Paris has always been one of my favorite cities. It is incredibly beautiful, poetic, historical and mesmerizing. I studied in a French high school back in my country, and the culture became an essential part of my life, so Paris always felt like a second home. It is my place to escape when I find the time, and it makes me feel the best whenever I’m there. The City of Lights has an abundance of great destinations to visit, however, I wanted to narrow them down to some of my favorites to recommend to you. As summer vacation is approaching, Paris could be a great idea! Here are some of my favorite things to do when I’m in the most beautiful city in the world!
The Louvre
I love visiting museums, spending hours discovering art, history, and culture. If I were to pick only one museum in the whole world, I would say that The Louvre is the best of them all. Every time I visit Paris, my first stop is here. You could spend days inside, it is infinite. It is usually open until 9:45 PM so I would suggest taking your time and capturing all the great artworks the museum has to offer. It is one of the ultimate Paris locations, you can’t miss it. No trip to the City of Light is complete without a stop at the Louvre.
Jardin des Tuileries
The garden separates the Louvre from the Place de la Concorde, and its the perfect setting for a relaxing stroll. It is the biggest park in Paris. As a French-style garden, it has a beautiful view on Champs-Elysées Avenue, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe. You could pass by the park on your way to the Louvre, it is right at the very center of the city.
Sacre-Coeur Basilica and Montmartre
The stunning church Sacre-Coeur sits atop the highest point in the city, and also one of the greatest landmarks of Paris. Overlooking Paris from the summit of Montmartre, make sure to climb the steps to enjoy the most amazing view. Montmartre has captivated Bohemian artists since the Belle Epoque, it is so picturesque at every corner. I believe that this area of the city has such a unique atmosphere.
Le Bon Marche and Galeries Lafayette
Paris is the capital of fashion. It offers more shopping areas than any city in the world, yet these two are definitely my favorites. Galeries Lafayette mesmerizes me with its interior. Le Bon Marche is just a whole other experience, it is one of my favorite department stores worldwide.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
This museum is like none you have ever seen. It was one of the biggest projects created by LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. The Fondation Louis Vuitton was designed by Frank Gehry and took years to make. It will capture you with its fantastic futuristic architecture.
Jardin du Luxembourg
One of the most beautiful gardens in the city, I always bring a book to sit down for a while and enjoy my time there. Throughout the garden, you will find lots of statues, as well as fountains (Médicis fountain are very picturesque). Stroll inside the gardens and admire their beauty!
Cafe de Flore and Les Deux Magots
The Café de Flore has been the legendary spot for more than 130 years (since 1887) of serving clients and being gorgeous. With is classic Art Deco style, it is the ultimate spot for a Parisienne experience. It has been a subject of many movies, visited by all the great artists and writers at every epoch. Imagine, Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir used the café as their office. There is history in every single corner. It is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the city, Saint Germain des Pres. Right across the street is its main rival, Les Deux Magots. It also offers just as quintessentially French of an experience. Grab a table on their outdoor patios, and sip on a café au lait.
Chateau des Versailles
Even though it is located outside the city, I believe that Versailles deserves a whole day. It is one of the biggest palaces of the world, and it has the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. It is more than a palace, Versailles is one of the most important historical places in French history. It is only 12 miles away from the city, the train ride takes about a half hour. Plan a day for it, take the train, and enjoy the beauty of the palace.
In a perfect world, I would never ever end this Paris list. It is my favorite city, the place I want to live after Boston, and my dream come true. I could add tens of elements to this list such as the Eiffel Tower (it is the ultimate destination, so I did not want to put it on the list, you can’t come back without visiting the Eiffel), Le Marais, Notre Dame de Paris, Le Moulin Rouge, Rue Cremieux, Le Palais Royal, Le Palais Garnier, a cruise on the Seine, enjoying macarons and hot chocolate at Angelina or Laduree, having lunch at L’Avenue… I hope you have enjoyed my recommendations! As once said, Paris is always a good idea.
Love,
Lale
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