Trip to Paris with the Eurostar in the spring

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Bonjour from beautiful Paris. The city of Love, is an ultimate travel destination. Paris is a city full of charm, elegance and beauty. From the breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower to the delicious French cuisine, there is always something to see and do in this magical city.

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I recently had the pleasure of visiting in April 2023. I travelled to Paris via the Eurostar, a high-speed train that connects the UK with France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It was my first ever time travelling on the Eurostar and I can hands down say without any hesitation that it is the BEST way to travel.

Travelling from London to Paris via the Eurostar is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get to Paris and I enjoyed every moment of the journey. I was pleasantly surprised by just how quick it was. I reached Paris in just over two hours (2 hours and 15 minutes to be exact). The Eurostar departs from St Pancras International Station in London and arrives at Gare du Nord in Paris. It literally takes you from the heart of London to the heart of Paris. Gare du Nord, provides easy access to public transportation. If you are arriving very late in the evening it is very easy to order an Uber, Bolt or take a taxi to your accommodation. As an example we arrived at 11:30PM and opted to take a taxi (Uber) at that time. Our hotel was located in Batignolles, which was about a 15min journey – the Uber fare cost €12.

To check Eurostar ticket prices now – click here and follow this link.

*The Eurostar tickets were generously gifted. However, the views, words and opinions in this blog post are my own. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you book through one of my links I may make a small commission, at no cost/extra cost to you.

Below I share my top reasons to travel with the Eurostar:

Speed and convenience: The Eurostar is one of the fastest ways to travel between London and Paris, taking just over two hours. It is a great option for those who want to make the most of a short trip or a weekend getaway.
Scenic views: The Eurostar route takes you through the picturesque countryside of Kent and then Northern France, providing some stunning views of the landscape along the way. You will get to see rolling hills, quaint villages, and charming towns as you make your way to Paris.
Comfortable and enjoyable: The Eurostar is a comfortable and enjoyable way to travel, with spacious seating and onboard amenities such as Wi-Fi, food, and drinks. You can relax in your seat, catch up on work, simply enjoy the journey while taking in the views or take a nap to get yourself ready to explore as soon as you get there.
City centre to city centre: Unlike air travel, which often requires additional transportation to and from airports located outside of city centres (meaning more time spent travelling and more costs incurred). The Eurostar takes you directly from central London to central Paris. This makes it an extremely convenient and an unmatched option for travellers who want to get to their destination quickly and easily.
Affordable: Eurostar fares are usually competitive with air travel, and there are often deals and discounts available. Download the app, sign up to notifications and keep your eyes peeled. Plus, do not forget the money you save on transportation to and from the airport.

Let me break it down for you:
Eurostar option: You can find Eurostar tickets starting from as cheap as £39 each way with luggage (grand total of £78) and spend a total of 2hr 15min (plus travel time you need to get to these central locations). For me, door to door took 3hr 30min.

By plane:
– Plane ticket: lets say you were able to book cheap airline tickets for £10 each way = total £20
– Transport to airport in London return: a minimum of £10 each way to get from central London to the airport and back = total £20
– Transport from airport in Paris return: also approximately £10 each way = total £20

AND not to mention the time spent travelling (1hr to get to the airport 2hours in advance, another 1hr flight and then 30min. This option would take me, door to door a total of 6hrs minimum!
Environmental benefits: Traveling via the Eurostar is more environmentally friendly than flying, as it produces far less CO2 emissions per passenger. This makes it a great choice for eco-conscious travellers who want to reduce their carbon footprint. Each little step we take to be more sustainable and eco-conscious is a step in the right direction and will undoubtedly help in the long run.

The Eurostar, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to travel because it is quick, comfortable and hassle-free. You do not have to worry about airport security or baggage restrictions.

