Are you looking for a comprehensive, authentic, cultural, exhaustive guide to visiting Paris full of the best affordable hotels, unique restaurants, museums, dance clubs, bakeries, fun activities, and photo spots? I’ve got a comprehensive list of all of those to help you make the most of your stay in Paris.
Hotels:
I recommend staying centrally located in order to easily visit the touristy spots on foot, and to stay the safest.
Hôtel La Comtesse Tour Eiffel – Eiffel tower view, 4 star boutique hotel in the 7th arrondissement, only a 8 minute walk from the Eiffel. The standard rooms are quite small, but it’s centrally located.
Hotel le Derby Alma – another 4-star boutique hotel only 5 minutes away from the Eiffel tower. The rooms are impeccably clean and the customer service is friendly.
Hotel Relais Bosquet by Malone
Restaurants:
Le Train Bleu
Andia
Pink Mama
Poulette
Cafe de flore – in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood
Gigi – live music & Eiffel rooftop view
Girafe
Loulou
Coco – near Palais Garnier
Ralph’s Garden
Le Cafe Marley
Amourette Passy
Violetta et Alfredo
Langosteria
Terra Nerra- Emily in Paris restaurant
Deux molines – dinner from Amelie in Latin quarter
Cafe le Jardin du Petit Palais
Les Jardins du Presbourg
Cafes
Angelina
Carette
Ritz
Dior cafe
Boulangeries (Bakeries):
Bo&mie
Comptoir du Ritz
Pierre Hermé – (try their famous crémé brûlée macarons)
Laduree
Bars:
10eme Ciel (bar close to eiffel-but closed) – not very lively, but good for a photo spot
Eiffel Tower Photo Spots
Trocadéro
Pont d’Iéna on the Seine River – links the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank to the district of Trocadéro
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
10eme Ciel – Pullman Tour Eiffel Hotel rooftop bar
Avenue de La Bourdonnais
Rue de l’Universite
Avenue de Camoëns
Rooftop of Galeries Lafayette
Train – line 6 between the stops Passy and BirHakein (sit on the right side of the train facing the rear if you’re heading towards Charles de Gaulle Etoile)
Top of Arc de Triomphe
Museums
Louvre
Musée de l’Orangerie
Musée d’Yves Saint Laurent
Musée d’Orsay – old train station, lots of statues, pretty small
Musée Rodin
Musée Marmottan Monet
Musée de l’Orangerie
Galleries Dior
National Archives Museum – good photo opp
Other Places:
Palais Garnier
Palace of Versailles – book a bike ride through the gardens
Tuileries gardens
Jardin luxembourg
Jardin du Palais Royale
Hotel de la Marine(art gallery inside too)
Halle Saint Pierre bookstore
Fontaine Bleau Chateau
Petit Palais
Rue Cremieux – colorful street
Seine River cruise
Sacre Coeur
Top of Arc de Triomphe
Le Marais neighborhood
Montmartre neighborhood: portrait artists, Van Gogh historical sites
Shakespeare and Company
Caveau Le Huchette