We met in a November and went on our very first adventure together to Paris for Valentine’s Day, so it feels only right that we’d return all these years later to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary – almost 21 years on! Of course, we’ve been back to Paris a few times in between, and I think every visit just makes us fall a little bit more in love with the city.
This time around, we mix things up and stay on the Left Bank in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in the 6th arrondissement. It’s such a great area, full of gorgeous little cafés, bars, and restaurants, and incredibly easy to get around either on foot or by public transport. We stay in a signature room at Hôtel Artus, and love both the space and the quirky décor. It feels stylish without trying too hard – how very Paris!
One of the things I love most about Paris is just how walkable it is. You can easily stroll from one side of the city to the other in about an hour. We make our way to the Eiffel Tower and briefly toy with the idea of going up… but between the surprisingly wild weather (blue sky, freezing wind) and our lack of forward planning when it comes to tickets, we decide against it so this selfie will have to do!
The Eiffel Tower is really just a waypoint because our actual destination is the Secret Wine Door for a wine and cheese tasting and it’s quite the experience. We taste five wines paired with matching cheeses, guided by our wonderful host, Erwan. Along the way, we learn loads about French wine and pick up a few insights into French life in general. Two hours absolutely fly by and it’s time very well spent.
On our very first trip to Paris together, we took a boat cruise and loved it so much that we can’t resist doing it again. We actually tried to book one when we were here in May, but everything was sold out. One of the perks of visiting Paris in February is that it’s noticeably quieter (at least by Paris standards). Cruising up and down the Seine for about an hour is such a lovely way to see the city from a different perspective – gliding past landmarks like the Institut de France, which is home to some of France’s most prestigious academies and looks especially majestic from the water.
Is a visit to Paris even a visit to Paris if you don’t see Notre Dame?! After the devastating fire in 2019, it’s been wonderful to see the cathedral carefully restored, and it has now reopened to visitors – it’s still as busy as ever. Even after more than 850 years, it remains one of Paris’s most iconic and popular landmarks.
We walk through the Louvre, which is always busy no matter what the season. Even if you’re not heading inside, just wandering through the courtyards and soaking up the atmosphere is an experience in itself – the place has a real buzz.
We take a wander through the Jardin des Tuileries. The gardens have been part of Paris life since the 1500s and I can imagine they’d be absolutely spectacular in the sunshine. The weather doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm though and this statue ends up being my favourite.
From there, we stroll up the Champs-Élysées and make our way to the Arc de Triomphe, which never fails to impress. In fact, we have a photo of the two of us from our first trip in this exact spot!
Here it is for old time’s sake! Look at us, we were just bebes!
Even if shopping isn’t really your thing, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is absolutely worth a visit. If nothing else, go to admire the incredible dome (or coupole). Built in 1893, this architectural masterpiece rises 33 metres above the designer labels below and is genuinely breathtaking. If you’re feeling brave (I’m not,) there’s also the Glasswalk – a 9-metre glass walkway suspended 16 metres in the air. It’s free, but you do need to book ahead.
We then head up to the rooftop terrace on the 8th floor (also free, no ticket required) for one of the best panoramic views in Paris. From up there, it feels like a roll call of iconic Paris landmarks with sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Sacré-Cœur – what a treat. I bet this would be incredible at sunset.
We can’t leave without a wander through the souvenir and gift department on the 6th floor. Like everything else in the store, it’s stylish and well curated – full of chic Parisian souvenirs, sweets, and treats. It’s definitely a step up from your average souvenir shop, with prices to match but not wildly so. Bonus points too for the bathrooms: clean, decent, and free (the latter is such a rarity in Paris!)
There’s something special about revisiting familiar places – from world-famous landmarks to quiet garden walks and rooftop views – Paris feels familiar yet full of surprises. Revisiting places we’ve loved for years and seeing them through the lens of a different trip and a different season makes our anniversary stay feel especially memorable. One thing is certain, Paris is always a good idea!
Have you ever returned to a place that meant something special to you and did it feel different the second (or third) time around? If you were planning a trip to Paris, what would be at the top of your list?
