As lame as it sounds, I’ll never forget when I first drove into Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower in real life. It LITERALLY took my breath away (seriously, I felt my breath catch and I stared and probably said “wow” out loud), because I realized “Holy guacamole. I am in Paris.” Don’t make fun of me. Paris is unbelievable, and being there is surreal, especially if you are new to traveling like I was.
If you’ve ever been, you can probably understand where I’m coming from, unless you’re one of those people I have met several times who think Paris is overrated and want nothing to do with it (usually pretentious assholes, in my experience). To each his own, but, in my own opinion, this city is all it’s cracked up to be and more. And the French are not as cranky as stereotypes will lead you to believe. Every Parisian that I met was very friendly, smiling and not at all put off by my need for them to translate menu items or provide directions (as long as you do it very nicely, and learn a few French words first — they appreciate effort).
This was a busy several days, so I will try to be somewhat selective about my favorite things this city has to offer.
What to Do
Visit La Lourve
A must. This is the largest museum in the entire world, covering over 600k square feet. It would take weeks to fully cover the entire expanse of the exhibits, so it’s good to know what you want to see before you go in.
I’d recommend Venus de Milo, the Great Sphinx of Tanis, Gabrielle d’Estrées and Her Sister, The Duchess of Villars, and, if you’re feeling touristy, the original Mona Lisa. Just keep in mind everyone wants to catch a quick glimpse of this lady and there is going to be a sea of tourist heads surrounding her during busy museum-visiting times. And selfie sticks are everywhere. I have nothing against the sticks themselves and have considered buying one for myself, but using them in a crowd where you can literally feel the hot breath of the guy next to you on your scalp is just a bit inconsiderate.
What I would not recommend: spending the whole day here. There’s a world of things to see and the Louvre is way too big to tackle all at once. And way too crowded.
If you’re interested in visiting a Parisian museum but foregoing the lines and crowds, try also visiting Musée de l’Orangerie, home to Monet’s renowned Nymphéas murals.
Climb the Eiffel
There’s nothing more romantic than overlooking a beautiful city from wayyy up high. Doesn’t matter if you’re alone, there’s still romantic about it. Self love, self love. It’s a long climb, but saying that you did it and getting to witness this view is more than worth it. And if you don’t want to actually drag your body up the steps, you can always pay to take the elevator up as well.
I would also suggest getting a dinner to go and picnicking on the lawn underneath the Eiffel Tower in order to fuel your climb. No better place to hang out outside and drink wine in the city, and this experience was one of the most pleasant of my entire stay.
Go on a nighttime river cruise
Cruise down the Seine River and see the beauty of the city at night (how many pictures of the Eiffel Tower do you think I can fit in this post? Probably a couple more at least. Yeeeesssss, maybe loving the Eiffel Tower is cliché of me, but the amount that I care about not being cliché in this particular case is minuscule).
Take a day trip to Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is less than thirty kilometers west of Paris, and, in my opinion, a very worthwhile day trip. I wish for you a day full of blue skies and warm temperatures, because the day we went was a wet one. The regal golden rooms, intricate artwork, and rich, extensive history more than made up for it.
Wander Champ-Élysées
Paris is known for its shopping, and this is the street people are talking about. It’s over a mile long, starting at the Arc de Triomphe, with tons of restaurants and luxury shops (but they have H&M too, which is where I bought some printed leggings for my sister just so I could tell her I bought them in Paris while also not plummeting into a pit of debt and despair. I also bought a cute patterned mini dress for myself, but then weeks later realized that it actually was heinously patterned with pictures of angry tigers, which I unfortunately missed in the store because of my unfortunate concussion).
We passed by Tiffany & Co., where Jessica Beil was making an appearance. I am not one of those people who has met, or seen, many famous people in her life (actually, none), so standing on the same sidewalk as her made my palms sweat (although keep in mind if you want to blend in with the Parisians, getting freakishly starstruck is not the way to do it). This is the best I could do in terms of photographic evidence since I am far too short to live, but she was there and I was within feet of her (trust me).
