5 days in Zagreb-Impressions and Experiences

Zagreb is a small and charming city. When I visited in February, there weren’t many tourists, which made my stay very relaxed. The city has an efficient public transportation system, mainly consisting of trams and buses that can take you almost anywhere you want to go. There's also an international bus terminal with routes to neighboring countries like Slovenia and other parts of Croatia.

The tram and bus system uses paper tickets that are valid for different durations—30, 60, or 90 minutes—depending on the fare. When you board a tram, you need to validate your ticket by inserting it into a machine onboard. While ticket inspections don’t happen all the time, I did see staff checking tickets during my stay. I bought a few tickets of different durations from a tobacco booth located right in the center of the Old Town Square, next to the tram station.

Zagreb's city center is very walkable, with many attractions easily accessible on foot. It can be a bit hilly when walking between the Lower Town and Upper Town, but it's manageable. The Old Town Square is a lively meeting spot for locals, and the city offers a range of museums and interesting sites for visitors to explore.

I spent five days in Zagreb, including a day trip by bus to Ljubljana, which I found to be plenty of time to see the city at a comfortable pace.

I stayed right on the Old Town Square, which turned out to be a very convenient location with easy access to the tram system. The locals I met were friendly, and most spoke fluent English.

The taxi ride from the airport to the Old Town Square took about 25 minutes and was smooth. Since cars aren't allowed in the square itself, the taxi dropped me off nearby, and I walked a short distance to my hotel.

Traveling from city center to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport

In Paris, when using your Navigo card, you only need to tap it when entering the metro—there’s no need to tap out when exiting. This makes sense since all rides are a flat fee of €2.90. Many cities around the world now use contactless payment instead of traditional metro cards. I’m still waiting for Paris and Washington, D.C. to fully catch up with that trend.

To get to Charles de Gaulle Airport, there’s a train from Paris Gare du Nord via the RER B line. You’ll need to buy a paper ticket in advance for this train, which you can purchase at any metro station. This ticket is required both to enter the gate to the RER B platform (usually platform 32) and again to exit at the airport.

I initially thought the RER B was an express airport train, but it’s not. In the morning, it’s heavily used by commuters, so be prepared—it can be very crowded. I was there around 8:30 a.m., and although it was packed, trains arrived every couple of minutes. Note that there’s no dedicated luggage rack on the train.

While exiting at Charles de Gaulle, I noticed a few young girls quickly slipping through the gates behind passengers to avoid paying. I also saw two people using just one ticket to enter. Apparently, all you need is speed—LOL.

I got off at Terminal 2, the last stop. For my flight to Zagreb with Croatia Airlines, I needed to get to Terminal 2G. I followed the signs but after walking for about 10 minutes, I ended up at Terminal 2F without realizing it. From there, I exited the building and caught the N2 shuttle bus to Terminal 2G. Be aware that the airport has many terminals and it's easy to get turned around.

Each terminal has its own security checkpoint after you check in and drop off your luggage.

Paris Day 3-Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, Place du Trocadéro

Today, Katie suggested we visit the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre.

Before heading there, I asked Kathi if we could stop briefly at Place du Trocadéro—a perfect spot to snap a few photos with the Eiffel Tower in the background. We arrived just before the sun fully emerged, and managed to get a few nice shots before continuing on.

To reach the basilica, we took the metro and got off near the Moulin Rouge theatre. We had considered going to a dinner show there, but it was a bit too pricey—and time was running short. From that point, we simply followed the crowd and began the long, uphill walk toward Sacré-Cœur.

It was a sunny day, and like so many others, we settled on the wide staircase in front of the basilica, soaking up the warmth and the sweeping view of the city below. We rested, people-watched, and simply enjoyed the moment. We didn’t go inside the basilica, as Kathi had only limited time.

Afterward, we strolled downhill through the bustling tourist quarter, lined with cafés, souvenir shops, and artists. Kathi browsed for postcards along the way. At the bottom of the hill, we stopped for lunch at a cozy restaurant—Le Bruant, located at 59 rue des Abbesses. Of course, we made sure to order some escargots!

