We recently went to Paris for the first time ever! This trip was a bucket list item for me but I was pretty nervous going into it. We booked everything pretty last minute (with less than 2 months’ notice). There were so many things we felt unsure about, but we gave it our all and ended up doing a pretty wide variety of things. Today I wanted to share with you my Paris must-do’s from an American perspective.
I am thankful we had a good amount of help from a friend who is from France. She was a wealth of knowledge and gave us some great recommendations – plus, she helped us to narrow down what was important to us. So here are some must-do’s for your Paris trip – hopefully it is helpful! Stay tuned for another post on our FAVORITE things we did in Paris. And check out more Paris blog content here and on Instagram.
1. Stay In A Good Arrondissement
Location, location, location! Location is everything! There is so much out there on suggestions of where to stay in Paris. I know for me personally it was extremely overwhelming! While I would’ve loved to stay at a stunning luxury hotel, our time restraint did not allow for that budget unfortunately. Our friend recommended us a few Airbnbs in areas she thought were perfect for first-timers. While ultimately we didn’t end up going with an Airbnb (I wanted the familiarity of a hotel brand I knew and trusted, as I knew it would help my travel anxiety), we did stay in a hotel near one of the options she sent us.
We ended up in the 8th arrondissement – and we loved it! I’m a pretty picky traveler and I would certainly recommend where we stayed to Paris first-timers. We stayed at the Hilton Paris Opera, which was a great price point and overall great experience! It was super close to Galleries Lafayette – a shopping lover’s dream! We were able to walk to the majority of places we wanted to go within 15-20 minutes. Anywhere across the river we Ubered for convenience. If you’re planning to use the Metro, this hotel is perfect as well because it’s right next to a major station.
A pro of picking a hotel vs. an Airbnb is that they can hold your luggage on arrival and departure dates. We arrived early in the morning and they were able to give us an available room, which was fantastic – and a luxury that isn’t normally possible with a rental. Don’t be those people lugging your luggage around the cobblestone streets of Paris!
After exploring the city for a few days, I did kind of realize where I would NOT stay when we eventually go back to Paris. Those locations include areas super close to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower – while they offer easy walking access, these areas were extremely touristy and the only spots we spotted scammers on our trip. And during the summer, the scammers in the area multiply significantly. Plus, many of the stores and restaurants near these areas were super kitschy, reminding me of something you’d see in an American tourist trap.
Another good rule of thumb to consider is stay in a lower arrondissement. The higher the number, the more sketchy the area could be. We were told by many people to avoid the 18th/19th, especially at night! Plus, some of the higher numbered arrondissements we drove through, like the 11th and 12th, looked a lot more city-like than the typical Parisian, historical look. I personally wouldn’t recommend those areas as you probably won’t get the vibe you’re looking for when going to Paris. While Paris is overall still a city, some areas we saw in the in the 11th/12th had skyscrapers like you’d see in America!
2. Don’t Go To The Louvre
Yeah, you read that right! DO NOT go to the Louvre! I mean, I suppose if it’s your lifelong dream, go ahead and do it. But we were 50/50 on it, and our French friend recommended to skip it, and I am so glad we did!
It’s common knowledge that the Louvre is HUGE. But until you see it in person, you truly don’t understand. This place stretches about 1/2 mile along the river… I knew it was big, but even pictures do not do it justice compared to seeing it in real life! We were recommended to do the MusĆ©e d’Orsay instead, which is right across the river. This was so much better, and while we were able to spend a good amount of time there, we never got lost and we didn’t spend the entire day there. You still see so many of the same artists, it’s just a lot more digestible. For reference, our native-French speaking friend did the entire Louvre and it took her 8 days… Make sure you buy tickets in advance and the earlier you can get there, the better!
3. Blend In
This might be a hard pill to swallow for some Americans, but blending in can get you a long way in France! While this was another tip from our friend, this is something we planned on attempting anyway. And honestly, this got us a lot further than we thought it would.
