France is the most visited country in the world. A majority of those visitors are heading to Paris, the most visited city in the world, but there is much to discover for travellers who venture into the French countryside – which is defined as anywhere outside of Paris’ city limits, according to Parisians. French cuisine was the first cuisine to enter the UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a “world intangible heritage”, and French culture has been the fascination of the English speaking world since the English and French began sparring across the channel.
If I only had 24 hours in Paris, this is how I’d spend it. No Eiffel Tower, no Louvre, no Moulin Rouge. A few icons, a few shops, a few fabulous views and lots of delicious food. Morning Breakfast: I’d start my day right with a pain au chocolat at the nearest boulangerie. Nowhere has pastries like Paris. Afterwards, I’d head to Musee de l’Orangerie … Continue reading One Perfect Day in Paris
One of the most bizarre things about the beaches in the Italian and French Rivieras is that huge sections of them are roped off and come at a price. I’ve never seen a private beach club in Australia and it seems strange to me that someone can own part of the beach. It’s a smart business move, however, because most of these beaches have rocks … Continue reading Lazy days at Opera Plage Beach Club, Nice
Paris is a tough place to find decent accommodation on a budget, but now that I’ve found Hotel Eiffel Segur, I never have to worry again! Location The hotel is in Montparnasse, my favourite suburb in Paris to stay in. It’s a beautiful neighbourhood that isn’t too touristy but is in a great location for exploring the Left Bank. It’s not far from the Eiffel … Continue reading Stay in Paris: Hotel Eiffel Segur
Out of the ten cities I booked accommodation in last year, Paris was by far the trickiest. As such a popular tourist destination with plenty of great neighbourhoods to stay in, I thought it would be the easiest. I was wrong! In my experience, Italian hospitality is naturally better or more reliable than French hospitality. I loved everywhere I stayed in France, but it involved … Continue reading How to find good budget accommodation in Paris online
Wide boulevards, elegant stone buildings with gun-metal grey roofs and few buildings more than five or six stories tall. This is how we tend to think of Paris. It wasn’t until my third visit to Paris that I saw a different side to the City of Light. La Defense, technically outside the city’s limits, is Paris’ modern business district. Free of height restrictions, skyscrapers grow … Continue reading La Defense Neighbourhood Guide, Paris
The Moulin Rouge achieved international infamy decades before Nicole Kidman sashayed across the stage in Baz Luhrmann’s film of the same name. I’d seen the Moulin Rouge, but didn’t realise that The Lido was a similar cabaret in Paris until my uncle made the joke that I could work there with one of his friends, to fund my dream of living in Paris. As I’ve … Continue reading Skip the Moulin Rouge! See The Lido
Almost every day we had in Paris was beautiful and sunny, except for the day we went to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. We started the day wearing summer dresses but were shocked by a windy, miserable day when we got outside. Fifteen minutes later we’d cobbled together a vaguely warm outfit and were back on track. We started at the boulangerie on the corner with … Continue reading Postcards from a rainy day in Montmartre
I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I thought the Palace of Versailles was grand, but Paris’ Opera Garnier blows it out of the water. Every inch is a tribute to opulence. Completed in 1875 by architect Charles Garnier, Opera Garnier is Europe’s largest opera houses. It is the setting for Gaston Leyroux’s Phantom of the Opera, a famous play which is now also the longest-running show … Continue reading The Glory of Opera Garnier, Paris
Beautiful Paris offers endless possibilities for ways to spend your days, but if you need a little inspiration, look no further. This list of 50 things to do in Paris has ideas for first time visitors, and old hands alike. Tell me your suggestions in the comments! What are some of your favourite things to do Paris? What’s on your wish list? Genevieve LaurenHello! I’m … Continue reading 50 Things to Do in Paris
UPDATE: This post has been updated with useful information about where to find the best gelato in France, Italy & Greece, here. Forget your daily bread, in France & Italy it was all about the daily gelato for us! From fruity to creamy to organic, we put as much as we could to a taste test. It took our mind’s off our blistered feet, cheered … Continue reading France & Italy: The Gelato Diaries