As long as I can remember, it has been my dream to visit Paris. I had an Eiffel Tower poster on my wall as a little girl that is still in my bedroom at my parents’ house. So when I finally took the plunge and bought a plane ticket to visit one of my childhood best friends, Georgie, in London, I knew I couldn’t fly all the way to Europe without stepping foot in Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes.
I was only in Paris for about 72 hours, but from my quick trip there, I’m sharing my mini guide to Paris. This article outlines the things I saw that I loved and the amazing food I ate, but it’s certainly not all-encompassing of this dreamy city. I can’t wait until I visit again and can add to this list, but for now, I hope you enjoy the read or take some of the recommendations if you’re lucky enough to visit Paris!
TRANSPORTATION
- Depending on where you’re traveling from, you may fly directly into Paris, drive into the city, or take a train. I traveled there from London and took the train under the English Channel. While I was a bit nervous about being in a train underwater (hellooo claustrophobia), it was actually a super smooth, quick (& safe!) journey. I would highly recommend it if you’re traveling from London to Paris or vice versa.
- In Paris, we preferred to walk when we could (you see more of the stunning architecture by foot!). However, we did take the metro several times for further destinations within the city. I found the Metro to be fairly clean and quite safe! You do have to purchase a paper ticket for each trip, which is less convenient than riding the tube in London, but the machines take major credit cards, so no need to convert cash to euros. We even took the metro late at night after seeing the Eiffel Tower light up, and I honestly felt safe even late at night!
FOOD
- Oh the amazing food in Paris! I was pleasantly surprised to find at least one vegetarian option at every restaurant we visited. We didn’t pre-book any meal reservations (living on the edge!!) and I’m not sure if it was just sheer luck or a plethora of options, but we never once waited for a table! I would highly recommend just walking up to a corner cafe and eating outside if the weather allows. Most restaurants are seat yourself and you can usually find a two-seater table where both chairs are turned towards the street with a view of the beautiful landscape and architecture of the city while you eat. One thing to note – you may have to flag down your waiter to bring your check. This laid-back city is not always in a rush like America.
- I had a goal of eating a pastry a day and, not to brag, but I crushed that goal. I would highly recommend Mamiche and Bo & Mie for delish pastries, but to be honest, you could probably pop into any bakery and be delighted by the options.
- One morning at the end of a run, Georgie and I stopped for crepes at this adorable little cafe, Cafe Richard, near the Eiffel Tower. I would highly recommend crepes in Paris. They did not disappoint.
- Be prepared – most cafes did not have milk-alternatives for coffees. If you’re dairy-free you may have to get used to some black coffee or do your research to find coffee shops that offer milk alternatives.
- Georgie and I also visited the famous Cafe de Flore. It was adorable and we had a sweet chat with an old man at the table next to us who told us all about his many solo trips to various countries around the world. It was a cute location and I would recommend it. Just note, there may be a wait here.
- For lunch and dinner, we enjoyed Saint Augustin (best chocolate cake I’ve ever had), Maison Sauvage (delish gin cocktails), Brasserie Pastis (best espresso martini AND best eggplant parmesan of my life), and Cafe Palais Royal (near Palais Royal & The Louvre).
HOTEL/LOCATION
- There are a plethora of hotel and air bnb options in Paris – it can be quite overwhelming. This is where I would recommend doing your research beforehand on what attractions you want to see and try to pick a place to stay within close proximity of the most places you’re interested in visiting. We stayed in Madeline and it was great to get to walk to so many places.
- Pro tip – many hotels, especially boutique hotels, also list on air bnb. We booked a boutique hotel room through that platform and had a great experience.
PARKS
- Jardin du Luxembourg – This was a recommendation from my brother, Jake, and wow am I glad he told me about the gardens! Amazing place to go for a stroll or a run, and there are lots of tables to sit at if you want to have a picnic meal. We also ran past some ponies one morning so maybe they do rides for kids or a petting zoo? Would be worth looking up!
