Guide To Paris In The Summer Time
Scott and I always dreamed of visiting Paris for our honeymoon. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew it was not feasible. Nevertheless, we wanted to celebrate our first wedding anniversary with a special trip. At first, we considered New York since it was domestic travel and did not require worrying about COVID-19 restrictions. Luckily, the COVID-19 restrictions started to ease up a bit, making international travel less daunting. We made up our minds in mid-March and had to plan our trip to Paris and Rome by the end of May! It was a bit of a time crunch but it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable trips we’ve ever had! Here’s a quick guide to Paris and our itinerary.
Stay
We booked our stay at a charming Airbnb in Paris called My Maison. I feel so lucky to have found this place as it had a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. It was newly renovated and felt like a spacious apartment that was just like home. The balcony on the 5th floor was a highlight, as we could step out and enjoy the breathtaking view anytime. It was a safe place to stay, and we had no problems during our visit.
went home and purchased here!Where We Ate
Le Pré Catelan: A fantastic Michelin star restaurant on the outskirts of the city. Read more about our experience here.
L’oiseau Blanc: Gorgeous Eiffel Tower views and a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Read more about it here.
Oxte: Unique take on Mexican food. Highly recommend! Read more about it here.
Café Kitsuné: Coffee shop connected to Maison Kitsuné near Palais Royale and the Louvre.
Popu Bistro à Pizza: One of the best pizzas I ever had and was conveniently located to where we were staying.
Amorino: Gelato with lots of unique flavors and fun presentation.
Bleu Olive: Cute little coffee shop off our street.
Starbucks: You have to try Starbucks in a different country! It definitely tastes different and you don’t see French people walking around with their Starbucks on the street. They enjoy it in the café or grab a shot of espresso, drink it, and go on their way.
Café Ruc: This was also a spur of the moment choice because we were so hungry! This cafe has seating outside and is located in a busy area right across from Musée des Arts Décoratifs so you will definitely be entertained during your meal!
Café de la Comédie: Cute café with lots of outdoor seating. I don’t recommend using the restroom here as it is super tiny and is located on a very narrow windy metal staircase. I only know this because I had to change out of my wedding dress in this bathroom when we had our photoshoot. More on that here.
Yannick Martin: Cute little pastry shop. I highly suggest grabbing a pastry and coffee to go and finding a building staircase or park bench to sit on and people watch.
What We Did
Arc de Triomphe: The grand structure is breathtaking as it has so much detail! There is a small museum inside and a very long and windy staircase that leads you all the way to the top of the arch with beautiful city views. There is no public elevator so be prepared to climb up and down the long staircase. The view is worth the climb though!
Alexander III Bridge: Take a stroll on the bridge and admire the beautiful views!
Eiffel Tower: At night, the tower illuminates and puts on a dazzling display for five minutes at the start of every hour. If your hotel room doesn’t offer a view, I suggest finding a nearby location to catch the spectacle.
Louvre Museum: Wow, I had no idea how huge this museum is! It’s definitely worth spending at least a week here. To make the most of your visit, I suggest entering through the mall entrance, The Carrousel du Louvre. Once inside the mall, you’ll see four separate entrances that lead into the museum. Each entrance requires a ticket and a scanner check before entering. Keep in mind that the Mona Lisa is smaller than you might expect, so don’t be disappointed. Just a friendly tip!
Palace of Versailles: Located outside of Paris, this stunning palace is only a 30 minute drive away from the city. While there are numerous elaborate rooms to explore, after a while they may start to blend together. It’s important to anticipate long waiting times, even with tickets, and to navigate through crowds of people as you make your way through the palace. We particularly enjoyed viewing the room of mirrors, but unless you plan on spending the entire day there, it may not be worth the trip.
Place Vendôme: Architecture and high end shopping in one. Beautiful space to walk around and admire.
