Spring in Paris

12:00pm: Check into the Helussi Hôtel, Paris. For 90 EUR a night, this hotel is in an excellent location, walking distance from Gare du Nord (main transit connection point) and one block from the Poissonniere metro station. It was a simple room with modern bathroom, friendly staff and perfect wifi.
1:00pm: Buy a metro ticket for 1.90 EUR and take it to the Louvre station and take a stroll by the grounds. We recommend coming in the afternoon since it gets very busy.

1:30pm: Check out the Musee de Orsay, one of the most famous museums in Paris. Entry is 12 EUR and provides access to virtually everything you’ll want to see. Check out the Van Gough paintings on the second level first. On this level you’ll also find dozens of sculptures by famous French artists. After, head to the 5th floor and don’t miss the Claud Monet exhibit, featuring over a dozen of his paintings as well as the works of Pizarro, Renoir, and many other famous French painters.

2:00pm: Head directly to La Relais de Venise for lunch. Here there is one thing you need to order, and that is l’Entrecote. You’ll be awarded with a starter salad, a mountain of pomme fritte and steak (cooked to your specification but recommended medium rare), with a delicious butter & mustard sauce. After you are full, they’ll come around and stack more on your plate. Two helpings are included in the price. Get a half bottle of their house wine for a few extra Euros and you’ll be able to get out for 32 EUR per person. It’s a super friendly, family style operation that is very popular for lunch and close to Arc de Triumph.

5:00pm: Head up the steps to Montmartre, a large hill in Paris’ 18th Arr. to watch the sunset. It’s famous for the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and a magnificent view of Paris. You’ll see hundreds of tourists and locals sitting atop the steps taking in the view of the city below. Montmartre itself is filled with dozens of shops, restaurants, art vendors, cabarets, etc.

6:00pm: Head to La Degustacion, a wonderfully chic champagne bar situated near the top of Montmarte, but nestled away slightly from the main tourist walking street. Kick your night off with a great selection of champagnes at very reasonable prices. It has a beautiful bar that wraps around the chef’s station and you can snack on some delicious hors d’oeuvres.
8:00pm: Walk the many alleyways of St. Germaine in the 6^th Arr. This area is absolutely full of what you would picture of classic Paris. You’ll step into a world of outdoor cafes, patios and, restaurant-lined alleyways. From upscale art galleries, storied cafés, designer boutiques, atmospheric restaurants, and a fine selection of museums, there is something for everyone here.
9:30pm: Visit Prescription cocktail bar. Located on Rue Mazarine in the 6^th Arr, this bougie Parisian bar is extremely popular among tourists and locals alike. It features some excellent aperitifs, particularly a whisky cocktail called “Le Jouble”, and a terrifically romantic, modern, candle-lit ambience. For 14 EUR a cocktail, it doesn’t come cheap, but is worth kicking off your evening.

11:00pm: After starting off your night with a few drinks, head to Chez George, a lively wine bar in the 6^th Arr. Upon entry, you’ll descend into the wine cave, lined by brick where you’ll be greeted with a vocal crowd and likely dancing if music is playing. Sit yourself at one of their many wooden tables with a cheap bottle of the house Cote du Rhone wine for 20 EUR.

12:00pm: Spend a few hours walking through Le Marais. The area a mini West Village and is quite frankly the closest you’ll get to the feel of medieval Paris with an assortment of pre-revolutionary buildings and streets left intact than any other area in Paris. It is a small yet buzzing historic neighborhood that features tiny cobblestone streets and dozens of nice spots to stop and have a drink, lunch, etc. A few things worth checking out here are Pierre Homme, the best Macaroons I’ve had in my life, the Chanel flagship store, L’as du Fallafel, one of the best falafels in Paris and Rue des Rosiers, a fantastic narrow walking street full of little shops tea houses and food stands.
5:00 pm: Head over to Place du Trocadéro for some spectacular views of the Eiffel Tower. Highly recommend coming early to get some great shots before the tour buses arrive. After taking some pictures, walk down Avenue du Président Wilson passing the Shagri-La Hotel and stop at Chez Francis for a glass of champagne. While pricey, the outdoor patio will be one of the most inviting and cosy spots to watch the Eiffel Tour light up at sunset.

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