Summer Abroad: Favorite Spots of Paris

This summer I had the amazing opportunity of travelling to Paris through Tulane Study Abroad. After living in this city for a month, I certainly found some favorite spots that I think everyone should know about. So here’s a list of all these must-do’s and must-see’s, so everyone can get 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 my favorite spots of Paris. There are constantly 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 take in the beauty of the church. There’s also a garden behind Notre Dame with lots of trees and benches and some nice free Wi-Fi. I would often either start or end my runs here.

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 place and you’ll spend hours looking around at the various books and enjoying the cozy atmosphere, just as I did. It’s also the perfect spot to buy a souvenir for your book-loving friend. Next door, they have the Shakespeare & Co Café which serves amazing iced coffee (almond & soy milk available) as well as various sandwiches & pastries (with tons of vegan options!). 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

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 its so contrasting from the style of the rest of the city, so I would 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

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. It's also a great place to end a run along the Seine; starting from Notre Dame it's about 3 miles.

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 is also a carnival set up with plenty of rides as well as a Ferris wheel looking over the city.

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.

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.

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. They have stores like H&M, Forever 21, and even cheap mall food. 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 very moving memorial but also very informational and has free entry.

17 rue Geoffroy L Asnier, 4th Arrondissement

Hubsy Café: These cafes are meant for studying/working. For 5 euros an hour, you get coffee, snacks, juices, and wifi! It’s a great place to get productive 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

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 in the link below, and you can just translate the page.

quartiersolidaires.blogspot.com/p/cafe-solidaire.html

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. You can walk up or take the funicular and then head inside the church for another beautiful view.

18thArrondissement

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

Palais Royal Gardens/Courtyard: Tucked away behind the Louvre are the Palais Royal’s serene gardens. It's a great place to sit on a bench and relax with a book with the shady trees and flowing fountains. Located right next to the Gardens is the courtyard that has funky black and white columns (it is mandatory to take a fun photo on top of one)

8 rue de Montpensier, 1st Arrondissement

Galerie Vivienne: This passageway will take you back in time as soon as you enter. There’s 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

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 #romanattic. The metro stop “Abbesses” is right next to it but is also super accessible from any part of Montmartre. I would recommend stopping for a picture but beware of the mass amount of tourists that are always here.

Square Jehan Rictus, Place des Abbesses, 18th Arrondissement

Moulin Rouge: Attending a cabaret show is still on my bucket list, but definitely still cool to take a picture of Moulin Rouge and the windmills that are the cliché image of Montmartre.

82 Boulevard de Clichy, 18th Arrondissement

Place du Tertre: This square is located at the top of a looooot of stairs but is a great scene with many artists selling canvases, cute cafes/creperies, and buzzing tourists. It’s super close to Sacré-Cœur too if you want to stop there on your way up.

18th Arrondissement

These are just 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 spots of Paris to make your own.

ALSO get ~excited ~for my next post where I tell you the best spots to eat and drink in between all the walking and exploring you'll be doing!