Paris: a first timer’s itinerary
I am lucky enough to have visited Paris five times in my life. I have seen it while on a school trip, a business trip, with family and most recently with friends. So here is my Paris itinerary for the first time you visit! And come back soon for a second timer’s itinerary too!
My top tip would be to make sure you get your Schengen visa appointment far in advance if you want to visit Europe in the summer as appointments can get tricky to find!
*Note: Things I researched but didn’t end up doing are denoted with a `` (asterisk)*
Accommodation
Due to my many visits I have stayed at many hotels and AirBnBs in Paris so here are my recommendations!
Hotels:
La Maison Champs Elysees was a nice luxury property near Champs Elysees which made it great for being a tourist but was a bit small in size with no free breakfast sadly!
AirBnBs:
This place in the 13th arrondisement is great for friends and families! And you get Marriott points!
Activities
Shakespeare and Company - Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookshop in the heart of Paris right near Notre Dame. Hemingway and others came in and exchanged ideas and talked. It’s a great bookstore to get a souvenir and a book for the rest of your trip.
Île de la Cité
Notre Dame Cathedral - while the Notre Dame is under restoration it is nonetheless a great beauty to check out from the outside!
Officine Universelle Buly 1803
Walk along the following bridged in a zig zag route:
Pont Neuf
Pont des Arts
Pont du Carousel
Walk through Jardin des Tuileries and break here for a snack
Pont Alexandre III
Redo this lazy walk along the Seine at night
Visit Eiffel Tower
Take a picture from Trocadero
Take a picture from Avenue de New York
Take a picture from Rue de Monttessuy
Go up the Eiffel Tower and grab drinks at
Sit in Champ de Mars
See the lights twinkle from Trocadero at night again
Go up the Arc de Triomphe - allowing you to get pictures of the city with the Eiffel Tower
Museums to visit:
Louvre - this can take up a full day if you choose! Make sure to e the first to enter if you want a solo shot with the Mona Lisa!
Montmarte
Sacre couer - watch the sunset here and cheer along with the others.
Moulin Rouge - book a show and enjoy a night at the Moulin Rouge! Note that this is a burlesque show so plan accordingly
Shopping:
Shopping on the Champs-Élysées
Shop along Rue du Cambon
Officine Universelle Buly 1803 for personalized perfumes and lip balms!
City Pharma for the french skincare
Sezane/Octobre for classic french clothing
Polene for french luxury bags at reasonable prices
Get other European brands like Arket, Mango for cheaper
Visit the following department stores:
Galleries Lafayette
Le Grande Epicerie for food shopping - get the Beurre Bordier butters you wont regret it
Get groceries for your hotel room at Monoprix including:
Butter
Baguette
Rotisserie Lays
Lulu bears
Day trips
Palace of Versailles - make sure you get there in teh first entry if you want a solo picture in the Hall of Mirrors!
Food
Meals
Lou Cantou for classic french cuisine like escargots. We preferred the next option
Carette - you cannot go to Paris and not people watch while eating brunch at Carette and sipping their hot chocolate! The line is long but it moves quickly!
Pink Mamma - great Italian food that lives up to the Instagram hype!
Bouillon République or any Bouillon location for classic Frnech fair for reasonable prices!
McDonalds in Paris is unmatched - give it a try! They have great dips and all their meals are served in reusable containers.
Dessert
Breizh cafe for thier savoury and sweet crepes!
The crepes stands at the Trocadero for cheap crepes that hit the spot!
Pierre Hermes macarons - make great gifts too!
Ritz Paris Le Comptoir for the madeleines!
Angelina’s - you can go to the one inside the Louvre or Versailles as well!
