Girls Trip to Paris: Planning the Ultimate Visit with Your Besties

Paris has everything a girl could want: amazing sights, delicious food, fancy bars, and shopping to die for. Here are our favorite Parisian spots to take the girls.

Published: July 17, 2024
Girls trip to Paris

While Paris may be one of the most romantic places in the world, it's also one of the best cities to escape to with the girls. It's got everything: amazing sights, food, shopping and it's a great excuse to brush up on that French you learned one semester but never picked back up again. Here's everything you need to know about planning a girls trip to Paris.

Girl at Eiffel Tower

The French capital is teeming with gorgeous architectural sights, museums, and day trips prime for a girls' trip to Paris. Even if you aren't a culture vulture, the Louvre Museum is a must-visit on any list with thousands of artworks - including some of our favorite women: the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

What to see in Paris

The French capital is teeming with gorgeous architectural sights, museums and day trips prime for a girls trip to Paris. Even if you aren't a culture vulture, the Louvre Museum is a must-visit on any list with thousands of artworks - including some of our favorite women: the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

cozy-street-tables-cafe-paris-france

For a change of pace, the grand Palace of Versailles is ideal for channeling your inner Marie Antoinette and exploring its breathtaking Hall of Mirrors (a site that'll interest any avid history buffs in your group). Naturally, you're going to want to visit all the postcard-perfect attractions and get the ultimate Paris Instagram shots: think the Eiffel Tower, Arc de TriompheNotre Dame CathedralOpera Garnier...

Girl at Eiffel Tower

If you're strapped for time though, it's worth considering a guided tour that'll whizz you through the city's highlights without having to figure out the metro. The Hop On Hop Off Big Bus tour is one of the most popular and will take you from Notre Dame to Trocadero, with nine stops along the way and an open top to enjoy those crisp summer days. 

The Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise is also a great shout and only an hour long - you'll sail along the Seine and see Paris' most beautiful sights including Tuileries Garden, and the Louvre. You're bound to score the ultimate Eiffel Tower shot from the Seine.

Shopping in Paris

cozy-street-flower-shop-paris-france

Paris is undoubtedly one of the most stylish cities in the world. There's something for everybody, from its gigantic flagship designer stores to the wealth of vintage clothing tucked away in nondescript shops. For those looking for luxury, Saint-Honoré is lined with French masters like Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and more.

Thrifters and vintage hunters can find some real treasures at Paris' wealth of dedicated stores. Bargain hunters should make a path for the city's depots-vente, secondhand stores which count the brilliant Chercheminippes chain and hot pink Sissi's Corner amongst its ranks. Discerning minds can hunt for designer pieces in Kiliwatch Paris and the Rose Market Boutique, which line their racks with labels like Chanel and Givenchy.

Woman looking at shops in Paris

Not super into fashion? Colette, a big concept store, is always packed with exciting and chic pieces ranging from homeware to tech. The city's also packed with stunning markets - foodies can get their fill at Bastille Market while the sprawling Marches aux Puces de St-Ouen is a flea market you'll never forget.

Where to eat and drink

cozy-street-tables-cafe-paris

And onto arguably the most important part of this guide, where to get involved in Paris' amazing culinary scene. Do as the Parisians do and grab a street-side table at one of its many cafés, pop by Angelina with its world-famous hot chocolate and visit literary favourite Les Deaux Magots which counted Simone de Beauvoir, James Joyce and Pablo Picasso amongst its fans.

Classic French cuisine doesn't get any better than the picturesque Le Train Bleu, a restaurant housed in the former Gare de Lyon train station, or the ultra-cool Le Chateaubriand which you'll have to book in advance for. Steak frites don't get much better than at Relais d'Entrecote and for those with a sweet tooth, Pierre Hermé's macarons or the adventurous eclairs at L'Atelier de l'Eclairs.

Patisseries in Paris

If it's a glorious sunny day, grab some artisan cheese from Bastille Market, a baguette from one of Paris' many boulangeries, and a bottle of wine and find yourself a cozy picnic spot in one of Paris' many green spaces which undoubtedly will be full of others with the same idea. After dinner, swing by cozy rooftop bar Le Perchoir for champagne and views over the city at night.

