n9 – Page 3 – The Wknd Travel

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Rome at Night, City Walking Tour & Departure [Part 3 of 3]

In the last few blog posts [Rome Part 1 & Rome Part 2], I shared with you our first few days around Rome. My friend and I have been to a few notable places during these days and enjoyed our time in the beautiful city.

Today, I will share with you what we did on our remaining days and nights in Rome. Spoiler alert! I went around Rome at night with my uncle. My friend and I joined a free walking tour and enjoyed our last few days in the city. More information about these below.

ACCOMMODATION

Rome is one of the few key cities in Europe that is budget traveler-friendly. The city has affordable and reasonable accommodation rates far from the expensive per night rates in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. There are hostels available for less than €20 per night. These hostels even offer better and more-valued experiences than those from the other expensive cities.

My friend and I stayed at The RomeHello for 5 nights. We had a pleasant and memorable hostel experience with this high-rated and affordable hostel. We believe the hostel ticked all the boxes – cheap and reasonable rates, a central location, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, fun activities, tours and experiences and a traveler-friendly vibe. I wrote about our RomeHello experience in the latest Hostel of the Day feature; I hope you can check it out here.

GOING AROUND ROME

Going around Rome is easy. If you do not mind walking all day, you can practically visit all popular sights by foot. Another way to visit these spots is by taking the Metro Line A. This underground metro has stations dedicated to and near the popular Roman attractions.

Unlike in Paris where we used the Navigo card, my friend and I only bought single journey train tickets during our Rome visit. The one-way BIT Metro Ticket costs €1,50 valid for 100 minutes after the first stamp. This ticket is valid for 1 metro or train ride only. Take note that there are other available metro tickets such as the Metro Card, the Rome Travel Card and the 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour passes. We planned our itinerary well so we do not have to purchase these passes.

Day 4 – Rome at Night

Before flying to Europe, I messaged a priest uncle (my mom’s childhood friend) based in Rome and told him that I will visit the city. I gave him our schedule and was told that he will message me when the dates were near. I did not hear from him until our fourth day in Rome. I was in the hostel room, lying in my bed after a tiring but meaningful day at Vatican City when I got a message from him. I was asked if I was free for dinner and a night tour around the city. I immediately said yes and I got picked up at the hostel an hour after. My friend skipped this night tour with uncle.

We first drove to a residential street named Via Niccolò Piccolomini. Here, we saw an illusion where the Saint Peter’s Basilica Dome became bigger as we move away from it. It is against the usual phenomenon where something gets smaller if you move away from it. Too bad I did not take photos or videos about this illusion.

After that, we headed to Trastevere and had dinner at Hosteria Del Moro. Uncle treated me to a traditional Italian course dinner. We started with prosecco for aperitivo, fried zucchini for antipasti and spaghetti amatriciana for primi (first main course). We also had red wine on the side. Unfortunately, we were full and decided to skip secondi (second main course), contorni (vegetable side dish) and formaggi e frutta (fruit and cheese plate). We had tiramusi for dolce (dessert) and grappa for digestivo (digestive alcoholic drink). Uncle still had caffe (espresso) after dessert before the digestivo.

After dinner, we visited Saint Peter’s Square then went to outside of Castel Sant’Angelo, a mausoleum turned pope’s fortress and castle and now a museum. We continued the night tour to the Temple of the Gods – the Pantheon and Piazza Navona (again).

We dropped by Piazza Venezia (again), walked to the Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) and headed to the Spanish Steps. We passed by the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Italian: Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore) – the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary – before heading to our final stop – the Colosseum (again). After this, uncle dropped me back to the hostel and we called it a night.

Thanks to my uncle for the sumptuous Italian dinner and for taking me around Rome during night time. The city looks and feels different at night; it has a different beauty and charm that people should aim to discover and explore.

Day 5 – Laundry DAY & City Walking Tour

We had a more relaxed fifth day in Rome. We started our day with the hostel’s buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar and Grill by Tyler. After that, we did our laundry and waited for the clothes to dry up.

