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Paris is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and for good reason! Its romantic atmosphere, stunning architecture, delicious food and rich cultural history make it the perfect place for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation. Paris is depicted as a center of history and romance in several different films and series, the latest of which is the highly popular Emily in Paris. I have dreamed of Paris my whole life, but I have never ended up traveling there. I can’t think of a single reason for this. Fortunately, this mistake was finally fixed when in January we flew for the first time to the glow of the Eiffel Tower lights for a romantic and wine-filled mini-vacation to the Paris of our dreams.

PARIS OF OUR DREAMS

Our flight arrived late at night at the remote and small Beauvais airport, from where we jumped on a shuttle to the city center. The shuttle dropped us off after more than an hour at Saint-Denis station, from where we caught the metro to our accommodation. Our accommodation was located in a central location near the Eiffel Tower. It was already late and it was raining heavily on a cool January evening. This didn’t bother us, because we were in Paris after all.

Our accommodation was located on a street with the Eiffel Tower shining beautifully at the end. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we arrived. I had always dreamed of this moment. We left our backpacks at the accommodation and ran in the pouring rain in the dark to see the tower, as if there was no other option. It had to be done. And it was worth it. From that moment on, our first Paris adventure began.

Le Recrutement Paris — *Our accommodation was on this street*

Eiffel Tower by night — *Rainy first meetup with the Eiffel Tower*

BEST ATTRACTIONS AND AMAZING EXPERIENCES

The next two days we woke up really early and toured the sights and the city. The first morning we had booked a trip to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower (the top was closed during our trip), after which we stopped for a crepe and walked to the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. From here we headed to explore the historic and iconic Montmartre, where we had booked a walking tour with a local guide. Every now and then I like to take advantage of guided tours, because some places are worth the extra bit of information. Montmartre was worth it and it was great to hear things about the history of the area that I would never have known otherwise. Find out more about guided tours in Montmartre here.

Eiffel Tower view — *View from the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower*

Arc de Triomphe Paris — *Arc de Triomphe*

The second morning we had booked entry to the Paris Catacombs, which I can definitely recommend to anyone interested. I would have preferred an evening tour for the vibe, but only morning times were available. The catacombs were beautiful and the history itself is interesting, which you can learn more about with the audio guide included in the tour. There are also guided tours available, which allow you to explore the forbidden corridors in addition to the normal tour, see more here.

From the Catacombs we headed to see the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is finally open to the public after a terrible fire and the reconstruction project. The cathedral is still partially under renovation, but the interior is finished and open to visitors. As a child, I watched a movie called The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, which takes place right here. This is why I couldn’t miss this attraction.

Notre-Dame is located in the Île de la Cité area, which is really cozy. From here we also went to the Latin Quarter and finally walked along the Seine River to see the Louvre Museum. Unfortunately, the Louvre grounds were partially closed due to the president’s visit, so we didn’t get to explore the glass pyramid up close.

Pretty good for only two days, right?

Notre-Dame Paris — *Notre-Dame Cathedral still under reconstruction (January 2025)*

FALL IN LOVE WITH PARIS WITHOUT RUSHING

Believe it or not, we also managed to enjoy our trip in peace and without a sense of rush, even though time was limited and there was a lot to experience. With good planning and scheduling the attractions with entrance tickets, we made it possible for the rest of the day to be relaxed and we were able to see the city in peace. We even managed to stop by the metro to visit our friend a little further from the center. We were in motion from the early morning until late at night, walking around and admiring, enjoying delicious lunches and dinners in wonderful French bistros and managing to do everything we had hoped for. And we weren’t even in a hurry.

There are still many more wonderful attractions and places to look forward to next time, wonderful cafes and beautiful parks. The next time is already booked, so we’ll see you again soon, Paris!

CHECK OUT THE BEST TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS IN PARIS HERE:

HAVE YOU BEEN TO PARIS? SHARE YOUR TIPS AND EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 🙂

<3: Tiina Johanna

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Alcudia is known for its beautiful beaches, historic old town and family-friendly atmosphere. It is located in the north of Mallorca and attracts tourists with its crystal clear waters, well-preserved medieval walls and lively port area. In Alcudia, you can enjoy culture, nature and beach holidays.

We traveled to Alcudia in September 2024 during our holiday in Mallorca for a few days to celebrate my birthday. This was my second visit to this cozy beach town, the first time was exactly ten years ago for my birthday party. Therefore, we thought it was a fun idea to come again, now that we happened to be on the island anyway.

