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A Romantic Paris Vacation
Getting to and getting around Paris is easy, accommodation is plentiful and prices manageable. The dining can be out-of-this-world delicious even on a budget, and the culture, history and attractions are almost overwhelming.
Much has been said over the years about rude waiters or impolite shop keepers. Our experience? Not the case at all. If you travel with a sense of adventure, and appreciate the differences of another society, you’ll meet many friendly Parisians who are equally curious about your home. And attempting to say even just a few words in French (“hello”, “please” and “thank you”) will bring you closer and earn the respect of others quickly.
A word of advice before beginning your Paris vacation: bring along good, comfortable shoes. You will do lots of walking, but you probably won’t notice it at first as the sights and the atmosphere of the city will have you mesmerized! Travel to ParisFlights to Paris, France are easy from most major airports of the world. Air France, the national airline, has a worldwide network. There are also many European airlines that fly into Paris.
The two major Paris airports are Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Both have access to bus and underground routes into the city.
Best Time to Visit Paris: Although summers are sunny in Paris they can also be very hot. The best time to visit Paris is either in the late spring (May & early June) or in the fall, from September to late October. And winters, although cold and rainy, are a very romantic time to visit Paris !
There are all kinds of Paris vacation packages for sale, as well as deals on Paris hotels and car rental. For more information on cheap flights to Paris, check out the tips and advice for online travel bookings in the Travel Smart and Cheap section of our website.
Champs Elysees & Arc de TriompheAn absolute must-see sight on your Paris vacation. A stroll down this grand promenade and a visit to the top of the Arc makes an impact on you in a way few other places in the world can. The history, the view, the atmosphere and just the sense of it all are incredible (it's also one of the most romantic places to vist in Paris too!).At the Arc de Triomphe, you are at the hub of 12 boulevards that radiate like spokes from the center wheel. Take the stairs to the top and soak up the view.
We did 2 versions of this walk, and probably enjoyed the evening one the most. The stores were closed, but window shopping is just as fun (couldn’t afford anything inside anyway!). The lights on the Arc and along the boulevard make it really unforgettable too. Eiffel TowerThis is probably the only tower in the world that I would call beautiful! The mere sight of it evokes images and memories of the city. It’s also a great view of Paris, a reference point for the left bank, and a meeting place for visitors from near and far.
Then come back again to the tower around sunset or an hour before. You can ride the elevator all the way to the top of the highest observation platform (900 ft) if you like, and marvel at the sweeping views across the city. Stay long enough to watch the floodlights light up the structure. And for great view of the tower, try Trocadero Square, across the river and short walk northwest.
Seine River CruiseIf you only take one river cruise through a city in your life, make it this one. And to add to the romance, take it sometime in the evening. A great romantic passage through Paris on a glass boat. You’ll pass landmarks, monuments, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and centuries old bridges where people just linger and watch you sail by. Unlike other huge cities, Paris is illuminated at night in a more discreet way, which just adds to the ambience!
Louvre MuseumOne of the granddaddies of all museums! The Louvre contains over 300,000 works of art, including the Mona Lisa (you might be disappointed-it’s rather small, tucked into a glass case and usually surrounded by people).
VersaillesMany Paris vacation packages and tours include a visit to Versailles, a grand and majestic palace located west of the city. The former residence of the King of France, and the seat of French Government for more than 100 years. A tour through this awesome building will reveal rooms and chambers of past nobility. The renowned Hall of Mirrors is 250 ft of sheer glass, chandeliers, statues and windows with breathtaking views of the surrounding gardens.Rue Cler
We found out about this street in Rick Steve’s Paris Vacation Guide, and we're happy to report that it is really worth seeing . Rue Cler is a small pedestrian only street just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. It’s lined with butcher shops, fruit stands, cheese shops, bakeries, cafes and corner crepe stands - just the way you picture a Paris market street in your mind's eye. There was even a couple street buskers playing classical music!
There's some nice small hotels on Rue Cler and in the surrounding streets. We picked one out of the guidebook called Hotel Levesque and it was a great little inn with spotless bathrooms and friendly staff who always had a smile and a warm criossant for us in the morning!
