Gracie’s Guide to Paris, France
In my mind, Paris is and always will be a symbol of fashion, prestige, elegance, and style. Both my trips to Paris proved that right! Paris is a MASSIVE city full of so much culture. Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming. How do you pick what to do when there’s so many freaking options? A family friend of mine lives in Paris and gave me great recommendations, ones that I did and gave my stamp of approval. So if you’re looking to go to Paris but don’t know where to start, this is the right article for you. I won’t overwhelm you with options, but instead give a few recommendations that will get you started. I traveled to Paris in 2020 and now 2022, so I feel like I have a good idea of what’s worth your time. You must visit Paris in your lifetime because it is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been before. Keep reading to learn about my family’s 4 day trip in late March, and how you can make the most out of your time in the City of Love. xx
Travel Tips
Take the train from airport into the city. It cost ~ €5, and there are many signs directing you to the train that is walkable from the airport baggage claim. It cost ~€55 to get a taxi into the city, so you really should just take the train.
The Metro underground is easy to navigate – you can buy tickets in person, and GoogleMaps / AppleMaps will show you the best routes to take. I cost €1,90 for a single ticket. There is an especially cool artwork display at the Louvre Metro stop that really amazed me 🙂 The Metro in Paris is so much cleaner than the trains in the US (yes I’m looking at you New York).
We stayed in the Latin Quarter in the heart of Paris (near Notre Dame). It was an amazing location because we could walk to all the big landmarks (Louvre, Pont Neuf, Eiffel Tower) without much difficulty. There were a million cafes and shops near us, and it is definitely a place to stay in Paris if you’re visiting for the first time. If I go to Paris again, I will most likely stay in a quieter neighborhood like Montmartre.
Activity Tips
Okay let’s talk about the Eiffel Tower. The most recognizable landmark in the world. An iconic display of Paris. Here’s my opinion, take it for what you will.
If you go to the Eiffel Tower during the daytime, you should buy a ticket to go to the top. When I went a few years ago it cost ~€7, but they raised their prices to €17 which stinks. If you don’t want to fork over the money to go to the top, I’d recommend waiting to go until nighttime. The Eiffel Tower at night is soooo much better than during the day. It’s way less crowded, and at every hour on the hour it sparkles. Like truly sparkles. It’s incredibly magical, trust me! Bring a cheap bottle of wine you bought at the convienence store and pop it open under the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles. My family and I agreed that this was one of our favorite things we did in Paris!
Go explore the Montmartre area. I loved this lowkey neighborhood in Paris. Montmartre has steep, winding streets up a massive hill to a beautiful church and lookout point. My siblings and I sat on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur Church and had a panoramic view of all of Paris! It really amazed us because we had never heard of it before (I think that’s the point of this neighborhood). There are a lot of locals here and great live music. Check it out one night!
Rue Montorgueil Street is a lovely stretch of cafes and bars that a Paris local showed us. It is fun area with active nightlife and great people watching.
Go explore the Luxembourg Gardens! It is this gorgeous park with a huge open space brimming with benches, statues, and yes you guessed it, gardens!
The Pont Neuf is a bridge jutted out like a little island in the Seine River. It is a trendy spot to sit and have a picnic. We went on a sunny day in April and I swear every single young person in Paris was picnicking here! Definitely check this place out, because you’ll get gorgeous views of the Seine on your way to and from Pont Neuf.
Of course, visit the famous Louvre museum. Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time (students get in free). This museum is stunning, first off, but also extremely large. Have a game plan before going in or you’ll get tired real quick. Check out the room with the Crown Jewels – that was my favorite!
My family and I had some extra time so we decided to go to the illustrious Palace of Versailles. It is ~45 minutes from the city center of Paris, and an Uber is expensive (€50 for 6 of us). Book ahead of time for this as well! Yes, Versailles was genuinely stunning, but it took so much effort to get there and back. Like the Louvre, make sure you have a game plan going in. Whether it be the guided tour you get get for free once you get there or an actual person guiding you around, make sure you know what you want before going! Side note: the gardens outside blew me away – save time for that too!
Finally, you must visit the Shakespeare & Company Bookstore. I am a bookstore fiend, and this English bookstore in Paris was definitely one of my favorites! It is cozy, and eclectic, and there is even a cat that snuggles with guests in the reading room! It has all the small touches that book nerds like me love. It was also only a 5 minute walk from our Airbnb, an added plus.
Food Tips
Lou Lou Australian Cafe in the Latin Quarter is an excellent brunch spot. The interior aesthetic is gorgeous, and the waiters are all so friendly. My whole family ordered different things and everyone enjoyed what they got. Added plus: it is gluten-free friendly!
Le Relais de l’Entrecote is famous steak place that has line out the door every. single. night. The only catch – there’s no menu. The waitress asks how you like your steak cooked and that’s it. The set price is affordable, and there are a few locations around Paris. The doors open at 6:45 pm (we got there at 6:15pm) and got in right away. Make sure you come early if you don’t want to wait. I’ve never had a dining experience like this before. I don’t want to spoil anything else – you have to check it out for yourself!
Soho Trattoria is a place in the Latin Quarter with fun swings & a good happy hour. Youthful vibe – super fun, yummy drinks!
Gemini Italian has 6 locations around Paris and is a great (gluten-free friendly) spot for dinner. My family and I sat at a long table in the corner and had the best dining experience. The atmosphere and food were on point! I got the truffle pasta and it was soooo fresh and creamy.
Baguett’s Cafe near the Louvre is my favorite cafe spot in Paris. It has a tiny seating area, however, so get there early for a baguette or brunch (or both!).
Whew! Even though I tried to give a condensed version, there was still so much to write. Paris is huge and there’s so much to do that I didn’t even mention. Don’t worry if it rains when you’re there – Paris is a city even more beautiful in the rain, and there’s so much to do indoors! I forgot to mention the most important tip … spend time people-watching outdoors in cafes. The French do it all day long, and there is something so specifically wonderful about sitting outside a cafe, sipping wine and watching all the fashionable people walk past. Have fun visiting this mammoth world capital, and don’t forget to eat as many pastries and drink as much wine as your heart desires!
xx Gracie
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out my others (especially my trip to the South of France that happened directly after Paris!)
Gracie’s Guide to the South of France: Nice, Antibes, Eze, Monaco