Bidish Paris can never be overrated! That’s what I kept telling myself as we explored one mighty monument after the other, while marveling at its grandeur and history. Seeing Paris was one thing, but actually playing out the fantasy of “touristing in Paris” felt far more immediate and real – you just knew you were in Paris! As a cherry on the top, this trip had come about on a special day as we had joined the Studifahrten trip to Paris on New Year’s Eve 2024.
Studifahrten is a tour operator that organizes group trips to various European destinations. They are popular amongst international students as they provide accessible travel on a student budget. To give you the number, the Paris trip cost us just a little over 110 EUR per person. Joining one of these tours was perfect to see Paris on New Year’s Eve as it offered maximum fun in less time and less budget.
But the question remains: Was the Studifahrten trip to Paris on New Year’s Eve really worth it? Short answer, yes absolutely! In this post, I will provide you with a detailed review of what we experienced and what you can expect while traveling on a Studifahrten day trip to Paris.
What is Studifahrten?
Studifahrten is a student tour operator in Germany that organizes regular day and multi-day trips to beautiful destinations within Europe. The itinerary mainly includes traveling during the night and sightseeing during the day.
Their day-trip itinerary is simple:
Day 1: Take a bus from Germany at night and head to the destination.
Day 2: Arrive in the morning. A whole day of sightseeing and a return trip at midnight.
Day 3: Reach your homes early in the morning.
Taking a Studifahrten trip during my student life in Europe was always on my radar but I never liked the idea of traveling in groups or taking long bus rides while sacrificing sleep. So I tossed the idea around until the opportune moment came — when my cousins visited Europe and together, we ventured to explore Paris. Let’s go through the itinerary.
Studifahrten Trip to Paris Itinerary
Trip Booking and Cost
We booked our places in the trip via Studifahrten’s official website. The cost for the trip was 75 EUR per person. This would include transportation services and guidance. Food and miscellaneous expenses were not covered in the main fee. Payment options of Credit card (with 7% extra fee), direct debit, and manual bank transfers were available.
December 30, 2024 – Depart from Düsseldorf at night
Our departure was scheduled from Düsseldorf at 10 PM at night. Before the departure, we had already received a comprehensive itinerary from Studifahrten including the bus number, where the bus would arrive, and what was expected from all of us. They were honest about the total number of people traveling (which was more than 800) and they assured us that they had organized tours like this before and suggested that we remain calm if we faced any kind of panic in Paris, and provided us with emergency information and phone numbers. I liked that!
The bus arrived before the time so we were able to get our seats and get comfortable early on. We identified ourselves to our trip leader, which is necessary as leaving and re-entering the country would require us to carry our passport and a valid residence permit.
Tip: If you have longer legs you might have trouble in the window seats as some of the seats had less legspace. Also since the seats are not prebooked and are on a first-come, first-served basis, it might help to book the trip from an earlier departure station so you can get a comfortable seat for yourself.
The bus journey was smooth and we fell asleep with some reluctance, but sound nonetheless. We had two pitstops on the way in petrol stations where we could use the bathroom and freshen ourselves up. The bus ride was about 9 hours long.
What went well: Comprehensive information, timely departure, timely information shared on the group chat
December 31, 2024 – Arrive Early Morning in Paris
The next morning, at around 8 AM, we entered Paris. A local tour guide hopped on the bus and shared about the history of Paris as we drove through the main attractions.
We were peeking out and trying to catch the first glimpse of Paris as the mist had lifted and the sun had started to rise (at least behind all those clouds). That first sight-seeing of a new city is always a special feeling, no matter how it comes — and organizing a bus ride with a tour guide was another goodwill point for Studifahrten. While the mic was a bit faulty and we struggled to understand everything, we still managed to get a few insights that would inform our day of sight-seeing.
We also had the option to buy a Seine river boat cruise at a reduced price for 15 EUR with Studifahrten — so we bought one for each of us. Our trip leader advised us to take the cruise after 6 PM, after the Eiffel tower was lit — so we decided to follow the advice. We also received a free Paris postcard and pamphlet that included the main attractions we could see during the day. We were dropped off at Bateaux Mouches boat departure location where the bus would later pick us up after the New Year, at 00:30.
And with that, our day in Paris had officially begun. We first headed to Eiffel Tower
What went well: I really liked Studifahrten’s timely information. They provided us with information on groceries (and where they were located), free public toilets, some budget restaurants, and timely updates. It was a very good experience.
First stop: Eiffel Tower
We did not have to check Google maps as the mighty tower was easily visible from the point where we started our trip. What was probably like a 10 minutes walk to the tower, took us almost 30 minutes to reach. Every turn was beautiful with the backdrop of the Eiffel tower. We took pictures, lots and lots of them. With the Eiffel tower, just the Eiffel tower, different perspectives, framed Eiffel tower,front view, back view—basically from every viewpoint that was accessible to us.
After spending a sound one and half hours just hovering around the Eiffel tower, we decided to take a look at the pamphlet and decided to visit the other attractions.
