P A R I S G U I D E
What to see and eat
From museums to coffee, to old covered markets, Paris has something for everyone. The lists below capture highlights in various categories, pick a few that sound fun and work them into your itinerary. For more see: Paris Neighborhood Guide, Paris in Five Days, and Instagrammer's Guide to Paris.
Museum Guide | Best Views | Paris Passages | Perfect Picnic | Coffee Guide | Paris Sweets | Paris Market Guide
Paris Museum Guide
There are over 100 museums to choose from in Paris, so do some research and pick just your favorites. Check out the Paris Museum Pass and the Map of Museums.
Paris Pass
Cost is a big factor, but if you’re willing to list the places you want to go to and do some math, you can figure out if this is a good option for you
Pass Pros:
Cutting the long lines, and depending on the time of year, this is a huge PRO.
Access to top museums and monuments (including Palais Garnier and Versailles)
Metro + Bus travel
1 day hop on/ hop off tour
River Cruise
Pass Cons:
Costs: 110 Euros to 239 Euros (2-6 day passes respectively)
Eiffel tower and Catacombs are not included
Inevitably, you’ll feel rushed and like you need to see everything the pass covers in the amount of time you have the pass for. That means, early mornings and a lot of sightseeing.
1st Arrondissement
Don’t try to see all of it, but do try to go Wednesdays or Fridays when it’s open late (note: closed on Tuesdays). Pick a few areas and see those in depth but include a quick detour for the Mona Lisa.
Just across the river from the Louvre...Worth a visit for the architecture and river views alone. The museum is open late Thursdays and closed on Mondays. It’s full of the Impressionist highlights from Van Gough to Cezanne.
Inside the Tuileries and a quick stop if the exhibit is interesting.
A minimal art gallery, featuring impressionist and post impressionist work.
Located near the Louvre and worth a visit for the designers and bookstore.
7th Arrondissement/Eiffel Tower
A worthy visit for the changing exhibits and lovely grounds. It’s open until midnight many nights, so perfect for an evening activity and dinner at the restaurant.
Near Palais de Tokyo, usually has large installations, photo booth, and a thrift store.
Visit the famous Thinker, and then wander the pretty gardens surrounding the museum as long as you like.
Military hospital, war museum, and houses Napoleon's tomb
Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac
Museum showcasing the indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
The Palais de Chaillot houses three major museums – the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine, the Musée national de la Marine and the Musée de l’Homme. There is also a restaurant, Café Carlu, and the Théâtre National de Chaillot.
Visit for a large collection of Asian Art and a break from tourists.
Ile de la Cite
Formerly used as prison during the French Revolution, and now showcases where Marie Antoinette spent her last days.
Visit this royal chapel for the majestic stained glass. You can probably see both the Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle in an afternoon, depending on the lines.
Champs Elysees
Free to see the permanent collection and has a lovely garden cafe
Full of rotating exhibits and is currently the largest existing ironwork and glass structure in the world. Also houses the Palais de la Decouverte, the science museum.
Latin Quarter
Pantheon
Known for architecture and a mausoleum containing the remains of notable French authors and scientists
The Musée de Cluny-Musée national du Moyen Age
National Museum of the Middle Ages, features the Roman baths and other notable medieval artifacts.
Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle & Jardin des Plantes
l'École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
Grand Boulevards
One of the prettiest buildings in Paris, if you can catch a show, do it. Otherwise, buy tickets for a tour.
Also known as the Fragonard Musée du Parfum, near the Palais Garnier and a fun treat.
Le Marais
Depending on your tastes, some hate this museum and others love it. The street performers in the front and free rooftop views are worth a visit. (Open until 11pm on Thursdays.
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme
Has one of the the largest collections of Jewish art.
Showcasing inventions and advancements in science and technology
Temporarily closed, scheduled to open in 2019
Contains a pretty square in the heart of the Marais
Maison Européenne de la Photographie
La Musee de la Chassee et de la Nature
Montmartre
Devoted to sculptures and art of Salvador Dali located in Montmartre.
