Paris, France is an incredible destination! From the stunning architecture and walkable streets to the world-class food, the "City of Light" truly delivers a rich experience. It’s amazing! If you are planning a trip, here is a breakdown of our day, along with practical tips for getting around, where to eat, and what to see and do.
Getting There & Where We Stayed
Nighttime Flight Highlight: We flew from Madrid into CDG late at night. Flying in after dark lets you see the city all lit up—a truly magical way to start your trip! Plan tickets according if you wish for the same glowing experience.
Hotel Recommendation: We stayed at Marriott’s Village d’Île-de-France, located about 30 minutes outside the city.
Why we loved it: It’s less pricey than central designer hotels, features lovely grounds, and offers spacious multi-room/multi-bathroom villas (great for families or groups of 4+).
Amenities: There is a convenient marketplace on-site for breakfast items, snacks, and drinks.
Transportation: The hotel front desk sells round-trip shuttle tickets (about €7–10 per person) to the nearby train station (Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy / Disneyland Paris).
🚆 Navigating the Paris Train System
Figuring out the metro can be a bit overwhelming at first. Here is what we learned far our experience:
Buy the correct zone tickets: Because our station (Chessy Station) was in Zone 5, we had to purchase tickets covering Zone 5 to downtown Paris (Zone 1/3). Whatever zone you are in, that is where you buy tickets to and from. You might be tempted to purchase zone 1 to the rest of the zones, but start from wherever you are located around or outside the city and purchase that are your origin ticket - it saves you from having to buy another ticket because you original is wrong!
Ask a real person: Instead of guessing at the self-service machines with language mix-ups sometimes, wait in line at the service desk for a real person to help you figure out your path of where you want to go for the full ticket and no other errors. Tell the staff your destination, and they will give you the exact ticket you need.
Follow the signs: Once you have the right ticket, the station maps and colorful signs make navigating the trains super easy and efficient. It’s on every train and in every station, so keep looking at the map as you move around and you won’t get lost!
⚠️ Rush Hour Tip: Avoid taking the train during rush hour (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM), as trains get extremely packed. We experience this and did not enjoy it. You can’t find a seat and you are shoved into small spaces with tons of other people (making for easy pit-pocketing in the city).
Food & Sightseeing Highlights
1. Lunch: Au P’tit Grec Crêperie
We wanted crepes, but this place wasn’t anything special. It lacked the perfect chewy crepe texture, flavor, and truly the special touch. Paris has countless crepe shops, so I recommend skipping this one and finding a more memorable spot when your walking about the city.
2. Shopping & Sights: Rue de Rivoli & The Louvre
Shopping: A busy, touristy retail street lined with stores like Zara, Sephora, and IKEA. It’s fun to browse and see how European product lines differ from back home. It’s also very busy, so walk it by foot and stop at whatever stores you wish as you go - for the best overall experience.
The Louvre: We didn't go inside due to time constraints, but walking around the historic exterior of the former royal palace and taking in the grand architecture is a must-see. You get to see the famous glass pyramid and the long lines to get in the museum. So, if you want to save time and money, just walk around the exterior and it’s still an amazing stop in Paris.
3. Bakery Stop: Gosselin (Boulevard Saint-Germain)
What we ordered: A pain au chocolat and a chocolate éclair.
The Verdict: Absolutely incredible! The croissant dough was buttery and flaky, and the éclair was one of the best! Great layers, flavors, and real authentic pastries. Highly recommend stopping here if your in the area or headed to the Eiffel Tower.
4. The Eiffel Tower & Landmarks
Up Close: Seeing the tower is an unmissable bucket-list moment. However, it is a major hotspot for pickpockets because it’s a very touristy area. A little more on the sketchy side, but just keep your eyes open and bags close to you. Safety tip: Keep your bags zipped, worn on your front, and stay alert.
Skipping the Top: We didn’t purchase tickets to go up the Eiffel tower to save some money, but you can purchase any of those expensive tickets at the Eiffel tower or in advanced online!
Other Quick Sights: We caught glimpses of the Arc de Triomphe and the stunning Palais Garnier opera house. This is why walking around the city on foot is so great- you get to see more famous sights and admire those hidden and famous gems all over the city. Explore, visit what you wish, and grab lots of food along the way for the full Pairs experience.
5. Dinner: Bianca (Italian Restaurant)
Located on Rue des Petits Champs, this stylish, bohemian spot with indoor lemon trees and greenery was the highlight of our culinary trip! The food was amazing, flavorful, authentic Italian, and the best service!
Caesar Salad: Hands-down my favorite dish of the night. Fresh cherry tomatoes, crispy chicken, and a phenomenal herby dressing that coated all the greens and toppings.
Mozzarella in Carrozza: Crispy, cheesy, and great to share.
House Bread & Focaccia: Made from pizza dough with olive oil and artichoke cream dip. (Tip: If you're a small group, just order one bread option—two was too much for our group of 4!)
Rigatoni Freschi al Tartufo: Rich, earthy, and satisfying for mushroom pasta lovers.
Pizza Margherita: Excellent artisan crust with a soft, airy texture. And the mozzarella and basil were fresh and melted right into the smashed tomatoes.
Dessert: Warm chocolate lava cake with house-made vanilla gelato—rich, warm, and incredible.
Final Travel Tips
Walk Everywhere: Packing comfortable walking shoes is essential. Being on foot is the best way to truly connect with Paris, its history, and its hidden corners. You see way more on foot. You can drive into the city, just park and go from there! Bundle the sights in the city you want to see together to make it an easy walking path, more convenient, and see everything you wish during your stay.
Stop & Try Food: eat smaller meals and stop at the shops to get pasties, little goodies, crepes, drinks, and anything else you wish to try. Pairs has amazing food! So, try it and eat throughout the day to keep your energy up with all the walking. You are going to love it all - have fun!
Here are a few places we stopped (in order):
Pirates Candy: This shop is fun to look at but definitely overpriced and clearly aimed at getting tourists to pay way more then they should for bulk candy. It’s worth a quick peek into the store, but don’t fall for the over inflated prices.
Amorino: An Italian gelato shop known for creating rose-shaped gelato cones—so cute!
À la Mère de Famille: A historic French chocolate shop founded in 1761. Their Coffret de pâtes de fruits are incredible—delicate fruit jelly squares coated in crunchy sugar crystals. A fresh burst of flavor in every bite and something my family loved! I want to go back here so bad!
Maison Louvard: We tried the original “crookie” (a cookie dough–stuffed croissant). My sister said it was very buttery and not all that flavorful. She said it was fun to try, but not something she would not recommend to other people to go out of your way for.
Black Beans Mexican Food: Yes, we got Mexican food in Paris for dinner! Surprisingly, it was pretty good. The salsa was spicy though!
