5 Days in Paris: The Complete Itinerary

I can’t wait for you to enjoy one of my favorite cities. The magic, the romance, the beauty, and the history make it so so special!

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A few things –
1) ALWAYS make a reservation when eating out (especially dinner). It sounds weird but for most places they require one

2) I took the metro twice and it was the worst experience. Uber or taxi!!

3) It is difficult to get lost in paris if you stay near the Seine. It goes West to East and most things you want to see are not far from it

4) When at the Eiffel WATCH YOUR BAGS!!!! There are serious pickpocketer’s. I watched someone try to pickpocket my father-in-law right in front of us!

5) Paris is known for its cocktail bars and coffeeshops – list at the bottom
6) Bring a lot of comfortable shoes and one pair of heels for night (if you even wear them). Everyone in the city is wearing comfortable flats!

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Here is an itinerary but feel free to substitute anything you want! I left some other options at the bottom 🙂

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Day 1

Breakfast – Claus – get there early
Taxi to Palais Royal – (this is the famous black and white pillars you see people standing on for photos).
Walk through the gardens to grab a coffee at Cafe Kitsuné – super cute and located in Palais Royal
From Palais Royal go to Le Louvre – I don’t recommend going inside but if you want to get there early or prepare for a long line)

From Louvre walk to the Tuileries Gardens – stroll around them. They are beautiful! I recommend even grabbing a chair around the fountain and people watching as you finish your coffee

Walk across the Seine and shop the famous Saint Germain Boulevard (you can also go to visit the famous Bon Marche shopping)

Eat lunch on Saint Germain at Ralph’s (must make reservation) – get the ralph’s sample dessert! SO good

You can also eat lunch at Bistrot Vivienne – Delicious and historical spot

From Ralph’s or Bistrot Vivienne visit Musee d’Orsay (or another museum or you can walk the art studios in the 6th/6eme)

You can get a coffee or hot chocolate at the very famous Cafe de Flore (back on Saint Germain) or go back to hotel to rest

Have dinner and drinks at Hotel Costes (very “sceny” – sure to see a celeb or two). Definitely go to their bar inside after dinner. Must make reservation

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Day 2

Breakfast – Holybelly – no reservations so get there early

Walk (or taxi) to Alexander Bridge (depending on where you are staying you can walk along the seine or through the Tuileries garden). From here you can see the Petit and Grand Palais. I recommend seeing what exhibits they currently have going and attending one, one day. The Palais’ are gorgeous and usually they have a cool fashion exhibit (I saw the YSL one years before it came to the US).
paris-france-s

Grab a taxi to head to the Arc de Triomph – Go up top for 360 degree view of Paris or just stand in front and take a photo

From there you can walk (25 min.) or taxi to Le Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower). It is so big and gorgeous! Definitely a site to see but be sure to watch your bag and pockets. There are a TON of pickpocketer’s around this monument.
Walk (20 min.) or take a taxi to Hotel Peninsula for lunch on their rooftop (gorgeous views MUST make reservation)

Another amazing lunch spot – Restaurant Le Bois – Absolutely gorgeous decor, divine food and a favorite amongst locals

This is a gorgeous area so you can walk around after lunch (if you want a coffee go to Cafe Chic – just east of the Peninsula)

You can visit a museum or head to the hotel to rest

Dinner – River Cruise (this one) – I know what you are thinking, no way! But I had the same thoughts until my mother-in-law booked a really nice one and reserved the table at the very front. You get delicious food, wine, and amazing views of Paris!

Late night cocktails – options below (Le Bristol)

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Day 3

MONTMARTE

Taxi – Brunch at Hotel Particulier – you will love the inside. It can be tricky to find so make sure to secure directions when you call for a reservation

Walk (9 min) to Sacré-Coeur – highest point in Paris with the most beautiful views

Walk around Montmarte and get lost in all the paintings of local artists.

Have a glass of Rosé at La Maison Rose (famous pink house you see in photos) – You will probably walk past Le Consulat – famous and very cute crepe place

You can go back to hotel and rest or go shopping

Dinner- option below

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Day 4

Breakfast at Rose Bakery (favorite of Isabel Marant) on Rue Debelleyme or my favorite in the Marais – Season (make reservation)

You are in the Le Marais area. This is a young area full of shopping, coffeeshops, and very cool people

Head to Merci – Famous store with a cute coffeeshop to the right. Great place to find souvenirs for people

After Merci – grab a coffee at the CUTEST coffeeshop ever – Boot Cafe!

