Paris Bucket List
1. Palais de Versailles // 2. Buy something from le Bon Marché // 3. Eat croissants for breakfast // 4. Marvel at the Mona Lisa // 5. Attach a padlock to Pont des Arts // 6. Watch the sunset over Place de la Concorde // 7.Chocolat Chaud from Angelina // 8. Go to the Opéra // 9. Eat an omelette from Café de Flore // 10. Guided tour on the back of a moped //11. Ride on a carousel // 12. Vélib around Paris // 13. Picnic along the Seine // 14. Eat macarons // 15. Buy a pair of Repetto ballet flats // 16. Stay out until 5am to watch the sunrise over the skyline //17. Visit a mini chateau in the centre of Paris // 18. Visit a chateau outside of Paris // 19. French pharmacy haul // 20. Ride shotgun on the metro // 21. Flirt with a French waiter // 22. Watch the Champs-Elysées from the Ferris Wheel // 23. Drink coffee in Paris’ smallest cafe // 24. La Tour Eiffel //
1. PALAIS DE VERSAILLES
The Palais de Versailles is as magical in reality as depicted in the Marie Antoinette film. A visit to this palace would be a dream come true for nearly every girl.
2. BUY SOMETHING FROM LE BON MARCHE
The oldest department store in Paris and by far the fanciest. It has become a rite of passage to ride the famous escalator and to stare wide eyed at the impossibly chic Parisians updating their wardrobes with the latest trends.
3. EAT CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST
If you’re on a no-carb diet, it simply must go out the window when you’re in Paris. It would be a sin not to try their deliciously flaky and buttery croissants for breakfast. Two of the best are the Ispahan from Pierre Hermé and the vanilla one from Café Pouchkine.
4. MARVEL AT THE MONA LISA
Get your culture fix at the most impressive museum in Paris and watch the Mona Lisa smile at you across the room. That being said, if you can see her behind the herds of tourists and their cameras.
5. ATTACH A PADLOCK TO PONT DES ARTS
A recent tradition in Paris which has boomed and consequently resulted in a bridge which is extremely over-crowded in padlocks. If you can find a free space, cement your love for your partner by engraving a padlock and then throwing the key into the Seine.
6. WATCH THE SUNRISE OVER PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
Any spot will do, as long as the Eiffel Tower can be seen somewhere in the distance.
7. CHOCOLAT CHAUD FROM ANGELINA
Notorious for the best hot chocolate in Paris, but its the exquisite interior which makes Angelina unique to other chocolatiers.
8. GO TO THE OPERA
Watch a ballet or an opera performance at the Palais Garnier and be stunned not only by the performance but by the gold adorned décor which is breathtaking. If you don’t get the chance to go by night, then entrance can be obtained by day as a tourist.
9. EAT AN OMELETTE AT CAFE DE FLORE
Café de Flore is where all of the poets and philosophers used to flock to write and be inspired. Order a café crème and one of their signature fluffy omelettes.
10. GUIDED TOUR ON THE BACK OF A MOPED
Has anyone watched the old-school film, Passport to Paris? This pretty much says it all. Find a cute Frenchman and live out your teenage fantasy of letting him show you around Paris on the back of his moped in true Mary-Kate and Ashley style.
11. RIDE A CAROUSEL
As childlike as it may seem, riding on one of Paris’ many carousels is a pretty fun way to loose your inhibition. Pick up some barbe à papa (candy floss or Daddy’s beard as the French call it) for the full experience.
12. VELIB AROUND PARIS
The best way to see Paris is by bike, a tad scary but as long as you stay away from the enormous roundabouts you’ll be alright. With a system as effective as the vélib public bikes, it really couldn’t be easier.
13. PICNIC ALONG THE SEINE
Pop to the local boulangerie for a baguette, fromagerie for cheese and marchand de vin for wine and you’ll be all set for one of the best picnics of your life. Head to the bridge under Pont Neuf for the most idyllic spot.
14. EAT MACARONS
Because a trip to Paris simply wouldn’t be complete without a few of these mouthfuls of heaven.
15. BUY A PAIR OF REPETTO BALLET FLATS
Because every girl dreams of walking the streets of Paris in Brigitte Bardot’s favourite shoes.
16. WATCH THE SUNRISE OVER THE SKYLINE
Stay out dancing until dawn, drink champagne and maybe a mojito or two. Leave the club when it’s still just about dark outside, hop on the metro to Montmartre and watch the sunrise over the city. It’s pretty phenomenal and might end up being one of your most memorable nights (or mornings) in Paris.
17. VISIT A MINI CHATEAU IN THE CENTER OF PARIS
Not everyone knows that there is in fact a mini chateau within the périphérique of Paris. Nestled within the 16th arrondissement, the Chateau de Bagatelle has so much more to offer than the charm of a castle, it has pagodas, peacocks and the most beautiful rose garden.
18. VISIT A CHATEAU OUTSIDE OF PARIS
There is an abundance of Chateaux just outside of Paris, and you would’t expect anything less from a country as rich in culture as France. It’s as simple as picking your favourite and planning a day-trip.
19. FRENCH PHARMACY HAUL
French cosmetics have long been hailed by models, actresses and make-up artists and nowhere stocks them as high or sells them as cheap as the French pharmacies do. The best but also the busiest can be found in St Germain along rue du Four.
20. RIDE SHOTGUN ON THE METRO
It’ll feel as though your riding a roller coaster into oblivion. It may take a couple of drinks to work up the courage to ask the driver, but if you ask nicely and bat your eyelashes I’m sure he won’t say no.
21. FLIRT WITH A FRENCH WAITER
When in France…
22. RIDE ON THE FERRIS WHEEL
Unlike the London Eye, this ferris wheel isn’t permanent. If you’re lucky enough to catch it, make sure to take it for great views towards the iconic Champs-Elysées.
23. DRINK COFFEE IN PARIS’ SMALLEST CAFE
Tiny in size yet huge in reputation, this shoe repair shop tuned cafe makes a stellar cup of coffee.
24. LA TOUR EIFFEL
Of course a bucket list in Paris would not be complete without her majesty, the Iron Lady.
25. JUMP INTO THE SEINE
Has nobody else ever dreamed of following in the crazy whims of Jane Birkin? Sadly this is the only one that I am yet to tick off..
I’d love to hear your suggestions if there’s anything I’ve missed that’s on your Paris bucket-lists.
Valentina says:
April 10, 2015 at 3:20 pm
a run early morning at Blv Richard Lenoir and Canal St. Martin…
Farfelue says:
April 17, 2015 at 2:29 pm
Brilliant idea – thank you for your input
Carina says:
April 14, 2015 at 11:04 am
I miss Paris terribly. I ache for the day when I can return and tick more of these off of my list
xx Carina
Farfelue says:
April 17, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Ah I know I feel like I need to make a new one so that I have more things to tick off – it feels like quite an accomplishment ticking one off at a time – I hope you make it back soon x