Paris, France

Paris, known as the City of Love, holds a special place in our hearts. It happens to be where we got engaged during a romantic weekend trip. Paris is an enchanting city to wander and do as Parisians do: sip on coffee at a sidewalk cafe, picnic along the banks of the Seine, admire the historic architecture and view some of the world’s most prominent artwork. While here, make an effort to speak a little French. It sounds romantic, even if you mispronounce every word. One phrase we can’t say enough is Je t'aime Paris.

Our Engagement

During our first night in Paris, we had a reservation at Les Ombres, a restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower. We started the night with wine on the terrace as our meals were being prepared. During dinner, we chatted about all the things we wanted to do and see during the long weekend. As we finished our meal, the sun had just set and a full moon was rising, when suddenly the Eiffel Tower began glittering in light. We picked up our glasses of wine and walked back out to the terrace for a better look.

It was only us outside, overlooking the Parisian rooftops watching the Eiffel Tower shimmer. That’s when Devin said, I have a question for you. He started by saying, “almost 6 years together and 10 countries visited” while pulling out a box from his bag. He opened the box and inside was the grape soda pin from Pixar’s Up and a thin white gold ring. Almost unable to hold it together, he asked me to marry him!! After screaming YES several times, he slipped it onto my finger and pinned the badge onto my lapel.

We called our waiter to take our photo then went back inside for celebratory Champagne and dessert before walking to the Eiffel Tower. We walked around the base of the tower, admiring it’s scale and structure from the ground before ascending to the first, second then third level at the top. The views from the top are absolutely stunning! We could see every amber glowing light and illuminated landmark in Paris. In addition to the view, there was a Champagne Bar serving flutes of French Rosé. Newly engaged, sipping on Champagne and overlooking Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower is a fairy tale night we will never forget.

Things To Do

Visit an Arcade. Paris’ arcades are charming passages to discover and walk through. Most of them are home to a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Galerie Vivienne. One of Paris’s most iconic arcades, known for its elegant storefronts and mosaic tile floor.
Les Passages Couverts. A series of hidden shopping arcades in the 1st, 2nd and 8th Arrondissements.
Passages des Panoramas. Paris’ oldest arcade. It has retained its vintage charm for over 200 years.

Walk in Julia Child’s Foot Steps. If you admire Julia Child as much as us, visit some of her old haunts:

Les Deux Magots. The cafe where Julia Child and her husband, Paul Child, often ate.

E Dehellerin. The 200 year old kitchen supply store where Julia Child used to shop for enamel, stainless and copper dishes.
Rue Mouffetard. One of the streets where Julia Child would shop for produce and meats.

Dine at a Sidewalk Cafe. Practically a French pastime, enjoy a croissant and coffee at a bistro table overlooking the street scene and passersby.

River Cruise. Take a Champagne Cruise along the Seine at sunset. It was super touristy with bus loads of people but we didn’t let it distract us from Paris’ charm. Book here through Bateaux Mouche.

Shop at a Market. Walk through the stalls or streets of an actual French market.

Marché de Enfants Rouge. Paris’ oldest food market with a diversity stalls offering meals, fruits, veggies, cheese, meats and seafood. There are a number of tiny shops surrounding the market selling rustic and vintage items.
Rue Montorguiel. Vibrant central street with food markets, boulangeries, fromageries, patisseries, old world bars, restaurants and cafes.
Rue de Martyrs. Located in the 9th & 18th Arrondissements, this street is a giant market avenue with over 200 shops, restaurants and boutiques selling pastries, chocolates, coffee, seafood, etc.

Picnic. Pick up a baguette, some cheese, a bottle of wine and have a picnic. These are some great locations:

The Seine. The main river that passes through Paris. Find a shaded tree, a bench or simply dangle your legs over the edge and watch the boats float by.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont. A hilly & lush park in the 19th Arr. Stop by Rosa Bonheur for a glass of Rosé.
Champ de Mars. The park in front of the Eiffel Tower and perfect spot for picnicking. There are accordion players serenading couples and vendors selling roses and champagne.

Read French. Buy a book from one of these classic locations.

The Bouquinistes. Outdoor booksellers set up along the banks of the Seine.
Shakespeare and Company. One of the world’s most famous book stores, often seen in movies.

Visit the Sights

Arc de Triomphe. A Napoleonic War Monument along the Champs-Élysées. Climb the 284 interior spiral stairs to the rooftop for surrounding views of Paris.

Sainte-Chapelle. A 13th Century gothic chapel with stunning stained glass windows.

Notre Dame. The Gothic cathedral known for its rose windows, buttresses & gargoyles. We visited months after the fire that nearly destroyed the landmark. Though it was under repair, it’s a sight that shouldn’t be missed.

The Eiffel Tower

You can’t visit Paris for the first time without going to the Eiffel Tower. It is the symbol of the city and one of the most recognizable sights in the world.

The tower has three levels. The first two are accessible by stair and elevator. We took the elevator up and the stairs down, making for a leisurely descent, twisting and winding our way through one of the towers legs. Both floors have incredible views of the inner structure and iron lattices of the tower as well as a number of restaurants, shops and a Macaron Bar.

After wandering these floors we took the tiniest elevator to the third level, the top of the tower and highest point in the city. As mentioned earlier, the views from the top are absolutely stunning! On a clear night, you can see every amber glowing light and illuminated landmark in Paris. The top floor is home to Gustave Eiffel’s Laboratory and a Champagne Bar.

