10 Things You Can’t Miss on your First Trip to Paris
My friend and I were going on a 10 day trip to Europe and decided the night before to start in Paris, yes the night before. We had nothing booked, planned or organized so I already want to revisit and do even more research beforehand. I know some people think Paris is overrated, but I had the complete opposite experience. I’m uncertain if it is my dreamer heart and the need to romanticize the places I go, however I can safely say Paris is one of my favorite cities I’ve traveled to. The croissants, cafes, museums, history, and eiffel tower visible at so many different angles and streets makes this place so special.
Where to Stay
Paris is one of those places I want to come back to and splurge on a hotel with beautiful windows and a terrace overlooking the eiffel tower. You can pay a pretty penny for places that fit this criteria so we went the budget friendly route. We stayed in a hostel the first night and slept so bad and “splurged” and found a boutique hotel the second night.
Rose Bourbon Hotel
Hotels
Hotel Rose Bourbon - this is where we stayed and oh my word it was so cute and for the price it was the perfect place!
Hôtel Marignan - prime location and can be found for as low as 115 a night to stay here! Breakfast is also included so really can’t go wrong.
Hotel Gustave - 4 star boutique hotel and only a short walk to the eiffel tower. It is super charming and in the most ideal location. The price is also very doable for what you get.
Hostel
St Christopher Canal Inn - It was a decent hostel, but was too far away from the city center and we had so many people in our room that were not very quiet so it was hard to sleep.
The People - Paris Belleville (ex Les Piaules) the location seemed solid for this hostel
Three Ducks Boutique Hostel - built in a historical monument this hostel is also only a 15 minute walk to the eiffel tower
Best Time to Go
March to May and September to October are the prime months to visit Paris to have the best weather and avoid the peak tourist season in the summer.
How to Get Around
Metro
Download the RAPT app to access routes and train times ahead of time. It took us a little bit to figure out, but we were pros after the first day. It’s 2 euros per ride so it is very affordable and easy to get around
Navigo Easy Card
This is the most simple way to get around and that way you don’t have to worry about getting tickets ahead of time
Bus
If you need a shorter ride a bus is a great option to hop on and off super quick. The Card works for buses as well.
Taxis and Rideshare
We used an uber to get to our hostel and it is more expensive than public transportation, but we wanted to get there more quickly after being tired from the flight.
Top 10 Things to See and Do in Paris
Le Marais
A fashionable art district neighborhood with trendy shops and places to eat. It is also called Soma or south Marais. It is the most charming district with insane architecture and historic buildings. They also have a Jewish Heritage. We ate the famous falafel at La’s de Falafel. They have so many vintage shops too which I added in number 9!
2. Le Louvre
You can’t come to Paris and not go to the Louvre… the lines are insane so get here as early as possible. It is super touristy and there are a ton of other museums that are also beautiful and less popular, but a visit here is a must. I’ve seen ways to avoid the crowds through tiktok so consider doing some research on tips and tricks to enter a secret way. The premise is also stunning so take some time to explore the outside as well.
3. La Carette
Whether it’s at the infamous Carette or another cute cafe you have to experience hot chocolate that is literally melted chocolate in a cup. Carette is near the eiffel tower so it’s the perfect end to seeing it sparkle. It is extremely touristy and popular for good reason, but I do think it was worth the hype and I would even go back the next time I visit Paris.
4. Sunset along Le Sein
This is another great spot to see the Eiffel Tower matched with boats along the canal. A stroll along the canal at sunset is so romantic and dreamy. I could spend hours getting lost along Le Sein. Pack a picnic for an even more romantic evening. You can also take a boat ride along the canal for another dreamy activity. I think a sunset boat ride would be pure magic.
5. Watch the eiffel tower sparkle
You really can’t go wrong with seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle from all angles. It starts to sparkle at sundown every hour until 11pm. Take the time every evening you have to watch it at least once. It never got old while I was there and you can see it at different viewpoints. We watched it from Le Seine, Trocadero, Rue de l’Université, and Parc du Champ-de-Mars.
6. Arc De Triomphe
I was so mesmerized watching cars go in circles surrounding the historic infrastructure. We just walked around and took pictures, but you can pay to climb the stairs to the stop for an unreal view of the city. I’ll make sure to include this in my itinerary for next time. Use this link to book a ticket in advance!
7. Eat at a Big Mamma Restaurant
Pink mamma is one of the most famous restaurants but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. They do book out so make sure to make a reservation in advance. The space is very aesthetically pleasing with four floors of instagram worthy spaces. They have very yummy food and are known for their meat, however they do have some veggie options.
8. Eat at as many cafes as possible and people watch
There are endless amounts of cafes to choose from in Paris. I would be tempted to fly there just so I can indulge in people watching, a croissant, and espresso. I’ve also seen so many cafes that have the deal where you get 2 beverages, a sweet dish, and a savory dish for around 22-24 euros. Everyone talks about Cafe De Flor which I’ve heard is overhyped, but I’ve love to try it next time. Another very popular cafe is Les Deux Magots. We went to O coffeeshop which I really enjoyed the surf atmosphere and craft coffee.
9. Vintage Shopping
Paris has some of the best shopping in the world. I personally love to thrift and vintage shop and Paris is a mecca for the best finds. There is an upmarket department store that is worth a visit just to see how beautiful the building and ceiling is. Pop into gallery Lafayette to get a view of the prettiest department store you’ll ever see. I had the best luck with vintage store in le marais and 10th arrondissements had the best affordable vintage shops. Some of my favorite shops were FREE'P'STAR, Kilo shop, and hippy market!
10. Champes Elysees
It is known as being one of the most famous streets that connects the arc de triomphe and Place de la Concorde.Take a stroll down the infamous street and one of the most beautiful avenues in the world. The trees along with the Arc De Triomphe in the backgound makes a for a view you can’t beat
