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PARIS: THE ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL GUIDE | OFF THE BEATEN PATH THINGS TO DO

Experience Paris in a different way! Discover places off the beaten path.

Hunt for Parisian street art. Have a drink in a concept bar.

Enjoy lunch in an unusual restaurant. Take an alternative city tour.

Stay in the unusual hotel that will impress you.

Incredible Paris is waiting for you. 

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IN THE GUIDE

  Alternative Route: Know Where To Go

 Art & Culture: Alternative Options 

 Drink: Concept Cafés & Bars

 Food: Unusual Restaurants

 Things To Do: Unusual Tours & Activities

 Shopping: Design, Vintage & Concept Stores

 Where To Stay: Unusual & Concept Hotels 

PARIS ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: KNOW WHERE TO GO

Y es, we all love and dream of visiting the Eiffel Tower and taking endless pictures with it. Me too :) But this travel guide is not about it.

 I want to take you away from the Eiffel Tower and away from the tourist crowds. 

I went to Paris dozens of times and was exploring alternative attractions and points of interest. I am very happy to share my favorite places with you.

La Butte-aux-Cailles

La Butte-aux-Cailles - it's a hidden street art district located in Paris' south-eastern 13th arrondissement.

When you are there, it feels like a different city inside of the city, where the walls became the canvas for many French and international artists.

This neighborhood attracts young and trendy Parisian population who love not only the art of colors but also the art of food.

In the Butte-aux-Cailles you will find numerous bars and restaurants serving delicious food and often for "a democratic price."  

In my favorite restaurant "Chez Gladine,"  you can enjoy their famous salad "Salade 5 diamants" with French goat cheese, gizzards, chicken liver, bacon, and eggs for just 12,5 EUR. This salad is so huge and so delicious! "Chez Gladine" also offers a great selection of Basque specialties. Take note of this restaurant if you're watching your budget for a trip to Paris .

The prove that this restaurant is amazing is a daily long queue of hungry clients waiting for a table. Check it for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Belleville is a neighborhood on the borderline between the 20th arrondissement and the 19th along its main street, the Rue de Belleville.  

It's a colorful and multi-ethnic district called by locals  "Babelville."

For some time it was a "No-Go" district, but now it's a bohemian and trendy neighborhood where a cultural and artistic fervor reigns.

You will find here numerous workshops of artists, art galleries, and street art. The Belleville is a home to La Bellevilloise , a Parisian center of independent and multidisciplinary culture where you can spend enjoyable evenings.

For nature lovers, there is a  beautiful Parc de Belleville - Paris’ highest park offering a magnificent panoramic view of Paris. 

Château-Rouge

Château-Rouge is a district in the 18th arrondissement, known as "A Little Africa of Paris."

It was the place where I was "couchsurfing" during my first trip to Paris. My host was from Columbia, and as a real Latin-American, he had a hammock in his apartment. In that hammock, I spent my first night in Paris. It was hilarious! 

Château-Rouge is a very busy area during the day, with numerous exotic markets, specialty shops, and African restaurants.

Here you can buy unique products that you can't find anywhere else: colorful fabric and clothing, delicious tropical fruits, spices, and natural cosmetics from African countries.

Visiting this mostly African district of Paris brings you straight to the Congolese market in Freetown, the Serrekunda market in Banjul, the Sandaga market in Dakar, the Adjame market in Abidjan.

Your eyes will be immediately attracted by the colorful stalls of fresh produce, arranged in all directions on the street.

You will suddenly find yourself in Africa on a typical market day. 

ART & CULTURE IN PARIS : ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

Paris is definitely a capital of art and a source of inspiration for the world's greatest painters. Of course, you can't leave Paris without seeing "July 28: Liberty Leading the People" by Delacroix, "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, "An Odyssey in Colour" by Matisse, or "Impression" by Kandinsky.

But Paris is so much more than Louvre and Centre Georges Pompidou! There are hundreds of small unusual museums, modern art galleries, and alternative cultural centers. 

I really love the quote of the French actor and writer Sacha Guitry "Être parisien, ce n'est pas être né à Paris, c'est y renaître" - "To be Parisian is not to be born in Paris, it is to be reborn there." It's what art in Paris does to our souls. 

1 | Canal St. Martin

An open air art gallery in Paris is Canal St. Martin in the 10th arrondissement. It's a great alternative to walking along the Seine river: there are no crowds of tourists, it's peaceful, charming and hip. 

The walls of the Canal are not just for keeping water. They tell the story in colors. Artists made the Canal St. Martin an excellent place for street art-viewing urban safari. 

If you have time, plan a day or two for strolling along the Canal, exploring murals and graffiti, taking very "instagrammable" pictures and chilling in the relaxed and trendy bars and restaurants that you would see on your way. If you are a street art lover, the Canal Saint-Martin should definitely be on your bucket list for Paris .

A spot not to miss is Le Point Ephémère , a former dock from the previously industrial life of the Canal St. Martin that now became a  quirky underground artistic center. It hosts concerts, exhibitions, and workshops and promotes all the arts in all their forms, supporting unclassifiable concepts! 

2 | Rivoli 59

Walking along Rue de Rivoli, it is impossible not to notice one house standing out among all the others, kept in one style. This house is painted very brightly with colorful door and windows. Everything inside is painted and decorated by the artists who live and create there.

Rivoli 59 is an infamous artist squat that was renovated into legal studios. It's open to the public; everyone is welcome to visit this place six days a week except Monday and observe the process of art creation, talk to the artists or purchase artwork.

The entrance is free.  Find out about other free museums in Paris in the blog post 44 Paris Travel Tips.  

3 | "I Love You" Wall

Generally, a wall is a symbol of separation and division. Think of The Great Wall Of China, The Western Wall in Israel, the Berlin Wall…

But this wall in Paris is different. It’s the Wall of Love. Covered in 612 lava tiles, the wall features the worlds “I love you” in 311 different languages, including all 192 languages of the United Nations. You will find it on the Square Jehan Rictus in Montmartre. This unusual artwork became a meeting place for lovers. Come here with someone precious to you and express your love in all the languages of the world.

Metro: Abbesses on Line 12

GPS Coordinates of the Wall of Love: Lat 48.884741 - Long 2.338795

4 | Palais de Tokyo

The Palais de Tokyo (Palace of Tokyo) is a less known museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. It’s one of the largest centers for contemporary art in Europe that hosts exhibitions, events and performances all  year round. 

Not many people know that underneath the Palais de Tokyo there is a secret cave with street art. It’s called the LASCO PROJECT (launched back in 2012). Since that time more than 60 international artists participated in this unusual project and created art in the underground passages and stairways.

At that time this wonderland of subterranean murals was inaccessible to the public. Now it became possible, but only via the guided tour organized by the Palais de Tokyo. The guided tour is free (reservation is required). It’s organized every day except Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Please double check the website of the Palais de Tokyo for the latest info.

But that’s not all. The Palais de Tokyo has one more secret. In its basement there is also a night club YoYo hosting par ties with top French and international artists.

Address: 13 Avenue du Président Wilson (near the Trocadéro, 16th arrondissement of Paris).

DRINK IN PARIS: CONCEPT CAFES & BARS

The Anticafé Louvre

The Anti Cafe Louvre is an atypical place in the heart of Paris. The Anti Cafe is a super cool concept: you pay for the time you spend, with all the coffee, tea, sweet and savory snacks included. 

The Anti Cafe charges €5 per hour (for non-members) and €24 for the day. It’s a fantastic place to not only have a cup of excellent coffee but also to work, to meet people or to play games. Check the agenda on their website : they also host numerous events and workshops. 

Address: 10 rue de Richelieu

Mon-Fri: 9am - 10.30pm

Sat-Sun: 10am - 9.30pm

The Anti Cafe has several locations in Paris: near the Centre Georges Pompidou, metro Olympiads, and la République. And every Anti Cafe has its unique story. 

Zero de Conduite

I didn’t expect to find something like this in Paris! This bar is truly unique. If you like cartoons, drawing, and board games, you are going to love Zero de Conduite .

Why is it so unique? This bar brings you back to childhood! How? Because there you not only play, but also drink from the baby’s bottles! Pink ones for the gilrs, and blue ones for the boys :-)

All the cocktails (they do have alcoholic cocktails as well) have the names of the cartoons. To make an order, you have to draw the cocktail name on the whiteboard in a way that the barman guesses the cartoon character you have in mind.

The cocktail costs 14-16 Euro and that includes the price of the bottle. The baby’s bottle serves as the membership card, and if you come again to Zero de Coduite with this “membership card”, you will pay only for refilling your baby’s bottle (4-6 Euro).

The bar has countless board games that you can play while enjoying your drink in the baby’s bottle. It’s definitely a cool place to come with a group of friends. You will have lots of fun!

Address: 102 rue du Théâtre

Metro: Avenue Emile Zola

Open: Tuesday-Saturday 18:00-2:00

Special events on Fridays and Saturdays: 8:00, 20:30 and 23:00

FOOD: UNUSUAL RESTAURANTS IN PARIS

I love unusual, conceptual restaurants. And of course, in Paris I also went in search of such places. Here are some cool and quirky restaurants in Paris that I recommend to visit: 

Sur un arbre perché

One more place in Paris that returns you to childhood is Sur un arbre perché . It is an unusual restaurant where you eat on swings or in small huts. We all liked to swing when we were kids. But when we grow up, we don’t do it anymore - while it’s so much fun!

Come to Sur un arbre perché and enjoy your dinner on the swing. Design of the restaurant is unusual as well, with the artificial trees, wooden furniture and forest-themed decor. Food is delicious and presented in a sophisticated way. The average dinner there (starter + main course or main course + dessert) costs 35 Euro.  A great place for a cozy and romantic evening.

Address: 1 rue du 4 Septembre

Metro Bourse

Le Costaud des Batignolles

Le Costaud des Batignolles is an art gallery in the restaurant. Or, rather, a restaurant in the art gallery.

What can you expect there? A beautiful and funky design, artworks all around, colorful furniture and tableware, and, of course, original cuisine such as salmon tartar a la mango or chicken sauté in coconut milk.

If you like admiring art and unusual places, you will love Le Costaud des Batignolles .

Address: 10 rue Brochant

Metro Brochant

Le Festin Nu

If you were to discover only one unusual restaurant in Paris, it would be this one. Located in the 18th arrondissement, Le Festin Nu will not fail to intrigue you or to disgust you!

It is the first insect bar in the French capital. What can you find in the menu? Worms, bugs, scorpions and grasshoppers served with hummus. Does this sound tempting? :-)

There is also a wide selection of artisanal beers from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. Come here for a new gastronomic experience.

Address: 10 rue de la Fontaine du But

Metro Lamarck / Caulaincourt

Le Café des Chats

Le Café des Chats is a perfect place if you want to have a delicious brunch in Paris in the company of cute cats. The restaurant adopted their cats from the shelters. Le Café des Chats works in collaboration with animal welfare associations to design an environment where the cats are happy.  

Apart from all the happiness you get from stroking cats, you can taste here one of the best Croque Monsieur in Paris:   Croque monsieur à l’ancienne - with béchamel souse, cheese, Poilâne bread and white ham cooked in a tea towel! 

After you tried a perfect Croque Monsieur, you have to taste its sister dish, a Croque madame: find out the difference between  a  Croque Monsieur and a Croque Madame . 

Address: 9 Rue Sedaine, 75011 Paris, France

THINGS TO DO IN PARIS: UNUSUAL TOURS & ACTIVITIES

If you are reading this guide, visiting the city on Hop On Hop Off bus is probably not for you :)

Here I prepared a selection of original Paris tours and activities that will let you explore this city in a different way!

Did you ever wonder what differs Parisians from the rest of the world?

Learn how think and act like a real Parisian at the comedy show “Paris: How to Become Parisian in one hour” .  

Discover the cultural differences between French people and other nations, and  and get one hour of laughing.

Humor and Laughter are good for your health. :)

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

photo by GetYourGuide

On a tour "Secret Paris Guided Tour" you can discover the most secret places of Paris and learn the mysterious and scary stories about the Notre-Dame Cathedral, astronomical tower of the Black Queen and the dark rue Courtalon.

If you want to get fit while traveling, you can opt for a Paris tour by bike . Cycling around the Champs Elysées, Jardin des Tuileries, along the banks of the Seine and other picturesque Parisian places is much more pleasant than moving around the city with a metro. Have you already ridden a segway? If not, it's a good opportunity to try it while exploring Paris from a different angle. With a Segway Paris Tour you will be able to cover more ground that you could on foot and meet new people.

Get a taste of Paris and explore an authentic local food scene with The Best Ever Paris Food Tour . Are you ready for the artisan foie gras, cheese, wine and products from the Abbeys of France? For chocoholics and "sweet teeth", Paris is just a heaven. Taste the trends in French pastry and chocolate during the 3-Hour Chocolate and Pastry Paris Tour . The guide will take you to the upscale confectioneries in Saint-German-des-Prés district where you will savour sweet masterpieces created by famous Parisian chefs. Did you want to know how the French bakery looks from inside and discover the secrets of making French crispy baguette and traditional croissants?  With the Behind The Scenes Bakery Tour , you can do it. It's a culinary experience that will make envious even Parisians. 

To not only taste but also learn to cook French dishes, check out the fantastic cooking classes in Paris . They include a guided visit of the local fresh market and shopping for the best ingredients, learning cooking techniques and culinary stories from the French chef, and then enjoying the meal you cooked. Learning a new skill (especially if it's a cooking skill) is the best souvenir to bring home :-)

PARIS ALTERNATIVE SHOPPING: DESIGN, VINTAGE & CONCEPT STORES

Visiting the capital of global fashion, you have no excuse for not shopping there.  Paris is not only a headquarter of the haute couture, it’s also a perfect place for getting unique products that you will really love, something not mass-designed that you can buy in any other country.

Check out some addresses where you will find French designer brands, concept stores, Parisian independent boutiques and funky vintage shops.

Merci is a concept store that is half-fashion, half-design, half-restaurant, half-bookshop, half-flea, and half-florist in the heart of Haut-Marais. You will find here almost everything, it's a real treasure trove with a strong Parisian feeling and look. The items are created by known and upcoming designers, so you can discover some new names. If you are looking for some original gifts and decoration, there is something for you.

Address: 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais

FrenchTrotters

The FrenchTrotters line is entirely designed and crafted in France. You will find in this flagman store stylish, beautiful and excellent quality pieces. In addition, it offers collections from renowned designers such as Les Prairies de Paris, Le Mont Saint Michel,  Jérôme Dreyfuss, Michel Vivien, Comme des Garçons among others.

Address: 30 Rue de Charonne

128 Rue Vieille du Temple

Kilo Shop Kawaii

If you are ecologically oriented, concerned with sustainability matters and love fashion, don't miss the Kilo Shop Kawaii . It's vintage store with carefully selected colorful and unique items where you pay per weight. Moreover, the shop recycles old clothes and gives it a second life. It's a true hot spot  for someone who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Address: 65 Rue de la Verrerie

Artazart is a hip design and bookstore located in the Canal St. Martin. I found it by chance during my long walk along the canal and was surprised to find such an incredible selection of books on visual art, design, photography and many cute design objects. The Artazart has also a section of rare books: check it out for broadening your horizons. What I really didn't expect to stumble upon there was the Atlas of the Countries that Do Not Exist (Atlas des pays qui n'existent pas) where among other countries with a contested sovereignty I found an article on the place where I was born - Transnistria :-) 

I recommend visiting this bookstore for anyone looking for inspiration.

Address: 83 Quai de Valmy

WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS: UNUSUAL AND CONCEPT HOTELS

To sleep in Paris, you’ve got the choice! Indeed, Paris is the most visited city in the world and to welcome its millions of annual tourists, there is no lack of hotels. But finding an original  and concept hotel is not that easy.

For truly unique Parisian experience, try to Couchsurf with a local or stay in the atmospheric Parisian apartment via Airbnb. 

By the way, if it’s going to be your first time using Airbnb, you can get a 20-35 EUR discount by registering through my promo code. 

Here is the link: get your Airbnb discount .

If you prefer to stay in the hotels, I prepared for you the list of the hotels in Paris to spend an unusual night.

Hotel Original - The World of Extravaganza

If you are a fan of the unusual design, have a stay in the extravagant hotel Original .  It’s a hotel with a unique feel where each room is  individually themed and designed by Stella Cadente. The hotel Original is up to their name. Moreover, the location is excellent, too, close to Le Marais and next to la Bastille train station that will make it easy for you to visit the city.

