a long weekend in Paris
3 day itinerary including where to stay, eat, and shop
There have been a few different occasions where I’ve made sensationally irrational travel decisions. Deciding to go to Paris for a few days was one them. Yes, it sounds absurd to go to Paris for a long weekend. Though in an effort to prioritize life outside of work and utilize every last second of my PTO bank, that’s where I found myself these last few days.
Mike met up with friends in Copenhagen sometime last week and when it was determined I didn’t have enough PTO to take a full week off, I looked to see where I could get a direct flight from Boston to Europe to join him for a few days. And Paris it was.
I’ve been to Paris once before. It was a March - cold and rainy - and I was a ripe 20 years old. I stayed in a hostel with many others, drank 2 euro bottles of wine, and had the hostel food (cereal and croissants) for breakfast and baguettes for lunch. It was one of the most special times of my life. I remember walking endlessly, getting hot chocolate at Cafe Angelina, crowding around the (surprisingly small) Mona Lisa, and sharing a macaron with a friend. It was done on quite a budget and yet was an unforgettable experience. To be young!! In Paris!
It’s been 13 years since that trip and I was ready to do it again with a more focused itinerary. Sure, I wanted to revisit the major landmarks, but I mostly wanted to just walk, eat, drink, shop, and explore.
I discussed these plans with my uncle and he recommended staying in the Le Mareis neighborhood. When looking through different hotel offerings, I came across Hotel du Sentier - near the heart of Le Mareis with a rooftop Eiffel Tower view. It was a splurge but given I got the flight using points, I wanted to go for it in the hotel department. With a bit of hesitation and a hint of gumption, I booked the trip.
I did some research before arriving and during, determined to build out an epic 3-day Paris trip. I admittedly didn’t hit all of the below, as hindsight allows for more targeted planning. But this is mostly what our trip looked like, aside from not being able to get in at a few of the restaurants we were eyeing.
That said, it’s nearly impossible to have a bad time in Paris. You could plan absolutely nothing and stumble into the best cafes and restaurants quite literally in the world. It’s the perfect place to stroll and get lost. To be aimless and hungry. To let afternoons crawl by without glancing at a watch or phone.
But if looking for a little guidance, here are some of the things I found.
Whenever planning a trip, I start by starring some places in Google Maps and then arranging the days around where the highlights are.
This is admittedly difficult in Paris, though less challenging if you plan to use public transportation. The city is robust and bustling, huge and expansive, mostly because there’s something exciting to see or some place to pop into on every corner. It was a lot of walking, which is my favorite way to explore a new city.
And despite feeling like I walked through the entirety of the city, I barely scratched the surface. I think I could live my whole life in this city and never be done exploring.
Though we certainly made the most out of our short time there.
Read on for:
photos and details of one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in
a google maps of places starred for the trip
a 3 day itinerary
recommendations on when to go, how to pack, and airport tips for the return