Paris: Travel Guide

Paris is always a good idea. Why? Rosé and cheese platters at noon, unforgettable views at night and buttery croissants every other hour of the day. Earlier this month I flew back to beautiful Paris with my travel partner in crime Nirina (Cookie FM), for three days of sightseeing, sunshine and food…of course! Here’s what we got up to…

SIGHTSEEING

TROCADÉRO

I hadn’t been to Paris in a few years so we decided to visit all of the iconic landmarks again because…well…why not? Trocadéro is a great spot for city views and photos of the Eiffel Tower. There is a metro station close by so it’s easy to get to and you can stroll down to the Eiffel Tower, over the bridge to soak up more beautiful views. If you are planning on going up the Eiffel Tower you can either get a lift or walk. Note: the queues can be VERY long so be sure to book tickets in advance. Since my last visit they have built a perimeter around the base of the tower which isn’t as pleasing to the eye but a safety precaution no doubt.

EIFFEL TOWER

While the Eiffel Tower is great to visit during day, it’s even better at night. The Champ de Marc garden is located in front of the Eiffel and it’s a nice spot to grab an ice-cream during the day or have a few drinks in the evening with friends. It is also a great place to get a good photo of the tower. We went back after sunset on our second evening and we were left speechless. The tower lit up is genuinely breathtaking and on the hour every hour the lights on the tower twinkle!

MUSÉE DU LOUVRE

The Musée du Louvre is a must for its artwork! I visited the museum on my last trip and it was well worth it. Again, to avoid queues I would suggest booking tickets in advance and booking a tour is also a good idea. You will be in there for a few hours so bring a bottle of water! A great experience overall.

JARDIN DES TUILERIES

If you are ‘one with nature’ the Jardin des Tuileries is a must. A perfect spot for a stroll or a picnic with family and friends. You will find lots of water features, fountains and statues and it’s just across from the Louvre.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

Another must when you’re in the French capital. There are lots of great photo opportunities from the surrounding streets. You can also buy a ticket to climb to the top for a unique view of the Champs-Élysées, by day and night.

A stroll along Champs-Elysées is another must. It is seen as one of the world’s most beautiful avenues and known for its famous shops and restaurants.

PANTHÉON

Located in the Latin Quarter, the Panthéon is another iconic landmark worth visiting. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve and to house the reliquary châsse containing her relics. It truly is a beautiful and unique building. You can buy tickets to go inside for a look around. The surrounding streets are quiet enough and there are lots of hidden alleyways and a few nice coffee spots too. Worth a visit if you have some time to kill.

NOTRE-DAME

Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. It is currently being renovated since it was badly damaged by a fire last month but it still remains to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris.

RUE DE L’UNIVERSITE

Looking for that perfect Instagram shot? Rue de L’universite is a famous street with a unique view of the Eiffel Tower. It is located near the river on the Left Bank lined with a number of hotels, some shops and restaurants. We stopped off for lunch just across the road and the views were something else. (details below).

AVENUE MONTAIGNE

Located just off Champs-Elysées is Avenue Montaigne – a street where dreams come true if you’re a lover of all things fashion. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent…you name it, it’s there. It’s also a good area for celeb-spotting! FYI!

PONT ALEXANDRE III

Yet another Instagram worthy location. The Pont Alexandre III is a deck arch bridge that spans the Seine in Paris. The bridge is widely regarded as the most beautiful bridge in the city. If you want to get your 10k steps in I wouls recommend paying this bridge a visit.

MONTMARTRE

I had heard great things about this place so I was intrigued. If you are a fan of all things arty Montmartre is a must. A lovely little village with a beautiful view of the city. Note: you will be climbing a lot of steps on arrival – worth it though.

Montmartre is full of artists, unique paintings and rare sketches. There are lots of cafes, restaurants, bars and plenty of souvenir shops too. The well-known Place du Terte has all of the above. Definitely worth a visit if you fancy a break from the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours.

SACRÉ-COEUR BASILICA

While you are in Montmartre, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is another iconic building worth visiting. Again, the queues are quite long but if you’re only planning on visiting once you might as well go inside. Here is some more info. There is also a nice city view out the front of the building.

WINING & DINING

Here is a short but sweet list of my favourite food and drink spots from our trip…

Le Café Gustave –  A cute little spot near the Eiffel Tower. We each enjoyed a charcuterie & cheese platter over a glass of rosé. The selection included a serving of prosciutto, salami, baked ham, pâté and a number of soft and hard cheeses. Lovely street views and friendly waiters.

Maison Ladurée – a trip to the famous Ladurée is an absolute must when you are in the capital. After all, who doesn’t love macaroons? We popped in for breakfast on our second day and we were lucky enough to avoid the queue. Nirina and I shared the Le Petit Déjeuner Champs-Elysées option, which includes mini pastries, bread, jams and honey, eggs, fruit salad, juice and a hot drink. From the cute delph and unique decor to the great service and unforgettable experience – you will not be disappointed. Visiting Maison Ladurée is always such a treat.

Restaurant l’Avenue – This place had been on my list for a while as I had heard great things about it. It is also a popular spot for A-listers (the Kardashians, Rihanna and Justin Bieber) so if it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for us. It is located in the middle of Avenue Montaigne and right beside a number of designer boutiques. We had a big breakfast so we decided to share two small dishes. We ordered a Yellow Tail dish and Shrimp Dim Sum dish. Both were really tasty and we ordered a glass of Rosé each too. The service was good and the staff were friendly. A little on the pricey side but a nice spot after a morning of sightseeing and shopping.

Le Café Marly – The definition of ‘breakfast with a view’. This terrace café looks out onto the iconic Louvre square so you can people watch as you dine in style. We each ordered the Tradition Petit Déjeuners, which includes a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate; bread or pastries with jams; and freshly squeezed orange juice. A little on the pricey side but the views made it worthwhile.

Fitzgerald Cocktail Bar – A must if you’re in the mood for cocktails. They have a little bar hidden out the back which was very cool. An impressive drinks menu, great music and a nice vibe overall. The staff were really friendly and the decor was right up my street.

Au Cadet de Gascogne – This is a really nice restaurant in Montmartre. We had lunch in the sun and we finished up with a few cocktails. Again, really good service and a nice selection of food and drink. I ordered a prawn cocktail dish and it did not disappoint.

ACCOMMODATION

We stayed at the Best Western Quartier Latin Panthéon. It was in a great location as there was plenty of public transport nearby. We stayed in a twin room which featured a cute little balcony (with a nice view), a wardrobe space, and a small bathroom. There is a supermarket a few minutes down the road as well as a boulangerie which was handy.

TRANSPORT

It’s super easy to get around Paris! For public transport, we bought the 3-Day Paris Visite travel pass ticket (Zones 1-3) and this was €26.65. This gives you unlimited use of the metro, bus, tram, and RER trains in the city centre. You can buy this ticket at any of the ticket machines in the city centre.

Taxis are pretty cheap too. There are plenty of taxi ranks around the city but you can also use the MyTaxi and Uber apps in Paris.

There you have it – My Paris Travel Guide. If you’re planning a trip over soon – I envy you! Paris is one of the few cities I will never get tired of visiting.

I tried to include as much as possible in this guide but if you have any questions feel free to drop me a comment below. You can also catch me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! <3

Thanks for reading!

Until next time…