Nevertheless She Travelled

Paris is a divisive city–some people react with disgust when it’s mentioned while others can’t help but sigh when they say the name. I definitely fall into the latter camp. I first visited with my mom the spring break of my freshman year of high school. I then spent the summer of my freshman year of uni studying here. Afterwards, it came to be the city where my mom and I reunite when I’m living abroad; we spent Thanksgiving here when I was living in Morocco, went on a girl’s trip with my grandma on my way home from Thailand, and most recently ran the Paris Marathon together!

During my first trip, I ticked off all the major tourist attractions (climb the Eiffel Tower, see the Mona Lisa, take a Seine River cruise, etc.). So, now when I visit, the agenda includes a lot of strolling, people watching, and returning to some of the spots I’ve come to love over the years. Here is an ever-evolving list of my must-do’s and must-sees that will give you a taste of the city I love so much.

Luxembourg Gardens: Since our hostel was so close to these gardens, I would often go for a morning run or evening stroll through here. It’s also a good place to relax with a book or bottle of wine under the shady trees. 6th Arrondissement

Seine River: Whether you’re strolling, picnicking, running, biking, or enjoying a bottle of wine, the Seine River is one of the most quintessential Parisian spots. There are always people along the banks, so it’s one of the best spots to people-watch. If you get off the metro at Pont Marie, you can easily walk down to the river where there’s plenty of places to sit as well as a bar with a free restroom.

Notre Dame: Now, I haven’t actually ever been inside Notre Dame, but Île de la Cité (the island that Notre Dame is located on) is a great place to hangout if you want to people-watch or admire the church. There’s also a garden behind Notre Dame with lots of trees and benches and some nice free Wi-Fi. 4th Arrondissement

La Grande Mosquée: This is the Grand Mosque of Paris where thousands of people come to pray. You don’t have to be Muslim to enter, so I definitely recommend vising to see the stunning design as well as try the delicious mint tea. 2bis Place du Puits de l’Ermite, 5th Arrondissement

Jardin de Plants: Meaning “the Garden of Plants,” this park has so many flowers that you can’t help but smile walking through it. It’s right near the Grand Mosque which makes it easy to do these 2 things in the same day. 5th Arrondissement

Shakespeare & Co: If you like bookstores, Shakespeare & Co will likely be your new favorite one. Next door, they have the Shakespeare & Co Café which is a great spot for coffee and a snack. You can sit outside or inside with a great view of Notre Dame, and there’s always interesting people to strike up a conversation with. 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 5th Arrondissement

Paris Water Fountains: Paris is scattered with hundreds of free water fountains, so make sure to bring a bottle and fill up! This may be my mom’s favorite thing about Paris, especially since there’s even some that dispense sparkling water!

Eiffel Tower: Obviously if you’re in Paris, you have to go see the Eiffel Tower. I had climbed it once during my first visit, but I think the better activity is sitting on the grass underneath with a bottle of wine and picnic essentials gathered beforehand from Rue Cler. In the evening, it sparkles at the top of every hour, and no matter how many times I’ve been to Paris this sight still brings me close to tears.

Rue Cler: Located super close to the Eiffel Tower, this may be my favorite street of Paris. Along the cobble-stone road, there are a number of cute restaurants, a wine store with the nicest owner, a fromagerie, a bookstore, and various other hidden gems. It’s the perfect place to gather all the essentials for an Eiffel Tower picnic or just wander down.

Tuileries Garden: A short walk from the Louvre, this green space is the perfect spot to relax in free chairs that are set out next to the fountains. During the summer, there’s a carnival set up here, and they have Christmas markets in the winter.

Centre Pompidou: Although I’m not really an art fanatic, the exterior of Pompidou is super interesting to see. Most Parisians hate the way it looks because of its contrast from the traditional French architecture. I recommend checking it out to form your own opinion and then heading inside for some cool exhibits and a funky view from inside the tubes. 4th Arrondissement

Versailles: If you have the time, you MUST take a day trip to Versailles- the palace built by Louis XIV. You can spend the day taking a tour of the palace, wandering or biking through the gardens, and rowing a boat in the large pond.

Paris Plages: Every summer, along the Seine, the city sets up lounge chairs and palm trees to create “Paris Beaches.” It’s the perfect spot to lay back with a book and a drink and just people watch. There’s also no fee to use the chairs which is super nice.

