The Paris email (part two)

The original plan was for each city to have one deep dive post but with Paris, I have run into a little problem… There is just too much in the city we love so much! So I have had to break my rule and share Paris as two posts.

You can find part one over here which covers my restaurant recommendations and where we stayed.

Things we did when not eating

– Visit Monet’s water lilies at Musée de l’Orangerie
This is my favourite non-food Paris thing to do. I have visited the water lilies three times and every time I get a little teary eyed. The water lilies are breathtaking – the scale of the art is just something else. Standing in these rooms fills me with an immense amount of peace. I feel the same way here as I do in great religious sites around the world.
The trick to getting the room to yourself or largely to yourself for a few precious moments is to be very organised. You need to book your tickets in advance, make sure you have a small bag to avoid the coat check and get into the queue 20 minutes before it opens. As soon as you get in – rush straight through to the water lilies! Don’t worry about reading the information ahead of the rooms you can circle back for more context once you’ve had a chance to take in the magic.

Don’t miss the rest of Musée de l’Orangerie which is packed with plenty more fantastic art. Every time I go I find something new to love. These are a few favourites from my latest visit.

– Visit the Eiffel Tower
I mean yes, this is a no brainer. But I do think the Eiffel Tower is great! I have climbed it before and it’s great to do but if you don’t want to wait in a queue / get up early to skip the queue / fork out the Euros then it’s still worth appreciating it from the ground.
On my Paris list is watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night! I’ve only caught it from a distance so far.

– Wander the Marais
The Marais was the original Jewish quarter in Paris and is absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous bakeries, street art, beautiful doorways for Instagram moments and of course gorgeous shops.

– Visit the Louvre
I last visited when I was 16 and it’s on my list to go back again – and to take Jono who hasn’t been yet. I do think if you’re going to go, you need to aim to get there first thing. The museum is huge and overwhelming and it might be worth identifying a few key pieces you’re really interested in seeing. It is just not possible to enjoy and appreciate everything so make sure to plan in advance to make the best of your visit. My favourite was the Venus de Milo who is gorgeous. And yes, the Mona Lisa is disappointing but that’s okay there’s plenty of great art to be found.

– Explore Marché d’Aligre.
Open 7:30am to 2pm daily but closed on Mondays. From antiques to gorgeous fresh produce the market is full of treasures!

– Go shopping!
Believe it or not I am not a big shopper. But somehow shopping in Paris is amazing. Gorgeous baby clothes and toys, cute prints, fantastic homeware, and plants. We did much more window shopping than actual swiping but I definitely enjoyed all the shopping inspiration!

– Buy Hermes scarves
This is a niche one but it’s one of my favourite things to do in Paris! I’m a 90×90 girl. The stores are huge and beautiful and the shop assistants are super helpful. Don’t forget to visit with your passport as you’ll want to claim the sales tax back. And based on full price alone – Paris prices are better than London – so if you’re an advocate of girl math the scarves are almost free, you know?

– Visit Galeries Lafayette
it’s a huge department store which doesn’t seem like it deserves a visit but you’d be very wrong.
There are three reasons in my books to visit
1) The building itself is gorgeous. Look up!
2) Every time I go I discover something beautiful / striking / powerful
3) Head up to the rooftop for a sneaky view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower

– Visit Musée d’Orsay
It took me four visits before I made the fantastic Musée d’Orsay. It is JAM packed with treasures. If I had to pick between the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay – I’d go with d’Orsay. But of course, Musée de l’Orangerie is my number one love. The museum was built to bridge the gap between the Louvre and the National Museum of Modern Art at the Georges Pompidou Centre and oh what a gorgeous gap it is! They have so many Van Goghs and I just love that damn polar bear so much!!

– Climb up the many many stairs in Montmartre
You’re rewarded with a beautiful view at the top and a chance to explore the beautiful cobbled streets. Don’t miss the art market in the main square which has lovely art outside of the standard tourist fair.

– Explore the Palais Garnier
It’s a must visit and worth taking the time to do the audio guide as there is so much interesting information. It really is unbelievably opulent – like a jewellery box exploded into a building. My favourites are the gold embellished ceilings featuring bats and dragons. Somehow it seems a very modern touch for a building from 1875!

– Sainte-Chapelle
Gothic chapel with the most spectacular stained glass windows. With Notre Dame closed this is a great alternative. However, because Notre Dame is closed there’s extra guests heading to Sainte-Chapelle. You will need to book tickets in advance – even if it’s just a couple of hours in advance as the queue for walk-ins barely moves.