From Boot this would be a good time to walk to Musee Picasso – Gorgeous building. If you’re not into this you can walk to La Place Des Vosges – beautiful park

Lunch – Chez Julien – the freshest food (make reservation)

From Vosges you can walk to Île de la Cité. You are now on the island

Be sure to get a view of the Conciergerie – it is stunning and reminds me of a Disney castle

From here you can visit the Notre Dame

After Notre Dame DEFINITELY get a glass of rosé at Au Vieux D’Arcole – IT IS STUNNING
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Head back to hotel

Dinner options below :
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte,
Le Cinq Mars
dessert and drinks Hotel Plaza Athenee (GORGEOUS exterior), or you can order the moose at Le Cinq Mars (it comes in a giant mixing bowl!

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Day 5

Easy morning

Breakfast – Either Cafe Breizh or Eggs & Co (very small American style breakfast)

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

Lunch – café restaurant Les Éditeurs -This is right by where I used to live so I ate here A LOT. The food is really good, the service is great, and the people watching is the best! Walk this cute area after eating – Saint Sulpice is one direction and Boulevard St. Germain is the other

Grab a taxi to visit Musee Rodin (absolutely stunning garden)

Easy afternoon of shopping or resting

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OTHER OPTIONS

Coffeeshops- I highly recommend visiting a few of these! They are all so cool! Here is a post I did on my favorites – http://sothentheysay.com/tag/paris-coffee-shop/ – add Lily of the Valley – so cute in the Marais!

Cocktail bars– http://sothentheysay.com/paris-best-cocktail-bars/

Add Hotel Le Bristol – so so good!!! Voted Best cocktails in Paris! Don’t order off the menu, just tell them what you want and they will make the best drink you’ve ever had!

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Food (other than what is above)

Seasons – Lunch

Klay saint sauveur – sinople – Dinner – super cool decor – need reservation

Au Vieux D’Arcole – Gorgeous in Spring with wisteria climbing up. Also very old and very famous – dinner or rosé

Le Bonaparte – one of my favorite bistros!!! Right by Cafe de Flore And Deux Magots

Deux Magots – Very famous – lunch or dinner

Bread and Rose– delicious bakery – Breakfast or lunch

Eggs & co. – American style breakfast

L’Avant Comptoir– very famous – can be tough to get in to eat – just have wine

Le Fouquet – VERY famous, a little dark but much history

Les Antiquaires – Good bistro right across from the Louvre

Ze Kitchen Galerie – Right across the street from where I lived. Very modern and very good ($$$)
Le Hibou – Really food and one of my favorite areas

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To Do
Passage du Grand Cerf
Versailles – Take the RER train
Giverny – Home of Monet and the inspiration of his water garden paintings

Buly 1803 – This is my favorite place to get skincare. Last year I literally took a trip to Paris to restock after running out. Buy their skin oil and they will hand calligraphy your name and date right on the box.

Galeries Lafayette – Go to the rooftop! You can get a coffee there and enjoy a Birdseye view of the city

Pont Neuf – Cool to walk – on the tip of the Island. I love to grab a bottle of Rosé and read here.

Place Dauphne (right across from Pont Neuf) – Cute square – go for dinner as there are a few restaurants and is very quiet

Place Vendrome – This is where Coco Chanel’s lived. You can get a photo of the beautiful “Chanel” blue door

Avenue Montaigne – GORGEOUS street of luxury shopping

Goyard– Their flagship store and full of history. Ask to see King Edward VIII trunk

Le Plongeoir – cafe located INSIDE Hermes

Musée Nissim de Camondo – A real home of a 1900’s aristocrats family

Silencio – Club – can be hard to get into but fun!!

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Best Views of Paris From Above

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Paris is an extraordinarily beautiful city. You can argue about its people or its government but you can’t argue its exquisiteness. Walking the streets and taking in the architecture, the cafe scene, the people, and the energy of the city is one of my favorite things. As beautiful as it is from the ground, it is breathtaking from above. Seeing the rooftops and monuments from a birds-eye-view is unforgettable. It is so quiet from above and being able to see Paris for miles is something I can’t put into words, it must be experienced for yourself!

Here is my list of the Best Views of Paris From Above:

Arc de Triomphe

Offers an amazing panoramic view of the twelve avenues departing from the Place de l’Étoile. Make your way up to the viewing platform for a great view over the whole Historical Axis – from the Louvre to the Grande Arche in the CBD of La Défense. I recommend heading here at dusk on a clear day to see Paris lit up in a golden light. It is everything you want, and more! If you can’t make it by dusk certainly go for nighttime. The twinkling lights below will be an unforgettable site.