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The reason for my trip this spring was to see the beautiful cherry blossoms all over town and they did not disappoint. There are countless locations you can visit to see these beautiful blooms. With the short time I had, I managed to visit the following spots:

1. Trocadero Gardens: The Trocadero Gardens offer stunning views of the Eiffel Tower all year round, making it a popular spot for tourists. During spring, the views are extra special (in my opinion) as the gardens are also home to cherry blossom trees that provide as a beautiful addition to any photo. The trees bloom in various shades of pink, and their delicate flowers contrast beautifully against the greenery of the gardens. There are several vantage points in the gardens that offer great views of the Eiffel Tower and the cherry blossom trees. The gardens are particularly popular during sunrise and sunset, when the light is soft, golden and the colours of the sky complement the cherry blossoms.

My top tip to you for where to shoot during sunrise vs other times during the day/sunset:

Sunrise: Shoot on the pathway which is to the right of the Eiffel Tower when you are looking at it. The reason I would suggest this/the preference for me and others to shoot from this side for sunrise is because the sunrise light hits that side of the Trocadero Gardens first creating a magical golden glow.

Sunset (including other times of the day): Shoot on the pathway which is to the left of the Eiffel Tower when you are looking at it. While it is surely to be busy, it may be less crowded than the pathway on the righthand side as that appears to be the popular (trending) side to shoot on. I think this has happened by default as people start shooting on that side from sunrise.

2. Petit Palais: The Petit Palais (literal translation being “small palace”) is a stunning building that is home to a museum housing fine art. The building is really grand and anything but small. It was built in 1900 for a universal exhibition.

It is FREE to visit and explore
It has a beautiful courtyard/garden inside
Outside of the Petit Palais you will find a beautiful cherry blossom tree to the right of the building which creates for beautiful framing of the architecture of the Petit Palais. The pink blooms of the cherry blossoms contrast against the blue sky and the golden stone of the building, creating a picture-perfect setting for Instagram photos.

3. Square Gabriel-Pierne: This small park is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris and is home to several (many) cherry blossom trees. The park is quiet and tranquil and I suggest going here after doing a sunrise shoot at the Trocadero Gardens. The cherry blossom trees in this park bloom in the most beautiful shades of pink. The park has a fountain and several benches which you can use to incorporate in your photos with the cherry blossoms. This small park is generally a great spot for a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

4. Place Camille Claudel: This square is located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris next to Falguière Metro Station. This location, just as with Square Gabriel-Pierne is quiet and makes it the perfect spot to visit after a sunrise mission. I combined this location after the sunrise shoot at Trocadero Gardens, Square Gabriel-Pierne and then headed here. The backdrop of the iconic Parisian metro sign makes for a unique Instagram photo.

5. Shakespeare and Company: This iconic bookstore in Paris is known for its beautiful façade, but during spring, it is also home to several cherry blossom trees that line the street. The cherry blossoms in front of the bookstore bloom in shades of pink, and the colourful books in the bookstore’s windows create a beautiful backdrop. I would suggest shooting here first thing in the morning for sunrise as the golden glow that shines on the storefront creates perfect lighting.

6. Square Paul Langevin: This small square is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. The square is surrounded by historic buildings. The cherry blossoms in this square bloom in shades of pinky white. The historic buildings in the background provide a beautiful contrast to the delicate cherry blossoms and the scene screams Paris vibes.

7. Jardin des Plantes: This botanical garden is home to several cherry blossom trees that bloom in the spring. This garden covers an area of 28 hectares and is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris (in my opinion). Google tells me that Jardin des Plantes has been a popular tourist destination since the 17th century, and it is home to over 4,500 different plant species.

You will find the cherry blossoms here come in a variety of colours – dark pink, pink and white. The most Instagram famous cherry blossom in Jardin des Plantes is the dark pink cherry blossom tree at the beginning of the long path in the garden that brings you to the Grande galerie de l’évolution (Natural History Museum). To the right of the dark pink cherry blossom tree you will find the most beautiful 100% white cherry blossom tree. I recommend taking a stroll around the garden as there are many other cherry blossom trees that make for the perfect backdrop of a spring photoshoot in Paris.