Sophia Abrahão shares itinerary through the most charming corners of Paris

We arrived in Paris on a Monday morning and soon went out into the street after checking in at the hotel, which was located in the Marais region. After all, we didn’t want to miss a minute of the trip!

We wander through the city aimlessly as the costume dictates.

At night we met a Brazilian friend who took us to the crocus du marais laid-back place that serves brunch on weekends.

At the restaurant I had falafel, hummus and vegetable tempura. They were a delight. We sat on the sidewalk and had good drinks!

The first day was just a preview of what was to come.

Second day: visit to the Louvre

We woke up very early and had breakfast at the hotel – I loved the menu so much that I repeated my order every day: Avocado Toast, coffee with soy milk and a detox beet juice with orange and ginger.

After the meal we went on our first cultural tour in Paris: the Louvre . We were delighted with this rich and extraordinary experience through the art and history of the world.

We have a guide to explain the context and details of each work in the museum. Here’s the tip: if you can, hire a guide. It was the best investment of the trip.

We spent the whole day there, but obviously it wasn’t enough. We need to go back.

Day Three: Enchantment at Versailles

The next day, we had the most incredible tour of my life: we went to versailles visit the gardens and the palace, where several kings of France lived.

The location is unbelievable. The sumptuousness, artistic richness and grandeur of the palace’s architecture left me speechless. We also took this tour with the guide, who gave us a real lesson on the French monarchy.

We still know the Hall of Mirrors , the monarchs’ quarters, including Marie Antoinette’s, and also the outside (a spectacle on its own). It is an unmissable tour.

In the city of Versailles, we had lunch at the restaurant La Mangette . The house partners do everything naturally and in the kitchen, with zero industrialized inputs.

I had a lentil hummus, a grain salad and a rice with corn and zucchini – everything was delicious.

Back in the capital, we had dinner at the hamburger Bioburger Le Marais . A little fast food sometimes goes well! My burger was Tofu and I ordered a good old fries as an accompaniment.

Fourth day: Discoveries by the Arc de Triomphe

Friday was a free day, but there was nothing to rest. We took the opportunity to walk around the entire city, where we spent more than 11 hours on the street getting to know Paris.

During the period we visited the Arch of Triumph a Galeries Lafayette we ride a bike through Champs Élysées we took the subway for the first time and ended the day in Le Crystal, a bar-brasserie in the heart of the city.

It is right in front of the Arc de Triomphe and its outdoor tables give you a taste of typical French brasseries. At the restaurant I had a delicious salad with avocado and, to drink, I ordered a classic mojito to relax.

Fifth day: Montmartre and Eiffel Tower

On Saturday we took a tour of Montmartre , one of the most traditional and bohemian neighborhoods in Paris. It was there that intellectuals and artists gathered, and we were able to get to know everything up close.

We started our visit at Moulin Rouge a venue so famous and traditional that it still works today, having already inspired several works, such as films and plays.

Speaking of artistic works, we know the Cafe des Deux Moulins , where the character Amélie Poulain worked as a waitress in the movie “The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain”. I was very moved, as I am a fan of the story.

We still visit the grandiose Basilica of Sacre Cœur , which is located at the top of Monte Martre, one of the highest points in the city. It is too beautiful and it is no wonder that it is one of the most visited monuments in France.

Once outside this part of the city, we headed towards the Eiffel Tower , an obviously mandatory stop in Paris. We took several photos in the best tourist style, but there’s no escaping the cliché: it’s too beautiful.

The tour continued through the monumental Paris Pantheon , which was originally intended to be a church. The construction honors great people who marked the history of France.

We continue our journey to the Luxembourg garden a wonderful city public park, built by Maria De Medicis in 1611, which today is taken over by visitors who want to have a pleasant afternoon in contact with nature.

People sunbathe, read their books, play the guitar and have a picnic. It’s certainly inspiring.

Leaving the park, we went straight to a restaurant recommended by a colleague, the Lilas Closerie . It is a traditional restaurant where names such as Picasso, Sartre and Hemingway have passed.

I had a plate of quinoa, spinach, pumpkin puree and tofu sprinkled with mouthwatering almonds and chestnuts. And, to accompany, again a mojito.

Sixth day: Marais tour

Sunday also did not have a defined schedule. That’s why we took the opportunity to walk through the marais .

We visited some thrift stores, visited the beautiful Garden of Rohan, from the Hôtel de Rohan, and we ate at a restaurant that was a find, the Le Verre Luisant .

I had lunch with a mix of fresh vegetables and an eggplant moussaka without cheese which was spectacular. In the restaurant there was a pet dog that stayed between the tables welcoming customers – I found it very interesting and cute.

Seventh day: walking

After a week in Paris we did one of the coolest tours of our tour. We know very important points of the city, all of this on foot. It was more than seven hours of walking, let’s take a breath!

We start with Notre Dame cathedral which unfortunately will only reopen in 2024 – but just the possibility of visiting its facade is already spectacular.

Following our tour, we met the Shakespeare and Company , the city’s famous bookstore that during the 1920s became a meeting point for writers such as James Joyce, Hemingway and Ford Madox Ford. It’s like going back in time.

The bookstore has an attached cafe which is super nice. Continuing the tour, we pass by the famous Sorbonne College which is a public research university and frequently listed among the best colleges in the world.

We also passed by the stairs where Owen Wilson’s character was waiting for the car that would transport him to 1920 in the masterpiece “Midnight in Paris“, by Woody Allen. I’m a big fan of the movie and I was very happy to know this scenario.

We stopped for lunch at the restaurant Freddy’s , which is a super tip. At the house I had cauliflower dumplings, roasted shitake, sweet potatoes with zathar sauce and other delicacies.

We ended up walking around the city at Opera Garnier . Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I really want to go back to see a play in this fabulous theater.

Eighth and final day: Musée D’Orsay

Our last day of the trip was very special. We visited the D’Orsay Museum which was one of the tours we were most looking forward to.

The museum features works from the Realist, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. Among the works, we can appreciate paintings with names such as Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir and Paul Gauguin.

On top of that, we were lucky enough to visit D’Orsay on the opening day of a temporary exhibition by expressionist artist Edvard Munch. We are fans and we couldn’t believe the coincidence. The exhibition is also amazing.

We had a coffee inside the museum, where the restaurant is beautiful. You can’t believe the wealth of details in this area, as it looks like a continuation of the exhibitions.

In this way, we say goodbye to the City of Lights, which has already entered the list of one of my favorite trips. Paris is an invitation to return.