We walked to Champ de Elyse, one of the most beautiful boulevards of the modern world. Walking up the street was majestic as we were humbled by the marvelous architecture on each side. The street led us to Arc de Triomphe, a beautiful gate tower that made a bold and royal presence in the center as the streets from all sides led to it. This place was the location for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display that was due to happen later at midnight, just before the New Year.
As the day unfolded, we explored as much as a day trip would allow us and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful travel days of my life. Now, I don’t want to bore you with all the details, but here are the sights we were able to see throughout the day: Eiffel Tower, City center, Champ de Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, Royal Palace, Dome of Les Invalides, Montmartre, Louvre Museum, and Seine river boat cruise.
A single metro ticket costs 2.15 EUR that will allow you to travel anywhere in Metro for the next 90 minutes. Be informed that you have to climb up and down a lot of stairs (easily a hundred) to reach the Metro platform. Walking to the location could be beneficial for short distances.
December 31, 2024 – Evening Boat Cruise Experience
The highlight of the trip has to be the evening, when we took the Seine river cruise. It was a surreal experience. What we felt was a mixture of emotions, difficult to even attempt to articulate but let me try.
As the boat revved toward the Eiffel Tower, passing under bridges that echoed distant screams, we could feel our energy rise and maybe even sync together. A boat that echoed in excitement suddenly experienced silence; it was as if all the cruise passengers were awestruck by the sight in front of us.
Was it truly silent, or was it my brain slotting them as white-noise? I don’t know. What I did know was that I was experiencing something of a magnitude I couldn’t fathom, as my mind had started hovering through timespace. It recalled the innocent dream that I’d kept treasured in the “I’ll visit the world someday” archive— and seeing the Eiffel Tower light up so beautifully fired the neurons at random and I couldn’t comprehend what I felt.
All I could do was stay still, take it all in, share a wide smile with my brothers as if to agree that we’re all feeling the same thing. We took lots of pictures, to etch ourselves in this memory in a medium we could understand and share with the world. And hopefully, the boat would turn just right so we could stay in the perfect lane to experience it a little bit longer.
Later we stayed in a park facing the Eiffel Tower while waiting for the clock to announce a New Year, counting it down with thousands of strangers around us. It was a fitting end to a beautiful day.
The return journey was smooth as well. The bus dropped us off at Koln Bonn airport terminal, from where we took an early morning train to Koblenz and put an end to a beautiful New Year’s Eve trip to Paris.
Food and Budget Tips
We started our early morning by a random trip to a café to freshen up and get ready for the day. Paris introduced us to its expense early on as we paid 8 EUR each for a standard glass of hot chocolate. Then we decided to tread lightly.
There were many grocery stores, such as Carrefour and Monoprix, available in many places in the city center. We ate sandwiches, bakeries, and a variety of grocery items – which when supplemented with what we had packed from home–was able to keep us satiated for an entire day. We visited the groceries many times during the day for different forms of instant cravings.
After the boat ride, we bought 5EUR hot-dogs and French fries (pommes) from a local stall and that was sufficient enough as a dinner. In total, we spent 30 EUR per person for food in an entire day in Paris.
Is a One-Day Trip to Paris Really Enough?
Absolutely not! Paris is so huge and beautiful that a day can never be enough. Think of a day trip to Paris like a teaser, an entry into this spectacular land that can never be fully explored.
For a day trip, you can definitely try and see as many attractions as possible but I wouldn’t recommend being in a rush. Spend much time in the places you enjoy. Our recommendations would be to try and see Eiffel Tower (also at night), Arc de Triomphe, Champ de Elyse, Louvre Museum (even the exterior), Notre Dame, Montmartre (take a metro to the destination and walk back to the city), few other notable places located around Champ de Elyse, and taking the Seine boat trip in the evening (the absolute best).
My advice would be to refer to the pamphlet provided by Studifahrten and try to follow that. They have very neatly curated the main attractions to visit and have even suggested the order in which you can follow them for efficient sightseeing.
Just walking the streets, by the river promenades, and following the day as it unfolds would be lovely to get a feel for the city on a Paris day trip.
Final Thoughts on Studifahrten Trip to Paris
I think the tour was lovely and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From day zero, the organizers made sure we were aware of all the necessary information. We received timely information, helpful recommendations, suggestions, and assurance that we would be supported through any panic or emergency.
I never thought I would enjoy a Studifahrten trip this well and I honestly cannot wait to travel with them again. A special shoutout to our trip leader Manish for organizing a great trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Bring My Parents / Senior Members to The Trip?
Yes you can. Studifahrten’s policy allows people from 3 to 55 years old to join the trip. Guests older than 55 years can only join the trip if they are accompanied by someone. Read their policies here.
Should We Travel With a Group All The Time?
Even though it is a group trip, you are exploring the destination on your own. Consider traveling with Studifahrten as a normal bus travel you would take with any bus transports, like FlixBus or RegioJet (with additional guidance and recommendations). Once you reach the destination, you are free to explore the city on your own and only return to the group to take the bus back at a scheduled time. So even though it is a group trip, you will be on your own while exploring the destination.
