10 Paris Gems You’ll Be Talking About Forever

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If you’re visiting Paris and your goal is to have a well rounded experience, you’re in luck. This post is dedicated to a list of getting just that! I’ve shared 10 Paris gems you’ll be talking about forever (At least, I will be.) With this list, you can confidently visit Paris with an itinerary of seeing the famous sites but also having the best food and exploring local neighborhoods.

It’s true, Paris is a favorite city of mine. I am lucky to have visited Paris many times in my 20s and on each visit, I’ve found a new part of Paris I love. If you visit Paris and plan to hit the long lines and sites, I can understand why your experience wouldn’t be all positive. On each visit to Paris, I’ve planned a mix of activities to make sure we make the most of our time.

1. Spend an Entire Day in Montmartre

I’m starting off strong with one of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris: Montmartre. Montmartre is a historic neighborhood located in the 18th arr. I read A Bakery In Paris: A Novel, and while I know it’s historical fiction, it taught me so much. It sparked an interest to learn about the history of Montmartre and the reason for the construction of the iconic Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre.

To make the most of your time here, start your day early. The neighborhood can get quite busy with visitors heading to the Basilica, or folks admiring the Place du Tertre where local artists are selling their art.

I recommend taking the Metro to the Barbès – Rochechouart station. This will bring you on a short walk to the Square Louise Michel – a beautiful little park with a carousel and view of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

The highlights of Montmartre that you should not miss:

• Snap a photo of the basilica from Square Louise Michel
• Climb the steps and see the view from Sacre Coure – no need to go in unless you really want to.
• Looking at the art in Place du Tertre
• Walk down Rue de l’Abreuvoir
• Catch a show at Moulin Rouge 
• Lunch at Pink Mamma (not really in Montmartre, but close enough walk)
• The “I love you wall” at Square Jehan Rictus, 14 Pl. des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France 
• Mamiche Bakery on 45 Rue Condorcet, 75009 Paris, France

If this leaves you feeling overwhelmed with everything to do in Montmartre, consider taking a walking tour.

2. Croissant Class

Ever since I went to a pasta class on my Bachelorette in Italy, my new favorite activity in any city is a taking a baking or cooking class. In Paris, we learned how to make croissants and pain au chocolat in a two and half hour croissant baking class on the left bank.

We booked the croissant baking class for our four day Paris itinerary in winter, and it was excellent. I was surprised by how difficult it is to make croissants and pain au chocolat, yet they are so inexpensive to buy at the local boulangeries. We’ve tried to make them at home since our class and it’s been quite the journey.

If you plan on booking a croissant class, I recommend booking the French Croissant Baking Class. If you can, book for the afternoon – it’s a nice break from your busy day into the evening. 

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3. Seine River Cruise at night

If you’re planning a visit to Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle is likely to be high on your list. If it isn’t, it should be. I’ve seen the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Champ de Mars on my picnic, and from afar on the sidewalks along the Seine after sunset. I’m being honest when I write that the best view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night is from a Seine river cruise.

On a Seine river cruise, you can take in the famous Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower from the water without the crowds or being pestered to buy something. There are so many river cruises out there to choose from!

Here are a few sunset/night time river cruise options to consider:

• Budget: for under $20 USD per person, we booked a happy hour cruise. Drinks are available on board for purchase at the bar! Please note that food isn’t included with this option.
• Mid-range: A cruise with food included – Enjoy traditional french cuisine on this river cruise for reasonable cost.
• Splurge: 3-course dinner river cruise – this is a longer cruise (2.5 hours) but the service, food, and views are worth it.

4. Seeing the Louvre and walking Seine 

On my first visit to Paris, I visited the Louvre. The Louvre is a museum is filled with with over 35,000 works of art and artifacts from different periods of time. The most famous work of art is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, which was shockingly smaller than I ever thought! You can spend a lot of time in here and still not see everything, so it may be best to get tickets with a guided tour.

If you’re short on time, don’t prioritize going inside the Louvre. Instead, grab coffee to go from Cafe Kitstune and wander over to the Louvre entrance. The outside of the Louvre is impressive in its own way. This is a great spot to snap a photo before escaping the crowded area and walking the Seine. Walking the Seine is my favorite free activity in Paris.

There’s two paths you can take when walking along the Seine. You can walk slightly above the Seine, where you’ll find these green stands. These green stands actually have a name: they’re called bouquinistes. Bouquinistes are historic metal boxes used by street vendors to sell postcards, books, and even rare documents. They are forever a part of Paris and recognized as a UNESCO heritage site.

After you peruse the bouquinistes for a souvenir or two, you can take the second path of walking the Seine. Behind the bouquinistes, you’ll find a flight of stairs that will bring you to the Seine on even level, You’ll find benches along this path and those sitting along the river soaking in the view.

5. Indulging in Cafe Culture

Paris cafe culture is famous. The cafes here are more than coffeehouses – they offer food, alcoholic beverages, and cigarette trays. I truly can’t get over how many people smoke in Paris so be prepared for this if you sit outside!

There are over 1,400 cafes in Paris – it’s hard to find the best. I even made it my mission to find the best coffee in the cafes I went to. If you’re looking for quality coffee, read my article when it comes out (I’ll link it here once it’s live.) If you’re looking simply for the aesthetic and ambiance of Paris culture and resting your feet, then you don’t need to discriminate between which cafe. They all have the Parisian feel with their own twist.

