Spending Time Wisley - 24 Hours in Paris
This is the first of a new series on our blog called Spending Time Wisely! We will be introducing you to some of our favorite bloggers who are fortunate enough to live in travel worthy places. They will be giving you insider advice on how to spend your precious time while in their lovely locals. For our inaugural post we have Carmen Launspach of The SLCTD. Carmen is a Dutch fashion and lifestyle blogger who is currently enjoying all things Paris. Read on for her well tested recommendations.
9am – Breakfast like a local
Parisians have the fortune to be surrounded by excellent boulangeries (bakers). Stop by one in your neighborhood and get pastries and croissants for next to nothing. Many of the bakers also offer coffee to go. Position yourself on a bench somewhere in a street or a little park and enjoy a true Parisian breakfast, while watching Paris wake up.
10am – Shopping in Le Marais
Paris is an excellent place to go shopping, with many shops spread all over the city. My favorite area however, is Le Marais. Here you’ll find cute independent boutiques and still affordable brand stores. No need to break the bank here like on Rue Saint Honoré. Favorites are Merci, Daphné Dasque, Vintage System and Art du Basic.
You can drop off any non-shopping companions in one of the many parks in the area, so they don’t have to endlessly drag with you from one shop to the other.
1pm – Lunch in Montmartre
Take the metro to Montmartre for a lunch on the corner of Rue Paul Albert and Rue Muller. It’s actually a nice little square close to the Sacre Coeur that isn’t drowning with tourists…yet.
After lunch you can walk of the Rosé (in Paris you drink a glass of wine at lunch – Gotta love this city) in the little streets of Monmartre, stopping by the Sacre Coeur too. Mais bien sûr!
3pm – Palais de Tokyo
Paris is filled to the brim with excellent museums, but our favorite has to be Palais de Tokyo. They have a new exhibition every three months and it’s always good. The art they exhibit is mostly contemporary art. A lot more fun than looking at a painting if you ask me ;).
5pm – Walk through Tuilleries
Before you head for dinner take a walk through the famous Tuilleries gardens. We love to just chill in one of the green chairs that are scattered throughout. You can get an ice-cream there or make your way, along the Seine, to Ile Saint Louis, where you’ll find Berthillon where you can Paris’ best ice cream.
7pm – Dinner and drinks
For dinner there are no better districts than the 10th and the 11th. Forget about the traditional French restaurants. They charge too much and you’ll sit amongst tourists only. This is also where the myth of unfriendly Parisians comes from. Staff here is often a bit blunt. So go to where the younger crowd goes. Around Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis there are many nice restaurants and bars. The Canal Saint Martin area is also very loved and featured in Amélie (must-watch movie when you visit Paris!). Favorite restaurants include Le Perchoir, anything in Cours des Pétites Écuries, Chez Jeanette, John Viande, Entre Deux Amis, Le Petite Cambodge and Le Comptoir Général.
11pm – Ready for bed
Where to lay your head to rest? The choice is plenty here, but we have two clear favorites: Hotel Amour in the 9th and Hotel Particulier in Montmartre. Both of them have nice green courts and attract a fabulous crowd who not only sleep here but also do long brunches, which is exactly what you’ll be doing the next day before you’ll make your way back home.
If you can’t visit all of these destinations in one day, don’t panic. Feel free to space them out throughout your trip. Just don’t miss them!
Special thanks again to Carmen. We highly recommend you check out her blog here. The SLCTD may be become a new favorite of yours, it’s already one of ours. Where has your wanderlust sent you lately? Or where are you hoping to go? Let us know in the comments, we may just know an expert on the subject!
Till next time…
LOVE,
The JORD Team
