Paris – the city of love, croissants and so much more. This fall I spent 4 days in this glorious city again. It had been a while since I had been here, but my travel partner, Tammy, had never been, so we did a mix of traditional and unique experiences to get a feel for the city.
We decided to stay in the Le Marais district; Le Marais blends medieval charm with modern flair – smaller hotels, cobblestone lanes of chic shops and galleries, and great restaurants. Its compact, walkable streets, central location and easy access to public transportation make it the perfect place to call home.
Tammy suggested we try the Hop On/Hop Off bus for a day – and I’m glad we did. Seated on the upper deck, we drove past Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées and more, all without battling Paris’s notorious traffic. Just a heads-up: it’s perfect for sightseeing, but don’t rely on it to get around – hopping from stop to stop can take two hours to reach the Eiffel Tower, whereas the Metro will have you there in twenty minutes.
If you know anything about me, you know that I love food tours, so I couldn’t go to Paris without taking one. We were fortunate to find one right in our neighborhood where we sampled many French specialties including pastries, cheeses, chocolates, Beef Bourguignon, Pâté en croute, Croissant pissaladière, and of course, wine. We left with full bellies and a greater appreciation for the neighborhood we were staying in.
We took a guided tour of the Louvre. Covering over 783,000 ft² of gallery space and comprising 403 rooms, the Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. It houses more than 380,000 works from antiquity to the 19th century. We had an amazing guide who shared stories about the pieces of art that she showed us. Did you know that the theft of the Mona Lisa was not even discovered until 24 hours after it was stolen?
One evening, at Tammy’s request, we splurged on dinner in the Eiffel Tower. I braced for overpriced mediocrity but was delighted by truly delicious dishes and those iconic, sweeping views. It’s a one-time treat I’m glad we tried – though, to be honest, I probably won’t book it again.
The highlight for me was visiting Giverny, Monet’s Gardens. Even though it was September, the gardens were beautiful with flowers in bloom at every turn. I know it sounds cliche, but it really is like stepping into one (or many) of Monet’s paintings of his gardens, lily ponds and Japanese bridge. I could have spent hours walking along the paths and enjoying the garden’s peaceful beauty.
With every bite of a flaky croissant in Paris, every awe-struck moment in the Louvre, and each step through Monet’s living masterpiece in Giverny, I was reminded why Paris never loses its spell. Four days allowed us to blend iconic landmarks with local treasures – from bustling food tours to a sky-high dinner at the Eiffel Tower – and come away with fresh stories at every turn. Whether you’re stepping onto Parisian cobblestones for the first time or returning to old favorites, the City of Light will always leave you longing for one more stroll.
Sara is the owner of Platinum Travel and specializes in creating luxury, customized, stress free vacations for people who want to see the world and all things Disney. You can reach her at 414-377-8611 or Sara@PlatinumTravelWI.com to start planning your vacation today.
