Paris Travel: 5 Things To do When you Have No Itinerary

There's SO much I can say about the beautiful Parisian city, I almost don't know where to start.  But I can say I fell in love.  I've always admired from afar the architecture, Parisian sense of style, and the overall energy of the city.  I feel so lucky to have actually experienced this in person. 

Because there's so much, I'm breaking down my Paris trip in a 2 part series!  Today I'm sharing 6 most memorable things we did.

Do you ever travel without an agenda?  Without a check list of places to go?  We did not have an itinerary to follow for the most part.  What we did do though, is once we checked into our Airbnb, we wrote down a few places as a starting point for the day.  Then we went from there.  But we went about our days without expectations.  I almost prefer this way of traveling.  What about you?  Do you like to plan out your trips or go with the flow?  

Either way, here are 6 things things you can consider doing if you're like me, and didn't plan beforehand, ha! 

1.  Walk the City

I never thought I'd say this, but I was so excited to walk.  Coming from LA you get so used to driving everywhere, you think walking down the street to the grocery store is a hassle.  But not in Paris.  By walking, you get to actually see the architecture, the ornate details of every building, people walking, sit down at a cafe, and be a part of the everyday Parisian people.  I recommend taking the metro to be able to visit more areas, but walk as much as you can. 

2.  Angelina 

If you want a Parisian restaurant experience, have lunch at Angelina (or brunch or dinner, of course).  I've actually never heard of Angelina until my travel sister mentioned it.  But when I looked it up, I was so excited to see the interior and try their famous Mont Blanc!  The restaurant is over 100 years old and is the epitome of what a Parisian restaurant would look like.  To be honest, I was more excited about the interior, than the food :p That's not to say the food wasn't good though - the roasted sea bass fillet I had, was well prepared, juicy, and tasty.  But I'd have to say, the Mont Blanc was my favorite and I would return for these.  They also retail chocolates (which they're known for), teas, confectionaries, and other delicatessen products.

3.  Rent a bike

When in Paris, ride a bike through the city.  This was one of the scariest things I did while we were there. I was so scared at the thought of going through the streets of an unfamiliar place, riding only inches away from cars... I almost didn't do it.  But ended up being the most fun and exhilarating activities we did. Sounds so cliche but there's nothing like the wind blowing through your hair and taking in the beauty of the city, being uncomfortable but comfortable all at the same time. 

4.  Musee Carnavalet

Musee Carnavalet was the one place both Lara and I really wanted to visit.  We saw photos on Instagram and knew we had to get a few photos of our own!  Nestled in Le Marais, this museum is dedicated to showcasing the history of the city.  The day we went, admission was free, so we scored there!  I actually loved how intimate this museum was.  It was a smaller museum, packed with history.  My favorite was the courtyard.  I could sit in the courtyard forever...!

5.  Stroll the La Seine Area

One of my favorite things we did was take a (long) walk along La Seine. La Seine is "The River" where you can take your time to stroll, rest at a cafe, visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame, take a boat ride, or walk across Ponte Alexandre III.  Pretty much wherever you end up, there's scenery to admire and something to do.  HIGHLY recommended!    

6.  The Louvre

Not to be such a sap, but the magnificence of the Louvre really got to me when I saw this place in person.  Pictures don't do justice at all and I won't forget how I felt.  We came when it was about to close, so we didn't get to explore the inside, but because of how big it is, you would probably need a whole day inside!  But even if you don't have time to go inside, it's totally worth it to visit for the outside!

Je t'aime Paris, I'll be back

There's so much more (to do) to Paris, but you'll just need to get there to experience it firsthand ;)  Can't wait to be back in my favorite city and explore more.

Au Revoir!