary. Only this time it’s on a destination so magical that I never thought could have existed. Yep, I am talking about Switzerland. With its beautiful old towns, absolutely stunning nature, world-famous chocolates and a deep history, this country is well suited for all types of travelers. This mountainous country is, undoubtedly, one of Europe’s most beautiful countries and I feel so lucky to have gotten a chance to visit it.

My husband and I visited Switzerland in the first week of July and fell absolutely in love with it. Although we were only there for four days, I think it was enough time to experience the most beautiful parts of this country. So, here I’ll share our 4-day itinerary for Switzerland to help you get the most out of your trip. Prepare to fall in love with this beautiful country and enjoy your 4 days here!

Before I jump into the full 4-day itinerary, here are some important tips to ensure you have a smooth trip.

How many days are enough in Switzerland?

Switzerland may be a small country by area but it’s power-packed with nearly everything you can think of and will need for that perfect vacation. It has the most beautiful sceneries you’ll ever come across. So much so that you might think you’re in a whole different world. And, that’s why I don’t really think anything less than a week is enough to explore the beauty of this country. You need at least 10-15 days to really absorb everything in. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot explore in less than a week. We spent only 4 days in Switzerland and that was more than enough to cover all the top tourist spots. So, if you can only afford 4 days in Switzerland I think that should be enough with careful planning.

How to get around?

The best way to explore this country is by car. Well, of course it has great rail connectivity which is perfect for traveling from one city to another. But if you really want to explore each city at your own pace and take everything in, you need a car. We rented our car from Europcar and picked it up from Geneva Downtown. Here’s the address of our rental car pickup location.

What is the most accepted currency in Switzerland?

The most accepted currency is Swiss Franc. So, I suggest carrying a good amount of cash with you in Swiss Francs. However, they also accept credit cards with a small fee so you should be fine using your card if you don’t want to carry too much cash around.

Euros are widely accepted too but the exchange rates are too high. And, everything in Switzerland like food and shopping is expensive so you’d be better off paying in cash and that’ll save you good enough money. Since we had a couple of excursions planned as well, we carried around 500 Swiss Francs but I suggest carrying more if you can.

What is the best time to visit?

From what I have heard and seen, Switzerland is an amazing vacation spot all time of the year. However, we planned for summer because we had a lot of outdoor activities planned. Also, during summer months the days are longer which means you can squeeze more activities into your itinerary. So, the best summer months to visit are July and August.

Do you need travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for all tourists visiting the Schengen region. In fact, you will need to get one as part of your visa application process when applying for the Schengen visa. I have written a separate blog that covers a section on Schengen travel visa so read here for more details.

Do you need to make any advance reservations?

If you’re going in summer months, chances are that you’ll find a lot of crowd so every place you go to will have a good amount of wait. So, if you want to skip the lines I suggest making advance reservations for all the restaurants that you have on your itinerary. Most of the restaurants we visited allowed online reservations so we made sure we booked our tables wherever we could.

An important purchase you’ll need to make before you go is the Jungfrau Travel Pass which includes free entry to many top tourist spots in Switzerland such as Lake Brienz Cruise, Grindelwald-First, Harder Kulm, Jungfraujoch etc. And since we had all of these places on our itinerary, we decided to buy this pass well ahead of our trip. Here’s a list of what all is included in this pass and other important details. Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t include the transportation to these places like the train to Top of Europe so you will need to make an additional purchase for that. The pass will cost $613 (USD) for two people.

An important note – This is a very packed itinerary because we wanted to explore as many cities as possible in the 4 days in Switzerland. But, if you’d like to keep it lighter and take it at your own pace, you can always cut a few things out or move things around.

DAY 1 – GENEVA

8:00 AM – Train from Paris to Geneva

We started our trip with Geneva and reached the city by taking an early morning train from Paris. We took an 8:00 AM train to Paris and it was a 3-hour ride. Our train experience was great and the ride was quite scenic. There’s also a cafe on the train so you can grab coffee and breakfast once you’re on the train. Here’s the link to booking your train ride. It cost us around $118 (USD) for two people.

11:30 AM – Reach Geneva and check in to the hotel

We reached the Geneva station in about 3 hours and headed straight to check into our hotel and drop our bags. Our hotel was pretty close to the train station and we had a good experience staying here. We stayed at the Bernina Hotel Geneva and I would completely recommend it if you’re looking to spend time in Geneva. And it cost us around $236 (USD) for one night.

12:30 PM – Head out to explore Old Town

Geneva is a global hub for diplomacy and banking, and is quite a beautiful city to explore. You can start by exploring the Old Town. Old Town has a very beautiful charm to it and you can just walk around here to feel the vibe. Its narrow streets, historical buildings and beautiful squares will really give you a very European vibe.

Some places I recommend exploring in Old Town are,

Musée Barbier-Mueller
Tavel House
International Museum of the Reformation
St Pierre Cathedral
Secret passage
Place Bourg-de-Four
Promenade de la Treille
Reformation Wall – Paul Landowski.

Here’s an easy google map to follow.

Day 1 of the 4 days in Switzerland — Saint Peter’s Cathedral

2:00 PM – Lunch at Gives A Fork – MQ

I came across this restaurant while researching for my trip and it has great reviews on google. And it surely didn’t disappoint us. Their food and service is great so do give it a try. Reservations are recommended so make sure to book your table before you go.

3:00 PM – Explore other famous tourist spots

After lunch, we head out again to explore more spots in and around the city. Here’s a few very famous and nice spots that should be on your list,

Lighthouse of the Eaux-Vives
Flower Clock
The broken Chair – Palace of Nations
The United Nations Office

5:00 PM – Walk along the Geneva Lakefront

The Geneva Lakefront offers stunning views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains. It’s here that you can see one of the most famous landmarks in Geneva i.e. the Jet d’Eau fountain. This fountain shoots water 140 meters into the air and you absolutely cannot miss it.

After walking across the lakefront, you can then also head to try some swiss chocolates. There’s plenty of shops and restaurants where you can try some of the best chocolates and cheese.

8:00 PM – Dinner at Masala Indian House

This restaurant was very close to our hotel so on our way back, we decided to stop here for dinner. This place also has pretty good ratings and reviews on google so we really wanted to give it a try. Reservations are recommended here as well because it’s usually super crowded in the evenings so make sure you book your table.

DAY 2 – INTERLAKEN

This was the day I was the most excited about because this city is naturally so beautiful. I had seen a lot of pictures on social media when planning my trip and I was completely awe-struck. So, I was really looking forward to visiting it and when I did, it left me spellbound.

8:00 AM – Drive from Geneva to Interlaken

This scenic drive from Geneva to Interlaken is around 2 hours so we checked out from our hotel and made our way early in the morning. On the way, we picked up breakfast as we didn’t want to waste too much time at a sit-down place. Once we reached Interlaken, there were a couple of public parking spots and here’s the address of the garage where we parked our car – Bärenparking Interlaken AG, Rosenstrasse 29, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland.

