Look beyond the tourist attractions on your next trip to the City of Light. Check out these itineraries for the ‘Emily in Paris’ superfan, the hipster in search of underground art, and the parent with kids in tow instead.
There ’s a ground why Paris is lauded as one of the most iconic , romantic goal in the world . And it ’s actually not just a successful merchandising ploy — Paris is an example of how a metropolis thrives when it embrace the artists and creators of the populace . The street overflow with ornately detailed buildings , sprawling outdoor cafes , well - made clothes ( forget about degenerate fashion here ) , and museums burst with some of themost exciting art create in the last three one C . It ’s gentle to be swing out aside by the walkable atmosphere , the decadent food , and the sure-enough - human race charm everywhere you look .
But the most vulgar charge usually involve the overcrowded tourer sites . It is true , for example , that the wealth of lulu give by the Louvre can get obscured behind the hordes of line - wearied visitor aggressively vying for the full selfie position . And because this summertime ’s Olympic Games will bedrawing in more than 15 million visitor , those lines wo n’t be getting any shorter . But your experience does n’t have to be centered around the Greatest Hits of tourer attraction ; the city is so much more than its guidebook summaries . And ifyou forgo the cliche craft in pop medium , and instead seek out everything a vibrant city has to extend , you ’ll find that there will never be enough prison term to tyre of the city .
Your trip isn’t complete until you…
See : The horizon from less - trodden parking lot . Featured inBefore Sunset , thePromenade Plantéeis Paris ’s rendering of the NYC High Line , while theParc des Buttes - Chaumontsits on a former gypsum quarry .
Touch : The personalize , acetate combs atOfficine Universelle Buly . The old - fashioned apothecary offer the very upright in water - establish perfumes and beauty shaft you did n’t know you involve .
spirit : Freshly - baked Malus pumila tarts wafting fromPoilâne , an retiring sourdough bread shop tuck aside in the sixth arrondissement .
Photo by Pushan Bhowmick for Thrillist
discover : The sounds emanating fromAu Lapin Agile , Paris ’s oldest cabaret . During its heyday of the early 1900s , it became the hangout of creative person like Picasso , Apollinaire , and Modigliani . There ’s an apocryphal story that Picasso used to pay for his meals with draught on napkins .
discernment : The famed falafel sandwich atL’As du Fallafel . A favorite of Lenny Kravitz , the Middle Eastern eatery in the Judaic Quarter is never not without a queue of local customer .
Things to do for theEmily in Parissuperfan
For better or worse , women like Emily Cooper and Carrie Bradshaw have paint an ultra - deluxe portraiture of the city . It would be very beguiling to book a way at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée and gawk at the Eiffel Tower from your private balcony a la Bradshaw , or canal Emily by watching a performance ofSwan Lakeat the Palais Garnier . But if you ’re chat the City of Lights on a tighter budget , we ’re happy to report that you could still luxuriate in luxurious moment without drop 100 of euros . For case , did you know you could get one of the best prospect of the Eiffel Tower , for free , on the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette ? “ One of the most unknown part of Paris for typical holidaymaker are the canal . Instead of send packing century on a boat turn down the Seine , you may make your own more affordable slice of luxury byrenting a boatto drive yourself down the Canal de l’Ourcq with friends , ” saysGabrielle Pedriani , a PR specialist who has lived in Paris for over four years . “ Not only can you take bit commandeering the mini ship , but you may bring all the wine-colored and cheese your centre desire for a relaxing ( and unceasingly photogenic ) apéro on the go . ”
9 am - begin your day with a croissant atBoulangerie Moderne . For a bit ofset jetting , head to Thierry Rabineau ’s nineteenth - century bakeshop , featured inEmily in Paris . Sometimes , luxury looks like a perfect croissant , with a incredibly flaky exterior and a pantry , just - burnt - enough bottom .
10 am - Take a perambulation aroundJardin du Luxembourg . Skip the Tuileries and opt for this flowered oasis , favored by locals . Smell the flowers , find out the sailing boat go by in the fountain , and think about all the mass who have roamed the crushed rock paths — the Medicis , Hemingway , and , of form , Emily Cooper .
Perfect the art of people-watching. It’s free.
12 post-mortem -Window shop atLe Bon Marché . You do n’t have to drop any money to appreciate the world ’s first department store . pass 60 minutes riding along those criss - bilk elevators , then drink down over next door toLa Grande Épiceriefor gourmet snack . You ’ll witness everything from duck rillettes and cornichons to orange flower biscuits and rose - flavored pastilles .
3 pm - Ogle at art atMusee d’Orsay . While it ’s certainly popular in its own right , d’Orsay is n’t quite as overrun as the Louvre . But that does n’t have in mind it skimps on notable artworks . Featuring celebrated painter like Van Gogh , Monet , Degas , Cezanne , Courbet , and room too many others to list , the aggregation is nothing short of awe - inspiring . Plus , it ’s housed in a historic train station . Head up to the fifth floor to see the giant clock window that look out on the Seine . It does n’t get more amorous than that .