In the afternoon, we joined New Rome Free Tour’s tip-based 5:00pm City Centre Free Walking Tour. Our guide, Niccolo, toured us around the city center, shared the city’s history and politics and gave trivia about each place we visited. We went to the following places:

Spanish Square (Italian: Piazza di Spagna) – The Spanish Square is a famous square in Rome in front of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See. It is also where the famous 135-step Spanish Steps is found.

Column of the Immaculate Conception (Italian: Colonna dell’ Immacolata) – This column is a monument that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to our guide, the Pope visits this monument every 8^th of December and offers flowers to the bronze statue of Mary.

Via Condotti Shopping Street (Italian: Via Condotti) – Via Condotti is Rome’s most fashionable street. It is where branded shops and luxury boutiques are found; it is the perfect place to go shopping when in Rome.

Column of Marcus Aurelius (Italian: Colonna di Marco Aurelio) – This historic monument that is dedicated to the Roman victory in the Marcomannic Wars.

Navona Square (Italian: Piazza Navona) – Navona Square is a large square in the center of Rome. It used to be the place where Stadium of Domitian was built in 80 AD. It has 3 fountains – the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno).

Pantheon – The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the twelve Gods. Through the years, it has been converted into a Catholic church known as the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres) and now as a museum. The Pantheon is known for its huge dome structure and its dome opening that allows the sunlight and rain to go inside the building. Entrance to the Pantheon is free of charge.

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius (Italian: Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio) – This Baroque-style church is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. It also features Andrea Pozzo’s tompe-l’œil (optional illusion of three-dimensional paintings in flat surfaces) paintings in the dome and ceiling.

Temple of Hadrian (Italian: Il Tempio di Adriano) – This temple is dedicated to deified emperor Hadrian, the Roman emperor from 117 to 138.

Galleria Alberto Sordi – Galleria Alberto Sordi is a famous shopping arcade in Rome named after Italian actor Alberto Sordi. It used to be called Galleria Colonna due to its proximity to Piazza Colonna.

Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) – The Trevi Fountain is a Baroque-style fountain found in the center of Rome. Designed by Nicola Salvi, this fountain is one of the most famous around the world. It is also famous for coin throwing which they say has different meanings depending on the number of coins you throw.

The walking tour ended at the Trevi Fountain. My friend and I had dinner at a traditional restaurant named Taverna del Seminario near the Pantheon. I ordered a whole of pizza capricciosa for myself and I was super full. After dinner, we walked back to the hostel and started packing our stuff.

Day 6 – Departure

Our 6^th day in Rome was just all about departure. We woke up early, prepared our bags and checked out of The RomeHello. We took a FreeNow ride to Rome Tiburtina Bus Station and waited for our FlixBus ride to our next Italian destination – Florence.

This pretty much ends our 6 days around the beautiful city of Rome in Italy. In case you missed our first few days, please feel free to check out our Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum Tour, Trastevere Food Tour and our Vatican Trips in the previous Rome blog posts.

Have you been to Rome, Italy? If yes, which is your favorite spot and why? If not yet but you are planning to visit, which spot are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Post them in the comments or feel free to send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me and please look forward to the next Italy-related post. In case you missed it, before we explored Rome, my friend and I spent a few days around Paris and Versailles in France. You can find all Europe-related content under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Arrival, Colosseum Tour & Trastevere Food Tour [Part 1 of 3]

My friends and I have always wanted to go to Italy. Last November 2022, we finally got the chance to visit this beautiful country. We spent 2 weeks around the key Italian cities of Rome, Florence and Milan. After exploring Paris for 5 days, my friend and I took an Air France flight to our first Italian destination – Rome, Italy. We explored this historic city for 6 days and 5 nights.

Allow me to share with you what happened, which places we visited and what tours we took on our first few days around the wonderful city of Rome, Italy.

Accommodation

Going Around Rome

Day 1 – Arrival

My friend and I arrived Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) at 4:40pm onboard Air France flight AF 1304 from Paris, France. We got our luggage after disembarkation and took the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. This 30-ish minute train ride cost €14 per person. From Roma Termini, we walked to The RomeHello, checked-in and took a rest.

