Taylor Blair Photography

still unpacking emotionally

Paris— there’s a reason everyone talks about it 🥐

a few things I wish I knew before going and would tell anyone planning a trip:

1 - the metro is actually really easy to navigate once you just commit to it. I Ubered way more than I needed to and it adds up fast. apple/google maps tell you exactly which line to take, which stop to get off at and when to transfer— just follow it like a GPS

2 - get a Navigo card for public transit. it covers everything and saves you a ton versus buying individual tickets

3 - where you stay really shapes your whole trip. I stayed near the Champs-Élysées area which put me close to a lot of major sites. Le Marais is great for food and a younger crowd, Montmartre is artsy and incredibly photogenic, Saint-Germain is classic Paris but pricier. figure out what matters most to you before you book

4 - learn a few basic French phrases before you go. locals notice and you’ll have a way better experience for it

5 - if you want a nice dinner WITH EIFFEL TOWER VIEWS without the crazy price tag, book it holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand which basically means great food + reasonable prices. there’s only a few tables outside so it’s worth getting there early to your reservation

6 - if you’re budget traveling most cafés will let you sit for hours with just one coffee— it’s part of the culture so don’t feel rushed (it’s my favorite place to people watch)

7 - you don’t need to buy a ticket for the Eiffel Tower. sit anywhere at the Champ de Mars and just take it in

8 - the museum pass covers 50+ museums and monuments and can save you a significant amount of money if you’re planning to hit multiple sites

9 - if the Louvre is on your list book the 9am ticket and use the carrousel entrance instead of the main pyramid. I got there 30 minutes early and was one of the first people standing in front of the Mona Lisa

10 - stay aware especially around tourist sites. when I left the Louvre someone tried to get me to sign a petition which is a common scam— just keep walking and keep your bag in front of you at all times

18 days into interrailing through Europe and the universe finally caught up with me when the line to Varenna went down and what should’ve been an easy train from Milan turned into a 6+ hour travel day.

that’s just traveling though. you can’t plan for everything and at some point you have to stop sweating it or you’ll ruin the whole trip.

Lake Como was exactly what I needed. the off season weather was gloomy but I’d choose that over the insane crowds every single time. no ferry lines, no reservations, completely different from the tourist packed videos I’ve seen on TikTok.

but what nobody tells you is that Bellagio is essentially just stairs. hundreds of them. I had an 80 pound suitcase and dragged it up about 300 steps myself cause there’s really no getting around them here.

skip the hotels they’re overpriced and underwhelming. I found a few local homestays on Booking.com for a fraction of the price and the views are insane just be ready for a workout lol.

my biggest tip is to split your time between a few towns— I did Bellagio and Varenna and they couldn’t have felt more different.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

this was my last stop before heading to Switzerland the next country on my itinerary. if you want any recs from this trip slide into my DMs cause I could talk about it forever.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

by the time I got to Florence I had already dragged my 50 pound suitcase up more stairs than I could count and that’s when I realized I’m definitely a backpacker for life.

Florence though?? the pizza was incredible, the wine windows felt straight out of a movie (touristy but worth every penny) and I had the best cannoli of my entire life at this little spot right next to the Duomo that makes them to order. if you go you need to try it.

also the real statue of David is here located in the Galleria dell’Accademia (get tickets early because they sell out fast). and the shopping was unreal like this whole city is basically one giant mall and I was obsessed.

every stop in Italy felt completely different from the last and Florence was definitely one of my favorites.