Paris is renowned as the city of love, lights, and elegance, celebrated for its culture, architecture, and timeless charm.
For many, Paris feels like a sophisticated lady – elegant and mysterious. For me personally, Paris means self-love, discovering my own style, and the opening of a new world.

After living here for a year and a half, I’ve moved from the true heart of Paris in the 19th arrondissement near Belleville and the stunning Parc des Buttes Chaumont to the trendy and central Marais district in the 3rd arrondissement.
Here's a local take on the best parts of Paris.

Museums

The city is overflowing with museums and cultural heritage buildings to visit – my list still seems endless. Besides the iconic Louvre or Musée des Arts Décoratifs, here are some lesser-known gems like the Musée Rodin or the Giacometti Institute.
A small tip: if you’re under 26 and an EU citizen, many museums are free or have student discounts.

Le Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
A contemporary take on a traditional natural history museum is the small Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. Expect the unexpected, like a wild boar dressed in a ballerina tutu or an owl cabinet that has Harry Potter vibes.

Musée de l’Orangerie
A quieter alternative to the Louvre but with the same grandeur. Monet’s Water Lilies are here, painted directly onto the walls, and displayed in an oval room which is designed by Claude Monet himself solely for l’Orangerie. They also have interesting temporary exhibitions in the basement by modern artists. Even with many visitors, it remains just magical.

Musée Albert Kahn
Located at the city's edge, this mystical museum blends nature and photography. The gardens, from hobbit-like forests to serene Japanese landscapes, are a journey through Albert Kahn’s life and travels. A perfect escape from the city's bustle.

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Musée de l’Orangerie — Musée Quai - Branly Building

Food & Café

I’m often asked if it’s difficult to be vegan in Paris, and honestly: no, as long as you’re open-minded! There are fantastic restaurants, and you can always find something, even if the options might be a bit limited sometimes. My recommendations work for all kinds of eaters, but if you’re vegan and spending more time in Paris, you shouldn’t miss Aujourd'hui Demain for brunch, Bloom Sushi for vegan fish sushi, B.BETTER for a delicious dinner or Faubourg Demain for a very fancy and delicious vegan experience. Definitely worth a visit!

Rue Saint Anne
A paradise for Asian cuisine lovers. Whether you’re craving ramen, dumplings, or Korean BBQ (even vegan), you’ll find it here.
Finish off with a sweet treat from Aki Boulangerie.

Mao Dumpling Bar
Known for its dumplings, but the best dishes here are the pak choi and eggplant, served with a simple bowl of rice.
A perfectly balanced meal, especially with some Dumplings that Mao is known for.

Café des Anges
A quintessentially French café, perfect for a weekend brunch/lunch/coffee-situation. They even offer vegetarian and vegan options, which is not that common at typically french places and the autumn risotto is particularly delicious. Friends of mine also swear on the mussels here at Café des Anges.

Land & Monkey’s
My go-to vegan boulangerie with locations across the city is definitely L&M.
The Mimosa Sandwich with vegan scrambled egg and bacon on brioche, the Chimp Cookie with caramelized pistachio cream,
and of course, a Pain au Chocolat for those indulgent Paris moments (yes, like Emily in Paris, even if we don’t want to admit it).

Drinks

A Parisian night out often involves long hours at a brasserie. You’ll find them on every corner, always packed.
Whether inside or bundled up outside, enjoying a glass of Chablis is essential in my opinion.

Madame Simone
Great cocktails, friendly bartenders, and live music in a cozy atmosphere. If it’s too crowded here at Madame Simone, nearby Bambino is also a good option.

Griffon
A bar that just feels like a huge living room with friends. In the summer, their courtyard is ideal to spend the whole evening. They serve tapas and have a really good wine selection. Sometimes Griffon even transforms into a club with a DJ later in the evening.

Le Progrès
My all-time favorite bar is Le Progrès – The bartenders are always cool, and even when it’s packed, they’ll find you a spot if you ask nicely. Perfect for people-watching, especially during Fashion Week.

Architecture

The Haussmann architecture throughout the city center of Paris is generally an architectural journey of discovery. Just letting yourself wander and taking in the architecture, street structure and romantic corners is the most beautiful experience, and you definitely shouldn't miss these spots if you're in the area anyway.

Centre Pompidou
Renzo Piano's modernist masterpiece is closing soon for at least five years, so don’t miss it if you are here soon. Its bold, color-coded architecture reveals the building's inner workings in a very futuristic way. Centre Pompidou is a cultural centre with a cinema, an exhibition and a great view from the top floor.