We went out for dinner and caught up with our college friends in a famous local restaurant near Roma Termini – La Famiglia. I got a whole pizza for myself and paired with a classic Aperol spritz. After dinner, we walked towards Gelateria La Romana and got authentic gelato for dessert. After dessert, we walked back to the hostel and called it a night.

Day 2 – Palatine Hill, Roman Forum & Colosseum Tour + Piazza Navona

We started our 2^nd day in Rome with a quick train ride from Repubblica Station to Vittorio Emanuele Station on Metro Line A. We then walked to a local place called Caffè Antica Roma for breakfast. We ordered maritozzo (a traditional sweet pastry filled with whipped cream), pistachio croissant and cappuccino.

After breakfast, we walked to our tour meet-up place. We got an English guided tour around Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum (including Gladiator Gate and Colosseum Arena) with Enjoy Rome Tours for only €42 (at that time) per person. We visited the following places during the guided tour:

Arch of Constantine (Italian: Arco di Costantino) – This arch was built to commemorate Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge that led to his takeover of the Western Roman Empire.

Palatine Hill (Italian: Monte Palatino) – Palatine Hill is believed to be the birthplace of Rome. Known as the centermost and most famous of the seven hills, this hill used to be Ancient Rome’s most sought-after neighborhood. High-profile businessmen, politicians and elites used to live in this hill.

Roman Forum (Italian: Foro Romano) – Situated between the Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum was the place for trade, ceremonies and public engagements.

Colosseum (Italian: Colosseo) – The Colosseum is a world-famous amphitheater that used to host gladiator wars and public events. This elliptical structure is located east of the Roman Forum near the Palatine Hill.

Our 3-hour guided tour included a pass through a Gladiator Gate and a brief visit to the Colosseum Arena where the gladiator matches take place. It also included a visit to the higher areas of the Colosseum. The tour ended inside the Colosseum.

After the tour, we took an Uber to a local Roman restaurant named Osteria da Fortunata to have lunch. We ordered their house-special carbonara (with handmade noodles) and paired it with limoncello.

After lunch, we walked towards Piazza Navona – a large public square in the heart of Rome. We saw several fountain masterpieces such as the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno). We also saw the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone in the public square.

We dropped by Cremi Gelateria Artigianale and got gelato for dessert. After spending a few minutes in Piazza Navona, we passed by Piazza Venezia and saw the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument (Italian: Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II). We continued our walk back to The RomeHello and joined the evening carbonara cooking class.

Day 3 Part 1 – Trastevere Food Tour

Our 3^rd day in Rome was as hectic as our 2^nd day. We started our day with The RomeHello’s €7 buffet breakfast. After this, we took a FreeNow ride to Tiber Island (Italian: Isola Tiberina) for our tour’s meeting place.

We joined Free Rome Food Tour’s tip-based Trastevere Food Tour. Trastevere is an old but beautiful neighborhood found on the opposite bank of the river Tiber. Centuries ago, this area, characterized by narrow streets, cobblestone pavements and ancient houses, used to be the place where the working classes lived. At present, it is now a neighborhood famous for its cafes, wine bars, restaurants and craft shops.

We met our guide and tour group in front of The Basilica of St. Bartholomew (Italian: Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola) and started the walking food tour at 11:00 am. We were told to prepare at least €10 each for all the food and snacks we will have during the tour.

Allow me to share the places we visited and the local delicacies we tried.

Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti – This is a family-run patisserie that sells sweet bread, cookies, tarts and pastries. Signora Stefania and her family bakes these treats daily in their large oven. We bought some cookies and tried them during the tour.

Supplì Roma – Supplì Roma is a fast-food shop that cooks traditional Italian dishes daily. They are famous for their pastas, pizzas and more importantly their supplì. Supplì is an Italian fried snack ball made of a rice and tomato sauce wrapped in egg and breadcrumbs. We tried the classic and cheese-flavored supplì.

Antica Caciara Trasteverina – It is a family-run cheese shop that sells locally-produced cheese and deli. They are also famous for selling locally-produced pecorino cheese. We tried their pecorino cheese and ended up buying at 100 grams of it.

