Valentine’s day is around the corner, so let’s talk about the world’s most famous city of love – Paris, France.

I, for one, love this city with every inch of my soul. Before getting the chance to set foot in France, I had always heard that the French are rude. That they don’t like Americans. That Paris is an over-romanticized, overrated grimy city. But… don’t all cities have grime? Aren’t there rude people everywhere? Isn’t it true that most beautiful spots are seen by someone as ‘over-rated’?

Generalizations like these are why I travel. I know there are positives waiting to be discovered in places far away and in people who live behind an international curtain of misconception.

Fortunately, with this open perspective and a soul hungry for adventure, both times I’ve visited Paris have been nothing short of a dream.

Most recently I was able to explore Paris in December when the city was dressed as a holiday wonderland making it shine more than it does on the average day. I was even luckier this time as I had the privilege of exploring Paris with my sister. Maybe a sister is not a romantic partner, but the few days we spent here together were full of fairytale views and a whole lot of love.

We only had three days, and as Paris was the first stop on our Europe adventure we decided to breathe in this city at a slow pace. Let our bodies recover from the jetlag incurred by flying across the globe from Seattle.

Instead of overwhelmingly trying to fit in everything possible to do in Paris (there is SO MUCH TO DO), we let ourselves sleep in and took each day in a comfortable stride.

The Eiffel Tower glimmered at night, the wine never stopped pouring, the escargot soaked in butter gifted our tastebuds, and the architectural gray, cream and blue hues sang their romantic praises daily as we wandered the Parisian streets.

We spent the sunniest afternoon in Paris consuming cheese and wine under the Eiffel Tower. As the sun began to fall further down in the sky we realized there might be a glorious sunset, so we hopped on shared electric scooters to navigate across the city towards the Galleries Lafayette. This was perhaps the sweetest ‘hidden gem’ of our time here. There is a free observation deck above the shops, and if you get there at golden hour, the sky and city are illuminated in an otherworldly glow. We watched the rays of light poking desperately through the setting fog below the Eiffel Tower. The blue-gray buildings were alighted from behind and topped with soft reds, yellows, and oranges. Somehow our coffee eclairs made it across the city intact in my backpack while we zoomed in and out of Parisian rush-hour traffic.  

It was one of the sweetest travel moments of my life so far. And I got to share it with my best friend, how lucky am I?!

If you’re planning to visit Paris sooner or later, here is a list of some of our favorite things we discovered in this city of romance.

Restaurants:

• Le George V – This restaurant is not too far from views of the Eiffel Tower. It has great outdoor seating for watching the Parisian hustle and relaxing (fully heated in winter!!) We recommend the escargot and house chardonnay.

• Relais Madeleine – We stumbled upon this lively neighborhood spot with our stomachs growling and were not disappointed. The café was crowded with locals and had a completely authentic French menu.

• Le Relais de L’Entrecôte – This famous Paris institution has a few different locations across the city. You cannot book a table and there is usually a line so be prepared to wait, however, the wait is 100% worth every minute. The only menu item is Steak & Frites. Half of the portion is served first and the second half is served after you finish the first serving so that the steak doesn’t lose its quality. The only thing bigger than the dinner menu is the dessert menu, full of delicious options for the sweet tooth that still has room after the steak. This restaurant is a must to experience in Paris.

• La Boîte aux Lettres – One evening in Montemartre we walked down from Sacré-Coeur to this small local restaurant. The menu changes seasonally and the food was sensational.

• La Crêperie des Champs Elysées Les Ecuries – Here you’ll find a very fun environment for French crepes with carousel décor. They make the crepes on a skillet in the center of the room so you can watch the process while you wait.

Neighborhoods:

• Montmartre – A great neighborhood to get lost in. Walk up to the Sacré-Coeur and enjoy an exceptional view of Paris, a view that’s even more romantic in the evening hours.

• Le Marais – The original heart of the city with old architecture and great shops and bars.

• 7th Arrondissement – Rue Cler is the perfect place to start an adventure in this neighborhood. Grab coffee/cheese/bread/wine here then head towards the Eiffel Tower for a romantic picnic.

• 8th Arrondissement – The ‘Opera District’ is full of history and beautiful buildings. Not to mention it’s the place for strolling down the Champ Elysees to the famed Arc de Triomphe.

Coffee Shops:

• Bleu Olive – Fantastic coffee near the Eiffel Tower and just off Rue Cler. It’s a small café with a wide range of coffee drinks (and lactose-free options for milk.)

• République of Coffee – Delicious coffee and brunch in an aesthetic café in Le Marais.

Bakeries:

• Boulangerie Laurent B – We found this bakery by accident near the Eiffel Tower and were so impressed. We recommend the eclairs!

• Du Pain et des Idées – Amazing bakery in Le Marais with options ranging from sweet to savory. Inside the shop looks like a palace, and eating these baked goods outside makes you feel like a QUEEN.

Notable Mention:

• Chez Georges – Authentic local wine bar with an affordable and vast selection of wines.

• Shakespeare & Company – The oldest English bookstore in Paris. Get lost in the small spaces and see what you find.

Paris is full of amazing food, wonderful art, vast history, and endless ways to explore and fall in love. Three days in Paris isn’t nearly enough, so for now I’ll be dreaming of the next time I can adventure to this magical city. Now that you’ve read more about Paris, why not take a romantic getaway soon with someone you love - whether that be a partner, a friend, a family member, or simply yourself?!

Have you visited Paris before? Tell me what your favorite places are in the comments below!