11:00 AM – Head to Harder Kulm

Interlaken gets its name because it is well situated between the two famous lakes – Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. They say it’s one of the best villages in Switzerland. Our first stop here was Top of Harder Kulm, which was a perfect way for us to see Interlaken from above. There are two ways to get here – you can either hike up or take a funicular. The funicular is covered in the Jungfrau Travel Pass that I’ve mentioned above and this is the option we took.

The elevation at the top is 1,322 meters and the views were breathtaking as you can see in the pictures below. So, I’d really recommend adding this to your itinerary. Also, don’t forget to carry a jacket as the weather at the top can get a bit chilly and windy. The viewing platform is always very crowded and makes for great pictures. It’s open from mid-April to the end of November and here’s more details.

12:30 PM – Lunch at Sapori

After finishing our first stop, we headed to lunch at Sapori. This restaurant also has a great ambience and their food was delicious. I’d recommend making an advance reservation here as well. They also have a vegetarian menu so you have plenty of options to choose from.

2:00 PM – Head to Lake Brienz Cruise

Ah! Here comes the most awaited part of this trip – Cruise on Lake Brienz. Lake Brienz is a stunning turquoise blue lake that is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It is a great way to enjoy the calm of the water, view the mountains from up close and stop at the beautiful villages on the way. The cruise is also covered in the Jungfrau Travel Pass and you can read more details on the cruise here. Also, below is a picture of the cruise’s schedule.

This was an unforgettable experience for me. The entire landscape around was so beautiful and picturesque that I just lost myself in it. The cruise’s first stop was the Grandhotel Giessbach and we got off here. From the lake’s shore we took a funicular, which is Europe’s oldest funicular railway transporting people from the shore to the hotel. Once at the hotel, we then walked up to the Giessbach falls. It is a short 10-15 minutes walk to get to the first point from where you can easily see the falls. However, if you want to get closer to the falls, you can continue the hike up for another 10-15 minutes.

After spending some good time admiring the beauty of the falls, we then decided to sit down at the hotel and soak in the beautiful view. We ordered some light bites here and spent a while before making our way back to the shore. This was the only stop we made on our cruise because we didn’t have much time to stop at other places. However, if you have time, the other stop I’d recommend getting off at is Iseltwald village. It’s a charming village with a beautiful vibe.

5:00 PM – Stroll around the Interlaken town and grab dinner

After coming back from the cruise, we decided to spend some time just strolling around the cute town of Interlaken. Two spots I’d recommend checking out here are Höhematte Park and Marktplatz Interlaken. There’s also a Yash Chopra statue here for all the Bollywood lovers. And for all the chocolate lovers, you can try taking a ‘Make your own chocolate’ experience.

Alternate itinerary for a day in Interlaken – If you’re a die-hard fan of the iconic Bollywood movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, then you can follow this google map link from Geneva to Interlaken because it stops at all the various locations where this movie was shot. All the points are marked on this map. We didn’t take this route because we really wanted to cover the other places that I’ve mentioned above. And if we did this DDLJ route, we wouldn’t have had enough time to cover Harder Kulm and the cruise which was our priority. But if you have more time to spend in Interlaken, I suggest taking this route.

8:00 PM – Head to Grindelwald and check into the hotel

Because we had an early morning the next day, we decided to check into our Grindelwald hotel a night before to get settled. Our hotel in Grindelwald was absolutely beautiful and we really enjoyed our time there. We stayed at the Hotel Gletschergarten and it cost us around $600 (USD) for two nights.

DAY 3 – GRINDELWALD

9:00 AM – Coffee at EigerBean The Coffee Roastery

We started our day 3 with an amazing coffee at the EigerBean The Coffee Roastery before starting another amazing day in this land of paradise.

10:00 AM – Train to Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe

We then made our way to Jungfraujoch, also known as the Top of Europe because its the highest railway station in Europe. It’s a viewing point in the Bernese Alps, at an altitude of 3,454 meters. From up here, you get amazing views of the Alps, along with access to breathtaking glaciers. To get here, you first need to take a cable car which is covered in the Jungfrau Travel Pass and then have to ride a cogwheel train all the way up. The train is not covered in the pass and will cost around $22 for two people. The Jungfrau Railway is the highest railway in the world and offers a very scenic ride. Here’s the link to book your seats.

Once at the top, there’s a lot of activities you can do depending on your time and interest. Some of the things we did were,

Sphinx observatory – We enjoyed the 360° views from here, both from the terrace and from the comfort of a building with panoramic windows. From the terrace, we could see the glaciers up close and it was breathtaking.
Alpine sensation – This is a moving walkway connecting the Sphinx observatory to the Ice Palace.
Ice Palace – It has many beautiful ice sculptures to admire so worth a visit.
Go out in the snow and enjoy the view of Grosser Aletsch glacier and the surrounding mountains.
Lindt chocolate factory – We picked up a lot of different chocolates from here.
Lunch – We also found a great Indian restaurant here where we stopped for lunch. If you like Indian food, this is worth a visit.

Because it’s very cold up here, it’s important to dress right for this trip. Some of the things you should carry or wear are – Winter jacket, snow boots, waterproof gloves, winter cap, thermal leggings or warm pants, extra pair of socks, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Another important tip – If you have the Jungfrau Travel Pass, you will get a 10% discount at the Top of Europe and Grindelwald-First shops. Since we bought chocolates and a few souvenirs, it worked out well for us.

For me, this was one of the best experiences and something that I’ll always cherish. The breathtaking scenery of the Alps was priceless and this is one of the best ways to experience the Alps from so close. So, I’d highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.

2:00 PM – Head to Grindelwald-First

Grindelwald-First is also one of the most popular places to visit in the Jungfrau Region and for a good reason. It takes you up to Mt. First from where you can experience more breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. To reach up here, we took a Gondola from the First Station and the gondola was covered in our travel pass. The gondola ride was about 25 minutes and it was one of the most amazing rides. It was so scenic and the panoramic views of the mountains were just out of this world. I’d suggest keeping your camera ready the whole time!

There are two stops before the final stop for Grindelwald-First which is where we got off. Once you’re up here, there’s a lot to see and do. The one thing we did that I will totally recommend is the First Cliff Walk By Tissot. This is a very narrow metal footbridge that clings to the side of the cliff stretching all the way out to an extraordinary viewpoint. It was a bit scary walking on the bridge since I have a fear of heights but what the bridge led up to was absolutely amazing. So, it was totally worth it.

Once you’ve crossed the bridge, it opens up to an observatory deck and if you keep walking past it, there’s a lot of viewpoints to soak in the best views of the mountains. There’s also a restaurant if you want to sit down and grab a bite. It’s worth spending a good amount of time here before heading back.

Another great hike to add into your list is the Lake Bachalpsee hike which starts from the point where you get off from the gondola. The hike takes about 1-2 hours and leads up to a beautiful lake so if you the time, it’s definitely worth a stop. We had to miss this as we didn’t have enough time. Another fun activity that I’d recommend is taking the Trottibike or mountain cart on your way back. It can be a little scary riding down the hill so be very sure before signing up for it but it’s a fun activity to try. We really wanted to do it but unfortunately it was sold out when we went so we couldn’t get it.