Address: 8, boulevard Beaumarchais 75011 Paris

Boat House - Exclusive & Romantic

How about a floating bedroom with one of the finest views of Paris? A romantic night aboard  a boat on the Seine will be an unforgettable experience. This boat is very centrally located, right in front of the Orsay Museum and Tuileries Garden.

As you pay for the whole boat that can host at least four people, it can be quite a good deal.

Check for the current rates here . 

Address: Rue Solferino, 75007 Paris

Mama Shelter Paris - The Meeting Place

The concept of the hotel Mama Shelter is "Luxe for less", or a quality designer hotel for a democratic price. All the decor was created by the famous French interior designer Philippe Starck. He is the one who designed the Mondrian in Los Angeles, the Royalton in New York, and the Sanderson in London.

Offering ultramodern rooms with with funky design and superheroes masks near every bed, an amusement area with an island bar, a restaurant, a pizzeria, a terrace and a rooftop in summer days, Mama Shelter one is for travelers who like their hotel stay to be a little bit different!

Address: 109 Rue de Bagnolet

Solar Hotel - Keep Calm and Be Green

Experience the first ecological hotel in Paris and become the actor of sustainable tourism.

The Solar hotel uses solar panels for illumination, practices strict water, waste, recycling and energy policies, provides with organic body wash products, and serves you an organic breakfast. In addition, they also offer free bikes for you to visit the city and the charming and lively the 14th arrondissement where the hotel is located.

All this comes at a very economical price for Paris, starting as low as 59 Euros for a double room including breakfast and free bicycle. 

If you are environmentally conscious or want to learn about sustainability, check out the Solar Hotel . You will meet like-minded people there.

Address: 22 rue Boulard, 75014 Paris

That's all for now. 

Thanks for reading! 

I hope you found this blog post useful and that it inspired you to try something new on your trip to Paris! 

If you know about some other cool concept places with a story, don't hesitate to share it in the comments or via a contact form. 

Sasha & The Alternative Travel Guide 

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Dina ( Thursday, 25 May 2017 16:16 )

Great advice!

rafi ( Saturday, 17 September 2022 17:44 )

Enjoyed Your Post as always thank to share such a great artical Thank you. <a href='https://www.sherijo.com/2022/09/h-supertools-youtube-website-make.html'> H Super Tool Write Content Automatic For Your Blog</a>

rohit patle ( Monday, 20 February 2023 05:51 )

Travel is one of the most enriching experiences that one can have in life. It allows us to explore new cultures, meet new people, and learn about ourselves in the process

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5 Hipster Places in Paris for Living Your Best Artisanal Life

• By Catherine Rickman
• May 8, 2018

Lock your doors and vaccinate your children because the epidemic is here. You know the type — the kids in the thousand-dollar overalls with jobs like “artisanal chia farmer,” — they’re everywhere . The hipsters have arrived in Paris.

Yes, in a way it makes sense. Who loves boutique food shops and espresso like hipsters do, if not the French? When Brooklyn opens new organic local butcher shops, the French sniff and think, “Well we’ve been doing this for centuries.”

So here is your guide to finding the hippest of the youths in their natural habitat. Enjoy their quality drinks, and don’t forget to put the whole thing on Instagram.

Les Triplettes

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYs_qkWjvKi/

Named after a famous French animated film called “Les Triplettes de Belleville,” this Chinatown restaurant is quite a departure from the Tunisian bakeries and classic French brasseries among which it sits. The restaurant/cafe/bar could have been lifted right out of Williamsburg, with food ranging from couscous dishes to burgers. The cocktails are pricey post-happy hour, but if you’d prefer the typical watered-down mojito you’ll find anywhere else, then you should probably clear out. The dazzling mirrored interior, attractive crowd, and heated patio make it a bustling spot late into the evening. – 102 Boulevard de Belleville, 75020

Le Super Coin

What is the first tenet of hipster ideology? Well, craft beer, of course. Le Super Coin is one of the first and only craft beer joints in Paris, hidden away in Montmartre a short walk from Sacré-Cœur. The fact that the Le Super Coin refers to itself as a “Bistrot Pop Rock Garage” on its website might give you a little hint about the vibe of the place, and while it only serves three rotating beers on tap, Super Coin has an extensive selection of bottled French craft beers. – 3 rue Baudelique, 75018

Le Comptoir Général

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrS2ddFg1L2/

This is it. If there is a Mecca for French hipsters, Le Comptoir Général is the place. During the day it is part brunch spot, part pop-up shop, and at night the enormous Canal Saint-Martin hub opens into a multi-room paradise reminiscent of some of the greatest Berlin clubs (minus the crowding and a lot of the dancing). You can order a number of exotic cocktails and take your drink on top of a shipwrecked vessel, gazing out at the indoor palm trees and lush colonial-era decor. The self-described “Ghetto Museum” is a celebration of Franco-African music, film, and history, and you can find some sort of event going on just about every day of the week. – 80 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010

L’International

And how would this list be complete without a true music venue? L’International is a two-decker club and music venue in the rapidly-gentrifying 11th arrondissement. With a great mix of local bands of all genres, as well as dancier tunes in the peak hours, it’s the place to go if you’re looking to mingle and catch some French music that’s not either EDM or an old man playing the accordion. – 5/7 Rue Moret, 75011

Les Grandes Verres

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EPI1lIBRK/

This cafe/restaurant located in the Palais de Tokyo is not your typical museum dining experience. Thanks to the work of the chic new Parisian food and beverage group Quixotic Projects , this perfectly-designed modern space fits in seamlessly with Paris’s contemporary art museum. The food is Mediterranean, the coffee is provided by the beloved microroastery Belleville Brûlerie, and the craft cocktails are on par with those of the best cocktail bars in Paris. The adjoining prêt-à-porter cafe is a common hangout for the artiest students in Paris, on quick lunch break before another round of exhibits. – 13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75016

Also Read: The Best Free Things To Do In Paris

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Blogger’s Travel Guide to Paris: Top Things to Do in Paris

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which at no cost to you I may earn a small commission.

Paris Travel Guide

Paris is one of my favorite cities to explore, especially when every corner looks like a postcard! There is so much to see in Paris so I narrowed down the top things to do and see in Paris in my blogger’s travel guide to Paris.

I included my favorite restaurants and places to get cocktails as well! Whether you like history or the trendiest cafe there will be something on this list for you. Let’s get into it.

Related Paris Posts: Best Paris Instagram Spots The 9 Best Eiffel Tower Photo Spots To View The Eiffel Tower 21 Best Paris Hotels With Eiffel Tower View

Where to Stay in Paris

Hotel Le Roch

This ultra-chic designed focused hotel should be on your radar! Located just steps from the Louvre, and the trendy shopping district of Rue Saint Honoré, this hotel is in a prime central location.

You’ll also get to relax in this hotel’s indoor pool and spa after a long day of touring around Paris. Read my full review of Hotel Le Roch .

Le Narcisse Blanc

Elegant and tranquil is how I describe Le Narcisse Blanc . Located in the 7th Arrondissement in Paris, you’ll get a more local vibe with plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby.

Everything about this hotel is a 5-star experience from the staff to the luxurious rooms, and the spa. Read my full review of Le Narcisse Blanc here .

Hotel Therese

This hotel offers an elegant stay with great value! Located in the coveted 1st Arrondissement in Paris, just steps from the Louvre and the Opera Garnier, you’ll be walking distance from attractions, plenty of restaurants, and shopping.

I loved the small boutique feel this hotel had and the excellent customer service! Read my full review of Hotel Therese here .

Best Things to Do in Paris

Experience the eiffel tower.

A trip to Paris is not a trip without seeing or visiting the Eiffel Tower.

There are so many ways you can experience the Eiffel Tower. A classic way is to visit the observation deck with a guided tour to learn more about the history of the Eiffel Tower views. 

The best way to experience the Eiffel Tower is to book a skip-the-line guided tour with access to the second level. 

Eiffel Tower Direct Access Guided Tour:   Experience the Eiffel Tower with a guided tour with these skip-the-line tickets ! If you have ever been to Paris during high season- you might be waiting hours to see the incredible views. So these tickets are a huge plus.

On this direct access guided tour , you’ll learn insider information about the Eiffel Tower and Paris making this a more meaningful & memorable activity. Plus you’ll see views of Montmartre and the Louvre Museum! 

Book Eiffel Tower

Read Next: Best Eiffel Tower Photo Locations

1 Hour Seine River Boat Cruise

A great way to see Paris is going on a relaxing 1-hour Seine River Boat Cruise . This budget-friendly activity , under $20 per ticket, is perfect for those who want to see Paris from a different perspective and learn more about the scenic architecture. 

Famous sights on this boat cruise include The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more. 

The ticket is valid for one month, so you can choose your date and time. 

Tip: Visit during sunset for dreamy hues & sparkling Eiffel Tower.

Book Seine River Cruise

Visit the Lourve Musuem 

Louvre Museum is home to art from ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, including Leonardo Di Vinci’s Mona Lisa! 

This is one of the most popular things to do in Paris, and the line can get pretty long. It’s best to book your tickets in advance to ensure entry!

Book Louvre Tickets

Musee D’Orsay

I would also check out the Musee d’Orsay which features French paintings and sculptures and is home to a stunning clock tower.

Hop on Hop Off Paris Bus Tour

Taking a bus tour is a great activity if this is one of your first visits to Paris. I took this tour on my first time to Paris and it helped me learn where everything in Paris was located & I was able to get off and explore where I wanted. 

On this tour , you visit every Paris Landmark including the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Notre Dame, and more.

Plus, you don’t have to depend on public transport to get around. See Paris above ground at your own pace!

Book Bus Tour

Explore Montmartre

Montmartre is one of my favorite areas in Paris because of its charm, and it’s worth an afternoon of just exploring.

Located in the 18th Arrondissement in Paris, the main attraction in the area is the Sacre Coeur .

However, be sure to walk the streets around it for hidden gems like the only wine vineyard in Paris, or the many chic cafes like  La Maison Rose and Le Consulat.

This area is also great for photography, which is why I mentioned Montmartre plenty of times in my Paris Instagram Spots post so be sure to bring your camera for charming streets and epic views of the city.

If you’d like to learn more about this neighborhood, there is a two-hour walking tour with a guide you can take for only $16 ! You can purchase tickets here .

Visit the Palais Garnier

If you don’t have time to visit Versailles just outside the city, the Palais Garnier Opera House will get your opulent fix in. Seriously, this is one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve been in.

Built in the late 1800s and made famous by the novel The Phantom of the Opera, this opera house should be on any design lovers’ itinerary. You can purchase tickets in advance for $13! 

See a Paris Cabaret Show 

Moulin Rouge: 

The most famous Cabaret in Paris is the Moulin Rouge made up of 60 artists performing the “Féerie” show. This show can be sold out months in advance, so booking an advance ticket is a great idea to ensure a seat! 

Moulin Rouge Tickets

Crazy Horse: 

Remember the Beyonce “Partition” music video? Well, the whole video was inspired and filmed in Crazy Horse Cabaret in Paris. Crazy Horse is a famous adult Parisian Cabaret. Dancers are nearly nude but it’s tastefully executed. The use of mirrors and lighting make it visually interesting, and a fun night out!

It is a truly unique and memorable activity to add to your itinerary.

Crazy Horse Caberet

Drink Wine on the Seine

Drinking Wine on the Seine is one of my favorite Parisian Activities. Yes, you can legally drink wine in the open in Paris. I wish this rule applied in the USA!

So grab a bottle of wine and a few snacks and pick a spot along the Seine. 

Shopping in Paris

What blogger’s travel guide to Paris is complete without shopping?

There are plenty of neighborhoods to shop in Paris but my favorite shops include:

• Galleries Lafayette (Store) is a chic Parisian department store. Brands span from contemporary to designer, but I also like their Galleries Lafayette Brand for more affordable accessories. Just to see the interior is worth a stop!
• Rue Saint Honoré ( street ) if you are looking for Parisian designer boutiques like Maison Goyard, Chanel, or Dior. There are also small fragrance boutiques in this area as well including my favorite  Memo Paris .
• St. Germain ( Neighborhood ) is another area to explore for shopping boutiques, cute cafes, and charming streets. City Pharma is a must-stop for beauty products in St. Germain and is  the cheapest store in Paris to stock up on your favorite French brands like Caudalie, Nuxe, La Roche Posay, and Bioderma which are half-priced compared to the USA

Where to Eat in Paris

Pink Mamma: If you could only eat at one restaurant in Paris, I’d have to say it should be Pink Mamma. Spanning over 4 floors, this gorgeous Italian Restaurant does not disappoint.

From the decor, and service, to the food, everything was perfect! Be sure to make a reservation as well in advance, especially for dinner!

Holybelly: Looking for a healthy breakfast and lunch spot that serves breakfast all day?

You’ll have to check out Holybelly where your order of scrambled eggs won’t be judged at 3 pm.

Where to get the Best Sweets in Paris

Ladurée : No trip to Paris is without a stop in Ladurée. With plenty of locations around the city, you’ll be able to satisfy your sweet tooth all day long.

Where to Have a Cocktail in Paris

Le Comptoir General:   This is how I would describe Le Comptoir General: boho chic cafe meets hipster cocktail bar separated into two large spaces with eclectic decor features.

This is a local hang-out and is worth the visit for an extensive cocktail menu, and seafood. 

Le Perchoir : This trendy rooftop bar is a true local spot. While the drinks range on the pricier side the views are worth it.

Even better if you can snag a table to capture the views. You can also spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Pick a Cafe: Sometimes the best spots are just located where you need a drink.

I enjoyed sipping on wine in a cute spot “ Le Zinc ” in La Motte-Picquet.

What to Wear in Paris

Parisian style is all about minimalism. I love bringing in a bold blazer and pairing it with basic pieces like black pants, and a white tee.

Of course finish off the look with cute accessories like this coveted Gucci belt, a bright red bag, and a classic beret.

Beyond fashion, I always back these 23 travel essentials on all my trips. They make packing and traveling a breeze!

Thank you for checking out my Blogger’s Travel Guide to Paris! Please save this to your Pin Boards!

Dana Berez is a fashion and travel blogger with a focus on affordable style and outfit ideas, especially when traveling. Dana Berez has been featured on the Wall Street Journal, CNN Underscored, Apartment Therapy and more! Plus , you can also watch Dana on Youtube for fashion hauls and travel guides that has over 9 million views.

15 Comments

Lovely shots! I used to live in Paris and I visit all the time yet have never gone INSIDE the Opera. La honte! It’s going to be my first stop on my next trip 😉

Hi Natasha! I can’t believe you never been inside! I hope you get there soon- it’s so beautiful!

I loved this post! Palais Garnier is still one of my favorite places in the world! Your restaurant recommendations were amazing! I’m definitely overdue a trip to Paris!

Hi Linnea! Thank you so much for your comment. Isn’t the Palais Garnier stunning! Hope you can get back to Paris soon!

Loved it! Haven’t been to Paris for about 15 years, guess it’s time to come back. Love your photos and thanks so much for the foodie tips!

Hi Maya! Thank you for your comment- as they say “Paris is always a good idea” Hope you can get there soon!

Dana, I love your photos. Would love to know who takes them for you; it’s something I struggle with. Paris is on my list for this year, would love to go back and now I have some great spots to visit when I do.

Hi Talia! Thank you so much. My friend Alsenio takes my photos! He is such a talented photographer and I am so happy we get to travel together- although I am trying to experiment with tripod photography! Let me know if you check any of these places out!

Such a good guide, and I absolutely love the photos! It might not be the hardest place to convince me to go back to, but this certainly did the trick!

Hi Julie! I am so glad you enjoyed! I hope you get to Paris soon!

I loved Paris. You’ve shared some wonderful places to visit! I didn’t get a chance to visit Palais Garnier, but we did make it out to Versailles. Even though I couldn’t get my teens to walk any more on our final day, I did make my husband take me to the Laduree on the Champs Elysees. I couldn’t leave Paris without trying their macarons!!

Hi Amy! Thank you so much for your comment. A macaron from Laduree is a must! So glad you had the chance to try one in Paris. Make sure you get to the Palais Garnier next time on your visit.

Your photos are simply gorgeous! It makes me want to go to Paris again immediately. They’re so warm xxx Also. Nutella crepe for three euro. Yes, please.

Ah thank you! I was looking back on my Paris photos and I miss it myself! Hope we can get there soon!

Uff Nostalgia. This post brought back so many memories. Ahhhh! Missing my Paris Trip.

