If you have been to Paris several times, it is nice to discover the city in a different way. This time we visited a combination of well-known and lesser-known places. Curious about our experiences? Then read on.
We stayed in an Airbnb north of the famous 'Le Marais' district. This allowed us to fully enjoy all the food and drink options in this trendy area, without having to pay the absolute top price for the stay.
Day 1
Morning: Walking through Montmartre
Montmartre , one of our favorite neighborhoods in Paris, is a place where you can experience the real Parisian charm. We have selected a beautiful walking route in advance that takes you through the winding streets. The neighborhood owes these winding streets to the fact that it used to be a village outside of Paris. This route is perfect for anyone who wants to discover the neighborhood in a unique and relaxing way.
You will walk along the oldest vineyard in Paris (see photo). Traditionally, many artists lived in Montmartre. You will also pass the former homes of these artists. The Montmartre district is located on a hill in Paris, which gives you a beautiful view of the city. The hill is about 130 meters high and is therefore the highest point in Paris.
The route then takes you to the lively Place du Tertre , where you can enjoy the pleasant hustle and bustle and the many street artists who show their talents. Here you can have your portrait taken by one of the artists or simply enjoy a cup of coffee on one of the charming terraces.
But that's not all! Along the way you'll also discover hidden gems such as small boutiques, atmospheric cafés and historic buildings that will make you feel like you've traveled back in time. Montmartre has so much to offer and this walking route will make sure you don't miss anything.
During this walk you will of course pass the Sacré-Cœur , where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. This church was built in memory of the victims of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The war resulted in more than 58,000 deaths. Building the church was a challenge because the hill was full of holes, caused by the various chalk quarries.
Afternoon Part 1: 'Secret' Bike Tour of Paris
Often when we go on a city trip, we book a bike tour through the city. We really love bike tours through cities. With a bike tour you get to know the city in a different way. This time we booked the ' Secret Bike Tour ' from HollandBikes . This bike tour takes you to unknown and beautiful places in Paris in about three hours. Now we can tell you where this tour takes you, but then it is no longer a secret! Experience it yourself.
Afternoon Part 2: Visit the Paris Opera
The start and departure point of the cycle route is near the Opéra Garnier in Paris. What a beautiful opera! If you have time in Paris, we definitely recommend a visit to the opera. Don't be put off by the many tourists, but focus on the beautiful details. The interior of the opera is dazzlingly beautiful. The Opéra Garnier was designed in 1861 by the architect Charles Garnier on behalf of Napoleon III. The interior consists of gold leaf, frescoes and marble. The final cost of the construction of the Opéra Garnier was 35 million francs, only four to five times as much as the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Evening:
Our Airbnb was located near Canal St. Martin, a beautiful canal where especially in the evening many young people gather to enjoy a drink. The canal offers a lively atmosphere and is an ideal place to spend the evening. Via this canal you can walk to the charming and cozy district 'Le Marais'. Don't forget to stop at the impressive locks along the canal.
We ate at Gros Bao the first night. This is a Chinese restaurant, but as we are used to in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, you can't make a reservation, which means there is a long line outside every day. That says something, right? Order all sorts of things from the menu that you can then share with your company.
After dinner we got an ice cream at Amorino . Amorino is located in many different places throughout Paris. There is often a long line in and in front of the store. The reason for this is that the ice cream is very tasty but also because making the ice cream takes a bit longer. You get an ice cream in the shape of a rose.
Day 2
Walk along the highlights of Paris
On the second day we walked from our Airbnb towards Canal St. Martin, through the district 'Le Marais'. Le Marais is a beautiful district in Paris. If you want to escape the busy center of Paris for a while, this neighborhood is definitely worth a visit. In Le Marais you will find various boutiques, galleries and bars. Here you will also find Café Charlot , which we of course had to pass by. Unfortunately we could not have a coffee there anymore because it was almost lunchtime. A tip: keep in mind the time when you want to have a coffee, because around noon you will often be turned away in the weekend because the tables are reserved for lunch.
Through the pleasant streets of Le Marais we arrived at the Seine . Along the Seine we walked on to the Notre Dame . At the time of writing, the Notre Dame was still in scaffolding. What a gigantic building and what beautiful details. We can't wait to visit the Notre Dame after the restoration.
Paris is a rather expensive city so in the afternoon we used boulangeries and small shops that sell delicious sandwiches. For example, one day we got a delicious sandwich at Restaurant Fluctuat .
You can put together your own sandwich there and, if you are lucky, eat it in the sun. Restaurant Fluctuat is located near the Louvre , ideal if you are taking a walk along the highlights like we did.
We continue walking towards the Louvre . Initially we wanted to visit it, but because of the beautiful weather, we postponed this for our next visit to Paris. Around the Louvre you can feast your eyes. Unfortunately it is teeming with people and there is often a long line in front of the entrance of the Louvre. A tip from us: look for the side entrance near the Rue de Marengo. That way you skip the massive line on the square! In the beautiful park at the Louvre we use it to recover in the sun. After a short rest we continue our walk towards the Eiffel Tower .
When you are in Paris you can not skip the Eiffel Tower. Do you want to photograph the Eiffel Tower without thousands of tourists in the picture? Then navigate to the intersection of the streets Avenue Charles Floquet and Avenue Joseph Bouvard .
Evening
The second evening we had dinner at Bistro Renaissance . A nice cozy restaurant on a small square where you can eat delicious burgers.
Another tip if you are in Paris and you like markets is to go to Marché des enfants rouge in Le Marain. The market is covered and the oldest market in Paris. You have several places to eat here. There is also a super nice atmosphere. Definitely recommended!
Parking in Paris
Traffic in Paris is, in a word, chaotic. If you manage to get a ticket in time, it is more relaxing to travel to Paris with the Thalys. If that does not work out, Paris is also easily accessible by car. In addition to the traffic, parking in Paris is a major challenge. There are several options for parking your car: in a parking garage, in a hotel parking space, on the street, or by renting a parking space from a Parisian. Renting a parking space can be quite affordable, but the disadvantage is that you have to drive through the city by car. We chose the first option and parked our car in Parking 2000 . This parking garage is affordable (30 euros for a weekend) and is located in the north of Paris. You can easily drive to this parking garage from the highway without having to drive through the entire city. From the parking garage you can easily reach your hotel or Airbnb thanks to its good location near metro stations. We reserved our parking space at Parking 2000 in advance."
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