For cocktail lovers, the Experimental Cocktail Bar does exactly what it says on the tin and is arguably one of the most beautiful spots in the city for a drink. For those ready to take a hen party to the next level, the nightlife in Paris is incredible: you'll be able to dance the night away on a boat at Batofar, join the hipsters at ultra-cool Wanderlust or slip into one of the city's most iconic clubs Rex Club for a marathon night.

We hope this inspired you to take your next girls' trip to Paris! So much to do, so little time...

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Megan Hills
Paris Travel Expert

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Things to See and Do in Paris City Center

Paris city center is bursting with amazing sights and sounds - your trip to one of the world’s most beautiful cities will be truly memorable. The French capital is made up of 20 arrondissements (districts), but we’re going to focus on the first seven as they make up the true city center and offer a wide variety of things to see and do. The arrondissements were created by Emperor Napoleon III in 1860, with the 1st arrondissement situated in the historic center of the city. The rest of the arrondissements curl around and outwards like a spiral – each one with its own distinct ‘flavor’ and attractions. Read on for our guide to the best things to see and do in the city of love and light. Arrondissement 1 is elegant and regal At the center of what was originally the seat of royal power, you’ll find elegance and grandeur. It’s home to the Palais Royal and the world-famous Louvre, the largest art museum in the world. Be sure to visit the beautiful Tuileries Gardens and check out the rather upmarket Vendôme Square. The Pont Neuf bridge is also located in this arrondissement. Although the name means ‘new bridge’, it’s actually the oldest bridge in Paris. Arrondissement 2 for commerce and business Travel to arrondissement 2 and you’ll be in the business district, otherwise known as Bourse. The Palais de la Bourse was once the stock exchange and is the area’s most notable landmark. Other buildings to see are the National Library and the Opera Comique. Check out the Grands Boulevard neighborhood for its old-world regal style and covered shopping arcades. Arrondissement 3 for arts, crafts and Picasso You’ll find the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers (National Museum of Arts and Crafts) along with the Picasso Museum in Arrondissement 3. The district is also known as Temple as there was once a medieval fortress built by the Templar Knights amongst the bustling commercial and quiet residential streets. Be sure to check out the Marais neighborhood that spills over into the 4th arrondissement. Arrondissement 4 for Renaissance and shopping Arrondissement 4 is popular with tourists, as it not only includes part of the Marais district but also the Île de la Cité, which includes Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the city’s most popular attractions. You’ll also find Centre Pompidou in this district, which is amongst the oldest in the city center of Paris. Le Marais is one of the most visually interesting quarters of Paris. This area was once a swamp and that is what Le Marais means. It has evolved from a working-class neighborhood to an affluent and upmarket area, popular for eating, drinking, and strolling. Despite an overhaul of the city’s layout by Napoleon and Baron Georges Eugene Haussmann in the mid-19th century, it has retained the narrow streets of the Renaissance and Medieval eras. You can still see dramatic residences, boutiques, and galleries that escaped modernization. Examples of Haussmann’s great works include the Champs-Élysées and Montparnasse, as well as the city’s modern water and sewage system. After a visit to Notre Dame, head across the Seine to browse the art stalls and the booksellers' treasures. Marais is also where a Jewish community has lived on and off since the 13th century and features a moving monument to the 200,000 French people killed in concentration camps during WW2. Arrondissement 5 for the Latin Quarter Enjoy the outstanding neoclassic architecture of the Panthéon as well as the botanical gardens, known locally as the Jardin des Plantes. You’ll also find the Sorbonne University here, attended by the intellectual crème de la crème. The Panthéon is now a mausoleum housing the remains of the most distinguished French citizens, such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Louis Braille. Arrondissement 6 for old-world style The 6th arrondissement was the stomping ground of writers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. The area has now been transformed into a hotspot for antique furniture and designer boutiques. You’ll also come across leafy residential streets, outstanding architecture, and fabulous restaurants. Arrondissement 7 for prestige This district of the city of Paris is home to the sensational steel structure of the Eiffel Tower and the Orsay Museum. Boats leave from here for lunch and dinner cruises on the Seine – an opportunity to see the fantastic buildings from the water without traffic being in the way. The Hotel des Invalides is not a hotel at all, but the resting place of Napoleon I and the army museum, as well as a former military complex. If you’re a fan of shopping and gourmet food, be sure to stop by the Bon Marche Department Store and Gourmet Market. Experience everything Paris has to offer with The Paris Pass® Planning your Paris trip? With The Paris Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots, and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. ✈️ Buy The Paris Pass® ✈️
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