Romantic Paris: Discover the best sites of Paris for your dream trip!
When it comes to the best sites of Paris, people assume it’s the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe or Notre Dame.
But for me, the most beautiful and unique thing we experienced was the Le Marais neighborhood. It was our first full day in the city, and we intentionally did not plan to go to any of the well known sites, as we figured we would be tired and want a more leisurely day. We slept in, showered, and then walked to a grocery store and boulangerie for breakfast items. Once we had full bellies, we made our way on foot to Le Marais - the 3rd Arrondisment.
I had read that this neighborhood was known for being very charming and romantic, and it also sounded like it would be far less tourist. Naturally, I was very drawn to it, and it absolutely did not disappoint! We walked over 7 miles, gazing at gardens, popping into shops, and of course… sitting on one of those outside patios to eat while people watching.
I highly recommend exploring this neighborhood by foot on your next visit! It was an absolute dream!
Here are some other romantic Paris ideas…
-An after dark dinner at Poulette. This restaurant will make you feel like you’re in an old Parisian film! The detail of the wall behind the bar is stunning, and the food is delicious! I highly recommend the flourless chocolate cake - it’s been a month and I’m still thinking about it!
-Spend a late morning meandering through the less touristy part of Montmartre (basically anywhere west of Rue des Saules, and north of Bd de Clichy), and eventually make your way to lunch at Le Coq & Fils. It’s a chicken restaurant - likely the best chicken you have ever had!
-Plan to have dinner at Le Bistro Marbeuf to enjoy some classic French food. The ambiance is romantic, and the service is excellent. This was one of our favorite meals of the trip!
-For a relaxing afternoon, take a book or a journal and sit in the gardens of the Luxembourg Palace. It’s the perfect place to people watch and enjoy a slice of heaven in the midst of busy Paris.
-Walk through the Jardins des Tuileries after a visit to the Louvre or Musee de l’Orangerie. From there, walk along the Seine and eventually make your way to the Ponte Neuf Bridge - the oldest bridge over the river. I highly recommend starting in the gardens during golden hour, and ending along the river during blue hour.
-Spend a day at Versailles imagining what the life of the royal family would have been like. Before you enter, stop by a boulangerie or market to pick up some items for a picnic on the palace grounds. They have restaurants on site, but between the crowds and the reviews that say the food isn’t anything special, we opted out. To make the most of your experience, I highly recommend downloading some podcasts about Versailles to listen to either on the way, or as you walk the grounds!
-If you’d like a romantic experience of exploring Les Marais (3rd arrondissement) like we had, I highly recommend checking out Musee des Archives, having coffee at Noir, purchasing a photography book from OFR Bookshop, and grabbing dinner at Les Vitelloni.
Dying to know more? Don’t worry, I have more blogs in the works for you! :)
A VIEW OF PARIS:
Golden hour in Montmartre is a dream!