Giselda Forno – We had our tour lunch break at Giselda Forno. We had pizza and pasta (I only had pasta) in this local café / bakery.

La Norcineria di Lacozzilli – After lunch, we headed to another cheese and deli shop named La Norcineria di Lacozzilli. We tried their porchetta – an Italian savory pork roast.

Bar San Calisto – Our food tour finished at this local bar. Bar San Calisto serves a must-try when in Trastevere – red wine gelato.

After the food tour, my friend and I went to Vatican City for something I will share in the next Rome blog post. This sums up our first few days around Rome. We have not been to a lot of places yet but we made sure that we enjoyed every single moment we have in every place.

This sums up our first 3.5 days around the beautiful city of Rome. Have you been to the city? If yes, which one is your favorite landmark and why? Share your answers and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Rome or anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s first blog post about Rome. Please stay tuned for parts 2 and 3. In case you missed it, I already shared details about our visit to Paris and Versailles in France; I hope you can also check them out.

Before you go, if you want to be updated on the latest travel itineraries, hostel posts and flight reports, please like and follow my Facebook page. You may also follow me on Instagram. Again, thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: AIR FRANCE AF 1304 – Paris CDG to Rome – Short Inter-European Hop to Italy’s Capital City [November 2022]

After spending 5 days around Paris (Days 1 and 2 + Days 3, 4 and 5), it was time for us to leave this beautiful city. My friend and I took an Uber from Le Village Montmartre to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and hopped on a short flight to another beautiful and famous city – Rome, Italy. We flew with Air France on their inter-European flight AF 1304 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Rome–Fiumicino International Airport. Join me in today’s flight report as I run you through my first-ever Air France flight experience.

Air France

Air France is the flag carrier of France. Founded in 1933 from a merger of a few airlines, the airline is one of the biggest subsidiaries of the Air France-KLM Group. It operates most of its flights from its hubs in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly Airports.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category..

The airline flies to over 90 countries and 200 destinations in the 6 habitable continents. It has a mixed fleet of narrow and wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline also operates a cargo division named Air France Cargo. The airline also has substantial shares in regional carrier HOP! (also known as Air France Hop) and low-cost carrier Transavia France.

Air France’ frequent flyer program is called Flying Blue. The airline is a founding member of one of the world’s biggest airline alliances (with 19 members) – SkyTeam. Aside from this alliance, the airline also has codeshare and interline agreements with over 50 airlines from all over the world.

Air France is a semi full-service carrier. The airline provides inflight snacks and drinks on their short, medium, and long-haul flights. Complimentary check-in baggage depends on fare bundle you purchase from the airline. Basic fares normally only include carry-on baggage allowance with check-in baggage available for a minimal fee (or complimentary in a higher fare bundle). The airline offers inflight entertainment in selected sectors but not on flights within Europe.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

My friend and I booked our flights 4 months before our intended trip; we paid €116,64 each for this one-way economy class flight. We were charged by our bank ₱6,854.74 each including foreign currency conversion fees.

This expensive ticket included 12 kilograms of carry-on baggage (1 backpack or luggage + 1 accessory bag), 23 kilograms of pre-booked check-in baggage, a randomly-assigned seat during check-in and inflight snacks. Unfortunately, the plane assigned to this flight did not feature personal entertainment screens.

This ticket was probably one of the most expensive one-way economy class tickets I have purchased to date. It is more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines Brussels to Prague and Czech Airlines Prague to Copenhagen flights combined. It is even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh one-way business class flight last January 2023. It came with a hefty price but it was the best and most convenient option that fit our itinerary.

Travel Requirements

Italy has scrapped all pandemic-related requirements during our flight back in November 2022. The airline only required a valid ID for Schengen residents and passport for foreigners or visitors.

