France

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Five Things To Add to Your Paris Itinerary

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Five Things To Add to Your Paris Itinerary

Having visited Paris ten times, I’ve been continuously discovering new places to visit over the years. We all know you have to stand under the Eiffel Tower and see the Arc de Triomphe, but the City of Love is full of hidden gems that are just as memorable & impressive as its famous icons.

Here are five things you need to include in your Paris itinerary this summer, it also happens to make up the perfect day.

1.     Wander the streets of Le Marais

This is my favourite area of Paris, and it also happens to be the oldest. It is home to hidden alleyways, beautiful architecture, secluded gardens, amazing street art, the Jewish quarter & Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris.  You will also find Paris’ oldest covered market, Marché des Enfants Rouge here, which is well worth a visit. Also check out the impressive Sainte-Chapelle Chapel.

2.     Eat Falafel and take in the charm on Rue des Rosiers

Rue des Rosiers

In the heart of le Marais, this mostly cobblestone and pedestrianised medieval street is my favourite in Paris.  Along with it’s beautiful architecture, it houses incredible food with the best falafel in the city at L’as du Falafel, and Jewish bakeries selling mouth wateringly good pastries.  Don’t miss the cozy Le Loir dans La Théière café tucked away at the end of the street selling slices of pie and cake made fresh daily with seasonal produce – and great coffee.
Go earlier in the day to avoid the crowds.


3.     Visit Rue Cler: The most Famous market street in Paris

You might not read about Rue Cler in the guide books, but this beloved market street will give you one of the most authentic experiences in Paris.  This is where the locals go for their produce and daily needs. Uncover hidden treasures along this street which is brimming with cafes, boulangeries, specialty shops and every food stall you can imagine. The fruit & vege stalls are a destination all on their own.  
Stop at Amorino for an epic macaron gelato sandwich.

4.     See A Different Side of The Eiffel Tower

If you want to see a different side to the Eiffel Tower, hit up these alternate view points which offer the best views & photo opportunities. Start at Trocadéro and see the tower from across the Seine in all its glory. Then, take a leisurely walk to the Seine and along its banks to Pont de Bir Hakeim bridge for the most romantic views. Continue to the tower to see it up close. Lastly, head to Rue de l'Université for a view of the tower through this charming tree lined residential street.

Rue de l'Université

Trocadéro lower level

5.     Have dinner at Le Cafe de la Régence

This gem can be found on busy Rue Saint-Honoré, a quick 5 min walk from the Louvre. The food is out of this world good, ambiance lovely and staff friendly.  Try French delicacy Foie gras here – it’s the best I’ve had. I can also vouch for the Poulet Rôti (Roast Chicken) and Entrecôte and Frites (steak and chips). Top it off with the classic crème brulee for the perfect end to your perfect Paris day.

The days selection at Le Loir dans La Théière

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An Insiders Guide to Paris

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Paris is up there as one of my favourite places in the world. Technically I’m not an insider, but I have been there over 10 times so we are going to say maybe I’m almost one? I am so very lucky to have been there many times with my work, have enjoyed staying there for more than a few days at a time (my longest stint was 10 days) and I always love to go back. It holds a special place in my heart as it was the first place I ever went to in Europe and as a girl from NZ, my eyes just fell out of my head the whole week I was there.

I’d love to share with you my favourite parts of Paris - where I like to go when I have a day or evening spare, my favourite places to roam and eat. If you’d like help on how to get around in Paris, please see my ‘Navigating Paris for Beginners’ guide which includes how to use the Metro.

I’ll also share some recommendations on places to stay and good areas to base yourself as I’ve stayed all over in a range of hotels and AirBnBs at various times of year. So, if you’re off to Paris this summer (or anytime), I hope this guide will be useful and cover all the bases. Any questions? Just leave me a comment.

Click on the links below to jump to each section.

See below for my favourite must do's in Paris

Must DO’S in paris

Hotel Emile in Le Marais, as soon as you get off the metro at Saint Paul

I have many favourite places in Paris, but a few that really stand out. My absolute favourite thing to ‘do’ in Paris is to just to walk the streets, wondering about, discovering new places, cafes and parks. There are so many amazing spots in Paris and honestly I think its hard not to have a good time, but here are some of my favourite things to do. I have included rough time estimates on each of these including some half day options with a full guide of what to see and do, so you can then mix and match activities to create the perfect day(s) for you.

