PARIS: THREE DAYS, THREE ROUTES

Paris, the capital of fashion and art in Europe, is always entertaining and full of charm, leaving you in awe with each visit. The architectural masterpieces scattered in every corner, rich museums, refreshing parks, and the vibrant energy of the Seine River create a magical spell that draws you into the city. Paris’s culinary world is like a lively theater stage where a new play is performed every day. In this article, I’ve compiled dining spots recommended by a famous local blogger that I personally tried. However, any traveler visiting Paris is bound to be enchanted by the city’s allure. Let’s start with routes for an active exploration of Paris from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon during an extended weekend. Let’s refresh our memories.

ROUTE 1: FROM THE LOUVRE MUSEUM TO THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE

Louvre Museum (Musée de Louvre): The museum, where you can spend days exploring and trace the evolution of art from ancient times to the present, consists of eight sections: Works of Eastern Civilizations, Islamic Art, Egyptian Art, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art, paintings, sculptures, and other art elements for the modern period, as well as writings and paintings until 1848. I strongly recommend purchasing the museum entrance ticket online in advance.

Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre): Used as the main entrance to the museum, the glass pyramid, built in 1989 by American architect I. M. Pei, allows sunlight to reach the ground floor. Initially criticized for allegedly disrupting the museum’s integrity and lacking artistic value, the Louvre Pyramid is now appreciated for providing entrance to the museum without harming its historical texture. It has become a popular center for tourists to take quirky photos.

Palais Royal Gardens and Colonnes de Buren

Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries): The total area of the park located between the Louvre Museum and Concorde Square is 25 hectares. The area, originally created as the garden of the Tuileries Palace for Queen Catherine de Medici in 1564, was opened to the public in 1667. It’s worth mentioning that the Tuileries Palace was burned down during the French Revolution. Along the garden, you can find colorful flowers, walking paths, pools, and sculptures. It’s impossible not to appreciate the enjoyment of the Parisian people in the park. In the corner of Jardin des Tuileries facing Concorde Square, you’ll find the famous Orangerie Museum (You can find detailed information about it in my article where I discuss Rouen and Giverny, following the footsteps of Impressionist painters in Paris and its surroundings (You can find a detailed description in my article where I narrate Rouen and Giverny, and trace the footsteps of Impressionist painters in Paris and its suburbs.). While you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by the famous ‘Angelina Patisserie’ for a cup of hot chocolate.

Place de la Concorde: This is Paris’s largest square, built in an octagonal shape. It holds historical significance as King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and many others were guillotined here. There’s even a large obelisk brought from the Luxor Temple at this very spot. The square features statues representing French cities (Bordeaux, Brest, Lille, Nantes, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Marseille).

Avenue des Champ-Elysées: As the world’s most famous avenue, this street, stretching between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe, was created in 1667 by Louis XIV’s gardener André Le Notre to expand the view of the Tuileries Garden.

Grand Palais: Built for the 1900 World’s Fair, this palace, located just to the left at the entrance of Champs-Élysées Avenue, is renowned for its glass roof.

Petit Palais: Constructed for the same event and situated next to the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais now hosts the Paris Fine Arts Museum.

Arc de Triomphe: Located between the Louvre Museum and Grande la Defense Arch, the Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his victories. It was completed in 1836 after Napoleon’s death.

You can also add Palais Garnier (Opera House) to this itinerary after visiting the gardens. This building, constructed in the Baroque style by Charles Garnier for Emperor Napoleon, is quite impressive inside and can be explored through guided tours.

ROUTE 2: FROM MUSÉE D’ORSAY TO HÔTEL DE VILLE

We start our day by crossing from Concorde Square to the opposite shore, using the most glamorous bridge in the city, Pont Alexandre III.

Musée d’Orsay: Situated within a former train station on the banks of the Seine River, this museum was built in 1900. The building, abandoned in 1961, was transformed into a museum in 1978 by President Giscard d’Estaing. It hosts a magnificent collection of Impressionist paintings and Art Nouveau furniture. The museum’s ground floor includes a section dedicated to Orientalist painters, featuring a painting by Osman Hamdi Bey. When you purchase your Musée d’Orsay ticket in advance, you can easily explore the museum without wasting time. While touring, it’s hard not to lament about how a train station could be repurposed so effectively. Buying museum tickets in advance is a clear time-saver, and since you can take a train from the station outside Musée d’Orsay to Versailles Palace, combining the two makes for a delightful full-day program.

