Travel Diary | Paris
Bonjour!
Our trip to France was a long-awaited dream come true – after cancelling the trip twice due to Covid lockdowns, we finally made it after two years of wishful hoping that schedules, life, and the pandemic would allow for us to go. The entire time we were gone, I was deep in my head and soaking up every moment; we were so incredibly grateful to be there after dreaming about it for so long. Did I cry when we landed in Paris? 10000%.
If you’re planning a trip yourself or would like to come along virtually for the ride, read on! There’s still much to discover on a return trip, but I’ll share details on where we ate, what we did, and what we loved.
TRIP ITINERARY
We spent 3 nights in Paris before we took the speed train down to the South of France – which will be its own post to come. We both felt like 3 nights was adequate to get a good taste of Paris, but obviously could have spent significantly more time there to really dive in. The goal was to hit some of our must-dos, add in some time to relax, and know that we’ll return someday to explore a bit more.
We traveled in early June and the weather was just perfect – warm and pleasant in the 70s/low 80s, but not yet too hot.
Getting around IN PARIS
We took an Uber from the airport to our hotel, and then to the train station when we eventually departed, but when we weren’t hauling luggage around or going long distances, we walked or rode bikes. City bikes, if you’re not familiar, are battery-assisted bikes you can affordably rent through an app (like a Lime scooter). They were an awesome way to get around, without exhausting yourself with too much pedaling. The bikes all have baskets to carry your belongings and are easy to pick up from any location.
WHERE TO STay
Choosing where to stay in Paris was overwhelming, but we typically look for boutique hotels that tick the boxes for location, amenities, and character. We stayed at the Grand Hotel du Palais Royal in the first arrondissement, steps from the Louvre and the Palais Royal. Though we were close to those landmarks, the location is situated along an open, quiet courtyard and tucked away from the crowds. We loved our balcony and took breaks out there daily for coffee and macarons or a glass of champagne. I chose the hotel in 2019 when we initially booked our trip, and since then, it has gained some popularity as a filming location for Emily in Paris – it was fun to see the parts of the courtyard that they used for the show!
TO DO
RIVER CRUISE ON THE SEINE
Seeing Paris from the Seine was perfect way to sit back, relax, and take in the sights of the city. We booked a river cruise for the two of us through Green River Cruises and I can’t recommend it enough. Our captain was friendly and pointed out any notable landmarks that we passed, and the boat had an audio hookup for us to play our own music. Our cruise rate included two bottles of wine and a charcuterie board, which made this the perfect pre-dinner activity to enjoy just before the sun started to set.
A DAY ON THE Champs-Élysées
As a lover of all things luxe, a few hours of shopping on the Champs-Élysées was a must-do for our first time in Paris. Even if you’re not into shopping, it’s absolutely worth walking the street and admiring the shop windows on your way to see the Arc de Triomphe. However, if you’re a luxury shopper, Paris is the perfect place to take advantage of the exchange rate and the VAT tax discount. We visited Saint Laurent and got a bag I’d had my eye on, then popped into Dior to browse and visit the café. I highly recommend checking out the café – it’s in a beautifully decorate atrium and offers the perfect spot to stop for a latte and a dessert. We split the classic Dior star-shaped chocolate mousse cake and it was one the best desserts we’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious and worth a stop!
THE LOUVRE
As an art lover, the Louvre was a must for me – but it’s a worthwhile visit for anyone whether you’re a museum goer or not. The sheer size of the space and collection was intimidating, so I did some pre-planning as to which exhibits and pieces we wanted to see. This was super helpful in keeping our visit concise, if you don’t have a whole day to explore. I’m here to tell you, if you only have a couple of hours to spend at the Louvre, it can be done, and without feeling rushed!
My husband and I both love Egyptian art, so visiting both of the Egyptian exhibits were on our list, as well as seeing The Winged Victory and the Renaissance painting collection. Seeing the Mona Lisa felt like a must, since we were there, so we were able to walk by and get close enough to view it and take pictures without waiting in the incredibly long line. Truly, don’t waste your time with the line unless you want to get face to face with it!
We didn’t have time in our itinerary to visit Versailles, so a friend recommended checking out the Napoleon apartments in the Louvre to experience a similarly opulent environment. I don’t even know if opulent is enough of a word to describe these rooms (shown below with the chandeliers) – they were so ornate, beautiful, and overwhelmingly detailed. Definitely not to be missed! The entire museum is breathtaking to wander, and flows easily from one wing and exhibit to another. We loved our time here and it proved to be less overwhelming than anticipated. I can’t wait to go back!
Other notable things to do: take in the courtyard of the Palais Royal, wander through the Palais Royal gardens and the The Tuileries, browse the shops at Galeries Lafayette, get up close with the Eiffel Tower in the park, then catch the tower lights at night. The site of the Eiffel Tower is full of tourists no matter the time, but at night it draws a huge crowd. We found a spot near one of the many bridges that cross the Seine and tucked ourselves away in a private spot. Having a glass of wine on the sly while watching the tower light at midnight was a trip highlight I’ll never forget.
TO EAT
CAFé MARLY
Grabbing a bite or a drink at Café Marly is the perfect way to wrap up a visit to the Louvre. The Café is situated along the inner courtyard of the Louvre, and offers an ideal atmosphere to take in the architecture of the museum, while tucked away from the hustle and bustle.
brasserie dubillot
The amount of restaurants and culinary experiences in Paris are absolutely mind-bending, so we did our best to hit a few recommended spots, knowing we’ll hopefully be back soon to explore more. Hitting up a classic French brasserie was high on our list, so we planned for lunch at Brasserie Dubillot and it did not disappoint – from the delicious menu to the stunning two-level interior. We were delirious from jet lag when we walked in, and this meal definitely brought us back to life.
PINK MAMMA
Another bucket list restaurant we hit was Pink Mamma – another stunning experience and environment. This multi-level space has dining rooms and bars on each floor that branch off a winding staircase. The top floor terrace offers beautiful neighborhood views and natural light, loaded with greenery and lights to create an eclectic vibe. Italian dance music and the energetic staff make for a totally lively atmosphere. Pink Mamma serves up an Italian menu and the drinks and food lived up to the hype – we got the burrata and prosciutto to start, then a pizza and the famous truffle pasta. Sooooo good, and such generous portions. I’d suggest making a reservation, as you’ll be seated first, and I’d also suggest booking for their first seating when they open at noon – that’s what we did, and we were amongst the first to be seated up on the terrace level.
RITZ PARIS
A few friends recommended we grab drinks at the Ritz bar, and I can concur this was a 10/10 experience. We had to wait for a spot in Bar Vendôme, but sitting in the ornate and quiet lobby area was anything but boring. Smelling the giant arrangement of peonies in the lounge kept me plenty occupied, as did wandering the indoor mall of luxury boutiques. Once finally seated, the lush red bar lounge was formal yet great for people watching. It’s the perfect spot for an aperitivo or a nightcap and will make you feel like an elite.
Other notable spots we loved: Drouant and Chez Julien for dinner or drinks, Café Kitsuné for a coffee break, and of course Pierre Hermé for macarons! There were countless other bakeries and cafés we wanted to visit, but didn’t have time for. After experiencing just how quick the flight was (relatively speaking), I’m tempted to make this a much more regular trip. J’adore.
Until next time – on to the coast! The South of France travel diary will be up next. See you soon!
