Paris, France
"La Rentree"- when the tourists go home and when the thousands of Parisians return from their long summer break and transition back to city life.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Sterling Boyd
- Trip type: Solo, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: Two Days
to & from
Spring and Fall are my favorite times to visit Paris. They are beautiful bookends to the long summer months. Below is a walk I do when I am on my own through Les Marais.
Where to Stay
Stay in Les Bains ~ a 1980’s night club turned into boutique hotel. Picture Mick Jagger and Jack Nicholson mixed with Booka Shade, Le Labo and Philippe Starck. I like it. If you were lucky enough to go to Les Bains before it shut down as a nightclub in 2010 – then some of the graffiti still on the walls will remind you of the hidden places in the building.
What to Do
Day 1
Walk the streets of Les Marais. If you use these shops as anchors, you will walk through my favorite parts of Les Marais. Stop in for some shopping at Fleux home goods and Cire Trudon. Make sure to visit Merci concept store on Boulevard Beaumarchais. If you want to bring a goodie back for your kiddos, find something special at Mandorla Palace. Have lunch at L’Ebouillante ~ sit on the steps in the sun overlooking the the Seine. The salads are my favorite. Enjoy a desert at Aux Merveilleux on Rue du Poet Louis-Philippe (the white chocolate cream mini cake is perfection) and walk across to the Seine to enjoy a view of Notre Dame from the tip of Ile Saint Louis. Sit and have a cocktail by “Place Des Vosges” and walk home by Le Labo on Rue Fruissart to get something special to remind you of your trip.
Have dinner at Le Chanard on Rue Saint Paul for classic french or wander to Frenchie on Rue du Nil. If you can’t get a reservation at Frenchie, go early and eat next door at the bar. Have an after dinner drink at Le Derriere or Ristorante National.
Day 2:
Start with art and then walk the streets of Saint Germain des Pres. Walk through Jardin des Tuileries and visit Le Orangerie and Musee d’Orsay. If you have never been – you should. Walk from the Seine to Le Bon Marche (I make a stop at Le Bon Marche every visit. The home goods in the second building with all the food are my favorite). On your way to Garden Luxembourg, find your favorite wine and cheese shop and get everything you need for a picnic on the grounds. Bring an extra blanket to wrap up if it is a sunny, but a cool fall day. For a fancier option, a fellow Oliver Guider sent me to Divellec. It was brilliant for a Parisian seafood lunch. For dinner, explore an area with no plans and find what looks best. It is the best way to find hidden gems in Paris. Enjoy!
Inside Scoop
Find her eyes – Danse a la campagne
What to Pack
Wear your sneakers. Put a nice pair of shoes in your purse to be ready for whatever you find.
Paris, France (Kara Schwabauer)
We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere... Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Kara Schwabauer
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 Days
to & from
Chunnel from London, travel first class. We traveled with our 3 1/2 year old son and 18 month old daughter.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the Vendome area, perfect location!
Paris, France (Amy Blake)
A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Amy Blake
- Trip type: Adult, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: AT LEAST 4 DAYS OR FOREVER
to & from
Any US city direct to Paris
Where to Stay
The Montalembert in the 7th
Paris, France (Rachel Wynne)
Paris is always a good idea.
- More about your Oliver Guide: Rachel Wynne
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 9 DAYS
to & from
Boston to Paris on Air France.
Where to Stay
We are fortunate to stay with friend while in Paris. My suggestion is to find an apartment/flat so you have space and a kitchen. There are tons of great short term rentals in Paris.
Paris, France (Nina Smallhorn)
Paris is always a good idea. — Audrey Hepburn
- More about your Oliver Guide: Nina Smallhorn
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: NEVER ENOUGH TIME IN PARIS... 1 WEEK IS A MUST
to & from
The way to get to Paris is by train. Eurostar from London to Paris….DIVINE. Definitely spend a little more on the Premier seats with a meal. Views of the countryside are picturesque with little steeples and villages along specs of green.
Where to Stay
Le Saint Hotel: Family Rooms are beautifully appointed.
Paris, France
Walk
- More about your Oliver Guide: Megan Escher
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: 5 DAYS TO ONE WEEK
to & from
Any way you can! We took a morning train in from Ruffec about two hours south of Paris. Getting around we did the metro, bus, uber, taxis and a lot of walking!
Where to Stay
So many options – On this trip we took a flat in the Marais in a very typical building full of Parisians. We like having the option of preparing meals at home so usually choose flats over hotels. VRBO, Air B&B, One Fine Stay & Paris Perfect are all great to research depending on the no. of guests, budget and desired area.
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