A Perfect 24 Hours in Paris

I started my last day in Paris by having a coffee on my balcony at the Hotel Adele & Jules, a cute boutique hotel in the 9th arrondissement. Located down a quiet side street, the hotel has a really peaceful vibe. I loved spending time out on the balcony looking out over the Parisian rooftops. Setting out toward Montmartre, my husband and I made a stop at The French Bastards. We tried one of their Instagram-famous pastries and another coffee, because what better way to fuel my adventures than caffeine and sugar! I grabbed a BCBG Pate a Tartiner, a chocolate brioche muffin filled with a chocolate hazelnut spread. And yes, it was just as decadent as it sounds… yum!

After leaving the French Bastards, we continued toward Montmartre with the goal being Sacre Coeur. Montmartre had such a quaint, village feel. I loved wandering the narrow cobblestone streets. We walked down Rue Lepic past one of the famous Paris windmills, The Moulin de la Galette, which sits atop an adorable, oldmill-turned restaurant by the same name. To fortify ourselves for the 270 stairs up to Sacre Coeur, we made a stop at the artists’ square known as Place du Tertre. I sat for a portrait by one of the local artists and we had hot chocolate at a cute little cafe called Au Clairon des Chausseurs. Their hot chocolate with a splash of Grand Mariner was rich and undefined delicious!

After making it up the steps to the Sacre Coeur, we were rewarded with a panoramic view of Paris below us. We caught our breath while listening to a local busker, and afterward toured the basilica.

As we made our way back down the hill toward the center of Paris, we stopped at the Creperiee Briezh Cafe for lunch. I had their jambon blanc artisanal galette, a savory option made with buckwheat flour. It was delicious, filled with ham, comte cheese, and topped with a fried egg and Maison Bordier butter. However, my favorite part of the meal was the chocolate crepe I had for dessert. It was warm and buttery, filled with a house-made chocolate spread, and just perfect.

After a quick stop back at the hotel, we headed toward the Seine. On our way, we walked through some of the covered passages you can find hidden around the city, but mostly in the 2nd and 9th arrondissements. These hidden passageways are so charming. They are filled with unique shops, cafes, and restaurants, and each one is unique. Passing through the Palais Royal, we stumbled upon an open-air acrobatic performance. This is part of the magic of Paris; walking through the city you never know what you will come across. From a pianist playing in the middle of Pont Saint-Louis, to a group of street musicians playing while a crowd of Parisian couples dance to the music in the middle of a public square, you’re sure to discover something memorable.

Once we made it to the Ile Saint Louis, we grabbed a scoop of the famous Berthillon ice cream and walked up the center of the quiet little island, stopping in cute shops along the way. At one end of the island there was a beautiful little park where you could sit and look out over the Seine.

After finishing our stroll, we headed across the bridge to the left bank. I wanted to stop in Officine Universelle Buly, a gorgeous parfumerie founded in Paris in 1803. I had seen them featured on many Instagram pages and knew I wanted to stop in to see what all the fuss was about. Their location in Saint Germain des Pres was just as gorgeous as their scents. After I purchased a bottle from their French Garden collection and one of their personalized lip balms, we were off to dinner.

For dinner that evening, we went to Il Sorrentino, an Italian restaurant just off the Champ de Mars with a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower. I had their tagliolini ai formaggi, a delicious pasta dish finished in a Parmesan wheel, while my husband had their chicken ravioli, which was topped with pecorino cheese and thinly shaved black truffle.

After dinner, we walked over to the Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower from another angle. We waited along with the rest of the crowd for sunset so we could watch the tower begin to glow, and then sparkle. Not ready for the night to end, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe and the 284 steps required to reach the top. Yes, more stairs, and yes, completely worth it! We looked out over Paris, lit up at night and counted down the minutes until the Eiffel Tower would sparkle again.

I stood there that evening, with a birds-eye view of the City of Lights, in awe and disbelief that I had finally made it to Paris after years of dreaming about seeing it in person, and ready to plan my next visit.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Paris. In need of further inspiration? Check out Lizz Callaway’s guide, The City of Love: A Perfect 5-Day Paris Itinerary.