Looking for the best places to visit in Paris, France? This concise guide of the best places to go, things to see and food to eat in Paris will help you plan and make the most of your trip!
Back in 2016 I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study History in Paris in the summer. Now in conversation I usually make it sound like I spent the whole summer there but it was actually one week (and a very good week!) Unfortunately England was kicked out of the Euros by Iceland while we were there and while some students got caught up in a few fights the group I was with had pity taken on us by local Parisians who treated us to a magnum of rose at the local bar (oo la la)
What to eat
My advice on eating in Paris is to just eat everything!
- Breakfast: go to a bakery for croissants
- Lunch: fresh baguette with fries
- Dinner: head to a bistro for French onion soup, steak frites or duck confit and finish off with a creme brûlée
I bought some fancy macaroons in Laduree and then dropped them in Sephora where the Beauty assistant gasped in horror as I picked up the pieces. So rather than taking them home for the family I ate them myself. . .
Where to go
As it’s one of my favourite films I had to go and see the Moulin Rouge to take a million photos. The area of Montmatre has lots to offer and the view from Sacred Heart is stunning.
Arc De Triumph: I would recommend climbing this rather than the Eiffel Tower as you’ll get a better view of Paris (including the Eiffel Tower!). After this, you can walk down the Champs Elysees for a spot of shopping.
Eiffel Tower: be sure to catch it sparkle every hour on the hour in the evening. A great location to see the Eiffel Tower is Trocadero metro station. As you walk out of the station and turn left you’ll be left awestruck as the tower seems to “appear out of nowhere”!
Notre Dame: if you’re a book worm then you need to visit the spot that inspired Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Opposite is Shakespeare and Co (original shop was frequently visited by Ernest Hemingway).
Also don’t forget to say hello to Mona Lisa in the Louvre!
Getting around
Like any European city the best way to get around is using the Metro system. You can buy tickets in bulk at kiosks inside the stations.