Alcudia can be easily reached by bus from Palma, the capital of Mallorca, and the journey does not take long. The island has cheap, good and efficient bus connections, which means that renting your own car is not mandatory. However, if touring the island in your own car and the freedom of no schedule appeals to you, find out more about car rental in Mallorca here.

Alcudia beach — *The lovely beach of Alcudia*

5 reasons to choose Alcudia

Gorgeous beaches and crystal clear water

The beaches of Alcudia are known for their fine white sand and turquoise waters. Alcudia Beach and Playa de Muro are particularly popular with families with children due to their shallow and safe waters. This several kilometers long coastline also offers the opportunity to find your own peace and privacy. Ten years ago, my favorite thing about our trip to Alcudia was long evening walks by myself along the beach, and I still don’t wish change my opinion. The highlight of Alcudia is still this beach.

Historic old town

Alcudia’s old town is one of the best-preserved medieval areas in Mallorca. The narrow cobblestone streets, old city walls and idyllic cafes make the area the perfect place for a relaxing stroll. Although Alcudia is popular with tourists, there is plenty of space to breathe in peace and quiet on the streets of the old town. We wandered around aimlessly, stopped to explore the boutiques and enjoyed a delicious, inexpensive lunch at a local café. This café was found on the side, and not in the old town square, where “everyone else” stayed. We were able to enjoy our lunch in peace and, above all, at affordable local prices, as we were the only tourists in the café. This suited us very well.

Diverse activities and nature experiences

The area around Alcudia offers great opportunities for outdoor activities and adventure. You can hike in the scenic areas, cycle along the coast or explore the S’Albufera Natural Park, which is particularly popular with birdwatchers. You can also rent a bike or electric scooter here and explore the places on your own at a slightly more leisurely pace. Alcudia has a good mix of local and touristy activities, so it’s not difficult to find services aimed at tourists.

CHECK OUT THE BEST TOURS AND ACTIVITIES IN ALCUDIA:

Delicious food culture

In Alcudia you can enjoy both traditional Mallorcan food and fresh seafood. The restaurants in the old town and the port area offer local delicacies such as paella, tapas and ensaimada. In honor of my birthday, we had decided to enjoy delicious long dinners on both nights.

We found great restaurants through the TheFork app and even with a 50% discount. This free app is a great way to find and book restaurants when you travel and get quality dinners for up to half the price. Download TheFork and use my code “8245F67D” to get 1000 Yums points immediately. The points can be used to pay for your restaurant visits.

Nearby great day trip destinations

From Alcudia it is easy to make day trips to other wonderful places in the area. For example, the Cap de Formentor peninsula offers breathtaking scenery, and the charming village of Pollensa is only a short drive away. Like Palma, you can also take a bus from Alcudia to the mountain village of Sóller, which I can warmly recommend as a day trip destination. You can easily travel between Palma and Alcudia by local bus, as well as to Mallorca airport.

Unfortunately, we only had a couple of days in Alcudia, and we didn’t have time to explore the surrounding areas of Alcudia. I would like to say again that Mallorca has so many wonderful places that a week is simply not enough to see them all. At least not if you don’t want to rush from place to place and especially not without a rental car. The island also has many great tours and guided activities, so I recommend checking out Mallorca’s tour options in advance.

WHERE TO STAY?

Alcudia has a wide range of accommodation options, both in terms of quality and price. The old town offers idyllic boutique hotels, the harbour area is full of different types of accommodation and there is a long stretch of large hotels popular with travel agencies along the coastline, from the more modest to the luxurious five-star.

We stayed for a couple of nights at the four-star Garden Saladina Adults Only**** bungalow hotel, a five-minute walk from the beach. The hotel was comfortable and we were upgraded to a larger bungalow suite for my birthday. We relaxed in the large pool area with sparkling wine and fruit on my birthday and although we are usually more adventurous and budget-minded travellers who are interested in local things, this was a fun change. A big thank you to the really friendly hotel staff, who were absolutely top notch.

Garden Saladina Hotel Alcudia — Hotel Garden Saladina ****

We will probably not return to Alcudia on our next trip to Mallorca, but we will definitely visit the surrounding areas. Alcudia is a beautiful and cozy holiday destination, but we prefer the local hustle and bustle and diversity of the capital Palma. However, it was wonderful to experience the same streets and this beautiful beach that I fell in love with ten years ago. Overall, our one-week birthday trip to Mallorca was very successful and interesting, with plenty of new and old things and unforgettable moments.

Alcudia is a perfect destination for beach vacationers, culture lovers and active adventurers alike. Have you already been to Alcudia or could it be your next destination? Share your thoughts, experiences and tips in the comments! 🙂

<3: Tiina Johanna

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First time in Paris – Love at first sight