48 hours in Paris itinerary
This blog post title makes me think of Julie Delpy’s film, 2 Days in Paris. It’s from 2007, and I definitely recommend her movies. Let’s move on to Paris and why Paris is always a good idea.
As a French person, I know Paris well. My recent trip at the end of March was a whirlwind. I tried to see as many art exhibitions as possible. Add enjoying great food and wine. Paris is the city of light, love, and fresh baguette (pretty compromised if you’re avoiding gluten!). A foodie’s heaven, Paris has some of the best restaurants in the world. In this blog post, I share my latest trip to Paris with recommendations for places to visit and eat. These are just recommendations. Do not hesitate to wander and make your selection.
Travelling to Paris
To travel from London to Paris, the easiest and most comfortable option is to book a Eurostar ticket. The journey currently takes 2 hours and 17 minutes, which would be difficult to beat by plane, car or coach. I travelled on the Eurostar. Left London at 1 pm and reached Paris in the afternoon. I had just enough time to drop my bag to head to the Louvre.
First stop the Louvre
The Louvre is huge. It is the most visited museum in the world and has tens of thousands of objects. If you’re making a short visit, focus is key. Prioritise the ‘big three’: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. More time on your hand, don’t miss the De La Tour, Ingres and Delacroix. After wandering the Louvre, continue with a walk through the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Place de la Concorde. Why not add a stop at Angelina’s Café on the way!
Where I had dinner
In the evening, I went for dinner on Rue Surcouf in the 7th arrondissement at Bistro Chez France. I walked by the Invalides. It’s a museum about French military history and offers a great view of the Eiffel Tower.
When you arrive in Rue Surcouf, the number of restaurants on the same street will amaze you.
The tagline for Bistro chez France is GOOD FOOD, GOOD WINE, GOOD VIBES! So you know you are in good hands and off to a great start. And this is how I felt after dining at the bistro. They have a small menu with daily specialities. They serve fruit and vegetables according to season. The fish is the catch of the day. Their charcuteries come from small producers. They select meat from farmers they often work with. I started with an “assiette de charcuterie.” For the main dish, I had “agneau” (lamb). I couldn’t miss the Crème Brûlée for dessert. We also chose an amazing red wine, Burgundy, from their great wine list. We had a fantastic dining experience. The restaurant is not very big, so I recommend booking your table in advance.
This is an excerpt from my travel notes published on Substack.
Read the full story here.
