Paris is always a good idea. We’ve been to Paris a few times now, and it is easily our favorite city to visit. Below is a comprehensive travel guide to the City of Light, covering everything from where to stay and what to eat to things to see and do.
Paris is always a good idea. We’ve been to Paris a few times now, and it is easily our favorite city to visit. Below is a comprehensive travel guide to the City of Light, covering everything from where to stay and what to eat to things to see and do.
Paris is magic. It has a je ne sais quoi that leaves you romanticizing your life as if you were in a movie. We love visiting this city and will never get bored of coming back over and over again. We went once in October for my birthday and again in late May for our honeymoon, and both seasons had the best weather and very minimal crowds.
The city of love has a rich history, a diverse and delicious food scene, and numerous areas to take in the views. Whether this is your first time in Paris or you’re a seasoned traveler, this detailed guide will include everything from travel tips and must-try food recommendations to a sample itinerary.
Paris is broken down into 20 separate Arrondissements which each has their own town hall, mayor and personal charm. The most popular Arrondissements are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18. When choosing a place to stay, I recommend looking if it is near an accessible metro stop and if its near a lot of attractions you are planning to see.
Airbnbs: Paris is filled with so many apartment options across all the Arrondissements. They range in price depending on the size and location. Airbnb homes are the best option if you are planning to save money on your stay while also remaining comfortable without the stress of a shared living space. The first time we were in Paris, we stayed in the 2nd arrondissement and found that it was quite central to all the best restaurants and a few of the sites, like the Louvre.
Hotel Splendid Etoile is a boutique hotel in the 8th Arrondissement, steps from the Champs-Élysées. It is a charming boutique hotel offering a great view of the Arc de Triomphe.
Hotel Grand Powers: We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Grand Powers in the 8th Arrondissement. It was about a 5-minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe and conveniently located near major metro lines. The rooms were furnished with very modern and chic decor. Our room was pink, which I loved, and the bathrooms were beautifully designed with marble walls and countertops. To top it off, all the hotel amenities were with Dipytique, which was the epitome of luxury. I chose this hotel because it had a charming balcony with a view of the Parisian streets. It was perfect for a slow morning with room service.
Hotel Plaza Athénée: For the most beautiful and iconic view of the Eiffel Tower, Hotel Plaza Athénée is in the 8th Arrondissement. This is a beautiful luxury hotel lined with lush greenery, fresh flowers, and red accents. It is situated on the prestigious Avenue Montaigne, where the first Christian Dior store was established.
Semilla is hands down one of the best restaurants we’ve tried in Paris. It is a small bistro located in Saint-Germain. It is a modern, trendy restaurant offering a wide variety of delicious dishes and vegetarian options. They treat vegetables like art here, and I still dream about the morel mushroom pasta.
2. Pink Mamma
Pink Mamma is a four-story Italian restaurant in the 9th arrondissement. It is known for its beautiful glass rooftop and photo-worthy interior. The food was also just as delicious as the interior. This viral social media spot is worth a visit. Reservations do book up in advance, so be sure to plan accordingly.
3. Comptoir de la Gastronomie
Comptoir de la Gastronomie is a cozy, intimate food and wine shop renowned for its duck confit, homemade foie gras, and escargot. This unassuming restaurant, located in the 2nd arrondissement, serves the best duck confit we have ever had. It was deliciously seasoned and cooked to juicy, tender perfection. We recommend making a reservation, as seating is limited.
4. L’Ami Jean
L’Ami Jean is a relaxed, small, and cozy classic French bistro that serves elevated protein dishes from sustainable ingredients and seasonal produce. The chef is an early star of the bistronomie movement, which elevates traditional French bistro dishes with fine dining techniques and quality ingredients. We had spring vegetables and duck dishes, both of which were incredibly flavorful and well-seasoned. We were surprised by the number of flavors there were in the vegetables. It was delicious.
5. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
If you want an iconic, no-frills steak frites dish, you go to Le Relais de l’Entrecote. It has multiple locations in Paris and does not take reservations. You have to line up in the queue when it opens and wait to be seated. It is famous for its extra-tender sirloin steak served with their signature sauce and homemade French fries.
