Recently updated on July 8th, 2024 at 02:51 pm

Paris – the city of lights. This was the number one spot on Justin’s parents’ list to visit in Europe, so we decided to end our 10 days with them there. It is a beautiful place with so much to do and see, but we had just three days and a minimal budget. We wandered the streets, opted out of any tours or museums, and tried to eat and drink at our AirBnB when possible.

We had so much fun exploring the rainy city on foot as a group of four. Getting to explore the world with friends and family is pretty incredible and we are so lucky that we’ve had some special visitors on our adventure. Read about our favorite day with friends here.

I have to admit that we had really low expectations because we had heard some things about Parisians. I should know better after realizing how wrong people are about New Yorkers, but I was ready to encounter rudeness. It couldn’t have been further from the truth – especially when you know a few polite French phrases.

Here is our list of a few Paris favorites from the few days we spent there on a budget. It’s important to point out that we would have skipped Paris on this trip because of budget constraints, but we were able to get a little creative with a lot of bodega snacks and the kindness of our travel companions.

Our Five Paris Favorites

The Eiffel Tower

It’s far from the most beautiful structure in this city, but it’s iconic and you have to see it. It’s on everyone’s list of Paris favorites. Seeing the sparkle show at night is pretty cool and totally free. It’s as crowded and filled with souvenir vendors as you imagine, but it doesn’t really matter. I wanted to visit during the day and enjoy a leisurely picnic in the park, but the rain had different plans for us this trip.

Strolling along the River

Notre Dame is still the center of attention on the riverfront, even with all the construction going on. Aside from all the beautiful architecture and greenery on the riverfront, the little stands selling books and art were fun to browse. It was busier than I had pictured, but we never got down there early in the morning. I think a sunrise stroll would be incredible.

The Louvre

OK, we skipped the Mona Lisa. Justin’s parents took one for the team and stood in line to see it. We just couldn’t deal with the lines anymore. Did you know that 80% of people visiting this museum only come for that one piece of artwork? It’s hard to understand why so many people visit for just one piece of art when this place would take months to explore fully. It was a special treat for J’s parents to catch a glimpse of it, though, and we opted to wander around for a few hours on our own.

We found an exhibit that recreated Napoleon’s apartment, and it was my favorite. Justin loved the ancient Egypt section of the museum, and we spent some time there as well. There is also a small but incredible Islamic Art portion that I would recommend.

Sacre Coeur

We stayed just down the stairs from this beautiful hilltop cathedral. The views from here are amazing. The area right around the church is filled with artists, musicians and shops. It’s worth climbing all those stairs for the view. I would recommend visiting early in the morning when the only people you are sharing the steps with are locals getting their exercise in.

Also, you can take a picture of the “sinking house” if you can find it. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to do it, but I was quite proud when I got it.

Montmartre

This is the neighborhood we stayed in and it was perfect for us. There were amazing restaurants with cheap eats and cheap wine. We spent a full day just wandering around as a group of 4 and were able to relax and hang out at our AirBnB. It was easy to get everywhere on public transportation, but I could’ve spent a whole week just exploring the curvy, hilly streets of this area. You can find Picasso’s apartment and learn all about Van Gogh’s time in Paris. I loved the amount of cool street art on every block.

Here is the link for our AirBnB, but it looks like it’s been discontinued. The location was amazing, but it was a little confusing to find the place. This hotel is priced well and really close to where we stayed.

Our Future Paris Wish List

There was so much we didn’t see or do in Paris this time around, so we started keeping a list. Keep in mind this is just the general stuff, we have saved so many restaurants and cafes that we spotted or got recommendations for as well. I can’t wait to add more to our Paris favorites list.

  • The Dali Museum
  • A Picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower (wine included)
  • The Picasso Museum
  • Luxembourg Gardens
  • The Palace of Versailles
  • Le Marais Neighborhood
  • The Rodin Museum
  • The Catacombs
  • All the history tours
  • Eat ALL THE FOOD

There will definitely be a next time. It was a gorgeous city and such a great place to add to any European itinerary. It didn’t beat out Strasbourg, though, for the best city in France.

“You can’t escape the past in Paris, and yet what’s so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn’t seem to burden.”

Allen Ginsberg