We love London as much as the next person, there are always things going on, always something to do. But sometimes you crave a break from this big mess of a city. If we were to pick one of my favourite things about London life, it would be how easy it is to escape it for a short break or weekend. With five airports within a fairly close distance (maybe with the exception of Luton) and budget airlines like Ryanair, escaping has never been easier. But where should we go?
How to get there?
Eurostar or by plane. The easiest option is obviously not the cheapest. The average Eurostar ticket is about £200 just to reach Gare du Nord station. If you book last-minute, low-cost flights are the perfect fit, just make sure you don’t arrive at Beauvais Airport, which is located almost two hours away from Paris. When you get to the two main airports, Roissy CDG or Orly, you can easily take the metro directly to the centre of the capital city.
Where to stay?
After about 1,000 steps completed on your Fitness app and a few too many tourists, you’ll be happy to lay back. Let’s be honest, Paris isn’t particularly cheap, but if you visit during the off-or shoulder season you can find accessible hotels. The most recommended places to stay are of course: Le Marais or Canal Saint Martin, both very touristy but definitely worth it. Le Marais feels like the embodiment of Paris with its traditional bistros and its proximity to the Louvre, the Tuileries and the Hôtel de Ville.
1st stop: The 7th District
It is fortunate enough to hold Paris’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Arriving from your 8- pm RyanAir flight? You’ll want to spot it lighting up. Remember – It only lights up for the five minutes every hour until 1 am. In the 7th district, you’ll find several hotels and apartments to rent, as it is one of the most famous Paris areas. My recommendations as a Pro Parisian: if you want to have a taste of the classic Paris evening: get a crêpe and go walk around the Champ de Mars gardens.
Top three attractions in Paris
- If you’re looking for the Emily in Paris type of experience: Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The epitome of sophisticated Paris, with the iconic Café de Flore for overpriced coffee and all the Americans surrounding it. Located in the 6th district in the ‘Rive Gauche’ (Left Bank) area, it is one of the poshest places of the city but also holds the 20th-century cultural movements. Notably, where Giacometti and Godard used to share coffee with Sartre and de Beauvoir.
- The Musée d’Orsay is my personal favourite, being a lover of 19th-century art. Located in the Left Bank, it’s famous for holding world-famous artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne and Renoir. I recommend booking beforehand because the queue is known to be long, that’s when you know it’s good. If you go to the top of the Museum, you’ll see all the treasures (in MY opinion), with the literal portrait of our dear Vincent Van Gogh. A sea of tourists will steal your place to take a picture, but I know you’ll figure it out.
- Lastly, the Luxembourg Garden, also in the 6th district, is one of the most famous parks in the world. If you miss it, you’ll regret it. It all seems regular, but the general ambiance is impeccable. It has seats for you to sit down across the ponds and admire the model sailboats, tree-lined promenades, tennis courts and the Medici fountain. It’s creation began in 1612, and definitely adds to the capital city’s charm.
The Parisian nightlife
As a capital city, there are obviously top-notch places for a night well spent. However, they will be different from your usual pub crawl. Most young Parisians spend their evenings in cafés, drinking a mix of cocktails (or of course wine), and move to the hippest clubs. The secret is to go to Rue Princesse in the 6th arrondissement, where you’ll be surrounded by bars and clubs. For a proper night out, the 8th has the most clubs resembling Mayfair, such as L’Arc (just in front of the Arc de Triomphe). If you are uninterested in a crazy night out, you can head to the Marais in the 4th, the heaven of restaurants and multicultural cuisines.
What do the locals think?
I asked true Parisians what they thought was so great about their city, the recurring answer was the ambience is like no other. “I don’t think there are many cities that compare in terms of beauty, not only the historical landmarks but the parks, the Hausmann buildings, and the variety of neighbourhoods.”
What do the Londoners think?
Most Londoners think they’re taking a train directly to the Louvre, so I don’t know what they really think about Paris. Week-end trips are easily accessible, but I asked fellow Londoners what they thought of the French city. “The geographical proximity doesn’t reflect the strong contrast between us and the French, technically going to Paris is faster than going to Manchester. Paris is the BEST option for small holidays and especially with a special someone, the romance flows through every street.”
Our verdict
Do we love Paris? Yes, it will always be the perfect city break from London. Its peaceful but sophisticated atmosphere is ideal, there’s something for everyone. In terms of prices, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the cheapest, but you can always easily find alternatives to food and hostels.