Day One: Classic Paris with a Twist
Start your morning at Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Prés — not because it's the most authentic, but because the ritual of coffee and croissants at a legendary literary café sets the tone for your Parisian weekend. Arrive before 9 AM to beat the crowds.
Walk to the Musée d'Orsay (pre-book tickets online) and spend two hours with the Impressionists. The building itself — a converted railway station — is as stunning as the art. Don't miss the clock face on the fifth floor for a cinematic view of the Seine.
Lunch in the 7th arrondissement at a local bistro. Skip the tourist menus posted in English and look for places where the daily specials are written on chalkboards. A proper bistro lunch — entrée, plat, dessert — should cost €25-35 and will be one of your best meals.
Day One Afternoon: The Marais and Beyond
The Marais is Paris at its most charming — medieval streets lined with galleries, boutiques, and falafel shops on Rue des Rosiers. The Place des Vosges, Paris's oldest planned square, is perfect for a mid-afternoon rest on a park bench.
As evening approaches, walk along the Seine toward Notre-Dame. While the cathedral is still undergoing restoration, the area around it — the Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis — remains magical at sunset. Get a Berthillon ice cream on the island.
Dinner in the 11th arrondissement, where Paris's contemporary food scene thrives. Neo-bistros like Septime and Le Chateaubriand have long waits, but neighboring spots serve equally inventive food without the hype.
Day Two: Hidden Paris
Begin day two at the Marché d'Aligre, a lively covered market in the 12th arrondissement. This is where Parisians actually shop — cheese vendors, fishmongers, flower sellers, and North African spice merchants all compete for your attention.
Take the Métro to Montmartre but skip the overcrowded Sacré-Cœur steps. Instead, wander the back streets behind the basilica — Rue Lepic, Rue des Abbesses — where the village atmosphere that inspired Toulouse-Lautrec still lingers.
The Musée de l'Orangerie is smaller and less overwhelming than the Louvre. Monet's Water Lilies, displayed in oval rooms designed by the artist himself, are a genuinely transcendent experience. Plan for about an hour.
Practical Paris Tips
The Paris Métro is fast, cheap, and covers the entire city. Buy a carnet of 10 tickets or use the Navigo Easy card for tap-and-go convenience. Most major sights are within walking distance of a Métro station.
Parisians dress well but not formally. Dark jeans, a nice top, and comfortable walking shoes will take you anywhere. Skip the sneakers-and-shorts look if you want to blend in.
Tipping is included in French restaurant prices (service compris), but leaving an extra euro or two for good service is appreciated. At cafés, round up to the nearest euro.
Top restaurants like Septime and Le Chateaubriand in the 11th arrondissement fill weeks ahead, making it nearly impossible to secure a table on a short Paris trip. A Cordelie Travel advisor can work their connections to get you a table where walk-ins wait hours.
Talk to a Cordelie advisor: cordelie.com/contact
Emma Blackwood has reviewed hotels for eighteen years and can tell within an hour of arrival whether a property means it. She writes about the difference between expensive and excellent, which is not the same thing, and about the handful of places that are both.
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