✨ Paris Travel Guide (from someone who has wandered it all!)

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Paris was the first city I fell in love with—my first love—and before you knew it, I was planning my alternate life as a Parisian. My apartment was covered in Paris décor (shout out to my Eiffel Tower-shaped cheese grater and matching soap dispensers), and I was making my way back again and again, immersing myself in all the charming corners of the city.

This is a city where you stroll, sit, and soak it all in. The biggest mistake people make in Paris is treating it like a checklist.

It's about a baguette and a bottle of wine along the Seine. It's about watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle from Champ de Mars. It's about sitting on a terrace with the iconic outward-facing chairs, sipping slowly and people-watching as some Parisian blows second-hand smoke in your face from a table approximately 1 cm away (but it's kind of okay because... Paris). It's about kicking off your shoes and sinking into one of the iconic green chairs at the Tuileries or Luxembourg Gardens while the world passes by.

After some very, very, very thorough research, I can't gatekeep my favourite spots any longer.

And don't forget to ask me about my Travel Consultations, Trip Planning, and On-Call Travel Buddy services if you'd like help curating your dream trip.

This guide is a mix of iconic sights, hidden neighbourhoods, speakeasy bars, cafés, parks, and places to stay—essentially everything I recommend when friends ask me what they should do in Paris.

🚶‍♀️ BEST THINGS TO DO IN PARIS: THE ICONIC WALKING ROUTE

If you only do one thing in Paris, do this walk.

Start at Notre Dame, wander the Seine bookstalls, continue to the Louvre, stroll through the Tuileries Gardens, and cross Place de la Concorde.

From here, either:

  • continue up the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe

  • wander Avenue Montaigne if luxury shopping is your thing

  • or (my personal choice) continue along the Seine toward Pont Alexandre III

Cross the bridge, continue toward Trocadéro, then grab a baguette, cheese, and bottle of wine and finish at Champ de Mars beneath the Eiffel Tower.

I first fell in love with Paris on this route. You'll notice that so much of the city is designed around symmetry and grand sightlines. From the Louvre, you can look straight through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, down the Champs-Élysées, all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. Even the grand buildings flanking Place de la Concorde mirror one another. This city is a work of art.

🌿 BEST PARKS IN PARIS

Parisians live in their parks and I think we could all learn a little something from that.

  • Jardin du Luxembourg - Perfectly manicured, full of locals reading, picnicking, and pretending they have nowhere to be.

  • Tuileries Garden - Iconic symmetry, fountains, sculptures, and those iconic green chairs you need to sink into to live your best Parisian life.

  • Place des Vosges (iconic Le Marais), Buttes-Chaumont (more lush/local), Parc Monceau (very chic and elegant, tucked into the wealthy 8th arrondissement)

🌸 Bonus (seasonal tip)

If you’re here in spring: take the RER to Parc de Sceaux for cherry blossoms. It feels like stepping into a completely different country.

🍷 WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN PARIS

Some of the best Paris experiences are also the simplest.

  • €1–€2 croissants + orange juice breakfasts

  • Walking with a baguette (non-negotiable Paris moment)

  • Wine and cheese in parks (I’ve discovered  the best cheese is Comté but it MUST be aged 18-24 months!!

  • Crêpes - street stalls are the best (Nutella or jambon fromage), but also OBSESSED with the galette at Breizh Cafe!!

  • Kebab or falafel late at night

  • Macarons from Ladurée

^^It’s very important to adhere to a strict French diet.

Honestly, I’m not a foodie so I don’t have a big curated list of delicacy destinations — I usually am busy walking everywhere and just stop wherever’s cute & has a terrace.

But here are some of my notable restaurants based purely on vibes:

  • In Saint Germain: Maison Sauvage, Le Mabillon, Cafe de Flore,Les Deux Magots,

  • around Eiffel Tower: 20 Eiffel, Emily, and anywhere with a tower view!

  • Trendy delish Italian, any of the Big Mamma Group  Restaurants - I’ve been to Pizzeria Popolare, they all look absolutely stunninggg!!

📍 MY FAVOURITE STREETS + SQUARES IN PARIS

  • Rue Cler near Eiffel Tower - sidewalk seating, cheese, bread, and flower shops. 

  • Place de la Contrescarpe / Rue Mouffetard for crepes 

  • Place du Tertre or Rue de l'Abreuvoir in Montmartre

  • Anywhere along Île de la Cité (the island in the middle of the Seine, near Notre Dame

🍸 BEST SPEAKEASY BARS IN PARIS

Speakeasying here is a WHOLE lifestyle and I strongly recommend planning a speakeasy hop like it’s a scavenger hunt.