Before the Flight

30 hours before the flight, Air France sent an e-mail advising that our flight is already open for online check-in. We checked in for our flight and were assigned to exit row seats – 25B and 25C.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Air France flight AF 1304 was operated by a 24.7-year-old Airbus A321-200 aircraft. This aircraft, delivered to the airline in March 1998, has 212 seats in a 2-class configuration – business class and economy class. All seats had a 3-3 configuration with business class section having a blocked middle seat. The blocked middle seat business class configuration is typical in inter-European flights.

AP 1304 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport at 3:06pm and landed at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport at 4:40pm. The quick and relatively uneventful flight only took 1 hour and 34 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

At the time of the flight, this Air France flight to Rome departed from Paris CDG Terminal 2F.

CHECK-IN

Airport check-in / bag drop for Air France flights open exactly 2 hours before the flight. All passengers can print their boarding passes and luggage tags using the check-in kiosks outside the bag drop area. After printing the boarding pass and tags, those with luggage can drop their bags in the automated bag drop machines. Our check-in and bag drop process only took 4 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we got some snacks then passed by final security. Airport authorities in the European Union ask all passengers to take out all laptops and 100-ml liquids from the bags and have them checked in using a separate tray. They are a bit strict compared to how security checks are made in the Philippines. We then walked to Gate F28 and waited for boarding to start.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 2:14pm. Business class passengers, Flying Blue and SkyTeam status holders boarded first. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The crew handed out face masks and sanitary wipes to passengers upon entering the aircraft.

The aircraft doors were closed at exactly 2:50pm. The whole boarding process took 36 minutes. It took longer than usual because all seats were booked. There were no empty seats.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The aircraft used in this flight is equipped with 212 seats on an all-economy class 3-3 configuration. The cabin features a business class section but only with the typical blocked middle seat on a few rows. Each seat has 18 inches width and 32 inches of leg space.

Each seat features a foldable tray table, a small seat pocket with an aircraft safety card and a decent recline. Passengers have access to individual reading lights, air nozzles and attendant call buttons. Each row also has 2 USB charging ports which passengers can use during the flight. Short haul flights on economy do not feature headrests, pillows, and blankets.

I got seat 25B – a middle emergency exit row seat which cannot be reclined. I got a bigger than usual leg room; I had a pleasant seat experience in this short flight to Rome.

INFLIGHT SNACK

The cabin crew started the snack service 15 minutes after take-off. They offered sandwiches and a long list of drink options for passengers to choose from – beers, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, wine, coffee, tea, water, and spirits.

I got a ham sandwich and a can of Heineken beer. I applaud Air France for keeping the snack service even on such short inter-European flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

This Airbus A321 aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Air France does not offer inflight entertainment options on their flights within Europe.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

I saw an icon in the aircraft saying that this Airbus A321 is equipped with on-board wi-fi service. I tried to connect during the flight but I did not see an active wi-fi option during the flight.

LAVATORY

The lavatory was busy throughout this full flight to Rome. I decided to skip it and used the toilet upon arrival at Rome–Fiumicino International Airport.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight from Paris to Rome was just alright. The crew did their job in assisting the passengers during boarding and meal service.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation and baggage claim process was quick and organized. We got off in a gate far at the far end of the terminal, walked towards baggage claim area and got our suitcases in no time.

Final Thoughts

It was an interesting experience with Air France. I will not say it is a great flight but a normal or usual inter-European flight.

Here are some points where I believe the airline excelled. First, check-in and bag drop process was quick and efficient. All passengers will check-in through the kiosks and print their boarding pass and luggage tags. After this, those with check-in luggage need to surrender their bags in the automated bag drop counters. The whole process finished in less than 5 minutes including a short queue.

Second, Air France provides a generous carry-on baggage allowance of 12 kilograms for a bag and a personal item. I believe they are the only airline that I have flown so far that allowed up to this generous allowance. Third, the airline provided masks and disinfectant wipes during boarding.

Lastly, the airline provided a snack service (sandwich and beverage of choice) on this 1.5-hour flight to Rome. I, kind of, expected it given Air France is a full-service airline but I did not think that the beverage list will be that extensive.

