With charm and beauty to boot, Paris is the city that we all dream of visiting at least once in our lives.
You’ve seen the City of Love act as the backdrop in iconic movies, read about the French capital in ALL the books – not to mention daily reminders via social media urging us to “head to Paris, stat!”
Parisians are renowned for their style and elegance, and let’s be honest – no-one wants to look like a tourist in this iconic city.
Read on for 10 ways to live like a local in Paris. Oh, la la!
1. Devour great food food + even greater wine.
For obvious reasons, food is an essential part of life in Paris. As the home to one of the world’s most refined cuisines, it wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without seeing what all the hype is about. And trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
Parisians love traditional bistros and brasseries such as Brasserie Lipp, Le Grand Colbert and Bistro Paul Bert as much as the new trendy gastronomical restaurants such as Clamato, Gare au Gorille, and Jaja, just to name a few.
2. People watch from the streets.
If there is one thing that the Parisians love to do it’s catching up over a coffee or a glass of wine. To make like a Parisian, find a table outside some of the best bars and cafés along the rue des Martyrs, rue Montorgueil, rue Cler in the 7th arrondissement and watch the world (and people) go by – en plein air style.
3. Satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.
Safe to say, Paris is a goldmine for all things sweet and (slightly) naughty. Read: patisseries. Visit the l’Éclair de Genie for a delectable variety of eclairs, Aux Merveilleux de Fred for their jaw-dropping, mouth-watering meringues coated in cream and shaved chocolate and of course Pierre Hermé, for Insta-worthy (not to mention delicious!) macrons.
4. Get art-y.
ICYMI: Parisians are cultured, artistic and basically the coolest people on earth. (Did we mention we love the Parisian vibe?).
Start your culture trip by visiting impressive museums like The Louvre Musée, Musée d’Orsay, The Foundation Louis Vuitton, Grand Palais or search for local concerts or even live cabarets.
5. Make the most of the outdoors.
Paris is home to some of the most beautiful parks in the world. Fact. Find your way through the iconic Jardin du Luxembourg, the Parc Monceau, and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont where you can find Parisians in their local habitat, especially on the weekends.
On the warmer days when it’s sunny, head to the riverbank to have a drink by the Seine. The Alexandre III Bridge on the left side of the river is a very popular place to go as there are several open-air bars Faust, Rosa Bonheur, and Flow.
6. Shop ‘til you drop.
You have a choice between the high-end brands on the avenue Montaigne or the rue Saint-Honoré, the small quirky boutiques in the Marais, around Etienne Marcel, Saint Germain or in the Batignolles district, and the high-street shops at Châtelet or the rue Rivoli.
FYI: Parisians rarely shop on the Champs Elysées, so maybe grab that iconic shot then move on to the next area.
7. Discover cocktail O’clock.
What better way to explore the city than in search of up and coming cocktail bars? Some of the local favourites include Little Red Door, Le Syndicat, and Manko.
8. Marvel at the Eiffel Tower.
You can see the Eiffel Tower from nearly any spot in Paris and that’s what makes it so special, even for Parisians.
9. Steal a bargain at the markets.
On the weekends, Parisians love visiting antique shops and flea markets to rummage for a good deal on furniture, accessories, clothing and anything else they can find.
If you’re a bargainer yourself, then you should head down to the Saint-Ouen Flea Market open Saturdays to Mondays in the north of Paris. The Parisians also love their food shopping at local markets which you will find in nearly every part of Paris, particularly on Saturdays.
10. See Paris from the top.
Paris is a city that offers some of the most beautiful rooftop views in the world – which is exactly why Parisians lurrrve rooftop bars, especially during the summer. The popular places are the terrace of the Printemps, Le Perchoir, Nüba, and Le Terrass.
If all the above things are good enough for Parisians, then they’re good enough for us.
Remember: there is more to Paris than visiting the important monuments, so live each moment as if you were a Parisian and make your own unique French affair one to remember!
For the ultimate European adventure, find your next trip here.
