How long do you need? All we had was 72 hours, a weekend in Paris, and it ended up being one of our best trips yet. We were unsure on what we would accomplish, but all we knew was that we were going to try. And that we would need a lot of coffee (espresso), a map (or Google Maps), and comfortable shoes (thank you Stan Smith).
So where do I begin? If you know me, you know I am a planner. Sometimes too much of a planner. But I made a promise with my husband, and we took off from O’Hare with almost no plans in hand. Eight hours we landed at Charles de Gaulle, and it was go-time.
Where to Stay?
Like I mentioned in this post, we stayed Le Dokhan’s, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel. I could not recommend it more, but there are plenty of other places I am looking forward to trying in the future. Other hotels on my radar include The Ritz (in the 8th), Le Bristol (in the 8th), and Le Meurice (in the 1st).
When it comes to neighborhoods, I think any neighborhood is a good neighborhood in Paris (to some degree). If anything, I recommend always staying in a different part. It’s very similar to all big cities in the US, you’ll get a different experience and vibe in each one.
What to Eat?
When traveling abroad, my husband and I usually create a list of “What We Want to Eat” instead of “Where We Want to Eat.” We were lucky enough to have an incredibly knowledgeable concierge, who pointed us in the right direction, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Our list included: Foie Gras, Escargot, French Onion Soup, Steak Frites, Beef Bourguignon, Creme Brulee, Monsieur Croque…
Restaurants we enjoyed: Victor (my favorite, in the 16th), Le Petit Prince (by Notre Dame), and Le Petit Riche (by the Opera).
** Note: My food photos on this trip are awful. I would like to blame my hunger for that. I was way to excited to try everything… no time for pics!
What to Do?
Be prepared to walk. A lot. We knew that we wouldn’t be able to see everything in 72 hours, but we did make a big dent in the list. The musts on our list were: The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Grand Palais, Notre Dame and walking the Champs Elysees.
Other bucket list items:
A morning at the Musee d’Orsay.
Strolls in the Garden. Both the Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries.
Picnic in front of the Eiffel.
Stroll through the Christmas Market.
Mid-morning snack at Les Duex Magots.
Macaroons from Lauduree.
Versailles ** We were suppose to go, but found ourselves sleeping til 1pm after getting home late, real late.
Bonus Tip:
Use Public Transportation. The Metro system in Paris is user friendly and super affordable. If you want a ride, use Uber!
What is your favorite thing to do in Paris? If you only had a weekend, where would you travel?
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Beautiful pictures! My husband and I spent three days in Paris last Fall and were surprised by how much sightseeing we were able to do. My feet were certainly hurting by the end though! Looks like you had a great time.