So I realize I’ve been slacking a bit in blog posts and I’m sorry about that, but I never realized how busy I’d be in Europe. The days go by faster and the weekends are all booked, I can’t believe that March is already almost over; it feels like my European life is racing by.

But enough with the excuses, I’m back and I’m here to tell you all about Paris. After my second weekend in Paris, I’ve come up with a pretty good itinerary, which I recommend to all of you. Here is my list of the top sights to see in Paris.

1. Montmartre

Yes, it’s the home of the Moulin Rouge and you should definitely go stand on the subway grate and take a photo in front of the red windmill. But, it is also home to the Sacré-Cœur. A beautiful basilica, which overlooks Paris and has just as good of views as the Eiffel Tower except it’s free. Aside from the tourist attractions, Montmartre holds the key to what Paris looked like back when artists ruled outside of centre-ville. When leaving the Sacré-Cœur, take a right down the road and you’ll run into a square filled with artists selling hand-painted canvases of your favorite sights in Paris. Then take a road you wouldn’t normally and you’ll leave the tourists and find the Parisian shops you were looking for.

2. Musée d’Orsay

I know the Mona Lisa is at the Louvre and I implore you to spend hours there, but also take a walk down the road to the Musee d’Orsay, which houses some of the most famous works of the impressionist era. Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, the list goes on. And at the top of the stairs before you enter the room with all the impressionists, you’ll see the backside of a giant clock face, which overlooks the Louvre and the river Seine.

3. The Eiffel Tower

I know this is already on everyone’s list of things to see, but this time don’t wait in line for the elevator. The climb isn’t that bad at all and chances are, if you’ve been climbing towers all over Europe like me, you’ll have no problem—it’s only 700 stairs. It doesn’t save you any money of you want to go to the top in the long run, but it does save you some time and you get to watch Paris get progressively smaller as you make the climb. And if you go back at night, you can see the lights on the tower sparkle every hour for one minute—it’ breath-taking.

4. Ladurée

Have your Blair Waldorf moment and eat your macaroons too. Ladurée is the place to be for good macaroons, I must warn you, though, it can be expensive. But, if you are in Paris for one weekend and you want the photo and some really good macaroons, you don’t have to break the bank. What’s expensive are the cocktails (19 euro for a mojito, yikes!) and the food. But, if you and a friend split a tea and each get a few macaroons, you’ll have the experience and enough money left in your wallet to buy a crepe in the Latin Quarter.

5. The Latin Quarter

Home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, the Latin Quarter is a must. The statue of St. Michel welcomes you before you turn to corner to a myriad restaurants and patisseries. If you’re looking for a cheap place to eat in Paris this is the place to be. The food is delicious and centrally located so you’ll have no problem finding it.

6. Palace of Versailles

Pretend you’re a French aristocrat for the day and step outside the city. The gold château will blow your mind away from outside the palace gates. If you’re a student, you can be eligible for free admission. But, if not, buy your tickets in advanced because the lines can get pretty long. When you’re inside, take a mirror selfie in the Hall of Mirrors, walk through the gardens (if you get lucky, maybe you’ll see a rowing match), and check out Marie-Antoinette’s pink house.

Location: Paris, France