My attempt at a guide to the wondrous, gigantic, stunning city I called home.
“I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles”
Frank Sinatra – I Love Paris
It’s almost impossible to make a post about Paris that isn’t 10 pages long. I was lucky enough to live in Paris for a summer, and fell absolutely in love with the City of Light. It’s a city that’s as marvelous in the sun as it is in the soft grey rain, and will take your breath away and make you feel ever so small all at once.
There are so many posts and full books on what to do in Paris, which is why I’ll keep it short. I’ll stick to my favorite things to do in the city, and some that you may not necessarily find on a Trip Advisor list. I would highly recommend staying in the city for a bare minimum of 3 days, with 5 being a good amount of time to relax and sight-see throughout the city.
Where to stay:
There are so many unique parts of Paris. A city made of 20 arrondissements (neighborhoods), it’s easy to be overwhelmed when choosing where to stay. If staying in hostels, I really enjoyed my time at both St. Christopher’s locations in the city, one close to Gare du Nord and all of the action, and one close to my favorite neighborhood, Canal St. Martin. Another area to check out to stay is the Latin Quarter or Le Marais, the gay district in the city.
What to do:
If you have time, go to every monument and museum that you can. This may sound a bit absurd, but it really is worth it. Though Paris is overrun with tourists, everything from the Louvre, Sainte Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame provide an interesting piece of history or art to see. My absolute favorite museum was the Musee d’Orsay, and I can’t resist going to the Eiffel Tower every chance I get. The Mussee d’Orsay is a largely impressionist-based museum that is built into an early 1900’s train station. The building itself is a marvel of architecture and awe, and the pieces of work range from Degas to Monet to Van Gogh.
My favorite cathedral in the city is Sacre Coeur. It’s a pristine white stone church set at the top of Montmartre, the old artist’s neighborhood in the city full of winding streets, tourists, and artists. The view from the top is worth the many stairs it takes to get up, and is quite breathtaking.
It may sound like a strange piece of advice, but I would highly suggest going to the top of every monument or museum that you can in the city. The tops of the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, and Centre Pompidou provide beautiful views from all across the city fpr a minimal price. It really gives you a different perspective on the city, and all of these spots give you a different point of view.
One of my favorite things about Paris is how enormous it is. Yet in all the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s easy to enjoy a quiet moment to yourself in the many parks and little nooks you can find. I love to take a freshly baked baguette, (3 Euro) wine, and cheese to Square du Vert Gallant to see the boats passing by on the Seine. It’s the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon after lots of sightseeing. At sunset, grab some more wine, desserts, and a lover to Pont Saint-Louis Bridge which connects Ile de la Cite and Ile de Saint-Louis. You’ll see a bunch of young lovers and groups of friends surrounding a guitar watching the sun fall behind Notre Dame.
Be sure to stop by Shakespeare and Company, a beautiful historic bookstore where the likes of Hemingway and Fitzgerald hung out in the 1900’s. It’s easy to get lost in the magical bookstore, and feel like you stepped back a hundred years into the past. I also thoroughly enjoy walking around Canal St. Martin, an area where local hipsters hang out in coffee shops and vegan restaurants. It’s a beautiful area with an actual canal, and is great for a nice stroll away from tourists.
Where to Eat:
This part is almost impossible to write about for Paris, there are just so many options. The biggest tip here is to avoid any restaurant with a salesman outside holding menus with pictures on them. They just want to grab tourists, and the food isn’t likely to be that great or authentic. After you’re done visiting Montmartre, I would highly recommend getting a fallafel from L’As du Fallafel in the Marais. I’ll never forget my first crunchy bite into their freshly fried fallafel pita. For dinner, stop by le Relais de le Entrecote, a popular steak frites chain in Paris. It’s simple, flavorful, and you even get a nice surprise with your meal! For dessert, Be sure to check out Pierre Herme to get delicious macarons.
For an extended stay, make sure you stop by a fresh bakery to get plenty of fresh baguettes and sandwiches to go with your 3 euro bottle of wine you just bought from the corner store. Lastly, I would recommend just Googling places around you while in the city. With restaurants opening and closing and changing management, it’s the best way to find what you’re looking for (and an easy cop-out for me).
Where to drink:
Ahhh the endless possibilities. Paris nightlife can differ based on what neighborhood you’re in, and what you’re in the mood for. I tended to avoid going to clubs (it really isn’t my scene), but have provided a link in case that’s what you’re in the mood for. I really enjoyed drinking cheap booze with the college kids and young backpackers in the Bastille area, and you can’t go wrong with the hipster bars of Canal Saint Martin. It’s always a good time to go out in le Marais, the LGBT quarter in town. Paris nightlife is all about great conversation with new friends and old alike while sipping on a glass of wine before finding a dance floor. The city feels alive at night and is quite beautiful with the
Random Tips & Tricks:
First and foremost, I would suggest learning some basic French phrases to help you get by in Paris. Parisians can be quite nice, and it really helps to get your foot in the door by speaking some French. I would also recommend learning the Metro system and taking advantage of it. Paris is a huge city, and many of the famous monuments and museums are spread out. The metro can be fairly simple, but it would be helpful to go in with some information before hand.
Though there are certainly many more amazing things I didn’t cover to do in Paris, I do always like to give myself a reason to go back to a city 🙂 Feel free to reach out with any questions!
