Curated by: L ucas Santos & Ben Dumas
Travel Period: January 2019
Traveled With: Just Us
Typical Weather: 30-40 degree days with colder nights
Getting There: NYC – Paris Nonstop
Getting Around: Uber, Subway, Bikes, and Electric Scooters

Our long weekend trip to Paris was spontaneously booked when we found a ridiculously cheap roundtrip flight for $350, so we figured…why not? With only three nights and four days, we really did our research and polled all of our friends to make sure we got the most out of our long weekend in the city of lights. Coming off several beach vacations, we were excited to dive back into city life for some culture, food, and sightseeing. We haven’t been to Paris since study abroad college days–so this time around we traded hostel bunkbeds, cheap wine, and late club nights for beautiful hotels, as much bread and cheese as possible, and a lot of walks, taking in the art, architecture, and scenic neighborhoods.

Even with just a few days, the amount of options available in Paris can make it pretty overwhelming to plan. With our time crunch, we really had to be smart and prioritize in order to make the most of out of the weekend. The highlights outlined here are a collection of places we enjoyed, as well as some of the recommendations from friends which will be on the top of our list for next time. With the strength of the dollar right now and cheap flight deals to be had, now is the time to book your trip to Paris, even if just for a long weekend.

Before picking your hotel, it’s important to think about the right neighborhood. Paris is sectioned off in different arrondissements or neighborhoods. There are 20 arrondissements, with the 1st located right in the city’s historic center with the others following in a clockwise spiral around the city.

Here are some of our favorite neighborhoods to get lost in and the sights THAT you’ll find in each

1st – Louvre, Tuileries Garden, Place Vendome, Palais Royal, and Ile de la Cite
4th – Place des Vosges, Le Marais, and Gay District
5th – Latin Quarter and Saint Michel
6th – St. Germain, Luxembourg Garden
7th – Eiffel Tower, Musee Rodin, Orsay Museum
18th – Moulin Rouge, Sacre-Coeur Basilica

STAY

Hotel Lutetia – Located in St. Germain, this Leading Hotels of the World property underwent a 4-year, $230M renovation project, reopening its doors in July of 2018. The hotel features some 180 suites, ranging in sizes from standard king to an ultra-lux presidential suite with 360-views of the city. This may have been one of the most sophisticated hotels that we have ever stayed in, where every detail of the room and hotel was very thought out. Every guest can enjoy the hotel’s hammam, spa, sauna, and pool, which proofed to be the perfect morning routine before starting our sightseeing day. Our suite’s bathroom had heated floors, an all-marble bathtub, and a TV built into the mirror. If you’re planning on staying here, get ready to shell out a pretty penny.

Additional Hotel Recommendations

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Hotel Plaza Athénée

Le Maurice

La Réserve

Ritz Carlton Place Vendôme

Hotel Costes

Amastan Paris

Grands Boulevards

Hotel Bienvenue

The Hoxton Paris

Le Bains

SEE & DO

Museums

Picasso Museum - Located in the Marais, this is a must for any Picasso lover.
Rodin Museum - Rodin’s artwork and sculptures are beautifully displayed throughout his villa and its sprawling gardens.
Musee d’Orsay - Beautiful museum located in the center of the city, featuring mostly French paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.
The Louvre - No description needed, but worth noting that it is always the busiest museum in Paris. Make sure to give yourself a few hours to explore every room.
The Centre Pompidou - Located in the 4th, this museum features mostly modern exhibitions with interactive spaces.
Louis Vuitton Foundation - This art space from LVMH is a short 30-min drive away from the city. It features large exhibitions and multi-sensorial experiences from world-renowned artists. Make sure to look at the calendar and buy tickets ahead of time as most exhibitions do tend to sell out.

Eiffel Tower

Go to Place du Trocadero around sunset for the best photo opp, but return at night right on the hour to see the Eiffel Tower flashing its lights. The best spot to see it at night is where Avenue de la Bourdonnais and Rue de l’Universite intersect.

Squares and Gardens

Place des Vosges
Jardin du Luxembourg
Tuileries Garden
Champs de Mars

Go to Church

Notre Dame in Ile de la Cité - A must-see for anyone visiting Paris for the first time. It’s centrally located and easy to see in a short time.
Sainte-Chapelle in Ile de la Cité - Impressive gothic church also in the Ile de la Cité and, in our opinion, even more picturesque than Notre Dame.
Sacre-Cœur in Montmartre - Located on the hills of Montmartre, Sacre-Cœur has an unbeatable city view, particularly beautiful in the morning or later afternoon.

Shop

Rue St. André-des-Arts
Le Bon Marche
St Germain & Marais

Notre Dame

Sainte Chapelle

Sacre Cœur

Place des Vosges

Jardin de Luxembourg

Tuileries Garden

Champs de Mars

EAT & DRINK

As New Yorkers, we are spoiled with the number, variety, and quality of restaurants and bars. Paris is another city that, in our eyes, you cannot go wrong when it comes to food. Over the course of the long weekend, we ate and drank in enough restaurants to fill up a week-long itinerary. Here are some of our favorites along with other recommendations from our foodie friends that we will be checking out next time.

Cafes/Bistros

Best for Lunch or Afternoon Bites