Paris, France
It’s nearly impossible to go wrong in Paris, I mean truly. But here are a few of the things I’ve done that I really enjoyed.
Things To Know
I have visited Paris on 9 occasions. I worked in France for 2 summers. Then the pandemic happened. I returned for a month in April 2022 and things had changed. I used to defend the French, “They’re not mean! They want to help you! Everyone speaks English!” I can no longer defend them. Its like the pandemic was a reset button to the old French ways of being rude as hell, uppity and refusing to even try and understand your broken French. It actually does not matter how polite you are, how much French you speak. Parisian people simply operate differently than everyone else in the world. You can forget about any shop keeper or waiter helping you. In the month there I had experiences that ranged from insulting to downright malicious. Laughing at clothes not fitting me, intentionally waiting for the kitchen to close before taking our order, gaslighting me when things were broken, giving blatantly wrong directions leading to hours of scrambling to course-correct… the list goes on.
The longer we were there the worse it got so honestly if you’re only there a few days it’ll be fine. There ARE nice people in Paris! But expect them to all be awful until proven otherwise. Just sit back, take a breath and enjoy the nice architecture and delicious food these assholes have made for us to enjoy.
Lunch is between 11-2pm, coffee/drinks are 5-7pm (no food), dinner is between 7-9pm. Most places it will be difficult to get a table meal outside these timeframes the further away you get from tourist zones.
Everyone smokes here. Just accept it. Its not allowed inside in most places though so at least there’s that!
Use the metro! Its cheap, easy and clean. Much faster than driving in most cases as well! The TER/RER thing gets very confusing but just arrive early to the station 30+ mins and you should be fine.
Activities
There is so much to do in Paris, even doing nothing is *kisses fingertips to lips* but here are a few of the paid activities I’ve loved.
Fat Tire Bike Tours - I think I’ve taken every one of these tours and they are all fantastic. Guides are usually native English speakers!
French Sauces Cooking Class (AirBnB Experience)
Cheese and Wine Pairing in a Wine Cave - This was one of the most delightful experiences not just of Paris, but of my entire life. It was unpretentious, cozy and so delicious. Our whole group of strangers left as friends and we felt so cool in the middle of Paris, in a cave.
Macaroon Making Class - quintessential tourist activity but it really is fun and Mom and I actually learned how to make macaroons (and have several times since!)
Food & Drinks
I created this map on Google with a variety of recommendations for food, drinks, coffee and activities. The best way to use this map is as a in-the-moment reference, not as a planning tool. So if you’re planning on visiting the Louvre, maybe check the map and see if any cafe’s near by make the list. Or say you’re AT the Louvre and want a drink but are overwhelmed by yelp, just check the map and it’ll help narrow your options. Enjoy!