And again, it goes without saying that you should dress in layers here as well. Grindelwald-First wasn’t as cold and in fact during the day, it became hotter as it got more sunny. But the weather is always unpredictable and it could get windy in no time so be prepared.

5:00 PM – Explore Grindelwald town

The town of Grindelwald is charming and almost all hotels here are adorned with lots of flowers, making it a very beautiful sight for the eyes. The town itself has a very cute and laid back vibe. It offers amazing views of the mountains and also has shops and places to eat. We spent a good time just walking around the town and dining at some local bars.

DAY 4 – LUCERNE AND ZURICH

Our last day in Switzerland was as fun filled and packed as the previous days. Since we planned to cover two cities on this day, we were on a tight schedule. We planned the first half of the day for Lucerne and the second half for Zurich.

9:00 AM – Coffee at Velo Cafe

On our drive from Grindelwald to Lucerne, we stopped at this famous cafe called Velo Cafe. The cafe has pretty amazing ratings and their coffee was amazing. If you’re a coffee lover like me, you should definitely give this place a try. They are typically very busy in the mornings and they take email reservations so book your table before you go.

10:00 AM – Head to Lucerne

Since Lucerne is only about 45 minutes drive from Zurich, it made sense to make a stop here before heading to Zurich. Lucerne is a very picturesque city and has such a historical feel to it. Its located on the shores of Lake Lucerne and surrounded by the Swiss Alps. Its known for its beautiful old town, which is adorned by colorful buildings, historical landmarks and colorful streets.

A few places I’d recommend visiting when in Lucerne are,

Chapel Bridge – The highlight of my trip to Lucerne was the Chapel bridge. It’s a covered wooden bridge which is very old and overlooks the water, making it a beautiful sight.
Spreuerbrücke
Hirschen Pl
Weinmarkt
Kramgasse
Lion Monument
Rathaus Stadt Luzern
Musegg Wall

Here’s a link to the google map that’s easy to follow for all the above spots.

2:00 PM – Lunch at Phanat Thai Restaurant

We stopped for lunch at a Thai restaurant called Phanat Thai and the food here was amazing. We didn’t make an advance reservation and we just walked in and were able to get a table.

4:00 PM – Explore Zurich

We left from Lucerne around 3:00 PM and after an almost hour long drive, we reached Zurich. Its the largest city in Switzerland and gave me a very metro city vibe. Its a popular city among tourists because it has something for everyone. It not only has great outdoor activities, but also dining, nightlife and shopping. We were there on a Sunday and there was a summer festival going on. The streets were lined with vendors selling food and drinks, and there was also a DJ. It was such a fun vibe so if you end up going in summer, you may be able to catch one of these festivals.

Here’s a few things I’d recommend doing in Zurich,

Fraumünster Church
Chocolate shops like Confiserie Sprüngli or Teuscher
Augustinergasse
Bahnhofstrasse
Old Town (Altstadt)
Niederdorf
Grossmünster
Zürich Opera House
Walk along Zurich lake

Here’s a link to the google map that’s easy to follow for all the above spots.

7:00 PM – Dinner at Tibits

We ended our last day in Switzerland with a scrumptious dinner at Tibits which is well known for its vegetarian and vegan food.

And that’s all as far as the Switzerland itinerary goes. If you follow this, I am sure you’ll be on to a smooth trip so I hope you find this useful. Until next time my friends!

France, Travel

5 days in Paris: A detailed Paris itinerary

August 28, 2023 No Comments

Paris is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With its rich history and architectural prowess, it has become one of the most traveled cities in the world. And, being the fashion capital of the world, it always attracts people for its glitz and glamor. So, I am sure many of you have it on your bucket list if you haven’t already checked it off. And I am going to try and do my best to provide a detailed Paris itinerary to help you all plan that perfect trip.

My husband and I recently visited Paris from the US in the month of July. The weather was beautiful so we were able to do a lot in the 5 days that we were there. If it’s your first time here, I am sure you’ll have a lot of questions on your mind. Don’t worry, I got you! There’s a separate blog on my page for a detailed travel guide to help you plan ahead. That guide covers all important questions such as how to get a travel visa for Paris, how many days are enough, what to pack, where to stay, what is the best time to visit etc. so be sure to give it a read.

So, without further ado, let me jump straight into our 5-day Paris itinerary. I have tried to cover all the details such as links to making reservations, links to google maps and the costs involved to give you a better idea of how it all fits together.

Important note on this Paris itinerary

This Paris itinerary is quite packed because that’s how we wanted it. But if you’re looking for some relaxation and want to keep it lighter, you can always cut a few things off. Since we had only 5 days to cover all the major landmarks and attractions, we tried to squeeze in as much as possible but feel free to tweak it to suit your needs.

An important tip before you go

Wherever possible, try to make advance reservations because almost all of these sites are usually very crowded, especially if you’re visiting in the summer. So, chances are that you may not even be able to see some places if you don’t have an advance reservation. I started making the reservations as soon as we booked our flight and hotel. Also, try to read through all the instructions and tips on the websites of these places to make sure you plan your visit accordingly.

DAY 1 – CHECK IN, LUNCH AND PALACE OF VERSAILLES

9:00 AM – Reach hotel and check in || $966 for 5 nights

We flew in from the US and landed around 7:00 AM local time in Paris. Our hotel was nice enough to give us an early check in. So we reached our hotel around 9:00 AM, checked in and rested for a bit. We stayed at the Palais De Chaillot hotel and it cost us $966 for 5 nights. While it was a small hotel like many others, it was pretty affordable considering the central location it was in. The room was very small, but if you’re going to be out all day and only coming back to sleep, this should be an economical option.

For coffee and breakfast, we found a really cute cafe near our hotel called Noir. It has pretty good ratings and we really liked the coffee here. Here’s the google map link to this cafe.

12:00 PM – Lunch at Cocorico || $80 for 2 people

After a good rest, we then got ready and headed out for lunch. I had made an advance reservation at this restaurant called Cocorico. I came across this restaurant on one of the blogs online and it has good ratings on Google so we decided to give it a try. Make sure to make a reservation on their website ahead of time.

1:30 PM – Collect the Paris Museum Pass || $201 for 2 people for a 4-day pass with river cruise

If you’re visiting Paris, I am sure museums are on your list. And if you plan to visit more than 3-4 museums, then Paris Museum Pass is a more economical option than buying individual tickets for these museums. I did the math and this pass seemed to be much cheaper than individual tickets for the museums I wanted to visit. My blog on Paris travel guide here covers a list of all top sights that you should not miss. This museum pass covers all of those major sights and gives you skip-the-line access for most attractions. It also has an optional river cruise on the Seine river which is another great way to explore the city.

Keep in mind, though, that once you’ve purchased this pass from the GetYourGuide website, you will need to go and physically collect this pass from their office before you start your tour. The address for their office is – 3Pl. des Pyramides, 75001 Paris, France and the office is open 7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time so plan accordingly.

