City Breaks

Perfect Winter’s Day in Paris Guide

How would you spend your ideal day in Paris? This is a question which I often get asked by many of you, and whilst Paris is far too big to fit into one day, I’ve written a little guide to how I would spend a perfect winter’s day in the city of lights. This guide covers the central areas of the right bank mainly within the 1st arrondissement with a focus on all things which are necessary to keep warm and moving on a cold winter’s day.

I’d wake up early, pull my closest friends out of bed (quite literally as they sleep in the next room to mine) and head straight to the heart of city to watch the sunrise at Place de la Concorde. After such an early start we’d be feeling quite peckish so we would walk across to Claus which thankfully opens at the crack of dawn to fill up on a healthy breakfast of fresh juice and muesli. Before making our way towards the jardin des Tuileries we would make a pit-stop at Angelina to get a chocolate chaud a emporter because any type of gossiping in the gardens is made so much better when you’ve got a steaming cup of chocolaty goodness in your hands. Often there’s an exhibition at the Jeu de Paume which takes our fancy, but if not then the neighbouring  Museé de l’Orangerie always pleases us – particularly the light-filled rooms showcasing Monet’s dreamy water lilies.

CLAUS 14 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau // ANGELINA 226 Rue de Rivoli // JEU DE PAUME 1 Place de la Concorde //

Angelina patisseries
Concorde
Claus
Angelina hot chocolate

A stroll down rue de Castiglione is made a little sweeter by pausing at a few of Paris’ most celebrated chocolatiers. Les Marquis de Ladurée is the chocoholics dream, offering all of France’s classical patisseries with a chocolate twist and of course rows of delicious macarons. Across the road at Godiva I would pick up a paper cone stuffed with chocolate-coated strawberries and coerce my friends into doing the same because they look so cute in photos! I always take a moment to appreciate the regal Place Vendome daydreaming of scenes from Love in the Afternoon where I envision Audrey Hepburn’s character being courted in one of the suites at the Ritz hotel.

LES MARQUIS DE LADUREE 14 rue Castiglione // GODIVA 237 Rue Saint Honoré //

Place Vendome
Les marquis de Laduree

A walk down the very fashionable rue Saint Honoré ensues all the while attempting to avoid entering the designer stores which are calling our names. We head towards the Palais Royal gardens and talk about one day living in one of the beautiful Parisian apartments which frame the charming square. In need of a caffeine fix, we go to café Kitsuné, one of the few places where we can guarantee a cup of quality coffee. We then stroll through the hidden arcades where we loose ourselves for hours searching for books and trinkets in the quirky shops.

RUE SAINT HONORE // CAFE KITSUNE 30 rue de Montpensier
// GALERIE VIVIENNE 6 rue Vivienne //

Palais Royal
Palais Royal gardens
Hidden passages

Around the corner you’ll come across one of the best sandwich joints in Paris – I don’t think I ever knew what a real sandwich was before I came to Verjus. Its the perfect spot for a light bite and will probably be one of the most memorable lunches of your life! After feeling amply full we would carry on down Avenue de l’Opéra to enter into this stunning opera house. Its interior is equally as breathtaking as its gold adorned facade mirroring a mini palais de Versailles. Around the corner two of the most luxurious department stores in Paris can be found and despite my good intentions I always end up back here far more often than I should! An ideal day especially in the fashion capital of the world would end in one of these magnificent stores purchasing French delights such as Repetto ballet flats and a Zadig and Voltaire clutch. To end the day I would swing by Café Pouchkine on the ground floor of Printemps to pick up my favourite macarons in the whole city. We would climb all the way to the top floor of the shop to watch the sun go down on the terrace while enjoying our last sugar fix of the day.

VERJUS 52 Rue de Richelieu // OPERA GARNIER 8 Rue Scribe // GALERIES LAFAYETTE 40, boulevard Haussmann // PRINTEMPS 64, boulevard Haussmann

Opera Garnier
Lafayette department store
Inside Printemps
View atop Printemps
Cafe Pouchkine
Printemps terrace

After the sunset we’d make our way back down to the bustling streets and take rue Royale making sure not to miss the window displays at Ladurée and Maxims. Not wanting to walk too far we would head around the corner to le Soufflé, and indulge in a three course meal made solely from this fluffy French delicacy. Being passionate cocktail fans we will always be in the mood for late night drinks even after the most exhausting of days. Sightseeing is pretty tiring after all… A favourite bar of ours is le Ballroom du Beefclub, an underground den serving up some killer mixologist cocktails. After such a hectic we would collapse on the slouchy sofas where we would stay chatting well into the early hours of the morning.

