How To Get The Most Out Of Your First Time In Paris

Paris is the City of Light. This comes from the fact that it was (and is) literally bright, as they were at the vanguard when it came to adding gas lamps to their streets. It is also a name that is metaphorically true, as they were at the forefront of the Enlightenment, the 18th-century movement that made societal decisions based on reason and logic. There is nothing like visiting Paris for the first time. Here is a guide that will ensure that you will have the best experience possible.

The first decision you have to make is where to stay. If you want to be close to most of the picturesque monuments, you want to stay in the first district (the first “arrondissement” in French). However, if you are a student and looking to mingle with other students, the best place to stay would be the Latin Quarter, which is in the fifth arrondissement. The fifth arrondissement is where Ernest Hemingway used to roam around, looking for inspiration.

Now, let’s get to the important stuff- where to eat? Some highlights include the must-have cream puffs from Odette, which is in the Latin Quarter right near the Seine river. If you want to taste the food Picasso ate, have a croissant at Café de Flore. A place that many go to is Ladurée. Although Ladurée is a bit touristy, their macarons are unbelievable and worth the crowds. For thick, luscious hot chocolate, head to Angelina. It will be crowded, but you can take one to go and skip the line.

There is a lot to see in Paris beyond the Eifel Tower. One place to go is the bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, which used to be the old stomping grounds of Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald. If you are an artist, you must visit the neighborhood called Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement. There, many artists paint on canvases outside.