6. Girafe
Girafe is a higher-end French restaurant that serves seafood dishes, but it is most well-known for its outdoor terrace and iconic Eiffel Tower views. To be honest, Girafe is only worth it if you are there for the vibes and the view. There’s something incredible about dining outside with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and I always recommend doing it at least once in your lifetime. However, the food itself seemed overpriced for what you receive, and we definitely found better food at a better price elsewhere.
7. Frenchie
Frenchie is a one Michelin star restaurant which has a warm and cozy interior which almost feels you are dining at home. The 145€ five course tasting menu changes with the seasons and each dish we had was incredibly creative and delicious. The way they transformed simple vegetables into mini masterpieces is nothing short of genius. We came here four years ago and since then we have had many other fine dining experiences, but Frenchie is still one of the most memorable restaurants we have ever dined at. Reservations book up very quickly. Pro Tip: You MUST make a reservation exactly on the second that the date opens up.
Carette is our favorite Parisian cafe to enjoy a slow breakfast at, eat some croissants, pastries, and hot chocolate while people-watching. It is an incredibly popular cafe that does not take any reservations; you need to stand in line and wait for a table. Carette has multiple locations throughout the city, and it’s worth a visit. The scrambled eggs, Saint-Honore pastry, and hot chocolate were some of the best we had!
Angelina is another popular French patisserie café, known for its L’Africain hot chocolate and beautiful tea room. Similar to Carette, there is no reservation, so you have to wait in a line for a table, which moves relatively quickly. We found that the hot chocolate at Angelina was good, but we liked Carette’s a little more. Angelina has that quintessential French tea room architecture on the inside, making you feel like you’re in Marie Antoinette’s world. It’s worth a try if you’re in the mood for a casual teatime in a beautiful setting.
The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It sits in between the 16th, 17th, and 8th arrondissements. It sits right at the end of the Champs Élysées. The Arc de Triomphe honors all those who fought and died in France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. It is a beautiful monument to take a quick photo with, and you can also buy a ticket to climb 284 steps to the top for a great view of Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is the most popular landmark and the symbol of Paris. The tower is located in the 7th arrondissement and stands at approximately 1,083 feet tall. It is the tallest structure in Paris. You can purchase tickets to visit the observation deck for a stunning view of Paris. There is also a Michelin-starred restaurant, Jules Verne, located in the Eiffel Tower, offering an epic experience. You can view the Eiffel Tower at various points in the city—Trocadero, Avenue de Camoens, Rue de L’Université, Pont Alexandre III, 3 Port Debilly, to name a few.
Trocadero Gardens are located right in front of the Eiffel Tower. It is the most popular spot to view the Eiffel Tower and get the most unobstructed view of it. We woke up early and did a stunning sunrise photoshoot with our wedding photographer, Sophie Epton, at 6:30 am, and there was barely anyone there. It was magical and I highly recommend it.
Pont Alexandre III is a deck arch bridge that crosses the Seine. It is the most extravagant and ornate bridge in the city. It is a beautiful photo spot with a view of the Eiffel Tower and is worth crossing at least once for the view.
The Palais Garnier, also known as the Paris Opera House, is a beautiful venue that is open to visitors throughout the day. The Palais Garnier is famous for its grand staircase and intricate architecture. You can buy tickets to the ballet and watch an evening show in its main auditorium.
The Tuileries Garden is a public garden that is free to stroll through, located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. It is a large garden with various areas to take a stroll, enjoy a coffee, and people-watch.
Les Deux Plateaux, also known as the Colonnes des Buren, is an art installation created by Daniel Buren in the inner courtyard of the Palais Royal. It comprises candy-striped black and white columns of different heights. It’s a really fun photo spot and worth seeing if you’re in the area.
The Seine River cuts through Paris and is beautiful to walk along, with charming shops and cafes lining its banks. You can also book a Seine river cruise as a way to see all the major sights by water. They also offer dinner cruises for a romantic dinner option. If you want a good spot for a picnic with a view of the Eiffel Tower, 3 Port Debilly is the best location.