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SILVER STORIES

Hipster guide: how to spend three days in Paris

ENGLISH – DANISH VERSION BELOW – The hipster guide to Paris: Having visited Paris four times within the last three years, I would say that I have gotten to known the city quite well by now. In that connection, a friend of mine told me that she was going to Paris for three days and wanted to get as much out of her time in the city as possible. Therefore, I have decided to do this hipster guide to Paris. The guide is for the kind of traveler who is looking to experience as much as possible in three days including both classic Paris attractions, must do’s when in Paris as well as the hippest spots in the city. I hope you like it!

FIRST DAY IN PIGALLE : This area shows you the authentic Paris. Start the day by walking by Lé Petrin Médiéval (31 Rue Henry Monnier) to grab bread and cakes for a breakfast picnic. This is a bakery where everything is just delicious. Head to Sacre-Cæur afterward. It is only about a 10-minute walk from the bakery. From here, you can indulge in both the beautiful view that the hilltop church offers of Paris as well as the baked goods that you brought from Lé Petrin Médiéval and do your own little breakfast picnic. If you are more interested in having brunch, Pigalle offers some seriously good brunch places such as Marlette, La Bossue , and Hotel Amour (only serves brunch on weekends).

Coffee: Now, walk around to enjoy the Parisian lifestyle of Pigalle. The street Rue des Martyrs is great for lots of reasons. It is filled with little, artisanal, French stores that sell everything from handmade soap to French specialties and bakeries selling macarons and other French goodies. If you are thirsty for coffee and your legs need a break, go to KB Coffee, Hotel Amour or Le Pigalle . Make sure to stop by and check out the cool basketball court (22, Rue Duperré).

Lunch: It is time for lunch and for a burger that is renowned as Paris’ best. It is called Paris New York (50, Rue Faubourg Saint-Dennis). It is technically not located in Pigalle, but a 20-minute walk away. If you want to try it, you gotta work for it. I can only recommend it, though.

Dinner: After having the burger for lunch, you might be quite full for dinner time. I suggest you go for a charcuterie plate and a glass of wine. A good place to do so is at Les Apôtres in Pigalle (2 Rue Germain Pilon). After dinner, head over to see Le Moulin Rouge and the rather crazy nightlife in Pigalle. Drinks are amazing at FLESH (25 Rue de Douai).

SECOND DAY IN THE 1st and 8th ARRONDISSEMENT:   On your second day in Paris, it is time to be a more serious tourist. Start off by the Eiffel Tower . If you are not staying in walking distance from it, take the metro to the Bir Hakeim stop. If the park is open, grab a croissant and a coffee and sit on the lawn and enjoy the view. After eyeing the masterpiece of a tower, head toward the water for a beautiful walk through Paris. Cross the stunning, golden bridge also known as Pont Alexandre IIII .

Lunch: Go through Jardin des Tuileries , and if you feel like you have the time, stop by the Musee de L’Orangerie , where some of the gorgeous Claude Monet paintings are showcased. If you are looking for a luxurious, French experience, head to Hotel Costes  (239-241 Rue Saint Honoré) for lunch. They have a beautiful garden and you might see the Kardashians or other famous people while having lunch here. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly but still good lunch place, go to Télescope or Frenchie to Go .

Shopping: But first! When you are already at Rue Saint Honoré , you have to do some shopping. Or at least some window shopping. All the exclusive shops are lined side by side on this street and it doesn’t get anymore Parisian. Another most visit is the concept store Colette  (213 Rue Saint Honoré) where you will find sneakers, clothing, perfume, art and little fun gimmicks.

Coffee and Instagram pictures: You’ve walked a lot by now, so I am sure you will be needing a break and of course, coffee. Luckily, at this point you will find the best coffee in Paris. Café Kitsune (51 Galerie de Montpensier), which is located within the park area of Le   Palais Royal , brews you an amazing cup of coffee. Have it to-go and bring it to the park where you can enjoy a little fountain, flowers and greenery. When your legs are rested, walk to the other end of the park to see the striped columns in front of Palais Royal. I am 99% sure that you have already seen them on Instagram. 1-2-3, and it is your turn to shoot that cool picture for Instagram.

The burger macaron: Time to walk some more to find the famous, amazing macaron that is made like a burger. It is from Gosselin (123-125 Rue Saint Honoré), and you have to try it!

Dinner : If you are a fan of Sex and the City , you will love this! Remember the scene in Paris where Carrie meets Alexandr’s ex-wife at a restaurant in Paris? This is it. The restaurant is called KONG (1 Rue du Pont Neuf). It is a more upscale dining spot, so again, if you are traveling on a budget, you might want to check out another spot such as Le Fumoir .

THIRD DAY IN LE MARAIS:  On the third day in Paris, it is time to explore another favorite neighborhood, Le Marais. Le Marais is known for good cafes and shopping, so what is not to like?

Brunch: Is there a better way to start the day than with brunch? I think not. Ob-La-Di (54 Rue de Saintonge) serves a great and very Instagram-friendly one. You might have to wait for a little to get a table, though. If you are not willing to do so, Marais luckily has many other brunch spots such as La Petite Table, Café Oberkampf, Season and Paperboy .

Shopping:  Time for some shopping! Le Marais has all the good, French stores such as Iro and Isabel Marant. There is also another concept store that you have to check out in Le Marais. It is called Merci (111 Boulevard Beaumarchais) and they literally have everything your shopping heart desires. There is also a Supreme in Le Marais, if you like that kind of stuff 😉

Museums:  If you are a fan of art, Le Marais is the place to be. The area offers a vast amount of museums, such as Musée Picasso or Centré Pompidou , where you can find modern art.

Coffee:  After shopping and walking, coffee is up. Le Voltigeur (45 Rue des Francs Bourgeois), serves you a very Instagrammable cup of coffee, and if you are lucky, you might even get a little word or quote on your coffee. If you are a serious coffee lover, try out Fragments, Le Peloton Café or Boot Café .

Dinner: Dinner awaits, and in Le Marais you won’t be disappointed.   Try the very popular falafel spot,  L’as Du Falafel (34 Rue des Rosiers). If the line is too long for your taste, head to one of the two other Parisian favorites, Chez Janou  or Café Charlot for classic, French foods such as steak tartare, French fries (they’re French, lol!) and chocolate mousse.

And that’s a wrap! Three highly productive days in Paris exploring three very different neighborhoods. I hope you can use my guide <3

_________________________________

DANSK: Jeg kender efterhånden Paris ret godt, da jeg har besøgt byen fire gange de sidste tre år. En bekendt skrev til mig og fortalte, at hun skal tre dage til Paris og gerne ville udnytte de dage til at opleve så meget som muligt, både klassiske turistattraktioner og seje steder i byen. Det inspirerede mig til at skrive denne Paris-guide, der foregår med undgangspunkt i tre dage i Paris. Den første dag foregår i Pigalle, anden dag med turistattraktioner og kaffe og den trejde dag udspiller sig i Le Marais. Man kan selvfølgelig bytte om på rækkefølgen. Jeg håber, I kan bruge min guide.

Tip! Jeg skriver hippe rejseguides til en masse destinationer rundt i verden fra Bornholm til Berlin og New York, der giver dig de bedste tips til hvor du skal spise, hvad du skal opleve, og hvor du skal drikke kaffe.  Find dem her .

DAG ET I PIGALLE:  Pigalle er et skønt, og knap så turistet område i Paris, der helt klart er værd at bruge en dag på at opleve. Start dagen med et smut hos bageren, Lé Petrin Médiéval (31 Rue Henry Monnier), der bager alle de bedste og ulovlige carbs, såsom pastel de nata, flan med kokos og lækkert baguette-brød. Køb alle dine yndlingskager, brød og croissanter, for du skal på en lille picnic. Fra bageren er der nemlig kun en 10 minuters gågang op af bakke til smukke Sacre-Cæur. Når du er nået til tops, kan du nyde udsigten med kaffe og croissanter, og hvad du ellers har købt fra bageren. Hvis du hellere vil have brunch, så er Pigalle også god til dette. Prøv  Marlette, La Bossue eller  Hotel Amour (Amour har kun brunch i weekenden). 

Kaffe og shopping i Pigalle: gå rundt og opdag Pigalle. Især Rue Des Martyrs er en skøn gade, der er spækket med lokale blomsterhandlere, fromage-butikker (franskmændende elsker deres ost!), det ene konditori efter det andet samt butikker, der forhandler alt fra fine sæber til LP-plader.  Når du har brug for en pause og er blevet kaffetørstig, er der også råd for dette. Prøv  KB Coffee, Hotel Amour  eller  Le Pigalle. 

Frokost: Du skal prøve burgeren, der af flere er kåret som Paris’ bedste. Teknisk set, befinder den sig ikke i Pigalle, så før du kan nyde burgeren, kræver det altså, at du lige får rørt benene på en tyve minutters gåtur. Stedet hedder Paris New York  (50, Rue Faubourg Saint-Dennis). Burgeren er fantastisk, og den kan også serveres med salat i stedet for pomfritter eller halv-halv.

Middag og drinks: Hvis du er til byliv, så er Pigalle the place to be. Her kan du både finde Paris’ svar på red light district, men også nogle rigtig fede barer. Du er sikkert mæt efter burgeren, så for at få en rigtig parisisk oplevelse, skal du spise charcuterie og drikke et glas vin til aftensmad. Det kan du for eksempel gøre hos  Les Apôtres in Pigalle  (2 Rue Germain Pilon). Når du er færdig med at spise, så skal du drikke drinks hos  FLESH  (25 Rue de Douai). 

DAG TO I 1. OG 8. ARRONDISSEMENT:   Det er tid til dag nr. to i Paris. Nu skal du være en pligtopfyldende turist, men i en by så smuk som Paris, gør det vel ikke noget. Start dagen med et Bonjour til Eiffeltårnet . Bor du ikke i nærheden, kan du tage metroen til stoppet Bir Hakeim og gå. Køb en kop kaffe og endnu en croissant (kan man nogensinde få for mange?!), sæt dig på græsplænen foran tårnet og nyd udsigten. Du skal nu ud på en gåtur. Gå langs vandet og kryds Seinen ved guldbroen også kendt som Pont Alexandre IIII . Slå et smut igennem Jardin de Tuileries . Hvis du har lyst, kan du besøge Musée de L’Orangerie , der er pyntet med overdådige og smukke kunstværker af Claude Monet.

Frokost: Hvis du har spender-bukserne på, så spiser du frokost hos Hotel Costes   (239-241 Rue Saint Honoré) . Hvis du er heldig, er det her, at du støder ind i et Kardashian-familiemedlem eller et andet kendt ansigt. Hotel Costes har en skøn have, og det er en gennem-parisisk oplevelse at være her. Skal det være lidt mere low-key, får du også en skøn frokost hos Télescope eller Frenchie To Go .

Shopping: Når du er i Rue Saint-Honore området, betyder det en ting. Shopping. Eller i det mindste window-shopping. Side om side ligger Gucci, Chanel, Goyard og Givenchy. Et must her er et besøg i den anerkendte concept-store, Colette (213 Rue Saint Honoré).

Kaffe & Instagram-billeder : Det er tid til en kaffe-opfyldning, og det skal ske hos Café Kitsuné (51 Galerie de Montpensier) , der ifølge mange kunder brygger den bedste kaffe i Paris. Tag kaffen med til den smukke have, der hører til Palais Royal , der ligger lige foran caféen. Her kan du sætte dig foran springvandet og nyde blomsterne og træerne og den klassiske arkitektur, der omringer parken. Når du har drukket ud, er det tid til et Instagram-billede. For enden af parken finder du de Insta-famous stripede søjler, og selvfølgelig skal du da have et billede her… 😉

Burger-macaron: Den her har du helt sikkert også set på Instagram. Chokolademacaronen, der ligner en burger. Den fås hos Gosselin , der har et konditori på Rue Saint-Honoré.

Middag: Er du fan af Sex and the City, vil du helt sikkert være henrykt over dette. Kan du huske scenen, hvor Carrie mødes med Alexandrs eks-kone på en restaurant i Paris? Restauranten hedder KONG   (1 Rue du Pont Neuf). Restauranten er lidt up-scale, så rejser du på budget, kan du i stedet prøve Le Fumoir . 

DAG TRE I LE MARAIS:   Det er tid til endnu en dag, hvor der skal spises, shoppes, drikkes kaffe og spises noget mere. Hvor gør man det bedre end i Le Marais?

Brunch: Hvordan starter man en dag bedre, end med brunch? Prøv Ob-La-Di ( 54 Rue de Saintonge) , der serverer en skøn en af slagsen, der både er god til dine smagsløg og din Instagram. Køen kan være lang. Er det tilfældet, så er Marais heldigvis spækket med brunch-cafeer. Prøv i stedet  La Petite Table, Café Oberkampf, Season  eller  Paperboy. 

Shopping: Marais gør det også virkelig godt, når det kommer til shopping. Du kan finde alle de fede butikker såsom Isabel Marant, Iro, Sandro og Muji i Marais. Alle steder der gør lidt mindre ondt i pengepungen end hos gårsdagens Rue Saint Honoré. Èt er dog helt sikkert. Du skal forbi Merci ( 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais) , en anden concept-store, der sælger alle seje ting, du kan kommei tanke om. Både smykker, indretning, møbler og tøj.

Museer: Er du til kunst og gallerier, så er Marais også lige stedet for dig. Gå på galleri-walk eller på museum. Jeg kan anbefale Musée Picasso eller Centré Pompidou.

Kaffe : En kaffepause skal der til! Især i Le Marais, hvor udvalget af god kaffe er tårnhøjt. Prøv Le Voltigeur  (45 Rue des Francs Bourgeois)  der serverer en kaffe med en lille overraskelse på toppen. Skal det være rigtig craft coffee, så gå forbi  Fragments, Le Peloton Café  eller  Boot Café. Er du rigtig vild med kaffe og ikke i farezonen for at blive høj af koffeinen, så prøv da dem alle sammen. 

Middag: Sidste middag i Paris skal fejres med en oplevelse, du sent glemmer. Er du til falafel, skal du prøve den berømte L’as Du Falafel   (34 Rue des Rosiers) . Du skal dog være forberedt på, at der kan være lang kø. Er du mere til franske oplevelser, så er Chez Janou eller Café Charlot gode bud. Begge steder serverer klassisk fransk bistro-mad, og Chez Janou er desuden kendt for deres formidable chocolademousse, der bliver serveret i overdrevede mængder.

Jeg håber, at du kan bruge min guide til Paris. En ting er sikkert – følger du denne guide på dine tre dage i Paris, vil du opleve en hel del af den skønne by. 

12 comments

Wow, your photos are stunning and very Instagram-worthy! Everything about Paris looks stunning! I can’t wait to visit it someday!

– Gretch of GG Memochou

Thank you so much, I am happy you find my guide useful <3 Paris is amazing, you have to visit one day!

I love this! I recently got back from Paris and just loved it!! XO JNESS : JenessaSheffield.com

I agree, Paris is simply one of the best cities <3

What a fabulous post, girlie! I’ve never been to Paris before, so I’ve definitely taken note for when I do, all this food looks delish! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a great day!

Jalisa http://www.thestylecontour.com

Thank you so much, I am happy that you like it <3 You definitely have to go to Paris one day xxx Caroline

I really need to go back to Paris now! 😀 I absolutely enjoyed your guide and the fact that it’s not a typical one. Great job! 😉 <3

Thank you so much, it makes me so happy to read that it is useful <3

Great post! I would love to go to these places.

Gemma x http://www.jacquardflower.uk

Thank you <3 Paris is really a great city!

Such nice tips! I have visited some of these spots myself last year, but some are new to me. Now I have a reason to return to Paris. 😉

One always needs a reason to revisit any place in the world, right? Thanks for your comment, so happy to hear that you liked my guide <3

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Home >> Europe >> France >> Paris

Travel blogs, travel photos and features from Paris, France

Paris Travel Guide

The ultimate guide to the best things to do and see in paris.

Paris is always a good idea. With its gorgeous architecture, stunning museums, beautiful outdoor spaces, non-stop nightlife and amazing food, it might just be the perfect city. S tart here with my basic Paris travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Paris travel blogs .

When to Visit

Like most of Europe, the summer is high season in Paris, and the city comes alive with people revelling in the warm weather and enjoying the many green spaces. However, with so much going on year round, Paris really is a place you can enjoy at any time of year, no matter the weather.

Cool Things To Do

Visit the Louvre – It’s easy to get lost in the Louvre—the world’s largest art museum. While most visitors make a beeline for the highlights and spend a maximum of two hours in the museum, you could spend days wandering through the collections .

Lunch at the the Grande Mosque – In the 5th arrondissement, the impressive Grand Mosque is a really unique example of 1920s Moorish-style architecture, and it also houses a great Moroccan restaurant. I highly recommend getting the couscous and lamb tagine.

