Paris is a city that inspires me. I love going there for the beautiful architecture, delicious food, art exhibitions, and Instagram opportunities. Last year, I finally got my husband to take a weekend trip to Paris. We did a lot in two days. If you only have two nights in Paris, make sure to read this blog.
Day 1:
The first day we went for breakfast at HolyBelly. I was surprised because it was so popular. We waited about 20 minutes to get a table and actually enjoyed our breakfast there. The wait was definitely worth it (maybe I’ll have to come earlier next time). After enjoying a delicious petit djeunaire, we went to Notre Dame Cathedral. Thank you so much for visiting before the fire disaster occurred. Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to go up and see it from above. Who knows how long recovery will take?
After once again admiring the beauty of the cathedral, we went to the Marais district and looked around some stores. My husband has never been to the Marais before, so I wanted to show him the places I usually go to when I come to Paris. Later we decided to explore the Montmartre area. We tried to have a quick meal at La Maison Rose Cafe, but unfortunately it was already full. After our attempt at a cafe failed, we walked to the Sacre-Coeur Cathedral. This was my second visit, and my first time experiencing a panoramic tour. And it was really fun to see Paris from this high up. If you want to enjoy a panoramic view, we recommend the Arc de Triumph or the Montparnasse Tower Observation Desk. Since the weather was perfect for eating outside and people watching, we decided to have lunch in the Montmartre neighborhood. But it wasn’t at all what I had imagined, so we skipped this idea. Then the suggestion to go for lunch at Le Brebant occurred to me. Le Brebant is a popular location for photography. The food wasn’t anything special and the service wasn’t great, but it was definitely Instagram-worthy.
After lunch, we walked to Passages des Panoramas and Verdeau. It’s an ideal way to spend the day if it’s too cold or rainy outside. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shopping centers. For dinner we decided to go to the Eiffel Tower view and have their famous crepes. This was our second Eiffel Tower date, following 2010. We watched the Eiffel Tower light show and eventually went to Atelier des Lumieres to see the Gustav light exhibition. It was indescribably amazing! I felt like I was living in Gustav’s work. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. If you are planning this trip, be sure to visit Atelier des Lumieres. There is a Van Gogh exhibition this year.
Breakfast at Holly Valley 5
address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris, France
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
La Maison Rose Cafe
Near Montmartre
Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur
Observe the Sacre-Coeur Cathedral
Lunch at Le Brebant
address: 32 Boulevard Poissonnière
Passages des Panoramas and Verdeau
eiffel tower
lighting workshop
Day 2:
The next morning, we woke up to explore as much as we could before heading back home. We had to maximize our day until we could catch a late night train to Germany. Our morning started at Peonies, the cutest cafe. There we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and coffee. After that, we went to the flea market to shop for antiques. The things you see there honestly should be in a museum. Unfortunately, since we were traveling by train, we couldn’t make any big purchases. Anyway, the flea market we visited was Marche Malasis. I think we spent almost the whole day there. One of the coolest finds I purchased were vintage Chanel earrings. After some haggling, I walked away with a much better price than I could have bought online. Next time I go to Paris, I definitely want to go again. Because you can find some truly unique pieces.
Later we went back to the Marais district for more shopping. We stopped at a cute store where you can find anything you want. For dinner we went to Canard & Champagne French restaurant. If you want to experience French food that is not that expensive, be sure to stop by. If you still have time, we recommend visiting the Arc de Triomphe, which offers some of the best views of the city. Other museums I’ve wanted to visit for quite some time include the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Center Pompidou. Or, if you still want to do some vintage second-hand shopping, you can easily spend a few hours in the Marais. I usually stop there every time I come to Paris.
peony cafe
Address: 81 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis
flea market in paris
Shopping in Marais
Canards & Champagne
address: 57 Panorama Passage
