Arriving in Paris Late: Our Last Stop in France
This was the final leg of our summer road trip around France. After almost three weeks on the road, we reached Paris just before midnight. Arriving in a capital at that hour, after the calm of the Atlantic coast and with a car full of luggage, is not the most graceful way to start. We found our hotel in Montmartre after a small stumble, and we were very glad to park for the night.
The streets were quite dark, and the people around us did not look particularly reassuring, so we did not feel entirely safe. After the quieter coastal stops earlier in our trip, the change of environment came as quite a shock.
Where We Stayed: Hotel Montmartrois
We booked Hotel Montmartrois (6 bis rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre) because it offered a good price for a double room. It was nothing special, but it was perfectly adequate, and the location was the main attraction.
Many visitors choose Montmartre for exactly that reason. Set on a hill, it is a rewarding area to explore on foot and is close to some of Paris’s best-known sights. After dark, the streets around our hotel did not feel particularly safe to us, but the area looked very different in the morning. We would not avoid Montmartre because of this experience alone.
Practical tip for couples driving into Paris: Check the parking arrangements before booking your accommodation. Central Paris hotels often have little or no parking of their own, and finding a convenient street parking space can be difficult.
Sacré-Cœur and a Morning in Montmartre
Our nearest landmark, and our first stop the following morning, was the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur). It stands near the top of Montmartre hill, one of the highest natural points in Paris, and its distinctive white domes can be seen from a considerable distance. Built in the late 19th century and consecrated in 1919, the basilica looks quite different from the familiar grey and cream buildings that feature in so many Paris postcards.
We saw it again later from another angle: the rooftop terrace of Galeries Lafayette, where the basilica stands out beautifully against the skyline. The terrace has generally been free to access, although it is worth checking the current arrangements before visiting. As I have mentioned in other posts, visiting Galeries Lafayette is one of our habits in every town that has one (Carcassonne and Toulouse post, Easter in France post).
A tip for couples: Montmartre is a place to wander rather than simply tick off a list of sights. Climb the hill early, before the crowds build, and leave yourselves time to get a little lost in the streets behind the basilica.
We spent the rest of the day exploring Paris. It was a busy day, full of experiences, although we could only scratch the surface of what the city has to offer.
A Day at the Palace of Versailles
We dedicated a whole day to the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles), and it was well worth it. Located about 20 kilometres from central Paris, Versailles became the seat of the French court and government in 1682 under Louis XIV. It remained the centre of royal power until the French Revolution forced the royal family to leave in 1789. That represents more than a century of power concentrated in one extraordinarily grand royal residence.
Versailles is not a quick stop. The palace, estate and gardens together can easily fill a full day, and arriving early is a good idea, particularly in summer. We drove there and parked in one of the nearby car parks. It was not right next to the entrance, but the walk was manageable. The queue to get in looked quite intimidating, yet it moved quickly, and we were inside much sooner than we had expected.
The view that greeted us as we entered the grounds was a surprise, particularly the gardens stretching towards the Grand Canal. Stunning!
Practical tip: The palace is normally closed on Mondays, although opening arrangements can vary across the estate. Ticket options and opening hours may also change, so check the official Château de Versailles website before setting off.
If, like us, you are not especially keen on crowds, consider concentrating on the gardens and landscaped grounds rather than spending most of your visit inside the palace. For us, the gardens were the real highlight. We appreciate grand historic buildings, but we do not particularly enjoy being swept along with large crowds indoors.
The Gardens by Golf Cart
One of our best decisions that day was hiring a small electric vehicle of the sort used on golf courses to explore the gardens. The grounds are enormous, and walking everywhere can use up a lot of energy before you reach the more distant corners. For two people, the little vehicle turned a potentially exhausting walk into a pleasant drive. We could stop where we wanted and see far more of the estate.
The gardens lie to the west of the palace and were designed in the 17th century for Louis XIV, with André Le Nôtre playing the leading role in their design. Although the planting and trees have been renewed over the centuries, the layout retains much of its original character, giving visitors a sense of the grand landscape the king intended to impress his guests.
Here are some of the highlights worth looking out for:
- Bassin de Latone: A magnificent fountain close to the palace, decorated with figures from classical mythology.
- Bassin d’Apollon: The fountain depicting Apollo, marking a focal point of the grand perspective towards the Grand Canal. This was perhaps our favourite.
- The Grand Canal: Approximately 1,500 metres long and 62 metres wide, it extends the central view far into the distance. It also formed part of the estate’s elaborate water-management system.
- The historic water system: Easy to overlook if you focus only on the fountains and formal gardens. We saw what we took to be the remains of the Grotte de Thétys reservoir. It was not particularly easy to appreciate from outside, but it became more interesting once we understood its connection with the estate’s water supply.
It is easy to forget that the fountains at Versailles presented a considerable engineering challenge. The estate did not have an abundant natural water source capable of supplying all the fountains as originally intended. Reservoirs, channels, pumps and other infrastructure were essential to managing the water. Behind the spectacular displays was an impressive feat of engineering.
A Quick Stop in “New Paris”
After Versailles, we made a quick stop in La Défense, Paris’s modern business district. It was an exciting place to see and very different from the Paris we tend to imagine. The modern architecture and generous open spaces gave the area a distinctly different character from the historic city centre.
Disneyland Paris: The Last Day
On our final day, we checked out of Hotel Montmartrois and headed to Disneyland Paris. It was more or less exactly as the adverts promised: exciting attractions, long queues, a parade and a fantastic Lion King show.
It was a lively way to finish our French road trip, although the queues were a reminder that a day at a popular theme park takes some patience as well as enthusiasm.
Staying Near Disneyland: HotelF1
Near Disneyland Paris, we stayed at a Hotel Formule 1, now known as HotelF1. I mention the chain because it has been a useful low-cost accommodation option on our road trips. We have stayed at HotelF1 properties quite frequently on our European travels, wherever they have been available, including in France, Switzerland and the Benelux countries.
HotelF1 is part of the Accor hotel group. The brand has offered a straightforward, budget-conscious approach to accommodation, particularly for travellers who need somewhere practical to stay for a night or two rather than a hotel with lots of extra facilities.
Our room had a sink and a television, while the toilets and bathrooms were shared and located on the floor. They were clean, and the building was well maintained.
For couples: Shared bathrooms are a trade-off. Some couples will be perfectly happy with this arrangement for a night or two, while others will prefer to pay more for a private bathroom. It is worth comparing the options around Paris and Disneyland before booking, especially if comfort and privacy matter more to you than saving a little on accommodation.
Almost Three Weeks, One Last City
Paris has much more to offer than we managed to see on this visit. Our trip took place some time ago, so some practical details may have changed. After returning to Paris on a future trip, we hope to share more up-to-date information and explore the city further.
After almost three weeks in France, we had discovered enough places to make every stop a trip in its own right. Paris was the final stop we are covering in this series, although we also visited Reims afterwards. That was a very different experience: the main purpose was to enjoy a Champagne tasting in Épernay, and it deserves a separate story.
If you are planning your own French adventure, explore our Western Europe Travel Guide for Couples for more destinations and road-trip inspiration. From scenic drives to historic towns and memorable experiences to share, there is plenty to discover together.
Travel42 UK is a couples travel journal dedicated to immersive road trips, slow travel, and destination storytelling.
Explore More of Western Europe:
The long way round, as a couple
About the Author
The author, ainarsbl, is a Level 7 Google Local Guide, Master Reviewer and expert travel reviewer focused on scenic landscapes, UNESCO sites and meaningful couples travel experiences.