Paris — dreamerstravelclub.com

Guide to Paris.

3 days of art, food, music and walking.

pastry in Jardin des Tuileries
meditate next to Monet's Lilies
see Louvre beyond Mona Lisa
be on escargot and champagne "diet"
shop in the Place Vendôme area
visit Opera Garnier
go book shopping in Montmartre
have dinner at La Maison Rose
see a cabaret show
have breakfast "with" Sartre
fall in love with les impressionnistes
experience the magic of Rodin
Indulge!
eat and eat and eat and eat
shop for rare books
have a macaron at Palais-Royal
marvel at architecture
fall in love

YouTube video from Paris can be found here

Day 1.

Let’s start our first morning in Paris in a truly Parisian way - open a window and soak in the view, grab a pastry on the go and run through the Jardin des Tuileries to marvel at Monet’s work.

8:00 As you enjoy your morning pastry from any local pastry shop next to the hotel (or you feel a little fancier and choose to grab your morning coffee and a baked good from Sebastien Gaudard/ Cédric Grolet/ Kitsune/ cafe Noir), you will find yourself in the Jardin des Tuileries, sitting on one of those typical green Parisian chairs and looking at the fountains, architecture or the view on the other side of the Seine.

9:00 As soon as the doors open, you walk in to the Musée de l’Orangerie. Before the hoards of tourists arrive, you are already there - sitting in front of the Monet’s most famous creations - Water Lily series. The rooms are designed for meditation. Luckily, this is respected and it is always “oh, so quiet” there. Dimmed lights and out of this world paintings. You sit, take a deep breath and take in the moment - you are in Paris and this is a start of the 3 amazing days of art, architecture, food, music and beautiful walks.
After you had a quiet moment in the halls with the Water Lily series, enjoy some of the best Paris has to offer - Gauguin, Renoir, Modigliani, Cezanne, and, of course, more Monet.

Morning

11:00 Another slow walk through the Jardin des Tuileries. Explore more of the signature French garden design, more of the amazing architecture and the views around. And as you head from the direction of the Place de la Concorde towards Louvre, maybe stop for another pastry in one of their kiosks. You are in Paris after all, splurge a little!

12:00 Louvre. One of the very few places in the world, where the amount of tourists actually signify something worth seeing rather than “wave” a huge red flag, begging you not to go. See THE painting everyone is there to see, but also do not shy away from other exhibits. Make sure to see the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the magnificent staircase leading to it, the glass-Covered Sculpture Courtyards, Napoleon III Apartments and 18th Century Decorative Art Galleries. These are my personal favourites, but for anyone else I would recommend doing a little bit of research into the main things to see, unless you are planning to spend the whole day there.
* Great article on the museum highlights in the NYTimes can be found here.

Afternoon

14:00 Place Vendôme area walk. City's most majestic neoclassical squares, high-end stores, aesthetic streets and world-class beauty everywhere. Get lost in the area - go in the shops, look at the beautiful details of architecture and get a lunch some place nice.

15:00 Lunch “some place nice”. Either you go for the touristy Cafe Marly with an unbeatable view, majestic Angelina, hip Alfred or “the place to be" Hotel Costes, get a glass of champagne and escargots. Whether you are a fan of the dish or always have been meaning to try, here’s your queue! A side of french fries, a steak, a quiche, a croque monsieur - whatever you choose, make it French.

16:15 Visit to the Palais Garnier - Opéra national de Paris. Ideally, of course, go there for the actual performance - be it to see La Bohème, The Dante Project, or anything else your heart desires. But if you are short on time but still crave to see the architecture (which everyone and anyone should see at least once in their life), you can buy a ticket and visit the Opera before the evening programme begins. It is one of the main Opera Houses in the world - a master piece of the 19th century theatre architecture. But my favourite part of it is Marc Chagall’s fresco.

Evening

From the Opera Garnier take a walk to Montmartre. As you pass Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Haussmann, peak inside to marvel at their beauty or go to the terrace of the Lafayette Galleries for the view.
As you will reach the Montmartre, get lost a little on the tiny colourful streets of the area - stop at the Café des Deux Moulins (to say Bonsoir to Ameli), Place du Tertre and Le Mur des Je t’aime, as well as the most wonderful bookshop there named Halle Saint-Pierre.

17:30 Last stop of the area before dinner is, of course, Sacré-Cœur. Climb the hill to visit the church and see the view around, and then head to a cosy little restaurant for dinner!

18:30 Dinner. Discover a hidden gem at La Maison Rose, where simplicity is the ultimate luxury. As you step inside this small pink house, you’ll be greeted by a warm and friendly staff, and the authentic and minimalistic design will transport you to a place where time stands still. The menu is full of truly good home-cooked dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, and the relaxed and polite service makes you feel right at home. The background music sets the perfect mood for enjoying the most delicious wines, coffee, starters and mains, and the best Pavlova you will ever try in your life. The vintage furniture adds to the cozy atmosphere, making this the perfect place for a romantic date or a small family gathering. Come and discover the hidden charm of La Maison Rose, where simplicity and authenticity are the keys to a memorable dining experience.

9 pm. You’ve arrived. THE show one needs to see when in Paris. A little bit of erotica, mixed with beautiful singing, dancing and impressive tricks up their sleeves. Now add a few bottles of champagne per table and gorgeous setting - and here you have it, a truly magical way to finish the first day in Paris.