Spring time in Paris, is there anything better?

I just returned from a whirlwind week in the city of light, and am excited to share exactly what we did, where we ate and what was a bit of a flop. Paris can be an overwhelming city, so rather than share what we did each day, I thought I would list my top favorites. First, we’re starting with activities, so stay tuned for part two of this guide which includes all the food you won’t want to miss.

Feel free to share some of your Paris must-do’s in the comments!

Check out the Museum & Cultural Scene

It wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without soaking in all the culture you can find at the various museums and monuments. I made a list in advance of all the museums that interested me the most, and we began the first three days of our trip checking them out.

Tip: If you know you’re going to visit a ton of museums, it’s completely worth the money to purchase the Paris Museum Pass. Even if you’re only planning to visit three or four, it pays for itself. The only drawback is that you have to plan all of these visits in back-to-back days. We went with the four-day pass and were able to check off six locations.

The Louvre

Is it even a trip to Paris if you don’t visit the Louvre? Truth be told, this is probably one of my least favorite places in the entire city, but certainly one of the most iconic. To cut down on anxiety (and time spent bumping in to people) we used our time wisely by searching for these must-see pieces. Of course, if you’re a big art buff, then have at it! Once you’ve got your full taste of art, relax in the Jardin des Tuileries, which can be found right outside the Louvre. There’s a nice fountain in the middle with outdoor eateries, and plenty of tables and chairs to sit around and relax.

Musee de L’Organgerie

The Musee de L’Orangerie is hands down my favorite Paris museum. It’s manageable at only three floors with popular works by Picasso and Monet – including Monet's famous water lilies, which are truly spectacular to sit and stare at. Best of all, the Musee de l’Orangerie is located in the Jardin des Tuileries, right outside the Louvre (about a 5-7 minute walk).

Musee d'Orsay

The Musee d’Orsay is probably the most popular museum in Paris next to the Louvre (and maybe the Pompidou, depending on who you talk to). Even if you’re just breezing through, the Musee d’Orsay is spectacular for it’s architecture (it used to be an old train station) and infamous pieces by Cezanne, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh and more. My favorites here were all of the Monets (can you tell I like color?) and Renoir. I even recognized a few pieces that I studied during my single art history class in college. It’s a surreal feeling to see the real pieces up close and personal.

Rodin Museum

I loved the Rodin Museum simply for the grounds. Espicially if you’re visiting in the summer or fall, take some time to walk through the gardens here.

Picasso Museum

I must admit we did not allow ourselves enough time at the Picasso Museum, one that I was pretty excited to check out. Unfortunately, we got our times wrong and only had about 15 minutes to peruse the floors. It’s also much bigger than I thought it would be, so make sure you give yourself enough time.

Versailles

Ah, Versailles. A place you think is going to be really spectacular and totally, well, isn’t. Our biggest flop of the trip was visiting Versailles mainly because we arrived way later than we should have and ended up waiting in line for TWO HOURS. I repeat, TWO HOURS. All while trying not to get in to an altercation with the dozens of people who cut in front of us in line. Sometimes people are the worst.

Once inside, we were herded through each room like cattle with no time to stop and admire a single thing. It was so crowded in fact, we couldn’t even turn around to leave. We just kept being pushed forward.

Now, I suspect if you visit in the summer or fall, the grounds/gardens of Versailles are something to behold. But sadly, most everything was dead. I bet even if we visited a few weeks later, it would look a little less gloomy.

See the Notre-Dame Cathedral

We didn’t go up to the top (the line was unreal and I had enough after Versailles), but were staying nearby in the Marais, so made a stop over just before sunset. If nothing else, seeing this grand structure in front of you is worth it alone.

Visit the Arc de Triumph

Visiting the Arc de Triumph a top the Avenue des Champs-Élysées picked up my post-Versailles spirits. We didn’t’ use our museum pass for this (you can take the stairs to the top of it), but rather stood at a busy intersection and admired the structure. Paris has such beautiful architecture, some of my favorites moments include just staring and appreciating – does that sound creepy?

Walk the Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Lastly, like the Louvre, it wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without strolling the Champs-Elysess and picking up some macaroons at Laduree (look for the everyone carrying the mint green bags).

Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower

I think this really speaks for itself. Although Paris is pretty flat, this is a must-do for any first-timer. However, what I enjoyed even more than climbing to the top (and this isn’t because I’m afraid of heights) was simply standing UNDER the Eiffel Tower and soaking in the massive structure from the ground. I also turned into a super-tourist any time I could see the Eiffel Tower from any point in the city. It never got old to me.

Wander through some of the best neighborhoods & sites Paris has to offer

Explore Montmartre

Montmartre sits a top the highest “hill” in Paris. I put hill in quotes because I live in Hong Kong, and overall, Paris is flat. Anyway, I recommend taking at least a half day to explore this quirky neighborhood that’s full of character and hipster charm. To go ahead and check it off your list, you’ll want to visit the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur first – the big white church that all the tourists will flock to.

After that, we explored la rue Des Martyrs which is definitely worth checking out for it’s shops, restaurants and food. I found this recommendation from Elaine Sciolino’s book The only street in Paris Life on the Rue Des Martyrs where she refers to it as “a half mile of Magic”.

A short walk from Montmartre and you’ll want to check out the seedy scene of Moulin Rouge. And then you’ll want to take a shower. To know why, you must visit for yourself.

The Marais and St. Germain

I was so excited to be staying in the Marais as I had heard so much hype about this quaint little Parisian gem. Today, the Marais is filled with hip boutiques, restaurants and bars.

When you think of quintessential Parisian cafes and shops, your mind is actually envisioning the neighborhood of St. Germain. This is where Picasso, Hemmingway and all those guys and girls from the 1920’s used to run about town. Albeit pricey, take a half day to explore, even if you’re just posting up at a café for people watching. You’ll find that's a pretty common past time in Paris.

Find hidden treasures in Marche aux Puces’s de Saint-Ouen (largest flea market in Europe)

I have to say, I was most excited to check out the Marche au Puces’s de Saint-Ouen, Europe’s largest flea market. There are 15 total markets that make up this giant section of northern Paris. I was mostly interested in the antiques and artwork. If this is something you’re interested in, you could easily spend an entire day here.

Have a picnic at Jardin du Luxembourg

If you’re visiting during nice weather, the Jardin du Luxembourg is where you’ll want to pack a lunch and have a picnic.

Stroll across the lock bridge (but don’t actually bring a lock)

One of my favorite parts of this trip was waking up just as the sun was rising (hello, jet lag!) to roam the streets. Specifically, seeing the sun rise over the in famous lock bridge, or Pont des Arts. Historically, couples have been using the lock bridge to attach a “love lock” somewhere to the side of the bridge, and then throwing the key in river Seine below. This is how the lock bridge came to be famous.

However, if you plan to come to Paris and do that now, you’re actually breaking the law. In 2014, part of the bridges’ railings collapsed in to the river due to the weight, so the Parisian government has since stepped in to remove thousands of locks. You’ll still be able to find some on the bridge today, but it isn’t quite the same as it used to be.

TIP: Just like the Eiffel tower, because this is such a bustling tourist spot, look out for scammers and pick-pocketing. We had an interesting experience while on this bridge.

In a nutshell, this is how I spent my week in Paris. And I haven’t even covered the food yet, stay tuned for part two of my Parisian beginners guide!

A beginner’s guide to must-see activities in Paris