Addresses: Ultimate Guide to Visiting Paris for the First Time

There is something about Paris and how cobbled avenues and swept roofs overlook the blue and gray waters of the sparkling Seine. How, in vanilla twilight, the Eiffel Tower lights up the city, or how the facades of pastries with decadent pastries call pedestrians like a mermaid.

Having lived in France and traveled to Paris several times, I am constantly drawn to the French capital. I'm always the type to fall into the city's certainty trap. je ne know what that never loses its appeal. After seeing all the tourist attractions the city has to offer, my visits to Paris now leave me free to stroll along the Seine and sip a drink. hot chocolate à Flore's coffee for hours and hours. For travelers to Paris who want to enjoy the city Beyond the fanfare of its main tourist sites, this guide will share with you the best neighborhoods to stay, the bistros to visit and the pastries to taste.

Where to stay in Paris

The city of Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, each with a distinct personality that offers travelers a different experience. Among the most frequented districts, the 1st arrondissement, which runs along the right bank of the Seine and is home to the city's main attractions, such as the Tuileries, Place de Vendôme and Place de la Concorde. The 3rd and 4th arrondissement - collectively known as Le Marais - is a mecca for upscale boutiques and quaint boutiques, comparable to New York's Soho neighborhood.

The 5th arrondissement-and also zone I highly recommend to stay - is known as the Latin Quarter. Popular with students, the Latin Quarter is characterized by its universities and Notre-Dame de l'Île de la Cité cathedral. In particular, the Latin Quarter is considered Hemingway's former playground, with many cafes along rue Moufftard. A mobile feast. Located on the left bank of the Seine, the Latin Quarter offers affordable accommodation, dining options and easy access to the Paris metro and RER B from Charles De Gaulle airport.

Next to the Latin Quarter, the 6th arrondissement, also known as Saint Germain-des-Prés.—houses the house of Serge Gainsbourg and the superb bourgeois properties of Serge Gainsbourg. Considered to be the very essence of the culture of the left bank of the Seine, it is in this arrondissement that you will find emblematic cafes such as Café de Flore and Café de Flore. Les Deux Magots. In the neighboring 7th arrondissement you will find the Eiffel Tower and across the river and in the 8th arrondissement, the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. As tempting as it may sound to book a lavish hotel in the 6th arrondissement, it is better to stay in another area where you can still admire the view of the Eiffel Tower without having to pay the high price of the hotel.

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Where to eat in Paris

The melodic crunch of a freshly baked baguette, the delicate taste of a pink macaroon from Ladurée, the rich hot chocolate from Café de Flore, the tasty Croque Monsieur coated with Emmental! Parisian (and French) cuisine is as beautiful as the country itself, an endless carnival of flavors.

Odette - In the Latin Quarter, at the corner of the Seine, is the quite charming pastry shop, Odette rue Galande. Odette is famous for her cream bites which, compared to Ladurée prices, are less than two euros each. Treat yourself to a box of cream puffs and hot chocolate.

The Consulat - In the 18th arrondissement-also known as Montmartre-est Le Consulat Norvins street. The charming restaurant sports a red and green striped awning and serves French classics, like the quintessential dish, Croque Monsieur.

Flore's coffee - This charming café in Saint Germain-des-Prés, opened in the XNUMXth century, is one of the oldest cafes in Paris. Like many places in Paris, the Café de Flore has become famous for being home to many of the greatest artists and writers of our century, such as Picasso, Queneau and Bataille. With its white neon sign and exterior shrouded in flowers and shrubs, Café de Flore is a popular place to grab a sidewalk table and enjoy syrupy hot chocolate and a fresh croissant.

angelina - This famous tea room is located in Paris and the Paris region, including Versailles, but it is the place in the Jardin des Tuileries that we recommend that you visit. Skip the line (because there is will and instead, head inside the store for some hot chocolate to go, macaroons (I recommend the blackcurrant and rose), and mini pastries; then head to the Tuileries opposite to enjoy your sweet loot with a view of the park. angelina is famous for its thick, almost pudding hot chocolate and its overly sweet Mont Blanc dessert.

Ladurée - True, Ladurée is no secret. The famous pastry shop is known around the world for its macaroons and, since its opening in 1862, has grown in 27 countries around the world. Regardless of its popularity, I will always recommend a visit to Ladurée during my stay in Paris, as it is all the more magical in the context of France.

The Little Chalet - While most of the restaurants that surround tourist attractions tend to have poor food and overpriced menus, I was pleasantly surprised by The Little Chalet. Snuggled up next to Shakespeare & Company on the right bank of the Seine, Le Petit Chalet served great French classics and healthy dishes - like salmon and double bass - which took a nice break from heavy meals.

The Sacré-Courier of Paris Nikki Vargas

What to see in Paris

Many of Paris' main attractions do not need to be presented: the Eiffel Tower is a sight to see, the Louvre is a must see, Notre Dame is awe-inspiring, the Sacre Couer offers the best views; but there are plenty of places to see that may fly under the radar for first-time visitors.

One of the favorite places to visit is Shakespeare and Company on the Left Bank of the Seine. Named after the Shakespeare & Co. founded by Sylvia Beach, the bookstore has always been considered a favorite haunt for famous writers such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Stein. As the original bookstore closed in 1941 under German occupation of Paris, George Whitman opened the current bookstore, modeled after the 1951 original. Today, Shakespeare and Company is home to writers who are offered free accommodation in exchange. of their work in the store, nicknamed "tumbleweeds".

In the 18th arrondissement of Montmartre, the Montmartre district is a district not to be missed. Perhaps the best snapshot of the Paris of yesteryear, Montmartre is an artists' paradise. Behind the Sacre Couer, is the Place du Tertre where artists have been setting up easels for decades. Once the residence of Picasso and Utrillo, the artists now sell their hand-painted canvases depicting everyday life in Paris.

From afar, the best way to see Paris is to let loose, a term for wandering, coined by the poet Charles Baudelaire. Stroll through the Marais, walk from Montmartre to the Seine, take long walks in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, letting Paris reveal itself to you along the way.

Addresses: The 10 best districts of Paris

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