My favorite cafes for people watching:

• Cafe de Flore
• Les Deux Magots
• Bonjour Jacob

My favorite cafes for coffee:

• Cafe Kitsune
• Boot Cafe

6. Macarons from Pierre Herme

There’s a big debate if Pierre Herme has better macarons than Ladurée. In my opinion, it’s no competition. Pierre Herme has THE best macarons in Paris, maybe even the world. On every visit to Paris, I visit Pierre Herme on my first day, rain or shine. 

I recommend buying an assortment of macaron flavors to try. Pierre Herme always has a display of a variety flavors and they don’t always have the same options. I like that they always have had something different when I visit because it allows me to try new flavors. My best tip is when you visit Pierre Herme and they have a pistachio macaron flavor, do NOT skip it. It’s my personal favorite!

Consider visiting the original Pierre Herme on Rue Bonaparte. You can take your macarons and sit at the Saint-Sulpice Fountain diagonal from the shop and enjoy your sweet treat. It’s a great way to give your feet a break while enjoying delicious macarons!

7. Picnic at the Eiffel Tower

If you’re visiting Paris in any of the warm months, a picnic at the Eiffel Tower is a MUST. This is by far one of my favorite memories when I traveled to Paris solo. I plan on recreating this memory when I visit with my husband in warmer weather!

• A picnic at the Champ de Mars is the most popular and for good reason
• For less people, sit on the right bank of the Seine.
• Go to a Monoprix if there’s a big group of you and make a charcuterie board
• If you’re solo, grab Sushi or something small.
• There will be people walking around selling overpriced wine at the Champ de Mars, make sure you grab your wine from carrefour or monoprix beforehand. Don’t worry, open containers are legal

8. Reservations at Pink Mamma

Trust me, I never thought I’d be recommending an Italian restaurant on a Paris highlight blog, but here we are. Pink Mamma is without a doubt one of the most unique and delicious restaurants I’ve ever been to. 

I was worried that Pink Mamma took over the social media world by storm and was over hyped. After our visit here in December, I can confidently say I will visit Pink Mamma every visit to Paris. It’s important to make a reservation to avoid a very long line.

If you aren’t able to grab a reservation at Pink Mamma, don’t worry. Pink Mamma is owned by Big Mamma Group, and they have a other restaurants in Paris to consider

If you’re curious on what to order at Pink Mamma, I recommend:

• Soave Classico White Wine
• The Truffle Pasta
• Lemon Spinach Ravioli – the best thing we ordered.
• Entrecôte
• Macchiato – for an after meal pick me up 

9. Night out starting in Canal Saint-Martin

It took me three visits to Paris to discover the beauty that’s Canal Saint-Martin. Canal Saint-Martin is a canal found on the right bank that is lined with shops and restaurants. It’s a charming part of Paris that although fairly well known, isn’t as crowded as other parts of Paris. Starting your night out here is a great way to uncover the less touristy side of Paris. 

The stops on your night out: 

• Take the Metro to Jacques Bonsergent and walk to Bisou at 98 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris, France
• If you’re visiting in summer, grab a drink and sit on the canal.
• Walk or uber to the Little Red Door. This is a little speakeasy that has a very unique menu. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait in a line outside. We weren’t able to get a reservation and the it was worth the wait in line!
• Dinner and drinks Candelaria. The Mexican food here has to be the best in Paris, but behind the white door is what was incredible. In the back of Candelaria is a moody speakeasy with a menu that makes for a night cap.

10. Bring home a Souvenir personal to you

On my first two visits to Paris, I was terrified to indulge in any shopping. I was worried I would spend too much money and everything would be outside of my budget. By my third visit, I realized that you can absolutely shop in Paris, even on a budget.

Now if your dream is to visit Paris and shop big on the Champs-Élysées, you should absolutely do that! If you’d like to bring home something a little bit more personable, do that too! There’s so much shopping in Paris, you’ll be able to find something that fits your style and budget.

Places to consider shopping at:

• Shop at Merci. Merci reminds me of Anthropologie with a french twist. The original location is on 111 boulevard Beaumarchais and you can find a a lot of different things here. Clothing, souvenirs, kitchen items, and local artisan work are just a few examples. At the front of the store there’s even a coffee bar.
• Customize something at Officine Universelle Buly 1803. I liked the location at 45 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris, France. There was a long line the time I went, so I came back the next day and was able to walk right in. 
• Create a custom label with the Paris scent at Le Labo. This is not the most budget friendly, but the purchase is an experience all its own. The Paris scent is called “vanille 44” and can only be purchased in Paris, making it a very special souvenir. You can watch the perfumer make the bottle fresh (so fresh that you need to wait to open the bottle for a couple of days before using.) The label will also be customized., having the date it’s made and the custom text you choose. Once you purchase the scent in Paris, it can be filled in any Le Labo.
• City Pharma – there’s a reason French skincare is coveted world wide.

Final Thoughts

There is more to Paris than these 10 Paris gems you’ll be talking about forever, but this is a great start. Every time I spray Vanille 44 when I’m getting ready, or pack my Longchamp bag for work I’m reminded of my memories. As you’re planning your trip, consider where to stay in Paris. If you’d like more guidance, my four day itinerary in Paris may be great for you too!

I hope you enjoy Paris just as much as I do. x