Les Invalides: Built in 1671 by Louis XIV as a refuge for the sick and war veterans, this building also houses the tomb of Napoleon.

 Jardin du Luxembourg: Located near Sorbonne University, this park is known as the most popular park in Paris.

Pantheon: In 1744, Louis XV fell seriously ill and promised to build a church for St. Genevieve if he recovered. After his recovery, he built this church in place of the Abbey Sainte Genevieve, known as the Pantheon. Accessible by two hundred and six steps, the dome offers a breathtaking view of Paris. The Pantheon also houses the Foucault pendulum.

Pont Neuf: We will use this bridge to reach the Île de la Cité, one of the two islands on the Seine River. On the island, you’ll find Place Dauphine, established in 1607 by the decision of Henry IV, and the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris: A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Notre-Dame Cathedral was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Inside the cathedral, you can see collections of jewelry, sculptures, paintings, furniture, medals, and stained glass windows dating back to the 12th century.

Sıfır Noktası (Zero Point): Located just in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and considered the city’s center, this point was historically used to calculate the distance of other cities to Paris. Nowadays, tourists climb to the top, rotate 360 degrees around their axis, and make a wish at this spot.

Hôtel de Ville-City Hall: One of the most beautiful buildings in the city, especially noteworthy for the changing light on its roof and towers during sunset. From here, you can walk to another beautiful park, Place des Vosges, or end your day with artistic touches at the Centre Pompidou. If you want to start the day with a beautiful Parisian-style breakfast, the famous Benedict should be your first choice. After breakfast, you can reverse this route.

Centre Pompidou: Built in 1969 on the suggestion of President Georges Pompidou to dedicate a place to modern art in Paris. A total of 650 projects participated in the design competition, and the project by Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano, and Gianfranco Franchini won. The building is not just different; it is itself a work of art. The red staircase placed diagonally along the exterior adds a unique touch to the building. Inside, there is a museum, bookstore, cinema, and a panoramic terrace. The museum houses around 59,000 modern art pieces from the 20th century, including works by Matisse, Kandinsky, Miró, and Picasso. The museum also has a large play area for children to enjoy while you explore the exhibits. The pool right next to the museum is also quite enticing for them.

ROUTE 3: THE CHOICE IS YOURS…

The choice is yours among Sacré-Cœur Basilica or the Eiffel Tower.

Montmartre Hill and Sacré-Cœur Basilica: The most beautiful view of Paris can be seen from this hill, which is home to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. One of the main features of this hill is hosting artists.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica: This Roman Catholic church and small basilica are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you choose Montmartre Hill and Sacré-Cœur, you can start your day with a delightful Sunday brunch at Buvette.

Eiffel Tower: Although disliked by Parisians, the tower is the symbol of Paris and the most visited tourist attraction in the world. Built by Gustave Eiffel’s company between 1887 and 1889, it served as the entrance gate for the Expo 1889 Paris fair, organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The architects of the tower are Stephen Sauvestre and Emile Nouguier. Cemal Süreya once likened Paris to a corseted letter ‘A.’

Trocadéro: A tourist square in Paris famous for its fountain-filled pools, offering a view of the Eiffel Tower. Parisians who are not fond of the tower often avoid visiting this square.

FOOD and DRINK

Derrière-The surprises of its decor are beyond description; explore every room, every door, every closet—what surprise awaits behind each door is unpredictable. I love every aspect of it, especially their mouthwatering floating island dessert.

Ober Mamma-The pinnacle of Italian flavors. With an open kitchen, homemade pastas, and a fantastic ambiance, it stands out. The interior decoration, especially in the inner section, is quite unique. They don’t take reservations, so it’s advisable to go early and wait in line. Everything is excellent, but I particularly recommend their homemade truffle pasta served in a copper pot; you’ll want to savor every bit, even licking the bottom of the pot when it’s finished.

Alcazar- A place that serves both as a restaurant and a bar, predominantly offering French flavors. It’s definitely worth the Money.

La Jacobine– My favorite for onion soup. Finding a spot in this tiny place within a passage, perfect for a lunchtime meal, isn’t always easy, so I recommend not waiting until very late.