7 Prime Minister - Eat endless tyke atLe Relais de L’entrecote . There ’s only one meal on the card here . For 30 euros , you get a green salad with walnuts , sirloin steak drizzled with a butter - based green sauce , and homemade french fries , which get topped up throughout your meal . The line of regulars will be retentive , but the toppingly traditional service and mouth watering secret sauce make it all the more deserving it .
Perfect the art of people-watching. It’s free.
9 pm- Get crapulence at a five - asterisk hotel without having to drop the dark . The Hotel Lutetia in the swank Saint - Germain - de - Pres neighborhood has hosted some pretty iconic guests , from Pablo Picasso and Charles de Gaulle to Peggy Guggenheim and James Joyce . Take a peep at the fine art deco DoI atBar Josephine , where you could relish cocktails alongside floor - to - ceiling artistic production frescos . Or , mosey over to Hotel de Crillon and snaffle a drink atBars Les Ambassadeurs , a gilded palace room overlooking the Place de la Concorde .
Things to do for la bohème
As much as Paris soars in exactly the ways you ’d expect , it also boasts a copious resistance — and we ’re not just talking about the Métro . Whether you ’re a literary lover who yearns to walk in the footsteps of your pet author , or an indie tike in search of artwork that ’s a little more subversive than the Mona Lisa , there are endless opportunities for the choice hidden among these Haussmann - run along streets . If you call yourself a hipster — or , when in France , un bohème — then you ’re going to want to pass most of your metre in the Marais , a air hole of cobblestone streets filled with vintage shops , instinctive wine bars , and gamy - end concept stores across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements . For some under - the - radar food , Septime owner Bertrand Grébaut recommendsSong Hengfor “ the best pho in Ithiel Town , ” while his partner , Théo Pourriat , is a fan ofPasserina . “ It feel like you ’re at an Italian ally ’s space , who ’s proffer alimentary paste at midnight , ” he says .
10 am - Wander around thePalais de Tokyo . You never know what you ’ll get at this sprawling center for contemporary art , which puts on everything from performance pieces to place - specific installations . Catch purview of the Trocadero on your way out .
12 pm -Make a pilgrimage toMaison de Balzac . In 1829 , the renowned Gallic writer Honore de Balzac created the shared universe of La Comedie Humaine , a sprawling aggregation of over 100 novel that is wide weigh one of the smashing literary achievements of all metre . Maison de Balzac is the source ’s dwelling , where he did much of his authorship — books likeFather GoriotandCousin Bette . Located just over the river from the Eiffel Tower , it ’s a passive oasis for a open frame from the multitude of the more crowded sites nearby .
Make a wish (or meet your lover) at the Jardin du Luxembourg’s Medici Fountain.
2 pm - Pay your respects atPere Lachaise burial site . It ’s well-heeled to pass hours on closing exploring the cemetery ’s helter-skelter patchwork of elaborate statues and tombs overflowing with common ivy and loll tree diagram . Pere Lachaise house some of the city ’s most famed residents , such as Jim Morrison , Balzac , Oscar Wilde , Proust , Gertrude Stein , Moliere , Chopin , and Richard Wright , among many others . Pro tip : Instead of attempt to settle specific public figure among 70,000 sepulture plots , embrace your interior flâneur and see what you ’re able-bodied to stumble upon .
3 pm - snaffle a sandwich atChez Alain Miam Miam . conceive of a crossbreeding between a New York deli sandwich and a French crepe . At Chez Alain Miam Miam , expect sinewy sandwiches stuffed with glorious cheeseflower like Comté or Cantal , caramelized Allium cepa , and high - quality gammon — along with some cheeky back - and - forth with the possessor , Alain Roussel .
4 autopsy - Pop intoMerci . domiciliate in a 19th - century building , this chic , three - story concept store — complete with its own eating place and coffeehouse — offers everything from household goods and letter paper to wearable and accessories .
You could spend hours getting lost amongst designer goods at Le Bon Marche, the world’s first department store.
7 pm - Go on a natural wine legal profession crawling . It ’s no surprise that Paris has been leading the charge in the natural wine motility . check into out the offerings at spot likeAux Des Amis , Septime La Cave , andBambino , where you may groove to the sounds of vinyl disc on loop while drinking a wild Gamay .
10 Prime Minister -Hit up late Nox river parties . While the Parisian stretch along the Seine tend to be its most holidaymaker - overrun region , if you know where to go late at nighttime ( we ’re verbalise 2 - 4 a.m. late ) you may stumble upon some uniquely local after - parties . have a bun in the oven live medicine , metal drum circles , Romani dancing , and general boozery . start out with the Arenes amphitheater in Jardin Tino Rossi . Pont Neuf on Ile de la Cite also has its moments , while more regulated versions can be found along Promenade Marceline Loridan - Ivens and Promenade Edouard Glissant .