Tickets to the tower have to be reserved for a specific time slot in advance, book here.

See Some Art

With a rich culture surrounding art and artists, Paris is the best place in the world to learn about art history and see some of the world’s masterpieces.

Centre Pompidou. A contemporary art museum built “inside out” with all the building’s equipment and escalators exposed leaving more room for gallery space inside.

Musee de’ L'Orangerie. An Impressionist art museum famous for it’s display of Monet’s Water Lilies.

The Louvre. The world’s most well known art museum, particularly for The Mona Lisa. The museum deserves a half to full day to explore but specific pieces can be seen in less time.

Street Art & Graffiti

Flamingo Wall. Search for the flamingo wall in Montmartre.
Banksy. There are a dozen artworks painted throughout the city, multiple can be found in the Latin Quarter.
I Love You Wall. A blue tiled wall with I love you written in 311 languages located in Montmartre.

Taste Everything!

To quote Julia Child, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” This could not be truer than with the French. Here are a some of our favorite restaurants, cafes, bars and bakeries:

Les Ombres. A rooftop restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower serving modern French cuisine. The restaurant is enclosed in a fragmented glass structure inspired by the shadows of the tower. It’s also where we got engaged!

Du Pain et des Idées. A famous bakery, known for their pistachio chocolate escargot (named for the pastry’s shell shaped swirl)

L’Escargot. Serving the their namesake since 1832, this restaurant is known for their Burgundy snails in the shell. The restaurant has an old world feel and is adorned with a giant gold snails.

Brasserie Floderer. Classic French restaurant known for seafood, wine and ambiance.

Cafe Charlot. A small corner bistro with lovely sidewalk dining. It’s a great spot for breakfast or brunch.

Breizh Cafe. A crêperie known for their inventive crêpes and ciders.

Le Syndicat. A cocktail bar with drinks made from 100% French spirits, rated as one of the top 50 bars in the world.

Deviant. A tiny French kitchen serving serving seafood entrees with a large wine selection. The restaurant has a standing only bar inside and bistros on the sidewalk.

Arrondissements & Neighborhoods

Paris is broken up into 20 Arrondissements. Starting in the center of the city and spiraling out like a snail shell. Different neighborhoods correspond too and overlap multiple Arrondissements.

Montmartre. Located in the 18th Arr. and known as the neighborhood on the hill. The area is popular for its Impressionist history, artists, nightlife, and charming houses. Nearby sights include the Moulin Rouge and Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur. The neighborhood is accessible via a funicular or a large set of steps.

Le Marais. Located in the 4th Arr. This is oldest Parisian neighborhood and the center of the LGBTQ+ community. Known for its cobblestone streets, stately architecture, courtyards, cafes, cocktail bars and vintage shopping.

Latin Quarter. Located in the 5th Arr. A university neighborhood, this area of Paris is popular for its bars, cabarets and distance from large tourist attractions.

Saint Germain des Pres. Located in the 6th Arr. This neighborhood is home to many bookshops, galleries, cafes and design shops.

10th Arrondissement. A quiet neighborhood lining the Canal Saint Martin with plenty restaurants to eat at and street art to spot. We stayed here in an Airbnb that was once a bakery operated by nuns.

2nd Arrondissement. Known for its arcades, boutiques, fine dining and cocktail bars. The neighborhood is worth wandering and getting lost in.

Getting Around

On Foot. When we visited Paris, the city was in the middle of the largest transit strike in years. Trains, buses and all forms of public transit were shut down. As a result, we explored the city almost entirely on foot.

By Taxi. When the distance was too far to walk, we requested Ubers and called taxis. To get across town, they were rarely more than $20.

Airport Taxi. Taxis are the most direct way to leave/get to the airport but also the most expensive. You can expect to pay between €30 and €50 from either airport to get to the city center.

French Words & Phrases

Many people in Paris speak English however Parisians adore when foreigners try to speak French. Some of the most common words and phrases we used are:

Bonjour = Hello or Good morning

Au revoir = Goodbye

Bonsoir = Good evening

Merci = Thank you

Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much

S’il vous plaît = Please

De Rien = You’re welcome

Excusez-moi = Excuse me

La carte, s’il vous plaît = The menu, please

L’addition s’il vous plaît = The check, please

Je voudrais… = I would like…

Je t'aime = I love you

Next time in Paris…

A long weekend in Paris is great to see a number of the sights, neighborhoods and get a taste for the cuisine. We have a few ideas of what to do next time we’re back in Paris:

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. Paris’ most famous flea market for over 150 years with 3000+ merchants selling vintage items, antiques, artwork, books, furniture, etc.
See More Art:

Musee d’ Orsay - Impressionist and art nouveau museum in a converted glass train station.

Musee Picasso - The largest collection of Picasso’s art in the world.

Take a Day Trip:

Palace of Versailles - Spend a full day exploring the King Louis XIV’s famous palace and grounds.

Mont Saint Michel - Tour the medieval fortified city island surrounded by water during high tide located in Normandy, France.

Claude Monet Home - Visit the home where Monet painted many of his Impressionist works, including the famous Water Lillies.

Take a French Baking class

Le Cordon Bleu. 2 Day Traditional Bread Baking

Du Pain et des Idées. 3 Day Baking Class

A Romantic Weekend in Paris