Rue Cler is an easy walk from the Eiffel Tower and Seine River. Other market streets nearby include the beautiful Saxe-Breteuil Market, and the Rue de Grenelle Market.
Paris Romantic Restaurants
A big part of the enjoyment of a Paris vacation! The quality, selection and presentation of food really is worth all the accolades that have been used for many years! Paris restaurants are also where you need to be at your most adventurous – forget McDonald’s and Dennys, and try to appreciate all the differences and little challenges that will reward your palete with truly delicious food. And remember that the emphasis is on quality first, not quantity.
We had a great dinner at a small Paris romantic restaurant called Café’ du Marche, on the corner of Rue Cler and rue Champs de Mars. A quiet sidewalk table, the top of the Eiffel Tower peaking in from above, and friendly, hard working waiters! If you’re Paris vacation is on a tight budget, consider the “prix-fixe” meals. It means fixed- price, and it’s a meal which usually includes soup or salad, a main course, and dessert. Wine is usually extra.
There’s also some great eating possibilities at the different open-air markets. You’ll find gourmet cheese, fresh bread, pastries, fruit and vegetables, meats and wine. Crepe stands are great too – we had a most delicious dessert crepe from a street vendor on Rue Cler! You wonder how something that delicious can come from some place so small! Getting Around on Your Paris Vacation
Many Paris locations are described as being either “left-bank” or “right bank”. Basically, this means to the left or generally south of the Seine River (bottom half of the city map), or to the right or north of it (top half). Additionally, the city is divided into 20 districts known as “Arrondissements” – you’ll see them on addresses, and they’re reasonably well marked on most maps.
Maureen and I used the Paris Underground (Metro) quite extensively during our Paris vacation, and we were really impressed. Even with signs and diagrams in French, you can navigate and use it quickly and problem-free. The trains are on-time, clean and safe. It seems you’re never further than a few hundred feet from a Metro station, and it’s priced very affordably. You can also use the Paris bus system and taxis to get around, or even rent a car, or scooter! I would tend to shy away from driving in the city as you will find navigating the streets and parking options tiring and rather difficult. And really, stress behind the wheel is what you want a vacation away from!
Paris HotelsThere are thousands of Paris hotels, big and small. Much depends on your Paris vacation budget and where you would like to stay. For more info on accommodation options here, check out our newest page on Paris honeymoon hotels.
More Romantic Paris:Romantic Paris Hotels - Small inns, 3 & 4 star hotels in the best Paris neighborhoods.Paris Vacation - Romantic Accommodation in France - Unique and romantic vacation apartment rental aboard luxury Parisian house boat moored at the Eiffel Tower in the heart of Paris, France.
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Romance and Paris – they go hand in hand. Paris is a beautiful city, and one visit is never enough. There is a personality, flair and quiet sophistication in Paris and the rest of France that is unlike any other major city in the world. Our page here will only cover the highlights of all the romantic things to do in Paris.
As you leave and start down the Champs Elysees, you’ll wander past exquisite boutiques, showrooms offering everything for the rich and famous, and all sorts of cafes. Be curious and check out some of the side streets that catch your interest. Many rich and famous actors, politicians and people of interest have inhabited these neighborhoods over the years.
I would make 2 visits here: come first around 11AM but don’t wait in line to go up the tower. Instead, hop over to a nearby grocer and grab some cheese, bread, fresh fruit and a small bottle of wine, and find a nice spot on the Champ de Mars (huge stretch of lawn that stretches southeast of the tower, and an ideal spot for a romantic Paris picnic lunch!).
You can board the cruises at several points, including right in front of the Eiffel Tower. Boats depart approximately every 30 minutes. You can find romantic Paris dinner cruise departures here too.
Here’s an idea if you don’t want to your Paris vacation to be spent in a museum: Spend an hour or two and just see the big three. That is, the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus de Milo. That way, you’ve caught a glimpse of the Louvre’s greatest hits, you quickly get back to the other sights you’ve come for, and you still sound reasonably “cultured” when you get home and tell your friends what you saw in the Louvre on your Paris vacation!
Don’t leave Paris without trying some of the richly delicious tarts, sponge cakes and pastries you’ll find at many Parisian bakeries. You’ll see them all over town, many with grand window displays that show off the incredible variety. It’s an art form.