Explore the Latin Quarter – The Latin Quarter, a big student neighborhood in Paris, has this crazy, bohemian vibe and to spend the night in a dark, dank club with a bunch of cabaret performers is a truly unique experience!

Paris Tours

There’s so much history to learn about in Paris it can be a little overwhelming to tackle it by yourself. Instead, check out this selection of tours in Paris.

For those looking for a good wander, just choose an arrondissement to explore and have at it! Sometimes simply wandering the streets is a good way to soak up the culture and you might stumble on some really unique things (and as always, beautiful architecture. Check out this neighborhood guide to Paris with recommended places to stay.

LGBTQ – Gay Paris Travel Guide

Paris is very, very gay. And full of beautiful men! There are so many gay things to do in Paris, these are a few of the best things you should know about.

Les Mots à la Bouche – This cute, old-fashioned bookstore is the place to go in Paris for LGBT literature and more. With an impressive collection of novels, poetry, photography books, graphic novels, manga and erotica, this place has it all.

Open Café –  A café, bar and restaurant, this is a great place to meet cute guys in a casual setting. They serve food in the daytime, and do a pretty great weekend brunch (obviously), and in the early evenings, they often have happy hours, so it’s a nice place to go before hitting the clubs.

More gay travel resources here.

Paris Hotel Deals

Paris has plenty of cool and quirky hotels, as well as all the big chains you’d expect. They can get full when there’s a conference or special event in town, so consider booking in advance. I’ve found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined can be useful for finding last-minute deals.

There are also a number of great hostel options for travelers to Paris. Finding hostels in Paris takes some skill to make sure you find something decent – so be sure to use the guide.

Follow @ lifestylehipster on Instagram for more travel tips!

Paris Travel Blogs

45 Unexpected Things To Do in Paris

This isn’t your typical list of things to see in Paris. Sure, the Louvre is great. And the food is great. But there’s a lot more to the world’s most touristic city than its tourist sites. Here: a guide to what’s special and unexpected in Paris.

The 12 Best Butts of the Louvre

Smooth, taut, big and small, bare, and covered — a guide to the Louvre’s best butts. Sorry, Mona Lisa, but this is a list that you don’t qualify for.

Paris – A capital of love & LGBTQ culture

A celebration of equality and diversity, the LGBTQ culture of Paris was on full display during the 2018 Gay Games with rainbows, love, & equality.

Theo et Hugo dans le meme bateau (Paris 05:59) – Berlinale Film Review

French gay film, Paris 05:59, captures the essence of what it’s like to be a young European gay guy in love, the fast romance and intense passion

Paris on Instagram

Picture-perfect Paris – it’s probably the world’s best city for Instagram with many beautiful areas to photograph

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Helene in Between

Lifestyle and Travel blog helping Bloggers Succeed Online.

The Essential Paris Travel Guide

By Helene Sula

I'll never forget my first time in Paris. It was mid-July and I was 25. I wasn't as worried about skin cancer but I was concerned about lightening my hair and darkening my skin in the sun. I can't tell you if Paris was hot or cold. I can't tell you if it rained. All I know is that I loved it. I glided through the streets as if on pink roller skates, marveling at the beautiful buildings. People told me that Paris was dirty. Where? People told me that the French can be unfriendly. Who? But no one warned me that I would want to move abroad after visiting for just 5 days. That's why I've put together the essential Paris travel guide. Because there are some things you MUST do when you go.

Below you can find a map of all the places discussed in this post. I've created a separate map toward the end of the post of all my favorite restaurants.

[powr-map id=8c8e34a4_1514377902]

Paris is a feeling. I get chills thinking about it. You can't NOT be romantic about Paris. I know, because I dragged Michael (and my Mom) there for my birthday this past January . It was freezing, I was wearing a mini dress, it started to rain… I didn't care. Paris just sweeps me up in it's magical entanglements. I think it fits the bill for almost any kind of traveler (and yes, there are different kinds). Whether you want to relax, explore, learn, feast… it's all there, waiting for you.

This is the essential Paris travel guide, but I thought it would be best to break it down into 5 days so you can get the most out of it and see what a typical itinerary might look like.

How to Get There

You can land at Charles de Gaulle airport and easily take public transportation. Or, if you are closer, you can take the train. There are many high-speed trains that route into Paris. Typically they come into Gare de l'Est, Gare du Nord, or Gare de Lyon.

Getting Around Paris

I highly recommend taking the Paris metro. This is easier (and less expensive and traffic-y) than a cab. The city is LARGE so walking, while okay in some parts, is just not as feasible if you want to see it all. There are 16 lines and it's easy once you get the hang of it, promise. There is a Metro and bus and your ticket will be good for both. I recommend buying a pass for the number of days you'll be there.

I really think you can go anytime. However, winter is LOVELY because you really will avoid the crowds (See also how to avoid lines and people while traveling .) I remember waiting half an hour to go inside the Notre Dame in July, while in January there was no wait. But I will say, going in the spring and summer is lovely because flowers are blooming. Places like Monet's Gardens and Versailles are going to be lush with flowers everywhere.

How Much Money You'll Need

This is going to, of course, vary by where you eat and where you stay. But let me tell you, my first trip to Paris was with the dynamic cheap duo: my husband and his best friend. If you think you are thrifty, you haven't met Michael and Josh. We ate a lot of meals from the grocery store. We had onion soup and conspicuously drank water from our camel-back that we filled up in the bathroom. We splurged one night for a fancy dinner. But oddly enough, my favorite meal was our baguette, wine, and cheese from the grocery store as we sat outside the Eiffel Tower and watched it light up. *Insert heart eye emojis* Honestly you can do it cheaply. Your cost will come in for museums and attractions, and of course, what you eat.

Where to Stay

The best of the best:.

The Peninsula Hotel has a FANTASTIC and beautiful inside and out. I spent the day there on my last trip, full review at the link !

Hotel Icone is exquisite and has a wonderful attention to detail. This is where I stayed on my trip in the spring and it is one of the best locations. I walked everywhere. It's so close the the Opera, walking distance to the Louvre, Notre Dame, and so much more. Highly recommend.

When my Mom came to visit, we stayed a little more upscale at the loveliest AirBnb in Île-de-France . It was a duplex with two bedrooms and a full kitchen.

If you're as cheap as chips, hostels are where it's at. I never ever felt unsafe. Look for one that has good reviews and then book it!

I'm going to plan these activities by day so I'll lay it out in a route. You wouldn't go from the Eiffel tower straight to the Notre Dame, they are farther apart than you think, so hopefully this will have a flow to it for when you're planning.

Short on time? I do recommend getting the Paris Pass that allow you access to museums, attractions, and more and will help you skip lines! It is a bit pricey, but worth it if your time is very limited.

I have just one rule in Paris, and while traveling in general, embrace it. Be a tourist. Take the pictures. Learn about what you're seeing. I promise, you'll want to cherish these memories forever. And maybe even try roast pigeon. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!

DAY ONE in Paris:

Let's start with the Eiffel Tower . It's classic Paris and the morning is the best time to go for great views without as much of a crowd. Don't worry, this won't be the only time we go. We also have to go at night to watch it light up! If you want to avoid lines and crowds, the earlier that you can get up, the better.

The Trocadéro is one of the best places for seeing the Iron Lady, or you can get up close and personal with her as well. I also suggest grabbing a bottle of wine or a pastry nearby. There will be people selling them for very reasonable pricing.

We went early in the day and grabbed some great shots of the tower for my 30th birthday … even if it was a total fail.

From here, you can head to Arc De Triomphe . A staggering arc in the center of the street. This is a great view of the Avenue des the Champs-Élysées , one of my favorite streets.

In order to get up to the Arc, take the underground passage so you can explore around it and climb up the 284 steps to the top. I think this is one of the best views in Paris.

If you're hungry, the Champs-Élysées, is a great place to find a bite to eat. Just strolling this street is an experience in itself.

Next, head over to one of my favorite spots, the Grand Palais . To me, this is quintessential Paris. One of the loveliest buildings in the world! Just on the other side, is the Petit Palais. I feel like these two buildings aren't mentioned enough. They are exquisite and a testament to French architecture. Sometimes the line can be quite long, but they are lovely inside. The Grand Palais is a museum and exhibition hall, often with events taking place. The Petit Palais is an art museum, worth the look inside, as the whole building is art in itself.

From here, head over to the river Seine for a view of my favorite bridge in the world, the Pont Alexandre III . This is still one of the best spots to people watch in Paris. You might remember it from the Movie “Midnight in Paris.” In case you're looking, here are some of the best movies to watch about Europe, France, and Paris .

There are three museums near here that I think are worth the visit: Musée d'Orsay, Musée de l'Orangerie, and Musée de Rodin . I think out of the three, go to the Orsay . It's an old train station and holds some of the world's greatest art. The art here is focused on the period of 1848-1940, while the Lourve focuses on art before that period.

Prepare to spend at least a couple hours in the museum. We did a guided tour for just 5 EUR per person additional, and I highly recommend it! You'll find Impressionist art from Renoir, Degas, and Monet.

If you don't have time to go to all the museums, I suggest going by Les Invalides . This is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement and it's a beautiful museum. The Musée de l'Armée Invalides has a wonderful history on war and a great collection of military pieces. You'll also find Napoleon's Tomb in all it's glory.

You can grab a hot chocolate at Angelina's then go to Place de la Concorde , the largest square in Paris, for a view of the ferris wheel, Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves. Even at night this will all be lit up!

DAY 2 in PARIS:

Today we'll start at the Notre Dame . One of the most iconic churches in the world, the twin steeples tower above all the grand buildings nearby.

Don't forget to explore around here. There are plenty of great coffee shops and restaurants and lovely trees. Also, if there is a line, wait! It moves quick. Don't go to Paris and NOT go into the Notre Dame. When I got here at 8am there was no line at all.

A great spot to take in the scenery is Au Vieux Paris . One of the cutest spots, especially in the spring, with wisteria all around.

It's time to Church hop. Next on the list is my all time favorite, Sainte-Chapelle . Don't be fooled by the seemingly uninspiring exterior (in Paris at least). The inside is one of the most awe-inspiring stained glass masterpieces of all time.

I love this area of Paris because it's the island. So it feels a bit separated from everything else and you are surrounded by water. The Ile de la Cité as it's named, feels separate from everything else.

Next, we'll cross the bridge, Pont Saint-Michel to head down for some more sites of Paris.

Hat found here .

Walk south and past the Sorbonne to the Latin Quarter. The Latin Quarter of Paris and it's known for student life and architecture. Lots of pretty cafe-lined streets and a great place to just wander around.

Keep walking and you'll find the Panthéon , a building originally intended as a church to hold St. Genevieve's relics, now a state burial site for France's heroes like Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. I have yet to go inside, but if you're short on time, I'd just look at the building on the outside.

From here, it's a quick walk over to the Luxemborg Garden . Lots of green space, this is the perfect place to relax after all that walking. This arrondissement (area) of Paris is Saint-Germain-des-Prés and is such a peaceful spot.

When facing the fountain you can get a great view of the residence of Marie de' Medici , the widow of King Henry IV.

Next, loop back up north and stop in at Église Saint-Sulpice . A lovely church along rue Bonaparte. This is the second largest in Paris (after the Notre Dame) and you might recognize it from the “The Da Vinci Code.”

Tired of walking? Take a break at Pont Des Arts (another pretty bridge) and grab a view of the Seine and the buildings around you.

Next up is one of the best museums in the world: the Louvre . Please, pretty please, buy tickets ahead of time. Be prepared to wait in line if you don't! Don't forget that close to opening or closing is the best time to get in and avoid crowds. Don't forget that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

DAY 3 in PARIS:

Monmarte is one of the most interesting parts of Paris. I highly recommend doing a free walking tour (we did the Discovery Walks Tour ).  It's a fun and interactive tour and you just need to tip at the end. This is one of the best ways to truly get a feeling for a place, and learn some gems about the city and it's people.

Monmarte is full of charm and really sets itself apart from main-street Paris. In the late 1800s and early 1900s artists flocked here as it was cheaper to live and work. The walking tour will take a couple of hours and you'll see a different side of Paris.

On our tour, we started with the Moulin Rouge , then headed up to Le Mur Des Je t'aime where you'll see “I love you” written out in 300 languages. You can also pass by famous cafes, like the one from the movie “Amélie”.

Meander over to the beautiful restaurant Le Moulin de la galette , also the spot where Renoir painted one of his most famous paintings.

Walk up past the infamous pink building, La Maison Rose .

Then head up to the gem of Monmarte, the Sacre Couer . In reality, most Parisians are not a fan because it was built with their own money after the war by the French National Government as a reminder to the people.

Step inside the church for more lovely architecture and paintings.

Don't forget to take in the view. You can really see how dense Paris is from here.  The white domes of the basilica are the highest point in the city, so climb up to the top for a spectacular view.

Find your way back down on Rue de Martyrs and pick a spot for lunch. This is a great area for funky shops and coffee.

Keep going down and head to The Galeries Lafayette for some of the most renowned shopping in the world. This is all high end shopping (not in my budget) but it's worth it to head to the terrace for a great view. There are lots of cool shops for every kind of buyer- from clothing, shoes, accessories, foodies, and more. It particularly pretty at night as it's all lit up.

If you're still ready for more, head to Père Lachaise Cemetery . You might find it odd to go to a cemetery but it has many famous graves and is the largest in Paris.

A good place to get away from the busy streets and see some fascinating memorials. Some famous tombs are Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, and Oscar Wilde. The tradition is to kiss the now glass encased tomb.

DAY 4 in Versailles:

I know that there is so much to see and do in Paris but you MUST take a day to half-day trip to Versailles . Truly, one of the most opulent and incredible places in the world. It even landed on the 25 best castles in the world list .

Go as early as you can to beat the crowds. PRO TIP : The main palace is closed on Mondays! And can be super crowded on the weekends.

I absolutely adore Versailles and believe it can take up almost your whole day, so plan accordingly. You'll see the palace, the gardens, and Marie Antoinette's Estate. All are a bit of a walk and I suggest packing a lunch!

Gaze up at the overwhelmingly stunning Hall of Mirrors . I can remember my first time seeing this and I couldn't contain my excitement. You dream of palaces and can't truly imagine what they are like until you're inside. This one is straight out of a story book.

Not only is it architecturally beautiful, there are rooms that are still furnished in every color imaginable and art that stands the test of time.

The gardens are trimmed and cropped to perfection, with fountains that light up at night. So if you're interested in staying the entire day, it will make sense. Don't forget to head to Marie Antoinette's pink marble abode.

After spending the day in arguably one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, head to something dramatically different: the Catacombs . These underground tombs hold the remains of more than 6 million people! This is back in Paris, so if you didn't spend the whole day in Versailles, this is a good option.

DAY 5 in PARIS:

Start bright and early with the  Tuileries Garden and eat at a food stand. You can also pick up a bushel of fresh flowers from a shop nearby.

From here, walk down to the Rue de Rivioli for some of the best shopping you can find. This grand street is flanked with shops, restaurants and cafes.

Next up, venture to one of my favorite sites in Paris, the Opera Garnier . This building is just magnificent, both inside and out. There is a pricey ticket for touring the inside, but it's so opulent it's worth a visit.

Of course, one of my favorite things to do is just to walk around and see the city . It's so romantic and tells a story with each step.

Cap off your 5 days with seeing the Eiffel Tower light up at night . There is absolutely nothing in the world like it. This is where I fell deeply in love with Europe.

Still have some extra time? Go to Monet's Gardens. This is a half day trip and only 45 minutes from Paris. Check out a museums: Orsay, Lourve, Organerie, Picasso, and many more!

Where to Eat

Below you can find a map of all the restaurants discussed below:

It's necessary to grab a Café au Lait and a croissant and just walk around the city, taking in the sights. Paris is just so fun to walk around and get lost.

One of my favorite quotes from a Parisian I recently met was, “you really can't go wrong in Paris.” Meaning, all the food ad drinks are going to be good. It's a country that is known for it's cuisine, so you can't go wrong! But here are some of my top picks:

Angelina's – Known for delicious hot chocolate. I was told it's made with three different chocolate from Africa. If there's a super long line just get it to go.

Ladurée – I have to say.. I'm not a big fan of macarons but this is the place to go if you want some of the best.

Cafe Kitsuné – Arguably one of the most instagrammable cafes in Paris. The coffee is tasty and pretty.

Comptoir de La Gastronomie – one of the best meals I've ever had. The Foie Gras Ravioli was out of this world.

La Stube – This is the perfect lunch spot for a savory tart or Salmon Strudel. Also try their cakes, divine!