Also, after you’ve purchased this pass, you’ll need to book your time slots for the Louvre museum and here’s the link to do that. There’s a few other museums that the pass requires you to make advance reservations for, so if you plan on visiting them, just carefully follow the instructions on your voucher.

2:00 PM – Walk along the riverside

The walk along the Seine river is beautiful. You could stop across some of the famous bridges on the way such as Pont Alexandre III. This bridge is magnificent and offers some great views of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine. It also makes a great spot for photos. Along the sidewalk, you’ll also pass street vendors and cafes so you can stop by and do some souvenir shopping here too.

Must see spot in your paris itinerary — **Seine River**

3:00 PM – Head to Palace of Versailles || Covered in Paris Museum Pass

From the riverwalk, make your way to the Musee D’orsay because right next to that is the train station for catching a train to the Palace of Versailles. There are many trains throughout the day and the whole journey takes about 30-35 minutes. However, there are a lot of trains that go in that direction so be sure to check the one you take. The train you need to catch will be line C that goes in the direction of Versailles Château Rive Gauche station.

We bought a Paris metro card of 10 trips (which was enough) because we knew we’d be using the Paris metro a lot for our commute around the city. But keep in mind that this metro card will not be enough for visiting the Palace of Versailles. You will need to buy a separate ticket at the station. It’s also important to note that the Palace closes entry at 5:00 PM so if you want to visit the inside of the Palace, make sure you enter before 5:00 PM. The gardens open late at around 8:00 PM so if you get there after 5, you can still access the gardens but you will miss the Palace. So, plan accordingly if you want to visit both inside and outside of the palace.

Another important tip

All the restaurants inside the palace close at 6:00 PM so if you’ll be staying back late, plan to pack dinner. The old town of Versailles, which is where you will get off from the train, has a lot of good food options so you can stop by and get your dinner packed from here before heading to the palace. Read my full guide here on important tips for planning a visit to the palace.

Palace of Versailles - Must see spot in your Paris itinerary

We went to the palace on a Saturday and the reason to do that was to be able to attend the Musical Fountain show and the Fountains Night Show that only happens on Saturdays. The musical fountain show runs from April through October and only happens on certain days of the week. This is when the magnificent fountains in the gardens are turned on for a display and it’s a spectacle to not be missed. The palace also hosts night fountain shows from June through September where the colorful and dramatic lighting effects offer a stunning visual.

The Paris Museum Pass covers access to the palace but if you want to watch the musical fountain show and the night show, you will need to buy separate tickets here. The cost was around $67 for two people. It was completely worth it and some of our favorite fountains were the Latona fountain and the Dragon fountain. Inside the palace, some of the things to not miss are the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel and the King’s State Apartment. You will need at least 3-4 hours to tour the inside of the palace and the gardens so plan accordingly.

DAY 2 – ILE DE LA CITÉ, ARC DE TRIOMPHE AND CHAMPS ELYSÉES

GOOGLE MAP FOR DAY 2 OF PARIS ITINERARY – HERE

9:00 AM – Leave for Île de la Cité

Île de la Cité is a small island in the middle of the River Seine, and is best known for Notre Dame Cathedral. This was the birthplace of Paris. We started with Pont Neuf, which is the oldest stone bridge in Paris. Here’s a link you can follow if you’re wondering how to get there. This bridge makes for a great walk in the morning and is a great location for pictures.

9:30 AM – Square du Vert-Galant and clock tower || Covered in museum pass

Next stop was Square du Vert-Galant for some beautiful views of the city. We then made our way to the Conciergerie and clock tower, both of which are covered in the museum pass. The clock tower was built in the 14th century and is the oldest public clock in France. You can see it easily from the street. The Conciergerie is a former courthouse that also served as a prison. Its a museum now and you could keep it optional if you don’t have much time. We just spent about 15-20 minutes inside but you can totally skip it.

Clock Tower - Must see spot in your Paris itinerary

11:00 AM – Sainte-Chapelle || Covered in museum pass

Sainte-Chapelle was our next stop and I had made an advance booking here before going. This church is covered in the museum pass but you may just want to reserve your time slot to guarantee entry. There are two chapels here connected by a staircase- one is at the lower level and other is at the upper level. Both are equally stunning but the upper one is more impressive so absolutely do not miss it. Keep in mind that it’s closed for lunch from 1:00-2:15 PM, no selfie sticks or tripods are allowed and there are no washrooms.

12:00 PM – Notre Dame Cathedral

We then made our way to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Because of the 2019 fire, this is closed to the public and you can only see it from outside as it’s being rebuilt. You can still see the two tours from behind the fences but that’s really it. It’s still worth spending a few minutes and staring at this architectural marvel. They have put up detailed information around the campus entailing the details of the fire and how its being rebuilt. It’s really sad to see the amount of destruction that this fire caused and the enormous amount of work it’s taking to rebuild.

1:00 PM – Lunch Reservation at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole

We then took a break and made our way to lunch at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole since it was close to the Notre Dame Cathedral. This place was decent and we made an advance reservation on their website. Another option you could try is St. Regis.

2:30 PM – Explore Place Dauphine and flower market

Place Dauphine is a small town square that you can stroll through and the flower market is just a short photo spot that you can check out.

4:00 PM – Arc de Triomphe Rooftop || Covered in museum pass

We then made our way to the famous Arc de Triomphe Rooftop. On our way here, we stopped at a coffee shop right across the Arc and grabbed coffee and a few quick bites. The arc is covered in the museum pass so you don’t need to purchase separate tickets. You can just show the Paris museum pass at the entrance and skip the line. This is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Paris and you need at least an hour here. Under the arc, you can see a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and every evening at 6:30 PM a flame is rekindled here to pay tribute. The best part is the rooftop that offers gorgeous panoramic views of the city. So make your way to the top using the 284 stairs and be amazed by the stunning views.

5:30 PM – Champs Elysees

Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a very famous street in Paris lined with luxury stores and cafes. This avenue is 2 kilometers long but we didn’t walk the entire stretch. We mostly hung out near the Arc de Triomphe part of the avenue as that was the liveliest part. On our way here, we stopped at the very famous Macaron shop called Pierre Herme. This place is known for its macarons and we tried four different flavors – Chocolate, Vanilla, Pistachio Strawberry and Rose. These are some of their best selling flavors. It has a few other locations as well and is a must try.

We also stopped for coffee at the very famous cafe called Laduree. This cafe offers a true Parisian experience and is known for its sweet pastries and macarons so it’s totally worth a try. Given its popularity, it may be crowded so expect some wait.

8:00 PM – Dinner at La Flamme || $80 for two people

We finally ended our second day with a scrumptious dinner at La Flamme. The service and food here were amazing and it was pretty affordable. I would recommend booking ahead of time.