SOUFFLE 36 Rue du Mont Thabor // LE BLLROOM DU BEEFCLUB 58 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Sunset at the Lafayette terrace
Le souffle

And there you have it: a perfect winter’s day in Paris! Just one example of many…

Comments

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Barbara says:

February 9, 2014 at 8:52 pm

This is just such a perfect way to spend a winter day in Paris! I gotta visit all those places on my next trip :)

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 10, 2014 at 11:56 pm

Glad I’m able to help – I tried to tailor it for those who don’t know Paris really well so as to include all of the famous spots :)

Joana says:

February 9, 2014 at 11:26 pm

I always have mixed feelings when coming to your blog. On one hand the photos are stunning and dreamy and I love reading about your experience, but on the other hand it makes miss Paris so much!!

http://vintageloyal.blogspot.pt/

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 10, 2014 at 11:51 pm

Ah I’m sorry you’re missing Paris – the city always looks more dreamy in photographs than in real life ;) I hope you can come back soon!

HOB says:

February 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm

I lived in Paris for 10 years and don’t know some of these addresses. I love that the city can still surprise me, and I know where to go on my next visit! xx from Dubai

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 10, 2014 at 11:50 pm

I know a capital city is forever evolving and new places are opening up all the time – I can barely keep up even living here! That’s the thing I love most about big cities is the excitement of always finding something new to do

Gloria says:

February 10, 2014 at 5:28 pm

J’avoue qu’entre les macarons et tous ces beaux monuments c’est une belle journée parisienne!
Bisous

Quyen says:

February 10, 2014 at 8:03 pm

Yum! I would love to see a guide just on the pastries!
http://liveitinerantly.com/

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 10, 2014 at 11:48 pm

Ah yes I really should do one of those! Hopefully sometime soon

Laura says:

February 11, 2014 at 8:08 pm

Sounds like it would be an amazing day! I’d love to visit Paris in winter :)

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 12, 2014 at 6:03 pm

It does get pretty chilly – but nothing which can’t be cured with a little hot chocolate ;)

Hannah Bee says:

February 12, 2014 at 4:07 pm

Wow, your photography is simply beautiful lady. What a lovely day itenary too, I took my mum to paris for the day a few years back but we just stuck to the main touristy things- which is just what she wanted to do so it suited us down to the ground :) x

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 12, 2014 at 6:03 pm

You are far too kind! Yes you absolutely must do all the touristy things on your first visit so that sounds like a great idea – I bet you two had a wonderful time. I tried to include a lot of the tourist attractions on this walk as well as a few of the hidden secrets ;)

Nathaniel says:

February 12, 2014 at 6:40 pm

These are such great photos! I love Paris, and I seriously like your blog!

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 13, 2014 at 7:24 pm

Oh thank you so much that’s really great to hear

Sarah says:

February 13, 2014 at 1:56 pm

Coucou,

Wahou, que de jolies photos ! :D

Sarah, http://sarahmodeee.blogspot.fr/

fayebullock@live.co.uk says:

February 13, 2014 at 7:23 pm

Merci!

Asli says:

February 20, 2014 at 10:25 pm

All the favorites spots of Paris packed together! So lovely :)

Xx
Asli

http://www.zeparisienne.com

catherine in los angeles says:

October 7, 2014 at 7:36 pm

i am nearly thirty and have dreamt about visiting paris my whole life. finally going this december. staying in le marais with my boyfriend for 1 week. any suggestions on le marais?

thanks for sharing in your beautiful blog – i will check out your instagram too!

Farfelue says:

October 9, 2014 at 7:49 pm

Congratulations! Lucky you staying in le Marais! Yes absolutely le Marais is full of hidden gems such as the National Archives, Hotel de Sully and not so hidden gems such as l’Eclair de Genie, Breizh Café for crepes, Cafe Pouchkine for incredible patisseries, Place des Vosges, Victor Hugo’s house and some amazing shopping!

Cheryl Villamor says:

October 30, 2014 at 6:18 pm

What a beautifully written, photographed and informative piece! So helpful, thanks for sharing! There’s so much to learn and gather from you by the time I visit Paris again..It makes me that much more excited :-) I love all your posts, your style of photography, writing technique and pretty much everything about your website and blog! Especially, the teeny tiny specs of pink petals or is it pink star dust that periodically falls ever so ‘lightly’ down thecomputer screen – what a cute and magical touch! :-) At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! Lol ;-) Take care and have a blessed day! – From a new fan ;-)

Farfelue says:

November 3, 2014 at 2:24 pm

Thank you so much you are so sweet to write such kind words to me! I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment and share your thoughts it makes me greatly happy to hear that my blog pleases you xx