When you mention France, the first thing that comes to mind would be Paris for sure. Paris is named “The city of love” by many writers, poets, and musicians as well, since they all found inspiration from the beauty of this city. Paris is definitely the first place you need to visit in France, you can aim to spend between 3-5 days there and it would be enough.
5 Hidden Gems In Paris
1. Catacombes De Paris (Catacombs Of Paris)
Catacombes de Paris are underground ossuaries in which holds the remains of more than 6 million people. I know this is a bit dark, but it’s interesting. The catacombs were installed in the tunnels of former quarries, it is quite interesting to learn more about it, and I would suggest to visit as well.
It is open from 09:45 until 20:30 everyday, expect on Mondays as it is closed on this day.
2. Coulée Verte René-Dumont
The Coulée verte René-Dumont or also known as; Promenade plantée René-Dumont is a 4.7 km elevated linear park that is built on top of obsolete railway infrastructure in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, and it was inaugurated back in 1993. It is really beautiful and interesting, and it is a must visit in Paris.
It is open on weekdays from 07:00 until 21:30, and on weekends from 08:00 until 21:00.
3. Petit Palais
The Petit Palais is an art museum located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, and it was build for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, which now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts. The Petit Palais is easy to find since it is located across from the Grand Palais on the former Avenue Nicolas II, which is known today as Avenue Winston-Churchill.
It is open from 10:00 until 18:00 everyday, expect on Mondays as it is closed on this day.
4. Le Marais
Le Marais is on of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Paris and it is a must see. You will find a lot of restaurants, vintage shops, luxurious and ancient squares, and much more!
5. Rue De L’Abreuvoir
Rue de l’Abreuvoir which is known to be the most beautiful street in Paris! The street is located on the charming hills of Montmarte, and you can easily take a morning stroll or walk and enjoy its beauty. Be aware, that since this street is famous; it will obviously be very busy.
Montmartre was once a small village located on the hill, but it now became the 18th district of Paris. Montmartre is one of the most charming and prettiest villages in France, and it is a worth visit, and as mentioned if you are looking for cheap accommodations then you will find plenty in Montmartre. Many poets, musicians, and artists would come here in order write or paint since they get inspired but the beautiful scenery.
The world famous Moulin Rouge is located in Montmarte, and since Montmarte is know for its windmills, Moulin Rouge is one of the most famous windmill there.
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How To Get To Paris
It is easy to get to Paris by plane at the Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports, you can easily find international flights from all over the world to get there. You can find cheap flights on WayAway. Also, if you are in Europe, you can easily find train and buses through Omio, FlixBus, and Kiwi.com. My favourite app to use whenever I am in Europe is Omio!
How To Move Around Paris
Once you reach Paris, the airport is connected to a train station so it easy to get into the city from there. When moving around the city you can get the metro or the tram, you can buy tickets from any metro station or from a tram stop, you will find ticket machines at each stop.
The metro has over 300 stations so you will be able to go to where you want easily, and as mentioned you don’t need to only use the metro you can also use the tram or even the bus, it depends on what’s easier for you.
Best Time To Visit Paris
The best time to visit Paris would be during the Springtime, between March and May since it is the best and most pleasant season. If you want to visit during the summer time, then you can visit between June and August, and the winter would be between October and November, be aware aware that during those two months in the Winter; it starts getting wet and cold but the weather is still good to visit.
However; it gets crowded during those times, so if you are travelling on a budget and want to avoid the high-season, then you can visit between December and February, but be aware it is off-season because of the Winter weather and the cold.
Accommodations In Paris
If you want to stay in the best area in Paris, then that would be Le Marais since you will have access to everything right near you such as restaurants, shops, and you can also walk to most sites or even take them metro, but be aware that the budget would be a little bit pricey. If you love to be near restaurants, then you can choose to stay in Saint-Germain, and you will also be close to most sites and attraction as well. You can also stay in Montmartre which is right outside of the city and it is budget friendly since it is filled with cheap accommodations but it is absolutely beautiful and filled with charming streets.
You can book your accommodation through Booking.com, which is the one I use the most, or if you wan to stay in a hostel you can book through HostelWorld. You can also use Agoda, Trivago, or Vrbo to book your accommodations. I know most people have a favourite website or app to use, so just choose what you prefer best.
Best Cafes & Restaurants In Paris
Scandle (Eco cafe)
Les Vignes du Liban (Lebanese and middle easter cuisine)
AlKaram (Lebanese cuisine, vegan options)
Pink Mamma (Italian cuisine)
Mastino (Italian cuisine)
Zia (Brunch)
Bao & Me (Asian cuisine, vegan)
Holybelly 5 (Brunch)
La Cantine de Sam (Vegetarian options)
If you wan to find more cafes & restaurants to try, then you can do so through TripAdvisor.