Colmar Alsace

The 5 Most Beautiful Villages in Alsace to Visit

Alsace is a spellbinding corner of France, that rewards visitors with enchanting medieval villages, a unique culture and cuisine with both French and German influences, and spectacular wineries, famed for producing some of the best riesling and gewurtztraminer in the world. These are the fairytale towns that the rest of the world imitates! The best places in Alsace are along the wine route, the Route … Continue reading The 5 Most Beautiful Villages in Alsace to Visit

paris

3 Days in Paris: Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Are you planning your first trip to Paris? This itinerary for 3 days in Paris is designed for first time visitors to Paris, to help you plan your trip & reduce overwhelm. The best things to do in Paris include iconic sights like Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur, exploring the coolest Paris neighbourhoods like St Germain, Le Marais and Montmartre, and experiencing classic … Continue reading 3 Days in Paris: Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Place des vosges paris hero

The 12 Best Neighbourhoods in Paris to Visit (Guide + Map)

Paris is best explored by neighbourhood. The best neighbourhoods in Paris to visit include Le Marais, St Germain, Champ du Mars, Montmartre, the 7th Arrondissement and Ile de Cite, but you’ll be rewarded for venturing to charming, leafy and quieter neighbourhoods like Montparnasse and Passy with a slice of everyday Parisian life. Paris is divided into arrondissements, which are arranged a bit like a snail’s shell, … Continue reading The 12 Best Neighbourhoods in Paris to Visit (Guide + Map)

Gardens of Versailles France

The Temple of Love in the gardens of Versailles

You could lose hours in the seemingly never-ending gardens of Versailles. Between the English gardens, French gardens, Petit and Grand Trianons, fountains, orangeries, greenhouses, lakes, grottos and my favourite, Marie Antoinette’s fairytale hamlet, there is so much to see here. In terms of beauty, I think the gardens leave the palace for dead. The Temple of Love is a neo-classical temple in the English Gardens at … Continue reading The Temple of Love in the gardens of Versailles

Itinerary: 5 Weeks in France, Italy, Greece & Turkey

After I graduated from university, I went to Europe for five weeks with my best friend. This was a really diverse trip because we chose big cities and small towns, did day trips and squeezed in quick stops as well as taking more time in some places. We travelled by train, ferry and cruise ship and spent three weeks travelling independently and then two weeks … Continue reading Itinerary: 5 Weeks in France, Italy, Greece & Turkey

Pantheon Paris

The Pantheon, Paris: Home of France’s Heroes

The elegant dome of the Pantheon is an iconic fixture of the Parisian skyline. I was excited to see inside, when I was in Paris for the first time, with my family. The Pantheon’s purpose is to serve history, but the building itself is also a legacy of Paris’ tumultuous history. Paris is a city that celebrates and honours the past better than any other city … Continue reading The Pantheon, Paris: Home of France’s Heroes

Moat and Gold Dome of Invalides Paris

A Visit to Napoleon’s Tomb at L’Hotel des Invalides, Paris

The L’Hotel National des Invalides in Paris is a French military museum and memorial complex, as well as the final resting place of the Emperor Napoleon. A military museum is usually the last place you’d find me, but I was spending the morning with my Dad, whose passion for history is so infectious that he made it interesting. My sister, Georgie, had just returned from her student … Continue reading A Visit to Napoleon’s Tomb at L’Hotel des Invalides, Paris

Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

Why visit Versailles? Exploring France’s last royal residence

Three million people visit the Chateau de Versailles every year. A successful visit will include an early start even in winter, patience in queues and battling the inevitable, year-round crowds. The zoo-like atmosphere inside the palace dampens the magic and it will take up one of your precious holiday days in Paris. So why bother with Versailles? Even if you’re not a history buff, the … Continue reading Why visit Versailles? Exploring France’s last royal residence

The Gelato Diaries: France, Italy & Greece

If there was a day during our trip from Paris-Athens that we didn’t each gelato, it evidently wasn’t worth remembering. Gelato, sorbet and on one occasion, plain old ice cream, was an essential party of our daily diet because this is what you do when you’re it’s summer, you’re in Europe with your best friend and you’re twenty years old. Sorbet at Berthillon, Paris On my … Continue reading The Gelato Diaries: France, Italy & Greece