1.Visit le Marais / Half Day
The Marais is my favourite area of Paris, and it also happens to be the oldest. It is home to hidden alleyways, amazing street art, the jewish quarter, Place des Vosges (a must see park) and my favourite book store and pie shop / cafe. I would suggest catching the Metro to Saint Paul and heading towards Rue des Rosiers (the main jewish street). This street houses incredible jewish food with the best falafel in the city, jewish bakeries (out of this world, grab something to go) and down the far end, the coolest cafe selling slices of pie and cake made fresh each day plus your usual French cafe fare. It’s called Le Loir dans La Théière. Allow yourself a half day just to wander and soak up the architecture and culture.
Must see in le Marais: Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine, Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, Marché des Enfants Rouge (Paris' oldest covered market), Sainte-Chapelle Chapel, Musee Cognacq-Jay if you would like to visit a free museum.

2. The Louvre, Tuileries Garden & Arc de Triomphe / Half Day (excluding admission to Louvre)
The buildings of the Louvre are the most impressive i’ve ever seen. Anywhere. Take some time to walk around the outside, through some of the alleyways an just take in the splendour. Be on guard and careful here as there are loads of scammers around, but just be aware of your surroundings. If you plan on going in to the Louvre, book your tickets on their website ahead of time to save yourself HOURS lining up. When you arrive you can go straight into the pre booked tickets line.
From the Louvre, you can see right up through Tuileries Garden to Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. Head in this direction and take some time to sit at one of the fountains in the garden. At Place de la Concorde there is a great lookout towards the Eiffel Tower before you go down to to ground level. From here you can walk all the way up the Champs Elysees but it’s a long hike. You could catch the metro instead, getting off at George V and walking the short distance to the Arc de Triomphe (which you access via underground tunnel). There are loads of shops here, with some notable macaron shops. Both Ladurée and Pierre Hermé Paris can be found here, and both are incredible for macaron. However, I prefer the experience at Hermé (they have pastries as well that are just works of art) and recommend sitting at the bar, ordering a cafe & pastry - but be prepared to pay top dollar! Order some macaron to go on your way out.

3. The Eiffel Tower Experience / Half Day
You can’t come to Paris and not go to the Eiffel Tower, but I suggest not just going straight there. Hit up these alternate view points, as you may be disappointed if you just go for the in front of the tower spot. When I first went to Paris 13yrs ago, it was not all cordoned off and fenced like it is now. You used to be able to wander right under, but sadly no more. I would recommend starting at Trocadéro (catch the metro to the station with the same name) and seeing the tower from across the Siene. When finished here, walk down to Siene and over to Pont de Bir Hakeim bridge (not the one right in front of the tower, it will be packed and the view is not as good, trust me!). This bridge is super romantic and the views are incredible. Now it’s time to walk to the tower and take it in from below. Carry on walking through the park (its lovely in among the trees also) and navigate to Rue de l'Université. I love the view of the tower from here.
I then recommend walking a quick 5 mins to experience Rue Cler, which is in my opinion the vest market street in Paris. A street full of market stalls and every food you can imagine plus cafes, it’s magic. You can either end your tour here & metro back to your hotel, or continue to the very impressive Hôtel des Invalides and back down to the Seine through the garden to Pont Alexandre III. This bridge is super impressive, decked out in a lot of gold. If you want to cross it, you’ll end up back by Place de la Concorde.

Combine Number 2 & 3 for a great day circumnavigating some of the best areas of Paris.

4. Visit Notre Dame on Île de la Cité + Île Saint-Louis & Hotel de Ville / 2hrs
Notre Dame is currently not open to the public due to the restoration project after the devastating fires, but it’s still worth visiting and taking in the grandeur of this building. The next little island over, Île Saint-Louis, is a real treat and the Hotel de Ville is not far away. It’s lovely to walk through Île de la Cité & Île Saint-Louis. Pass by pretty Rue Chanoinesse.

5. Take a cruise on the Seine / 1-2hrs
Paris looks so different from the water, and the batobus is a great way to take in the sights, or you could go for a proper cruise or tour if you have time. The sights along the Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so needless to say it’s pretty special.

6. Take a walk around the Latin Quarter / 2hrs
This was the first area I stayed in on my very first trip to Paris. It’s lively, and full of beautiful streets, sights & food. Home to the Pantheon and incredible Luxumborg Gardens, the area has long been associated with intellectuals, artists, and bohemians.