This flight also had some let downs. First, the fare was not cheap. I booked the ticket 4 months before the intended flight date but it was still more expensive than my 2019 Brussels Airlines and Czech Airlines tickets combined. It was even more expensive than my Vietnam Airlines business class ticket from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. Maybe the fare was expensive because of high demand (the flight was full), soaring fuel prices (at that time) and inflation?

Second, the cabin cleanliness can be improved. The tray table, seat pocket and seat itself were all unacceptably dirty. Third, the aircraft does not feature wi-fi service even if there were signs showing that it is wi-fi equipped. Fourth, without the meal service, I felt like I was flying a low-cost carrier. I may not be used to how flights are within Europe but I felt like it was just so-so.

This sums up my first ever Air France inter-European flight. Will I fly them again in the future? For sure I will but only if the flight schedule fits my itinerary. Please note that this will only apply for flights within Europe. I am still keen on trying their medium and long-haul products.

Do you want to know the geeky details of this flight? Here you go!

Airline: Air France
Flight Date: 20 November 2022
Flight Number: AF 1304
Route: Paris, France (CDG) to Rome, Italy (FCO)
Duration: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Seat Number: 25B (middle emergency exit seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-200
Aircraft Registration: F-GTAE
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56 engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 24.7 years old
Delivered: March 1998

Have you tried Air France in their short, medium and long-haul routes? How was your experience? Share them in the comments section below. Do you have comments, suggestions, or questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to comment them below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me on this Air France flight report. I have a long list of flight reports and Europe blog contents coming up so I hope you can watch out for them. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Paris Museum Pass – I have repeatedly mentioned this pass in my Paris (Days 1-2 and Days 3-5) and Versailles blog posts. My friend and I availed of and used this pass to enter different museums and monuments during our trip to Paris and Versailles last November 2022. Today, I will share with you my thoughts about this pass and whether it is worth it.

Paris Museum Pass

Paris Museum Pass is a tourist pass that gives access to over 50 museums, chateaux and monuments located in Paris and in the Paris Region. It allows access to famous sites such as Arc de Triomphe, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles et de Trianon.

This pass allows the pass holder to visit as many museums, chateaux and monuments as possible (found in this list: Paris, Paris Region) for a specific cost and under a specific timeframe. The pass only allows single entry per site during its validity.

Cost & Validity

My friend and I bought our 48-hour pass for €52 each last November 2022. Prices have changed since then. As of April 2023, the Paris Museum Pass now costs €55 for the 2-day / 48-hour pass, €70 for the 4-day / 96-hour pass and €85 for the 6-day / 144-hour pass.

As per the website, museum pass savings / value is unlocked from the 4^th visit for the 48-hour pass, from the 5^th visit for the 96-hour pass and from the 6^th visit for the 144-hour pass. Please also take note that the count / validity starts from the time of the 1^st visit.

Please note that most museums and sites are free of charge for non-EU national visitors up to 18 years old and up to 26 years old for nationals of the European Union.

Where To Buy

Interested visitors can avail of the Paris Museum Pass in 2 ways – online and on site. Those who want to save time and paper can buy their Paris Museum Pass from the website. Those interested can choose from French, English, Spanish, Italian and German and will receive the pass in the chosen language. The museum pass will be sent via e-mail; it can be presented via mobile phone in the checkpoints.

Panthéon can be accessed using this pass.

Those who want to have a physical copy of the museum pass can buy the paper ticket from the Tourist Information Points found in major airports (CDG and ORY), train stations and even in major museums / sites. We bought our pass at CDG Airport Terminal 2F’s Tourist Information Point.

The Paris Museum Pass, once purchased, cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded.

Advantages

Now that we know more about the Paris Museum Pass, let us look at the advantages of having this pass during your visit to Paris.

Fixed cost for all major museums and sites – The Paris Museum Pass already includes all the entry fees of the sites and museums listed in the website. Pass holders do not need to shell out additional euros to enter these sites.

Two must-see in Musée du Louvre. You can see both using your Paris Museum Pass.

Perfect for visitors with limited time in Paris – The pass provides visitors the chance to cover as many museums, sites and chateaux as possible during their limited time in the city.