Le Grenier à Pain – for great baked goods. They won best bread in Paris. Try a “tradi” for a traditional baguette.

Grand Amour Hotel – Brunch with the best in this classic hotel filled with delicious food and even more beautiful scenery.

Aux Lyonnais – This is traditional food that comes from Lyon and it's delicious. A great big bowl of hot food.

Le Consulat – a perfect little cafe to people watch and have onion soup.

Le Refuge des Fondus – Wine out of baby bottles. Need I say more? It's hilarious and they also have great fondue.

Café de Flore – on a terrace in St Germain this is a great place for brunch, breakfast, or lunch.

There is so much to see and do, you really can't go wrong. But having a plan beforehand is always a good idea. I know this was a lengthy guide, but I wanted to give you the very best guide to Paris ever.

If you liked this guide, pin it so you don't forget it.

Do you have a favorite place in Paris? Tell me below!

MEET THE AUTHOR

Helene Sula

I believe that one trip can change your life. It did for me. I'm a self proclaimed home body that quit her job, moved abroad, and more often than not, lives out of a carry-on bag. If I'm not traveling, I'm most likely re-reading Harry Potter or watching "Midnight in Paris" while snuggling my dogs. I'm a digital marketing expert who turned my love of travel into a full-time career. And I help others do it too.

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Paris is well-known as one of the world’s most romantic cities. As a well-connected city with plenty of airlines offering flights to Paris from airports around the world, millions of people flock to Paris every year. Many people have also praised the lively hipster culture in Paris, and many contemporary galleries and hip restaurants and bars have started springing up in the city. Here are some places where the cool kids hang out.

Image by Christopher Michel , shared under a Creative Commons Licence

Many young people like to sit along Canal St Martin. Located along the canal is Point Ephémère, a former warehouse building which is now a music venue that hosts exhibitions, concerts, conferences, workshops and artist studios.

Centquatre (Le 104) is a former funeral parlour that has been transformed into a modern arts space. A massive 39,000 square meters space is devoted to contemporary art and it welcomes designers, musicians, dancers, painters, and sculptors to display their work. The Centquatre also houses a restaurant, a café, a bookshop and a play area for children.

Par de la Villette is located on the site of former huge Parisian abattoirs. The 55 hectares of industrial wasteland was turned into a major architectural complex dedicated to music, a national science and technology museum and an urban culture park.

The la Cité des sciences et de I’industrie is the largest science museum in Europe. There are also ten themed gardens inside the park, including the Gardens of Dragon, of Mirrors, of Bamboo, of Arobatics and of Children Frights.

Image by Martin Janner , shared under a Creative Commons Licence

Hipster restaurants

A few restaurants provide authentic and unique ambiance for hipsters. Le Perchoir is a restaurant and a bar on a huge rooftop with a 360 degree view of the city. Visitors can enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the Sacé-Coeur. Arrive very early to have a chance of securing the best seat to get the best view. However, be prepared to wait in the queue.

If you fancy authentic food from the south of France like brandade de morue (salt cod puré with potatoes), Chez Janou is the restaurant not to be missed. Make sure you book reservation in advance and arrive on time. The restaurant might not hold your table if you’re late.

Café Pinson offers high quality healthy and organic food. Most of the daily specials are vegetarian, organic and gluten-free dishes. French designer created the unique vintage décor for this restaurant.

These are some places that hipsters like to hang out in Paris, but where would you recommend?

More in Art , Café Pinson , Centquatre , Chez Janou , Le Perchoir , Par de la Villette , Paris art exhibits , Paris restaurants , Point Ephémère , restaurant

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Paris youth culture

France's economy may be flailing and its politics in stasis, but its youth culture is finally catching up with the rest of the world's. The place to find it is in a cluster of once sleepy arrondissements in the north-east of Paris, where social and economic forces have combined to create a vibrant hipster crucible with its own internationally inflected yet unmistakably French take on cuisine, bars, fashion and art. 'The centre of Paris is a museum. It's for tourists,' graffiti-artist-turned-hotel-and-club-king André Saraiva told me when I met him at his Hôtel Amour, which occupies a former brothel on the edge of the ninth. 'Most Parisians don't feel comfortable there, and licensing laws mean only multinationals can afford to open bars and clubs.'

As property prices have risen, young creative types have gradually fanned north of the shop-and-gallery-choked Marais and the ninth arrondissement into the 10th, 11th, 19th and 20th, traditionally the preserves of working-class families. This wave of graphic and web designers, artists, writers and fashion folk are transforming this corner of Paris into a scene that's both gritty and chic, creating an unmistakable style and sense of endroit.

I couldn't miss it at Le Dauphin, a Rem Koolhaas-designed wine bar in the 11th arrondissement that is heavy on marble and serves mind-blowing small plates such as squid-ink risotto. But it was the crowd that made it for me. They wore the international uniform of check shirts, ad specs, bright-red lips for her, beard for him - but in a way that was unequivocally, undeniably French. Parisian 'ipsters, which is what they call them here, take haute street style to another level. They may have spent e2,000 on their outfit and two hours in front of the mirror, but you'd think it was thrown together between drags on a Gitane.

Pictured: St-Martin Canal

Isabel Marant style in Paris

Of all the Parisian fashion houses channelling the je m'en fous vibe of the hipsters (even Saint Laurent, under new artistic director Hedi Slimane, got all rock and roll last season with a black leather collection), it's Isabel Marant who does it best. Walk along the Canal St-Martin on a sunny Saturday afternoon, unwrap your takeaway pastry from Du Pain et des Idées on the Amélie bridge, stride up to the nosebleed Parc de Belleville in the 20th (which has, by the way, one of the best panoramas of the city, with the Eiffel Tower, the Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame and the Panthéon all lining up in the distance), and you will see the designer's 'look' if not her clothes.

Marant opened her first store in the 11th arrondissement in 1998, but it's only in the last few seasons that she has become a global phenomenon, due partly to her wedge sneakers, which have been endlessly imitated, and some bashed-up leather ankle boots so popular in north-east Paris that I saw fewer women not wearing them than wearing them. Many of Marant's designs are derivative; still, having them makes you feel like the coolest kid in class. Add the fact that she produces perilously few of anything and you have fashionista crack.

Pictured: Isabel Marant store

Canal St-Martin, Paris

Fortunately, there is much to distract the Marant addict in this part of the city. The Canal St-Martin, for one. Commissioned by Napoleon I to provide Parisians with fresh drinking water, it was paid for with a new tax on wine. Later, it became a transportation artery and was threatened with the cement mixer when boat traffic declined in the 1960s. The stalwart little waterway survived, however, and in the last decade it has become the HQ of Paris's resident breed of hipster.

Flanked by shuttered, Haussmann-style stone buildings that evolve into modern, graffiti-blooming blocks as it bends north-east, the canal has a grey-green hue that matches the leaves of the plane trees lining it and the patina of the iron bridges which cross it. And standing on one of those bridges on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I got the eyeful I was hoping for. Girls reading paperbacks and wearing peasant blouses like those I saw in Matisse paintings at the Pompidou (and on the rails of Isabel Marant's nearby shop on rue de Charonne), their legs listing over the edge of the canal. Gangly guys propping fixie bikes against the bridges and unwrapping baguettes and pâté. The streets branching to the west and east of the canal are fertile ground for boutiques, coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi and a formule**meal , and wine bars such as Le Verre Volé, a relative old-timer (it opened in 2000) where I had a glass of white Burgundy and a perfect plate of sardines.

Pictured: Canal St-Martin, Paris

The art scene in Belleville, Paris

An art scene far from the one in the Marais, both in distance and substance, is unfolding in the 20th arrondissement, in working-class Belleville, amid the residential townhouses, primary schools and cafés bordering the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Belleville has long attracted an arty set, but in the last decade there has been a deliberate attempt to establish a community away from the shiny, commercial Marais, where, I was told, any sense of solidarity between galleries has been lost.

'People go shopping for clothes in the Marais, and they stop in a gallery and buy something, but the art is almost incidental,' said Samy Abraham, who opened his own gallery in Belleville two years ago. 'You have to make a conscious decision to come to Belleville, so the collectors here are better informed. I chose Belleville because I wanted to be close to galleries and gallerists of the same generation as me, to be part of something new,' he said. 'When I arrived here, I immediately felt supported by the other galleries. It's like a collective, and it's exciting.'

Pictured: Parc de Belleville

Conceptual art in Belleville, Paris

That excitement is discernible in every gallery, and it rubs off. I don't really like conceptual art, which is the prevalent genre here. Most of it leaves me cold, probably because I don't understand it, and the froideur gallerists tend to exude doesn't exactly encourage me to ask for help. Not so here. Antoine Levi's gallery is the most recent addition to Belleville; he works almost exclusively up-and-coming artists under the age of 30 and insists that everyone's first show is produced within the confines of his one-room space in just 10 days. He fizzed with enthusiasm as he talked me through an esoteric group exhibition that included a piece called Collider - two spheres filled with slime, mounted on EP records - and Lake Diligence , a folded plastic sheet holding inky water which evaporated as the show progressed. The sheer weirdness of the exhibits and the buoyancy of his delivery left me tingly.

Pictured: Cour Damoye street

The Paris hipster food revolution

This being Paris, it's perhaps not surprising that the most exciting aspect of the new north-east landscape is the food. Back in the 11th arrondissement that evening, I found the neo-bistro revolution seems to have access to a secret cache of chefs and waiters who are all bearded and devastatingly handsome. Fortunately, they can cook, too. As at Le Dauphin, each restaurant is turning up the volume and lowering the tone: I didn't see a white tablecloth all week. But there's nothing affected about the food. At noisy Bones, my menu dégustation (accompanied by a reggae soundtrack) was a tour de force of small, seasonal dishes that began with a single smoked oyster and ended with a scoop of sublime homemade butter ice cream and strawberries. There wasn't a bad mouthful.

'I wanted to have a restaurant where people my age felt comfortable, where it didn't matter if you didn't know anything about food and wine, and where I would enjoy spending 16 hours a day,' said 30-year-old Australian chef James Henry, who opened the restaurant last year.

Pictured: Le Verre Vole, Canal St-Martin

Manger restaurant, Paris

It's not just the youths who are breaking with the starchy conventions of the centre of Paris and cooking up a storm. Thierry Monassier, who looks a little like a slimline Gérard Depardieu, started selling sandwiches on the corner of the scruffy rue Keller 25 years ago and returned to the street last spring to open Manger, an airy, elegant space hung with pendant lamps fitted with filament bulbs, where I had lunch. 'It made sense to open the restaurant here,' said Monassier. 'I liked the fact that the population of this neighbourhood is mixed and multicultural, and it would have been impossible for me to have found a space of this size in the centre of the city.'

Manger's chef, William Pradeleix, who has cooked all over the world, describes his menu as 'travelling food'. I'd describe it as worth travelling for: my flaky cod served with green curry was one of the best dishes I had in Paris. Everywhere I ate that week, I found a respect for ingredients, presentation (made for Instagram), and service that just doesn't exist in other creative hinterlands: this is still the city of the career waiter, even if he's wearing a plaid shirt rather than a white apron. That, and the Space Invader graffiti inking up the shutters on the luminous stone buildings and the occasional heart-lurching sighting of the Bastille reminded me that I couldn't be anywhere but Paris.

Pictured: Manger Restaurant

CNT Editors

CNT Editors , CN Traveller

Chatomat restaurant in Belleville, Paris

On the last night of my trip, I had dinner at Chatomat in Belleville - veal carpaccio with cucumber and nasturtium petals followed by lamb with petits pois and leeks - then repaired to my hotel bar for a digestif. Mama Shelter is a heavily stylised 'urban concept hotel' with decor by Philippe Starck, which opened a few years ago in the 20th below Père-Lachaise Cemetery, where the graves of Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison almost buckle under the weight of red roses. At 1am the bar felt like a microcosm of Paris's northern neighbourhoods: there was a nine-year-old playing table football; a brace of sprightly 70-year-olds, their arms draped around each other's necks; plenty of long-limbed lovelies; and everything in between.

North-east Paris is throwing the sort of party that everyone wants to be invited to. And as it turns out, everyone is.

Pictured: Vélib bicycles

Cool hotels in Paris

WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS

L'Hôtel de Nell A triumph of understated design, with excellent service and a lauded restaurant. My only peeve? The unremarkable but pricey buffet breakfast. L'Hôtel de Nell, 7-9 rue du Conservatoire, Paris, France (+33 1 4483 83 60; www.hoteldenell.com ). Doubles from about £330.

Hôtel Gabriel Paris Marais Splash out on one of the Glowing rooms at this celestial white hotel a few blocks from Canal St-Martin: the bathrooms have freestanding tubs. Hôtel Gabriel Paris Marais, 25, rue du Grand-Prieuré, Paris, France (+33 1 47 00 13 38; www.gabrielparismarais.com ). Doubles from about £210.

Hôtel Jules & Jim The ingenious resin-lined pod rooms at this hotel north of the Marais have walnut showers, terraces and electric blinds. Off a courtyard with a living wall there is a great bar that doubles as the breakfast room. Hôtel Jules & Jim, 11, rue Des Gravilliers, Paris, France (+33 1 44 54 13 13; www.hoteljulesetjim.com ). Doubles from about £190.

Le Citizen A contemporary 12-room option with eco-cred sitting right on the Canal St-Martin. Rooms have iPads, and breakfast and the contents of the minibar are included in the rate. Le Citizen, 96 Quai de Jemmapes, Paris, France (+33 1 83 62 55 50; www.lecitizenhotel.com ). Doubles from about £160.

Mama Shelter Bang in the 20th arrondissement, this has become a destination for its witty design, restaurant and bar with DJ nights. Quirky details include graffitied carpets and bedside lamps made from superhero masks. Mama Shelter, 109, rue de Bagnolet, Paris, France (+33 1 43 48 48 48; www.mamashelter.com ). Doubles from about £75.

GETTING AROUND

The best way to navigate north-east Paris - the 10th, 11th, 19th and 20th arrondissements - is on a Vélib' ( www.velib.paris.fr ) public bicycle. Pedal yours to the Canal St-Martin, rose-strewn Parc de Belleville or 60‑acre Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.

Pictured: Hôtel Gabriel Paris Marais

Cool restaurants and bars in Paris

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN PARIS

Astier Frédéric Hubig-Schall is the 11th arrondissement's restaurant pioneer: his revamp of a Fifties bistro eight years ago put the area on the food map. Have the Foie Gras Royale if it's on the menu. 44 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud ( +33 1 43 57 16 35; www.restaurant-astier.com ). About £60 for two

Bones This buzzy restaurant gets its name from the stripped-down interior, not the meaty menu. The food is a little more rough and ready than at some of its neo cousins but just as good. Save room for the madeleines, hot from the oven. 43 rue Godefroy Cavaignac (+33 9 80 7532 08; www.bonesparis.com ). About £70 for two

Chatomat A tiny neighbourhood spot with exposed-brick walls, simple seasonal food and attentive service. 6 rue Victor Letalle; +33 1 47 97 25 77. About £60 for two

Du Pain et des Idées One of Paris's finest and best-looking boulangeries (the hand-painted ceiling dates from 1860) is a two-minute stroll from the Canal St-Martin. Try the escargot-shaped pastries filled with chocolate and pistachio or rum-raisin. 34 rue Yves Toudic; www.dupainetdesidees.com

Helmut Newcake The city's first gluten-free bakery is on the east side of the canal and has all manner of sweet treats as well as lunch specials. 36 rue Bichat; www.helmutnewcake.com

Jeanne A Come to this épicerie next door to its sister restaurant, Astier, for the pâtés, the charcuterie and the roast of the day. 42 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud; +33 1 43 55 09 49. About £40 for two

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse The super-chef opened his first chocolate factory in a former garage on a shabby street last year. The olfactory thwack you get walking through the door should satisfy most cravings. 40 rue de la Roquette; www.lechocolat-alainducasse.com

Le Chateaubriand Basque enfant prodige Iñaki Aizpitarte kicked off the area's neo-bistro movement here, and seven years later the queues continue to snake around the corner. 129 avenue de Parmentier; www.lechateaubriand.net. About £100 for two

Le Dauphin If the wait for a table is too long at Le Chateaubriand, try this newer option from chef Aizpitarte. Hot young things flock to this space where each course (smoked veal haché, lemon-meringue pie) seems better than the last. 131 avenue de Parmentier; www.restaurantledauphin.net . About £35 for two

Le Mary Celeste If you tire of neo-bistro fare (it's hard to imagine how you could when it's this good), head here for wild oysters and spicy small plates in a beautiful, boatlike space. 1 rue Commines; www.lemaryceleste.com. About £35 for two

Le 6 Paul Bert This casual spot with a mini grocery and chandeliers made of silverware, wine bottles and carafes serves accomplished dishes including veal carpaccio and smoked-cod salad with lemon mayonnaise. 6 rue Paul Bert; +33 1 43 79 14 32. About £65 for two

Manger One of the 11th arrondissement's newest additions is also one of its finest. The set lunch menu takes its inspiration from a different part of the globe each day. Top toques such as Pierre Gagnaire lend their recipes for the 'menu du chef', and the restaurant gives apprenticeships to unemployed locals. 24 rue Keller; www.manger-leresto.com . About £80 for two

Septime You'll need to book well in advance for dinner here. The exquisite herb- and petal-strewn dishes on the 'menu carte blanche' (chef's choice) are almost as good-looking as the waiters. 80 rue de Charonne; www.septime-charonne.fr. About £90 for two

Vivant Table Japanese chef Atsumi Souta prepares spot-on five- and six-course fixed menus in a belle-époque restaurant with a wine bar. The space was once a bird store, hence the tiles decorated with rare fowl. 43 rue des Petites Ecuries; www.vivantparis.com . About £90 for two

WHERE TO DRINK

North-east Paris is crammed with wine bars serving reasonably priced glasses and excellent snacks. Rue de Ménilmontant in particular is lined with locals-only bars.

