Paris, la ville lumiere, the city of love. Paris is one of those places that has always been surrounded by a touch of magic and dream. It’s the city that everyone, at least once in their life, wants to visit. In this article I will tell you about my 5-days itinerary in Paris.
Paris has always fascinated me, in fact, since I was a child, I remember going to different travel agencies asking for brochures and guides, or even leaflets to visit Disneyland Paris. I just wanted to convince my parents to take me there.
Unfortunately, I had to wait until I was 29 to visit it, but as the saying goes … better late than never, right?
Loving art and writing, I have always had a poetic vision of Paris. I kept telling myself that one day I wanted to try living there like the great writers and artists, to savor the air, the atmosphere and be inspired by the city (make sure to check out this article about the best quotes from writers and artists about Paris). It is not for nothing that one of my favorite movies is definitely Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen.
Today I can say, after visiting it, that my expectations were not disappointed. Paris is such a beautiful, elegant city that makes you want to be more beautiful and elegant too.
It’s that dinner invitation for which you don’t think you’re prepared enough, that host who can make you feel at home with simplicity and delicacy. Paris is a kind and welcoming hostess. It’s that friend who doesn’t make you feel alone.
Of course, it’s a lively, active, chaotic city in some ways and full of tourists (really, full). But if you dig beyond this first superficial layer and look up, wherever you are, every glimpse, every palace, every corner is able to remind you and sometimes even make you rediscover, how beautiful life is.
I stopped in Paris during a small European tour, returning from Portugal (click here to read about my adventure at the surf camp). My intention was to visit the city a few weeks later, but for logistical reasons, and not so trivially, also economic (the ticket to return to Italy from Portugal was very expensive) I decided to make this small deviation and anticipate the departure.
After sharing my travel plan, almost everyone advised me to prepare a fixed, precise itinerary to see everything and as much as possible. However, I have always rejected this idea since Paris is not only a city rich in culture and full of places to visit, but the time I had at my disposal was so little that it prevented me from being able to see everything at once.
I decided, therefore, to approach Paris with poetry, letting myself be inspired by the city, as if my own soul had invited me to lead me wherever she wanted to lead me and show me whatever she wanted to show me. Having two full days of travel, I could spend 3 full days in Paris (plus a few hours the morning of the day planned for departure).
I always loved the concept of flaneur introduced by Charles Baudelaire, which could be roughly translated as wandering aimlessly, idly, through the streets of a city, without haste, savoring all the emotions aroused by observing the landscape. The author had used the concept precisely in the context of the Parisian context and advocates for a free and unhurried exploration and I have to say that it is a concept that fully reflects the essence of the city and my approach as an observing tourist who rediscovers how beautiful life is.
To summarize my experience I want to refer to one of my favorite quotes “The journey is more important than the destination”.
In Paris it doesn’t matter (only) your destination, but the journey to reach it.
So, fasten your seat belts and travel with me while I tell you about my romantic and dreamy Paris. I will lead you through the streets I visited and show you what I saw through my eyes.
Sometimes, as a tourist, we tend to forget to spend some time where we can simply breathe, and we can enjoy that moment of life. We do not realize that for a tiny second we are an integral part of the history of the place we visit. For a moment we are all part of the same thing and the beauty of the place we visit is part of us as we are part of it.
Paris for romantics and dreamers: the itinerary
Day 1: arrival in Paris
My flight landed in the afternoon at Paris Beauvais airport. After waiting and picking up my luggage, the first task of the day was to buy a ticket to get to the center of Paris. I relied on the local line and – extremely sponsored at the airport – I bought a ticket at the parking booth (you can also purchase the ticket online via the official website of Aerobus Paris-Beauvais). The bus took me to Porte Maillot from where I then took the means to reach my hotel located in the 5th arrondissement, in the center of the Latin Quarter (precisely 2 minutes on foot from the Les Gobelines metro).
The day of arrival was a fairly static day, as usual. I decided to have dinner and explore a bit the neighborhood where I was, walking then through the super lively Rue Mouffetard to the Pantheon.
I didn’t have big aspirations or plans for this week, just to enjoy the city, visit some of the most important places and let myself be carried away by the vibe and atmosphere.
And let me tell you, I have no regrets at all.
From here, my 3-day (and a half) itinerary in Paris that I have defined for romantics and dreamers. But come on, those nostalgia of the belle epoque, those artists who gave life to great works, letting themselves be inspired by one of the most beautiful cities that exist.
Day 2: Montmartre + Eiffel Tower
I decided to spend my second day (but officially the first) in Paris visiting first the Montmartre neighborhood: always home to eccentric artists and site of one of the most beautiful monuments, the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.
