Oui, Oui to Paris!
Paris is a city that I have always wanted to visit, and honestly wouldn’t have wanted to experience it any other way then with my best friend and love.
Paris, is probably one of the most romantic cities I’ve ever visited. It’s one of those cities you can truly get lost in. There is something special around every corner, and the city is filled with excitement, beauty, passion, and love. And as cheesy as that sounds ( and there is a lot of cheese in Paris), it’s true. It’s very similar to New York in that way, and probably why I love it so much. If I were to live in Europe, this is definitely a city I could see myself in.
It’s also so architecturally beautiful, the energy is intoxicating, the food is incredible, the wine is fantastic, and the pastries/desserts are divine. I really have no complaints. If it is your first time visiting France, I think this guide will help you enjoy your stay as much as I did. I’ve mixed in some local and touristy spots to give you a well rounded and Very Halcyon experience.
Flight Tips:
Depending on where you’re flying from, the flight can be a minimum of 5 hours from the US, so I recommend wearing compression socks. This is something I should’ve had for our 17 hour flight to Southeast Asia and wasn’t going to make that mistake again. They are a HUGE help when you’re sitting for hours on end. My legs didn’t cramp at all with these socks on, and I felt more comfortable in my seat than I would have otherwise.
Make sure you download some entertainment for the flight. We love to watch a movie that takes place in the country or city we are visiting. It’s a tradition we have, and it gets us excited for our trip. If you’d also like to partake in this fun activity, I’ve listed my recommendations below:
Beauty and The Beast - Disney Plus
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Disney Plus
Ratatouille - Disney Plus
Phantom Of The Opera - Amazon Prime
Taken - Netflix (funny enough)
Les Miserable - Amazon Prime or Apple TV for rent/buy
Midnight in Paris - Amazon Prime or Apple TV for rent/buy
If you can book a redeye flight, do it. You get to sleep during the night and wake up around noon once you arrive. Which is ideal since it helps you easily adjust to the time difference. You still might feel a bit tired but your chances of being jet lagged will decrease significantly.
Eat before your flight! Especially if you have a redeye. Grab some dinner at the airport and drink lots of water. You want to stay hydrated for long flights (or in general).
Definitely bring snacks for the flight, if you’re on a redeye you probably won’t need them. I still say it’s great to have just incase you need something to munch on.
Train Tips:
Depending on where you’re coming from, Paris is very easy to get to by train from most European countries. The trains in Europe are so efficient and accessible, you can literally get anywhere you want to go and it’s way more comfortable, and — at times— quicker than flying.
The trains usually have Wifi so you can get some work done during the ride, but don’t rely on the signal being strong. It’s also a great time to relax, read a book or watch a movie.
Definitely bring snacks for the ride. It will take you anywhere from 1 to 4/5 hours depending on where you’re coming from. The train does have a cafe if you don’t have time but I like to have food I know I’m going to enjoy and then rely on their cafe.
Stay:
The great thing about visiting a huge city like Paris, is that there are countless Airbnb options. We rented an AirBnB in Le Marais, a neighborhood I highly recommend staying in. It was centrally located, filled with restaurants, café’s, bars, and shopping. This neighborhood reminded me a bit of East Village, New York, as far as the energy and convenience.
Another neighborhood I recommend is L’opera and Quartier Latin. L’Opera is a bit touristy but very close to the main attractions — Opera, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Cirque de Triumph, The Notre Dame, shops and more. This area is also a bit expensive, so if you’re looking for a more affordable option, I’d check out Le Marais and Quartier Latin.
All neighborhoods are very beautiful and you’ll enjoy any!
Activities:
L’Opera Garnier - I highly recommend making time to tour the Opera, it is very impressive and the most beautiful theater I’ve ever seen.
Eiffel Tower - It’s a right of passage, you have to see it. Whether it’s from a rooftop bar, restaurant, or the park. I do have to admit that I understand why the Parisians hate it, if it was in the middle of central park, I would hate it too.
The Louvre - This museum would take you multiple days to complete but even going for a few hours is worth it. The architecture is stunning, the art is breathtaking, and there are so many exhibits to explore. The lines at the front can be very long but there is a back entrance where you can pretty much walk right in.
The Versailles Palace - This is about an hour from Paris, and a great day trip if you’re interested in touring old palaces and estates. The grounds are massive and will take you all day to view if you take the time to see it all. You’ll tour the palace and the other estates the royal family built, including the separate and private estates of King Louis and Marie Antoinette.
Arc de Triomphe - The famous traffic circle, where you can take a couple of pictures and then walk over to their “fifth ave” for shopping and cafe’s.
Shopping - There is incredible shopping in Paris, so come with some space in your suitcase! You’ll find all of your favorite brands including some French made brands and small boutiques. And the best part is, you don’t have to pay the tax. Just ask for the tax form to fill out before you head to the airport. This is true for every EU country!
Restaurants:
Gruppomimo - incredible and affordable Italian food. Get the pizza and the truffle pasta is a must! You can skip the pistachio tirimisu. I really wanted to like it but there wasn’t enough pistachio flavor for me.
La Maison d’Isabelle - best croissants in Paris, so buttery and flakey. Their other pastries are delicious too.
Dumbo Marais - really good smash burgers, and great for a quick bite or late night snack.
La Renommée - Really cozy Michellin Starred French Restaurant, set up kind of like a museum which is perfect if you’re touring the Opera and Louvre on the same day. Order the bone marrow and steak aux poivre. The snails were good too (I don’t like snails but I had two so that should be a testament). It’s pricey so be mindful of that before making a reservation.
Delhi Bazaar - Really good Indian food and affordable. We had the butter chicken and lamb vindaloo (our favorites) with the naan bread. The cocktails are also delicious and well balanced with traditional Indian flavors.
Homer Lobster - The lobster rolls are really good and affordable. I still think they are the best in the North East, but the brioche bread in France is unmatched.
Le Trésor - A cute and cozy french restaurant with good food at affordable pricing.
Paname Coffee Shop - A quaint, little coffee shop with good food and great to catch up on work.
Restaurants We Missed:
So sad to have missed the below restaurants because they looked amazing, but this gives us another reason to go back!
Café Latéral
Au Bouquet Saint Paul
Le Petite Bleue
Baguett’s Café
Freddy’s
Le Village
Waly-Fay
Adela
Benedict
Sugo Pasta Fresca
Mamiche
Maison Louvard
PiouPiou!
Carette
Babka Zana
Le Relais de l’Entrecote
Le Bistrot d’Henri
Creperie Suzette
