Travel Guide: Paris

I cannot believe it’s been almost exactly five years since my trip to Paris. I’ve wanted to go to the City of Lights for as long as I can remember and my trip not only lived up to my expectations, it ended up changing my life forever. Here is my Travel Guide to Paris: where to stay, when to go, what to eat and see and I’m even sharing an interesting story or two along the way!

Why Go

It’s Paris. Need I say more? Ok, ok, ok. Gorgeous scenery, delicious pastries, history, the Eiffel Tower, French designers, amazing cuisine, sipping cold rosé at sidewalk cafes, shopping along the Champs-Élysées, and did I mention delicious pastries? Oh, I did. What are you waiting for? Just go!

Where to Stay

Because we wanted to live the way a Parisian lives we chose to stay in an AirBnB. We found a charming fifth-floor flat in the deuxième arrondissement (second district). Not only was it reasonable and in a fantastic location, but it also allowed us a place to stow our luggage when we took off for a weekend in Amsterdam so we didn’t have to bring everything with us.

I feel like especially since we now have Arielle we would probably do the same so that we could have a little kitchen to prepare lunch for long days out and we could once again use it as a base while we take a few side trips. Since our family has outgrown the flat where we stayed in 2016, we would have to find a larger space for our next trip (nothing planned, but I’m always dreaming) and I’d like to stay on the left bank, hopefully with a view of the Eiffel Tower or in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

What to See

If you look up, “what to see in Paris” you will get millions of search results. This is not only because Paris is one of the most popular destinations in the world, but there are also so many things to see in this city. Of course, there are the obvious sites like the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre, but the city is so full of beauty and history, you could spend a lifetime there and still not experience it all. Here is my list of things you must see in Paris:

Famous Sites

The Seine

Museums

Château de Versailles

Around Paris

Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin du Luxembourg

Flower Markets

The Dome Church, where Napoleon is buried

Moulin Rouge

Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris

Place de la Concorde

Pont Alexandre III, the most extravagant bridge in Paris

Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore

For the Macabre

The Catacombs

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Where to Eat

I was once told that you would never find a bad meal in Paris and I certainly found that to be true. Since there seems to be a cafe on every corner, you’re never short on options but I’ll share a few of the places that we enjoyed as well as some of the more famous restaurants in the city.

The first place we ate in Paris was Café Le Sarah Bernhardt, named after a famous French stage actress from the 1800s. While I hadn’t planned this stop, it was very appropriate since my preschool teachers used to call me Sarah Heartburn (a play on the name) as I was a very dramatic little girl. The crêpes here were delicious and the outdoor terrace has a lovely view of the Seine.

Le Loir dans la Théière, which translates to The Dormouse in the Teapot, is a charming little place in La Marais that has an Alice in Wonderland theme (hence, the name). It’s vegetarian and child friendly and the pies are like something out of a magazine.

I really wanted to go to Bar Hemingway (renamed for one of its famous former clients) at the Ritz when we were in that area on our final day but we weren’t aware of the dress code so we weren’t allowed in! I did get a glimpse inside and it is quite pretty but very expensive! When I return, we’ll definitely be dressing accordingly.

On the left bank, you’ll find Les Deux Magot, once the meeting place for Paris’ literary elite, including Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. Hemingway even used it as a setting for a meeting place in The Sun Also Rises. Café de Flore was another one of Hemingway’s haunts.

Many mornings we would buy a fresh baguette from the bakery below our flat, slice it and bring it with us. During our walks we would find a neighborhood cheese shop and make cheese sandwiches for lunch. It was a very Parisian way to save a little money and it allowed us to get in more of the sites.

The Pastry

While I could devote an entire post to the pastry that I devoured during our 10 days in Paris, and maybe I will, there are few places that I feel must be experienced. Café Pouchkine has the most beautiful pasties you will ever see however they are one of the businesses that close during August so I was unable to actually enjoy their picture-perfect tea room.

And if you’re looking for a delicious éclair, Pierre Hermé has an amazing selection and each flavor is as sumptuous as it is decadent. For a more traditional éclair experience or if you just love chocolate (and who doesn’t!), Angelina’s is the place to be. With several locations around Paris (and I just found out that there is also a location in New York which you bet I’ll be stopping in at on my next trip to NYC) you can try their famous hot chocolate all over the city.

What to Bring Home

If you love the finer things in life, Paris is your playground. I’ll soon be sharing why you should buy your designer items abroad, but for now, I’ll just say that if your ABCs stand for Alaïa, Balmain, Chanel, Dior, all the way to Yves Saint Laurent and Zadig & Voltaire, this is where you should do your spending.

If you’re looking for something luxe to bring home to family and friends, French soap is always a crowd-pleaser. French Macarons from Lauderee are also a little luxury that you can take back. You can find an array of inexpensive souvenirs at gift shops and local markets like miniature Eiffel Towers and pretty berets.

And speaking of deals, if you’re a fan of French skincare like me, you’ll be able to find your favorite products in local pharmacies all across the city for much less than online or at home. (I’ll have to share a post of my favorite French Pharmacy Finds soon!) These also make great souvenirs for fellow beauty enthusiasts!

My Favorite Memories

I’ve already shared how Paris changed my life forever, and because of that, I have so many amazing memories from this trip. From wandering along the Seine arm in arm with Alex, to staying up well past midnight while sipping champagne at a sidewalk café that had an amazing view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower, to that first time I actually saw the Eiffel Tower and cried. It really was the most amazing time.

I always believe in trying to find unique experiences when I visit a destination and this trip was no different. Because we were celebrating my 30th birthday and our wedding anniversary during this adventure, we enjoyed the most romantic dinner at 58 Tou r Eiffel, right on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. Next time I’d like to try Le Jules Verne and follow up the evening with a glass of champagne and some caviar at the Champagne Bar, right at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

We also took a cooking class at La Cuisine Paris where we learned how to make croissants. Turns out, it is a lot of work to make a fluffy, delicious, flaky croissant so even though our instructor was wonderful, we have yet to try it out at home. I would definitely book another class here, maybe their macaron class or their French market tour and cooking class so we could learn how to make an entire French meal.

I could go on and on about Paris and cannot wait until it is safe for all of us, Arielle included, to travel there again. For now, I will just have to make do with a croissant and a good cup of coffee while I dream up our next trip to Paris!

Next up, Amsterdam, so stay tuned for that!