Catacombes de Paris: If you are a history buff and are not freaked out by human bones stacked taller and wider than you, then this is a must. Scott was eager to visit and surprisingly, I wasn’t too opposed to this. You are underground so it will be easy, smelly, and sometimes wet. There is a self guided audio tour that is offered in several languages.
Rue Cler Market: A cute street filled with lots of daily Parisian life! We enjoyed walking down the street and seeing what kind of things the markets had to offer.
Photoshoot: We hired The Paris Photographer to take some pictures to commemorate our anniversary and it was a lot of fun. Read more about it here.
Orangetheory:
I enjoy my OTF workouts at my local gym, so I decided to try out the gym in Paris. I found out that the studio does not accept online bookings through the app, so you must either call ahead, message through instagram, or show up in person to secure your spot. Fortunately, I arrived just minutes before the class and was able to sign up quickly. However, be aware that you will need to pay separately for each class, even if you have an unlimited membership in the United States. The cost for the class was approximately $20.
The studio itself was impressive, spanning two floors with a spacious lower level for lockers, bathrooms, and showers. During the class, I struggled to understand most of what the coach was saying in French (despite taking four years of French in high school). However, I was able to follow along with the common lingo of “base,” “push,” and “all out.” The only thing I needed to look up on my phone was the conversion from miles to kilometers to match my running speeds.
It seemed that the studio was accustomed to having visitors, as there were several American visitors taking the same class as me. The staff was extremely friendly, and I believe that they all spoke and understood English well.
Helpful Tips
Consider purchasing a Paris City Pass if you are planning to visit many attractions! They offer 2-3 day passes as well as 4-6 days so it is worth it in my opinion.
Bring very comfortable shoes! You will most likely be walking a ton even if you think you are not planning on it. I saw a lot of people wear sneakers but not the gym kind. I would definitely consider bringing something cute and versatile. My Golden Gooses were my go to as they are my most comfortable pair.
Don’t forget to bring outlet converters! Your hotel or even Airbnb might have one but I wouldn’t chance it. My airwrap wouldn’t work with any converter so be prepared that electronics might not work or might charge faster than usual. European outlets have higher voltage so be mindful of that.
Check with your phone provider about traveling and service. Usually, there are packages you pay for as you go so it makes it super convenient to have internet and phone service at any point.
Money. Credit cards are widely accepted in Paris and I would highly research credit cards that offer low or no conversion rates when used abroad! It is always a good idea to have some cash on hand if you go to a market or plan to tip! You can exchange currency at the airport or in the city when you arrive. Tipping is not standard but if you choose to do so, make sure it is in cash because most likely your tip will end up with the owner and not the server.
Get lost in the city! There are so many unique and beautiful streets and places to discover and you never know where you will end up! Don’t forget to bring your iPhone to look up places, use the translator, or get a taxi ride back. You can always look up places to eat nearby too!
Be prepared to smell a lot of cigarette smoke on the streets and anywhere you go, and if you sit outside in a café, the person seated next to you might also be smoking.
Clothing. People really like to dress up no matter where they are going. Leave your leggings at home and bring some cute and fun outfits! Check out what I wore here!
Taxi and Uber. It is pretty easy to get around the city as there are Ubers and Taxis around. Just download the app and you’ll be set! You can pay through the app but I would also have cash on hand just in case.
Stigma around French people. Not once during my trip did I think that French people are rude or mean! They do keep to themselves but when approached, they are more than willing to help. It’s also good practice to make sure you ask whether the person speaks English first before assuming that they will understand you in English.
The weather! It may sound trivial, but it’s important to triple check the weather forecast. During our stay in late May and early June, there was a day when it was unexpectedly freezing, with temperatures dropping to 50°F. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so don’t forget to bring a jacket or sweater for such situations.
Our trip to Paris was unforgettable, and we regret not being able to explore everything we wanted to. This city is too unique and vibrant to visit just once. Do you have any Paris recommendations? I would love to know about your favorite spots and activities. Let me know in the comments below!
Click here to shop my looks and here to check out my Michelin guide.