Notre-Dame is a medieval Catholic cathedral located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is located on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine. It is a beautiful monument that is a must-visit.
The Latin Quarter, located in the 5th arrondissement, is home to many student cafes. It is a home to the famous bookshop, Shakespeare and Company.
The Luxembourg Gardens is a beautiful public park in the 6th Arrondissement that has clean, manicured lawns, flowers, fountains, and sculptures. It is a popular spot for people to sit, have a sandwich, and hang out.
Montmartre is a must-see place for first-time visitors in Paris. It is located in the 18th arrondissement and is the hub of Parisian artists and writers. I recommend comfortable walking shoes for this area since most of it is on a hill. You can easily walk around the area in one day or spend a few days at some of the popular sights like the Sacré Coeur and Moulin Rouge.
The Marais is the fashionable shopping district in the 4th arrondissement. It is filled with young and hip boutiques, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It was originally the Jewish quarter and has a rich Jewish heritage with many kosher restaurants.
The Louvre Museum of Art is a national art museum in Paris. It is one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located in the 1st arrondissement and is home to thousands of art pieces, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended, as they sell out quickly.
The Musee d’Orsay is one of my favorite museums in Paris, located on the left bank of the Seine. It was originally a railway station that hosts many paintings, sculptures, and photos. It hosts famous works of art from Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, to Cezanne, and so much more. The Musee d’Orsay is smaller and easier to navigate than the Louvre, with fewer crowds, and features works by Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Cézanne, and many others, making it more enjoyable to take in the art.
The Musée de l’Orangerie is an art gallery featuring Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, located in the Tuileries Garden. It is a small museum, but it is home to the famous Claude Monet water lilies room. It is worth visiting just for this room alone.
The Palace of Versailles, situated 12 miles outside of Paris, is the former residence of King Louis XIV. It comprises both the Palace and the gardens. The palace is beautifully maintained with gold-adorned walls, ceilings, paintings, and original furniture. It is a very popular tourist destination, hosting approximately 15 million people each year. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance and selecting the earliest entrance times to minimize crowds.
Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world, largely due to its diverse range of shopping options, from high-end luxury to unique boutiques.
TAX BACK TIP: If you plan on spending more than €100 VAT included in a single store, bring your passport. Some stores even accept a photo of your passport as identification. This will enable the store to print the necessary documents you need for tax refunds as identification. If you are leaving Europe from Paris, to get your money back, simply locate the customs tax refund area at the airport, scan the barcode (if the paperwork includes one), and place the documents in the designated mailbox. Second, if your tax back paperwork requires a stamp from the customs officer or you get an alert at the machine after you scan your receipts, you may need to wait in line for them to manually stamp it. If this happens they may ask to look at your purchases that should be unused, so keep them readily available and not packed away. That’s it! I found that CDG was the easiest airport to do the tax back process with.
One of the most famous Parisian department stores, located in the 9th arrondissement, is the Galeries Lafayette. It features over five floors that offer designer goods, a spectacular food court, and is truly a beautiful marvel, perfect for window shopping. (Pro-tip: if you are shopping for designer goods and want the best deal for tax back. I recommend shopping at the actual designer stores instead of here because there is a lower percentage tax back if you buy from the Galeries Lafayette.)
The Champs-Élysées is a famous avenue that runs through the 8th arrondissement and houses many cafes, luxury shops, retail stores, and boutiques. It is worth strolling down before or after a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.
La Grande Epicerie is a gourmet grocery store in Paris. Think Whole Foods but 10000% better. It offers an extensive selection of high-quality luxury foods, and, of course, it is home to the viral butter that can be vacuum sealed and packed as a unique souvenir or gift. There are beautiful displays of meats, cheeses, produce, seasonings, an entire truffle wall, a fresh pastry section, and an impressive selection of wine and spirits. If I lived in Paris, I would shop here every day.
This is a sample itinerary for a 5-day trip to Paris exploring the major sights, museums, and different arrondissements. I combined both of our itineraries from both trips for this itinerary.
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