Paris, S'il Vous Plaît
Paris is always a good idea - and I wouldn't recommend anything less than a week. A full week allows you to do all the fun, touristy stuff but also gives you a taste of a true Parisian lifestyle. I have 5 Paris tips:
Chill at a cafe: We had a routine every morning in Paris: espressos + people watching at the local cafe.
Order escargot always.
Say bonjour (hello), s'il vous plait (please), and merci (thank you)!!!
Get wine from the local markets, enjoy a bottle (or three) every day. Their 2 euro wine is NOT our 2 buck chuck.
ALWAYS eat the complimentary bread/butter. My God, there's something about bread in Paris.
WHERE TO STAY
Skip a hotel and book an Airbnb! I was shocked to see how affordable Airbnb’s are in Paris! They ranged from $40-$75 a night. My bestie Kamie helped Chris and me find the perfect place in Saint-Germain for only $60 a night. I HIGHLY recommend staying in Saint-Germain. The neighborhood is SO charming. Lots of cute cafés, restaurants, and boutiques—and a quick uber/train ride away from all of the big attractions!
TRANSPORTATION
If you’re familiar with NYC’s subway system, it’s pretty much the same in Paris. At the airport, there are transportation booths and the staff is super helpful. Just let them know how long you’ll be in Paris and they’ll give you the best options.
From the airport to the heart of Paris: We purchased a one-way pass to the city for $10/pp. It’s called the “RER"
For the rest of the trip: You can buy a one-week unlimited pass for 27 euro and it comes with unlimited rides on any of their lines from Monday – Sunday. We used Apple Maps Transit to get directions and it is VERY easy to navigate. It’ll tell you the direction to walk to get to the station, which line to hop on, any transfers (if needed), how many stops before you get off, and which direction to walk to get to your destination. We also used Uber (rarely) when we were either very tired or very late for a ressie. The uber rides were very reasonable—ranged from 3 euro to up to 10 euro.
WHAT TO EAT
Here are a few restaurants we enjoyed :
L'Avant Comptoir (dinner) - my fave restaurant in Paris. Tapas/wine bar, standing room. Menu is hanging on the ceiling. 2 sides: land and sea! Try both! Such a fun vibe. We let our waiters pick the food and wine for us and just kept 'em coming. Also don't sleep on the huge butter ball and complimentary bread. SO GOOD.
Comptoir de la Gastronomie (dinner) - Foie gras heaven. Definitely order the foie gras ravioli. Creamy, rich, heavy, and divine. Escargot too! Ressies: website, click on the "Restaurant" link.
Marche des Enfants Rouge (lunch) - Farmers market; lots of yummy food.
Chez Alain Miam Miam (lunch) - Best sandwiches in Paris! Also located in Marche des Enfants Rouge. Made by a hype chef who sings "Miam Miam" as he assembles his sandwiches.
L'As du Fallafel (lunch) - Amazing falafels in the lovely Marais neighborhood. We really enjoyed the food and our stroll around town.
Pierre Herme (dessert) - You don't go to Paris without macarons.
Bon Marche - gorgeous luxury department store + eatery. We went every day because we stayed right across the street.
Carette (brunch) - We were hungry after visiting the Trocadero. Delicious hot chocolate, onion soup, and their fluffy scrambled eggs with mushrooms.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Trocadero - plaza; beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower. Great for photos. Go early to avoid the crowds.
Bateaux Mouches - romantic dinner/champagne cruise on the Seine River. Loved the beautiful view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower against the water.
Jardin du Luxembourg - beautiful garden. Bring a book, a snack, and relax!
Le Champs de Mars - park directly in front of the Eiffel Tower. Bring a bottle of wine and have a picnic.
The Louvre - Mona Lisa!!! Go a little before it opens so you're first in line and for a calmer vibe/less people.
D'Orsay Museum - Monet
Musee de l'Organerie - Monet waterlilies
Jardin des Tuileries - near Musee de l'Organerie. Relaxing place; hang out by the water.
Versailles - We were going to skip this because it is outside of the city. So glad we didn't because the palace is breathtaking. RER C train.
Sacre Coeur - try to go on Sunday for mass when nuns are singing. Breathtaking view of Paris.
Les Catacombs - Underground cemetery lined with skulls. 6 million! Very unique/creepy experience.
Notre Dame - You can reserve tickets at their kiosk and come back at a later time. Try to go early.
Champs de Elysees - SHOPPING! Get that Chanel that you deserve, girl!
