2 Days in Paris

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Paris is a destination that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. The City of Light has so many treasures to experience that you will desire to return over and over again!

There are many must-see iconic attractions to take in when visiting Paris.

The twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and thousands of other works of art in the Louvre.

The infamous red windmill of the Moulin Rouge.

I could go on and on! I have been fortunate to visit Paris 3 times over the past several years, and on my most recent trip, I got to explore beyond the well-known sights.

With just 2 days to see this huge city (with my husband, in-laws, and step-siblings in tow) we logged plenty of miles on foot, via the metro, and courtesy of Uber.

Withlocals Walking Tour

One of the highlights of this trip was our 2-hour stroll through Paris with Wan.

I scheduled the Parisian Kickstart Tour through Withlocals before leaving the United States. We were able to choose our guide and after watching videos of several guides, and we selected Wan. Which proved to be a great decision! All the Withlocals guides are knowledgeable and share a unique take on their beloved city.

WithLocals provides tailored tours with a local guide, just for your family. There were 6 people in our travel group, and Wan did an amazing job adapting the tour to accommodate those of us who required a slower pace.

We ventured across the Seine River and got a glimpse of the recently burned Notre Dame Cathedral. Wan took us down cobblestone streets in the Latin Quarter, past the Pantheon, and through beautiful Luxembourg Gardens.

Throughout our journey, Wan pointed out significant monuments, intrigued us with history of the French Revolution, and answered our everyday questions about living in Paris.

Along the way, she took us to one of her favorite bakeries for a croissant and to an artisanal gelateria for a cool treat. Yum!

I can’t say enough good things about our WithLocals tour, and I’m looking forward to taking another tour during our upcoming trip to Italy.

WithLocals offers tours in 56 major cities!

I highly recommend scheduling a tour during your next vacation overseas.

Atelier Des Lumieres

There is no shortage of museums in Paris, with options that appeal to every taste imaginable. Having spent several hours in the Louvre on my first 2 trips to Paris, I was excited to take in a different kind of museum.

The digital exhibit of Van Gogh’s work at Atelier Des Lumieres proved to be a fabulous detour from the more traditional art museums.

Once again we booked our tickets online prior to our trip, which I highly recommend doing early as there are a limited number of people admitted for each time slot, and it will sell out. Tickets are not sold on-site so this is one museum that cannot be a last-minute decision.

For nearly 30 minutes we watched as Van Gogh’s body of work came to life, literally dancing along the walls of the museum’s loft-style setting. Even if you are not an art aficionado, you will undoubtedly recognize many familiar images, including my personal favorite, Starry Night.

Along with the feast for your eyes, a variety of musical scores accompany the flow of digital art across the expansive room. At times haunting, at times light and cheerful, the music evokes just the right emotion for each of Van Gogh’s creations.

Together, the music and the artwork make for an extremely memorable and captivating immersive art experience.

Enjoy these video clips of the digital Van Gogh exhibit…and then hurry to Paris as this exhibit will only be around until the end of the year!

New Restaurants

Food tends to be a significant component of all my travels, but I don’t think I’m alone in this respect! With so many phenomenal dining options in Paris the real challenge is picking one…and realizing there are only so many meals you can actually eat in a 48 hour period!

For our breakfasts, we enjoyed croissants and warm beverages dining at outdoor cafes while people watching. For me, this is what being in Paris is all about!

You can find food in every price range imaginable in Paris. Yet one of the most memorable treats on this trip to Paris was the inexpensive carton of blueberries we picked up at a street-side market. We nibbled the succulent fruit as we meandered the streets of Paris on a sunny day, feeling like locals.

After a long day of sightseeing, we decided on a leisurely dinner at Le Petit Cadet in the 9th arrondissement. Reminiscent of the restaurant in one of the final scenes of “Love Actualy”, I found the atmosphere and our waiter to be rather charming.

And the food was spectacular!

Dinner River Cruise

For our final dinner in Paris we set sail, opting for a dinner river cruise. Another prescheduled excursion, we selected the early dinner option with Bateaux Parisiens.

We knew the scenery would be amazing, but we were pleasantly surprised by how tasty and elegant the food turned out to be.

We effortlessly glided down the Seine river, passing the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and many other breathtaking feats of architecture.

During the journey, we enjoyed 3 superb courses and plenty of local wine.

If you are ever lucky enough to be in Paris with the one you love, you can’t go wrong with a romantic dinner cruise on the Seine river!

New Places to Explore

Simply strolling through the city streets, you can explore a new area of Paris each day.

On this trip, we found ourselves meandering through the Place de la République, a popular square for people watching and the occasional protest. Juxtaposed between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements, we enjoyed this square when it was in a peaceful state on a quiet Sunday morning.

Later that same day we stumbled upon the Place des Vosges, which I had previously only read about in Rick Steves’ travel guides. Located in the popular Marais district, this pristinely manicured square was a hotbed of Parisian activity.

I never get tired of exploring new parts of this magnificent city!

Back to Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower

Yet there are 2 spots in Paris that I simply must see no matter how many times I visit Paris.

The charming neighborhood of Montmartre sits high above the city center and boasts amazing views from the steps of the Sacre Coeur.  Wandering through Painter’s Square as I watch artists at work and contemplating which piece of art should travel home with me never gets old.

As far as I’m concerned, no trip to Paris is complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower after dark. This go around I didn’t feel the need to ascend the magnificent tower, although I consider that a must-do for all first-timers in Paris. But no matter how many times I see the Eiffel Tower sparkle and shine against a moonlit backdrop, it never gets old.

Before I wrap up this post and say Bonjour, enjoy a snapshot of my latest trip to Paris with this short video slideshow:

Have you traveled to Paris? Comment below to share your favorite things to do in Paris. I hope to return to the City of Light again and I’d love to explore even more of this enchanting city!

Bonjour Paris…until we meet again!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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