DAY 3 – LOUVRE MUSEUM AND ARC DE TRIOMPHE DU CARROUSEL

GOOGLE MAP FOR DAY 3 OF PARIS ITINERARY – HERE

9:00 AM – Breakfast at Cafe de Flore || $60 for two people

We started our day with a nice and filling breakfast at Cafe de Flore. It’s one of the longest running coffeehouses in Paris and is a very famous tourist attraction today. So be sure to make a reservation here ahead of time. We made an advance reservation for breakfast and were able to skip the long line. We enjoyed delicious cappuccinos here and tried their veggie omelette.

10:00 AM – Place de la Concorde and Tuileries Gardens

Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris and is a sight to not miss. From here, you can make your way to Egyptian Obelisk and then walk to Tuileries Gardens next. It’s a public garden located between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. The garden has free entry and is open all year round. There are chairs near the fountain in the middle and also plenty of benches to sit on. It’s a nice place to sit down and relax.

12:00 PM – Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

Next spot to check out is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. It’s right in front of the Louvre and is worth making a stop at. It was built in 1806-1808.

1:00 PM – Lunch at Kodawari Ramen || $30 for two people

Head to lunch at Kodawari Ramen. They don’t take reservations so you can just walk in but its usually a bit crowded here so expect some wait.

2:00 PM – Louvre museum || Covered in Paris museum pass

Our final stop for the day was the very famous and sought after Louvre museum. Even though it’s covered in the Paris museum pass, like I mentioned before you will need to make an advance booking to just reserve your time slot. You can do that here.

An important tip

Make sure that you arrive at least 15-20 minutes before your assigned time slot. You will have to line up with everyone else as they will let you in only at the time you have booked. But if you arrive late, you might end up losing entry if its too crowded.

Inside the musuem

The museum is enormously huge and you can end up spending the whole day here if you want to. There’s just so much to explore and because it’s always crowded, it will take longer to explore. So plan for at least 3-4 hours when here. However, you don’t have to see everything if you don’t have that kind of time and that’s what we ended up doing. We targeted the most famous and important artworks first so that’s where you could start as well. Some of my top recommendations are Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. To be honest, we felt the Mona Lisa is overhyped and it wasn’t as stunning as it’s said to be. But we still wanted to check it off our list.

I’ve heard that many people prefer to do the closing time tour of the Louvre because it’s a great way to skip the lines and see everything in a shorter amount of time. Since we went at the peak time, there was a very long queue to see the Mona Lisa and we were only allowed to stand there for literally 30 seconds. It wasn’t enough but we couldn’t really do much about it. So, if you really want to skip all that hassle, you could check the closing tour option here.

And finally, as you make your way out, be sure to spend some time outside the stunning Louvre pyramid. It makes for some nice pictures, especially around sunset.

7:00 PM – Dinner at Pizzeria Popolare || $50 for two people

We ended the day with pizza at Pizzeria Popolare. This place has a lot of great reviews on Google and some great choices on their menu. Also, it has a great ambience and it’s usually very busy in the evenings. So be sure to give it a try.

DAY 4 – EIFFEL TOWER

9:00 AM – Reach Eiffel Tower || $37.74 per person on weekdays

Day 4 was all about the Eiffel Tower and was the most awaited day for us. Eiffel Tower is the number one bucket list item for every tourist visiting Paris. And I can say that it’s worth all the hype. The Paris museum pass doesn’t cover Eiffel Tower entry so you will need to purchase a tour separately. We purchased it from GetYourGuide and purchased the second floor access. There’s usually two types of accesses- 2nd floor and summit access.

We felt the 2nd floor views were much better and much clearer than at the summit. Because the summit is at a much higher spot, it will be difficult to get clear views. Also, summit access is more expensive compared to the 2nd floor access. So you should be good by just doing the 2nd floor and skipping the summit. You can also take a guided tour if you want but we took a self guided option as we wanted to explore at our own pace.

For food and drinks, there’s also a restaurant on the 2nd floor from where you can get stunning views of the city. So, on your way back from the tour you can make a quick stop here. At the bottom of the tower, there are many photographers usually hanging out in case you wanted to get a photoshoot in front of the tower.

11:00 AM – Pont de Bir Hakeim and Trocadero gardens

If you want to get more amazing views of the tower, walk up to the Pont de Bir Hakeim bridge and soak in some nice views. It’s just a short walk and makes for an amazing photo spot too. You can then cross the bridge and head to the Trocadero gardens. If you head to the upper level, you will get even more amazing views of the tower. This is where we stood to watch the sparkle on the tower in the night.

1:00 PM – Lunch at New Jawad || $60 for two people

Next, we made our way to lunch at New Jawad. If you’re craving some nice Indian food, you could try this place. It usually takes reservations but walk-ins are also welcome. We liked the vibe and the food here.

2:30 PM – Walk along the riverside

Since the riverwalk is a huge stretch and we hadn’t spent enough time here on our first day, we made our way back to explore some beautiful bridges and the architecture here. One of the most beautiful bridges to marvel at is the Pont Alexandre III. It was inaugurated in 1900 and is lined with beautiful lamp posts and sculptures.

If you keep walking further, about 15 minutes from the bridge you will reach the Hotel des Invalides. It’s a military museum and you could visit the tomb in about half an hour. Another museum to explore is the Rodin Museum and it is covered in the museum pass. This museum is dedicated to the works of a French sculptor Auguste Rodin, depicting his styles and techniques. So, if you really devour art then you should visit this museum.

9:00 PM – Evening river cruise

We then made our way back to the Eiffel Tower to take the sunset cruise. The sunset cruise option is covered in the museum pass if you select that option and you will need to pay a little extra for this option. But it’s highly recommended and we really enjoyed the sunset cruise. The cruise is an hour long and offers so many amazing views of the city. It is a guided tour that took us through the famous landmarks such as the Louvre and Notre Dame. It was a great way for us to see the city from a different angle. We also witnessed a beautiful sunset while sailing through the river and it was a spectacle to remember.

It was a very relaxing way to end our day. We hung out near the Eiffel Tower after that to see it sparkle. Because we visited in the summer, the sunset was around 10:00 PM so we got dinner near the tower before our cruise. And by 10:00 PM we made our way to the Trocadero garden right after the cruise as that’s one of the best locations to see the tower lit up. The tower sparkles every hour at the hour for 5 minutes from sunset to 11:00 PM. It stops sparkling after midnight so be sure to catch the sparkle at least once before that.

There are many viewing spots and its usually a very lively environment. When we were there around 10:00 PM, the whole place was crowded. There were many vendors selling wine and champagne, people had gathered to get pictures, there were also some photoshoots taking place and there was lively music. The whole vibe of the place was so amazing. You absolutely shouldn’t miss it!

DAY 5 – PLACE VENDÔME, PARIS OPÉRA, GALERIES LAFAYETTE AND MONTMARTRE

10:00 AM – Head to Paris Opera

Paris Opera was the first stop for our last day in Paris. It’s one of the places that has to be on your list no matter what. It can easily take up to 2-3 hours to tour this place and it was undoubtedly one of the best places I have visited in Paris. It’s also a very iconic location in the fashion world because many Haute Couture shows are held here. The architecture and grandeur of this place is just breathtaking. Its the largest opera house in Europe and has very impressive interiors.

