There's nothing like that feeling you get when you arrive in a new city. It's the start of a storybook, the pages of which are waiting to be filled. Or a blank canvas waiting to be painted. This is what it felt like when Jake and I stepped off the Eurostar in Paris – the whole city was ours to explore.
As well as visiting all of the classic tourist spots (I won't mention all of these as there's nothing I can tell you that a quick Google won't), we found plenty of hidden gems and underrated surprises as we meandered the Parisian streets. So, three baguettes, copious amounts of red wine and 122,000 steps later, I've compiled both my highlights from our trip and any practical pointers in the hope that if anyone reading this visits the French capital, they'll have as much fun as we did.
Museums and culture:
Louvre
The Louvre is so massive and so full of paintings, sculptures and artefacts that I thought it would be helpful to mention a few key things to look out for when inside. I know from a previous visit that the room containing the Mona Lisa can get pretty crowded. We headed to that section as soon as the gallery opened, making a beeline for the iconic painting. This tactic gave us a really good view and meant we weren’t rushed on by hoards of people behind us in a queue. After taking a good look, we went in search of a few other famous works: The Winged Victory of Samothrace, The Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, The Horse Tamers and The Dying Slave. These are just a few of the most famous works in the museum, and we found it helped to have a handful to go searching for. Unless you have days to spend in there, it can be a little overwhelming trying to take everything in without a few key artworks in mind.
Musee d'Orsay
I definitely preferred this museum to the Louvre. The building is super interesting, for a start, as it's an old train station that’s been converted. It's not just another huge old palace-type structure with an excessive amount of marble. The main section has an immensely high ceiling and the whole design retains a sort of industrial quality. The art there is displayed in lots of little small rooms and sections and is often grouped together by artist. This makes it much less overwhelming than the Louvre. If you love Impressionism, the top floor will be a real treat – it’s packed with pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissaro, Caillebotte, and Sisley. And Jake was a big fan of the Polar Bear by François Pompon, which is on the second floor if I remember correctly. We loved seeing so many famous works in one museum! I'd definitely recommend a visit here.
Petite Palace
On our last day in sunny Paris, we walked past this magnificent building. And, noting the ‘free entry’ signs out front, decided to pop inside for a look. We soon realised this was another gallery, giving us yet another opportunity to view some more paintings by Monet and other well-known artists. This space had a different feel to it, though. Unlike the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay, this stunning building had large unobstructed windows that allowed light to flood in – not to mention the beautiful sun-trap courtyard in the middle. Deckchairs were dotted around, making it an ideal spot if you’re looking to take the weight off for a bit. There’s also a lovely cafe attached to this courtyard, so if you fancy getting out of the hustle and bustle for a bit while having a spot of lunch, I’d say this would make a lovely choice.
Places to wander
Montmartre
Montmartre is my favourite part of Paris. Here you’ll find beautiful little squares, quirky cobbled alleys and dozens of French bistros serving authentic Parisian food. It’s known for being the part where famous artists and writers used to hang out. That might be why contemporary artists have chosen to make it their home, too. Head to Place du Tetre and you’ll find them congregated, bringing their gorgeous surroundings to life on canvas.
Just around the corner from here you’ll find Paris’ oldest vineyard, La Vigne de Montmartre. It was closed when we visited in March, but I imagine it’s lovely in the summer. And in the opposite direction, back down the hill towards the city, you'll find the Wall of Love where you'll be able to read the phrase 'I love you' in 250 different languages. It's a lovely romantic spot to take a partner, and it's great for photo opportunities, too.
Make sure you dedicate a few hours of your trip to strolling around this part of the city – you won’t be disappointed.
Along the Seine
In Paris, it seems many of the grandest and most beautiful buildings sit on the banks of the Seine. And instead of being muddy brown like the Thames, the water has a greenish hue, which in my opinion, makes it more beautiful – especially when the sun reflects off of it. I'd definitely recommend a stroll along the Seine. Not only will you get to appreciate many of the city's main sights, but you'll also be able to stop and browse the book stalls that run along the south bank of the river – pure bliss.
If you're a bookworm, this section of the city will be especially great. The Shakespeare and Company bookshop is just off the bank of the Seine in the 5th arrondissement. It's a popular TikTok and Insta rec so there may be a queue, but it moves fairly quickly and inside it's like a rabbit warren of rooms filled with books - mainly in the English language. It's beautiful and the perfect place to get lost for a bit.
