Paris
Paris is one of those rare cities that I never get tired of visiting — every arrondissement has its own personality, the architecture showcases elegant 19th-century grandeur, and the density of world-class art, history, and food packed into a walkable city is virtually unmatched. There’s something about the way the light hits the Seine at dusk, or stumbling upon a hidden courtyard in the Marais, that makes the city so special. Even seasoned travelers feel like they’re experiencing a city that was designed to be discovered slowly, on foot, over and over again.
Overview
Stay
- Hotel Dupond Smith
- Hotel 9Confidential
- Hôtel National Des Arts et Métiers
- Hotel Bourg Tibourg
Explore
- Eiffel Tower
- Museums: Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, Musée National Picasso, Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection
- Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées
- Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Seine (river cruise, walk)
- Parks: Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg
- Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
- Les Invalides (The Tomb of Napoleon)
- Place des Vosges (oldest square in Paris)
- Latin Quarter: Shakespeare & Company bookstore, Musée de Cluny (Medieval art), The Pantheon, The Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
- Shopping: Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché
- Day trip to Versailles
Eat
- Robert et Louise (Marais)
- Le Colimacon (Marais)
- Le Bucheron (Marais)
- La Crêperie Bretonne (Montparnasse)
- Bombance (Marais)
- Bofinger (Marais)
- Juveniles (Louvre)
- Le Petit Châtelet (Latin Quarter)
- Bistrot Des Tournelles (Marais)
- La place Longchamp (Trocadéro / Passy)
Where to Stay
I think the best neighborhood to stay in Paris is the Marais. The Marais puts you within walking distance of a number of attractions — Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Place des Vosges, and the Seine are all just minutes away on foot. It’s one of the few neighborhoods in Paris that feels genuinely alive at all hours, with excellent restaurants, cafés, boutiques, and galleries lining its medieval streets. And unlike more tourist-heavy areas, the Marais has a real neighborhood character — a mix of history, art, fashion, and a vibrant local community that makes it feel like the authentic heart of the city.
During this last visit, we stayed at the Hotel 9Confidential in the Marais district. The location of this hotel was absolutely perfect, with so many restaurants, cafes, and shops right outside it’s doors. The room size was also very ample, especially compared to some other Parisian hotels. Just beware that the elevator is very slow.
Logistics
- Getting around Paris on the metro is very easy. Before you go, download the app “Île-de-France Mobilités Navigo“. You can buy a metro ticket anytime, then simply tap your phone at the entry stall. This also works for buses, trains, RER, and tramways.
- Both Uber and Bolt are popular rideshare apps, so you should set up an account for both before leaving.
- If you will be visiting a lot of museums in Paris, you may want to consider getting the Paris Museum Pass.
- See restaurant reviews and make reservations using TheFork app.
Things to Do
Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries & Seine
Try to pre-book the Louvre’s timed-entry tickets online for early morning. Arrive at the Louvre and plan to spend 3–4 hours minimum. It’s a huge museum, so you will want to be selective: Denon Wing for the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory.
Afterwards, stroll through Jardin des Tuileries, the long formal garden connecting the Louvre to Place de la Concorde.
Walk along the Seine riverbanks in the afternoon — the Quais are beautiful and there are wonderful views in every direction. At sunset, taking a Seine river cruise (Bateaux Mouches or Vedettes du Pont Neuf) is a beautiful and relaxing way to experience the monuments lit up at night.
Eiffel Tower at Sunset, Les Invalides & Musée Rodin
Start your day at Les Invalides — Napoleon’s Tomb is awe-inspiring and usually less crowded in the morning.
Walk 10 minutes to Musée Rodin (don’t miss the sculpture garden).
In the late afternoon, make your way to Champ de Mars about 90 minutes before sunset. The warm golden-hour light on the Eiffel Tower from ground level is beautiful. Cross Pont d’Iéna to Trocadéro — this is your best photo spot. Position yourself on the plaza steps with the fountain in the foreground for the classic composition. Stay 15–30 minutes after sunset for blue hour — the deep blue sky against the lit tower is arguably more dramatic than the sunset itself. At the beginning of every hour from dusk until 11 PM, midnight, or 1 AM, depending on the season, the tower does its famous 5-minute sparkle. Walk 10 minutes to Bir-Hakeim Bridge for a second, cinematic angle as the sky fully darkens.
Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame & the Latin Quarter
Spend the morning at Musée d’Orsay — the Impressionist collection (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh) is fantastic. The building, a converted 19th-century train station, is stunning in its own right.
Cross the river to Île de la Cité for Notre-Dame Cathedral, which fully reopened in December 2024 after its restoration. Just around the corner is Shakespeare & Company, the legendary English-language bookstore.
In the afternoon, explore the Latin Quarter: Musée de Cluny (medieval art, including the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries), the Panthéon, and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle are all in this area. You won’t have time to do everything, so just choose what you’re in the mood for. End the day with a stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg, a beautiful formal garden.
Montmartre & the Champs-Élysées
Start your morning in Montmartre — take the funicular up to Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (the hilltop also gives you a sweeping panoramic view of Paris). Wander the cobblestone streets and Place du Tertre, the artists’ square.
Then make your way down and across to the Champs-Élysées for an afternoon stroll and some shopping. End at the Arc de Triomphe — if you’re feeling adventurous, climb to the top for a stunning 360° view that includes a clear sightline to the Eiffel Tower.
Le Marais, Place des Vosges & Musée Picasso
Start your morning with breakfast at Le Bucheron. Then walk to the Musée National Picasso-Paris — the 17th-century mansion housing the collection is as impressive as the art itself. It’s one of my favorite museums in the world.
Afterward, walk to Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest and most beautiful square (built 1612). Grab a snack at Carette (known for their pastries and hot chocolate) or one of the other cafés. Then wander the Marais, which has excellent galleries, boutiques, and the Jewish Quarter (Rue des Rosiers).
Day Trip to Versailles
The Palace of Versailles was the principal residence of the French kings from the time of Louis XIV to Louis XVI. It was first a hunting lodge, then a seat of power, and finally, from the 19th century onwards, a museum. Composed of the Palace, the gardens, the Park, the Trianon estate and several buildings in town, today the Estate of Versailles spreads over more than 800 hectares.
You’ll want to prioritize the Palace State Apartments and Hall of Mirrors, the Formal Gardens, and if time allows, the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Estate (Petit Trianon).
It’s very easy to get there from central Paris. Take the RER C train from central Paris (Gàre d’Austerlitz or Musée d’Orsay station) — about 35–40 minutes to Versailles-Château-Rive Gauche.
Be sure to buy tickets in advance.
Where to Eat
Paris is filled with centuries-old bistros and brasseries that serve timeless dishes like duck confit, steak frites, and soupe à l’oignon. There are also plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from. Most of the restaurants on my list are in the Marais area, but there are excellent restaurants everywhere!
Founded in 1927, Carette is a Paris institution known for their pastries and hot chocolate topped with clouds of whipped cream — it’s rich, dark, and lightly sweetened. Carette has three locations — Place du Trocadéro, Place des Vosges, and Place du Tertre in Montmartre. The Trocadéro spot in particular sits just steps from the best view of the Eiffel Tower.
The first night we arrived, we were wandering around the streets of the Marais and stumbled upon a small restaurant called Robert et Louise that was already bustling at 6pm. They had meats grilling over a wood fire, which smelled amazing. Unfortunately, they were booked out for 2 weeks, but next time we are in Paris, we will plan ahead.
We ended up down the street at a restaurant called Le Colimacon, which turned out to be very good! One thing to note is that a medium-rare steak in Paris is typically more rare than how it’s prepared in the U.S.
Le Bucheron in the Marais serves a really nice brunch — the pan perdu with egg and bacon really hit the spot.
Brasserie Bofinger is one of Paris’s oldest (founded 1864) and most stunning Belle Époque brasseries near Bastille, iconic for its Art Nouveau decor, featuring a glass-domed ceiling, intricate woodwork, and bustling, classic atmosphere.
If you’re looking for something a little different, give La Place Longchamp a try. They serve eclectic dishes with Asian influences and seasonal ingredients. They are located very near the Trocadéro, where you can get the classic elevated, straight-on view of the Eiffel Tower.