It is not covered in the museum pass so we purchased the tickets here in advance. It sometimes can be closed for special events so be sure to check the calendar and book accordingly.

12:00 PM – Galeries Lafayette and lunch

Right across the Opera, there’s a grand mall called Galeries Lafayette. Its a very famous mall in Paris and has all the big brands. This is where all the rich tourists shop and you could literally spend hours here. Its interiors are stunning so even if you don’t want to shop, you should still check it out. The central area has a stunning glass dome that you absolutely shouldn’t miss. And if you have time, make sure to also visit the rooftop terrace. The views from here are quite nice. There’s also a lot of good food options here. We tried a restaurant called Pierre Sang Express. We tried their veggie curry bowl and it was delicious. Their packaging was also very unique and it was affordable. So, I’d highly recommend it if you want a healthy option for lunch.

2:00 PM – Place Vendôme

After lunch, we started walking towards Place Vendome. It’s one of the most famous squares in Paris and it’s lined with designer stores. The main landmark here is Colonne Vendome and it’s a 44 meters high bronze column that dates back to the 19th century. We just walked around this area and spent about 30 minutes walking around and taking some pictures. We also did some shopping at some of the local French luxury perfume and jewelry stores.

3:00 PM – Sacre Coeur and Montmartre

We then made our way to the famous church of Sacre Coeur. This church is in the Montmartre district and you can get here via Paris metro. It’s one of the most famous landmarks in this district and is usually very crowded. You can get here by climbing about 300 steps of stairs if you’re fit to do so. Otherwise you can take a funicular up. You will still have to walk some distance on your own, even if you take the funicular. This is also not covered in the museum pass so we purchased the tickets on the spot from the counter.

It’s good to spend around half an hour here before heading down. It also provides stunning panoramic views from the top which are so worth it. We had an unpleasant experience on our way down from here. We came across some scammers that tried to dupe us into giving money to them. They forcefully tied strings around our wrists and then asked us for money. They were in a group of around 8-10 people so we really couldn’t do much and had to give them some money. It was unpleasant so be wary of that as this is a very common issue in all major landmarks in Paris.

After heading down, we then just explored the town of Montmartre on foot. We just walked around the neighborhood and stopped at some famous points like The-Passer-Through-Walls.

6:00 PM – Covered passages and dinner

Our last stop for the day was the covered passages. They say that there used to be around 150 or so covered passages back in the day but now only 20 of them remain. These covered passages are a unique feature of the French capital’s extraordinary heritage. They house shops, restaurants and theaters. Some passages worth checking out are Passage Jouffroy and Passage des Panoramas. The Passage des Panoramas was built in 1799 and is the first covered passage of Paris and also one of the most famous in the capital.

It was here that we found a very unique restaurant called Kimochi thats known for their sushi burgers. It was a small sit down place and had a nice vibe. This was our first time trying a sushi burger and we absolutely loved it. I’d highly recommend giving this place a try. So after exploring the passages, we sat down here for a nice dinner and then made our way back to our hotel.

And that sums up our 5 days in Paris itinerary. I really hope that this detailed guide was helpful as you plan your trip to Paris. I know it can be overwhelming to plan a trip and that’s why I hope this Paris itinerary will be able to provide you with a good direction. Hope you enjoyed reading it!

Here’s a few other resources if you’re planning a trip to Paris,

Important Travel Tips for first time in Paris – Here
Important Travel Guide for Palace of Versailles – Here
What to wear in Paris – Here

France, Top Travel Destinations, Travel

Important Travel Guide for First Time in Paris

July 28, 2023 3 Comments

Paris! It’s one of my favorite cities in the world and a place that I instantly fell in love with. My husband and I visited Paris this summer and I feel like it’ll take me a lifetime to see it completely. I am a city girl so naturally I love all the crowd, chaos, buzz and liveliness. And if that’s what you like too, you’re going to love Paris. I’ve heard many unpopular opinions about this city being a dirty place, people being rude, scams with tourists etc. Honestly, none of this bothered me because there’s just so much more to love about this city. And if you follow all the tips that this Paris travel guide mentions, none of that should bother you as well. Besides, after seeing all its glitz and glam in the Netflix show – Emily in Paris, I sure didn’t want to miss a chance to witness all that myself.

Planning a trip with Paris Travel Guide

Understandably, planning a trip to this beautiful city is hard. There’s a lot to prepare in terms of getting a travel visa, booking the best hotel and flight, planning the best itinerary, making all bookings in advance, researching the best cafes and so on. I had so many questions on all of these and did a lot of research. I mostly started planning by reading through some amazing travel blogs where I found not just the itineraries but also a lot of helpful tips. Some of the these Paris travel guides are what helped me plan effortlessly.

So, I wanted to share an important Paris Travel Guide here for you all to plan your perfect itinerary. Below is the list of all questions that could come to you as you plan and I have tried my best to answer them based on my experience.

Do you need a travel visa? If yes, what does the process look like?

My husband and I live in the US and we’re currently on the H-1B work visa. So, we needed a Schengen visa to travel to Paris. This visa allows you to enter the Schengen area, which includes 27 European countries. So, ideally you can apply for a visa through the consulate of any one of these 27 countries and as long as you get your Schengen visa approved you can travel to any of these countries.

We decided to apply for our visa through the French consulate on the VFS global website. From what I have heard, the French consulate is the easiest to go through and you may even end up getting the visa for a longer duration than usual (3-6 months) if you’re lucky. The visa type we applied for is called the short stay visa which is typically for anyone that will be staying in France for 3 months or less. The process entails completing and submitting a brief form with all your details on the website and then booking a biometric appointment at your nearest VFS center. After your appointment, it shouldn’t take more than 3 weeks for you to get your passport back.

Keep in mind

Keep in mind that you need a valid proof of your travel reservations (flights, hotels, advance bookings, modes of payment etc.) when filling up the application as you won’t be able to book your visa appointment without that. So plan everything accordingly and make sure that you have all the bookings in place when applying for the visa. Upon our research, we learnt that many people make dummy bookings for the application process, which they then cancel once their visa is approved.

You could try that option if you’re not sure of your travel plans and need more time but we didn’t go through that. Since we were sure of our trip and we planned ahead of time, we knew we’d get the visa in time to keep our reservations. Also, we made refundable bookings wherever possible so that we could cancel or postpone in case our visa got delayed.

But if you’re booking last minute and are not sure if your visa will come through in time, dummy reservations might be a good idea.

Another important tip with Paris Travel Guide-

Be sure to plan your travel such that you end up spending more nights in the country that you’re applying through. This is relevant if you’re visiting multiple countries in the same trip. We had plans to visit France and Switzerland and our itinerary was 10 days (and 9 nights) long. Since we were applying through the French embassy, we booked 5 nights in France and 4 nights in Switzerland. It’s important to book more nights and not confuse that with days as the consulate counts by the total number of nights you spend and not the number of days.

