Paris, je t’aime.
Some cities you visit. Others become a part of you.
Paris was a city I had always dreamed of visiting. When I finally made it there, I fell completely in love — with the beauty, the atmosphere and most of all… the food.
I have now visited Paris three times, and every time I return, it feels like returning home. It is where a piece of my heart lives.
And yet, after three visits, I still do not feel as though I have explored enough.
Paris has no shortage of incredible things to see and do, but if you are visiting for the first time, there are a few experiences I would definitely include.
No trip to Paris feels complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. I recommend visiting before sundown, so you can take in the views across Paris during the day and then watch as the city slowly comes alive and lights up around you at night.
Once darkness falls, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes at the beginning of each hour. She puts on her show, and for those few magical minutes, everyone stops to watch.
Head to the top at least once — and, in my opinion, a glass of Champagne at the Eiffel Tower is mandatory.
Travel tip: Make a night of it and enjoy dinner nearby afterwards. There are some beautiful restaurants around the Eiffel Tower, including options where you can dine with incredible views of the Tower itself.
For another incredible view of Paris, head to the Arc de Triomphe. From the top, you can look across the Champs-Élysées and see Paris in every direction.
Combine a visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle. Both are located on the Île de la Cité, making them easy to visit together.
Sainte-Chapelle is famous for its spectacular stained-glass windows and is simply stunning. Afterwards, spend some time wandering around Notre-Dame and exploring the surrounding streets.
A Seine River cruise is another beautiful way to experience Paris and see many of its famous landmarks from a completely different perspective.
Take a sightseeing cruise during the day, or make an evening of it with a dinner cruise along the Seine as Paris lights up around you.
One of the best ways to experience Paris is simply to wander. Walk along the Seine, stroll through the Tuileries Garden, stop at a café and explore the little streets you discover along the way.
And, of course, there is the food.
I ate my way through Paris, embracing French cuisine — confit de canard, escargot, beef tartare, French onion soup, croque monsieur, crêpes and crème brûlée — accompanied, naturally, by plenty of Champagne.
If there is one tour I recommend, it is a walking food tour. Our guide combined French history with incredible local food as we explored the streets of Paris, stopping at cafés, markets and places we may never have discovered on our own.
Along the way, we sampled fresh baguettes, French cheeses, pastries and local produce — Paris is definitely not the place to start a diet — before making one very special stop: the original Ladurée on Rue Royale, where the story of Ladurée began in 1862.
Those who know me well will understand just how happy this made me. I was in macaron heaven!
After three visits, I remain convinced of one very important travel fact:
Macarons simply taste better in Paris.
If you are looking to avoid the peak summer heat and colder winter weather, April to May and September to October are great times to visit Paris, with generally milder weather for exploring.
I have visited in September, November and December, and I loved each month for different reasons.
September was beautiful. The weather was pleasant for exploring, with comfortable days for walking and that lovely beginning-of-autumn feeling in the air.
November brought cooler weather and far fewer crowds.
We could explore Paris more easily, and there was no queue at Notre-Dame, so we could walk straight in.
And then there is Paris at Christmas.
The streets glow with lights and decorations, shop windows come alive and Christmas markets fill the city with festive treats and gifts.
And, of course, no trip to Paris would be complete for me without a visit to Disneyland Paris. Both times I have been, I was lucky enough to experience the park decorated for Christmas. They go all out for the festive season, and you definitely do not need to be travelling with children to enjoy a little Disney Christmas magic.
If I had to choose? I would happily visit Paris during any of them again.
Each time I have visited Paris, I have stayed in a different area, giving me the chance to experience different sides of the city.
My favourite has been around the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. I have also recommended this area to many of my clients, who have loved staying there too.
Yes, it is touristy, but the location is fantastic. You are close to major sights, restaurants, shopping and transport, making it a convenient base for exploring Paris.
For a little more Parisian neighbourhood charm, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Le Marais are both great alternatives.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés has beautiful streets, cafés and boutiques, while Le Marais is filled with historic streets, cafés, restaurants and plenty of atmosphere.
Give Paris more time than you think you need.
I recommend at least three nights, but ideally four to five nights, particularly for your first visit.
Trying to squeeze Paris into a day or two means missing one of the best parts of being here — simply experiencing the city.
Stop at the café. Walk along the Seine. Browse the market. Buy the pastry.
Paris is not a city that needs to be rushed.
Paris is also easy to combine with other destinations as part of a larger European holiday.
With high-speed rail connecting Paris to cities across France and neighbouring countries, you can continue your travels without having to fly.
Eurostar connects Paris with cities including London, Brussels and Amsterdam, while France’s wider high-speed rail network opens up even more possibilities. We caught the Eurostar from Paris to Amsterdam and it was effortless.
Three visits later, Paris still does not feel “done” to me.
There is always another neighbourhood I want to explore, another little street to wander, another café to discover and, of course, another pastry waiting to be tried.
Perhaps that is why I never feel finished with Paris.
It is not somewhere I feel I need to tick off a list.
It is somewhere I simply want to return to.
And every time I leave, I know I will want to come back.
A little piece of my heart will always live in Paris.
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