1.5 Days in Paris: Our Honest and Unfiltered Short Trip Itinerary
An Underwhelming Trip to A Global Favourite
In June 2019, we made a spontaneous decision to visit Paris. We drove from Switzerland, a journey that took nearly 8 hours each way. Our main motivation was a visit to Disneyland Paris, where we spent one full day. The following day, we spent a few hours exploring the city center before heading back.
We found ourselves back in Paris twice in 2024 for work trips. On those occasions, we traveled by train with the kids. While this post focuses on our original 2019 trip, we have included some food recommendations from our more recent visits to give a full picture of the experience.
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Arriving in Paris
- Via Train or Bus: Paris is a primary hub for European rail and road travel. To compare the best routes and prices for your trip, you can book through busbud here.
- Via Flights: Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY) airports. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Paris
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
Day 1: A Full Day at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is the European branch of the franchise. While we generally enjoy theme parks, the experience here was a mix of highs and lows.
Note: We will not be including links to the ticket to Disneyland Paris as it goes against our values.
The Rides
The park is quite large, and we had to be selective because seeing everything in a single day is impossible. Our 3 favourite rides were:
- Hyperspace Mountain
- Indiana Jones Et Le Temple Du Peril
- Mad Hatter’s Teacups
We also walked through Alice’s Curious Labyrinth and saw the Sleeping Beauty Castle. While the glasswork on the windows was impressive, the overall atmosphere was impacted by a major cultural difference: the language.
The Language Barrier
While we enjoyed both the parade and fireworks, one frustrating aspect was hearing iconic Disney songs performed in French. Listening to ‘Let it Go’ in French was not an enjoyable experience for us. Mehran, a Star Wars fan, was particularly disappointed to hear Darth Vader speaking French. It was a detail that soured the atmosphere and made the experience feel less authentic to the characters we grew up with.
Day 2: Landmarks and Realities of the City
Our second day was dedicated to seeing the main landmarks before the long drive home. Paris is a very traffic heavy city, so we left our car in a lot outside the center and used public transport.
The Breakfast Experience
Our day started poorly at a local restaurant. No one spoke English or German, and the staff seemed completely uninterested in helping us understand the menu. We eventually found another spot where an English-speaking server was able to help us, but the initial interaction set a negative tone for the morning.
The Main Sites
- Eiffel Tower: We viewed it from the ground but chose not to go up. To be honest, we found the tower quite underwhelming and overrated.
- Arc De Triomphe: This was more interesting to us. Commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, the architecture was far more striking than the Eiffel Tower.
- Architecture Walk: We passed Hotel Des Invalides and the Statue de Bordeaux while walking toward the Louvre. The heat was intense, and while the River Seine provided a nice view, the walk was exhausting.
- Louvre Museum: We are not art enthusiasts, so we stayed outside. The glass pyramid is a notable structure, though it looked much smaller in person than it does in photos.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral: Since we visited in 2019 shortly after the fire, it was mostly closed off. We could only see parts of the exterior through the scaffolding.
Food: The Bright Spot
The one thing we genuinely appreciated about Paris was the food diversity, specifically the Halal options.
🍴 Snack&Rush
- 🥘Cuisine: Halal Street Food (American, French & Italian mix)
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: 100% Halal
- 🌐 Website: snackrush.fr
- 💰 Budget: $10 – $25 per person
Located near the Eiffel Tower, this Halal spot was a lifesaver on a cold day. We had Chicken Pizza, French Fries, and Chicken Paprika Tacos. It was affordable and served quickly.
🍴 Khao Prat by Bangkok Factory
- 🥘Cuisine: Authentic Thai & Asian Fusion
- ⭐ Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🌙 Halal Status: 100% Halal
- 🌐 Website: https://khao-prat.edan.io/
- 📸 Socials: Instagram
- 💰 Budget: $15 – $25 per person
During a work trip in Ivry-sur-Seine, we ordered a delivery from this Halal Thai restaurant. We had chicken rolls, skewers, crispy duck noodles, and mango sticky rice. The food was delicious and easily the best part of our stay.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, our trips to Paris have been among our worst travel experiences. The city feels chaotic and dirty, and the language barrier is a constant struggle. We found it very difficult to converse with people in basic service settings. Unless you speak French or are prepared to deal with significant frustration, it is a difficult place to enjoy. That said, the Halal food, cakes, and macarons were the only things that left a positive impression.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paris easy to navigate for English speakers?
In our experience, no. We encountered many situations where staff were unwilling or unable to speak English, which made simple tasks like ordering food difficult.
What is the best thing about Paris?
For us, it was the food. The variety of Halal restaurants and the quality of the pastries were the highlights of an otherwise disappointing trip.
Do they play English songs at Disneyland Paris?
Most of the major songs and character voices are in French. If you are a fan of the original English versions, this might be a letdown.
