July 27, 2022 | View Online | Sign Up
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Resist the cliches all you want; your first sight of the Eiffel Tower exploding skywards from the Parisian boulevards below is a special moment.
While the City of Light is home to some of the planet’s most recognizable landmarks, its magic lies in the captivating details. The food is unparalleled, its history is rich, and art has few better stages, but it's sitting at a streetside cafe, espresso in hand, watching the world turn where most fall in love with Paris.
Whether seduced by the writers who called it home or enchanted by silver-screen portrayals, Paris lives in the hearts of every traveler long before they arrive. And although those versions of the city may be long gone, what’s left is just as much a moveable feast.
It’s always a good idea.
Bienvenue à Paris
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| FUN FACTS
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The city of light isn’t as romantic as you think
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Many believe Paris’ nickname, The City of Light, refers to the beautiful illuminations adorning its trademark attractions like the Effiel Tower and the Arc de Triumphe. The reality is far more practical.
In the mid-1600’s France emerged from an extended period of civil unrest. Crime was rampant in the city, and King Louis XIV charged an innovative police chief with the task of reducing it. His solution? He installed streetlights in the city, making it harder for criminals to evade police or commit crimes. Paris was one of the first cities in Europe to do so, earning the title La Ville-Lumière (the City of Light).
Some French people like to tie it to the Age of Enlightenment, a period of great innovation in which Paris was the center, but the streetlights were the real source of the name.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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Know the pickpocket spots
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France is the most visited country in the world and Paris is the principal reason for more than half of those visits. With millions of tourists arriving in the city every year, a few petty thieves have generally clocked it’s a strong place to set up shop.
The likelihood of it being violent are extremely low, so don’t be worried. But when exploring the more touristy spots like Notre Dame or on the metro, keep an eye on your gear, and keep wallets or phones in your front pockets. A little common sense will ensure you’re absolutely fine.
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Apprenez le français, s'il vous plaît.
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The French often get a bad rep for being stand-offish to American tourists. The reality is, they’re super lovely and happy to help; they just appreciate the respect of learning some French before you arrive. Don’t be surprised if some pretend they can’t speak English if you approach them in your own language.
You don’t need to be fluent but learn the basics at least. Bonjour (hello), au revoir (goodbye), merci (thanks), and s’il vous plait (please). You’ll often find if you can speak a few phrases, they’ll immediately jump to English and help you out.
While you’re at, it’s customary to say hello to shopkeepers, bus drivers, and other people you encounter on a day-to-day basis. Brush up on your pleasantries.
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Accept your time limitations
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Paris is packed with iconic sights and attractions - the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Moulin Rouge, the Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, the Palace of Versailles…it’s exhausting just writing them all down. Depending on the length of your trip, seeing all of those could take up your entire time.
If possible, take as long a trip as you can. It’ll let you enjoy the city at your own pace, see everything, and enjoy Paris as a city, not just a tourist destination.
If you’re short on time, be blunt with your choices. Decide which ones you need to see, plan your time around those, and enjoy the city. Squeezing everything in will turn the trip into a blur.
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| TOGETHER WITH
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Vaer makes the perfect summer watch
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Need something for traveling off the grid? Vaer's lineup includes a range of solar-powered models, which are charged by light and offer perpetual timekeeping - making them the perfect watch for the adventure-minded traveler heading off into remote locations.
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| THINGS TO DO
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Hit the big ticket items
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As we just told you, it’s hard to fit everything in on a Paris trip, but checking out some of the most iconic sites in the world is a must for any visitor.
Top of the list is, of course, the Eiffel Tower. The stunning structure dominates Paris’ skyline and is a wonder to behold up close. Grab a picnic basket and spend an afternoon lounging in the gardens underneath. You can also go to the top of the tower to check out the views, but that’ll set you back around 25 euros a ticket.
You’re likely to come across the Arc de Triomphe and the Sacre Coeur in your wanderings, but both are worth a visit in their own right. The Sacre Coeur, in particular, offers some of the most spectacular views of the city.
