Paris is a dream vacation for many people (myself included). I was lucky enough to visit for 4 days when I graduated from high school, but now I have the desire to return and avoid all of the tourists traps I fell into on my family vacation. As you do when you are obsessing over a future vacation, I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of Youtube videos. The first mistake my family and I made the first time around was visiting Paris in July. I’ve learned that this is the month with the highest tourism rate, and one of the hottest months as well. We were frustrated a lot of the trip because of the immense amount of people no matter where we went (not to mention that it smells like pee and sweat!).
The best time to visit the city is between April and June.
I am a very thrifty person: no matter where I visit, I look up the nearest thrift shops and antique shops. Paris, being such an old city, has some amazing vintage finds. You can visit Le Puces, one of the oldest flea markets in Paris.
There you will find hundreds of stalls filled with oddities and rarities, trinkets and priceless antiques. This is a great way to spend the day perusing the different stalls and finding unique keepsakes to remember your long awaited trip to France. After you are done shopping, you can head to a unique Parisian Cafe. You could try out Chez Louisette that offers classic casual French cuisine with musicians and singers.
There are some unique food options for those who are feeling like getting out of their comfort zone. You can try the infamous escargot. (snails)
After being surrounded by people in the city, you can head to a ghost town right outside of the city, or the Goussainville.
This town is just 20km (12 miles) outside of Paris is almost completely abandoned. It was abandoned in the 70s after an airport was built right next door and polluted the untouched town with the booming sound of jet engines. There is a bookstore that has taken home amongst the ghosts-
Very odd to find a dying commodity in a deceased town. You’ll have the town almost all to yourself. This is definitely a unique excursion and makes for some interesting photos.
Another great thing to do in Paris is visit a park. This is a Parisian favorite: art, wine, food, and art in the park. You can visit the Coulée verte René-Dumont: a linear park built on top of a railway.
You can walk along the pathway and have a scenic stroll, or buy yourself some pastries and cheese from a local bakery and relax in the grass. You are sure to hear some music being played, or see some painting being, well painted.
You can’t come to Paris without eating 50 pastries minimum (this is the law!). You can choose from thousands, but one that is a Parisian favorite is Poilâne.
Poilâne is a renowned baker who has won multiple awards. He is most known for his loaf “Le Pain des Ami” that is cooked in a wood fire oven. He also has all of the classic Parisian pastries so this is a perfect go-to.
When in a city with such a rich history of the Fine Arts, you cannot miss out on a trip to a museum. Consider the Petit Palais.
This stunning museum has it all: architecture from the 1900s, Monet Paintings, a beautiful courtyard. The best part is, entry is FREE!
Can't get over how beautiful it is! At the end the end of your long Parisian adventure, you can stop at a classic sidewalk cafe and enjoy an espresso.If you are ready to pull the trigger on the Parisian trip of your dreams, be sure to do it with a Luxevo Vacations Travel Specialist! AU REVOIR <3
