Love is in the air, or should I say Lourve? For Valentine’s Day weekend, my boyfriend Manuel and I found a flight deal that was too good to pass up. We scored a $400 roundtrip flight from SFO to Charles de Gaulle. (Which actually ended up being $300 due to extensive flight delays on the way home, thanks for the travel credit United!) But seriously, what better way to spend Valentine’s Day weekend than in the city of light, love, and art – Paris.
If you’ve been following my travels for a while, then you probably remember a few years ago I spent a couple of months backpacking across Europe. During that trip, I actually skipped France entirely. This was due to me not having a huge interest in visiting the country at the time and mainly because Manuel made me promise I wouldn’t visit Paris without him. Anyways, we ended up agreeing that we’d go back to visit together sometime in the near future.
Well, I ended up keeping my promise and he kept his by traveling back to Europe with me to visit this timeless city for the first time – together. Though we only had 2 full days there to explore, and literally everything that could go wrong, went wrong on this trip. We made the most of it and were able to visit a number of iconic sites and already are looking forward to our next visit.
The food, art, and overall vibe of the city is truly one of a kind. Did I mention the food?! If you’re a foodie like me and love cheese, wine, pastries, or really anything full of carbs – you’ll definitely fall in love with this city. Below are some of the highlights from our short but sweet 2-day adventure in Paris.
Musée de Lourve
The Lourve was probably one of our favorite things we did while in Paris, but wholly-molly that place is huge! We heard you can spend a lot of time here, but we definitely underestimated it as you could easily spend weeks there and still not see everything.
Though the Mona Lisa is the most well-known piece of art here and something you should definitely see. Our favorite pieces were those from Mesopotamia and Ancient Rome. (Pictured Below)
Pont des Arts
Right outside the Lourve is the infamous Pont des Arts bridge, better known as the ‘Love Locks Bridge’. You’ve probably seen pictures of the bridge covered in millions of locks, left behind by lovers visiting the city. Being Valentine’s day weekend it was only right we stopped here to leave a lock behind.
Unfortunately, a few years ago part of the bridge collapsed due to the weight of the metal locks. Soon after the city replaced the fences of the bridge to prevent tourists from attaching any more locks. However, love always prevails and people have just gotten more creative in how they attach their locks.
Wanting to join in on the fun, we purchase a locked for a few euros, wrote our names on it and attached it to a light post on the bridge. Hopefully, it will not get removed, because how awesome would it be if we return years later to that exact spot and find our lock still there?!
Notre Dame Cathedral
Not too far from the ‘Love Lock Bridge’ is Notre Dame Cathedral. If your a 90’s kid like myself, then you probably remember watching Disney’s The Humpback of Notre Dame. Seeing the cathedral that the movie is based on in real life, brought all the nostalgia.
The inside was even more impressive; with its towering high ceilings, intricate architecture and stained glass windows. It always amazes me to see what humans were capable of building, prior to our modern day technology.
Sacré-Cœur
Situated on a hill in the charming district of Montmartre, is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris or Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Climbing up the stairs to the gleaming, white church we had endless views overlooking the city of Paris. It was such a great spot to relax and take it all in.
Moulin Rouge
Not too far from Sacré-Cœur is the red light district of Paris. Here you’ll find plenty of adult novelty stores and the well known, Moulin Rouge.
The entire time we were there I had the Lady Marmalade song playing in my head. Hah, can you blame me? Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see a cabaret show. But it is definitely on the list next time we visit.
Arc de Triomphe
Best views go to the Arc de Triomphe! Though you have to climb hundreds of stairs up to a spiral staircase and may get a little dizzy, it is totally worth it! Once you’re up there, you can see panoramic views of Paris for miles and you’ll forget how out of shape you really are.
Being one of the largest arches in the world, this monument was built to honor the fallen soldiers who fought in the French Army. It is located at the end of Champs Élysées and is the intersection that connects 12 bustling avenues.
During our visit, we decided to be daredevils and run across the chaotic intersection to reach the arch. Afterward, we learned there’s actually an underground tunnel for pedestrians. Though this wasn’t nearly as thrilling as running into oncoming traffic.
Palais Royal
Looking for a break from the large crowds of the nearby Louvre, we decided to pay a visit to Palais Royal. Built in the 17th century, the garden and courtyard were the perfect places to enjoy a warm beverage on a chilly afternoon.
Unfortunately, the inside of the palace is not open to the public but if you head to the inner courtyard you can enjoy an art installation of black and white pillars.
Galerie Vivienne
I’ve heard about the hidden galleries throughout Paris and was overjoyed when we happened to find one while roaming the streets of Paris and waiting for our camera to charge (long story). The passage had beautiful mosaic tile floors, glass ceilings and tons of fashionable boutiques to gawk at. My favorite spot had to be the adorable antique book store. After some research, I learned this passage is actually registered as a historical monument. Definitely glad we found this spot!
Eiffel Tower
The most iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Also called the Iron Lady, as some say the iron lattice resembles lace. No trip to Paris is complete without a visit and hundreds of pictures of her to show for it.
Our hotel was about a 10-minute walk from the tower and we were able to visit during the day and in the evening. There are so many great places around the city where you can capture a picture of this landmark. Some of our favorite spots were the Trocadero, Champ de Mars, and from the comfort of our hotel suite
Where We Stayed
As I mentioned earlier, everything that could go wrong – did go wrong. Unfortunately, this included our accommodations. Originally, we had reserved a Parisian flat through Airbnb with the most incredible, unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. It was literally perfect, right next to the Trocadero and overlooking the Seine. *sigh*
But of course, things don’t always go as planned and we found ourselves scrambling, looking for a new place to stay the morning of our flight.
Being a holiday weekend and extremely last minute, our options were limited. Still wanting a room with a view, I somehow stumbled upon Hotel La Comtesse in my frantic search. To our luck, this adorable boutique hotel still had a room available offering views of the Iron Lady from the bed. This place is definitely a hidden gem and made our time in Paris an unforgettable one.
We stayed in the Comtesse Suite.
Hotel La Comtesse
♥ Lo