The city of love and lights is a dream destination for many travelers— as it should be. Paris is home to much history, art, and culture, which makes it easy to forget many of the city’s secret must-sees. I am going to take you with me on my journey through the city of Paris and tell you the must-visits and -eats!
Paris offers some of the most beautiful museums in the world, most famously, the Louvre. The Louvre is home to many influential artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Marie-Guillemine Benoist, and Peter Paul Rubens. While the Louvre is something you MUST visit, it can be overwhelming and take up much of your time. Before you visit, I would recommend researching a painting or sculpture you want to see. It is easy to get lost, so having a little guide of your must-sees will be helpful while exploring.
Another smaller but breathtaking museum around the area of the Louvre is The Musée de l’Orangerie, the home of Monet’s “Water Lilies.” The introspection and fluidity of these paintings are something that will stay with you forever. This was my favorite museum that I visited during my time in Paris.
Another favorite of mine was visiting Palais Garnier, the Opera, where Phantom of the Opera bits were filmed. Palais Garnier hosts guided tours where they take you through the Opera House, and you learn about its history and architecture. I recommend booking the tour because you get to sit in the Opera House orchestra seats and look at the real Phantom of Opera ceiling and chandelier. If you have time, PLEASE check this place out; it is unfortunate the Opera House usually gets overlooked.
Lastly, the most important thing when visiting anywhere is ensuring you eat some good food! Paris is a booming city that offers various cultural and tasty foods. For French food, be sure to check out Brasserie Le Bourbon. The onion soup and the chicken with a side of potato wedges will blow your mind. Another French restaurant to check out that is a little more tourist-y (for a good reason) is La Jacobine. They are known for their escargot and duck!
While I was there, I also got to try various Asian foods. Hakata Choten, a Japanese restaurant I can claim it is the best ramen in Paris after much research.
Pro tip: Get there right at 12:00 pm when they open. There is almost always a line outside the door. If you get there and there is a line, do not fret. It moves fast!
Another great spot is Joji a Asian fusion restaurant , which is most known for its bao buns; I had the chicken bao, which was delicious.
My last must-visit restaurant was a small Greek restaurant with big portions. La Crete is home to some of the best tzatziki and pita I have ever had.
For sweets, you will want to get your macarons from Ladurée, the most famous macaron store in Paris. There are somany options and boxes can fill up to 24, so you can try them all. Almost any place is spectacular for crêpes, but La Crêperie at Marché Notre Dame was insane.
Pro tip: Get your crêpes for takeaway, and you can sit in front of Notre Dame. Usually, people perform live music in that area, and you can appreciate the cathedral’s details.
And lastly, for anything pastry, croissants, pain au chocolat, or tarte, Stohrer is the place to be. Stohrer is the oldest pastry shop in Paris, and they know what they are doing. In (the city of love and lights), you can do no wrong when exploring— you will always stumble upon something magical. While I talked about the gems in Paris that tend to get overlooked, it does not mean you should not see them! They are famous for a reason! I pray you get to see this beautiful city soon, and I hope I helped fill your itinerary with only a few things this magical city offers.