Notre Dame Cathedral is an astounding place to visit. The scale and detail of the architecture are astonishing, even for those with no interest in history, and it’s made even more impressive by its age — it’s over a thousand years old. Of course, the tragic fire in 2019 means it won’t be open again until 2024 when it’s expected to have something of a makeover. So any visits in the coming year will be from outside.
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Art Attack
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Paris has been a hub for creatives since the 1600s, developing such a strong reputation for art that even the least interested of us still swarm to its museums. Of course, the Louvre is the crown jewel, where some of the most famous paintings and sculptures of all time are kept.
Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is the most famous resident in the museum and is a divisive figure for tourists who are stunned when they see the painting’s size. It’s not uncommon for hundreds of tourists to swarm around the little portrait, many of whom couldn’t tell you the first thing about it. It’s definitely worth making up your own mind — that’s what art is about.
The Musée d'Orsay is another highlight. In recent years, it’s been named the best museum in the world, and visitors can enjoy works by household names like Monet, Degas, and Renoir.
If you can’t get enough art, the Rodin museum is wonderful; there’s a Picasso gallery and even a Luis Vuitton museum for the more fashionable among us.
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Do your own exploring
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One of the greatest joys of Paris is wandering through its storied streets. Each of its neighborhoods (arrondissements for the cultured among you) is unique in its own way and is home to an array of cafes, theatres, museums, and other gems that don’t appear in any Paris guidebook.
Montmartre is a tourist favorite and feels straight out of a twenties novel. Get out and find your favorite spots, enjoy a bottle of wine on the Seine, or rummage through
a few bookshops.
For the braver traveler, a trip under the city to Paris’ catacombs is a memorable experience. Although many adventures brave into the illegal entrances, organized (and legal) tours allow you to experience the darker history lurking below the street.
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| WHERE TO STAY
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Parisian nights
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Going traditional is the key to any Parisian stay. Hundreds of stunning independent hotels all over the city offer a luxurious stay in the French capital, complete with the impeccable service synonymous with the country.
Airbnbs are now offering an even more authentic feel to any stay. Look out for Parisian lofts plucked from a Hemingway novel or grand townhomes from the early eighteen-hundreds.
Your location will dictate the price but know it’s not going to be cheap. But hey, it’s Paris. Dive in.
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Our Top Pick: Maison Souqet
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Paris, France
$$$$ | See inside
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This stunning Montmartre hotel was once a pleasure house during the Belle Epoque. The luxurious decor nods to its promiscuous past transporting guests to an earlier time, and is perfect for a romantic getaway in the city of love.
Service is impeccable, and the old-fashioned salons will make it hard to leave whether Paris is waiting outside or not. It also features an excellent spa and indoor pool to relax after a long day out on the streets.
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| Book Your Stay |
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Other Top Picks
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| WHERE TO EAT
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Escargot for the duck
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Think French cuisine, and frogs legs and snails spring to mind. They’re definitely an aspect of French eating that should be explored, but they ignore the grander scale of the city’s culinary tradition.
French food is as much about how things are made as opposed to what you eat. Often called the culinary capital of the world, the rest of the planet sends its best chefs to be trained in Paris.
Refined, flavor focussed, and as much art as food, trying real French cooking is a must. From Michelin-starred restaurants to a humble Croque Monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich), Parisian food is as much a reason to visit the city as the Eiffel Tower.
And don’t skimp on the crepes, obviously.
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Our Top Pick: La Tour l'Argent
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Paris, France
$$$$$ | Menu
For the quintessential Parisian culinary experience, look no further than La Tour d’Argent. The restaurant has been operating in some capacity on the same spot since 1582, starting life as a riverside hostel for noblemen. The restaurant has evolved with Paris and was even the first establishment in the country to use forks. It’s hosted kings, queens, and countless nobility over the centuries.
Nowadays, it’s a bastion of fine French dining, with its duck the most celebrated thing on the menu. The staples of French cooking are all mastered here and paired with one of their vast selection of wines, hidden deep below the restaurant. Book a table early, reservations aren’t easy to come by.
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The Best of the Rest
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN EDINBURGH
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