What to Eat
Crêpes
A no-brainer. I am pretty sure I got crêpes for at least one meal a day while I was in Paris, usually savory and stuffed with ham and cheese. But there are sweet crêpes pretty much everywhere you go as well (Nutella is popular here).
Croque Monsieur
Another dish originating in French cafés. This particular sandwich I ordered was from Le Sélect Café, in Montparnasse close to central Paris. Yet another ham and cheese meal and it was gooood (for everyone except for my digestive system, who was weeping in discomfort and begging me to lay down for a bit. TMI? Sorry).
Au Bistrot de la Montagne
If you’re looking for a fancier French meal, head to this gem of a restaurant, especially if you’re in a larger group! Great atmosphere, fun entertainment, local delicacies (escargot, if you’re brave), and lots and lots of wine made for a really memorable and enjoyable evening.
Macarons
Everyone has probably had one of these colorful almond cookies, but have you had one from Paris? Paris, the macaron capital of the world? There are some famous macaron shops that all travelers flock to, but they are offered at most bakeries and are delicious everywhere.
Coffee and croissants
Parisians are nothing like New Yorkers (or really anybody from major US cities): they take things slow. There are cafés up and down any street with tables out front, the purpose being to allow customers to sit, sip their espresso, nibble their croissants, and relax. There’s a lot of people watching to be done in Paris, and this is the perfect way to do so while also melding into Parisian culture (and enjoying a real, French croissant).
What to See
Notre Dame
I have to say that even to this day Notre Dame is probably my favorite building in the entire world. In the entire world!! Unparalleled architectural extravagance, and just as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. It was weird to see it outside of the Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame context, which is really the only context I knew thanks to my sheltered and Disney-saturated childhood. But it was a good weird. I LOVE IT.
Catacombs
Prepare yourself for a dark and morbid experience before descending into Paris’ catacombs, an underground ossuary holding the remains of millions of people (eek!). I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I went to see these, but it was not this (fun fact: I grew up playing Nancy Drew PC games, and still will start one up from time to time. One of the games set in Paris has a segment where you race through the catacombs to hide from the Paris police, but there are definitely no skeletons and there is also a lot of swimming in sewers and such. I’m guessing I shouldn’t really be using Nancy Drew PC games as a way to educate myself about the world, in retrospect).
Really fascinating though, and worth the visit. I’d recommend getting there early as the wait outside can be upwards of three hours if you get there at a peak time, and we did spend a good deal of time standing outside in the heat waiting to get inside.
Pont des Arts Bridge
The original Love Lock Bridge (don’t let all those impostors around the world fool ya), full of locks from lovers all over the globe who come to Paris, secure their padlocks to the bridge, and throw the keys into the Seine River, symbolizing the eternal, unbreakable strength of their love. A really beautiful sentiment, and a bucketlist item for Paris visitors.
UPDATE 2015: The city removed 45 tons of locks from the bridge in June in an effort to preserve the structure. It is sad, but it makes sense why it had to be done. 🙁 Kourtney and Scott also broke up the same year that their love lock was ripped from the bridge…coincidence? I think not.
Sacré-Cœur
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. Located at the highest point in the city, the walk to see it not only takes you on a nice little tour of some cute restaurants and shops, but it also burns off all the wine and crêpes you’ve most likely eaten this trip. (LOL JK. I gained five pounds while I was here. There’s no getting around it. Not even a long walk up a steep hill will save you.)
Shakespeare and Company
This bookstore was a gathering place for up-and-coming authors in the early 1900s, such as James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. It has also been featured in movies like Midnight in Paris and Before Sunset. Not to mention, it is a very cool bookstore and a great destination for book and movie lovers.
Paris, ya beaut!!! Thank you for having me, and for filling me up with culture, memories, and more calories than my body could handle. What is your favorite thing about this universally beloved city?
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