Most of you will know I traveled to Paris in November for a little vacation. While I had been there before on a school trip, this time I really fell in love with a new city. The food, the architecture and the endless amount of things to do make Paris the perfect place for a weekend get away! Here are some of my favourite places that I highly recommend visiting if you’re lucky enough to make it to there!
Eiffel Tower: Of course a must see! Pre book your ticket online so you get to skip the long queues. The views from both the lower level and the top are amazing! Be warned if you go during the Winter make sure to wrap up because it is freaking freezing at the top! While its fun from the top, my favourite thing is to watch the sparkly light show every hour on the hour at night time. Grab a blanket and your camera and take a seat at my favourite viewing spot, Trocadero! Also check out the famous carousel at the bottom of the tower as seen in The Kardashians and many a photoshoot in Vogue.
Museums: Paris is home to many of the worlds finest museums but my two favourite are The Louvre and Musee D’Orsay. The architecture at The Louvre and the gorgeous glass pyramids outside alone are worth stopping by to see. If I’m honest the Mona Lisa as pretty as it is was a little bit of a let down due to all of the tourists surrounding her taking pictures with their selfie sticks, (true story). I particularly loved the Musee D’Orsay though. Here you’ll find beautiful paintings from Monet, Van Gough and Renoir. What really makes this one so special is the decadent “Salle des Fetes” which is a stunning ballroom with the most elegant ceilings. Seriously where I want to have my wedding! Also for you lady bears who will be travelling to Paris with your man friend, I recommend taking them to the Musee de l’armee, which is an army museum and very manly!
The l’Arc de Triomphe: I really recommend going to the top of the historic L’Arc de Triomphe. It feels really rewarding to climb the 284 steps to the top and then reward yourself with some of the prettiest views Paris has to offer of the Champs Elysees and The Eiffel Tower. We went an hour before closing when it was really quiet to avoid the crowds!
The Big Bus Paris Tour: After a day in Paris I promise you that you’re feet will be tired from all of the walking around so its really lovely to hop on the bus tour and relax for an hour or so while taking in the sights from a different view. You can hop on or off at all of the major sights in the city. Tip: Snacks and Starbucks make this adventure even funner!
Jardin du Tulleries: This dreamy garden is located beside The Louvre and is a really romantic place to walk around if the sun is shining. The tree lined pathways and antique carousel make the perfect picture backdrop. Whats even better is that there is a crepe vendor right below the biggest ferris wheel in Paris so make sure to grab a bite and take in the views from the sky after your stroll.
9Hotel Opera: We stayed in this cute little boutique hotel located in the Opera region of Paris. The rooms are quite small but very reasonably priced especially if you book in advance. The lobby has the coolest Andy Warhol inspired decor and for an additional fee you can get an all you can eat breakfast which was pretty yummy.
Hotel Le A: This 4 star hotel is in a prime location right beside the Champs Elysees on a quite little street. Prices range from 250 upwards so its a little more pricey but the service, location and decor is supposed to be ideal.
Searching: I can’t personally recommend any other hotels but if you use booking.com, hotels.com combined with trip advisor you will be sure to find something nice within your budget.
The Champs-Elysees: Make sure to take a stroll down what I call the Fifth Ave of Paris! I love that there is a great mix of really high end stores like Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and Balmain mixed with high street stores H&M and Zara. Theres also a Zara Home Store here which I could have easily spent my day in. Also visit the Sephora which is open 24 hours for your beauty fixes!
Galeries Lafayette:This stunning 20 story department store is the most beautiful place in the world to do your shopping. There is a huge selection of stores and restaurants so you can find something for everyone. At Christmas they hang an upside down Christmas Tree from the ceiling which really is a sight to see.
Le Marais: This little Parisian district boasts a little bit of a medieval vibe but the small streets are lined with cute little boutiques and cafes. While your here visit the Place de Vosges which is the oldest square in Paris. The surrounding architecture is seriously beautiful.
Opera: This is the region where the Galeries Lafayette and the Printemps department store are located but you will also find a lot of high street stores in this region including one huge ass H&M.
La Duree: Heaven for my sweet tooth. Not only do they sell the most delicious macaroons and pastries but the decor is just stunning AND they give you the macaroons in small beautiful boxes. My favourite flavours are Lemon, Rose and Rasbperry. You can also grab lunch or dinner here but I expect its a little pricey.
Pierre Herme: Ask any Parisian whats the best macaroon in town and they’ll send you here. Pierre Herme offers a huge variety of unique flavours that come in different sizes! Apparently in the Summer you can even get a scoop of ice cream with your macaroon!
Le Relais de l’Entrecote: A traditional French dinner is Steak, Frites and Bernaise Sauce, and this restaurant is the best place to get it. Theres one right off the Champs Elysees so you can visit after your shopping spree but be warned there will be a queue for a half an hour before opening time so be there early to grab a table. The only choice of food here is how you like your steak cooked, because thats all they offer! Its so yummy and they serve your dinner in two halves so don’t be alarmed if your portion looks small when they first bring it out!
Angelina: The magical tea house in the heart of Paris best known for their iconic “chocolat chaud a l’anncienne”, a hot chocolate that is so divine you won’t feel the same about regular hot chocolate again. A must for your list!
Kong: Sex and the City fans will recognise this hip designer restaurant as the spot where Carrie had dinner with Alex’s ex wife. The decor is seriously cool with pebble floors, fluorescent stairs and a glass ceiling with gorgeous views of Paris. Really nice spot for a reasonably priced brunch at the weekends
Cafe de Flore: One thing I love about Paris is how you can sit outside a restaurant in the dead of Winter and enjoy your meal while people watching thanks to some serious outdoor heaters. Cafe de flore is one of the best places to do just that. Their menu has a huge selection of everything from croissants to sandwiches to steak.
Le Coupe Chou: This little ivy covered restaurant is located down a small cobblestoned street and is there perfect romantic place for dinner. Its a hidden gem of Paris and is reasonably free from other tourists. Their beef bourguignon is literally to die for and will not disappoint.
Pont Des Arts: Located right across from The Louvre is the famous “Love Lock Bridge”, Where couples attach a signed lock to the bridge in hopes of a life long love! Its really pretty to walk across and take some pictures. Theres men on the bridge selling locks with a sharpie if you fancy hopping in on the action!
Hotel des Costes: After seeing pictures of this rose filled hotel all over Pinterest, I just had to visit. It has a tiny flower store inside the hotel that sells the worlds most perfect roses delivered to the store every morning. Well worth a visit if you are flower obsessed like me!
Versailles: Although I sadly didn’t make it out to Versailles on my trip to Paris its definitely the first spot I would visit on the next trip. Its only a half an hour away from the city and is very easy to get to on the train. The gardens and the decadent interiors are supposed to be amazing.
The Christmas Market: If you’re visiting Paris between mid November and Christmas I recommend visiting The Christmas Market at the end of the Champs Elysees. Its very festive and pretty! Make sure to get some roasted chestnuts and mulled wine to go!
My Biggest Tip for Paris: If you are visiting Paris you really should buy the Paris Pass, which gives you access to all of the main attractions (minus the Eiffel Tower) and museums in the city. You can buy the pass to last either 2,4 or 6 days and the pass includes unlimited metro and buss access for the duration. If you plan on visiting a lot of the typical touristy things on your trip then this pass is an absolute must as it will save you a few pennies and also let you skip most of the queues!
I have had such great feedback to my other Travel Guides and nothing makes me happier knowing that you might have liked one of my recommendations as much as I did so be sure to let me know if you do!
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