Following lunch, we did a bit of shopping. I picked up a new pair of sunglasses. We visited Galleries Lafayette, passed by the grand Opéra Garnier, Le Grand Hotel and eventually paused for coffee before Kathi left for the airport. I then walked alone along Avenue Lafayette all the way back to the hotel.

Three days in Paris flew by. I realized then—three days simply aren’t enough. To truly explore and appreciate the richness of Paris, you need at least five to seven days.

Place du Trocadero

Moulin Rouge Theatre

Basilique du Sacre

Galleries Lafyette

Grand Hotel Paris

Opera Garnier

Avenue Lafayette

Paris Day 2 (continued)- Eiffel Tower and City Walk

After leaving the Louvre Museum, Kati led us to a spot ideal for photographing the Eiffel Tower. We took bus #72 and then walked to 12 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, where the Eiffel Tower provides a stunning backdrop for photos. Along the way, we also enjoyed many beautiful Parisian scenes.

From there, we continued to Passage Jouffroy, a historic covered arcade in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, known for its 19th-century charm, architectural innovation, and vibrant mix of shops and cultural attractions.

Afterward, we returned to the hotel. Later, we walked about 20 minutes to a Thai restaurant called Chanee Thai for dinner. After our meal, we walked back to the hotel, following Le Feydeau Road (Rue Le Feydeau) all the way back.

Paris Day 2- Louver Museum (continued)

After lunch, we wandered through the museum, making our way to the room where the Mona Lisa is displayed. As always, the line to see her was ridiculously long. Since we had both seen it up close on previous visits, we decided to skip it this time.

It is not possible to see everything in Louver museum in couple of hours.  Enclosed here are couple of more photos besides the fashion statement pieces.  

Walking out of the museum is a challenge because the direction is confusion.  It was a long walk passing many stores underground before you come out on the ground.  Of course,  like all the other museums, they want the visitor to spend some money before they leave.

When we finally on the ground, it had finally stopped raining and sun peaked out.  For couple of golden minutes, we enjoyed the blue sky and white clouds in the background for some obligatory Instagram photos (The museum set a stool for you to take photos with the pyramid).

Paris Day 2- Louver Museum-Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion—Statement Piece exhibit

I booked our tickets online before we arrived in Paris. To avoid the crowds, we chose an early timed entrance at 10:00 AM. It was a cold, cloudy, and slightly drizzly day—pretty miserable weather to be waiting outside. Even with timed tickets, we ended up waiting about 45 minutes to get in. Ironically, the walk-in line for people without tickets was actually shorter and moved faster! I told Katie, "These timed entrance tickets are a scam!"

We paid extra for the Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion—Statement Piece exhibit, and it was absolutely worth it. Both Katie and I loved it. She took charge as our guide and made sure we didn’t miss a single room.

After checking our backpack into the storage room, we headed straight to the couture exhibit. At first, it wasn’t too crowded, but it definitely got busier as time went on. The exhibit was amazing—each room featured a fashion statement piece beautifully displayed, blending perfectly with the room’s decor. Katie was determined that we see every last one.

We took tons of photos, but I’ve only included a few here to give you a glimpse of the fashion on display.

The museum’s cafeteria didn’t disappoint. There were a few small food shops alongside the main cafeteria, offering a good variety of hot and cold dishes. The food was decent, and the prices were reasonable.

Paris Day 1 (continued)-Notre Dame Cathedral

From Pont Alexandre III, I took bus #63 to Saint-Germain-des-Prés to meet Katie for lunch. I arrived early, so I walked around the area a bit before meeting up with her.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the four administrative quarters of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, centered around the church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I visited the church and then strolled along the main street in the neighborhood. It was filled with chic boutiques and lively restaurants, many with people enjoying meals on their outdoor patios.

After lunch, we walked to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Both Katie and I had tried to book entrance tickets online, but every time we checked, the website showed them as "Sold Out." We decided to head there anyway and try our luck by waiting in line. Although the line was long, it moved surprisingly quickly. After about 15 minutes, we were inside the cathedral. Despite the crowds, everyone moved along smoothly.

We were fortunate to arrive shortly after a service had started and got to witness the presentation of the entrance of the popes—a special moment.

The newly restored interior is absolutely stunning. I hope my photos can do it justice.