J’adore Paris!

There is no escaping romance in Paris. Walk anywhere in the city and you’ll see amazing architecture, like Notre Dame Cathedral, quaint cafe’s and lovely parks for the perfect romantic moment. While there are 100’s of breathtaking places to visit in Paris, today’s post is going to talk about 10 of our favorite romantic things to do in the “City of Love!”

In my opinion one of the best views of Paris is from the top of the hill of Montemartre. Montemarte is a historic district in the 18th Arrondissement in Paris on the right bank of the Seine where artists like Dali, Monet and Van Gough once had studios.

For the best views of Paris head all the way up the hill to the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. Sacré-Cœur, a Roman Catholic Church that was completed in 1914, is located at the highest point in Paris. The church, which was constructed out of Travertine marble, took 40 years to build and is quite impressive. While the Basilica is free to visit daily from 6am-10:30pm, access to the dome requires tickets. You must also climb 300 stairs to the top as there is no elevator! Don’t worry though, the view is worth the climb!

If after your hike you’re craving Italian food checkout Tentazioni- so delicious! The world famous Moulin Rouge Cabaret is also located in this area.

Café de Flore, located on the corner of Rue Saint-Benoît and Boulevard Saint-Germain, is one of the oldest and most famous cafés in Paris.

The café’ was opened in the 1880’s and quickly became a popular hangout for many writers, philosophers and artists such as Pablo Picasso. Today the café attracts celebrities and tourists.

Café de Flore is one of our favorite places to people watch in Paris over coffee and desert. Or, if you are more into cocktails try the tarte au citron with a glass of champagne! They just go together so nicely 😉

There are so many wonderful museums in Paris to visit, but if you only have time to go to one of them the Louvre is an absolute must! The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world and has been host of hundreds of thousands of pieces of art from the most famous artists of all time.

Some of the most famous pieces of art in the Louvre are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Apollo Sauroctonus. Also, don’t miss my personal favorite part of the museum, the Napoleon III apartments. The rooms are so ornate and beautiful that they actually take your breath away! It is impossible to explore this entire museum in one day so make sure to get a map so you don’t miss the art that interests you the most. If you need a break there are cafes throughout the Louvre that serve food and wine. Tip: Check with your hotel concierge to see if they have tickets for the museum available. The lines can be quite long and this will save you a lot of time! At the time of this writing tickets are about $16USD and current hours are below.

Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday: from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays Rooms begin closing 30 minutes before museum closing time.

During the summer one of our favorite things to do in Paris is to enjoy the fabulous weather and drink wine at one of the many bars along the River Seine.

The Seine is one of the most famous rivers in the world and runs from northwest France near Dijon to the English Channel.

In Paris, 37 bridges cross the Seine but my favorite section of bars is under the Pont Alexandre Bridge, one of the most opulent bridges in Paris. Here you can enjoy wine, beer and a variety of food. River tours are also available if you want to see the Louvre or the Cathedral of Notre Dame from a different perspective!

If you have time during your stay in Paris consider taking a day trip to Versailles, which is located about 45 minutes away from Paris via car.

Versailles is one of the most amazing places we have ever visited. This enormous palace was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV to show the wealth of the French monarchy and it definitely does! The Palace of Versailles is 2,014 acres, making it the world’s largest royal domain.

It took 36,000 workers to build the palace and its gardens. The most famous room, the Hall of Mirrors, has 17 huge mirrored arches opposite 17 windows. Each one of the arches has 21 mirrors, which means there are 357 mirrors total in the hall! It is said during special occasions the hall was lit with 20,000 candles to transform it into a “corridor of light.” The palace is truly stunning and worth the drive to reach.

Consider booking a tour so you can skip the line. You can also take the train to Versailles and purchase a basic ticket for about $20USD.

Ok, this stop may seem silly to some, but Christopher and I absolutely love the film, “Midnight in Paris,” so visiting the steps where Gil was whisked away to the 1920’s was an absolute must for us!

The famous steps in the movie happen to be located at Église Saint-Étienne du Mont, which is a church located in central Paris. What you don’t see in the movie is the elegant interior of the cathedral. Although we didn’t get to travel back to the 1920’s we did stumble upon some cute wine bars on the way home. “I can never decide if Paris is more beautiful by day or by night.”

Catherine de Medici founded the Jardin des Tuileries in 1564 as the garden for her Tuileries Palace. In 1667, the park was made open to the public and after the French Revolution it became a public park.

The gardens are stunning and surrounded by beauty as they separate the Louvre from the Place de la Concorde, which make them the perfect place for a picnic! So head to a store, grab some of your favorite cheeses and a baguette and enjoy a relaxing, romantic afternoon. This is one of our favorite things to do in Paris!

The Champs Elysées is called the “most beautiful avenue in the world” and it is easy to see how it got this distinction. It definitely is one of the prettiest, most well known streets in Paris.

The street, which runs from Place de la Concorde on the right bank of the Siene to the Place Charles de Gaulle and Arc de Triomphe, is famous for it’s shopping. You can find anything from couture houses, to designer brands like Louis Vuitton, to street wear like Adidas.

It is so lovely to stroll the Champs Elysées all the way to the Arc De Triomphe. The Arch, which started to be built in 1806, honors those who fought and died for France during several wars. While the Arch is beautiful from ground level, you can also buy a ticket to climb its 284 stairs to the top to get a remarkable view of Paris. Tickets to the viewing platform are about $13USD and can be purchased in the tunnel underneath the arch. Don’t try to cross the roundabout as it is very dangerous. There are stairs on the northern side of the Champs Élysées beneath the Étoile to pedestrian tunnels. Whether you climb the Arc Di Triomphe or not, this is a must visit in Paris! C’est magnifique!

Le Marais, a historic district in the city, is one of my favorite parts of Paris.  The architecture in this part of Paris is visually stunning and there tons of charming shops, bakeries, restaurants, and museums to explore.

Not every part of a trip needs to be planned so we suggest taking an afternoon to wander the streets of this part of Paris. Enjoy the food, shop and have a nice dinner. Afterwards, stop by La Perle for a drink. It’s one of my favorite cafes, especially when the weather is nice and everyone gathers outside for cocktails!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower is a must during your stay in Paris!

The truth is, the tower is stunning at all hours, but I find the most romantic time to visit is at night. The lights are twinkling and it is much less crowded. Luckily, the Eiffel Tower offers tours well into the evening and is open from 9:00am-12:45am from June- September, and from 9:30am-11:30pm during the rest of year.
Tickets for the lift to the top of the tower are about $18USD for adults. If you want to splurge, make a reservation at Le Jules Verne for dinner. Located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, the restaurant is one of a kind, delicious, and a place to create a memory that will last a lifetime!