Oh Paris. This post is going to be a long one and hard to narrow down my favorites. If you haven't noticed yet I am a tad obsessed with this city and everything in this beautiful and perfect place. I spent a summer there in college and went back last summer for my honeymoon. I really believe there is no where like this city in the world. However, I have heard of people going here for a few days, rushing around to the tourist spots, eating from touristy, overpriced vendors, and not enjoying their time. In my opinion Paris is all about slowing down and taking in the beauty of it all. The beauty of the sites, the food, and just their culture in general. Obviously there are main tourist spots you have to go to if you are visiting and I am going to write a list of what I believer are the must dos. Check out these must-see spots but then the rest of your time in Paris, go to a cafe, grab a book, a cafe creme and take in the parisian culture!
Do:
This is an obvious one. However, there are two ways to truly enjoy this main hotspot.
↣ Expensive option: Dinner at the top of the Eiffel at Le Jules Verne. This is one that comes with a high price but if you are willing to spend the money it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and will be worth it. Tip- make sure to book a reservation well in advance!
↣ Cheaper but still good option: Go to a local monoprix (there are a million of these stores everywhere) grab fresh bread, cheese, wine, fruit, and a blanket and enjoy a picnic on the Champ de Mars (park in front of the Eiffel Tour.) Get there right before sunset as the Eiffel will sparkle every hour on the hour after sunset and it's truly beautiful. Tip- be careful of pickpockets! This is obviously a tourist spot so make sure to keep your belongings close to you.
I also recommend strolling by here during the day. The Eiffel looks totally different during the day and the neighborhoods around there are gorgeous and worth just walking through imagining a life where you could afford these.
I believe Notre Dame has the best views in Paris. You have the view of the seine, the neighborhoods, and the Eiffel Tour. Notre Dame is exquisite on the outside and inside but I am telling you it's worth the wait to go up to the top! Some of my favorite pictures of Paris come from this view. I also love getting up close to the gargoyles and of course the famous bells. There is also a park behind Notre Dame that is a perfect place to sit and enjoy the view of the church (plus the park has free wi-fi). If you like entertainment, almost every night there are entertainers around Notre Dame. I've seen plays, men doing fire tricks, or my favorite rollerblading stunters (i'm telling you they are amazing.)
↣ Notre Dame is also a central location to some of my favorite areas. To the right of Notre Dame (if you are looking at the front of the church) goes into the Latin Quarter which is a fun place for tourist merchandise, food and drinks. This area is definitely busy at night. To the left of Notre Dame you have the quieter cafes along the river which seem to be more locals than tourists. Directly behind Notre Dame is one of my favorite neighborhoods. It's filled with beautiful apartments and local shops and boutiques.
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| Park behind Notre Dame |
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| Neighborhood behind Notre Dame |
The Louvre is famous for its pyramid as well as being the holding place for the Mona Lisa and many other famous pieces of art. Yet, it is the other aspects of why I love this place so much. The building is absolutely stunning. Just look up at all the details on the walls, windows, and roofs. It's incredible. Random note: I love walking into the outside center square of the Louvre. The Louvre is crazy with tourist but for some reason when you walk into this square it all gets really quite. I use to go and sit in that area for a while when I stayed the summer there. Just something really peaceful about it. I also adore the Tuileries Gardens in front of the Louvre. You can walk in these gardens from the Louvre, through the Concorde, and eventually end up on the Champs- Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. Perfect way to hit a few of the Paris attractions and do some shopping along the way. The Louvre is also an amazing museum and worth going to if you have any appreciation for art!
- Palais Garnier/ The Opera
The Opera is obviously famous for being the setting of "The Phantom of the Opera" (which I adore.) However, the actual opera house is beyond words. The main hallway is completely covered in gold and chandeliers. The actual theater is a magnificent piece of artwork. And there are small rooms throughout that are so beautiful to walk through. I have been here many times and would go back every week if I could.
