Hi adventurers! Welcome back to Faraway Fable. Paris is one of my favorite destinations I’ve ever travelled to as a city that celebrates the arts in all its colors. From my favorite classic stops to hidden gems and sweet treat spots, here’s a guide to the top destinations to add to your Paris itinerary.
The Louvre
Yes, you likely know about this pick already, but a trip to the City of Lights would not be complete without a visit to the Louvre. Originating in the 18th century, the Louvre is famed all over the world for its collection including Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus de Milo, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, and more. Organized into three wings: the Richelieu Wing, the Sully Wing, and the Denon Wing, visitors journey through sculptures, paintings, antiques, and more from the 7th millennium BC to the 1850s.
The Eiffel Tower
Another staple of the city, on your trip to Paris you at least have to stop by and take in the Eiffel Tower. My favorite time to visit is at night, when the tower lights up in a sparkle of light, the reflections glittering across the Seine. If you are looking for an added experience, you can elect to go inside the tower with the purchase of a ticket. Guests may visit the first and second floors as well as the top of the tower with ticket purchase. However, access to the gardens and the walkway beneath the tower is free.
Odette Patisserie
Odette is one of the most photogenic spots in Paris, a striking black and white façade with flowers trailing down from the window box above. The building is near Notre Dame and the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, making it a perfect spot to stop for a sweet treat in between the two. The patisserie is known for its cream puffs, with flavors including caramel, coffee, passion fruit, pistachio, and more. Guests can indulge in a specially selected cream puff box or place an order for custom cream puffs decorated for celebrations, brands, etc.! Whether for the old Parisian aesthetic or the sweet treats themselves, make sure to stop by Odette on your next trip!
Moulin Rouge
I don’t know about you, but I grew up on Baz Luhrmann’s masterpiece Moulin Rouge! and have always wanted to see the iconic red windmill in real life. Moulin Rouge has been a part of the City of Lights since 1889, hosting the Féerie Revue show with more than eighty artists dancing the night away through the legendary French Cancan and more. Though my family and I didn’t get a chance to see a revue show on our last trip, simply going to Moulin Rouge to witness the beauty of its exterior and the stark contrast of the iconic red windmill against the backdrop of the city makes the stop worth it.
Shakespeare and Company
Shakespeare and Company is perhaps my favorite stop on the list. First opening in 1951, the bookstore has gained international acclaim with writers such as James Baldwin, Paul Auster, Alistair Horne, and Jeanette Winterson being visitors. George Whitman, who founded the bookstore, explained “I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations.” And when you visit, it truly feels like you are wandering through pages of a book, the rooms winding and guiding you through to discover more of the story. If you’re a fellow book lover like me, make sure to add the famous independent shop to your list of must-visit stops.
Notre Dame
Being a central part of the city of lights for over eight hundred years, Notre Dame cathedral is one of the most breathtaking sights in Paris. While the exterior of the cathedral is a sight to behold on its own, there are a few ways for guests to experience the sight. Notre Dame is open to all visitors, and you may reserve your spot a few hours in advance of your visit in order to avoid the long lines of visitors at the entrance. To enhance your experience, you can purchase a visitor’s guide for ten euros to see an illustrated guide to some of the history and architectural design behind the cathedral. There is also a pilgrim’s guide available for five euros to accompany prayer at the cathedral.
For admission to the cathedral treasury which houses ornaments, liturgical books, and sacred objects, you must pay an admission fee of twelve euros. There are also free tours of the outside of the cathedral conducted by volunteer guides. Tours are conducted daily in French, English, and other languages depending on which volunteers are present.
Whichever path you choose to visit the cathedral, consider adding it to your Paris itinerary!
Ladurée
For the last item on my list, I had to include my favorite spot for a classic sweet treat: the French macaron. Ladurée is known for its luxurious takes on the classic French treat, with flavors such as Marie-antoniette tea , orange blossom, classic raspberry, lemon, and more.
Thank you so much for reading today’s blog, I hope you enjoyed a look at some of my favorite destinations in Paris! If you have any questions about any of the adventures mentioned today, let me know in the travel questions form. Have any recommendations on where I should travel next? Let me know in the recommend an adventure form.