What do I mean by “blend in?” I would suggest wearing more neutral colors, especially if visiting in the fall and winter. No loud prints or large brand logos, and the simpler the better. Don’t talk “loud” in public places, and overall try not to draw attention to yourselves. One thing that was hard for me specifically was to not smile at strangers, as I grew up somewhere where everyone smiles and holds the door for everyone. They don’t do that in France, and it will be a dead giveaway that you’re American. Also, try to know where you’re going before going out, especially if you’re taking the metro. Try to know what line you need to take, etc.
Why does all of this matter? Well, most of the time people will treat you better, as crazy as that is to say. In America, many of us find out someone is a tourist and are even nicer than usual, but we have heard that most people in France are not like that. Also, drawing attention to yourself can easily make you a target for pickpockets and scammers. We were not bothered once on our trip. If someone tries to approach you, keep a straight face and keep on walking!
4. Plan Ahead For Specific Spots
While I do recommend giving yourselves time to explore and “get lost,” I would be sure to plan ahead for many parts of the trip. Some of these include restaurants and museums – and I’d recommend getting reservations and buying tickets ahead of time. This will guarantee your spot and prevent you from waiting in long lines. For museums, I’d recommend as early of a time slot as possible.
As for Notre Dame, a popular spot to visit, you can get free tickets ahead of time but only by a few days. This process was tough and confusing for us, and we ended up not being able to get tickets. While tickets are not required, a standby queue may form. We ended up going to Notre Dame on Saturday morning right after their morning mass. This worked out perfectly for us and we had no wait, even without tickets! So if you can’t snag those tickets ahead of time, I recommend arriving around the time morning mass ends.
When I am planning travel, I love doing my research on restaurants and shops I want to go to. And I know I’m not alone that my social media algorithm becomes very curated to my destination very quickly! I’d recommend keeping a note on your phone with all of the spots that catch your eye. This way, as you plan your trip you can revisit these ideas and decide when would be best to visit each spot. Paris is HUGE – it’s not always practical to pop from place to place all day. I had a list, and knew – for example – when we visited Notre Dame I also wanted to go to “xyz” shops nearby. This helped me make sure I didn’t forget anything I definitely wanted to do, and we made efficient use of our time!
Just remember there is no way to see and do it all! Being able to prioritize the “must-do’s” is important to not feeling overwhelmed. Communicate with the other people in your travel group so everyone gets to do at least a few items on their bucket lists.
5. Prepare For Various Kinds of Weather
Going to Paris in the winter can be quite the gamble. However, it is a more affordable time of year to go which can make it totally worth it! While the weather was much warmer there (in the 40s) than in Pittsburgh, I still feel like I wasn’t fully prepared on what to expect. Packing for a winter trip can be hard as well, as items are bulkier and create more luggage. Knowing the proper pieces to pack and rewearing items is crucial!
When traveling in general, it’s important to be prepared for any weather. Paris is no different. I was wearing long underwear on certain days of the trip, while on others I only wore a sweater. Layers are your best friend, especially when going in the fall and winter! I found it to be really toasty indoors many places, so being able to shed layers as needed is really nice. It would be smart to bring layering sweaters and jackets – and wear t-shirts under pieces.
I’d also highly recommend a pair of waterproof shoes, as Paris is rainy many times of year, but especially in the winter. While we didn’t experience heavy showers, it did rain quite a few times. When you’re walking a lot, waterproof shoes are essential – I wore these Sorel boots. Also bring a good umbrella – we used this one from Amazon that is anti-wind and was AMAZING. I will definitely be purchasing another to have on hand!
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I hope you all enjoyed this post with just a few of my Paris travel tips! While I am by no means an expert, hopefully this will be helpful to those of you also traveling there for the first time. As always, feel free to contact me directly for tips or recommendations on any travel you see me do! Don’t forget to sign up for my email list down below to be notified the next time I post.
Cheers!
xoxo
Jayme
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