Travel: Paris in a Weekend

Paris in 1 Weekend: Top Picks

Latin Quarter

1. La Creperie. This my #1 favorite restaurant in the world. It’s in the Latin Quarter, which is where many universities are in the city. That's in the fifth arrondissement—an arrondissement is a district they divide the city into. I know how to use the word, but I don’t know how to say it. The whole city has 20, and they spiral out from the middle like a cinnamon roll. The first is near the Rue de Rivoli, which is where the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens are!
   The address is 12 Rue Soufflot, 75005 Paris, France. **Don’t** go to “La Creperie Saint Germain,” or any other “La Creperie” in the whole city. This one is the one. And go hungry, because the best thing to do is to get a savory crepe for lunch, then a sweet one for dessert.

2. Le Jardin du Luxembourg. This my favorite park in Paris. There are fountains, ponds, tennis courts, seating areas, but the best part is the kid park in the middle. You have to pay a Euro or two to get in, but then there’s this zipline thing at the back that is absolutely singular and completely fun. Because it’s a kid park, you’ll wait in line with all the kids, but if it’s winter it shouldn’t be too crowded. My sophomore year roommate did the ride this summer because I told her to. She said it was worth it.

By the Island (the two islands in the middle of the Seine River)

1. Shakespeare & Company. This is the bookstore to visit in Paris. You will read and hear about it for the rest of your life. I know because I haven’t been yet . . . regrets. Just check out their Instagram and you will be converted: @shakespeareandcoparis
2. Berthillion. This is often called the best ice cream in Paris. Technically it’s “glaciers,” but I don’t know how that’s different from ice cream. It’s a ten-minute walk from Shakespeare and Company, and you walk right by Notre Dame to get there.
3. Notre Dame. Of course! It’s free and open every day from 8:00-6:45 (open till 7:15 on Saturday and Sunday). You can meet at the back of the cathedral behind the organ for a free guided tour at 2:30 on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday or 2:00 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I haven’t done this, so I don’t know whether to recommend the tour or just walking through on your own. I don’t think it will make a huge difference either way. I'd guess that if you want to fully appreciate it and really know what you’re looking at, then do the tour, whereas if you want to have flexibility in your schedule, just go walk around. Notre Dame is beautiful, and you’ve heard of it and know you need to go, but please don’t miss Sainte Chapelle (see next!).
4. Sainte Chapelle. This chapel is a two-minute walk from Notre Dame. It’s a beautiful church that most people miss, but it’s a shame because its stained glass is unbeatable. The main chapel is almost all windows, filtering down beautiful blue light, and the entrance has the most magical vaulted deep navy ceiling with stars painted on it. It’s either 8 or 10 euros to get in, but Notre Dame is free, so you can pretend it was 5 for each church and then it’s a steal.

Rue di Rivoli and the First Arrondissement

This area of Paris has so many things to do. I think I’d recommend spending Saturday here; starting with the Louvre, early lunching at Angelina’s, a walk through the Tuileries Gardens with stops at the carousel and Musee de l’Orangerie, and walking across the Seine to finish at Musee d’Orsay.

1. Angelina’s. This is first on this section’s list for a reason: Even though it’s not a big museum, it is an absolute necessity that you go here. People claim that this is the best hot chocolate in Paris, if not in the world. They’re absolutely right; European hot chocolate tastes like melted chocolate bars, not milk diluted with chocolate flavor. Angelina's also has lots of classic French pastries. You can get both pastries and hot chocolate to-go. You could also go for tea, where you wait in line to be seated, and you get to pick your pastries and drinks and snacks from a little booklet. They’re super busy all afternoon, so either get it to-go after the Lourve or Musee D’Orsay, or go for sit-down tea before 12:00 or between 6:00-7:00 (they close at 7). Your choice just depends how you want to spend your time. There’s also a bookstore, Librairie Galignani, right next door, so if you have to wait for a table at Angelina’s, maybe duck in here to enjoy the time.
2. Tuileries Gardens and the Carousel. This is one of the biggest gardens in Paris. It’s not my favorite to spend time in as much as Luxembourg, but its location is central. The best part is a carousel that only costs like 3 euros. It’s magical and fun, whether you watch or ride. But, of course, I ride. If you’re leaving Angelina’s, walk away from the Louvre and cross the Rue de Rivoli at the Rue de Castiglione, and you’ll find the carousel soon after entering the gardens. Taylor Swift has been there, here’s proof: https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/295578680812531713 
   As you walk through the gardens, toward the Seine away from Rue de Rivoli (after leaving the carousel), you’ll cross the Seine on a bridge (it’s sort of named Leopold Sedar Senghor, I think.). This bridge, when I was there summer 2015, was the new lock bridge—there had been a lock bridge, the government took it down, and this one became the new one. So you can buy a lock and lock it on the bridge and throw the key into the river and be all romantic and stuff. Or just take cool pictures.