7. Visit one of the infamous Galleries / Arcades / 2hrs
Scattered throughout Paris are hidden arcades / galleries, a beautiful part of Paris history and well worth visiting if you’re going to be in the neighbourhood. My favourite is galeries vivienne.

8. Take a Day trip to Versailles / Full Day
I’ve never seen anything quite like the Palace of Versailles. it’s opulence is unparalleled in my opinion! If you have the time, like a day up your sleeve, definitely hop on the RER and visit Versailles for the day. There’s plenty to explore between the palace itself and incredible gardens.

Make sure you visit these beautiful Parisian streets!

A Summary of My Favourite Streets:

  1. Rue des Rosiers

  2. Rue Cler

  3. Rue Montorgueil

  4. Rue Chanoinesse

  5. Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine

  6. Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie

  7. Rue de Bretagne

I have stayed in a lot of places in Paris, some really great, some not so great. See below for my recommendations.

PARIS RECOMMENDED Accommodation

Here we go - I have 3 recommendations for hotel & apartment style accommodations in Paris. I’m going to keep the recommendations limited as these are really the only ones out of all my visits that I would recommend to friends. The 3rd suggestion also offers quite a lot of options.

Hotel du Lion Dor

  1. Hotel du Lion Dor
    My number one recommendation in Paris is this hotel. The location cannot be beat. It’s super close to the Louvre, so very central and close to so many amazing sights, but is on a quiet alley / street away from the noise. It’s also very reasonably priced. The breakfast is EXCELLENT and staff just incredible. Honestly, I’ve never experienced hospitality in Paris like this hotel before. The room (a Junior family room) was also really well sized. Tell them I sent you!

  2. Hotel Spended Etoile
    Views of the Arc de Triomphe from your room anyone? This hotel is in an excellent location, with clean, decent sized rooms an a good breakfast. Plus really great views!

  3. Cobblestone Paris / Apartments
    A great option if you’re staying a while and want to do your own cooking etc. This American owned company has a variety of apartments throughout Paris. They have English speaking greeters to let you in (at least at the ones I stayed at) and the two I stayed at were really great. The best one I had was called called Le Tresor Marais (not sure if still available)

Let's talk food! My favourite topic 😆

my fave Restaurants & cafes in Paris

I don’t think you can go wrong with food in Paris (or France). I’ve NEVER had a bad meal there, but I’ve also had some that really stood out. These are my favourites that I would return to, but honestly most places you stumble in to off the street will be excellent. Just stay away from super touristy spots to avoid paying sky high prices.

Le Cafe de la Régence

  1. Le Cafe de la Régence
    On our first night in Paris on a recent trip we happened across this place. WOW. The food was next level amazing. Make sure you try the Foie gras here, it’s amazing. , the Roast Chicken and Entrecôte and Frites (steak and chips!) was also incredible. .

  2. Le Hide Paris
    I got taken here by a French coworker and have returned multiple times. Tiny restuarant close to Arc de Triomphe with incredible food. A very intimate experience.

  3. Le Musset
    Wonderful food & service, plus really beautiful florals on the outside of the building. Recommend the escargot!

  4. Le Loir dans La Théière
    My favourite place for some quiche Lorraine for lunch, and a slice of whatever pie looks best on the day!

  5. Cafe de Flore
    A bit of a French institution that did not disappoint.

    As well as eating in cafes & restaurants, make sure you experience the delights at a Boulangerie, Patisserie and crepes from a street vendor.

Le Musset goodness - a great place to try escargot

Last but not least, lets check out my favourite spots for a photo op in Paris below:

FOR THE GRAM

We all want those great shots or the gram. Obviously Paris is full of photo opportunities so you don’t have to go far. I thought I’d show you a few of my favourite images, and where they were taken.

  1. Trocadero lower level / 2. Cafe Le Voltigeur / 3. Champs Elysees / 4. Cafe Emile / 5. Junot / 6. Patrick Allain Florest / 7. Rue de l'Universite / 8. Rue des Rosiers

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Navigating Paris for beginners

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Navigating Paris for beginners

So you’re planning a trip to Paris? I’m so excited for you to get to experience this amazing city!

Let’s start with the basics - how to get around and use the Metro. Make sure you also check out my Insiders Guide to Paris for where to stay, eat and must do’s in Paris!

