After more than a dozen trips to Paris — and with several close friends who live there and have shared their favorite with me too — this is my guide to an unforgettable trip that blends iconic must-sees like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre-Dame w...
Map
Sections
6
Sightseeing
Food & Drink
Picnic Spots
Hotels
Speakeasies
Shopping and gifts
Sightseeing
Book your tickets well in advance, especially for summer trips!
Louvre Museum
One of my favorite building in Paris. Filled with beautiful gold mosaic and it’s on a hill with a view of the city.
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
If you’ve only been to Notre Dame before its recent renovation, go again. It’s absolutely breathtaking now
Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris
Instead of getting tickets to go up in the tower, I recommend picnicing in the Champs de Mars, the lawn directly facing the Eiffel Tower. I included this rec in the Picnic Spots section of my Paris guide.
Eiffel Tower
Truly breathtaking stained glass church. It’s really one of those places where you gasp as you walk in. Very small though so while the line may be a bit long depending on the season, it’s a quick place to visit. Close to Notre Dame so plan to see the...
Sainte-Chapelle
Perfect stop if you want to check out the Champs Élysées at the same time
Arc de Triomphe
Lesser known modern art museum with stunning architecture
Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
Iconic Eiffel Tower view and photo spot
The Trocadéro and its esplanade: an unbeatable view of the Eiffel Tower
Iconic market
Marché des Enfants Rouges Paris – The Insiders Guide
River cruise - a great way to see the city
Bateaux Mouches
Where to see impressionist art
Musée d'Orsay
Fun and vibrant modern art museum worth a stop!
Palais de Tokyo
Colorful street/photo spot
Rue Crémieux (2026) - All You MUST Know Before You Go (w/ Reviews & ...
Historic square lined with cafés and artists stalls
Place Du Tertre (2026) - All You MUST Know Before You Go (with Reviews & ...
Take metro line 6 between stops Passy and Bir-Hakeim for Eiffel Tower view
Metro Line 6: map, stops, and real-time schedules
Look into the history of the catacombs before going to Paris! Really fascinating stuff.
The Paris Catacombs | Official website
Here you can see the graves of Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde
Père Lachaise cemetery: The most visited in the world
Food & Drink
Delicious fondue and raclette spot!!
Le Chalet Savoyard
Where to get steak frites
L'Atelier Entrecôte & Volaille
Hole in the wall spot for great galettes (savory crepes from Brittany). Reminds me of my time in Nantes. Don’t forget to order dry cider with your galettes ❤️
Les Frères Bretons
Sandwhich shop
Chez Alain Miam Miam
Restaurant with gorgeous rooftop
Perruche
Great place for duck confit & duck burgers
Canard Street - Paris Petits Champs
Where to find iconic/Instagramable hot chocolate
Carette Paris
Where to find giant croissant
Philippe Conticini (@philippe_conticini)
Great noodles and dumplings with multiple locations
Trantranzai
Great galettes
L'Esquisse
“World’s Best Sandwhich” sold here
Le Petit Vendôme
Eiffel Tower view restaurant
Les Ombres
Bougie croissant-bread sandwhiches
Ritz Paris Le Comptoir Cambon
Fun and vibrant sushi spot near the Champs Élysées
Miss Kô
Live music jazz bar
Caveau de la Huchette
Italian with cute decor
Pink Mamma
Where to go for bougie afternoon tea
La Galerie
Best cookie in Paris
Cafe Singuliers
Cocktail spot with Mexican food
La Mezcaleria Paris
Mexican restaurant
Candelaria Paris
Cocktail bar
CopperBay
Iranian restaurant
Guylas | Cuisine traditionnelle persane iranienne
French dishes
Tavern | Paris - Camille Passy
Moroccan food with beautiful interior
Restaurant La Mosquée de Paris
Bakery with croissant bread pudding
Ble Sucre
Neighborhood with great bars, people watching, shops
The Marais
Picnic Spots
Hidden gem of a park, a bit off the beaten path from the typical tourist spots in Paris but it’s reachable by a quick metro ride and absolutely beautiful - great for a picnic, stroll and bird watching. And as a fun extra, there’s a lively gay bar in ...
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Every time I travel to Paris, I make time for a picnic on the Champs de Mars - the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a great free activity - just bring some snacks and enjoy! Anytime of day works but I especially love going in the evening to wa...
Champ de Mars
Big lawn facing Les Invalides, lined with trees if you prefer shade - reminds me a bit of the Mall in Washington, D.C.
Esplanade des Invalides
Idyllic park where you can watch or rent mini wooden sailboats to glide around the pond.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Hotels
This boutique hotel is just steps from the Louvre, has great food and a spa area with a wet sauna and small pool you don’t need to pay extra for. Some rooms even have in-room, personal saunas - definitely a fun splurge! It’s also a Marriott Bonvoy ho...
Your Parisian Home | 5* Boutique Hotel | Le Roch Hôtel & Spa
Nice budget-friendly option close to Montparnasse train station for a convenient hotel if you plan to travel outside of Paris
Hotel Le Littré
Speakeasies
Laundromat themed speakeasy
Lavomatic
Grocery themed speakeasy cocktail bar
L'Épicier
Fun speak easy
No Entry · Bar & SpeakEasy · Paris 9th Pigalle
Shopping and gifts
Pet store with fun French/Paris themed dog toys and treats. I like to grab some stuff here for my pups when I’m in Paris!
two tails
Beautiful architecture department store with rooftop with panoramic views
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
Historic open air book sellers that are fun to browse. They also have lots of prints and posters I bought a set of vintage Tour de France photograph prints that I love from here
Bouquinistes de Paris - Open-air bookshop on the quays of the Seine
