The city of Love can be pretty intimidating your first time- so much good food, so many people, and the sinking feeling that you’re not making the most of your time. Here’s a list of the time Codie and I had in Paris- where we stayed, what we did, and most importantly, where we ate. A lot of these places need no explanation because it’s PARIS, so if you’re looking for good Paris travel tips, and where to go to make homemade macarons, just keep reading.
xoxo,
Ashley
Where To Stay
Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel
Central location? Check
Speaks English? Check
Good breakfast buffet? CHECK
Marriott hotels are nice because no matter what country you’re in, you know what to expect. It was the perfect place for us to stay for the start of our trip.
What To Eat
After getting caught in the worst storm I’d ever been in, we made it to a new Italian restaurant in the 9th arr.
Delicious gourmet crepes in Versailles
Cool concept in a quiet neighborhood where you choose your meat, toppings, and sides. A small, quiet restaurant with carry out that did not disappoint.
What We Did & Saw
First and foremost, make sure to buy a metro card. It’s the easiest and fastest way to get around the city without costing a ridiculous amount of money.
DAY 1
Arc de Triomphe
Sacre Cour
A basilica at the top of Montmartre, it’s a marvelous sight you should definitely have on your list. (Bonus points if you can see the water mark on my butt from when I fell down those stairs right before the picture).
La Maison Rose
Notre Dame
If you’re looking for a good way to beat jet lag, I recommend a macaroon- making class. Le Foodist does 3 hour classes included with an afternoon tea and it was so fun and a special memory for us to look back on. It took place in the early afternoon (when I wanted to take a nap more than anything) at the end of it, we got to take home a whole box of our hard work. Our chef, Anne, was friendly and patient and made the experience really wonderful so I do recommend Le Foodist!
Top of the Eiffel Tower
No explanation necessary, but if you’re under 25 you get to go to the top half price so I thought that was worth mentioning.
DAY 2
Versailles
Still my favorite palace, and since I finally got to see Paris in the Spring, the gardens were lush and the cats were out. The palace is such a work of art and wandering the gardens into the early afternoon was relaxing and breathtaking.
Late Night Louvre
On Wednesdays and Fridays, the Louvre closes at 10 p.m., so if you want to see the Mona Lisa in peace, I recommend going after 6 p.m. However, I also recommend going again the next day because 4 hours is NOT enough to see even a minuscule part of such a marvelous museum.
DAY 3
Early morning Louvre
Le Colonnes Buren
George V Paris
This is the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever seen and hopefully one day I’ll actually get to stay here, but lunch in their Michelin-starred restaurant was good enough for now!
Eiffel Tower Picnic
Ashley Whitwell 