Candelaria Accessed via a door at the back of its taqueria, this place serves the best mescal cocktails in town. 52 rue de Saintonge; www.candelariaparis.com

Le Glass This sister bar to Candelaria in south Pigalle parties hard on Mondays and has Brooklyn beer on tap. 7 rue Frochot

Le Coq This industrial-looking space just off the Place de la République is a collaboration between London cocktail don Tony Conigliaro and Parisians Eric Fossard and Thierry Daniel. 12 rue du Château d'Eau; www.barlecoq.com

Quedubon Near the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, this bar specialises in organic wines and is worth the trek for a chat with the eccentric owner, Gilles Bénard. 22 rue du Plateau; +33 1 42 38 18 65

L'Entrée des Artistes The Negroni with coffee-infused Carpano comes with a hand-bashed ice ball at this small spot in the 11th. The team behind it have just opened another bar in south Pigalle. 8 rue de Crussol; +33 9 50 99 67 11

Le Verre Volé Just off the canal, this is a lively lunch hangout and a romantic place for an evening drink. The food is hearty and excellent. 67 rue de Lancry; www.leverrevole.fr

Septime La Cave Head to this spot down the road from buzzy Septime for a glass of Hervé Villemade's Bulle Rosé, described by the barman as 'fat like butter'. 3 rue Basfroi; +33 1 43 67 14 87

La Féline For something completely different, go to this divey bar next to Chatomat. On my visit, a wild-eyed Pete Doherty lookalike belted out Chuck Berry covers between expletives. 6 rue Victor Letalle; +33 1 40 33 08 66

Pictured: Balice Hertling Gallery

Shopping and art in Paris

WHERE TO SHOP

The Broken Arm In a northern corner of the Marais near the revamped Carreau du Temple market. Look out for established brands such as Carven and Kenzo, and newcomers including Jacquemus and Cédric Charlier. 12 rue Perrée; www.the-broken-arm.com

FrenchTrotters This shop sells top items by designers such as Masscob, Comme des Garçons and Humanoid, as well as its own pieces and a small selection of housewares. 30 rue de Charonne; www.frenchtrotters.fr

Isabel Marant For the original nouvelle vague look, go to Isabel Marant. I found the staff at her first store, in the 11th, the most helpful. 16 rue de Charonne; www.isabelmarant.com

La Comédie Humaine Named after Balzac's series of novels, this place on a lane off the Canal St-Martin has bow-tie-wearing deer taxidermy on the walls and its own brand of menswear. 24 rue Yves Toudic; www.lacomediehumaine.com

Merci At this concept store with a flower-filled courtyard, the must-buy is linen: the scarves, bags, bedcovers and tablecloths come in myriad hues, including elephant grey and neon pink. 111 boulevard Beaumarchais; www.merci-merci.com

WHERE TO SEE ART

Balice Hertling This Belleville gallery represents French-Algerian Neil Beloufa, who exhibited at the Venice Biennale last year. 47 rue Ramponeau; www.balicehertling.com

Galerie Antoine Levi It's well worth visiting this space in the 20th to check out its bold, challenging works by young artists. 44 rue Ramponeau; www.antoinelevi.fr

Galerie Jocelyn Wolff The first to move to the area, in 2003, this gallery takes its conceptual artists to major shows all over the world. 78 rue Julien Lacroix; www.galeriewolff.com

Galerie Samy Abraham A highlight of last year's shows here was one featuring presidential campaign posters slicked with layers of polish. 43 rue Ramponeau; www.samyabraham.com

Le Plateau This institution showcases contemporary art from the Ile de France region. Be sure to pick up Le Plateau's map of the area's 17 galleries. Place Hannah Arendt; www.fracidf-leplateau.com

Pictured: Merci concept store

Published in Condé Nast Traveller February 2014.

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Paris travel blog — the fullest paris travel guide for first-timers.

Paris – the magnificent capital and The City of Lights of France, where I said countless times “bonjour”, “au revoir”, “merci”, to anyone who I met. The French are like that, when meeting each other, they do not regret a greeting, although not acquainted. Paris may be my most visited city in Europe, partly because I often apply for a visa to enter France first. But, Paris has never been boring for me, the Eiffel Tower is still beautiful, the Seine is as dreamy as the day we met, and, the French people are always romantic like that. In this article, I share some tips and experiences for eating, sleeping and hanging out in Paris, summarized after many trips to Europe.

• What to buy in Paris? — 25+ must buy souvenirs, gifts & best things to buy in Paris
• Where to take best photos in Paris? — 17+ good spots & best places to take pictures in Paris you should know
• Top shopping streets in Paris — 7 best, famous & main shopping streets in Paris
• What to know before traveling to Paris? — 13 things to know before traveling to Paris
• Restaurant La Gauloise review — A worth dining venue with a hundred years of history

So, is Paris worth visiting, how to visit Paris, what to do in Paris and how to plan a budget trip to Paris for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Paris travel blog (Paris blog) with the fullest Paris travel guide (guide to Paris, Paris tourist guide, Paris city guide, Paris guide) from how to get to Paris, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Paris to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Paris city guide: When is the best time to visit Paris?

Normally in big cities in Europe like Paris, the hot and cold seasons are very differentiated. In the summer, it is sunny most of the time, not too hot because it is a temperate country, but you will have to face the large number of tourists flocking to the capital of France. In the winter it is still sunny, but it is cold and gloomy. In my experience, the best time is that you should come to Paris at the end of April and May, it will still be cold but pleasant, or in the autumn the weather is also very beautiful. The period between April and November is a low tourist season that you can save the maximum trip costs as well as cheap hotel price when traveling to Paris.

In addition, you can refer to some information about attending free events and festivals in Paris, but also help you to understand more about the culture and history of this famous city. Some events include military parades and fireworks on the Bastille day (July 14 every year), activities on the artificial beaches in the Paris Plages river area in August such as sunbathing, sports, arts, etc .., Nuit Blanche (White Night) in October when public transport, exhibitions, museums are completely open for free, and then Christmas in December, .. You should check in advance on websites like Bonjour Paris or About Paris for information about the time and venue of festivals.

If you come to Paris in the middle of April, you will have the opportunity to watch the beautiful cherry blossom season. The most beautiful place to see cherry blossoms in Paris is this Cherry Blossom Park – Parc de Sceaux, remember to go on the right time because the flowers bloom and fade quickly. This park is on the edge of the city so it’s a bit far from the center.

Paris travel guide blog: Guide to travel in Paris

If you come to paris and landing at charles de gaulle airport.

When going from Charles de Gaulle Airport, you always remember to find the way to the airport’s tramway gate to get to Terminal 2, take the RER B train to the city center with the fare around €10 (you should buy tickets directly at the arrival hall where there is an information counter in the airport, because if you buy tickets at the train station often have to queue for a long time and risk because the ticket machine may not accept your credit card). You can choose a stop anywhere in the center depending on your hotel or where you want to go, this route running through some stations such as Notre Dame (right next to Notre Dame Cathedral), or Gare de Lyon.

In addtion, you can rent a private transfer service from Klook that faster and convenient if you travel in a large group: Private Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Transfers for Paris

If you landing at Orly airport

Orly airport is the second largest airport in Paris after CDG, arriving here you can take the shuttle bus to the center of Paris and the last stop is Denfert-Rochereau station. To go to Orly Airport you also take the bus from this station but remember that the last trip of the day ends at 10pm, because at night there are no operating flights. Ticket price is about €8-10/way.

Traveling in the city center

The single ticket for each trip is €1.8, if you take Metro a lot, you should consider buying a metro pass for 10 trips for around €14.

Paris travel blog: Where to stay? Hotel (hostel/couchsurfing) in Paris

The map below depicts the locations of the districts in Paris, the central districts are from District 1 to District 7, where most of the museums and tourist attractions are concentrated. If you can stay at Couchsurfing when you come to Paris, it is a good thing because you can communicate and exchange culture with indigenous people, sometimes they also take you to visit somewhere if they have free time but also introduce many places that only local people know.

Budget accommodation

Couchsurfing or Airbnb is the best way to reduce costs, especially in Paris, one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Couchsurfing is a 100% stay for free, and Airbnb is a paid stay (if you are new to AirBnb can come here to open an account, they will give $25 to the account to book a room). If you are not stay at Couchsurfing, you can easily find a hostel through Booking.com and Agoda.com , but I recommend that you choose hostels/hotels located in the contiguous area between the center and suburbs of Paris, these are areas that the room rates are not too expensive but going into the city is quite convenient. There is no special secret besides you going up there to read reviews, see if the location is near to the attractions or near the metro stations to choose from.

You can refer to the two Hostel I have stayed in Paris, Aloha Hostel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) and Perfect Hostel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) , these are hostels with the above criteria and the service I rated is very good, friendly staff, clean rooms and convenient for traveling around because surroundings is full of restaurants and supermarket, the room rates is only €15-20/night.

These two Hostel are located in the central area so do not be too afraid of walking, although the location is also near the suburbs. If you choose a hostel in the central, it is very expensive but not necessary because you have to walk around Paris to visit.

Some mid-range and upscale hotels with nice view

If you want a more advanced option, do not miss the opportunity stay in the rooms with views of the Eiffel Tower or other symbols of Paris such as Arc de Triomphe, Panthenon, … You can rent on Airbnb or Booking with many choices.

In addition, you can choose other hotels with beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower such as Pullman, Shangri-La. Shangri-La ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) is probably with the most beautiful Eiffel Tower view hotel in Paris. Another extremely famous hotel, also known as with the stunning view of the Arc de Triomphe, is Splendid Etoile ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .. Do not forget to enjoy breakfast right in the room with a view overlooking the most central part of this magnificent city.

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

Bel Ami Hotel , a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $230/night ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $169/night. ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $97/night ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower Hotel , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $255/night ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

You can find more, check rates, availability & book for Paris hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Paris blog: What and where to eat in Paris?

If you are a backpacker with the main purpose is to go to sightseeing, then Sandwich is the cheapest, French bread is delicious and cheap that only about €3-4/pcs including sausages that can be bought in supermarkets. Or if you want to change meals, you can buy food at supermarkets like Pasta and Pizza to bring to the hostel to cook by yourself, which is also a very good way to save money. Drinking water can be used immediately at the tap without having to buy bottled water because the water in developed cities in Europe is very clean.

Eat Vietnamese or Asian food

If you want to eat Vietnamese food, you can try some at Vietnamese bread shops in the city center. Vietnamese bread in Paris is also very delicious, made by Vietnamese people, is a favorite dish of those who live abroad for a long time and Vietnamese students. To find Vietnamese food you can go to District 13. If you are a fan of Pho noodle soup, Pho 13 is located at 66 Avenue D’ivry, which is a good location, reasonable price and quite delicious. District 13 is a district with thousands of Asian restaurants from Vietnam to China, hunting for Asian food, you just take metro to come here and try.

Eating at French restaurants and French specialties

Coming to Paris, of course, you have to enjoy French cuisine. You can choose a cafe along the way to enjoy a French breakfast brunch with coffee and aromatic croissant cake. French bread at supermarkets is also very diverse for you to choose, remember to eat during the day because the bread will be hard for a long time.

Besides, famous French crepe shops are also everywhere, sidewalks or cafes. Macarons is a popular cake with tourists because it is a typical French cake and can be used as a gift.

If you want to eat better and experience a bit more, do not be afraid to try French cuisine at French restaurants for your lunch or dinner. The French restaurants are very good, you just need to search around the location you stand where there are restaurants with high ratings on Tripadvisor and jump in, don’t be too important what to eat or search in advance. The food I eat mostly in a restaurant in Paris which is French steak with beef and mashed potatoes. Or traditional French flam, French beer or call a hotpot of aromatic mussel.

In addition, if you want to eat well at a restaurant but want to save money, you should choose to eat at noon instead of the evening, although still very expensive but maybe the price will be reduced by about 1/3 compared to the evening. Note that in some restaurants tips are included on the bill so you won’t need to pay for extra service. If you do not like to go to restaurants, you can try some street foods that are cheap like crepes in Latin Quarter, falafel in Marais, walking and enjoying these foods are also a very interesting experience.

Another special cafe is the Cafe Marquis, Rue des Francs Bourgeois mentioned by Will Traynor in the movie “Me before you”, the level of romance of this movie is enough to ensure the romance that you will feel here it is. A cup of hot coffee, a little new Croissant cake and a bit of Paris light is enough for a special feeling, or a romantic lunch with beef steak is also very delicious, nothing more wonderful.

Paris travel blog (Paris trip blog): Best places to visit and top things to do in Paris

Paris is very large and a lot of “must-visit” places if this is the first time you come here, including Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame de Paris. It is important to note that these locations are quite far apart and if you choose to walking will be very long and exhausting, so you should mark on the map, planning and make a day itinerary to visit and experience tourist attractions and museums here up to the maximum.

Cost of admission to some main attractions, churches and museums when traveling to Paris:

• Louvre Museum: € 12
• National Museum of Modern Art in Center Pompidou: € 13.00
• d’Orsay Museum: € 11 (€ 16 for the l’Orangerie Museum combo)
• l’Orangerie Museum: € 9
• Sainte Chapelle: € 8.50
• Eiffel Tower (to the top): € 15.00
• Palace of Versailles (Palace and Grounds): € 18
• Catacombs of Paris: € 10
• Arc de Trimophe: € 9

If you are a museum lover, you can buy Paris Museum Pass for unlimited access to most museums, famous attractions in Paris including the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles… You can buy it at tourist information counters or via Klook for 2 days for € 48 here.

• Paris Museum Pass

Paris blog, Paris travel blog: Must-visit places in Paris

Eiffel tower

This is a definitely you must visit place when you come to Paris, the dream destination of any visitor and taking photos at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The tower is located right next to the Seine River to the east of Paris and in the Champ de Mars park. If you just stand to watch the tower, it does not cost you, but if you decide to go to the top of the tower to see the city, you will have to queue for hundreds of meters and can take up to hours. In my opinion you should wait until near the evening, at which time the tourists less crowded, and it is also the best time to see panoramic Paris from above when the entire city lights up. In addition, the Eiffel Tower also has a flash system for flashing at times such as 7pm, 8pm, 9pm …, each lasting about 10 minutes.

The ticket to the top of the tower by elevator is ~ € 17, and if you decide to climb to the 2nd floor, it will only take you ~ € 7. If you intend to go to the top of the tower, you should buy tickets in advance online because the visitors lining up at the foot of the tower are very crowded, with reserved tickets you will not have to queue, tickets can buy here .

• Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Ticket

Another special but also quite delicate thing that I noticed during the trip to Paris is that at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is probably the only spot with free public toilets, you will be very difficult to find it when traveling around Paris (like so many other cities in Europe)! But according to the share of Thuy Van blogger, you can go to this website to see the map: http://www.paris.fr/ . Here they list nearly 400 public toilets in Paris, all for free. An information to be said is very useful because only those who walk all day on the streets in Paris in the cold weather is understand in this “suffering” how it is! (^_^).

Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

Notre Dame Cathedral

This church is too famous and is known through the work “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. There is no admission to enter the church but you have to queue (faster than going to the Louvre Museum), you can go from CDG airport to Notre Dame station directly by RER B train. If you want to visit the top of the church on the bell towers, you will have to buy a ticket for about EUR10.

