My search for the best experiences in Paris
Since I shared what I would have packed on my trip to Paris last month, I decided I may as well continue with the theme and write about my itinerary, too. Most of these things I still plan to do whenever the Powers That Be allow us all to travel again. Even if I won’t be able to live this itinerary any time soon, you all can daydream along with my as we explore these best experiences in Paris together.
By now you probably know that where France is concerned, I am, how you say, obsessed. Which means my standards are high. Whereas in my 20’s I was most interested in getting drunk on the Eiffel Tower (true story- 21st birthday), this time I longed for the luxury treatment. I wanted to spend hours at a café, sipping coffee and/or wine, soaking in the city and the people. And most importantly, not fussing over my complaining children. Bliss.
I have already done most of the blatantly tourist things in Paris (think: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs Elysées). This time around I was determined to have a more bespoke experience. So I spent six months stalking my favorite French travel writers on Instagram for their favorite haunts in Paris. I also listened to tourism podcasts, and yes, I read “A Moveable Feast.”
My Paris Bucketlist Experiences
I told my husband that this was going to be my “Bucket List” Parisian trip. Once I check off these last experiences from my Paris list, I will be done with Paris for a while. I will pass it by and wave to it like an old friend on my way to Provence or Normandy or Strasbourg. In theory.
So without further adieu, here is a francophile’s top 6 best experiences in Paris. These experiences I’ve chosen are things that are not on the typical tourist’s agenda. They are interactive, historical, and filled with culture. Get ready to experience Paris in the best way!
My top choices for experiencing Paris
Take a baking class at La Cuisine Paris
I discovered this cooking school from the various authors and expats I follow on Instagram. I also discovered it is one of the top-rated cooking classes on Kayak.com for tourists. My friend Maureen and I were going to take the Croissant and Breakfast Pastries class, because I’m only slightly obsessed with pastry and coffee.
The class is 3.5 hours long, but there are other options as well such as macaron-making classes (beginner and advanced), desserts, and even savory courses. The school is owned by an American expat, and the instructors are French but speak only English, so it’s perfect for any tourist!
It is highly recommended to book in advance, and the class I was enrolled in cost 99 Euro, although I did find a 10% off discount code from one of my favorite podcasters. I definitely plan to reschedule this class for my trip.
Update: you can now take some of their classes virtually! No trip to Paris needed (although I still recommend it). Here is all the info! I might just take that macaron class, seeing as how I can’t seem to get mine right in my new home. Check my Instagram for more on that.
Go on a Literary Walk with John Baxter
This is a highly specific activity I had excitedly managed to schedule. John Baxter is a fairly well-known Australian author living in Paris. He has written a dozen or so books about the City of Light. I heard him interviewed on a podcast about the city and it’s literary history (think: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, etc.) and was so intrigued by his thoughts that I immediately ordered some of his books from my library. I quickly devoured “The Most Beautiful Walk in the World,” as well as “A Moveable Feast” à la Hemingway. For research purposes, of course.
His book describes how he got into taking tourists on literary walks around the city. So I sought out how to book such a walk and actually ended up conversing with Mr. Baxter himself via email. He schedules group walks for 100 euros per person. These walks include a three-hour city walk, a visit to a historic café, and lunch in his very apartment building. Coincidentally, his apartment just so happens to be the building where Sylvia Beech of Shakespeare and Company lived in the heyday of the 20’s.
Are you a literary nerd (like moi)? Interested in learning in-depth details about the artists of Paris during the Roaring 20’s? You can check out Mr. Baxter’s tours here.
Other walking tour experiences
If not, there are tons of free or for-purchase city walks from a plethora of companies on all subjects Paris. I liked the sound of Discover Walks for a tour of the historic Marais neighborhood. They usually meet at the same time and place every day and ask that you bring money to tip your guide when you’re done. I listed several as “maybe” events, such as a chocolate tour of the Marais, a WWII tour, and another Hemingway tour on backup in case it didn’t work out with Mr. Baxter.
See a Ballet at Opéra Bastille or Garnier
My friend Maureen and I are both big fans of ballet (our girls take classes together even). So I knew that we had to book a fancy night out with dinner and a ballet at one of the famed Opéras.
Researching my options on the Opéra de Paris website, we settled on a production of George Balanchine’s most famous ballets. There is a wide variety of ticket prices and options, but we decided to be budget-minded with this event. So we settled on the “nosebleed” seats at the top balcony, for only 15 euros each; a steal!
Note: The good people at the Opéra were nice enough to reimburse us for our tickets due to the pandemic, and I do hope there will be a production or two to choose from during whichever season I end up going.
Shop all the boutiques in the Marais
You can find info on shopping in the Marais on virtually any blog or travel website about Paris. The Marais is the old Jewish neighborhood of the city. It has a medieval aesthetic and gorgeous architecture like the Place des Vosges. It is also chalk-full of small boutique shops and restaurants. Most of my “must do” items (read: shopping) were in the Marais, and for good reason.
Hunt for Treasures at the brocantes or marché aux puces
Have you seen “Midnight in Paris?” (If no, stop reading this and go watch it.)
I love the scene where Gil and Inez are shopping in the flea markets (marché aux puces) and Gil has the meet-cute with Gabrielle.
I always loved that scene because I ADORE treasures from flea markets. Paris is full of history of course, and their flea markets are famous for selling old “junk” that could be somebody’s (my) new treasure.
There are many in Paris, but from my research I found that the best flea market to experience in Paris is the flea market at St. Ouen. It is on the périphérique, or boundary of Paris proper. I therefore planned an entire day for browsing and discovering small treasures to take home in my suitcase.
Take a Day trip to Rouen
I have always wanted to visit Rouen, the town famed for the Jeanne d’Arc’s (Joan of Arc’s) martyrdom, and to see the Rouen Cathedral where she is buried.
Rouen is a beautiful medieval town with timber houses and a gorgeous city square. I found it is highly recommended as a day trip from Paris, and only around 30 euros round trip. The train ride is only about 1 hour 40 minutes. Leave early in the morning and make it back to Paris for dinner.
The top 6 best experiences in Paris – interactive, cultural, and educational
Et voilà, c’est tout!
I hope these suggestions give way to some ideas on how to tailor your trip to your personal interests. It can be so overwhelming to feel like one person among ten thousand vying for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, and it really doesn’t have to be that way.
Dig in to the culture and history of the city and get to know it. Don’t just check off the “must see” sites because everybody else does it. When planning your trip, ask yourself: How do you want to experience Paris?
And for goodness’ sake, if a restaurant offers plastic menus in English, DON’T EAT THERE. You can thank me later.
geneviève