Whether this is your first time visiting Paris or you have been a thousand times before, Paris is a city that never disappoints. Often referred to as a city of love, you can travel to Paris as a couple, on a girls trip, in a group, with family, or just by yourself. It is also one of the most perfect cities to visit on a weekend trip, especially if you live in London or another European city. I am personally a huge fan of spending a weekend in Paris, so below I will be sharing with you my best tips and tricks for visiting this magical city on a weekend.
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. I was kindly hosted by La Maison Favart, but all opinions are my own.
How to get around
The underground system in Paris is very well developed and is by far the best way to get around. I love to use Google Maps to see where I want to go, and using it you will find that the metro in Paris goes pretty much everywhere.
The buses in Paris are also pretty frequent and can sometimes be easier to take than the metro. However, there are a lot more metro stops than bus stops in the city.
If you don’t like using public transport (although I definitely recommend it), you can also order Ubers or take local taxis everywhere.
Where to stay
My absolutely favourite hotel to stay in Paris was La Maison Favart. This beautiful boutique hotel is located in a central location opposite Opera Comique, at a walking distance from many famous must visit landmarks, cafes and restaurants. The staff are incredibly friendly and you will also be greeted by a concierge, who can recommend and book any restaurant for you in the city. Despite it being a boutique hotel, the rooms feel very spacious.
You also have some amazing facilities, such as the pool, the spa and the water massage bed!
The best part of staying at this hotel was that it was a few minutes walk from not one, but two metro stations. Wherever we wanted to go, we could get there quickly and easily – and this is exactly what you want from a weekend spent in Paris!
If you also want to stay in the area, La Maison Favart is very close to La Galerie Lafayette, Palais Garnier and Place Vendome. We particularly enjoyed how the best restaurants of the city, such as Coco, are just around the corner.
To book La Maison Favart you can go to their website here or book it on booking.com.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Jardin les Tulleries, Louvre, Atelier des Lumieres
On day 1, start your day by going for brunch in the city. We visited a place called Le Bon Bouquet in the 9th Arondisement. It was a very aesthetic cafe with delicious food and amazing coffee, I cannot recommend it enough. Where you go for brunch also depends on where you stay but you will find lots of great brunch places all around the city.
After this, it can be nice to take a stroll around the area. We headed towards Cedric Gloret, a very famous pastry shop in Opera. I also recommend a trip here as the pastries here look like works of art. They are so beautiful you will not want to eat them (but also you will – because fresh pastries in Paris)!
Jardin les Tulleries is not far from here, so this stunning park can be the next stop on your itinerary. On a sunny day, this park feels almost like magic. The light shines through the leaves, the photogenic locals sit on the artistic chairs, and the trees turn into all sorts of different colours during autumn. Your weekend in Paris will not be complete until you take a walk in this park. It is really a must!
Eventually, you can walk towards the Louvre. Even if you don’t fancy queueing for entry, the museum is still pretty cool to admire from outside. However, I would really recommend to go inside if you haven’t been before – even if it is just to see the famous Mona Lisa! But even if you have, there is something new that you will discover. After all, the Louvre is the biggest museum in the world!
If you prefer modern art exhibitions, then Atelier des Lumieres is the place for you. We had pre-booked an interactive exhibition here, which was a digital exhibition of Dali’s work. It was very unique and interesting, so if you want to book then I would definitely suggest planning this in advance.
For dinner, you can take a stroll around the Oberkampf area. It is a very non-touristy area and you will find a lot of great restaurants here. My favourite place was called Charbon cafe. It was the best food that I tried during my whole stay in Paris!
If you want to drink and party, there is also a nice rooftop bar in this area called Le Perchoir. Mostly, you will pretty much only find locals here – so if you want an authentic hidden gem, this is the one!
Day 2 – Le Marais, Montmartre, Sacre-Coeur
Start the second day of your weekend in Paris by going to have breakfast at Carette. This place is mostly known for its hot chocolate, but they also serve some delicious breakfast. Make sure to try their famous omlette (pictures below), but their croissants and pastries don’t disappoint either. There are a few of these around the city so you can find one nearest to you no matter which area you are in.
