It’s ambitious to attempt any city in a weekend, but Paris presents a special challenge. Rich with things to do (& of course eat), if you’ve only a few days in the city of light, make the most of it. Here are my recommendations for a whirlwind tour of my favorite city.
- Notre Dame: don’t be deterred by the line- it’s fast moving. Spend at least half an hour, more if you can, because if you wait long enough you can hear the monks singing and it makes the experience truly amazing.
Best time: whenever! You can go at night to take advantage of the plethora of restaurants in the area. - At least one exhibit at the Louvre, duh (and Angelina’s for the best hot chocolate ever after if you can). If you don’t want to do the traditional paintings, the Louvre has a truly amazing collection of ancient Egyptian art/artifacts too.
Best time: early morning. - The Sacre Coeur, and go up to the top. After you see the church itself (it’s pretty small), and take pictures looking down the front steps, go to the side of the church and look for some steps down that lead you to the underground area of the church. There you can also purchase tickets to go to the very top, where you can get some seriously amazing views of Paris.
Best time: early morning. Try not to go later in the day. - Climb the Eiffel Tower. Don’t take the elevator, climb it. You’ll feel awesome. Picnic in the gardens in front of / next to it afterwards. You can make the 15-20 minute trek up to Trocadéro, a square that has a lot of nice restaurants and cafés as well.
Best time: whenever! Great views at dusk too! - Walk around Montparnasse, eat crepes around the Rue du Montparnasse. Josselin is good, but honestly all the little shops in the area have been there since forever and once you put nutella on anything, it’ll be amazing.
Best time: afternoon snack. - If you’re a museum-goer, pick one odd museum unique to Paris to visit. Suggestions: The Pompidou Center, The Carnival Museum, The Perfume Museum, The Hunting / Nature Museum, The Sewer Museum (this one’s great according to a friend), The History of Medicine Museum (very creepy, be warned)
Best time: morning/afternoon. - Don’t go to the Champs Elysseys, it’s overpriced and touristy, just look at it from the Arc if you must. If you do really want to see the iconic street, go at night for a beautiful vista of the city of lights.
- Find a market– there’s one just about everywhere, promise- and buy fresh fruit. Then go to a little bakery and buy warm croissants for breakfast or a quick snack. You could also just buy and eat a whole baguette by yourself- no shame. Down a café crème and you’re livin’ la vie parisienne.
Best time: start off your day like this! - The Opera: it’s a gorgeous building. Get a tour inside if you’re an opera buff, but otherwise just pop into the entryway and take some photos. It’s worth a quick stop! Also, I reccomend walking to the Opera from the Louvre- it’s a wonderful stroll, not too far, and you’ll really get a feel for the area. Lots of shopping around the Opera as well; it’s pretty close to the Galeries Lafayette.
Best time: afternoon. - But really? If you don’t want a typical tourist experience, my best advice is to research each arrondissement, and then just pick one and really explore it. Live in it- there are tons of hotels and hostels all over Paris, so if you can stay in the arrondissement you’re most interested in, do! It’ll make the experience that much more unique.
