26 Things Everyone Should Experience in Paris
My sister Jill just returned from a 10-day trip to Europe that spanned Florence, Naples, Sorrento, Paris and Amsterdam.
To say that I was a little jealous would be an understatement.
As we sat in her apartment, eating Dutch cheeses and French mustard, talking about everything she’d saw along the way, I found myself thinking about our own trip to Paris, now almost 3 years ago! We spent 5 days exploring the city (definitely not enough), and I’ll never get over the beauty and charm that surrounded us on every corner. It was our last big adventure together before deciding to settle down and start a family, not knowing when we’d have the chance to make such a trip again.
As I started flipping through the photos on our computer, little bits and pieces of the trip that had gotten lost in my memory suddenly came back: the sidewalk cafes where we’d stop for lunch and watch the Parisians passing by, the narrow streets we’d find ourselves lost in while trying to navigate by paper map, and the wonderful feeling of being free in a city where everything was new and exciting. These are a few of our favorite places in Paris that stand out most in our memories:
These are a few of our favorite experiences in Paris that stand out most in our memories:
The quiet gardens behind Notre Dame…
…and the scrolling wrought iron balconies adorning every building.
The love locks of Pont de l’ArchevĂŞchĂ©.
Tiny winding streets that led to tiny bookstores and artisan food shops.
Stunning Sainte-Chapelle and its stained glass windows.
The patisserie around the corner, where we’d grab our daily eclairs or macarons or pain au chocolate.
Our adorable chambre de bonne in the 5th arrondisement…
…and the little Frenchie children that would trot by every day on their way home from school.
The Eiffel Tower in the early morning rain…
…and the anticipation of the ride up to the top.
The magic of the twinkling lights at night…
…and drinking French wine with every meal.
Feeling so small inside the pyramid at the Louvre.
Riding the metro all over town…
…and taking photos of every entrance.
The doors and windows looking out to the gardens of Versailles…
…and getting lost in the gardens themselves.
Marie Antoinette’s hamlet tucked far behind Versailles.
Everything about Le Barav (especially that foie gras)…
…and afternoon mile-high lemon meringue at Le Loir dans La ThĂ©ière.
The strange beauty of Père Lachaise…
…and sipping champagne on the River Seine.
The views through the clock at MusĂ©e d’Orsay…
…and more views from atop the Arc de Triomphe.
Walking Rue Mouffetard nearly every night…
…and a fabulous anniversary dinner at Frenchie to cap off an amazing trip.
Looking back at these photos, one thing is clear: we’ve not even begun to scratch the surface of this big, big world and have so many adventures yet to take.
What are your favorite spots in Paris?
Read Next: 10 Things You Need to Experience in Rome
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