Bonjour Bites & Sights readers! This blog post is going to be slightly different from my usual content thus far: instead of highlighting just restaurants, I’m going to talk more about what to actually do in Paris during your time there, with a few restaurant recommendations thrown in!

Morning:

Wake up bright and early to have the whole day exploring the beautiful city! My favorite place to stay is in the Saint Germain neighborhood in the 6th. It’s a little more quiet, very safe, and super convenient. If you prefer to eat or need coffee first thing in the morning, pop by a local patisserie for a quick something on the go, they are on every block in the city! After that, I would walk around Saint Germain and make your way down to the Quai Voltaire to walk along the Seine, admiring all the street art that the vendors set up. Cross the Pont Royal bridge and make your way into the Tuileries Gardens and admire all the beautiful gardens.

After walking around and people watching for a bit in the Tuileries, it’s time for brunch! For the ultimate chic Parisian experience, make a reservation at the Ritz for an iconic dining experience. The outdoor patio is so beautiful, the hotel itself is world famous, and the service is top notch. This is a great photo opportunity!

After brunch, keep exploring the 1st: Place Vendome, some luxury window shopping, and then make your way down the street to see the Opera House, Palais Garnier.

Option to book a guided tour to actually go in the Opera House.

After the Opera, you’ll continue down to the famous Galeries Lafayette, where you can quite literally shop until you drop!

Afternoon:

After all the shopping, it’s time for a quick lunch and wine break! Le Cafe Carrousel is a great spot with a big menu located right across from the Louvre. Sit outside and have a glass of wine before spending the afternoon at the Louvre!

After lunch, walk across the street and enter the Louvre (need to prebook tickets). Spend a few hours exploring the most impressive museum in the world.

After Le Louvre, it’s time to make your way to the Ile de la Cite, where both Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame are located, while both are very worth seeing, if you only have time or want to see one or the other, spend some time exploring these beautiful Cathedrals.

If you are a fan of literature, the famous Shakespeare and Company is right across the bridge from Notre Dame back on the left bank. Stroll through the Latin Quarter, and walk through Luxembourg Gardens before making your way back to your hotel in Saint Germain to get ready for dinner.

Evening:

For a classic French dinner and brasserie experience, I would dine at Lipp Brasserie, conveniently located in Saint Germain. Another great option is Ralph’s, where you can sit on the beautiful outdoor patio and enjoy some incredible food. After dinner, grab a bottle of wine and make your way to the Eiffel Tower to watch it sparkle, which starts right at 10pm.

Hang out and enjoy the people watching, the tower sparkle and some wine before heading out to a club for the rest of the night!

My all time favorite club in Paris is L’Arc, however you have to be on the guest list with a promoter. We use the app clubbable and always make it in.

If you can’t get into L’Arc, Le Duplex, Bridge Club, Cafe Oz, The Key, or L’Aquarium are all great spots for a fun night too!