Top Sites of Paris, France in Two Days
I had a packed weekend full of fun in Paris! Here is my list of how to best see this city in a short amount of time.
Where to Stay
The Ambassador Hotel by Marriott
If you want the full elegant Paris feeling when you come home from a long day of exploring, this is the perfect hotel. The rooms were exquisite and very elegant and truly has the “Paris feeling”. We were kindly welcomed by the staff that spoke great English and our room was lovely. For Marriott Rewards members, I highly recommend this hotel specifically for the amazing lounge for members Gold Elite and above. The lounge is located on the top floor of the hotel and has AMAZING views of the city and a wonderful breakfast. The lounge staff was so kind and the food and complementary wine were great. Everything about this hotel was wonderful and perfectly located near shopping, food, bars and the Opera.
Pros: Location, Staff, Food, Clean, Comfortable Bed, Bathtub, Elegant
Cons: None
Fabulous rooftop view from the Marriott Lounge.
Things to Do in Paris
The Louvre
You could spend days in the Louvre and still not see everything. I was very amazed by the architecture of the palace and just in awe at the size of it. Not to mention all of the incredible pieces and history that feels this place. It is a must see even if you can just slip in for a few hours.
Visit the Eiffel Tower
People watch outside The Opera
Although we were not able to go inside, the facilities of the Opera are simply stunning. To stand outside and think of all the incredible talent that has performed here for decades was very mesmerizing.
Shop the Galeries Lafayette
This is the most beautiful mall I have ever been in. Make your way to the middle of the main floor and look up. This photo does not do the incredible stained glass justice.
Eat as many fabulous pastries as you can.
Some people indulge in Paris for the macaroons… I crave for the eclairs and croissants. I love them and got them anywhere I could! This hidden gem in the Eiffel residential district was very quaint and yummy. This fabulous stop is at Patisserie Riquer in the Eiffel residential area.
Sip espresso and people watch.
Fair warning for my American travelers out there… Europe does not serve “lattes” or “regular coffee”. They drink strong little cups of espresso instead. So I had to find myself a Starbucks to get my coffee fix (and free wifi). Thankfully there was one perfectly located a block from the Marriott Ambassador Hotel.
Sacrè-Cœur
Honestly, I didn’t really get the hype about this place. The hill is much prettier to look upon FROM the city to me, not seeing the city from the hill. This is a busy tourist area that looks out on all of Paris but I was not really a fan. If you only have one day in Paris, I would not put this at the top of your list.
Where to Eat & Drink
Au Passage– This small tapas style restaurant has a menu written on the large chalkboard in the dining area that changes constantly. They have an extensive wine list and regularly keep vegetable, fish, cheese, and meat options on the menu. The haddock (fish) we got was superb and the chocolate gonache dessert was divine. The restroom is upstairs, be careful… I may or may not have fallen down the stairs here! 🙂 haha
La Taverne– Go here for Brunch! It is a pre-set menu and SO much food!! Coffee, tea, juices, breads, croissants, jams, eggs, bacon, salad, and fruit all for 24€ YUM!
Cafe with an Eiffle view at Chez Francis
Nightlife
European culture is simply wonderful. I loved being able to go out dancing with girlfriends and have a great time without being creeped on. These are the bars we hit up near our hotel that were so so fun!! There are multiple bars/dancing on Grands Boulevards. We went to Concorans (my fave) and O’Sullivans. In Paris the bars don’t close until 5am but we went early before it got too crowded and crazy. A local beer that I tried and really enjoyed was the Saint Omer (blonde ale).
Check out my Parisian Style for the night. Outfit details: Blazer- BCBGMaxazria, Pants- JOE’S Jeans, Boots- Topshop
Transportation
Get a metro pass!! The only downfall of riding underground is not getting to see the city. I definitely recommend taking a cab at least once during the day just so you can drive around and see the beauty of the city. Everything is fairly close together so the metro is very quick and comparable to that of New York’s Subway.
