I spent thanksgiving in Paris this week and had such an amazing time. It was a girls trip with my roommate Marley who is such a gem. With five days in the city, we were able to take our time and have a calm trip. Traveling can be really draining, so it was great to be on the same page and have the same goals. November in Paris was cold, rainy, and foggy. Our favorite way to keep out of the chill? Shopping! From skincare, to warm layers we shopped so much. We didn’t let that hold us back from sight seeing as well. I’ve noted some of our favorite experiences throughout the week. Here are the highlights:
Sacre Coeur
Our airbnb was located really close to the Sacre Coeur, so that was our first sight we found after settling in. The church is gorgeous inside and out. The white stone is different than other churches and definitely made it’s beauty stand out. The inside has gold detailed pictures, stained glass, and a large painted veiling with Jesus’ arms outstretched. Unfortunately, pictures we’re not allowed inside.
Mont Marte
This is the area of paris by the Sacre Coeur, and its very quaint. There are cute cafes everywhere, and some great shops to peak around in. It’s a great place for a stroll.
Champs Elysees
This to me was like New York’s 5th avenue. High end shopping down the entire street and very lively. We stopped into Tiffany’s, Sephora, Massimo Dutti, and a bunch of others stores on our walk.
Arc de Triomphe
The arc de triomphe is a must if you’re in Paris. It’s definitely a tourist spot, but it’s noteworthy for a reason. It’s large, beautiful, and has a great view from the top. It was perfect for us because we were already in the area walking the Champs-elysses, so we were able to make a stop.
Ladurée
Dont quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure Ladurée is one of the oldest and most well known macaron places in Paris. It’s elegant and old fashioned, and worth stopping for a colorful box of delicious macarons. If you can’t stop in the city, there’s also a small Ladurée store inside the Palace of Versailles. For all my macaron lovers back home, there’s a Ladurée in Los Angeles as well.
Eiffel Tower
I’m pretty sure I don’t have to explain this one. The Eiffel Tower is amazing to visit. Marley and i bought our tickets to the top months in advance, unfortunately, there was a protest taking place on the tower during our scheduled time, and the entire tower was shut down by police and firefighters for safety reasons. Even though we didn’t get to the top, we were glad we got to see it. Also, with all the fog, we’re pretty sure there wouldn’t have been a view in the first place.
Palace of Versailles
This one is so fun for a day trip! The Palace is especially great to visit during the summer when you can comfortably tour the gardens, but we had a great time stepping back into French history. The palace was one of my favorite stops because of the glamorous decor. It helps that it was indoor so we could explore without the chill. My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors, its full of (you guessed it) mirrors and chandeliers.
Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter was our favorite shopping area. We spent much more time than I think either of us intended exploring the different alleys. The stores ranged from vintage to luxury and it’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. I was so excited to see the streets lit up for Christmas.
Notre Dame
This stop is another obvious one, you have to visit the Notre Dame in Paris. If you’re there, definitely go inside to see the stained glass.
Louvre
Who wouldn’t want to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, or Caravaggio’s Last Supper?? I was so excited to visit the Louvre again, and we found out that students are free. Not only did we escape the cold but we saw some great pieces. That’s a win- win for me.
Breakfast Classics
I had some of my favorite breakfasts in Paris. The land of chocolate croissants, croque madame, and omelets did not disappoint.
Skincare
Okay, I could write an entire blog about skincare in Paris (and I might) but the French are known for their amazing skin and I did not come to mess around. Their pharmacies are all over the place, and they store some quality products. I limited myself as best I could, but when Marley and I found CityPharma, we were beyond excited. It was luxury brands like La Roche Posay, Nuxe, Caudalie, etc for at least 1/2 the price. We both stocked up, hoping to be able to get it all on the plane. Thankfully, we made the cut, and our faces have been pampered ever since.
Paris on a budget was difficult. I consider myself a food lover, but French cuisine was outside of my budget for the most part. That meant that we would hop from one cafe to the next, or find inexpensive street food when possible. I know that Paris is a place that I would love to revisit someday, so hopefully I’ll be able to experience the foodie part in the future. On our last morning, we did happen across a farmers market, which was much more reasonably priced and I had the best fresh croissant. (pictured above)
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, I have to recommend the warmer months. If that’s not possible, then I really hope you invest in good jackets and warm layering pieces. Marley and I purchased some heat tech long sleeves from Uniqlo, and layered multiple of them under our sweaters and jackets all week. We also wore leggings under our jeans to help keep us warm as well. Without those layers the sightseeing would have been impossible for us, because neither of us have a high tolerance for chilly weather. All in all, it was an amazing time. Good company (shout out Marley), good food, and good places.
Not being home for Thanksgiving made me even more grateful for my family. I hope everyone hugged their loved ones tight and ate lots of mashed potatos on my behalf! It took me a little longer to put this post together because of all the final papers and assignments. Only 18 days till I’m back home with my cat, family, and friends. The count down is ON