How many days is sufficient in Paris?

I don’t think there’s a right answer to this question. I had the same question on my mind because it was my first time in Paris and I didn’t want to miss a thing. But this city is massive and it has so much to offer that even a week may not be sufficient. However, if you don’t have that kind of time, then 4-5 days should be enough to cover all the tourist spots and soak in the vibe of the city. We planned for 5 days and were able to cover pretty much all the big spots.

What is the best time to visit?

Undoubtedly, Spring and Summer are the best time to visit. The winter season has its own charm but you’re going to have more fun and will be able to enjoy more attractions if you plan in summer. We went in July and the weather was perfect. It wasn’t uncomfortably hot and was pleasant enough for us to be out all day. Also, if you have Palace of Versailles on your list, then I suggest going in summer because the Palace hosts multiple shows such as the musical fountain show that are open in the summer months. Also, the gardens in the palace are in full bloom in summer.

Read my blog here on an important guide for visiting the Palace of Versailles. You’d also have more fun doing the river cruise on the Seine river if you plan in the summertime.

However, this does come with the disadvantage that it’s very crowded in summer . So you may end up waiting in long lines to access the museums and other tourist spots. It might be a good idea to hit these spots early in the morning if you want to beat the crowd. But just something worth considering!

One of the fountains in the gardens of the Palace — *Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles*

The sunset at the Palace — *Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles*

Where to stay in Paris?

The hotel we stayed in was a 7-8 minute walk and a 3-4 minute drive from the Eiffel Tower. This is because we knew that we’d be spending more of our time doing things around that area. Our hotel was also just 3-4 minutes walk from the Paris Metro. So if your itinerary includes attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, River cruise, Riverwalk etc. it’s advisable to stay within a central neighborhood that’s walkable from most of these places. Also, if you will be using the Paris Metro more often, then definitely look for a place that’s at a walking distance to at least one of the stations.

Heads up, though, that most of the hotel rooms in Paris are tiny. Even if you pay more to get a better hotel, chances are that your room is still going to be smaller than usual. So be prepared for that and plan your luggage accordingly so that you don’t run out of space to store it.

Here’s where we stayed and while it was a small hotel like many others, it was pretty affordable considering the central location it was in. You can find many other good hotel options in other Paris Travel Guide on the internet.

What to pack?

Depending on the season you go in, you can check the weather and plan your outfits. We went in the summer so I packed mostly summer dresses, coord sets, blazer sets and skirts. I tried to carry more neutral tones as I wanted to dress like the Parisians do. And you can read my blog here on all the outfits I took on this trip with me. However, there are a few things that you should definitely pack no matter what time of the year you go. First on that list are a few comfortable pairs of shoes and sandals. No matter how you decide to commute, you will still be walking a lot in and around so make sure you always have comfortable shoes on.

Second, pack umbrellas and rain jackets (or trench coats if you’d prefer that). The rain in Paris is quite unpredictable and we got a rainy evening too when we were here in the summer. And believe me, having an umbrella and a raincoat was a life saver for us. Next, carry some local currency, printouts of all your museum tickets and your ID proof. Other than that, carry a power bank as you’ll be out all day long so you’ll need it. A good tripod stand and camera if you need. And definitely, a power adapter because Paris uses plug types C and E so if you’re going from US, Canada or UK then you’ll need an adapter.

What advance bookings to make?

Given that all major attractions in Paris are busy all through the year, it’s highly recommended to make advance bookings way ahead of your trip. And that’s especially important if you’re going to go in the peak summer or spring months. So below are a few of my recommendations for making advance bookings,

Buy the Paris Museum Pass here well ahead of time if you’re going to visit many of the main attractions like the Louvre museum, Notre Dam, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte Chapelle Cathedral, and more. This pass covers almost all of the locations, so it could be much more cost-effective. You can calculate the total entry fees for all the attractions you plan to visit and see if the pass is a cheaper option. If it is, go ahead and purchase it. I booked this pass through the Get Your Paris Travel Guide website. Additionally, this pass includes an optional river cruise, which is highly recommended.
Book your place for the Louvre Museum here and Sainte Chapelle Cathedral here after purchasing the entry tickets. Although these attractions are included in the museum pass if you choose to get one, the pass does not guarantee entry. Depending on how crowded these places are when you visit, they may not allow you to enter. Therefore, it is important to reserve a time slot for both of these places after you have bought your entry tickets or pass. While it is not necessary to reserve a slot for other attractions, it is specifically required for these two sites.
Book your access to the Eiffel Tower here well in advance of your trip. You have two ticket options – one for access to the second floor only and another for access to the summit. According to some blogs I read, the views are much better from the second floor and visibility becomes limited as you go up to the summit. Therefore, we opted for the second floor access and it was definitely worth it. We booked our tickets from Get Your Paris Travel Guide.
Get your tickets for the Paris Opera House here early because this museum can get very busy. The Paris museum pass does not include entry to this museum, so you’ll need to book separately. I recommend booking well in advance, as it’s a popular tourist spot and tickets sell out quickly. We made our reservation through their official website.
Book a table ahead of time if you plan to visit popular restaurants. We made a reservation in advance for a busy place called Cafe De Flore because we know it’s always crowded.
Book your photoshoot and prepare in advance if you want to have one.

How to get around the city?

Paris is a city that is best to explore by walking. So, it is important to choose a hotel that is close to all the main attractions. This way, you will get a real experience and also see the city from a local point of view. However, if you need to go to places that are not reachable by foot, the second best option is the Paris metro. It’s a good idea to purchase a metro card well in advance. The metro is the quickest, most affordable, and convenient way to travel around the city.

What are some must-sees to not miss?

Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
Notre Dam
Sainte-Chapelle
Sacre Coeur
Montmartre
Covered passages
Paris Opera
Galeries Lafayette mall and its rooftop
Palace of Versailles
Pont Alexandre III bridge
Louvre museum

What are some must try cafes and restaurants?

While there’s no dearth of great cafes and restaurants in Paris, there’s some that topped my list based on their experience and food. So here’s my top 4 recommendations,

Cafe de Flore – This café is one of the most well-known and oldest cafes in Paris, and is visited by many people every day. Without a doubt, their food and coffee are worth trying. And if you’re visiting Paris, you should definitely go there. Because it is so famous, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance, as they usually have long waiting times for walk-ins.

Cafe travel guide for Paris — *Cappuccinos*

Kimochi is a Japanese restaurant that serves both burgers and sushi. It is located in a historic area of Paris known for its covered passageways. The restaurant is highly recommended and worth a visit. During our first visit, we tried a sushi burger and it was delicious. They also offer a wide selection of sushi dishes. If you are a sushi lover like me, you should definitely give this place a try.

Restaurant travel guide for Paris — *Sushi burger*

Pierre Sang Express – This is in the Galeries Lafayette mall and has a very unique menu and packaging. We tried their veggie curry bowl and it was so good. It’s made of healthy ingredients so if you’re bored of eating French food, this will be a breath of fresh air and will also be easy on your tummy.

