In this final chapter, we trade forests and castles for Paris landmarks, a Seine dinner cruise, Père Lachaise Cemetery and a day at Disneyland Paris.   

Paris, the Seine, and a Day at Disneyland

After our whirlwind tour of Germany, we traded forests and castles for boulevards and monuments. We left the car behind and boarded a high-speed train bound for Paris.

Arrival in Paris

Taking the train to Paris was a welcome change from driving—no traffic, just countryside rolling by while we relaxed and watched the landscape change.

Once in Paris, we settled in for a few days of classic sightseeing mixed with a few personal must-see stops.

Eiffel Tower and Seine Dinner Cruise

No first (or fifth) trip to Paris feels complete without the Eiffel Tower. Seeing it in person never really gets old—the lattice of iron, the way it seems to change personality depending on the light, and the views from the top over the city’s rooftops.

One evening, we took a dinner cruise on the Seine River, floating past illuminated landmarks while enjoying a meal:

  • Notre-Dame (under restoration but still iconic),
  • The Musée d’Orsay,
  • The bridges arching gracefully over the water.

Watching Paris light up as the sun set was one of the most memorable evenings of the whole trip.

Arc de Triomphe

We also visited the Arc de Triomphe, standing majestically at the top of the Champs-Élysées. Climbing to the top rewards you with a 360-degree view of Paris, including a perfect straight-on view of the Eiffel Tower and the star-shaped pattern of avenues radiating from the arch.

Père Lachaise Cemetery and Jim Morrison’s Grave

One of our more unusual Paris stops was Père Lachaise Cemetery, the city’s largest and most famous resting place. It’s home to the graves of writers, musicians, and artists from around the world.

We made a point of visiting Jim Morrison’s grave, a pilgrimage site for fans of The Doors. Tucked among trees and old stones, it’s a quiet corner of the cemetery that feels worlds away from the busy streets outside.

Disneyland Paris

To wrap up the trip on a pure fun note, we spent a day at Disneyland Paris. There’s something surreal about going from centuries-old churches and palaces to Space Mountain and Mickey Mouse—but the kids loved it, and honestly, so did we.

The park feels both familiar and a little different if you’ve visited other Disney parks: the Sleeping Beauty Castle has its own unique style, and hearing multiple languages around you adds an international twist to the Disney experience.

Looking Back on the Journey

By the time we headed home, our memories were overflowing:

  • Staying with friends in Stuttgart
  • Walking along Würzburg’s Old Main Bridge and exploring the Residence
  • Joining wine fests in Eibelstadt
  • Driving the Romantic Road through Rothenburg and Füssen
  • Visiting Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, and Linderhof
  • Riding the Tegelberg cable car and exploring Berchtesgaden’s mountains and lakes
  • Experiencing Munich’s Hofbräuhaus and the solemn history of Dachau
  • Hiking in the Black Forest and relaxing at Lake Titisee
  • Cruising the Rhine past the Loreley Rock
  • Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle and ending at Disneyland Paris

It wasn’t just a checklist of famous places. It was a string of moments: shared meals, songs from street musicians, kids laughing at the edge of a waterfall, quiet reflections in a memorial, and the feeling of falling a little bit in love with each place we visited.

Previous Post:

⬅️ [Part 4 – Eagle’s Nests, Waterfalls and Wine Towns](https://hakuna.matata.blog/berchtesgaden-munich-black-forest-rhine-road-trip/) 

✅ This is the final post in the series. You can also read: 

• [Part 1 – Landing in Germany: From Los Angeles Freeways to Stuttgart Streets](https://hakuna.matata.blog/los-angeles-to-stuttgart-german-road-trip/) 

• [Part 2 – Würzburg, Eibelstadt and the Start of the Romantic Road](https://hakuna.matata.blog/wurzburg-eibelstadt-romantic-road-germany/) 

• [Part 3 – Castles and Cable Cars: Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau and Linderhof](https://hakuna.matata.blog/neuschwanstein-hohenschwangau-linderhof-bavaria/) 

• [Part 4 – Eagle’s Nests, Waterfalls and Wine Towns](https://hakuna.matata.blog/berchtesgaden-munich-black-forest-rhine-road-trip/)