From the outside, the elaborate French Renaissance architecture of the Paris City Hall is an…read moreimpressive sight to behold. If you were able to book a tour several months in advance, kudos to you for your foresight because there was next to no chance Jamie W and I could see what we heard was quite an opulent 19th-century decor, including a reception area that apparently replicates Versailles' Hall of Mirrors. That was too bad because we visited the real Versailles just the day before. However, when we were circling the building, we discovered there was an exhibition that allowed public access to one area. It celebrated ten years of the Paris Agreement and highlighted each participating country listing the strides made in addressing climate change (Photo 5). The U.S. was conspicuous by its absence. We also noticed the best view of the exterior was across the street at Terraza Mikuna, the rooftop bar at the BHV Marais department store (review: https://yelp.to/w2yP08aK-z). RELATED - Exploring Paris? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/zgkvOwnB6r

This is the city hall of Paris. It's in the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in the Esplanade de la…read moreLibération in the 4th arrondissement. The mayor's house used to be the city hall, but in 1357, the mayor moved the town hall to this place. In 1533, they built the king built the town hall here.

From the owner: Mairie Pour accomplir les différentes formalités administratives, les bureaux sont ouverts du lundi…read moreau vendredi. Le samedi, seuls les services de déclarations de naissance et de décès sont ouverts ainsi que ceux délivrant les fiches d'état-civil. Les locaux hébergent également des services publics dépendants du département ou de l'Etat, comme les services sociaux, une antenne de police et le tribunal d'instance. Certaines associations et organismes sociaux y organisent leur propre permanence, ainsi tous les lundis de 17h à 19h45, des avocats vous apportent des conseils juridiques gratuitement.

From the owner: Mairie En 1852 débutèrent les travaux d'édification du bâtiment principal, sur une parcelle de…read moreterrain appartenant à "la ferme de l'Hôtel Dieu". Acquisition de la ville de Montrouge, ce n'est qu'en 1859 que Paris récupère le bâtiment municipal avec la division en 20 arrondissements et les modifications des limites de la ville.Pour accomplir les différentes formalités administratives, les bureaux sont ouverts du lundi au vendredi. Le samedi, seuls les services de déclarations de naissance et de décès sont ouverts ainsi que ceux délivrant les fiches d'état-civil. Les locaux hébergent également des services publics dépendants du département ou de l'Etat, comme les services sociaux, une antenne de police et le tribunal d'instance. Certaines associations et organismes sociaux y organisent leur propre permanence.

If I could sum up my experience in one word it would be WOW!…read more We came to the Eiffel Tower on a Friday evening and were blown away. To get into the Eiffel Tower and to access the tower itself (on top/under) you will need to go through security screening. Security screening included an x ray of bags and walking through a metal detector. To go under the Eiffel Tower, there was no cost. Once you were under the Eiffel Tower there were stands to purchase treats which included croissants, coffee, and snacks. To go on top of the Eiffel Tower, you had to pay money. We purchased tickets to use the lift to very top which included the second floor and top floor for approximately €37. On the second floor, there was a panoramic view of the city along with gift shops, restaurants, and tapas options. We personally selected Madame Brasserie (one of two high end restaurants). On the top floor, you got a 360 view of the city along with Eiffel's apartment. The top had options to purchase champagne, macarons, or other treats. It was crowded, however, everyone wanted to notice and embrace the beauty of the city. There was also an announcement sharing to be aware of pick pockets, but if you were aware of your surroundings, it was not an issue (just like everywhere, remain diligent and aware). Our experience was beautiful and I can't wait to return.

I went up the Eiffel Tower a few weeks ago for the first time in years. I was with my husband and…read moreour two kids, plus my brothers, my sisters-in-law, and my niece, just for good measure. Getting the tickets was a genuine headache, but the on-the-ground experience was not just magical but surprisingly easy. The online ticketing system leaves much to be desired. I wanted to buy eleven elevator tickets, for eight adults and three children, but was only able to check out with nine. I tried to get the last two in a second transaction but got locked out. Apparently, you can't book that many tickets under a single account, something I wish I'd known before I spent all that money on the nine. I emailed the customer service address and while they responded, they were spectacularly unhelpful. I then tasked my husband, my mother, and my brother with buying the last two tickets from different devices, and I don't understand why, but none of them were able to get through. The site was also annoying in that we had to make all of our selections and input credit card information before getting frozen out without explanation. My parents decided they didn't need to go up the tower anyway, as they'd been pretty recently, and that's how the issue resolved. I guess we could've gotten them tickets day of, but no one had the will for it, so the rest of us just went up while they hung out in the park at the base of the tower. My branch of the family was running late for our 4:00 entry and had a fairly stressful time making that long jaunt from the Trocadero to the tower. There was some security to get into the park, but it went quickly, and once we were in, we found the entrance for ticket holders right away. To my amazement, there was no line, and we were riding a diagonal elevator up the tower about as soon as we arrived. I love the Eiffel Tower and loved visiting with my children, who were awed by both the iconic structure and the marvelous views. It's great to admire from afar, but well worth a dedicated excursion. I look forward to going back whenever I'm back in Paris.

We stumbled upon city hall while out walking through the city. Not knowing what the building is…read more(there's nary a sign around), we googled the site only to discover that it was the City Hall of Paris. The beauty of the building is undeniable..it is quite breathtaking. In the courtyard in front of the building there is a small merry-go-round (only suitable for children) and a beautiful fountain. Worth checking out.