Someday when this pandemic ends and we get back to traveling, Paris is going to be high up on my list to get back to. My favorite city in the world, I was making every effort to visit at least once a year and was able to make that happen for about a decade. Now that we’ve spent the past year going basically nowhere, I find myself thinking often about Paris and how much the city draws me in. I miss it with everything I have and somedays, I find myself escaping there in my mind to remember what it felt like to walk the cobblestone streets of the Left Bank or to sit on a bench in the courtyard behind Notre Dame with a croissant and an Orangina in hand. So for now, until I can get back to the City of Lights, I’ll just be daydreaming about my favorite spots in Paris that I can’t wait to get back to.
Île Saint-Louis
Perhaps my favorite area of Paris, this little island in the middle of the Seine is home to tiny little streets, my favorite restaurant in Paris (see below) and just an amazing little area to spend time in Paris. It’s the first place I head when I arrive in the city!
St. Germain
This area on the Left Bank of Paris is my favorite large area of the city, ranging for quite a ways along the Seine, this area is home to lots of famous cafes, but my favorite way to enjoy St. Germain is just to stroll with no real agenda in mind. Maybe stop for Laduree macarons on Rue Bonaparte and then continue on, munching on macarons and enjoying the scenery. Sometimes I’ll walk all the way from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower through St. Germain, just to take in all the sights for a lovely day in Paris.
The Trocadero down by the Seine
The Eiffel Tower has long been one of my favorite world monuments but honestly, being at the Eiffel Tower most times is so crowded with tourists that it makes it feel really overrated. Over the years, I’ve found the best way to take in the tower without the crowds and the secret is on the other side of the Seine near the Trocadero. Walk down the steps to the river and sit on the banks of the Seine to see the Eiffel Tower without any tourists around. Most of the time at this spot, you’ll be one of the only people down there and the views are incredible.
Jardin du Luxembourg
There is perhaps now better way to spend time in Paris than picking up a baguette, some croissants and Oraginas and heading to the Jardin du Luxembourg for a picnic in the sun. This park on the Left Bank near the Panthéon is my favorite park in Paris. It’s also generally fairly tourist free and you’ll find locals out and about enjoying their day here.
The Garden behind Notre Dame
While the front of Notre Dame Cathedral will almost always be packed with tourists, the small little park behind the church is generally tourist free. You’ll find locals sitting on park benches reading newspapers or enjoying a coffee and it’s one of my favorites spots in the whole city. No matter the season, this little park behind the famous Notre Dame Cathedral is the perfect spot to spend an hour just watching the world go by.
Cafe St. Regis
And last but most certainly not least, my favorite restaurant in Paris couldn’t not make this list. The Cafe St. Regis on the Île Saint-Louis is our first stop for a meal once in Paris. I dream about their Chicken Paillard year round and paired with a lovely French Rosé, I’m not sure if anything could be more French and more lovely.