The ultimate city break and most romantic weekend getaway, has to be Paris. Whether you’ve visited before or this is your first time, we’ve compiled a list of #TeamCoco’s most recommended tourist locations, restaurants and bars to make sure you fall in love and make the most of your 48 hours in the La Ville Lumière/de l’amour.
Prepare yourselves for a lot of walking, a lot of spending, a lot of good food and a lot of red wine, let’s start with day one. Standing at the western end of the Champs Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, The Arc de Triomphe. Honoring those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the Arc de Triomphe is as historic as it is architecturally beautiful. With 12 avenues branching off from the roundabout is is situated on, the Arc is accessible via two under passes located at the Champs Elysées and the Avenue de la Grande Armée. Along with taking pictures with the Arc, it’s 9.50 Euros to take the lift up to the museum, which is definitely worthwhile and if you can manage the 46 extra steps to the terrace, you have the most beautiful panoramic views of Paris.
Address; Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Views from the Arc de Triomphe showcase all Paris has to offer and one view in particularly casts your view down the infamous Champs Elysées. Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the Champs Elysées is 1.9 kilometres long and runs from Place de la Concode and the Place Charles de Gaulle. The avenue is the perfect place to stop for a coffee, lunch, stroll and window shop. With everything from Louis Vuitton and Cartier to McDonalds nd Ferrari’s you can hire to zip around the city for 30 minutes, there is something to intrigue everyone.
Address; Champs Élysées, 8th Arrondissement of Paris
If your looking for a place to stop for lunch, the most divine hot chocolate or to get your hands on a selection of their famous macaroons, Ladurée is your next stop. Founded in Paris at 16 rue Royale in 1862 by Louis Ernest Ladurée, this little bakery has transformed into one of the most patisseries in the world. The Ladurée on Champs Elysées was opened in 1997 and is constantly creating, twice a year, much like fashion, Fabricant de Doucerurs propose new desserts for the brand ensuring that Ladurée is a café monument to the elegance of 19th century.
Address; Ladurée, 75 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
A trip to Paris would be incomplete without a visit to what is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, the Eiffel Tower, the epitome of romance. Named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower, which stands at 300m tall and has the most unrivalled views of the city. The tower is open for tours from 9.30am to 11pm, so you can view Paris from sunrise to sunset depending on your preference. In total with queues and security and lift queues/stairs to get to the summit, understand the history, enjoy the view and have a glass of champagne and get back to the ground again, we recommend allocating around 3 hours. 58 Tour Eiffel, is the towers own gourmet restaurant situated on the first floor. Whether you want a drink or a meal, you are best booking way in advance to secure a table at the ultimate romantic location.
Address; Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
The River Seine is a 777- kilometre long river that runs through the north of France and most importantly Paris. It’s a good centre point to head to whenever you find yourself a little lost as it leads you straight to most of Paris’ key spots. The Seine also has some bridges, one being Pont des Arts, aka the love lock bridge. Despite all the locks being removed due to health and safety and well making the place look a lot less pretty, the bridge is definitely worth a little stop and still has an air of romance. If the weathers bad and a walk down The Seine isn’t what you’re up for then there are a variety of river cruises that showcase what Paris has to offer.
After leaving the Eiffel Tower, a good hour walk down the Seine on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris happens to be a masterpiece of gothic art; Notre-Dame. Known for its sculptures and stain glass windows, the cathedral ws one of the very first gothic cathedrals with a heavy influence of naturalism since it’s construction in the 13th century. The cathedral still hosts masses and whether you speak French or not, they are extremely moving and an incredible experience. A walk around the to understand the history, enjoy the art and experience the atmosphere the cathedral holds. You can also go to the top of the cathedral to look at the bells of Notre Dame, have even more stunning panoramic views of Paris and you know, say hi to Quasimodo, whilst you’re up there.