Hassle-free and separate entry in selected sites – Pass holders need not to worry about long queues. Most of the sites have a special line for Paris Museum Pass holders. These special lines are often not crowded and provide immediate entry to the museum.

Special Line for Paris Museum Pass Holders

Great value for money – The Paris Museum Pass provides a great value for money for those who are visiting Paris in a well-planned itinerary. You can visit up to 5 sites in a day provided you have allotted ample time for all these places.

Disadvantages

The Paris Museum Pass also has some disadvantages. Let us discuss some of them below.

Some sites require reservations / timed-entry – Major museums and sites require timed-entry reservations which is almost like buying entry tickets for these sites.

Not ideal for long visits – The Paris Museum Pass is not for those who plan to stay longer in every museum / site or in Paris in general. This pass is not for you if you are the type of traveler who wants to explore in a calm and relaxing pace.

It does not cover all Paris landmarks – The pass does not cover other Paris Landmarks such as The Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and The Paris Catacombs. You need to pay extra to enter these landmarks.

Pass is not for everyone – The Paris Museum Pass is not valid for those visiting below 18 years old for non-EU nationals and below 26 years old for EU nationals. It may also be not for backpackers or those who are travelling on a budget because it comes with a hefty price. There could also be other passes like the Paris Pass which suits your travelling style.

Tips to Maximize Paris Museum Pass

I want to share with you some tips on how you can maximize your Paris Museum Pass.

Check museum / site opening hours – Some museums and sites have extended operating hours a day every week. For example, Musée du Louvre is open until 9:45pm every Friday compared to the usual 6:00pm closing time on a normal day. On the other hand, Musée d’Orsay extends its opening hours to 9:45pm every Thursday, from the usual 6:00pm on other days. If you have the 48-hour pass and you started it on a Thursday morning, you can visit Musée d’Orsay on Thursday night, Musée du Louvre on Friday night and make time for other museums and sites during the day.

Be aware of museum / site closures – The museums and sites usually have 1 day in a week when they are closed. Musée du Louvre is closed every Tuesday, Musée d’Orsay and Château de Versailles et de Trianon are closed every Monday. Some of them are also closed during Christmas, New Year and other special holidays.

Château de Versailles is can also be accessed using the Paris Museum Pass.

Know which museums and sites require timed-entry reservations – Some museums and sites require Paris Museum Pass holders to book and reserve their visits. These schedules make the pass holder’s visit faster and secured. Sites that require reservations include Château de Versailles et de Trianon, Saint-Chapelle and Musée du Louvre. Please note that pass holders do not need to pay in reserving their slots / schedules.

Saint-Chapelle is included in the Paris Museum Pass

Plan your itinerary well – Maximize the cost of the Paris Museum Pass by planning your itinerary well. Avoid redeeming the pass during days when some museums are closed; also take advantage of longer museum hours.

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

It is time to answer the most important question. Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? For the sake of this post, I will make a stand and answer it with a Conditional Yes. It is not an easy ‘yes’ but a conditional one where you will be only be in Paris for a limited time / period and you have a well-planned itinerary to maximize it.

My friend and I planned our itinerary well and used the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass in the following attractions: Saint-Chappelle (€11,50), Musée du Louvre (€17), Musée d’Orsay (€16), Château de Versailles and Trianon Estate (€21,50) and Panthéon (€11,50). We had plans of going up the Arc de Triomphe but we opted to skip it last-minute and met with our friends instead. We only paid €52 each (that time) for the pass and used it in 6 museums and sites that cost €77,50 in total if availed individually. On top of it, we saved tons of time by not queuing in all these attractions.

The Paris Museum Pass is not a cheap investment when visiting Paris but it is something that can be maximized during the availed timeframe. The key to maximizing the pass is knowing which places you want to visit and planning your itinerary well.

What do you think of the Paris Museum Pass? Is it something that caters to you as a traveler? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? Apart from posting it below, you may also send it via e-mail contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Don’t forget to check out my previous posts about Paris – N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2], N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5], N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog & Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District.