Paris is actually pretty easy to navigate and get around, once you get used to the layout. I would familiarise yourself with the arrondissements (like suburbs) as you will often see the arrondissements marked out on maps. Each has it’s own unique character. The 1st arrondissement is considered ‘the heart’ with the rest spiralling out in a clockwise direction to the border of Paris, and you will often hear of ‘left bank’ (the side of the city on the left of the Seine) and ‘right bank’ (the side of the city on the right of the Seine).
I find the easiest way to get around is on foot, combined with the metro. On my first trip to Paris I spent a LOT of time walking which really helps you to get your bearings. For places a little further afield or getting from one side of Paris to the other, for sure use the metro. I get that it is a little intimidating, but I’m here to help as someone who has visited the city 10+ times and used every day.
I will put a metro map below, and also recommend cross referencing this with a map of Paris, so you can see how they correlate to one another.

This blog will focus on the Metro but there is also a decent Bus network if you prefer to be above ground, or the Batobus which go up and down the Seine. You are limited with where you can go with this obviously, but it is a super pretty way to travel!


The Metro In Paris:

Paris' train network consists of two separate but linked systems: the metro and the RER. The metro is the inner city system, and the RER is Paris’ Regional Express Network, you would use this service to go further out of the centre, like to Disneyland or Versailles. The Paris Metro is really simple to use once you get your head around the way it works. Below I’ll show you how to work the metro, price of tickets, some maps and have included some safety tips as well.

Here are the main points for using the Metro:

Signs on the wall in the metro

  • The lines are all colour coordinated (super handy) and numbered. Each line has a final destination station at either end to help you with what direction you’re going. This is the most important thing to know when you head down into the station - know what colour / number line you want, and the what the final destination is in the direction you are heading.

  • As you head down into the station and get your ticket (more below), just follow the signs that shows the COLOUR line you want (the sign will show a circle with the colour and number inside), and the destination station.

  • In some stations you might only have to make 1 or 2 turns until you are at the platform, but at some of the bigger stations you could be walking for 5-10 mins. Just keep an eye on the signs with the colour you’re wanting.

  • When you arrive where you are going, keep an eye out for with Sortie / Exit you want as there may be several. For the smaller stations there will just be one exit usually.

  • TRANSFERS. Your ticket enables you to transfer (if you need to change lines), assuming you are within 90mins of when you entered the first station. Again, just look for those signs with the colour and number line you want and know which direction you’re headed and they will lead you to the correct platform.

Kiosk machines in the stations

  • BUYING TICKETS:
    Each station will have ticket vending machines which are easy to use and all have English available as an option. Use the scroller to select where you’re going, and how many tickets you want. I’m pretty sure all are also manned, so if you want to speak to someone you can.

  • TICKET PRICES:

    If you’re in Paris for more than a few days, I would recommend buying a ‘carnet’ of tickets which is basically a booklet of 10 at discounted prices. A single ticket as of Jan 2024 is 2,50 € and a carnet is 17,35 €. After you buy your ticket you will see the turnstiles you need to walk through - insert your ticket into the machine, it will pop out the other side once you walk through.

  • SAFETY:
    I’ve never had an issue on the metro, but I am hyper vigilant. Always keep your purse / wallet / bag close to your body with one hand holding on to it at all times. No phones or anything in your back pockets or bags swung around at your back. Bags in front at all times! Don’t engage with people asking for money or trying to sell you something or people trying to distract you.
    I would also recommend that you know what line and direction you’re traveling in before you head down the stairs in to the station. Its a good safety precaution to look like you know where you’re going, and recommend having an app on your phone to refer to rather than paper map fore this reason.

  • Download a Metro Ap
    I highly recommend downloading a paris metro ap that will help you with navigation, it makes it super easy. They all have a map you can refer to, or, a route guide where you just put in the station you are at and where you want to go and it will figure out the best route for you, and where to transfer etc. The one I have is just called Paris Metro Map & Routes

  • Consider Walking:

    Keep in mind that sometimes it’s actualy quicker (and more pleasant) to just walk. Because some of the big stations are huge, it can actually be quicker to just walk above ground and enjoy the sights as you go. Some of the stations are also really close together so I wouldn’t waste your money on a metro ticket. So I would save the metro for the bigger rides.

If you have any questions about how to use the Metro, let me know in the comments below!