Explore: Paris, France

Paris, France - 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E

“We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other.” -- Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

A Day in Paris

The city of love, of lights, of literature and art.

This past October, Michael and I spent five days in France -- about 36 hours in Paris and the rest of the time in Bayeux, Normandy visiting WWII sites (look for a travel spotlight soon!). Honestly, I was torn about how our time in Paris would be (which is part of the reason why we only spent 36 hours in the city). My mom went to Paris in the eighties and had a bad experience with rude waiters, a tough time communicating, and dirty streets. I feared our time in the city would be negative and overwhelming and unpleasant.

I'm very happy to say that this could not have been more opposite than my experience in Paris. I quickly fell in love with the city, the history, and the food. We walked over 22,000 steps in just twelve hours (the best way to see Paris is on foot!), and I'm already plotting how I can get my mom to France to replace her bad memories with good ones.

This city is a must-see, and I hope you love it as much as I did. Even though our time in Paris was arguably too short, here's a look my recommendations on how to make the most out of your trip!

Highlights

Musée du Louvre

It can't be a surprise that the Louvre is at the top of my list. Visiting this museum has been an item on my bucket list since I was a little girl. I've always been a big fan of art museums, and stepping into this space full of history, color, textures, and life was magical. It's one of the biggest museums I've ever been in! I could've spent a week exploring those halls, but with just a few hours we prioritized sculptures, French revolution art, and of course, the Mona Lisa.

The line to see the Mona Lisa is no joke, and took us about an hour of moving through the museum before we got to see her smile. They keep visits pretty short, to move viewers through as quickly as they can, and we had a great time chatting with our Polish neighbors in line. The wait was well worth it - she is smaller in person, but just as beautiful as ever.

Tip: Book your tickets before your visit! I cannot stress this enough. We walked right into the museum, past a line of hundreds of people. Also, review the map of the museum in advance if you can only visit for a limited time. It's easy to get lost! Plus, nothing feels worse than missing out on a specific piece you wanted to see (and yes, I'm speaking from experience).

Dinner at Loup restaurant

There are so many restaurants in the city that it's hard to narrow down which ones to try. We had only one dinner in Paris, so it was crucial to find the best food possible! Loup restaurant was recommended to us by the concierge in our hotel and happened to be just a street down from where we were staying.

Culturally, meals in France are very different than back home. In the U.S., we eat very quickly and leave, move on to the next thing on our to-do list. In Paris, dinner is a three-hour affair, with good wine and conversation. Meals come in stages, and are meant to be savored, not rushed.

In addition to a great atmosphere, the food at Loup was outstanding! We started was escargot in a pesto butter sauce, then moved to wine and bread while the main course was prepared. My main meal was pork shoulder with a vegetable medley and sauce (photo above). It was rich and decadent -- everything you want from a Parisian meal!

Tip: Always ask locals for recommendations! It's hard to know which restaurants to prioritize, so ask the folks that have had the opportunity to try many different places and can narrow it down for you.

Late-night Eiffel Tower show

Okay, so even though our late-night visit to the Eiffel Tower included pushy trinket vendors and rats running through the fields, all was forgotten when the show started. We bought a bottle of champagne and grabbed a seat in the park next to other spectators and watched the tower sparkle against the pitch black sky.

Paris is a beautiful city, and even though I personally had many other priorities, I can't deny the feeling you have when you stand at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. You feel small, like you've stepped into a dream and all the stresses of travel fall away. It's magical knowing how many people have stood exactly where you are, have been inspired by this view and have fallen in love here. It's simply breathtaking.

Food

Breakfast

Fancy restaurant meals are always a must, but I found the most joy slipping into coffee

shops for espresso, croissants, and croque madame. On our morning walk from Hotel Crayon to the Musee du Louvre, we stumbled upon Beccuti Bar and grabbed breakfast. Menus came in both English and French, which was a nice plus! It was the perfect spot to settle in for food or grab a quick coffee for the walk to the museum. It is also just a short stroll from the Seine.

We stopped here a few times -- we just couldn't stay away!

Order café gourmand

This was the best recommendation shared with me before we headed to France! We all know that Parisians are masters of coffee and desserts, and it's often hard to pick just one dessert when your options include macaroons and creme brulee. By ordering cafe gourmand, you'll receive a platter of several different mini-desserts of the day and a warm cup of coffee. It's the best way to get a little bit of everything, so you don't miss out on tasting new (or familiar) treats.

Café de Flore

It also shouldn't be a surprise that this cafe made the list! Cafe de Flore is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris, and it's a great spot to grab a sweet treat and people watch. The cafe was very busy, and is definitely a tourist hot spot. This is in large part due to the famous writers and philosophers that frequented Café de Flore, including Pablo Picasso, Georges Bataille, Robert Desnos, and Léon-Paul Fargue. I will say, our visit was quite expensive, but it's a Paris must!

Travel Recommendations

Hotel: Hotel Crayon

Located a short walk from Musée du Louvre in the first arrondissement of Paris, the art-themed Hotel Crayon is a great place to call home during your visit to the city. The boutique hotel feels like a step between a hotel and a hostel that offers a communal kitchen but still includes private (yet small) rooms with bathrooms. The space was very clean, breakfast is offered for an additional cost, and each floor has its own design (hallways photographed below). The location is the best part of this hotel, and the staff members were all very friendly and welcoming.

If you're interested in seeing something different, Elegancia owns several other themed boutique hotels across the city including Hotel Odyssey (step into the future!) and Hotel Exquis (explore surrealism).

City view: Arc de triomphe

This was another great recommendation I received before traveling to Paris. While most of us immediately think of the Eiffel Tower when it comes to getting the best view of the city, I actually recommend heading to the top of the Arc de triomphe. It's about half the price, and it allows you to get a 360 view of the city (with the Eiffel Tower in it)!

The Arc de triomphe is at the center of it all, and gives you a grand view of Champs-Élysées and Sacré-Cœur. Also, it's a great chance to get your steps in -- the stairs to the top are tough but definitely worth it.

It's true what they say about Paris - it's a beautiful, historical city that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. There are still so many places in Paris I've not had the chance to explore, and I can't wait to make it back to the sparkling city of art, food, architecture, and love.