Address; 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl Jean-Paul II, 75004, Paris
In the heart of Paris, there is a palace dedicated to contemporary art, the Centre Georges Pompidou and at the top of this is a place that is in a world of its own; Les Georges. A restaurant that has indoor or terrace options and boasts the most unique and beautiful views of Paris. Directly ahead you have Notre Dame and as you pan to your right there is the Eiffel Tower. Booking is necessary and if you’re lucky enough to reserve a table before sunset, the change in the skyline is extraordinary and after darkness, once every hour you are able to experience the Eiffel Towers light show, which from this distance, makes it sparkle. This restaurant is not a tourist attraction, it is a place for true Parisians so if you want to fully submerse yourself in the french lifestyle and cuisine this is the place to do so. With excellent service, a drinks list as long as your arm, exquisite food and a rose on every table, Les Georges immerses you in the romance of Paris.
Palais Beaubourg, Place Georges Pompidou, 75000 Paris, France
After a long day of walking, sightseeing and indulging, it’s time to rest. If you’re wondering where in paris to stay, how about somewhere that is a 10 minute stay from the Eiffel Tower and just next to Dior? When it comes to luxury in one of the most stylish cities in the world, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, is the dream location. Situated in the heart of Haute Couture on the renounced Avenure Montaigne, this hotel has everything Paris has to offer under one roof. Along with the most magnificent views of the Eiffel Tower. So those rom-coms with the Eiffel Tower glittering through the window, yes, that’s here. Of course, such an opulent hotel comes at a price but if you only have the one night, you have to do it right.
Address; 25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008, Paris
After a maybe a drink in one of the hotels many bars or an early morning massage or treatment in the spa, its time to head out for Day 2. With being surrounded with so much luxury and opulence, it’s always necessary to take a moment to come back down to earth. Step away for what is arguably the best view of the Eiffel Tower and head to Place du Trocadero. Grab a crepe and a coffee for breakfast from one of the stalls on the viewing platform, take a seat on one of the steps, relax and take it all in.
Address; Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris
Musée d’Orsay is situated on the left bank of the River Seine and is housed in the Beaux-Arts style Gare d’Orsay railway station. A place that is both surrounded in history and art. If neither are your thing then you can always g crazy on Instagram with a snap of the infamous clock. The museum is home to France’s national collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Art Nouveau works; it is one of the most culturally important museums in the world. It houses work by painters including Gauguin, Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.
Address; 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
A little further along in the 1st arrondissement and on the opposite side of the Seine sits a historic monument; Le Louvre. Since opening in 1793, le Louvre has gone through a transformation to look just how it does now. Now home to more than 380,000 objects and displays of 35,00 works of art in eight curatorial departments, making it the world’s largest museum. Le Louvre is somewhere you can spend hours upon hours exploring it’s departments. Along with queues, we recommend giving yourself a few hours as pieces like the Mona Lisa take a while for you to get close to, even once inside.Address; Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
If you wish to indulge in a dose of Parisian retail therapy, then there is a place in the 9th arrondissement on Boulevard Haussman that is perfect for you. With more than 3,500 affordable to luxury brands, Galeries Lafayette has everything from ready to wear to haute couture. Since 1894 Galeries Lafayette has become a Parisian icon; with stunning products and architectural design, this retail store is as stunning on the outside as it is inside, its dome and panoramic views have made it a tourist attraction in itself. Along with being a shoppers paradise the retail space is also home to 25 restaurants, which takes us on to our next stop.
Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
In 1903 confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer founded Angelina’s and the tearoom is now known as both a place of sophistication and indulgence. In its early days Angelina’s was sought after by Parisian aristocracy along with Proust and Coco Chanel. The interior is the epitome of Belle Époque and oozes elegance and romance. It’s a tranquil space and know has various locations throughout Paris, however with only 48 hours, we recommend two birds with one stone and visiting the tearoom situated in Galeries Lafayette.
Address; Galeries Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Our final recommendation is situated in Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter of Paris. A restaurant bar on the top floor of the LVMH building, just about the Kenzo store, is the restaurant-bar which is heavily inspored by South East Asia. The restaurant is similar to that of a London Eye capsule, all glass and is decorated with a green stairway as almost a statement piece, the rest is kept to a white tonal palette, glass chairs, white leather sofas and a black and white patterned floor. If the interior isn’t enough to win you over, the views of the Seine and typically Parisian town houses will. Kong offers everything from brunch to cocktails and after 11pm turns into a club. So whether the sunlight is streaming in, the rain is hitting the windows or the place is lit up by the Parisian night skyline, Kong is definitely the place to go, to make your last few hours in Paris truly unforgettable.
Address; 1 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France
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