5th and 6th Arrondissement
Paris has some beautiful green spaces – Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Palais Royal and Jardin des Plantes, to name a few. My favourite one we visited was the Palais du Luxembourg. When we visited it was full of people picnicking or getting some alone time in a deckchair with a book. We crossed the park, admiring the large circular fountain and the palace itself, and headed towards The Pantheon, which is another popular tourist attraction. Unlike The Pantheon in Rome, which is free, you have to pay to get in in Paris so we decided to just take it all in from the outside.
Fans of Emily in Paris will definitely want to pay a visit to this area of the city as it's home to Emily's apartment and Gabriel's restaurant. Tucked down a little street near The Pantheon, you'll find yourself in the square outside Emily's apartment – yep, the one where they had that unforgettably awkward dinner party. It was very quiet when we went here, save for a few tourists posing by the front door to the apartment block.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
If you're looking for a unique place to stroll in Paris, then this cemetery will certainly tick the box. It's home to a handful of famous people – the writer Oscar Wilde and guitarist Jim Morrison, to name a few. If you enter through the gates nearest to the Gambetta metro station, you'll see a map listing all of the notable people who are buried in the cemetery with the locations of their graves. We visited the graves of Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison, moseying our way downhill between the tombs. The atmosphere was peaceful and eerie. This is definitely worth a visit if you're a fan of either of those people or are looking to escape the hustle and bustle for a couple of hours.
Best views
The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
If you want to enjoy a panoramic view of Paris without forking out to go up the Eifel Tower or the Arc du Triomphe, then you'll definitely want to head to this Basilica. It takes a little bit of a climb to get to it, but once you're there, you can see for miles. We headed there on our first day to look out over the city we were about to explore. It helps you to put everything into perspective and get a sense of direction. Plus, you'll get some great photos. The Eifel Tower is slightly around the corner from the view at the front of the Basilica, but if you start making your way towards Place du Tetre, which I mentioned earlier, you'll catch a glimpse of it through the trees.
Galleries Lafayette - rooftop
Even if you're just window shopping, this famous shopping centre is definitely worth a visit. The big glass dome in the centre is stunning and makes you feel like you're in an antique snow globe. As a bonus, you can head all the way to the top floor for an amazing view of the city.
Arc du Triomphe
Lots of people visiting Paris will head up the Eiffel Tower, which is obviously a great thing to do. However, when researching our trip beforehand lots of people had said that you actually get a better view from the Arc du Triomphe. That way you get to admire the Eiffel Tower too! It's also much cheaper to do it this way round. It'll set you back around €11 instead of €30.
Trocadéro Square
For me, the best view of the Eifel Tower was from Trocadéro Square, which is on the other side of the Seine. From the tower, you'll need to cross the bridge over the river and climb some steps onto a large marble square with an unobstructed top-to-bottom view of the Eifel Tower. It's the perfect place to pose for pics. Plus, if you go back at night, every hour on the hour until 11pm you'll see it lit up in sparkly lights - magic!
Practical tips
Getting around
Travelling around Paris is super easy. Most days, we decided to walk between our destinations so we could connect the dots and really explore. But for those moments when our feet were aching and we needed a rest, we just hopped on the metro. Map apps such as City Mapper will help guide you across the city, telling you the different metro routes you need and where to change. It's just like being in London! The only annoying thing is you can't tap in and tap out – you have to buy paper metro tickets before you travel. There are machines at every station and it's relatively easy to do, it does just make your journey a few minutes longer.
Wear comfortable shoes
Paris is so beautiful that you'll most probably find yourself strolling all day, taking in the architecture and Parisian vibes. And in my opinion, there's no better way to see the city. Don't let sore feet hold you back and make sure you wear a pair of shoes that you can do upwards of 20,000 steps in.
Think twice before ordering tea
If you're a tea drinker, and you like it the classic British way with a splash of milk, you may struggle a bit in Paris. Teas we ordered when sitting in cafes were around €8 each, and be sure to ask for milk because they probably won't bring you any. If you don't feel like spending this much on a cup of tea – because let's face it, who does? – be sure to venture into a Pret or another well-known coffee shop.
Drink the water
The tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink, so don't waste your money on buying bottled water when eating out. It'll save your pocket and the planet. We took refillable bottles with us on days out to stay hydrated.
Some of my favourite memories from our trip to Paris involved food, and that's why I'm writing a separate blog post specifically mentioning and recommending the restaurants we visited. Watch this space...
Thanks for reading :)
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