MY LAST trip to France wasn’t really about visiting the most romantic city on earth, but focused more on its Eastern side, in the Alsace region. But it still gave me the chance to squeeze in a couple of days wandering the streets of Paris.
It’s hard not to love the City of Light. Though you need to keep an eye on dog poop on the sidewalk, Paris still boasts breathtaking architecture, glorious food and je ne sais quoi (essentially something that cannot be adequately described or expressed) that makes one excited to keep coming back.
With a limited stay of a few days, I had to compress my itinerary to include a few favorite haunts with some never-before-seen places; in Paris, there’s always something new and interesting to discover, especially restaurants.
A useful website is Parisbymouth.com, Instagram @parisbymouth, where I found most of the places I enjoyed during my stay; for less expensive accommodations, Airbnb.com is the site to go to, plus it allows for a more local experience depending on which arrondissement (administrative district) best fits your personality.
I prefer Le Marais, which spans the 3rd and 4th arrondissements because it’s accessible, feels relatively safe, and has a lot of cute boutiques for people who like non-department store shopping. It’s also close enough to reach by walking—and you should take advantage of walking when in Paris—and also easy to reach via the Paris Metro subway.
Breakfast
In the morning, walk down the street and you will most likely find a boulangerie (bakery) in a few minutes. Grab some croissants, pain au chocolat and croissants aux amandes to take home for breakfast.
Alternately, you can walk to the nearest cafe, probably also a few minutes away from wherever you are staying. Order a petit dejeuner (breakfast that usually includes a roll and coffee or tea). It’s typical for a Parisian to have something hot like a café au lait or chocolat chaud and some form of bread with butter and jam.
I love a freshly baked baguette with strawberry jam, and hot chocolate in the colder months.
Afterward, the day is yours, depending on your interests. But here are my suggestions for a fulfilling short visit:
Breathe in some culture. I would save the Louvre Museum for a longer stay since it’s so big and there is so much to see. But for equally impressive collections, check out the Musée d’Orsay, the Grand Palais, or the Centre Georges Pompidou, all great museums in their own right. The Centre Georges Pompidou has an awesome view of the city.
Paris is virtually one big, beautiful museum. There’s so much to see in terms of architecture and even street art, so don’t forget to look around once in awhile.
Stop counting calories
It’s so easy to find real good food in Paris, so don’t even think about stepping into a fast-food joint! You can actually keep your energy levels up and stay full just by eating bread and pastries from the bakeries that are on every street corner. Have a street crepe.
For something different, check out Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki for some French pastries with a Japanese twist.
For a sit-down meal, try the iconic Café de Flore for lunch. While a bit pricey, the goat cheese salad is worth it; and you get to sit in the same place where the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre used to hang out.
In the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower is a good place to have lunch—Les Cocottes, which is a few streets away where you can get a filling prix fixe (a complete meal offered at a fixed price).
For dinner, consider a small wine bar called Juveniles in the 1st arrondissement. You will love its pâté de campagne (French forcemeat loaf) cooked in a glass jar, and the wide assortment of good wine.
Go shopping
Paris has a lot of cute boutiques not found in Manila. There’s Sandro, a store full of simple yet stylish basics with a French edge; The Kooples, though with two distinct collections for men and women, has a largely masculine feel. Delphine Pariente offers dainty necklaces and bracelets with French inscriptions, as well as delicate rings and other accessories.
A trip to Paris won’t be complete without dropping by Colette for some ultra-cool stuff that you might not be able to afford, but hey, it’s free to look!
Gardening
Well, not exactly, but Paris has some of the best-looking and biggest gardens that are perfect picnic spots during the summer and fall months. Bring a blanket, grab a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine and you are all set.
There are the famous Tuileries and Luxembourg gardens, but if you want to go more local, make your way to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont or Parc de Belleville for some spectacular views of the city.
Find the happiest place on earth. I went to Disneyland Paris for the first time and, despite the cold winter weather, had a blast. It’s really like revisiting one’s childhood. Aside from enjoying your favorite rides, not to miss is Ratatouille: The Adventure—something you will only find in Disney Paris.
Apero! I guess the closest translation of the French term apero is Happy Hour, but it’s not really the same. After work and before dinner, there is time in which the French enjoy a few drinks (aperitif). Find a café, sit alfresco and order Kir, a light white wine, or, for the more adventurous, there’s pastis (anise-flavored spirit).