Thank you for joining me in today’s review. Please watch out for more Europe posts in the coming weeks. Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog

Previously, I shared with you what my friends and I did in Paris for 5 days. I posted 2 blogs (Days 1 and 2, Days 3-5) giving details about our trips to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chapelle, Basilica of Sacré Coeur and all other Parisian landmarks. I also mentioned in my Days 3-5 blog that we took a day trip to Versailles to check out Château de Versailles. Allow me to share with you photos and some details about this day trip.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 7^th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our 5 days around Paris – Days 1-2 and Days 3-5.

Château de Versailles

Château de Versailles or The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence located about 20 kilometers away from Paris. It started out as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII and was then expanded by King Louis XIV into a grand palace and estate. With the hopes of controlling his power and reign over Paris, King Louis XIV transferred the seat of his government and court to Versailles. That time, the Palace was the capital of France. The French Revolution prompted the royal family to return to Paris in 1789 bringing the country’s capital back to Paris.

The Palace of Versailles now sits as a popular museum visited by millions of tourists per year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its contributions to French history. The 800-hectare estate is divided into sections: The Palace, The Gardens, The Estate of Trianon, The Park, The Royal Tennis Court, The Great and The Small Stables.

Transportation

Most people visit Château de Versailles on a guided tour. My friend and I decided to visit it on our own. From Anvers Station, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station, changed to Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Invalides Station. From there, we transferred to the RER C (Yellow) Service to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station.

The train journey including transfers took about an hour but the train ride from Invalides Station to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station only took half an hour. From the station, we walked for less than a kilometer (about 10 minutes) to the Palace Gate. We took the same way back to Paris after the visit to the estate.

I am very sorry I don’t have the exact cost as to how much the train rides cost. The trains, including the RER C (Yellow) service is included in the Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass we availed. Please note that there are other options to the palace from the Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite Stations.

Opening Times

The Palace opens every day except Mondays at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Estate of Trianon opens every day except Mondays at 12:00 pm and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Palace Gardens and The Park open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm except during extreme weather conditions like strong winds and snow.

Ticket PRICES

The Palace of Versailles offers a variety of tickets depending on what the visitor wants to experience. The Palace-only ticket costs €19,50 per person; it guarantees access to the Palace on a timed entry, to the temporary exhibitions, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Estate of Trianon-only ticket costs €12 per person. This ticket guarantees access to the Trianon Estate from 12:30pm, to the temporary exhibitions within the estate, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Palace also offers a combination ticket for both the Palace and The Trianon Estate. This combination ticket called Passport costs €21,50 per person. There are still other ticket options; feel free to check these in the Palace website.

I mentioned in the Paris Days 1-2 and 3-5 blog posts that my friend and I availed of the Paris Museum Pass. This museum pass includes Château de Versailles in the list of museums and sites that can be visited with the pass. My friend and I used our Paris Museum Pass to enter both the Palace and the Trianon Estate. We did not pay anything to enter these sites.

Note: Château de Versailles requires timed entry bookings even for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our schedules through the Palace website a few weeks before our intended visit. We got the 9:00 morning schedule for the Palace and the 12:00 noon schedule for the Trianon Estate. The staff only scanned our Paris Museum Pass at the entrance.

Château de Versailles Photos

THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES

The Grand Commun

The Royal Chapel

The Hall of Mirrors

The Royal Apartments

THE GARDENS

THE ESTATE OF TRIANON

The Grand Trianon

The Petit Trianon

The French Gardens of The Petit Trianon

The English Gardens

Beautiful place, right? No wonder millions of people visit the estate yearly. Château de Versailles is a day trip worth taking outside Paris!

The Hall of Mirrors was charming without other tourists / visitors. It felt surreal seeing it in person. I also liked The Petit Trianon and The English Gardens. Which area of Château de Versailles is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Château de Versailles? You may post them in the comments below or you may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through today’s photoblog. Thank you for checking up to this part. In case you missed it, my friends and I also went around Paris, France for 5 days. Feel free to check my posts about this postcard-perfect city – Days 1 and 2 + Days 3 to 5. Everything about our 3.5-week trip to Euro can be found under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for more posts about this trip!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.