Starting from the Abesses metro station, heading towards the hill, I visited the Basilica – climbing up to the dome, which I highly recommend – and I visited the famous Place du Tertre, getting lost in its streets. The thing I loved the most was seeing the artists at work. I think I spent at least an hour observing them.
In the afternoon, after lunch, I decided to move to the Eiffel Tower area, to be able to climb the tower just at sunset. After having dinner at a very good creperie (find my review on it here), and after waiting in line for about an hour and a half, I managed to climb the Eiffel Tower.
You can find my complete article on the second day in Paris, with all the key information and my reflections, here.
DAY 3: from the Latin Quarter to the Ile de la Cité + Louvre Museum
Finding myself in the center of the beautiful Latin Quarter, I decided not to take public transportation and to walk towards the Ile de la Cité. My journey started from Rue Monge, passing through Rue Saint Germain and Rue Saint Jacques. From there, I arrived at one of my must-see stops, the historic bookstore Shakespear & Company. Even there, I had to wait in line, but it was worth it.
From there, continuing on the Petit Pont, I could glimpse Notre Dame de Paris, still not visitable unfortunately. At that point, I was already on the Ile de la cité. I continued in the direction of one of the places I wanted to visit, the Saint Chapelle, but I decided not to wait in line, for a number of reasons: the line was too long and I didn’t want to use my time that way.
Instead, I stopped at the bistro across the street, where they seated me – in pure Parisian style – at one of the outdoor tables. After my lunch, continuing on Pont au change, I continued on Quai de la Mégisserie in the direction of the Louvre Museum.
I had already purchased my ticket weeks in advance. But don’t be fooled by the convenience, you will still have to wait in line to enter.
From the Louvre Museum, I decided to head to Pont de l’Alma, from where I could buy a ticket for the Bateaux Mouches.
I’ll give you a sneak peek, that day I decided to buy two tickets: one for the daylight hours, the other in the evening.
After the first boat ride, I headed to the Trocadero area, to take some photos, but the time wasn’t the best.
I decided to return to the Bateaux Mouches, ready for the second ride. This time it was more crowded, but contrary to my expectations it did not spoil my experience.
If you didn’t want to rush your visit, you may be wondering, why did you concentrate all this stuff on one day?
Simple, the motivation is in the fourth day, in my case the national holiday for the taking of the Bastille, in which almost all of Paris was busy with celebrations and many areas closed.
You can find my complete article on the third day in Paris, with all the key information and my reflections, here.
DAY 4: Le Jour de la Bastille > Champs Elysee > Musee D’Orsay > le Marais >
Montparnasse After heading towards the Arc du Triomphe to join the French for the celebrations and disappointed, for not having
After heading towards the Arc du Triomphe to join the French for celebrations and feeling disappointed for not catching the right time, I started to walk around the city – also because almost all the central metro stations were blocked. I hadn’t planned on visiting another museum besides the Louvre, but after walking for hours – which was magnificent, I assure you, but not under scorching sun – I decided to head towards the Musee D’Orsay. I loved it. Every single spot, and it turned out to be a fantastic decision. From there, being my last day I had two wishes on the list: the Marais and Montparnasse. I checked the schedule and wrinkled my nose, I wasn’t even convinced that I would make it. But both were a must-see. The Marais is a historic neighborhood and you will also find the house of Nicholas Flamel, as well as the Jewish neighborhood that definitely deserves a visit. Montparnasse on the other hand, is the classic artists’ neighborhood where Hemingway spent most of his time (besides, I wanted to try the last creperie on the list, here’s the article). The day ended quite late, with the fireworks for the storming of the Bastille. You can find my complete article on the fourth day in Paris, with all the key information and my reflections here.
Day 5: On the footsteps of Emily in Paris > Airport
Here we are at the end of the itinerary. Having watched Emily in Paris and having the hotel in the 5th arrondissement, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the places of the series. To the right of the Pantheon you will find a small street that will take you to Place de l’Estrapade, there concentrated in the area you will find the palace where Emily lives, Gabriel’s restaurant (in reality an Italian restaurant called Terra Nera) and the bakery where Emily bought and enjoyed her croissant. Like me, many other people that morning had decided to pay a visit – with a guided tour included. After this short tour and a quick lunch, I retrieved my luggage and headed to the Denfert-Rochereau station where I took the aerobus to return to Italy. You can find my complete article on the fifth day in Paris, with all the key information and my reflections here. I had to split the articles for space and to give each place the proper attention it deserves.
If you want you can take a look at the articles on Paris that I link you to below:
4 crêperies you absolutely must try in Paris
The 10 most beautiful quotes about Paris
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