Day 2 – Walking Through Paris Opera Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Notre-Dame & Le Marais : France (Sep’26)
A Beautiful Day Walking Through Paris – 03 September 2026
Some of the best days in Paris are not about rushing from one famous attraction to another. They are about starting slowly, walking through beautiful streets, stopping for coffee, discovering food along the way, and simply enjoying the atmosphere of the city.
Starting the Morning Like a Local
We started our morning close to our Airbnb with a cup of coffee and something fresh from a local bakery.
There is something special about mornings in Paris. The smell of freshly baked bread coming from neighbourhood bakeries, people sitting outside cafés with their coffee, and the streets slowly becoming busy create a very different feeling from the crowded tourist areas later in the day.
After breakfast, we took a local train and headed directly towards one of the most impressive buildings in Paris — Palais Garnier, also known as the Opéra Garnier.
Standing in Front of the Magnificent Palais Garnier
Standing in front of the magnificent Palais Garnier, you immediately understand why Paris often feels like an open-air museum.
The grand façade, beautiful sculptures, golden details and impressive architecture make it difficult to simply walk past without stopping. Even when you are surrounded by traffic, shops and people going about their day, the building immediately catches your attention.
We spent some time there just admiring the architecture and enjoying the surroundings.
It was one of those Paris moments when you don’t really need to do anything — just stand there, look around and appreciate where you are.
An Indian Lunch Near Galeries Lafayette
By this time, we were getting hungry and started looking for somewhere to have lunch.
While travelling, I always enjoy trying local food, but sometimes after several days away from home, you suddenly feel like eating something familiar.
We found an Indian restaurant near Galeries Lafayette, and Indian food was exactly what we wanted that afternoon.
After lunch, we walked over to Galeries Lafayette.
Seeing Paris from the Top of Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette may be famous for shopping, but one of my favourite parts of our visit was going up to the top floor and enjoying the view over Paris.
From above, the city looks completely different.
The rooftops stretch into the distance, historic buildings rise between the streets, and you get another perspective on just how beautiful Paris really is.
We stayed there for some time, enjoying the view rather than rushing to our next stop.
Paris is a city where sometimes the best thing you can do is simply slow down.
Walking Through Paris Towards Sainte-Chapelle
After leaving Galeries Lafayette, we continued exploring Paris on foot.
Walking became a big part of our Paris experience. Instead of only travelling underground from attraction to attraction, walking allowed us to see the everyday side of the city — the cafés, buildings, bridges, small streets and people that give Paris its character.
We spent time walking around the river and gradually made our way towards Sainte-Chapelle.
By the time we reached the area, it was already evening.
The atmosphere had started to change. The light was softer, the pace felt calmer, and Paris was beginning to move from a busy daytime city into its evening mood.
From Sainte-Chapelle to Notre-Dame
After spending some time around Sainte-Chapelle, we continued walking towards Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Seeing Notre-Dame while walking through the historic heart of Paris felt very different from simply arriving there by transport.
The journey itself became part of the experience.
The river, old buildings and narrow streets around this part of Paris make you want to keep walking, even after you have already spent most of the day on your feet.
A Coffee Break and an Evening Walk Through Le Marais
After so much walking, it was definitely time to slow down.
We found a local café, sat down and relaxed with a coffee.
Sometimes these simple breaks become some of my favourite travel memories. No sightseeing plan, no rush and no next attraction to reach immediately — just sitting in a Paris café after a long day and watching the city around us.
Feeling refreshed, we continued with a walk through Le Marais.
Le Marais has its own personality. Walking through its streets in the evening was a lovely way to finish our exploration of central Paris for the day.
Ending the Day with Pizza Near Our Airbnb
Eventually, after a very long day of sightseeing and walking, we made our way back towards our Airbnb.
There was no need for anything complicated for dinner.
We found pizza nearby, sat down, relaxed and enjoyed our meal.
From morning coffee and a neighbourhood bakery to the grandeur of Palais Garnier, Indian food near Galeries Lafayette, panoramic Paris views, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre-Dame, an evening coffee and a walk through Le Marais — it had been a full day.
And Paris is one of those cities where even the journey between two places can become part of the memory.
FAQs
What did you visit in Paris on 3 September 2026?
We visited the area around Palais Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame before finishing the evening with coffee and a walk through Le Marais.
How did you start your day in Paris?
We started with coffee and something fresh from a local bakery near our Airbnb before taking a local train towards Opera Garnier.
Is Palais Garnier worth seeing when visiting Paris?
For us, it certainly was a memorable stop. Even standing outside, the architecture, sculptures and decorative details made Palais Garnier impressive to see.
Where did you have lunch near Galeries Lafayette?
We found Indian food near Galeries Lafayette. After several hours of exploring, having something familiar was a nice break before continuing our day.
Can you see Paris from the top of Galeries Lafayette?
We went to the top of Galeries Lafayette and spent some time enjoying the view across Paris. It was one of the highlights of our afternoon.
Did you walk from Sainte-Chapelle to Notre-Dame?
Yes. After spending some time around Sainte-Chapelle in the evening, we continued on foot towards Notre-Dame.
Is Paris enjoyable to explore on foot?
Walking was one of my favourite parts of our Paris experience because it allowed us to notice cafés, architecture, streets and everyday city life between the major attractions.
What was Le Marais like in the evening?
For us, Le Marais was a lovely area for a relaxed evening walk after a busy day of sightseeing. We had already stopped for coffee, so we could simply slow down and enjoy walking around.
Where did you have dinner after sightseeing in Paris?
After returning towards our Airbnb, we kept dinner simple and enjoyed pizza nearby after a long day of walking.
What was your favourite part of this day in Paris?
Rather than one individual attraction, what made the day memorable was the whole experience — coffee, architecture, food, rooftop views, historic landmarks and simply walking through Paris from one neighbourhood to another.