After breakfast, go for a stroll in Le Marais. This is one of my favourite areas to walk around in as you will find lots of cute galleries, shops, boutiques and bars. I would recommend going to have a coffee or a hot chocolate at a nearby french cafe. This will really make you feel like a Parisian. I also love to people-watch as I enjoy a drink and a pastry.
For lunch, head to Pink Mamma to enjoy the most Instagrammable restaurant in Paris. The restaurant is part of Big Mamma Group, a popular chain with restaurants across the world. The ones in London include Gloria, Circolo Poppolare and Ave Mario. Pink Mamma, however, definitely stands out thanks to its stunning decor. You may recognise the famous staircase, which looks like a museum entrance and is covered with paintings. As for the food in this restaurant, the pasta is great and the cocktails come in very cute cups.
After lunch, it is a good idea to explore the Montmartre area. This area definitely does not disappoint. It is full of lively cafes, fun bars and the most beautiful streets in all of Paris. This was my favourite area to stroll in as every other street was just as Instagrammable as the other. Some of the most instaworthy spots include Moulin Rouge, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, Metro Station Lamarck-Caulaincourt and Vrai Paris cafe.
Sacre Coeur is also nearby, so I would suggest visiting this stunning basilica at some point during your weekend in Paris. It is also actually the highest point in Paris so you will see a really beautiful view of the whole city. Sunset is the best time to come here, but also the busiest. If you want to try and avoid the crowds, try to visit early in the morning.
For dinner, here is a fun restaurant recommendation for you. Balagan is one of the most entertaining restaurants in Paris, and I am always surprised how many people don’t know about it! The concept is a great one, where waiters dance and party with the guests. If you have a special occasion, you can order a special dessert where the waiters will come and spoon-feed you while dancing on your table. Even without a special occasion, our waiter ended up taking shots with all of us! It is a pretty fun experience, and the perfect place to celebrate an event.
Day 3 – Pont Alexandre II, Rue de l’université, Arc de Triomphe, Galerie Lafayette
On day three, you will want to see all the famous spots that you want to tick off your list during your weekend trip to Paris.
For me, this was visiting all the Eiffel Tower view spots. I started off at Pont Alexandre II, a well known bridge with a direct view over the Eiffel Tower. The bridge itself is an incredible construction too, so it is worth taking a walk here to admire the bridge as well as the view.
Crossing the bridge will lead you to Petit Palace, which is also a spot worth visiting. The exhibitions in this museum are free unlike many others in Paris, so if you have an interest in art then this might be a spot worth spending some time in.
If you want to see the Eiffel Tower up close, then it is also a good idea to follow Rue de l’université until the end. It is about a 20-30 minute walk so make sure to be prepared for that. On the way, however, you will also encounter another famous instagrammable spot called Cafe le Recruitement. This is one of the most popular Eiffel Tower picture spots, but can also be a good place for a coffee and a break.
When you get to Rue de l’université, be prepared that it will most likely be full of people. I visited around 3 pm, and it was almost impossible to find an empty spot.
Other popular spots to take pictures by the Eiffel Tower include Trocadero, Avenue de Camoens and Pont d’Lena. These are near Rue de l’université so can also be added to your itinerary.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit Arc de Triomphe by this point, then I would suggest putting it next on your list. It is a must visit when spending a weekend in Paris. Many people only see it from outside. However, they don’t know that the top of Arc de Triomphe has one of the best views of Paris. Tickets cost about 12 euros for an adult. You can also purchase skip the line tickets with Get Your Guide here. I would advice getting them in advance as the queues tend to get pretty long.
if you don’t want to spend money on the viewing platform, you can also find a great view of the city on the top floor of Galerie Lafayette. You can spot the Eiffel Tower from here and take some great photos during the day or at night.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed my guide of how to spend your weekend in Paris. A weekend is of course very short, which is why it is so important to plan your days well in advance!
Here are some more suggestions of activities that you can do during your weekend trip:
Versailles: Palace of Versailles Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Moulin Rouge Show with champagne
Disneyland Paris one day ticket
And there is much more!
Did you enjoy this Paris itinerary? is there anything else you would add? Let me know in the comments below!
If you like this post, it would mean a lot to me if you could please pin it!
Cute love the recommendations and your pics turned out so pretty 😍
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Thank youu!!❤️