3. Musee d’Orsay. There are three museums in this area, and this is easily and by far my #1. The first time I went to Paris, I didn’t know the Louvre was closed on Tuesday so I didn’t end up getting to go, but this museum kept me from hardly noticing. I’ll get to the Louvre in a second, but first, wow. This museum is in an old train station, which in itself is crazy beautiful. The best part of the museum is the Impressionist works, which are all the way to the back and up the stairs. THEY HAVE 81 RENOIRS AND 86 MONETS. ABSURD. If I were you, I would mosy through one side on the way to the Impressionist section, then mosy back through the other side on the way back to the front. My only super important works that aren’t in the Impressionist section are a few Van Gogh paintings (Self-portrait! And Starry Night over the Rhone, not the starry night but extremely pretty anyway). Whistler’s Mother is another famous painting, but I’m sure the little free pamphlet will help you hit the public's high notes. I can’t emphasize enough that the Impressionist section is where to focus your time. This is the largest collection of Impressionist works anywhere in the world (ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD). I was just googling the works they have and my soul was moving they are so incredible. My favorite Impressionist is Alfred Sisely, but of course Degas and Monet and basically everyone else thrill me too. The hour you spend here will be one of the most significant and crazy hours of your life, at least in relation to art and magic and pleasure. Also, at the very back of the exhibit is a restaurant, and if you sneak into the restaurant (everyone does it, no one cares) you can get to a door that goes onto a balcony with an incredible view—it overlooks the Seine, the Tuileries Gardens, Rue de Rivoli, and, in the distance, Sacre Coeur. It is an incredible view, don’t miss it. Oh dear. This paragraph is getting way too long, so let me just suggest buying your ticket online ahead of time (super easy from their website) and going to Entrance C (rather than the main one); this will be much faster. I’m not sure where Entrance C is, but, now that I think about it, I think you can go in at the main entrance (where the long line will be) but don’t wait in the long line (go in a different door), and you’ll hop the ticket line to go through security and enter the museum almost line-free. If that all sounds too complicated, waiting in the line shouldn’t take longer than a half hour!

4. Musee du Louvre. As they say, “you already know what it is.” This unbelievably vast, intensely famous museum is beautiful and magical and a little overwhelming. Honestly, none of the art here is really my favorite (a little dramatic, but you know what I mean.). After the Impressionists at d’Orsay, I don’t get quite as excited about anything else. There’s three ways I would suggest to do the Louvre. First, make sure you go in at the secret entrance (=no line. Here’s a really clear explanation; it’s #2 http://sightseekersdelight.com/guide-to-louvre-secret-entrances/). Grab a pamphlet, pick your top four or eight or however many things, and bounce from one to the other, appreciating everything you see on the walks in between. You can also do a guided tour; they cost an additional 9 or 12 euros, but they hit all the high notes and tell you about them on the way. These are offered at 11 and 2 every day, so make sure you’re inside with enough time to find the signs and get settled. My last tip is lame, but here it is: If you don’t go to the Louvre, you will be okay. You can visit the entrance—it’s connected to the Tuileries Gardens—look at the beautiful pyramids, take some pictures, and head over to de l’Orangerie or d’Orsay. I’m not saying you should do this, I’m just saying that you can. One last thing: don't go see the Mona Lisa. The only reason everyone goes to see the Mona Lisa is because everyone goes to see the Mona Lisa. It’s like a Kardashian, famous just because it’s famous. It is much smaller than you’d expect, and the crowd around it is insane. That being said, feel free to go see the Mona Lisa. I just want to make sure you know it’s generally underwhelming.