Sacré-Coeur

Everybody goes to Montmartre to either see the church, historic Paris, or just to experience a place they have only ever heard about. Whatever the reason they make their way up the hill, they stay for the beautiful 360 degree views of Paris. The view of the Paris skyline from the top of the Montmartre Hill is one of the most famous spots in all the city. **tip: climb to the top of the Sacré Coeur for an unbelievable view of Paris and beyond

Tour Montparnasse
I must admit, this is my least favorite building in Paris. It is new and of modern design, 100% not what you want Paris to be. However, the view from the 56th floor makes up for its awkward placement and out of place design. From the 56th floor you will have a birds-eye view of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and the Luxembourg Garden. The open-air roof-terrace is opened to the public and is best for taking photos of Paris’ most famous monuments and landmarks.

Musée d’Orsay
Believe it or not, there are great views from the rooftop of this superb museum, and they’re included in the regular admission fee.

Galeries Lafayette

A rival to the Printemps department store, the terrace might give it a leg up. Sipping on a glass of wine while staring at views of the Grands Boulevards district, Notre-Dame and Panthéon make the Galeries Lafayette a spectacular place to spend an afternoon.

Eiffel Tower

I am so embarrassed to say that I only just experienced the third platform of the Eiffel Tower. It has some of the most incredible views of Paris, which stretch for 70 km, as far as the outskirts of the French capital, Charles de Gaulle airport and the countryside beyond its suburbs. If you want a more up close and personal view of Paris, stop at the second platform where you can view some of the city’s most famous monuments in detail. Because the Tower is a pretty far west you will get the true experience of Paris but not as good of 360 panoramic views like the Tour Montparnasse.

Printemps Haussmannian
Although not quite as high as terraces of other monuments, the free-platform of department store Printemps on Boulevard Haussmann gives a fine view over the roofs of Paris, particularly those of Haussmannian buildings. There is a good perspective leading to the Madeleine Church and the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Notre Dame

At 69 metres high, the South tower of Notre-Dame offers magnificent view over West Paris (from the Eiffel Tower to La Défense and Sacré Cœur). You should stay as long as the guards will let you in order to fully appreciate the moment. This extraordinary view also provides a different perspective of the cathedral’s greenish roof, as well as the clocks and the gargoyles.

Institut du Monde Arabe

I was able to experience this spot with a local photographer, Mary Quincy. She shared her secret spot with me and it was so amazing! As well as being a beautiful building, with interesting architecture, there is a great view of the River Seine, Notre Dame, and Ile Saint Louis. There is a really cute cafe at the top where you can sip on tea and take in the views.

5 Restaurants You Must Visit in Paris

Le Consult

Address: 18 Rue Norvins, 75018 Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 46 06 50 63

* A Montmartre staple! Might be a little touristy but one must at least stop in for a crepe!

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La Maison Rose
best restaurants in Paris

Address: 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 42 57 66 75

* A seriously cute and Instagrammable restaurant in Montmartre. The pink house is a little off the beaten path but still a close walk from all the attractions of Montmartre. It is perfect for a little rest and rosé! Have your camera ready! side note: make sure you don’t go down the big hill behind it (lesson learned the hard way)! It is seriously steep and leads you no where worth seeing! Stick to the side streets or the hill above it!

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Le Comptoir du Relais:

Address: l’Odéon França, 5 Carrefour de l’Odéon, Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 44 27 07 97

*This was a 10 minute walk from my apartment and on the route to my school so I was able to pass it daily! Although I never ate here (the wait can be ridiculous) I highly recommend stopping in for a glass of vin (wine). It is seriously famous and popular amongst travelers! You will chat up some really interesting people and have a great time! Just make sure to get there before peak times! This place fills up quickly! side note: if it gets full go across the street to Les Editeurs! It was my go-to spot in Paris! Fabulous ambiance, delicious menu, and very accommodating!

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Cafe Charlot:
best restaurants in Paris

Address: 38 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 44 54 03 30

* I love the food and ambiance! A very popular french café with some seriously delicious food! Try the chevre salad and creme brûlée – very typical but so good! Oh and maybe go with a friend or two! This place is a really fun little spot to chat the night away!

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Chez Julien:

Address: 1 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 42 78 31 64

* One of my favorite meals in Paris! I went here a few times as it is right next to the Seine and in a really cute spot in Paris! The food is extremely fresh and beautifully served! Be sure to make a reservation and prepare to spend a little more! The prices are higher than other spots but 100% worth it! You won’t be disappointed! side note: If Chez is full walk across the street to the famous Café Louis Philippe for another delicious and very Parisian meal!

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Le Bonaparte:

Address: 42 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France

Phone:+33 1 43 26 42 81

*Located in the 6th arrondissement Le Bonaparte is your typical french bistro! Definitely sit outside for a meal or a quick coffee and watch all the Parisians pass! side note: this is right next to the famous Café de Flore (famous for their hot chocolate) and Boulevard Saint-Germain so be sure to walk around and enjoy the area! It is full of amazing shops and loads of cute cafés!

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