Sacré-Cœur: The walk up to this stunning basilica is far from an easy stroll but is definitely worth it as you get one of the best views of the whole city. If you don’t want to walk, you can opt to take the funicular and then head inside the church for another beautiful view. There’s also plenty of greenery to spread out with a picnic blanket. 18thArrondissement

Place du Tertre: This square is located at the top of a steep flight of stairs but worth it for the scene of artists selling canvases, cute cafes/creperies, and buzzing tourists. It’s a great place to sit outside with a glass of wine, as there’s usually live music and plenty of people-watching. It’s super close to Sacré-Cœur too if you want to stop there on your way up. 18th Arrondissement

Le Mur des Je t’aime (I Love You Wall): This wall found in Montmartre has the phrase “I love you” written in over 300 different languages. The metro stop “Abbesses” is right next to it but is also super accessible from any part of Montmartre. Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 18th Arrondissement

Moulin Rouge: On a recent trip to Paris, I finally went to a show at Moulin Rouge, and it did not disappoint! We went to the 9pm showing, and our tickets included a bottle of champagne and an evening of incredible talent. 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 18th Arrondissement

Les Halles: If you want a break from the cultural experience of Paris, you can get your dose of an American style shopping mall here. Also, if you’re in Paris during July, they have HUGE summer sales! 1st Arrondissement

Shoa Memorial: This is a memorial/museum dedicated to the Holocaust victims of France. It’s a moving memorial as well as very informational and has free entry. 17 rue Geoffroy L Asnier, 4th Arrondissement

Palais Royal Gardens/Courtyard: Tucked away behind the Louvre are the Palais Royal’s gardens. It’s a great place to relax with a book underneath the shady trees. Located right next to the Gardens is the courtyard that has funky black and white columns 8 rue de Montpensier, 1st Arrondissement

Hubsy Café: These cafes are meant for studying/working. For 5 euros an hour, you get coffee, snacks, juices, and Wi-Fi! It’s a great place to get work done and has multiple locations around the city.

Canal Saint-Martin: If you’re looking to sit along a river, but want a different scene than the Seine, Canal Saint-Martin is the place to go. In the evenings, there’s always people drinking, playing guitar, and just lounging on the banks. It’s more of a hipster vibe than the Seine, but still has the same laid-back mentality. 10th Arrondissement

Christmas Markets: If you’re fortunate enough to be here during late November/December, you must check out Paris’ holiday markets. There a few scattered across the city:

–Place des Abbesses: This is a smaller (but more charming) market located near the love wall in Montmartre. It has stalls with handmade jewelry, clothing, sweet treats, champagne!

-Tuileries Garden: This is certainly the largest and busiest Christmas market which features carnival rides and plenty of food and drink stalls. It’s definitely more family-oriented and can get really crowded.

-Notre Dame: This is another smaller market held in the Square René Viviani across from Notre-Dame. with a very authentic festive feel.

Quartiers Solidaires: If you want to do some good service and help out the lesser recognized Paris community, you can head over to the Quartiers Solidaires site where, every morning, people volunteer to hand out breakfast to migrants who don’t have the resources to buy their own food. More information is on their website, and you can just translate the page.

Franprix/ Monoprix: Located all over Paris, these stores have all you could ask for. It’s like the French version of Target. There’s wine, food, clothes, books, and various other things you could want/need (one of those being a wine opener of course) Great place to stock up for a picnic!

Merci Concept Store: This three-floor store sells funky clothing, totes, bracelets, candles, and more. It’s the perfect spot to pick up something to bring home for yourself or a friend. There’s also a cute café on the bottom floor and big glass windows with plenty of greenery. Definitely a good photo op if nothing else. 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 3rd Arrondissement

Galerie Vivienne: This passageway will take you back in time as soon as you enter. There are some cute shops and restaurants inside as well as my fav- a classic old bookstore. 5 Rue de la Banque, 2nd Arrondissement

Le BHV Marais: This department store is multiple floors and sells a multitude of things. I personally loved it because it was the one place is Paris that had great air conditioning. Definitely spend some time perusing the different levels. 52 Rue de Rivoli, 4th Arrondissement

Mariage Frères: This tea boutique and tea salon offers a great selection of quality teas. The staff is super helpful, but I would recommend you know French if you want to ask any questions or for recommendations! 35 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 4th Arrondissement

These are just some of my favorite spots of Paris, but you can find hidden gems within every part of the city. So don’t forget to take some time away from all the touristy museums and monuments and find some special spots of your own.