5. Musee de l’Orangerie. This museum is in the Tuileries Gardens. It pretty much only has Monet’s water lilies, which are room-sized paintings. I’m not convinced it’s worth the visit or the 9 euros. I’d suggest google-imaging and trip advisor-ing it to see if you’re interested. I’m just mentioning it because it’s close, popular, and would be easy to hit while you’re in this part of town.
6. Bagelstein. This is yummy and inexpensive, and if you need a good, cheap meal at any point in this CRAZY FUN day.

Champs Elysees and the Eighth Arrondissement

This part of town is near the First Arrondissement, only a short bop over from the Tuileries Gardens through the Place de la Concorde (just a plaza with a big thing in the middle).

1. Champs Elysees. This is one of the most famous streets in the world. It’s full of shopping—H&M is my favorite—and the Arc de Triomphe is at the end.

2. “Eh”: Arc de Triomphe is beautiful and famous, but all you can do is look at it and take pictures, just fyi. Also “eh,” Laduree is a crazy famous Parisian bakery, known especially for their macaroons, and the location here on the Champs Elysees I think is the flagship. I hate to be that person (do I?), but it is my professional opinion that it’s 70% hype. The macaroons are yummy, as are the other treats, and it’s probably fun to have tea here (after a two-hour wait), but I don’t find it any more delectable than any other place in Paris. Also, Laduree now has locations in every other major city, so you’ll have the opportunity to buy overpriced macaroons anywhere else in the world!

Montmartre

I feel the need to tell you about this part of town, so here’s this.

1. I haven’t spent nearly as much time in this neighborhood as I would like. Trip Advisor calls it “a corner of Paris full of life and dynamism with charms that can’t be found anywhere else.” I have no good recommendations for this area as far as cute shops or food, but something tells me that a walk down the street or a quick search on travel blogs will give perfect recommendations.
2. Sacre Coeur. Montmartre is north of the center of Paris, in the 18th arrondissement, and this church can be seen atop its hill from many places in the city. It’s huge and beautiful in its location way up on the hill, with free entrance. The view over the city is cool, and you may be able to go up in the dome, I’m not sure.

Also, Le Pain Quotidien is a great cafe. You can find locations throughout Paris, so it may be helpful to look up locations close to your destination for that day and grab lunch or dinner there. You’ll see satellite locations all over the world, so it’s fun to have gone in Paris!

The only other must-see is the Eiffel Tower, which I don’t have much to say about. I’ve never been up the elevator, so I can’t tell you much about that. There’s a big grassy area in front that you can hang out in. Maybe find a breakfast place nearby, or go at sunset and get dessert or dinner after.

I just googled Top Things to Do in Paris, and the first eleven on Google’s list I’ve listed here! And the next 10 or so were generally insignificant and would be hard to hit in one weekend. Sorry I haven’t listed more restaurants, but I’ve given you all the ones I’d definitely recommend. Trip Advisor is always my favorite place to find restaurants, because the reviews give you a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Trip Advisor also makes it easy to narrow options down by location, cost, or cuisine type.

For transportation, I’m always a fan of the subway, and in Paris it's just fine. You can always taxi, uber, or take the bus. I find the bus a little confusing, but it’s cheap, and usually people on the bus speak English and will help you get where you need to be (I say usually, I’ve only ridden it once, but people were helpful then). Once you get to an area, you’ll often be able to walk to the other attractions from that first one, so also feel free to subway or uber/taxi, whichever you’re more comfortable with. The best way to do this is to look up the directions to/from all your locations on google maps and screenshot them while you’re still at the hotel (aka while you still have wifi), which prevents you from using data for directions.