Hidden cocktail bars:

  • Candelaria (through a taco shop)

  • Little Red Door (through a… you guess it… little red door)

  • Lavomatic (through a laundromat machine)

  • Moonshiner (through a pizza place)

  • Danico (behind Daroco restaurant)

Other vibey drinks spots:

  • Experimental Cocktail Club 

  • Chez George

  • Mary Celeste

  • Le Syndicat

  • Chez Jeannette (street spill-out energy)

🎷 BEST JAZZ IN PARIS

  • Baiser Salé (upstairs jazz sessions)

  • 38Riv (intimate live jazz)

  • Caveau des Oubliettes (lively, crowded, underground)

  • Caveau de la Huchette (historic, touristy but iconic - featured in La La Land!)





🏛️ CULTURE + ICONIC PARIS EXPERIENCES

BOOK ICONIC PARIS TOURS HERE


🛍️ BEST SHOPPING IN PARIS

  • Le Marais (boutiques + concept stores)

  • Rue de Rivoli (classic shopping strip)

  • Saint-Germain-des-Prés (more upscale shopping)

  • Champs-Élysées (luxury + flagship stores)

  • Galeries Lafayette (glass dome interior is worth it alone)

🏙️ BEST AREAS TO STAY IN PARIS

🥇 Le Marais (best overall)

  • Central

  • Speakeasy hotspot

  • Great cafés + nightlife

☕ Saint-Germain-des-Prés (quintessential Paris)

  • Café culture

  • Romantic streets

  • Movie-version Paris

🎓 Latin Quarter (lively + more affordable)

  • Student energy

  • Crepe streets (Rue Mouffetard)

  • Walkable everywhere

✨ République / Oberkampf / Belleville (local feel)

  • More affordable stays

  • Bars + nightlife

  • Less touristy

💎 Champs-Élysées / Louvre / Concorde (luxury core)

  • Expensive but iconic

  • Walking distance to major sights

  • Extremely central

🏛️ Montmartre (romantic, artsy + hilly)

  • Sacré-Cœur views

  • Charming streets

  • More budget-friendly stays

BEST HOTELS IN PARIS

FIND HOTELS IN PARIS BY NEIGHBOURHOOD & BUDGET

Some of my personal favourites are below! In my opinion, location is everything in Paris, so I recommend searching by neighbourhood and seeing what’s available!

  • Hôtel Parc Saint-Séverin - A charming 4-star with balconies, tucked into the Latin Quarter near Notre-Dame and Saint-Michel. Fun, vibrant, and perfectly located for walking everywhere.

  • Hôtel des Orfèvres — Brand new when we stayed in June 2026, charming and modern, in a surprisingly quiet pocket between the Louvre and Le Marais with the river steps away. Ideally central without feeling like it.

  • The Ritz — The ultimate. I somehow hit the jackpot and stayed here once, and I will never fully recover. Even if it's not in your budget, pop into the Hemingway Bar at the back for an outrageously expensive, oh-so-worth-it cocktail. If those walls could talk…

  • Hôtel Plaza Athénée — Iconic for a reason (yes, Carrie Bradshaw and Taylor Swift approved). Even if you're not staying, duck in to see the legendary garden courtyard.

Other hotels I'd happily recommend:

  • Le Pavillon de la Reine — Hidden away on the stunning Place des Vosges in Le Marais, this elegant boutique hotel somehow feels like a secret despite its iconic address. Quiet, romantic, and perfectly positioned for wandering one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Paris.

  • Hôtel Dame des Arts — Contemporary, stylish, with one of the city's best rooftop bars and an unbeatable Left Bank location.

  • Hôtel Providence — Full of character, beautifully designed, and ideal if you love the Canal Saint-Martin/Upper Marais area.



🧭 PARIS TRAVEL TIPS

  • Best time to visit: April–June, September–October

  • Walk as much as possible

  • Download the Ile de france app and purchase transit passes ahead of time

  • Download your offline map and @airalo eSIM card (use my link! 🤍)

  • Book Eiffel Tower / major attractions in advance

  • Don’t over-plan — Paris rewards wandering

  • Expect strikes, chaos, and beauty simultaneously




Paris is a city that rewards wandering. Walk farther, linger longer. Order another glass of wine. Let the energy of the city surround you.

The magic isn't in checking off the sights—it's in everything that happens in between.

❤️ Until next time, mon amour, Paris.

ParisKellie Paxianthings to do in Paris, Paris travel guide, where to stay in Paris, Paris itinerary, best Paris speakeasies, Paris walking route, Paris cafésComment