The perfect weekend in Paris would combine just the right amount of shopping, sightseeing, fine-dining, and pastry eating. I have put together a guide to having a wonderful time over a long weekend in the beautiful City of Lights. Enjoy!
Pastries and Dessert:
Laduree ~ French Macarons and desserts
Angelina ~ Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, Dessert... Perfect
- Hot Chocolate L'Africain (Chocolat Chaud) - The richness of the famous old-fashioned hot chocolate, served with a small pot of whipped cream
http://www.angelina-paris.fr/
- Luxurious pastries like the Saint Honoré - Puff pastry, caramel-coated pate a choux, soft caramel, whipped Bourbon vanilla cream
Pierre Hermé ~ pastries from "the Picasso of pastry"
Le Boulanger des invalides: jocteur ~ inexpensive, yet quaint Parisian cafe perfect for breakfast, lunch, and anything in between
- Hot Chocolate, hailed the "best hot chocolate" by Jordan of Oh Happy Day
- Chocolate Croissants, Fresh Baguette, Apple Tarts... this charming bakery is piled high with delectable treats for any palette
Paris's best croissants:
- Au Levain du Marais ~ Croissants with extra-crips ends, while the delicately layered center is soft and tender
- La Pâtisserie by Cyril Lignac ~ Beautifully crisp croissants
- Du Pain et des Idées ~ Artisanal croissants that are more substantial with a sturdy crust and hearty interior.
- Pâtisserie Boulangerie Blé Sucré ~ Best Croissant in Paris: With its crackly glazed crust, tender interior, and enchanting quality, what sets this croissant above the rest is the masterful hint of French sea salt in the dough
Scenery:Velib ~ Bike rental service
- Take a bike, return it where you like, Vélib’ is a self-service bike system available 24 hours a day, all year round. To access the service, buy a 1-day or a 7-day ticket online or at any Vélib’ station or sign-up for a long-term subscription
- Year-long Passes cost only 29 € and Day Passes are a steal at only 1,70 €!
Rue Montorgueil-Les Halles
- One of Paris' oldest market streets, Rue Montorgueil is a pedestrian-only zone lined with some of the city's best fish, produce, and fine grocery shops.
- Les Halles Shopping Center: This monstrous shopping center in Paris was, up until the mid 20th century, the location of Paris' most important open-air market. Les Halles is notoriously labyrinthian and difficult to navigate. Plans to completely remodel the shopping center are in the works.
http://goparis.about.com/od/parisneighborhoods/ss/Montorgeuil_Pix.htm
Montmartre Cemetery ~ Ryan Goseling and Eva Mendez' famous macabre hangout
Le 104 ~ A fantastic art museum Featuring a Carousel and interactive art exhibits
Food and Dining:Refuges des Fondue ~ best fondue in Paris
L'As du Falafel ~ best falafel in Paris
Chartier ~ has a historic ambiance and boasts a classically French menu
Le Timbre ~ inexpensive French fare
http://ohhappyday.com/paris-guide/Best of Paris:1. BEST PLACE TO WATCH A PARIS SUNSET
Go to Pont Neuf, walk down the steps behind the statue of Henry IV and walk to the tip of the Ile de la Cite, where the entire city of Paris began as a Celtic village. Watch the sun slip away. If you have the luck of some clouds and some sun at day’s end, you will be amazed by the shades of pink in the sky and will no longer wonder why “La Vie en Rose” is a song associated with Paris.2. BEST PLACE TO LOOK AT FLOWERS
The Marche aux Fleurs on Ile de la Cite. Really nice way to warm up, inside the green houses. It is the bird market on Sundays, as well. So neat!3. BEST PARK CAFÉ
The café in the Tuileries gardens in front of the Louvre. Great place for an awesome croque monsieur (grilled ham and cheese) and hot chocolate when you’re taking a walk.4. BEST PARK IN PARIS
Jardins de Luxembourg, where there’s a boat pond and children play, even in winter. The French Senate building is here, and it was formerly a Medici’s palace. A very beautiful park to go to!5. BEST MUSEUM IN PARIS
Musee d’Orsay is amazing, and you should plan on spending at least 3-5 hours here, but for a really intimate view of several modern master’s works, stop by l’Orangerie when you walk through Tuileries (this may be reopened after renovation now, but I’m not sure.) If it is again re-opened (or if the collection’s being housed elsewhere, great Modiglianis and Monet’s Water Lilies! Somehow, on weekdays, crowds always seem to miss this one.6. BEST VIEW IN PARIS
From the Pompidou (also known as Beaubourg) by locals. The museum has several of the most recent modern masters, and there’s always a lot going on at the plaza in front and at the nearby funny fountain!7. BEST ICE CREAM
Berthillon, on Ile St-Louis. Also known as Ile de Johnny Depp, where he lives! Mango’s my fave, but they’re all really tasty. No address required. If you get to Ile St-Louis, you can say the name and someone will point you there!8. BEST SHOPPING STREET
Hands down, rue Faubourg St. Honore, which eventually turns into a full-fledged rue. On the Rive Droite! (Other side of the river from you! Just start walking from near the Metro stop for St. Philippe le Roule.) A nice mix of shops that will make you drool with a few you can still afford. Colette’s a neat one, like a museum of all that is good and perfect for shoppers, with a collection that is still, for some items, affordable (213 rue St Honore). Some of the chocolate shops on this street will make you weep just looking at them! Avenue Montaigne’s another great shopping street, but that’s almost solely for “I’m crying. My life would be perfect if I had that Valentino dress,” window shopping.
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