Musée National Gustave Moreau
Small museum with a cozy tea room.
Montparnasse
Outside of Paris
Not in the city of Paris itself but not to be missed. Plan and early morning excursion and be prepared for long lines and crowds until you get deep into the gardens.
Best Views
of the Eiffel Tower
Passerelle Debilly
Place du Trocadéro
Palais de Chaillot
Les Ombres, Musée du quai Branly
of the City
Terrasse du Printemps Haussmann
Parc de Belleville
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Tour Saint-Jacques
Musee d’Orsay
Institut du Monde Arabe
Arc de Triomphe
Galeries Lafayette
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Sacré Coeur Basilica
Centre Georges Pompidou
Montparnasse Tower
Metro Line Six
Bir-Hakeim Bridge
Pont Neuf
La Coulée Verte
Ferris Wheel at Concorde
Seine boat tour

Paris Passages
Wander through these glass roofed shopping galleries from the 1800s. They’re filled with independent and interested shops, ranging from knife sharpeners to candy shops.
Passage Verdeau (6 Rue de la Grange Batelière)
Passage Jouffroy (10-12 Boulevard Montmartre), gets crowded because of the wax museum next door, but it remains a prime location for Instagram pictures. Have a meal upstairs at Le Valentin and you can watch the entire gallery from the couches.
-Librairie du Passage, one of the oldest bookstores in Paris. Look for the owner, Jean-Luc Langlaude, and ask him to show you the collection in his private office with its fancy windows.
-A la Mere de Famille (33-35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre), a classic candy shop since 1761
Passage des Panoramas (11 Boulevard Montmartre), one of the oldest surviving passages, built in 1800.
-Have (a pricey) lunch at the Caffè Stern
Passage Des Princes (5 Boulevard des Italiens)
Galerie Vivienne (6 rue Vivienne, near 4 Rue des Petits Champs), hard to find because there are no signs, but shouldn’t be missed. Look for shops with antique maps, prints, books and photographs.
-A Priori The: take a break in this tearoom with a variety of sweets
Galerie Véro-Dodat (19 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau)
Passage du Grand Cerf (145 rue Saint-Denis)
-Shop: L’Illustre Boutique, for stationary and prints
Passage de l’Ancre (223 rue Saint-Marin or 30 rue Turbigo), with it’s cute umbrella shop
Perfect Paris Picnic Locations
Tourist Favorites
Champs de Mars
Luxembourg Gardens
Southern side of Pont Alexandre III
Place des Vosges
Anywhere along the Seine
Palais Royal/Tuileries
Esplanade des Invalides
Rodin Museum
Off the Beaten Path
Canal St Martin
Parcs des Buttes-Chaumont
Parc de la Villete
Quai de la Tournelle
Parc de la Turlure
Vert Galant
Bois de Boulogne + Vincennes
Square des Batignolles
Parc de Sceaux
Parc Monceau
Parc Montsouris
Coffee Guide
San Germain and the Latin Quarter
7th Arrondissement/Eiffel Tower
Montmartre
Les Halles
Louvre
Honor (outdoor seating)
Le Marias
Bastille
Canal Saint-Martin
Belleville
Guide to Paris Sweets
There is no shortage of delicious pastry shops, chocolatiers, and bakeries. Here are few ideas to get you started.
