This post contains affiliate links to Tripadvisor.
You probably won’t have to try too hard to have a memorable time in Paris. Having a memorable Paris trip is pretty much a given when you visit this romantic city – however, you probably don’t want to have the exact same trip you’ve heard about from everybody else. Below, you’ll find 15 ways to have the most memorable Paris trip with some helpful tips. Enjoy!
15 Ways To Have The Most Memorable Paris Trip
See Some Famous Graves
Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is where you’ll find the graves of many famous people. Located in the northeast corner of Paris, the Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the most visited cemetery in the world. Over 800,000 people are buried here, including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. There are many other famous residents, including Chopin, Moliere, Edith Piaf, and Rossini. It’s actually a beautiful place with some impressive headstones and tombs and well worth a visit. Many people like to leave trinkets at Jim Morrisons grave, and there’s even a tree covered in multicolored chewing gum. You never know when you might find somebody quietly playing The Door’s songs and swaying sullenly to the music, either.
Enjoy As Many Of The Culinary Delights As You Wish
What’s the point in visiting Paris if you’re not going to sample all of the culinary delights it has to offer? Aside from all of the cheese and fresh pastries, make sure you have some Crepes! One of the best things to do while in Paris is to eat. If this sounds good to you, then booking a food tour could be a good way to go! You’ll visit some of the very best places in the city and enjoy some amazing foods.
Plan For Plenty Of Galleries And Museums
There are so many galleries and museums to choose from in Paris, so make sure you plan to visit many of them. Of course, you shouldn’t try to cram too many into a weekend or you won’t be able to appreciate them fully!
The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. This building was once the home to French Kings, including Louis XIV. The Louvre was converted to a museum during the French Revolution in the 18th century. You could spend days here and not see it all. The highlights include the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.
Musee d’Orsay houses the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world. You’ll be able to enjoy the works of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Degas, and more here.
Musee de l’Orangerie is a small museum with just a few oval rooms that feature Impressionist artwork. The highlights of this museum are the eight Water Lilies murals painted by Claude Monet, which span the whole panoramic space of a room. You can also see art by Picasso, Sisley, Cezanne, Matisse, and more.
15 Ways To Have The Most Memorable Paris Trip
Visit The Flea Markets For Trinkets And Souvenirs
There are many incredible flea markets in Paris, and they are perfect for picking up trinkets and souvenirs that you can take home with you to remember your trip. You’ll also find many stalls set up along the Seine River, selling used books, magazines, and artwork. This tradition of selling used books along the Seine started in the 16th century and this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You could easily buy a few used books and other goods on your way to visit some of the museums and galleries listed above.
Walk As Much As You Can – And Get Lost
Paris is a city that should really be navigated on foot. You never know what you might miss if you don’t make the effort to explore on foot! You should even get lost on purpose, as there are so many beautiful things just waiting around the corner. This way, you’ll get the opportunity to peek behind those doorways and discover the hidden gems you might have otherwise missed.
If you don’t want to navigate Paris alone, the Le Marais walking tour will show you the best of medieval Paris, and there are a few more walking tours you could take part in. While many companies offer ‘free’ tours with the expectation that you’ll tip the guide at the end, you’ll find many self-guided tours if you type ‘free & self-guided walking tours in X’ into your phone browser.
Don’t Miss Some Of Paris’ Beautiful Bridges
There are a total of 37 bridges and footbridges along the Seine, connecting the Left Bank to the Right Bank. Some of these bridges are the most beautiful bridges in Paris and should not be missed, no matter the goal of your trip! The best known bridges in Paris include the oldest one, Pont Neuf, which began construction in 1578. The Pont de l’Alma has a history and is a magnet for tourists, as it is the place where Princess Diana died tragically in the year 1997.
Have A Picnic On The Seine
The Seine is a wonderful place to stroll arm in arm with a lover or friend and find a spot to have a picnic. Take your own cheese, croissants, wine, and a fresh baguette, or if you prefer, you could order pizza from the Pink Flamingo. They’ll give you a balloon and deliver it straight to your spot when it’s ready!
You could even try the Canal St Martin, which is more popular among the locals.
Take Yourself For An Espresso
Take yourself on a coffee date with a book, just like the Parisians do! Enjoy your tiny but mighty espresso drink with your water on the side (to cleanse the palette), and take your time with your book. You could even just people watch. This could also be a great idea for a date in Paris. Coffee dates are a great alternative to going out to expensive restaurants!
Learn A Little French Before You Go
The French people will really appreciate the fact that you tried to learn some French before arriving. Learn the basic phrases and it’ll make your trip so much more manageable at the very least. In some places, being polite in French might even get you a little bit knocked off the bill.
Book Your Eiffel Tower Tickets In Advance
If you really do want to visit the Eiffel Tower, the smartest thing to do is book your tickets in advance. Otherwise, you’re looking at a 2-3 hour wait. The Eiffel Tower is beautiful, but it is usually packed full of tourists, so don’t expect to have the place to yourself – and don’t expect to enjoy it if you don’t like crowds. If you want to give it a miss, head somewhere you’ll be able to see it lit up at night time instead, like the Trocadero or a cruise on the Seine.
Walk Along The Champs Elysees
It’s touristy, but you have to do it! It’s one of the most recognizable streets in the world. Plus, you’ll be able to grab some macarons from Laduree while you’re there, which you will not regret.
Buy A Book From Shakespeare and Company
Located on Paris’ Left Bank, Shakespeare and Company is a small but very famous bookstore. It’s very small and cramped inside, and this can be difficult when other tourists are around – there’s even somebody on the door to make sure there’s no funny business. This bookstore was frequently visited by authors like Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Ezra Pound. Now, it has lots of modern books and the classics you’d expect, and when you buy a book from there you get a special stamp! It’s quite the experience and one all avid readers and bibliophiles should have.
Take In The Views From A Rooftop Bar
There are so many restaurants that will give you the most amazing view of the city. You could enjoy the sunset and some French cuisine at the same time at a place like Le Perchoir or 43 Up on the Roof.
Visit The Catacombs
The Catacombs will take you under the streets of Paris in a sort of labyrinth lined with human bones. During the 18th century, cemeteries around Paris were cleared and the bones were moved to underground tunnels. Six million Parisians currently rest here.
Don’t Dress In Fancy Outfits
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make in Paris is to dress in fancy outfits. You might want to show the French what you’re made of, but this is something you will no doubt end up regretting later on down the line. You want to be comfortable while you’re exploring, and the last thing you want to think about is how much your feet are hurting. Take a sensible pair of shoes or trainers to navigate the Parisian streets. It’s also worth noting that in some clubs, the dress code is very casual. You might be turned away if you’re too dressed up, so bear this in mind!
Hopefully, you now have lots of ideas on how to have the most memorable Paris trip!
Leave a Reply