Paris

Introduction

The City of Lights has been attracting romantics and Francophiles for centuries with its baroque architecture, world-class shopping, renowned museums, iconic landmarks and elegant cuisine. As you meander down its broad boulevards and winding streets, taking in the city’s distinctive and inherent culture, it’s hard not to be enchanted. During our trip to London, my parents and I took a brief jaunt to Paris for a power tour of the city’s most prominent attractions.

I always sing the praises of tours, as they are the most efficient way to hit all of the essentials when you are in a new metropolis. They also usually feature a guide who is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and more than happy to share what they know about the city with you. I suggest Paris in a Day.

One of the many reasons I travel is to meet adventurous, interesting people along the way. On our day trip to Paris, my parents and I met a young guy named Kofi in our tour group. He was from Atlanta by way of Ghana, visiting his sister in London but striking out on his own while she was at work. We adopted him for the day and he hung out with us as we traveled around to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Latin Quarter, and ate lunch at a Parisian cafe. It was fun to hear him tell us about his experience coming to the U.S. and showed us photos of a recent Ghanaian wedding he attended in Philadelphia. Apparently Ghanaians in America have two weddings: one traditional and one “white” wedding.

It seems that almost every trip I take, I have an experience or meet someone that enriches my life going forward. These times remind me of why I don’t drink. It allows me to be clear, open and ready for a new adventure.

If you are spending more than a few days in Paris and looking for the top places to take a day trip, I suggest you check out this list from The Files Abroad!

Getting Around

Paris is always choked with traffic, so public transportation is the way to go. Luckily, the city’s subway and bus system is convenient, safe and efficient. The city is very pedestrian-friendly, and it also has a bike-share.

The city is organized by arrondissements, or districts, numbered from 1 to 20. Arrondissements 1 through 8 contain attractions such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. The higher the number, the further out you are from the center of town. You can find some beautiful parks and green spaces on the outskirts of town, and the Palace of Versailles is located about 20 kilometers beyond the city center.

If you are staying outside Paris or are traveling in from other parts of Europe, the train is your best bet. The Eurostar high-speed rail took us from London to Paris in less time than it takes to get from Philly to New York. With no traffic jams!

Where to Stay

In Paris, there is no shortage of preeminent hotels offering a high-end experience, including the Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, Shangri-La and The Ritz. If you want to ball out in the same haunts as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and foreign dignitaries, those would be the accommodations to consider. AirBnB, however, lists well-appointed 1-bedroom residences in trendy areas like Le Marais and Latin Quarter for between $160-$250 per night–more than reasonable for a very expensive city.

For the best comparisons, prices and maps, I use Booking.com. It’s a go-to for many seasoned travelers, and loyal customers receive significant “Genius” discounts of 10-15%, which adds up over time! In addition to hotels, there are often well-priced vacation rentals listed on the platform as well.

Fun Activities

• Latin Quarter

The 5th Arrondissement is located on the trendy Left Bank of the Seine River, adjacent to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Walking through the neighborhood’s windy, narrow streets you will find bistros, chocolatiers, and bakeries. It is also known for its bookshops, including the famed Shakespeare & Company.

• Notre Dame

A few months after returning from our trip to London and France, I was at my gym watching a newscast on the communal TV screen when video flashed of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in flames. I had to excuse myself to the restroom because my eyes filled up with tears. During our visit to Paris I was fortunate enough to experience the monolithic beauty of the cathedral both inside and outside its walls, and immediately recognized the importance of this landmark to the French people. The structure took decades to build and was ruined in the flick of a cigarette. It was heartbreaking. Thankfully, the government has begun the restoration process, but it will take years. In the meantime, you can still appreciate the cathedral from afar.

• The Louvre

Located in the heart of Paris in the 1st arrondissement, The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and best known as the home of the Mona Lisa. With a collection of more than 600,000 pieces dating back to ancient civilization up to modern day, you could spend a week wandering around its expansive halls.

• Shopping on The Champs-Élysées

One of the most famous commercial streets, the Champs-Élysées is a broad 2-kilometer boulevard connecting the Arc de Triomphe with the Place de la Concorde. It is lined with restaurants, luxury brands including Louis Vuitton and Ferrari, flagship stores, museums and night clubs.

• Boat tour on the Seine

For fairly cheap, you can book a no-frills cruise down the Seine River, past landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay and Notre Dame, and listen to the audio tour offered in multiple different languages. There are other boat tours available on Viator and Tripadvisor, but they usually are expensive and include booze.

Running

Paris hosts the second-largest annual marathon in the world, so there are plenty of runner-friendly routes around the city. During our boat tour, I spotted joggers on the right side of the Seine on a section called Les Berges, between Pont de l’Alma and the Musée d’Orsay. There are plenty of green spaces, promenades and canal paths in other areas of the city, including the Canal Saint Martin in the 10th arrondissement and the Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th.

Food

• Crepes

Crêperie Genia is quite literally a hole in the wall, tucked into an historic Parisian building on a narrow Parisian street. They pour the batter onto the griddle in front of you, fill it with Nutella, fruit or whatever your heart desires, and hand it to you through the window, piping hot. My crepe was filled with Nutella, fresh strawberries and bananas and I thought I died and went to heaven.

• Chocolate

There are top-notch chocolatiers in pretty much every neighborhood in Paris. A notable cluster of them are located in the Latin Quarter, where we purchased about 14 pounds of chocolate. Dark chocolate, chocolate with nuts, truffles–you name it, it’s there. In addition to chocolate, Maison Georges Larnicol offers pastries and confectionaries as well.

• Service

The stereotype that French people are rude to tourists who don’t speak French is true. We sat down at a bistro for lunch and ordered our meals. There was a French family with multiple children who sat down 15 minutes after us and ordered after we did–and their food came out before ours.

Recovery Meetings

Here is a list of in-person English-speaking meetings happening in Paris.