Getting Lost in Paris: A Guide

Paris is a city made for losing yourself in. That much, it seems, hasn’t changed since the 1970s, when my dad landed there during a hitch-hiking tour through Europe in his 20s. Since then he and so many a travel writer-turned travel blogger-turned travel Instagrammer have waxed poetic about the joy of wandering aimlessly through the city of light.

There are numerous ways to explore Europe’s most romantic city sustainably without missing out on its je ne sais quoi. Below are some of the favorite attractions I visited, and some ways I kept my carbon footprint minimal while I traveled.

book a walking or running tour of paris

Not only is exercise a great way to shake off jet lag, going for a run is one of my favorite ways to orient and ground myself in a new city. In Paris, I met up with Andrea from RunRunTours for an emission-free tour of the city lights at night, just after Christmas! Seeing the Louvre at this time of night was magical and free of the usual crowds. We also saw the holiday decorations in the shop windows at Galerie Lafayette (even more magical than Macy’s in NYC - a must-see at Christmas!), lighted trees along Avenue des Champs-Élysées and ended at a Christmas Market for mulled wine and french chocolates! If running isn’t your thing (totally get it), a walking tour is another great low-emissions way to see the city.

opt to stay in town

Versailles is certainly on my list of places I’d like see at some point, but it requires travel outside the city and takes about a day. A great way to get get a taste of Versailles while staying local (and thus minimizing carbon emissions) is to visit the Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera Theatre. It was designed to mimic the hall of mirrors, so visiting Garnier let’s you get a taste of Versailles without the day trip!

Palais Garnier

avoid crowds at Musée de l’orangerie

I didn’t want to spend a whole day waiting in line for the Louvre, followed by the hours I would need to explore it (one day…) my sister who had previously been to the city suggested the Musée de l’Orangerie, a smaller museum instead. I’m so glad I went! Just outside the museum is a large fountain surrounded by neoclassical white-stone sculptures (a place I imagine would be perfect for a coffee and croissant picnic in warmer months). The museum itself features eight of Monet’s giant lily pond paintings, each taking up its own wall. You could stare at these for hours and keep finding something new, all while being transported to that morning, afternoon or evening by the lily pond. In addition to the Monets, a downstairs gallery featured another one of my favorites, Georges Seurat. I’ve stared at his Sunday In The Park at the Art Institute in Chicago so many times, it was a treat to see this other work, which spanned from earlier in his career to later, highlighting how he slowly perfected his post-impressionist pointillism technique through the years.

support local - attend a real, parisian dinner party

As part of my continued effort to support local businesses when traveling, paired with my continued effort to eat the best food possible when traveling, I ended up finding a truly special dining experience with Frenchytaste. Helmed by 2012 Masterchef winner, Chef Jean-Yves, diners are treated to a multi-course meal with wine pairings in the basement of the Chef’s Parisian apartment. Our dinner table included travelers from Denver, LA, Germany, Canada, Portugal and Paris! His food combines techniques from his French and Vietnamese/Southeast Asian heritage, and Chef gives notes about each course as it is served, including what inspired it and how best to enjoy each bite. I was in HEAVEN.

shop vintage in le marais

Is there any better response to “where’d you get your shirt??” than “oh this? I got it from a vintage shop in Paris.” Certainly not! It’s trés chic and trés sustainable. For the best vintage shops in the city, head to the neighborhood of Le Marais. I spent hours wandering the streets here, my most aimless afternoon, and I’m so glad I allowed that time to explore and shop at a leisurely pace. While strolling around and picking up several special, second-hand pieces, I also had plenty of time to stop whenever I was cold or a bit tired and sit at a cafe for a cup of tea or glass of wine. Even in the winter weather, sitting outside wasn’t a problem thanks to the space heaters. The only issue was the occasional smoker who sat beside me, wafting cigarette smoke into my otherwise perfect, people-watching view. PRO TIP: the modern art museum, Centre Pompidou, is in the neighborhood and the rooftop is a great place to catch the sunset over the city, and watch as twinkling lights take over the city at night!

Le Marais

enjoy a sunset from montmarte and sacre coeur

Montmarte is a magical neighborhood located high on a hill overlooking the city. It’s the site of Picasso’s former apartment (and the raging, absinthe fueled parties he had there in gilded age Paris) as well as the beautiful Sacre Coeur cathedral. Take time to wander around in the afternoon - there are lots of great shops for picking up gifts for your family and friends - before stopping into Sacre Coeur to meditate, or simply pause and reflect on your trip. If you time it right, like I serendipitously did, upon leaving the cathedral you’ll be greeted by views of Paris sprawled out before you at Golden Hour, and you can stay to watch the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower.

Sacre Coeur Cathedral

most importantly, follow your intuition

Perhaps the most important lesson Paris teaches you is finding your own joie de vivre. By making time to simply wander about, stopping to eat and drink whatever it is you have the taste for, you get more and more in tune with your personal GPS. You feel more and more guided by your heart, and the things that bring you joy. One of my favorite memories was after a morning run to see the Eiffel Tower, I happened upon a local market just as it was opening for the day and decided to buy myself a fresh, juicy pear - maybe the best pear I ever tasted given the thirsty state I was in. The goal is, by flexing this self-guiding muscle in Paris, you can strengthen it, take it home with you and experience that joy of life wherever it is you end up next.