Paris is a dream vacation destination for thousands of people. I’ve visited once and have another trip planned for the fall. From my visit to Paris, I’ve compiled a list of must-see spots that will make all of your Parisian dreams come true. Just think, you’re one flight booking away from these top 10 things to do in Paris, France!
Picnic at the Eiffel Tower
If you’ve been dreaming of Paris, I know you’ve been dreaming about the Eiffel Tower. Let me tell you: it did not disappoint. It’s beautiful, elegant, and dazzling when night falls. The best way to enjoy the Eiffel Tower is to pack a picnic and head to the park surrounding the tower. There you’ll find grassy areas to enjoy the views. Bonus points if you stop at a french market or grocery store for your picnic food!
I personally feel going up the Eiffel Tower isn’t really worth it. You wait in long lines, to climb quite a bit of steps, to see a relatively flat city. For me, the tower is the shining glory of the Paris skyline.
Go to a French Patisserie
A French Patisserie is essentially a French Bakery. Here you will find all of the beautifully decorated French baked goods. I highly recommend getting a croissant and trying anything else that catches your eye. You can’t go wrong choosing from these polished glass cases. Don’t forget to try a macaron here or find a shop with a ton of macaron flavors!
For a complete list of things you can find at a French Patisserie, check out this link I found very helpful!
Shop on a French Market Street
French market streets are absolutely fascinating to me. As an American, I go to a grocery store, where all my food is in one place. On a French market street, you’ll find that each shop specializes in one food group. You’ll find shops for bread, veggies, meats, cheese, wine, and there’s most likely a cafe with an espresso counter nearby. When taking a cooking class in Paris, our host brought us to the french market street and taught us how Parisians shop for cooking essentials. One of my favorite stops was to the cheese shop, where we were able to sample all sorts of cheeses with varying ages.
If you’re interested in doing a cooking class while in Paris, we loved Aurore, the host we found on Airbnb!
Click here to connect with her on Instagram!
Parisian Wine and Cheese Tasting
While with Aurore, our cooking class host, she taught us the proper Parisian way to eat from a cheese plater. It was all about eating the various cheeses politely in respect to the shape of the cheese and the other guests! There are so many wine and cheese tours available in Paris. I highly recommend taking advantage of them or making your own tour by just trying wine and cheeses everywhere you go. You’ll find out very quickly that the French are big on the quality of their food and wine, which I have a great appreciation for.
Get Lost in the Lourve
One of the most famous pieces of art in the Lourve is the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa has an entire room to itself in the Lourve and it’s a lot smaller than you think it would be! If you’re dying to see this masterpiece, make sure to grab a map before going into one of the four wings. It’s incredibly easy to get lost. If you have a list of specific pieces you want to see, make sure you locate them on the map before getting started and plan your visit accordingly. The Lourve is the biggest museum I’ve ever visited. It’s absolutely stunning. I swear you could spend over a week in the Lourve and still not see everything.
Visit Montmartre
Montmartre is the oldest part of the city. It’s famous for its residents of the past which include mega-famous artists. Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Edgar Degas all lived in Montmartre along with many other accomplished artists. In Montmartre, you’ll find charming cobbled streets, artists, cafes, street art, and a beautiful basilica. Montmartre is located on a hill and offers a cable car to help visitors to the top. Montmartre is not a place to be missed on your visit!
Go on a Walking Tour of the City
One of the best things we did on our trip, was scheduling a walking tour on Airbnb! It really helped us to see more of the city than we ever would have wandering by ourselves. I loved having a tour guide walk us through Montmartre and share about the area. He also showed us where famous artists lived! Our guide also helped us navigate around Paris on our first day. This is the link to the walking tour we took!
Find the Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe wasn’t the first thing I thought of when I envisioned my trip to Paris. However, when we walked up to it, I was in awe. It’s so gorgeous. Make sure to look at the detailed carvings around the Arc! If you’re looking to get the best picture, you’ll actually have to cross traffic and go to a specific spot to stand for a picture. There will be a line but the photos will be stunning!
Sit at a Cafe and People Watch
I can’t think of anything more Parisian than this. People watching isn’t just a pastime in Paris, it’s part of the Parisian culture. The cafes in Paris have seating outside that faces the street, giving you the best view for people watching. So order something delicious and enjoy the view!
Shop at Galeries Lafayette
On my first trip to Paris, I wasn’t able to make it to the Galeries Lafayette. However, it’s the first thing on my list for when I visit in the fall. The Galeries Lafayette is a famous department store in Paris that offers mid-priced to very high-end products. The architecture is stunning and the rooftop offers a beautiful view of the Parisian skyline.
Book the flight and don’t look back!
I hope this article gave you tons of inspiration for your trip to Paris! I love the city and know you will too.
If you liked this article, you may like: Discovering Edinburgh as a First Time Visitor