7th Arrondissement/Eiffel Tower
La Pâtisserie des Rêves, 111 Rue de Longchamp
known for: paris-brest and saint-honore
Jacques Genin, 27 Rue de Varenne
known for: paris-brest
Boulangerie Malineau, 3 Rue Vineuse
Louvre & Tuilieres
Jean Paul Hévin Chocolatier, 231 Rue Saint Honoré
known for: pure chocolate guayaquil
Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli
known for: high priced high tea and hot chocolate
Pierre Hermé, 4 Rue Cambon
known for: 2000 feuilles, flaky layers of pastry and
praline mousse cream
Yannick Martin, 302 Rue Saint Honoré
Hôtel Ritz Paris, 15 Place Vendôme
Champs-Elysees
Mon Eclair, 52 Rue des Acacias
Montmartre & Pigalle
Compagnie generale de Biscuiterie, 1 Rue Constance
known for: shortbread cookies
Pain Pain, 88 Rue des Martyrs
Popelini, 44 Rue des Martyrs
Bastille
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, 40 Rue de la Roquette
Le Marais
Pain de Sucre, 14 Rue Rambuteau
known for: fresh fruit pastries, like the mille-feuille
Mariage Frères, 30 Rue du Bourg Tibourg
Bontemps, 57 Rue de Bretagne
La Boutique Jaune, 27 Rue Rosiers
Ile Saint-Louis
Martin Marcel, 40 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île
Latin Quarter
Carl Marletti, 51 Rue Censier
known for: fraiser a seasonal strawberry shortcake
Aux Merveilleux de Fred, 2 Rue Monge
Solques Bruno, 243 Rue Saint-Jacques
Saint-Germain
Poilâne, 8 Rue du Cherchi-Midi
known for: sourdough loaf and tarte aux pommes
Un Dimanche à Paris, 4-6-8 Cours du Commerce Saint-André
known for: croquant, three textures of chocolate
Hugo et Victor, 40 Boulevard Raspail
Arnaud Larher, 93 Rue de Seine
Les Halles & Grand Boulevards
Fou de Patisserie, 45 Rue Montorgueil
concept shop with deliveries from the top pastry chefs in the area
L’Eclair de Génie, 32 Rue Notre Dame des Victoires
Boulangerie Aux Castelblangeois, 168 Rue Saint Honoré
Boulangerie Julien, 75 Rue Saint Honoré
Charles Chocolatier, 15 Rue Montorgueil
Stohrer, 51 Rue Montorgueil
Montparnasse
Des gâteaux et du pain, 63 Boulevard Pasteur
known for: seasonal fruit pastries, and the signature, Le Kashmir, cake with saffron, dates and orange
Canal Saint-Martin and Belleville
Liberté, 39 Rue des Vinaigriers
known for: tarte a la creme, pie crust, custard, and whipped cream
Du Pain et des Idées, 34 Rue Yves Toudic
known for: "the best croissants" in Paris
Paris Market Guide
The best way to get to know Paris is to visit a few markets-hear the locals discussing produce, see the dogs, smell the cheeses and find the ripest fruits for your picnic. Confirm hours as they change seasonally.
7th Arrondissement/Eiffel Tower
Marche President-Wilson
Wednesday & Saturday: 7am to 2pm
Louvre
Marché Saint-Honoré
Wednesday: 12:30pm-8:30pm, Saturday: 7am-3pm
Montmartre
Marche St-Quentin
Tuesday-Saturday: 8am-8pm, Sun: 8am-1:30pm
Marché Dejean
Monday-Saturday: 8am-8pm, closed Sundays
Bastille
Marche d’Aligre
Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-1pm, 4pm-7:30pm, Sun: 9am-1:30pm, closed Mondays
Marché Bastille
Thursday & Sunday: 7am-2:30pm
Le Marais
Marche des Enfants Rouges
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-8pm, Sunday: 8:30am-5pm, closed Monday
Ile Saint-Louis
Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II
Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm
Marche aux Oiseaux
Sunday 8am-7pm
Latin Quarter
Marche Monge
Wednesday/Friday/Sunday: 7am-2:30pm
Marche Mouffetard
Tuesday-Sunday: 8am-1pm, closed Monday
Les Halles
Marche Montorgueil
Tuesday-Sunday: 8am-1pm, 4-7pm, closed Monday
Montparnasse
Marche Raspail
Sunday: 9am-3pm
Canal Saint-Martin and Belleville
Marche Saint-Martin
Tuesday-Saturday: 9am-8pm, Sunday: 9am-2pm, closed Monday
Marche de Belleville
Tuesday & Friday: 7am-2:30pm
Northern Paris
Marche aux Puces de St-Ouen: Europe’s largest flea market
Saturday: 9am-6pm, Sunday: 10am-6pm, Monday: 11am-5pm