Paris
Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With its beautiful architecture, delicious food and lively nightlife, it's easy to see why people flock to this city every year. If you're planning a trip to Paris, this guide will help you make the most of your time there! We'll recommend some areas to explore, including some great restaurants, cafes and nightlife spots. Let's get started!
Paris guides
Fun things to do in Paris
Go for a run 🏃
Going for a run is a great way to explore the Seine river and take in some sights whilst burning off some calories from all the pastries you’re going to eat.
Leaving our hotel, a 5KM run took us past:
The Eiffel tower
The Sienne river
Place de la Concorde
Jardin de Tuileries
The Louvre museum
If you’re a bit fitter, you could extend the run to the Notre Dam and end at the Pantheon to tick off most of the main tourist sights in a single morning.
Picnic at the Champ de Mars (Eiffel Tower)
Picnicking next to the Eiffel Tower is a truly remarkable experience. The views are breathtaking, and the entire atmosphere is filled with excitement and joy. During the day, you can grab food from a nearby bakery (cheese, wine and bread, of course), but we prefer visiting the iconic landmark at night with a bottle of wine to watch it sparkle!
The Eiffel tower sparkles for 5 minutes on the hour, every hour, from sundown but in a bid to save energy the last sparkle is now at 11pm.
Emily in Paris tour
If you’re a fan of the show, then your Paris trip should include visiting some hot spots from Emily in Paris.
Le Flore en l’ile - A café to sit and drink wine looking out over the river
Place de L’estrapade - You’ll find Emily’s house and Gabrielles’s restaurant in this pretty square
Place de Valois - Emily’s office and the cafe they lunch at, right outside.
We used some electric scooters to get around the sites, which was the perfect way to explore the city without having to sit underground away from the sites.
Getting around Paris
We used the Metro to get to a certain area when in a rush, but then we would either walk or use the many electric scooter services to get around during the day. It’s the best way to explore a city without being couped up underground and missing the chance to sight see.
The Metro is exceptionally well connected with a single ticket costing €1.90 or you can buy a book of 10, making it even cheaper. You can also buy a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day or 5-day travel pass. We found that a book of 10 alongside the electric scooters was the best and most cost-effective way of getting around.
If you do use electric scooters, make sure you buy a day pass as it will be much cheaper than paying for individual trips.
Our Paris lists
See our Paris map below for a complete list of recommended cafes, bakeries, bars, and restaurants.
Our favourites include:
Bakeries
Pain pain - a boulangerie near the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The eclairs (available in a variety of flavours) & the apple and cinnamon pastry are a must.
Du Pain et des Idées - We’d recommend the pistachio chocolate snail pastry and grab a coffee from the hatch. Closed on Saturdays & Sundays.
Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Terroirs d'Avenir - Cute, yellow front, bakery on Rue du Nil (a street with a cremerie, coffee shop, chocolate shop). Perfect foodie place to start the day.
Markets
Marché des Enfants Rouges - a foodie’s playground.
Wine bars
Chez Nous - buzzy cheese and wine bar. Our favourite spot in the evening.
Early June
The Butcher of Paris - (tasting counter in the market, which is perfect during the day for a tipple and a meaty nibble).
Restaurants
Sacrée Fleur - french classics in a rustic dining room. The steak frites with a trio of sauces was mouth-wateringly good.
Frenchie - a trendy eatery spotlighting sophisticated small plates & craft cocktails.
Malro - a modern Italian restaurant with an RnB/ Hip hop playlist. Would recommend it if you want a trendy, young feel and are craving a spicy marg.
Roger La Grenouille - would recommend just for the frog leg lollipops.
Nightlife/ Bars
Moulin Rouge - speaks for itself really but for those who don’t know it’s famous for its cabaret. Make sure to book in advance for a night to remember!
Little Red Door - cosmopolitan, cosy cocktail bar
No Entry - speakeasy cocktail bar
L’Arc Paris - club with a roof garden providing city views
Raspoutine - chic nightclub with a strict entrance policy
Our Paris map
How to use our maps
Click on the menu icon on the top left to show a list of all places on the map. You’ll find our notes by clicking on each place.
Click on the fullscreen icon on the top right to open the map in Google Maps.
Discover Rue de Nil, Paris's gastronomic epicentre, and explore its transformation from an overlooked alleyway to a foodie's paradise. Dive deep into renowned establishments like Frenchie, and unearth hidden gourmet treasures in the heart of the city