Paris is always a good idea. The city of love has captivated tourists and locals alike for centuries. This was my second time in Paris and I liked it even more than the first one. Now I hope to go back soon! I've put together a photo diary to help you out if you are organizing an upcoming trip to the city of light.
We arrived in Paris around 7pm. The first thing we did was drop our bags at the hotel and start exploring the city. Our first stop was La Tour Eiffel. Even though it was a bit gloomy the clouds made a beautiful sky. Since it was close to golden hour the sun lit up the tower in a beautiful way.
After that we had dinner in the Trocadero area, where we were staying, and afterwards we decided to call it a day. The following day we started off at Hotel Plaza Athenée. This luxury hotel has a stunning façade were the color red predominates.
Next, we crossed pont Alexandre III. Even though it was extremely windy, several photo shoots were taking place on and around the bridge.
The Army museum -pictured below- is part of the complex of buildings and monuments known as L'Hôtel National des Invalides. All of them relate to the military history of France. There is also a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's original purpose.
The last thing we saw before having a lunch break was la Place de la Concorde. For lunch we stopped at Ladurée. Traditionally known for its macarons, it also offers a lunch menu. Even though I had high expectations about this place it turned out to be utterly disappointing. The food is delicious, yes, but scarce. The tables were too small to enjoy lunch and the staff was rather unfriendly and arrogant. Looks like I'll be getting my macarons from somewhere else from now on...
We didn't get much time to rest because we still had plenty to see. I like to plan my trips carefully and to follow the schedule as much as possible. So we continued through Jardin des Tuileries which leads to Musée du Louvre and to Palais Royal.
The weather during our first day in Paris was awful. It was windy, cloudy and terribly cold. We had to stop from time to time at a café to get our strength back. Opposite the Louvre Museum is Le Fumoir. I will let the image below speak for itself. No comment needed, right?
Another stunning building is the city hall or Hôtel de Ville. There were some basketball and volleyball courts in front of the building where locals were playing sports. I had to keep my boyfriend from jumping in and joining the game!
There were two spots that caught my eye near Notre Dame, our next stop. The beautiful restaurant Aux Vieux Paris and the charming bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Both a must, be sure to visit them! I always look for special places to visit on Pinterest other than monuments. I did this before London and also before Paris and I can assure that they never disappoint. They became my favorite spots in those cities.
Photos inside the bookstore are forbidden so I took these from Pinterest to give you an idea of what it looks like inside. Definitely worth a visit if you are a book lover like me.
Jardin du Luxembourg has become my favorite jardin in Paris. The best place to unwind. You can take a walk around the gardens, sit on the iconic green chairs and admire the view or watch kids helping the little ships sail around the fountain.
The Pantheon pays tribute to France's most important public figures. Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie are some of the personalities buried in the crypt.
Since we were in the area we had lunch at Ralph Lauren's restaurant, Ralph's. At this time I will simply say that you must try it. I intend to devote a whole post to it.
Close to Place de la Bastille is Place des Vosges, it's the oldest square in Paris. You can visit Victor Hugo's house there.
Montmartre and Sacré Coeur are classics. I had already visited it once but I didn't care about coming back. The beauty of the basilica and the view of Paris from the top will take your breath away.
We like to go shopping on the last day of our trip. So we went to the most famous department store in Paris, Galeries Lafayette. It's worth the visit even if you are not a fan of shopping. It's a bit crowded, but beholding the beautiful dome is a true pleasure.
We found some other interesting places near Lafayette street such as the majestic Opera building and the cool American restaurant below.
If you are looking for an exclusive gift from Paris, Rose Desgranges is a good place to start. They sell a unique perfume that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Be sure to read the heart warming story behind the perfume here. The store is located on 70, Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, opposite the Elysée Palace. Saint-Honoré is one of Paris' main shopping streets where you can find a wide range of high end stores like Chanel or Comme des Garçons.
Of course we couldn't leave Paris without indulging in some delicious crêpes! Close to Champs Elysées we found La Belle Ferronnière a typical café with friendly staff.
Stay tuned because there will be more posts of Paris soon!
Meanwhile you can read more travel posts here.