Things to do for the traveler with kids in tow
It ’s never too former to expose your kids to the all right thing in sprightliness : Monet’sWater Lilies , mille - feuille , the art of doing nothing . The City of Love also encounter to be one adult resort area , with gardens to black market around in at every corner . Whether you take your little one to ride the carousel at the Hôtel de Ville or indulge in the live chocolate at Angelina , they ’re bound to experience like they ’ve just ill-use out of the page ofMadeline . And when it get to food , there ’s no shortage of options , from creperies to the most high - end McDonald ’s you ’ll ever encounter .
9 am -Breakfast atMokonuts . This homey short restaurant , have by a French - Lebanese and Nipponese - American couple , boasts exquisitely simple , globally - inspire ravisher . If you ca n’t snag a table for breakfast , do n’t fret : you’re able to still grab a few sesame halva cookies on your fashion out .
11 am- Browse the gangway ofShakespeare and companionship . An iconic bookstall steeped in history — Browse the shelf for the late best - seller while your kids hang out in the carefully - curated children ’s plane section on a higher floor , which features mostly - English titles . Do n’t miss the typewriter alcove .
A sandwich at Chez Alain Miam Miam is not complete without a little joke from the cheeky owner, Alain Roussel.
1 pm -Row boat atBois de Boulogne . Located in the westerly scope of Paris , Bois de Boulogne is double as bragging as Central Park . take some sauceboat and pose out for the scenic Lac Inférieur , or if water sports feel a scrap too intimidating , take the gang to the nearby entertainment park , Jardin d’Acclimatation , a low key alternative to Disneyland Paris .
3 pm -Explore the depths of theParis Catacombs . If your tike are into all things spooky — or candidly , anything a bit eldritch — take them to the world ’s largest crypt , dating back to the 13th century . cheat through the underground inner ear and discover over six million systema skeletale scattered across the rampart , some of which are arranged quite artistically — Make certain you spot the skeleton heart .
6 pm -Try the famous chocolate hair mousse atChez Janou . The family - well-disposed bistro excels when it comes to Provençal - style looker , but it ’s most famous for the silkiest mousse au chocolat . Order one for the mesa along with some pastis for the adults — the eating house boasts an blanket leaning of over 80 dissimilar varieties .
Pere Lachaise cemetery houses some pretty famous tombstones, from Frédéric Chopin to Jim Morrison.
8 pm -See a movie atLe Grand Rex . If your clan still has the energy , catch a flick at the historic Grand Rex , a striking , Art Deco dramatic art from the 1930s . Just make trusted your screening is n’t being shown in “ VF ” ( Version Francaise ) .
Where to stay
Saint James Paris($$$)The only chateau - hotel in Paris , Saint James will make you feel as though you ’re a invitee staying at some aristocrat ’s private , neoclassical residence . It ’s within walking aloofness from sites like the Arc de Triomphe and Bois de Boulogne . Before kip down for the dark , make certain you block by the very cozyLibrary Bar , where the walls are overflowing with leather - bind Word .
Hotel Bienvenue($$)A charming dress shop hotel without the ripoff rates . locate in South Pigalle , Hotel Bienvenue is an alibi to experience New Athens , an surface area once known for spanking cabarets . Spend an afternoon or two take in the greenery of the interior courtyard .
Oops ! Design Hostel Paris($)Book a room at this quirky hostel if you ’re looking to explore the Latin Quarter . It ’s handily located next to three subway system lines , so you ’ll have no trouble getting to and from your pinned locations .
Shakespeare and Company’s motto is “Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise."
What to know before you go
How to get around
TheParis Métro is the easiest fashion to bop around the city , with one - way slate start at 2.15 euros . If you need to get to the out reaches of the urban center , let ’s say the Palace of Versailles , take the regional express RER train . When in doubt , or under rainfall , there ’s recoil to be a taxi on its agency .
The currency
France uses theeuro ( EUR ) and each euro is worth 100 euro cent coin . As of June 2024 , $ 1 USD exchange for 0.92 euro .
International adapters you’ll need
France usesPlug Type E , which is marked by two rounded pins , side - by - side , with a ground clipping at the top . France ’s standard voltage is 220–230V , with a absolute frequency of 50 Hz .
When to plan your visit
The months of October and November , as well as March and April are arguably the best time to visit Paris , as the berm seasons of Autumn and Spring bring delightfully modest conditions ( average out 60 degree Fahrenheit ) .
Your fun Paris dinner party fact
“ Paris Syndrome '' refer to the uttermost culture daze tourist experience if the city does not live up to their outlook — allegedly most common amongst tourer from Japan , who are more probable to have been disclose to glamorize conceptions of the City of Love .
What to Watch, Read, and Listen to Before a Trip to Paris
From the indie movie that expertly portrays a steamy rendezvous to the album that defines ’60s French pop, here’s some of the best pop culture to consume before you go to Paris.
While the city of Paris is relatively flat, the hills of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont will take you to new heights.
Enjoy a lazy cafe-au-lait from the verdant courtyard of Hotel Bienvenue.
