Paris is known as the city of love and I can confirm that it definitely had me in love. From its cobblestone roads and unique architecture to it's charming cafes-- Paris was everything I imagined and more. I can't wait to visit again but until then I'll be looking back at photos and reminiscing.
I got so many questions about my trip that I thought it would be best to combine all the info in one post. Prior to my trip, I was concerned about safety as I've heard a lot about the crime in Paris. However, I had a very pleasant experience. Everyone I met including hotel staff and taxi drivers were really kind. Everyone warned me about pit-pockets so I were very careful with our bags. So if you're visiting Paris soon, I would just suggest being extra cautious and careful of your surroundings.
Where to Stay When looking for hotels, I wanted a room in central Paris with a balcony and a view. Hotel Le Cercle - Tour Eiffel checked all those boxes and was one of the most charming hotels I've stayed at. The view from the balcony was absolutely beautiful!
Located in the seventh arrondissement of Paris, the boutique hotel was a 10 min walk from the Eiffel Tower and was surrounded by so many bakeries, restaurants, and cafes. The hotel also had a small cafe and a beautiful room to lounge in. The staff was super accommodating and I really enjoyed our stay.
What to Do There are sights to see at every corner in Paris and my favorite way of seeing the city was just walking around without a destination. However, there are a few attractions that I think are a must visit if you're in the city.
Eiffel Tower - This is an obvious one but the Eiffel tower was so fun to visit. It's a lot bigger in person and there is a field right in front of the tower to sit and enjoy the view. Every night after sunset, the tower lights up every hour for 5 minutes and it's truly magical. One thing to note is that this is a heavy tourist spot and so pit-pocketing is a lot more common in this area, so be careful especially if you're visiting at night!
Arc de Triomphe - Located at the Champs-Élysées, this is a great historical spot to visit and then go shopping after. The walk from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc is so nice! You cross over the bridge and get to see so much of the stunning architect that belongs to Paris. It took us about 40 minutes but this was with stopping for photos and a snack to eat.
Château De Versailles - A former French royal palace converted into a museum. Every room is so stunning and filled with so much history but the gardens were my favorite! The museum and gardens are very big and you need at least 4-6 hours to go through it all. There are a few restarts in the gardens which is a good place to relax before leaving. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
Montmartre - The cutest town in Paris with so much artistic history. I spent half a day exploring the charming town by foot and saw beautiful views of the city and tried local foods. You can find food from all types of cuisines here and it's a great place to buy souvenirs. Check out more about Montmartre in my reel here.
Louvre Museum - The world’s most visited museum representing 11,000 years of culture. The inside of the museum contains beautiful artwork but the building on the outside is a landmark of its own. This is also a very large museum and you need 4-6 hours to properly go through all the exhibitions. Tickets need to be purchased.
Galleries Lafayette - A shopping heaven! You’ll find all the brands here, from the most affordable to the most prestigious.
Where to Eat
I'm a huge foodie and like to have this part of my trip planned in advance, but there is literally a restaurant at every corner in Paris. I only planned one dinner and just walked around and found delicious food for all my other meals. One thing I noticed was the service was super quick and we never waited for tables. Some of my favorite places we ate at are:
Cafe Tourville
Manzil Paris
Angelina's s
Gusto Italia
Kozy Bosquet
Carette
Ricci Eiffel
Cafe Des Officiers
How to Get Around
Visiting Paris in May was a great decision as the weather was beautiful and breezy and I got to explore the city on foot. Alongside walking, I used the Uber app to travel to longer distances and had no problem. I would recommend using your hotel to book your ride to and from the airport as its more cost effective.