- Jardin des Tuileries – Another beautiful garden featured in Emily in Paris. Lots of spots to sit and enjoy your surroundings or a meal. I will warn you the paths in Paris parks are sandy/dusty, so closed toed shoes are best. There is not much shade here, so avoid super hot days and make sure you wear sunscreen. This is really close to The Louvre, so you could pair the two!
- Cobblestone Path along the Seine – Before this trip I dreamt of running along the picturesque cobblestone paths on the Seine. I was shocked to find just how rocky they are – not ideal for running! Seriously, don’t twist an ankle. While I wouldn’t advise running, I do recommend going for a stroll along the river. Super peaceful and beautiful and you’ll walk by street vendor stalls and many restaurants on parked boats.
ATTRACTIONS
- Opera Garnier – This was one of my favorite things we did in Paris, and we totally happened upon it by accident. We stayed in a hotel just a few blocks away, and wandered upon the opera house on a walk. We took a chance on an entry fee and went inside, and it was hard to believe the inside was even more stunning than the exterior architecture. It was actually featured in Emily in Paris, though I didn’t realize when we visited. I would highly, highly recommend visiting and walking around. The painted ceilings, breathtaking tile work, gold chandeliers, and marble stairs and balconies are stunning.
- The Louvre – This is not a groundbreaking recommendation. Everyone knows about The Louvre, everyone loves and recommends The Louvre. Rightly so! Definitely go, even if museums aren’t usually your thing. There are incredible bits of history and world-renowned artwork here that you don’t want to miss. Also – the building itself is art (much like pretty much every building in Paris). Definitely go to the exhibit that explains the history of the building itself – it’s so fascinating. And of course see the Mona Lisa, although unless you’re just dying to have a close view, I don’t think it’s necessary to wait in the queue. You can view it from afar just fine!
- Palais Royal – While we didn’t have enough time in our short trip to take a guided tour, Georgie and I did run through the Palais Royal courtyard both mornings on our runs. The courtyard architecture is modern and very unique. Palais Royal, which temporarily housed royals before the Palais Versailles was built, is not far from The Louvre, so you could pair the two together. Versailles is another place we didn’t have a chance to visit, as it is a bit outside of the city, but it is on my list for the next time I’m in France!
- Sacré Coeur – Okay be prepared for it to be packed with tourists, but it’s still a fun place to visit. There are tons of talented street artists you can observe painting and drawing and even buy yourself a souvenir if you’d like. You can walk by the iconic La Maison Roso and Moulin Rouge on this stop. There are also lots of food options and you have to walk through the Basilique de Sacré Coeur. It’s so gorgeous and a really special experience. While you’re there, enjoy the views of the city from a super high vantage point. If you want a pastry while you’re there, I would recommend Alexi Boulangerie.
- Notre Dame Cathedral – An architectural masterpiece. When we visited there was still fencing and scaffolding, so we couldn’t see it all or go inside, but it’s definitely still worth walking by!
- Boat Ride along the Seine River – We opted for a boat ride on day two after spending far too much time on our feet. It was honestly much more affordable than I expected and one of the highlights of the trip. There are tons of boat companies to choose from (we walked up and bought tickets right at the boat). Our tour began at Notre Dame and went along the river to the Eiffel Tower, where we turned and looped back. I would highly recommend it – it was so relaxing! And bonus points if you bring a pastry onboard to enjoy like I did!
- The Eiffel Tower, of course! – I mean this one is super obvious, but it was still the sight I was most excited to see. I would recommend going a few different times and viewing it from different sides! It’s great to go early in the morning before it’s super crowded for the best view, but you also can’t miss the lights at night. Depending on the time of year, the Eiffel Tower sparkles at different times. Do your research beforehand. While we were there, it was every hour on the hour while it was dark out, but it didn’t get dark until like 10 p.m. in May!
Okay I hope you enjoyed the insights from my trip and that my recommendations are helpful if you’re planning a trip to Paris (if you are, can I come with you?!). This is a city I dreamt of visiting my whole life and I was a bit nervous I had built it up so much in my head that the real thing was going to be a let down. Luckily, that wasn’t the case. I had the most wonderful time in this stunning city, and I hope you do as well!