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

Avenue des Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe

Avenue of Champs Elysees is a place where you can walk on the most typical streets of Paris with marble roads, very long and wide. The end of the avenue is Arc de Triomphe, all roads lead to here. You can stand below or climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for a ticket price of € 9 (2015), and also buy tickets in the evening to see the entire architecture of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower in the distance when it lights up, extremely majestic.

Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Musée de Louvre (Louvre Museum)

This is a museum that took me over 2 hours to line up to get in, even though it was noon. In fact, if you are not passionate about art, you do not need to spend much effort to come here to see because you can only walking around the outdoor areas, but want to see artworks like Mona Lisa paintings, you have to buy tickets.

• The Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Tips: Going to the Louvre from the main entrance will take a long time to queue, but if you enter from the secondary gate it will save a lot of time. The Louvre has an entrance from the underground trade center Carrousel du Louvre. You find the metro to Rue de Rivoli and then to the Carrousel du Louvre shopping center located on this road, in which there will be a sign leading to a entrance to the Louvre, through which usually queues very quickly or almost without queueing. Also remember that the Louvre is open free on the first Sunday of each month from October to March every year.

Priority Access Entrance Ticket to the Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum is quite close to Notre Dame Cathedral and some other attractions that you can combine with such as Tuileries garden, Luxembourg garden, Sainte Chapelle, La Conciergerie (these 3 locations are quite close to each other and near the Louvre museum) finally, Concorde square, straight from the square is Champs-Élysées avenue.

Palais Royal Palace

Located right next to the Louvre Museum, the Palais Royal Garden (Jardin du Palais Royal) is a leafy road and the Palais-Royal Palace. Revealing to you this palace is also an extremely virtual living photo spot with many pillars painted in black and white. There are also luxury fashion boutiques and the famous Le Grand Véfour restaurant where Napoleon meets Joséphine.

Address: 8 Rue de Montpensier, 75001 Paris, France

Montmatre Hill and Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmartre is a neighborhood of Paris, located on a big hill of District 18. Once a gathering place for many famous painters, plus Sacré-Cœur church, small streets, cafes, restaurants … Montmartre is one of the most attractive places to visit in Paris. To get to Montmartre you can stop at the last Metro stops of Abbesses or Lamarck Caulaincourt (line 12 Porte de la Chapelle – Mairie d’Issy); Anvers or Blanche (line 2 Porte Dauphine-Nation) then walk a short distance.

On this hill there is a wall written “I love you” in many languages ​​in the world located in the Abbesses garden also in the Montmartre area, looking real is not as shimmering as in photos or taken but it is worth to visit.

Palace of Versaille

If there’s plenty of time you can consider going to the Versaille palace because it doesn’t look as good as expected and queues are super long. When traveling on metro or attractions, public squares, you have to be careful because there are many pickpockets or robbers in groups that can take action at any time.

From central Paris to Versailles you need to go to the last station of Metro Versailles – Rive Droite. First you need to go to one of the following main stations: St. Michel-Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, or Champs de Mars-Tour Eiffel, these stations will connect directly to Versailles via the RER C train. After reaching the Versailles – Rive Droite terminal, you can walk a bit to reach the palace. If you buy a one-way ticket, the price is EUR4.2, you should buy a round-trip ticket more economical for only EUR 7.

Address: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles, France

Boating or strolling along the Seine River

The Seine River is famous for romantic stories that you cannot miss, stroll along the river, watching the bridges have gone into poetry and literary works. Come here, remember to visit the bridge Pont des Arts also known as the bridge of love with thousands of locks hooked up here (but it seems that the government has removed all the locks here and not allow tourists hook their locks on the bridge).

La Défense – the Parisian Business District

Most of the tourist attractions in Paris above are the old and ancient attractions. But Paris has a new and most modern district in Europe with skyscrapers, busy commercial centers like Tokyo or Seoul. That is La Défense.

La Défense concentrating the leading economic enterprises in Europe and the world, many office buildings with modern architecture. Coming to La Défense, you can think of the Digital Media City – Technology City of Seoul – South Korea. Although located quite far from the center, it is also quite easy to travel with 2 metro routes and 16 bus routes that take you here. La Defense is suitable for those who want to see a modern Paris, and passionately photographed cityscape.

Other tourist attractions and experiences to visit

On days with good weather you can consider going to the gardens and parks around the city like the Promenade Plantée near an old railway area, the botanical gardens at Jardin des Plantes. If you are a fan of museums, you should keep in mind the first Sundays of each month and many museums are open for free like Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Quai Branly, Pompidou Center and Picasso Museum.

Many museums and places of interest free entrance for EU citizens under the age of 26, the Louvre Museum for free to tourists under the age of 26 on Friday evenings after 6pm.

If you are interested in seeing Paris from above, in addition to some places such as the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, also has the Montparnasse tower (can look directly to the Eiffel) with the ticket going to the top by elevator is 15 Euro. There are also some free spots overlooking the city from above such as outside Sacre Cœur Basilica, the top of the Pompidou Centre, the cafe on the roof of Galleries Lafayette, the sky garden at Institut du Monde Arabe and Parc de Belleville in district 20.

In Paris, there is an old town that still retains its ancient features, that is Le Marais where writer Victor Hugo once lived, walking around this neighborhood feels like you are lost in central Paris in the 19th century.

A small note is that some places or some churches in Paris will be closed on some days of the week, you can see the list here to have an accurate plan for your schedule.

Paris travel blog: Shopping in Paris

For those who love shopping, it is impossible not to miss the luxury shopping center in Galleries Lafayette, located in the north of Paris. However, the price here is very expensive, if you want to buy souvenirs or items you should go to Avenue du Professeur André Lemierre, the price here is much cheaper. Cheap and miscellaneous items are also available at the Marché des Enfants Rouges on the Rue de Bretagne, an old Paris market or the Chatelet indigenous shopping place with many traditional French goods.

Some shopping malls (department stores) that you can spend all day shopping for:

• Galeries Lafayette focuses on high-end and luxury brands
• Printemps area near Saint Lazare, or just below Saint Lazare station is also a large shopping mall.
• Shopping mall in Chatelet area is full of shops
• Westfield Les 4 Temps Shopping Centre (4 seasons) in La Defense, shopping combine with visiting new modern area in Paris
• Shopping mall at the foot of the Louvre museum also focus on many high-end brands
• An outlet area at the edge of Paris that not many people know about – Val d’Europe

For women who want to buy cosmetics, there are many pharmacies, but if you have time, you should go to the city pharmacy (Pharmacie). This store is not very much in Paris, also have to search for a while, usually quite crowded but there are many cosmetic pharmacies from many brands, many and cheaper than most other conventional pharmacies in Paris. In the shop, there are always staffs who advise on products. Or you can find genuine French cosmetics, very often with promotions, but the tag price here is cheaper in Vietnam already, but super good, such as Yves Rocher, there are very much in Paris but the material is completely natural.

In addition, if you want to buy good second-hand at good price, you can find two famous Parisian second-hand (flea) markets in Paris are Saint-Ouen Porte de Clignancourt (Address: 75018 Paris, France) in Northern Paris, open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays selling lots of antiques and paintings, perfumes and clothing, and the Porte de Vanves market is located in district 15 (Address: 5 Avenue de la Porte de Vanves, 75014 Paris, France) adjacent to the outskirts of Vanves, in the south of Paris, open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), selling lots of clothing and souvenirs.

Sales season in Paris takes place in January and July every year, these are really big sales promotions including many brands both medium and high-end plummeted. Vietnamese in France often collect goods in these sales to sell to Vietnam, cosmetics, clothes, perfumes, etc. Yves Rocher lipsticks normally sell for 5 EUR and sometimes in the season, they have 1.2 EUR, too cheap, right?

Paris travel guide blog: Day trips from Paris

If you’ve been to Paris many times, you can refer to some places near Paris to make some day trips from Paris. Depending on your preference to choose, may go to small villages, towns, ancient cities, or even go to the beach.

Some locations for reference:

• Disney Land Paris: Located in Zone 5 very suitable for those who travel with families with young children, a huge population of many interesting games.
• Palace of Versailles: Zone 5 and only takes 1 hour by train
• Rouen and Mont Saint-Michel : Both are beautiful locations in Normandy region, the northern of France. Rouen is old and the castle of Mont Saint Michael is too famous. Refer Mont Saint Michel Full Day Tour from Paris.
• Strasbourg and Colmar: Other famous cities are about 2 hours away from Paris, Strasbourg is the largest Christmas market in Europe.
• Ecological complex of painter Claude Monet’s house: Refer here .

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Paris you can refer to

• Paris Pass with 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Bruges Day Tour from Paris
• Paris Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours (Open-Top)
• Paris Open Tour Bus Pass
• 4G SIM Card (Paris/Airport Pick Up) for Europe from Orange
• Disneyland® Paris Ticket
• [Sale] Seine River Sightseeing Cruise in Paris by Bateaux-Mouches
• Mont Saint Michel Full Day Tour from Paris
• Paris: 1-Hour River Seine Cruise
• Paris: Eiffel Tower Direct Access Tour to Summit by Elevator
• Disneyland Paris 1-Day Ticket
• Paris: 1-Hour Illuminations River Cruise
• Louvre Museum: Tour
• Klook Pass Paris
• Disneyland Paris Theme Park Tickets
• The Louvre Museum Priority Entrance Ticket and Tours
• Eiffel Tower Ticket, Tours and Experiences
• Versailles Palace Entrance Ticket and Tours
• Seine River Sightseeing Cruise in Paris by Bateaux-Mouches
• Mont Saint Michel Ticket and Tours
• Orsay Museum with Monet & Van Gogh paintings Ticket
• Seine River Lunch and Dinner Cruise Experiences
• Sainte-Chapelle Entrance Ticket in Paris
• Paris: Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show Ticket with Champagne

Above are the experiences I have gained when traveling to Paris on my European trip, completely self-sufficient traveling without tour, experiencing by myself. Have a good trip! Are you looking for more top things to do in Paris: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here and here .

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TRAVEL BLOG

Long Weekend: Paris

Barons and Bonaparte, gastro-bistros and Velib bikes, have all left their mark on the French capital and its characteristic twenty arrondissements. Sophie Massie lifts the shroud off the City of Light.

For hundreds of years Paris reigned as the world’s undisputed capital of literature, culture and cuisine. In more recent times however many tourists overlooked Paris in favour of brasher, burgeoning cities like Berlin or Buenos Aires: the sentiment which pervaded travel circles was that creativity and discovery have vanished in France’s capital. Yet Paris is a city prone to revolution, with an inherent tension burning slowly below the surface, and Paris is never far poised from a rebellious comeback. Like the spiralled orientation of its twenty arrondissements , Paris’ potential energy is coiled tight like a spring, ready to release at any moment. From the political revolutionaries who overthrew Louis the XVI to the impressionists who challenged the Academie de Beaux Arts to today’s super chefs who reject the pomp and circumstance of traditional French haute cuisine, when Parisians have had enough, they aren’t afraid to stir the ever simmering pot of dissent.

The original Celtic and later Roman foundation of the city was centred around the islands of the Seine , the river that bisects Paris into two banks: the traditionally bohemian Rive Gauche and the more sophisticated Rive Droite. Within those sides, each individual arrondissement possesses its own personality traits (the 4th is traditionally gay, the 16th old money, etc.). They are connected to each other by large sweeping boulevards that date back to a massive 19th century restructuring of the city conducted by the civic planner Baron Haussmann . His renovations reshaped the medieval city into the modern metropolis we know today: a mélange of stately boulevards and winding alleys, now full of old world brasseries and trendy “gastro-bistros”, sprawling museums and petite galleries, tiny boutiques and corner tabacs. A city ripe for exploring on a weekend away…

Best of the Beaten Track

Several of the city’s most recognisable sites flank the river, so a promenade along the water front is certainly in order. Alternatively the Batobus , a glass covered tour-boat-come-water-taxi (day pass €17) allows passengers to hop on and off as often as they like, with stops at the Musée d’Orsay , Notre Dame , Hotel de Ville , the Louvre , Champs-Elysées , and the Eiffel Tower .

The panoramic view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower is well worth the hike. From above you’ll quickly spot the glistening gold-tipped Les Invalides which houses the exceedingly ornate tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte . For an equally impressive view, head north to Montmartre , the highest point in the city. After conquering the many stairs and meandering the cobbled streets filled with local artists and caricaturists, catch your breath on the steps of the Sacré-Coeur , the great white basilica that crowns the city like a gorgeously iced cake.

Paris’ 134 museums offer many interesting alternatives to the mega museums mentioned above. For Monet fans, the Musée de l’Orangerie is an absolute must while sculpture enthusiasts will enjoy the the Musée Rodin’s al fresco collection. For a quirkier experience, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature showcases representations of hunting alongside taxidermic animals while the Musée de l’Eroticisme houses paintings, drawings, and sculptures of a kinkier nature.

For more offbeat suggestions check out our guide to alternative attractions in Paris , as well as our highlights of the hip Le Marais district . The brave might even want to take a walk down the Rue Saint-Denis with us .

Experience & Events

Paris is lovely to visit at any time of year. Spring and summer invite outdoor activities like a picnic along the Canal St. Martin , which is lined with hip bars and restos that open up their terraces to the street. Or rent a Vélib ( city bikes stationed all over Paris) and cruise around the expansive Bois de Boulogne (it’s two and a half times the size of Central Park).

On the weekends, head to Porte de Clignancourt or Porte de Vanves to haggle over treasures and antiques at the sprawling flea markets . Foodies will love the Grand Épicerie at Le Bon Marché with its high-end produce and gourmet creations. For those keen on some serious shopping, aim to visit during the Soldes , the traditional biannual sales that send Parisians into a consumer frenzy.

If you can’t get seats to the French Open in May/June, join the crowd of fans at the Hotel de Ville to watch live footage of the matches on a huge outdoor screen. Later in June, Parisians take to the streets for Fête de la Musique , a night of free live music celebrated throughout the city. And of course fans of cabaret should get their hands on Moulin Rouge tickets and enjoy a slice of nightlife history (the theatre first opened in 1889).

Pillow Talk

St. Christopher’s Inn’s two hostels offer a range of affordable quarters, from dorms with “Pod Beds” (ie. privacy curtain, locker, reading light and wifi) to ensuite private rooms that won’t leave the budget traveller down and out in Paris. The no frills Hotel Terminus Orléans is clean, comfortable, and located in the vibrant Alésia neighborhood in the 14th – an area seldom explored by tourists. For a modern design hotel check out the 7th’s appropriately named Hotel le Seven . For a quiet, romantic retreat head to the garden-enclosed Hotel Particulier Montmartre . As for luxury hotels, the 5 star Plaza Athénée stands apart with its Alain Ducasse restaurant and daring cocktail bar, while Le Bristol is a common haunt among Hollywood elite in town shooting films. Finally, for a more local – and affordable – experience, try searching for a hosted apartment with Homestay .

Now is the time to dine in Paris like never before. A bevy of restaurants have cropped up in recent years that serve inspired takes on traditional French cuisine at affordable prices, like Chateaubriand , Rino both in the 11th, and Frenchie in the 3rd. If you need to take a break from French food head to Rue St. Anne for a slew of Japanese restaurants, including Higuma , famous for its tasty pork dumplings and substantial soups. Though late to the trend, Parisians are finally coming around to the idea of upscale pizza joints, with La Briciola and Grazie the most de rigueur of all. For a quick bite, Rue de Rosiers in the Marais is home to dozens of falafel stands and Jewish trattorias. Craving something sweet? No trip to Paris is complete without a few La Durée or Pierre Hermé macarons .

Food-obsessed travellers may also want to check out our guide to Paris’ best bakeries , or perhaps mix sightseeing with sampling during this best-selling Cheese, Art and Local Life tour by Urban Adventures .

Enjoyed this? Please share...

Current version updated on June 25th, 2018

First published on May 14th, 2016

Posted in City Guide with destination tags France , Paris

12 thoughts on “ Long Weekend: Paris ”

Nice information!! Thanks for sharing.

Well Paris is a wonderful city which is full of wonderful things to see and do a city where most of us would love to visit.

I finally vsiited Paris for my birthday in 2006. We got this fabulous room with a great view of the Eiffel Tour and I was just in love! I felt like I had this big dazzling birthday cake right out the window. I’d love to go back, but it looks like Spain and Columbia are further on top of the list right now. Definitely hitting up Belize again in March for a Chocolate Conference And at some point, my husband and I plan on living in Italy for awhile. I have dual citizenship there, so once we are married for 2 years, he can also get it and then we can go live and work there without restriction.Thanks for sharing your Parisian journey!!

