The third and final installment of my France Travel Series is here! If you missed out on Part I and Part II , be sure to check them out, they are packed full of travel tips and must sees. In Part III, I will be sharing my “must do’s” for a week in Paris, France, along with a few recommendations for hotels, restaurants and best places for cocktails.
Paris is known for their iconic art museums and historic landmarks. I highly recommend purchasing the Paris Museum Pass , there are a few different types of passes and I felt this one offered the best deal. Not only does it provide access to the top attractions, it also has a skip-the-line feature which is a huge time saver. That feature alone was worth getting the pass. With this pass we visited the following attractions, which I highly recommend to anyone visiting Paris for the first time.
Louvre Museum
This is truly an iconic museum and is magical inside and out. The gardens leading up to the actual museum are beautiful and breathtaking. The pyramid outside is magnificent and adds to the overall allure of the museum. Inside you will find the most famous art pieces including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. We actually visited the Louvre twice on our trip, the first time to take it all in and the second time to purchase a replica Winged Victory. I fell in love with the statue and thought about the statue all night. I couldn’t leave Paris without a scaled down replica. Check her out, isn’t she breathtaking?
Museum d’Orsay
Set inside of the former Orsay Railway Station this museum houses the largest impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces in the world. With artwork by Monet, Manet, Renoir and Van Gogh, it is truly worth the visit to see these masterpieces in person. The crowd around Starry Night is well worth waiting out to get a front row viewing of this piece.
Notre Dame de Paris
Another magnificent site in Paris, is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris. Taking well over 150 years to complete, its hard to believe that it actually’was built. The details on every inch of this structure are remarkable. The gargoyles are iconic and the view, 387 steps up, is unreal. Worth every step to get to the top.
Arc de Triomphe
One of the most well known monuments in Paris, this structure stands at the western end of the Champs Elysees. Access to the monument is obtained under the street, which makes your arrival even more breathtaking. I highly recommend the climb to the top of the structure, its only 284 steps and it goes quickly. You can take 360 views of the entire city from here.
Eiffel Tower
No trip to Paris is complete until you see and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You will want to purchase your tickets ahead of time, online, to avoid any lines or the chance of tickets being sold out day of. You’ll take a lift to the top and once up there you will be able to soak in the glorious views. They have a champagne bar up top too, while it’s overpriced, it’s a must do! Who doesn’t want to sip champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower? On the way down opt for the stairs in the portion you can take them. It’s worth the steps and the line is a lot shorter than waiting for the lift.
Once you are done with the museums, you will want to spend time exploring the attractions that Paris has to offer. Besides sitting in a cafe, sipping coffee and people watching we took in the sites as a local would. I highly recommend the following attractions.
Champs Elysees – Best known for its theaters, cafes and shopping, this street is one of the world’s best known. Be sure to stop at the Longchamp store, you won’t be disappointed. Since the brand is French, prices (even with the currency conversion) are significantly lower than in the US. I bought an overnight bag and to date it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
Champs de Mars – Directly in front of the Eiffel Tower, this public park is perfect for a picnic. Sadly this was closed when we were there, the World Cup was in town and had taken over the space.
La Marais – A historic part of France, which is home to the best local shopping in Paris. The streets are lined with tiny boutiques and home stores. We picked up a few souvenirs for our home that you wouldn’t be able to find in the US.
Love Lock Bridge – Technically the city has removed the locks from the bridge due to safety concerns, but it still exists. We brought our own lock and quickly locked it on the bridge.
Rue Cler Street – The most famous market street in Paris. It truly is a hidden gem with cafes, boulangeries and speciality shops. It’s where the locals go to shop and where you should take in the parisian culture. Check out all the stores here.
Food and Drink
Between all the sightseeing, we managed to wander around Paris a bit and take in the local lifestyle. We ate and drank at some amazing places while in Paris. I won’t bore you with every place, but I will highlight some of my favorites that are worth checking out.
Hotel Costes – What a scene this place is! We actually went here because Mike has a great lounge mix from this hotel that we listen to all the time. We wanted to grab a drink here and ended up staying for dinner. While the food was pretty good, the scenery and people watching was even better.
Ferdi – Low key, traditional parisian restaurant, its a great spot for a light bite and dessert.
Four Seasons Hotel, Le Bar – I’m a sucker for a hotel lobby bar, there is something magical about them. This place may be the most magical of them all! The lobby itself is gorgeous, with fresh flowers filling the entire space. Le Bar is a sophisticated cocktail lounge that offers light live music and a rousing atmosphere.
Le Cocottes – An approachable restaurant by world renowned chef Christian Constant. This establishment is his reasonably priced restaurant featuring some of his best dishes. I suggest making a reservation as it’s always busy here.
Bar Hemingway – An institution is Paris, this bar has seen the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. They serve classic old school cocktails that taste better than anything you have ever had. Dress up a bit if you go here, the whole hotel is ultra chic and beautiful. Check out one of the many mini courtyards in this hotel, where you can have cocktails if you choose to, its stunning.
Laduree – The world’s best macaroons are made fresh here daily. It may be a bit touristy, but they are so delicious. I hope they open a Chicago location soon, until then I dream of the tasty treats they have to offer.
I’m sure you are wondering where did we stay? Picking a hotel in a foreign country is an art. We prefer to stay at hotels vs. Air B&B’s because of the convenience and amenities. We like our room cleaned daily and we like breakfast prepared for us in the morning, these things are just easier to get in a hotel. With that being said, we also want to pick the best local hotel we can. We did a ton of research for this trip and it paid off. We stayed at Hotel Keppler, near the Champs Elysee. The hotel is in a great location for walking to most attractions. While the room was a bit tight (what European hotel isn’t) the service and breakfast were absolutely amazing. The interior was a beautiful collection of bold pieces perfectly paired together. The hotel was perfect.
Wow, writing this post makes me want to go back and spend a week in Paris, France right now. Out of all the places we have been (I’ll share them all with you), this was hands-down our most favorite. I don’t think you can ever grow bored of this city. We simply fell in love with it.
Have you been to Paris or are you planning on going there? I’m always keeping a running list of recommendations, I’d love to hear yours!
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