Pierre Herme at Champs-Elysees – This place is known for its macarons and we tried four different flavors – Chocolate, Vanilla, Pistachio Strawberry and Rose. These are some of their best selling flavors. It has a few other locations as well and is a must try.

Is there a tip culture in Paris?

Yes, you can tip at the restaurants, but it’s usually not expected. Typically a standard rate is 5-10% at all cafes and restaurants. But if the service is exceptional and you’re feeling generous, you can tip more. You can also tip your taxi drivers around the same range. So, it’s much less than what you’d do in the US but the tip culture does exist.

How to avoid being scammed?

This is from our personal experience which was very unpleasant. There was a group of about 8-10 locals that tried to scam us and they forcefully wrapped some kind of string around our wrists. They said it was a sign of respect to their culture and that we shouldn’t resist. And once they were done, they asked for money! This trick is also what they use to rob you of your personal belongings by distracting you. So be very careful to not entertain any such thing and try to avoid the paths where you sense something like this happening. This happens in mostly the major tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower so be very careful when in these places.

Also, if someone asks you to sign some kind of a petition, just refuse politely. Other than that, be careful to always put your belongings in a tightly locked bag and don’t carry your wallet and phone in your hands when visiting largely frequented tourist spots. Upon my research, I did come across a few other Paris travel guide that highlighted similar experiences.

Is there more to explore in France beyond Paris?

There absolutely is! There are countless chateaus, beautiful old towns, and a wealth of countryside beauty that you shouldn’t miss if you have more time. We spent one day in a small and beautiful city called Annecy. This was recommended by many of our friends so we decided to take some time out. And we’re so glad we did. With gorgeous turquoise blue water, lush green parks, tall and stunning mountains, a cute town vibe, and a variety of water activities to choose from, this city has something for everyone and you could easily spend a day here.

And that’s a wrap! I hope this Paris travel guide will be helpful to you in planning your next trip to Paris. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

France, Top Travel Destinations, Travel

Palace of Versailles: A helpful travel guide

July 21, 2023 4 Comments

The Palace of Versailles. Its grandeur and charm has made it one of the most visited attractions in France. Once home to the Kings and Queens of France, this palace offers a lot of rich insight into the French history. The palace depicts the life of King Louis XVI and how under his rule, it became a place of extravagance. So there shouldn’t be a question on your mind of whether this should be a part of your itinerary. I have to say that it’s totally worth a visit.

Outside the Palace of Versailles — *Outside the Palace*

Inside the Palace of Versailles — *Outside the Palace*

So first things first, where is The Palace of Versailles? The Palace is about a 30-40 minutes drive from the city of Paris in the town of Versailles (which, btw, is a beautiful town!).

Here’s a helpful guide based on my personal experience on how to have the best time here,

HOW TO GET HERE?

The fastest, cheapest and easiest way to get here is to take a train. There’s a direct train (line C) that runs from the city of Paris to the Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station which is where you’ll have to get down. The train runs from many stations and we took it from the Eiffel tower because that was the closest to our hotel.

An important tip if you do end up taking the train – The Paris Metro Pass will not be sufficient for this ride as that pass works only within Paris so you’ll need to buy separate tickets for this journey.

You could also take a taxi or uber but you may end up getting stuck in traffic, depending on the time of the day and will end up paying more.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?

Since the Palace of Versailles is adorned by lush, beautiful and magnificent gardens, it’s best to visit in summer when the gardens are in full bloom. Another reason for visiting in summer is that the chateau hosts special events and one of the best events that happens in summer is the musical fountain show. The musical fountain show runs from April through October and only happens on certain days of the week. This is when the magnificent fountains in the gardens are turned on for a display and it’s a spectacle to not be missed. The palace also hosts night fountain shows from June through September where the colorful and dramatic lighting effects offer a stunning visual.

Check the schedule of all shows here.

An important note if you have the Paris Museum Pass – This pass covers entry into the palace and access to most parts of the palace, but it doesn’t cover access to the fountain shows. So, you’ll need to buy separate tickets from here if you plan to attend the show. And be sure to check the dates that the show runs on.

The Palace of Versailles fountain — *Latona Fountain*

Sunset at the Palace of Versailles — *Latona Fountain*

WHAT IS THE ENTRY TIME?

The Palace is open all days of the week except Monday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. The gardens open at 8 AM whereas the Estate of Trianon opens at 10 AM daily. The Palace is open year round.

Keep in mind, though, that the last entry to the palace is at 5 PM. So, you can hang out in the palace after 6 PM but you need to make sure you get in before 5 PM. On the days when there’s a fountain show, the gardens open at 8 PM for the show and are open until 11:30 PM.

If you’re going to be staying a few days in Paris and plan to do museums, I would advise on getting a Paris Museum Pass from here. This pass covers pretty much all the major attractions in and around Paris (including Palace of Versailles), so its very economical. You could choose between the 2, 4 or 6 day option and also add river cruise as an add on if you’d like to do that.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

The full tour of the Palace shouldn’t take you more than 3-4 hours. They provide maps of the entire estate at the entry point. The map comes with a few red dots marked on it for important sections to not miss. But if you want to plan ahead and mark the sections you want to hit first, here’s an interactive map on their site that you can refer to.

One of the apartments at the Palace of Versailles — *The King’s State Apartment*

WHAT TO CARRY?

If you’re planning to go on a summer day, then definitely carry water, a hat and sunglasses with you. The palace is huge and can take a while to tour so pack some snacks if you think you’ll get hungry. Most restaurants inside the palace close by 6 PM so be sure to get your dinner packed before that or make sure to bring something with you if you plan to stay back for the fountain shows in the night. It also gets colder in the evenings, even on summer days, so be sure to bring a jacket.

HOW TO DRESS?

You can wear anything comfortable that you can go around in for a couple of hours. Be sure to check the weather before your trip to dress accordingly. Since there’s a lot of walking involved, be sure to wear comfortable shoes. On some paths in the gardens, you’ll be walking over cobblestones so comfortable shoes or sandals will be important. Read my complete blog here to see what I wore to the Palace of Versailles.

WHAT ARE SOME MUST SEES?

There’s a lot of things to explore in and outside the Palace but if you’re short on time or don’t want to tour the whole estate, below is a list of absolute must sees that you need to cover,

King’s State Apartments
Hall of Mirrors
King’s private apartments
Queen’s apartments
Gallery of Great Battles
Royal Serenade show (takes place under the gold of the hall of mirrors)
Fountain shows

WHERE TO EAT?

As I mentioned, most restaurants in the palace close by 6 PM so make sure to go before that. There are a few restaurants on the property and a good place for some nice coffee and snacks is Grand Cafe D’Orleans. However, if you have more time then the old town of Versailles also has a lot of great options and is worth checking out.

Other than all this, just have fun and soak in all the royalty and charm that this Palace has to offer.

If there’s something I missed, feel free to add in the comments below. Hope this guide to The Palace of Versailles was helpful!

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