I’d been to Paris once before, checking off the key “tourist” spots like visiting the Lourve, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visiting Versailles, etc. This time was going to be different - just my sister and I. We were both looking for a more low-key Parisian experience. I was thrilled for us to travel alone together for the first time, and what better place for a girls trip than Paris? We were eager to explore new neighborhoods, wander quiet side streets, and enjoy a daily cappuccino (or three), all at our own pace.

There is so much to do in Paris, and it can be quite overwhelming to try to do it all. We made a list (or rather, I made a very detailed Excel sheet) of all the places, cafes, neighborhoods, and shops that we wanted to see to ensure that we made the most of our week-long visit. I’ll start off below with a list of my recommendations for what to do in each district of Paris, and then I’ll give you a full recap of our trip!

xx, Heather

Recommendations for What to Do in Each District of Paris

Latin Quarter

Take a stroll through the Luxembourg gardens, then walk over to Café de Flore for a coffee or brunch. Walk along Place de l'Odéon which is lined with shops and other great cafe sightseeing (ex: the famous Les Deux Magots).

Champs-Élysées

Book a table on the outdoor patio at Cafe L’Homme at the Trocadero for the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower (and less tourists). After walking over to the Arc de Triomphe, swing by Ladurée for a macaroon, and the gorgeous Plaza Athénée hotel. If you’re in the neighborhood at night, be sure to catch the Eiffel Tower lit up - it’s gorgeous when it sparkles over the Seine.

Montmartre

Do a self-guided walking tour, stopping at cafes and restaurants like: Le Deux Moulins, Le Moulin de la Galette, La Maison Rose, and Le Consulat. Visit the outdoor artisan market and antique markets along the way like L’Objet qui Parle. One restaurant we didn’t get to eat at because it was closed, but was on our list, is Le Refuge des Fondues.

Palais Royal

Grab an early breakfast at Angelina (before the line is out the door) for the most delicious hot chocolate in Paris, then tour the Louvre and Tuileries gardens just a few blocks away.

Opera

A must see, and relatively uncrowded when we went, is Palais Garnier, home to the Paris Opera. The main foyer is a copy of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, but without the hassle of a train ride to Versailles.

Ile de la Cité

Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in the morning before it gets super busy, then head to the Sainte Chapelle - a stunning church with the most exquisite stained glass. Visit Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole cafe for a quick bite, or just a photo op.

Le Marais

Walk along Rue des Rosiers, the old Jewish Quarter, for food & shopping. Many of the streets are pedestrian-only and the vendors are extremely friendly to tourists stopping in. Make your way over to the beautiful Place des Vosges for a picnic, or relaxing on the grass.

7th Arrondissement

There are tons of great little hidden gem shops and patisseries near Rue de Bac. We stumbled upon Beaupassage, a quiet open-air market between rue du Bac and rue de Grenelle. Walk across the Pont Alexandre III Bridge and grab a glass of rosé at one of the bar/restaurants along the river.

Recap of my Paris Trip

To start, we researched each of the districts in Paris to help decide where we wanted to stay. On top of online research, I purchased the book Sundays in Paris as a guide. I actually ended up packing this book in my suitcase so we could use it as a resource in the morning before we left for the day.

After going back and forth between Airbnbs or hotels, we ultimately booked a small hotel on the edge of the 5th and 6th arrondissements - the Latin Quarter & Saint-Germain-des-Prés - and were in awe when our room had a small balcony opening to a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

I loved staying in this area as we were just around the corner from the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. Our first day, I arrived hours before my sister so I found a relaxing spot in the garden to read. We were also a short walk to the Seine and views of the Louvre across the river. The pathway along the river became my favorite destination for morning runs.

Each night, after a long day of exploring, we often found it easiest to stay close to home for dinner and drinks. Luckily Saint-Germain has a ton of bars, cafes, and restaurants, all within walking distance from the hotel.

The great thing about Paris is there’s something to see nearly everywhere you walk - we walked over eight miles some days! I definitely recommend comfortable walking shoes if you plan on wandering on foot. For the majority of our trip I wore sneakers, sandals, or shoes with a low heel. See exact links to everything I wore in Paris in this post. We only took the metro on one occasion - getting to and from Monmartre, since this was completely across town from our hotel.

We were extremely fortunate with the weather in Paris and had 80 degrees and sun every day, with the only exception being the day we left for the airport. We truly lucked out. Of all the things we did and saw while in Paris, one of my favorite memories is our last day in the city. We bought a bottle of local rosé and a block of fresh cheese from a few street vendors and sat on the side of the River Seine late in the afternoon.