I suggest Paris as a good place for a honeymoon. Paris is a magnificent place.

I haven’t visited this city yet but maybe someday I will be there. Good guide for travelers and help me choose my destinations. Good review

Wow! Great post Sophie! So many things to do & see in Paris! This city has the best shopping districts that are perfect for a day of fashionista bliss – certainly no shortage of amazing shops!!

Such an in-depth and comprehensive blog! Enjoyed going through it. It’s amazing the way you’ve covered just about anything and everything about this charming city!

Love this! I just spent the weekend in Paris.

This is such a great post Sophie – I love your soundtrack to Paris! I remember listening to Edith Pilaf one morning on the way to French school – it was magical, so super French! I’ve never experienced better nightlife anywhere else in the world. It’s not the easiest to find if you don’t speak French but it’s definitely worth checking out.

Great gargoyle photo! I took a similar one on the roof of Notre Dame!

I’ve just come back from Paris, such a beautiful city. I made a little video of my time if you get the chance to look, gives a nice overview of the city!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY7K_j0FU6I

Hi Sophie Massie, Thanks for this great post,quite exhaustive information and excellent playlist!

For some real local, alternative things to do in paris I invite yo to take a look and have a bite at 1944 // Gallery, Vegan Shop, near Bastille! You’ll be served with love with art exhibition, sustainable craftmanship, and home made vegan delights. Hope to see you soon! 🙂

Great article. I fully agree with Gale, your soundtrack selection is perfect. Just one thing you might want to update in your article, the daily pass for the Batobus now costs 17€ in 2017.

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Hipster Paris: How To Find It

A disclaimer: this is not a guide to “The Best Cafes” or “The Best Restaurants” of Paris, for several reasons.

Writing about the best cafe in Paris would be like writing about the best pizza joint in NYC. At best, overwhelming, and at worst, likely to provoke the ire of the locals.

You wouldn't want to go off what any review site recommended anyway. There is a personal pride in having “your cafe”, “your bar”, and “your tailor”, something already in line with the Hipster ethos.  Finding “your cafe” during your stay in Paris is worth more than visiting the trendiest cafe profiled in Vogue.

Discovering Hipster Paris

Instead of going off a guide, start out your day with a cup of coffee in the corner cafe. Get to know the area immediately around where you are staying. If you are lucky enough, the locals might respect your chillness and share their recommendations with you.

But, until then, use this guide as a jumping off point to discover hipster Paris. Here are some trendy things to do and places to see, well off the beaten path.

Take a class in Paris.

Sure, there are culinary classes offered, but to really get off the beaten path, check out The Street Art Paris graffiti mural art class . Held every first Sunday of the month, this workshop lasts for approximately 2.5 hours and is taught by Parisian graffiti artists.

Street Art Paris is a group of artists, historians, and documentarians that work in Paris’ famous street art scene, so they know what they are talking about. The class covers basic techniques of spray painting as well as how to create the composition of a mural. Classes are 35 euros. It’s a really cool way to learn more about an integral part of Paris Urban culture while also contributing to the wider artistic landscape.

Go see a movie.

There are many wonderful movie theaters in Paris, not just for mainstream cinema, but for arthouse, independent, foreign and classic films. Live your best hipster life by watching a screening of a film your friends definitely haven’t heard of.

Situated at nᵒ 170, boulevard de Magenta in the 10ᵉ arrondissement Le Louxor Palais du Cinema is quite possibly the oldest cinema still in existence in Paris. Created in 1919 by Henry Zipcy, it screened films for many years before becoming a nightclub in 1983. After nearly 20 years of abandonment, it was renovated and restored in 2013, maintaining it’s iconique art deco-Egyptian style.

It’s an amazing piece of Parisian history. Best of all, see a movie and then get a drink. Buying a movie ticket gets you access to the bar and secret rooftop. It’s the perfect place to talk through the finer points of the film you just watched, and the craft beer prices are really reasonable at around 4 euros.

Go To A Bar éphémère.

Trendy francaises and francophones might already know what a “bar éphémère” is, but for my anglophiles out there, a “bar éphémère” (literally “ephemeral bar”) is a pop up bar, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months. Often a partnership, many “bar éphémères” are produced in collaboration with groups ranging from artistic collectives, visual artists, cultural institutions, culinary institutions, or speciality alcohol producers.

One recent bar éphémère, Calva Club, only served alcohol produced in France, as a way to promote french brewers and distillers. An exciting bar éphémère is Le Squat : October 2018 to June 2019. Situated inside of the Normandy Hotel , t he space is going to be renovated into new presidential suites, but in the meantime it was given over to a group of artists to do what they pleased with it. So, they covered it in graffiti and made it into a bar.

The atmosphere is incredible and it’s a great opportunity to experience some of Paris’ most hipster nightlife. To get to Le Squat, make your way to the Normandy Hotel  at 7 Rue de l'Échelle, 75001 Paris and go inside and up to the “ 7ème étage”. Just don’t forget that the French don’t count the ground floor, so it would be the 8th floor in America. Le Squat is open everyday from 7pm until 1am, and they have a selection of cocktails, beer, and wine.

Check out their two specialty drinks: “The Jamaican Mule” and the “Gin Tonic du Squat”.

Visit "The Farm of Good Times".

La Ferme du Bonheur is another really cool spot. Literally “Farm of Good Times”: located at 220 Avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France, it’s located in an urban farm next to the University of Nanterre, in the suburbs of Paris, but very much still in the city.

It’s a little hard to describe, but according to the website, it’s a place of research and reflection on Mankind and the Earth which uses culture in all its forms (theatre, music, dance, sculpture, cinema, etc.) but also a place of social action, thought, theory, and activism. It’s partly a freeform artistic space and partly just a laid back environment to hang out with some sheep and watch some performances.

It’s open on weekends and variable hours during the week, so check out their upcoming events . Concerts and performances usually start in the afternoon so it’s a great option for hipsters who aren’t exactly night owls.

Check out some live music.

If you are looking for more of a music oriented venue, check out La Station - Gare de Mines . It used to literally be an SNCF train station before being converted by the MU collective. It’s primarily a music venue, though they also screen films.

Located in the 18th arrondissement at 29 avenue de la Porte d'Aubervilliers, 75018, Paris, France, it’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30pm to around 1am. It’s honestly one of the best places to hear new music in Paris, especially if you like techo or prog-underground/experimental. A really great venue to dance or just enjoy the music in.

Sidenote: the music experience doesn’t have to end after you return home. La Station uploads radio shows that you can listen to in full here .

The Best Hipster Paris Experience

Of course, live music isn’t the only way to enjoy the music of Paris. Check out Disquare Le Rideau de Fer, named after the Iron Curtain, for all the underground LPs and vinyls your hipster heart desires. Plus, vinyls make great souvenirs.

Open from 12:30pm to 5pm and located at 12 rue André Del Sarte 75018 Paris. Check out their website for more information, or their Facebook page . Disquare Le Rideau de Fer also happens to be located in Montmartre, one of the most famously hipster neighborhoods in Paris.

Among other things, Montmarte is known for it’s awesome street art. So, while you are looking for records, make sure to budget some time to explore some street art Paris . By the time you get home from Paris, you'll want to go right back.

A local’s guide to Paris

• By Jennifer Padjemi
• Photos by Cyril Marcilhacy

Paris is often seen from the outside as a place of love and light — a magical city bathed in romance. This can be true, but Paris is mostly a place of imperfection, a mixture of beauty and chaos. And this is why it’s probably the most charming city in the world.

Far away from the Eiffel Tower, life vibrates from little cafes and restaurants (from fancy to quirky), public art and wide diversity found in few European cities. Show us you love our city as much as we do, and you may even walk away thinking Parisians are actually nice.

Meet Jennifer Padjemi

Jennifer has lived in the Paris region for most of her life. She spent time in Madrid and Birmingham, England, while studying, but she has always come back to the city where she feels truly at home.

Want to get in touch?

Explore more of Paris

• 011-33-1-42-40-44-52
• 011-33-1-46-36-13-82
• 011-33-1-46-27-38-03
• 011-33-1-53-09-99-84
• 011-42-59-69-31
• 011-73-75-16-26
• 011-43-38-77-02
• 011-33-1-42-33-07-71
• Our transportation system is smelly, and some lines are always crowded — from opening to closing. Avoid Line 13 as much as possible.
• If you’ve found an espresso that costs more than 2.50 euros, you’ve paid too much and are probably in a touristy or hipster spot. Real Parisian coffee should be cheap.
• Try to say a few words in French, even just “Bonjour” or “Merci.” A little effort can go a long way.
• 011-33-1-81-97-35-88
• 011-07-77-07-18-48
• 011-83-65-61-00
• 011-33-6-03-70-78-26
• 011-33-6-09-34-16-11

CITY GUIDES

Washington, D.C.

Mexico City

New Orleans

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Philadelphia

Minneapolis

The 15 Best Hipster Places in Paris

1.  La REcyclerie

2.  Ten Belles

3.  KB CaféShop

4.  Point Éphémère

5.  Paperboy

6.  Coutume Café

7.  DOSE – Dealer de Café

8.  Merci

9.  Mel, Mich & Martin

10.  Coutume

11.  Le Barbouquin  

12.  Le Comptoir Général

13.  Le Voltigeur

14.  Back in Black

15.  La Cave de Septime

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French Air Controller Strike

Affected Airports - City , State Association:

• Paris  Charles De Gaulle, France  (CDG)

For complete details View

American Airlines has implemented a special exception policy to our travel partners that is now available for our mutual customers due to French Air Controller Strike Our Travel Notice exception policies on American are also available when ticketed to/from/through on our Joint Business partners: This applies to both prime and codeshare flights as shown below:

Inventory Requirements

Lowest Inventory, Same Cabin

If original inventory is not available rebook lowest inventory available in the same ticketed cabin. As a reminder, customers that do not hold a Basic Economy fare should never be booked into B inventory.

Basic Economy -

• Must be booked in B inventory only. If B inventory is not available, then an alternate flight must be selected. Advance Purchase and Ticket Change restrictions are waived.

Instant Upsell -

Refer to Travel Notice Policy - Travel Agency Guidelines for rebooking guidelines and Endorsement Box requirement when the customer purchased Instant Upsell (IU) directly with American on aa.com . IU PNRs contain the following SSRs:

• OTHS AGENCY RETAINS CONTROL OF TKT FOR REISSUES
• OTHS INSTANT UPSELL ANCILLARY EMD ISSUED 001xxxxxxxxxx

Refer to Exceptions to Fare Rules .

Note: If customers are unable to rebook or reissue their ticket within the given timeline, they can cancel their reservation and use the value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket; all rules and restrictions apply. Travel must commence no later than one year from the date of original issuance.

Endorsement Box Requirements

• Refer to individual Travel Notice for Event Name
• Ticket Reissue required. This is the only required verbiage and supersedes all other information.

Instant Upsell (IU) tickets must use waiver code: TNADV/IU when rebooking in the Instant Upsell Inventory IU PNRs contain the following SSRs:

Refer to Travel Notice Policy - Travel Agency Guidelines for Endorsement Box requirement when the customer purchased Instant Upsell (IU) directly with American on aa.com .

Changes to Origin/Destination - Not Allowed

• Waive Change Fee
• Ticket reissue for original ticketed fare
• 300 Mile Radius is always allowed, unless otherwise stated in the notice
• Changes to origin/destination are not permitted for the travel notice
• Any changes made to origin/destination all fare rules apply

300-Mile Radius Only - Allowed

• Within same country
• For booking inventory, view Inventory Requirements

Basic Economy Short-haul fares

book in B inventory only.If B inventory is not available, then an alternate flight must be selected.

Changes to Connection City

Changes to Co-Terminal

Changes to Co-terminal and MAC airports on AA Prime and AA*/Codeshare flights are allowed

• Co-terminal & MAC Airports are considered the same routing.  

Reissue Policy Information

American Airlines will waive change fees and travel agents may rebook and reissue tickets provided the below guidelines are met and applied:

• Ticket issued on the following ticket stock: AA 001, AY 105, BA 125, El053, IB 075, JL 131, QF 081
• Applies to AA*/ one world flights
• Travel has not commenced on the affected flight segment and the ticket has not been reissued by American Airlines
• The first departure flight is more than 2 hours away
• Affected coupons are in OK status
• Travel reissuance only in accordance to dates identified in the applicable Travel Notice Exception Advisory
• More than one change allowed without an additional collection, including penalty or change fee within the Travel Notice dates
• Original issuing agency responsible for ticket reissue
• Ticket Revalidation not permitted
• The return travel must be booked in the original class of service (inventory)
• Refer to Extend Travel Rebooking after the Travel Event
• Basic Economy must be rebooked in the appropriate Basic Economy inventory
• Please ensure the above procedures are accurately followed to prevent debit memo issuance

Rebooking - Exception to Fare Rules

Exception to Fare Rules: All fare rules apply with the exception of the following:

• Advance Purchase requirement waived
• Minimum/Maximum Stay requirement waived
• Change Fee waived
• When changes to the outbound travel occur, the unaffected return date may be changed to protect the original length of the trip. The return travel must be booked in the original class of service (inventory).

SalesLink Request

• Rebook flights in compliance with Travel Notice Exception Policy
• Log-in to SalesLink at www.saleslink.aa.com
• Request Type: select 'Service'
• Input AA PNR
• Waiver Type: select 'Travel Notice'
• Travel Notice: select applicable Travel Notice event name
• Select 'Next' - and complete request
• Verify: SalesLink approval remarks in PNR
• New Ticket Endorsement Box: Enter event name only
• Ticket Reissue required

Endorsement Box requirement: 23APR24A or the exchange will be subject to a debit memo

Extend Travel Rebooking Guidelines

If customers are unable to rebook within the New Travel Dates, may reschedule their reservation to/from the same city or alternate cities and reissue their ticket with the below guidelines:

• Cancel their itinerary and apply the value of the original ticket towards the purchase of a new ticket for travel commencing within 1 year from the date of original issuance
• Change fee only is waived as long as the original ticket is reissued within ticket validity and the impact dates are in accordance with those identified in the Travel Notice
• Basic Economy fares may only be used towards the purchase of other Basic Economy fares.
• Residual MCO's are not allowed when using the TNADVE waiver code for reissue.
• Extend Travel Rebooking does not apply to tickets in conjunction with Instant Upsell (IU)

Refund Policy Information

When the flight is cancelled or the length of delay is 91+ minutes , travel agents may refund ticket(s) through normal GDS/ARC/BSP processing. Refer to our Schedule Irregularity policy for delays 90 minutes or less.

• Refund To Original Form Of Payment - All penalties/fees waived
• Non-Refundable Fare
• Refundable Fare with cancellation Fee
• Basic Economy Fare
• Bulk/Opaque Fare

Note: If the ticket has been exchanged by American as an INVOL submit the refund request directly with American. Refer to American Airlines Refunds .

When the flight is not cancelled or the length of delay is 90 minutes or less , a refund does not apply:

• If customer elects to cancel their reservation and use the value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket outside the Travel Notice dates; may use Extend Travel Rebooking or may hold ticket for future travel; all rules and restrictions apply.
• Travel must commence no later than one year from the date of original issuance.

En route/Diversion

• Connecting customers' en route to one of the above-listed destinations or whose flights are diverted will have the option to return to their original departure city and rebook travel to alternate future dates.
• Customers should work directly with the airport to obtain a boarding pass for return travel to their original departure city. If the customer wishes to rebook travel to alternate future dates, please contact American Airlines Reservations for assistance. Alternatively, they may receive a refund if re-accommodation options are unacceptable.
• If a ticket has already been reissued by American Airlines or the ticket is partially used, travel agents must submit the refund request online at https://prefunds.aa.com/refunds/

American Airlines will continue to monitor this Travel Notice Exception Advisory and adjust this policy if needed. Changes will be posted on AA.com and www.saleslink.aa.com reference. Please check these sources frequently for the most up to date information.

• www.saleslink.aa.com Reference: Select Travel Notice Policy - Travel Agency Guidelines
• Visit www.saleslink.aa.com and navigate to AA News and Offers to view current travel notices.
• Contact your Sales Support Center 800-621-8489 or American Airlines Reservations 800-433-7300 (U.S. and Canada) or for Reservations outside the U.S. and Canada, please see our Worldwide Reservations Numbers American Airlines encourages all customers to check flight and gate status prior to leaving for the airport. For complete travel information, visit AA.com .
• Group reservations must be changed by AA Group & Meeting Travel
• Information contained on this web site is subject to change at any time without notice. American Airlines shall not be liable for any consequences resulting from your reliance on the information.