Fondation Louis Vuitton
Whether you love or hate Gehry's work, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is a must-see in Paris if you have the time to visit. The museum and the exhibitions inside are equally impressive and usually cover major retrospectives of artists.

Passarelle Simone de Beauvoir
An elegant modern pedestrian bridge connecting the National Library to the Parc de Bercy. It’s a great spot for a quiet stroll over the Seine and architecturally outstanding.

Centre Pompidou — the Seine

Stroll & Explore

What applies to architecture is the same for getting to know the whole city. Letting yourself drift through Paris and deciding intuitively where to go next is truly the most beautiful way to explore. Also aside just walking through the streets in the Marais from the 3rd to Place des Vosges in the 4th Arrondissement or Montmartre (18th Arrondissement), you can aim for these spots to enjoy a nice little stroll and see some special places.

2nd Arrondissement
From the Seine, walk across the Louvre square along the glass pyramids to the Palais Royal, sit down and translate the romantic poetic expressions on the benches, with a chai from Café Kintsuné in your hand. From there, continue on to the Bibliothéque Richelieu and take a look at the Salle Richelieu, before heading to the Gallerie Vivienne and from there drifting through the various passages or in a different direction.

5th Arrondissement
Cross the Seine to the Jardin des Plantes and enjoy an abundance of flowers and cultivated plants in summer. Don't miss the beautiful greenhouses and on less warm days you can also go to the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, which tells the story of the animals like an ark. Behind the botanical garden is the Grand Mosque, which is absolutely unmissable, as the oriental tiles, textiles and shapes are very inspiring and impressive.

19th Arrondissement
A very personal recommendation if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and slow down a little is the Buttes Chaumont park, where you can discover the heights and depths of this park along the organically shaped paths and bridges. From there you can walk to Belleville, where there are great little Asian restaurants and lots of bars. I would particularly recommend Les Bols de Antoine for vegan food and Kissproof or le Discobar for a drink at the evening.

3rd Arrondissement - Haute Marais
Finally, I have to share with you my personal favorite walk that I do at least once a week in my neighborhood. It starts with a matcha from ARAKU, a smoothie from Wild & The Moon or something to eat from Marché des Enfants Rouge, from there I walk down Rue de Bretagne to Square du Temple - Elie Wiesel and sit on a bench, to watch people play chess on tables made for it and soon continue along The Broken Arm, where there are extremely cool and unpayable but worth seeing designer items and then towards a more affordable and my absolute favorite second-hand store Bobby (the one at 168 Rue de Temple). On the way back you can pop into the Ofr. librairie and browse through the coffee-table books and magazines.

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Musée Quai + Eiffel Tower — Buttes Chaumont park

Shops

Besides the huge, long-established department stores like Printemps or Le Samaritaine, there are countless small boutiques and vintage shops scattered all over Paris. You’re always discovering something new, and these shops are my go-to’s.

Merci
Situated in a hidden courtyard, Merci is a concept store par excellence. Three floors of the best curated fashion, beauty, books, and interiors. The scent of Merci greets you as you walk in, and I actually now even associate it with Paris itself. Whether you’re shopping for a special gift or just browsing, you’ll always find something here.

Yvon Lambert
A minimalist-designed store filled with very special art and design books. You could spend hours here, and you’ll likely run into some interesting people visiting the gallery behind. They also host readings and events sometimes at Yvon Lambert.

Nose
For scent lovers, Nose is a dream. Explore unique, niche fragrances, and get a little bit for just a few euros (or sometimes for free) – They’ll bottle a sample that lasts far longer than expected.

Sézane
Known for its romantic, feminine style, the clothes at Sézane embody the effortless chic that Parisians are known for.

Bobby / Kiliwatch (both in the 2. Arrondissement)
My absolute favorite second-hand stores: Bobby has two stores in Paris, in the 3rd and 2nd arrondissement and there was a time when I didn't go out of here without buying something because they have such a great curated selection and I just fell in love with pieces and had to buy them. Kiliwatch is a bit more affordable and bigger - you have to search and rummage a bit, but they also have a great selection and you can find some real treasures here. The silk scarves here are particularly beautiful and I also like to give them as gifts.

Paris

Paris is renowned as the city of love, lights, and elegance, celebrated for its culture, architecture, and timeless charm. For many, Paris feels like a sophisticated lady – elegant and mysterious. For me personally, Paris means self-love, discovering my own style, and the opening of a new world.

After living here for a year and a half, I’ve moved from the true heart of Paris in the 19th arrondissement near Belleville and the stunning Parc des Buttes Chaumont to the trendy and central Marais district in the 3rd arrondissement. Here's a local take on the best parts of Paris.