3.5 days in Paris with girlfriends (France) – 2023

Passing through Paris in express mode, I suggested my girlfriend S. join me. To my great joy, she accepted the invitation. I picked her up at Orly and we spent 3 and a half wonderful days in Paris, as girlfriends.

My girlfriend has been to Paris several times for business, but she’s never had time to see the city (except Montmartre). You could say it’s her first time visiting Paris.

Part 1: Travel Journal
Part 2: Practical Tips

Part 1: Travel Journal

Day 1:

Accommodation in Paris has been sky-high since tourism picked up post-Covid. I opted for an Airbnb in zone 4, which means an hour of commuting every day to get into Paris, but in exchange, our apartment is comfortable, with a nice view of the trees, and we’re right across from the train station.

It’s when you host tourists that you realize how complicated Parisian transport tickets are. To keep it simple, I get us each a Navigo Découverte card (€2, available at the ticket machines). And each day, we buy a daily pass for zones 1-4. It’s pricier than other Navigo passes, but at least we don’t have to worry.

On day one, after taking public transport from Orly to Montparnasse, we drop my girlfriend’s suitcase off at the station’s left luggage (we struggled so much to pay for the locker, but we made it! phew!), before opting for a delicious buckwheat galette at the restaurant La Crêperie Bretonne.

We chat about our sightseeing plans and agree on a Chinese massage not far away in the 7th arrondissement. It’s a place I know very well, it’s Lanqi Spa 48 Av. de Saxe, 75007 Paris, France, where I’ve been massaged several times to help with painful periods, and these massages have really helped me. Coming for the first time, S. gets 20% off with code SONIA (thanks to Sonia’s chronicles).

After the 1.5-hour massage, we feel like we’re floating on a cloud. After an early wake-up and a tiring flight, S. feels full of energy; it’s surprising how the massage therapists don’t seem to get tired, yet manage to give us so much energy. S. and I conclude that they just activate the dormant energy already within us, by pressing on the right meridian points.

I introduce her to the Japanese patisserie Mori Yoshida, right next door, which won the Best Pastry Chef in France contest. To take away and eat hours later, unfortunately there are only cookies, but they are truly delicious and they’ll be our breakfasts in the coming days.

Around 6:30 pm, we stroll joyfully along Rue des Grands Carreaux, looking at shop windows (cheese shops, grocers…). Everything looks tempting. S. ends up buying tea at Mariage Frères.

At 7 pm sharp, we go to the restaurant Mam 39 Rue de Cléry, 75002 Paris, France. There are few tables, so I insist on going right when it opens. It’s a Vietnamese restaurant that makes spring rolls like in Vietnam (which is super rare). The spring rolls are so huge (and we had a late lunch) that we only have spring rolls and a delicious lemonade. It’s the best spring roll in Paris!!

We walk to Louvre because I can’t manage to buy tickets for the next day. On site, they tell me I can buy on site or online the next day. I ask around and learn it’s better to buy online and enter via the inverted pyramid to avoid the queue. We enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Louvre pyramid.

We need to pick up the suitcase at Montparnasse, and take the train to zone 4. A day spent mostly on public transport.

Day 2:

Now that the suitcase is safely in the Airbnb, we can afford more time for sightseeing. I discovered the drink GIMBER, made from ginger, lemon, and sugar. It’s what I used to prepare every day during the height of Covid (and I never caught it, by the way). But with GIMBER, it’s convenient; no need to chop anything, the drink is concentrated, just add hot water and a little honey. S. and I are huge fans of this drink, and our breakfast is simply tea, GIMBER, and cookies from the Japanese patisserie.

Today, we’re going to visit the Louvre. To avoid queuing, I buy tickets early in the morning online. There’s a specific time to enter the museum, but we’ll later learn that you don’t have to be exactly on time.

Meanwhile, we’re hungry and decide to have lunch at George V. I’ve been there before with JB for a tea time. I was more impressed by the hot chocolate than the cakes (sorry). But I wanted to give them another chance, via a simple lunch. My tartare turns out absolutely delicious. The mashed potatoes are to die for. All my senses are engaged, plus in such a beautiful setting!!

It’s already time to go to the Louvre.

We follow the signs in the metro to reach the Louvre’s Carrousel, where the inverted pyramidis. That’s where visitors with tickets can enter without queuing. Our bag is checked, and that’s it.

We follow the arrows and the crowd to see the most famous works: Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne, etc. I’m appalled to see the military-style queue organization in front of Mona Lisa. She wasn’t hidden behind that huge glass panel when I first saw her, and you didn’t have to queue Disneyland-style to get close.

I also forgot how beautiful and grand the Louvre’s rooms themselves are. We then visit the Egyptian section, which is only partially open. Fortunately, the Dendera zodiac ceiling is still accessible. It’s under this ceiling that in 2019 I received a message via an Egyptian about my future.

We leave the Egyptian section, and suddenly there are fewer people. We can breathe.

We made the mistake of not bringing a bottle with us, and the water fountains in the museum restrooms are out of order. Parched, we throw ourselves at the museum’s Starbucks and no longer feel like going back to the museum and killing our feet 😀

On the metro, I notice a group of young girls, a bit too close together, waiting for the train. I signal to S. to move away because it’s empty on other parts of the platform. As expected, this group surrounds a poor tourist, isolates her from her group, steals her belongings, and before the metro doors close, the group disappears. They’re pickpockets, and to think we were only 3 meters away from them.

In the evening, we have a drink with a professional contact of S., a tui-na specialist. He explains that tui-na requires a lot of energy from the practitioner, which is why you must choose your healer carefully. The healer in question must be able to draw energy from elsewhere (aka nature), and not give their own energy, otherwise they won’t last long. He also advises against practicing kundalini as well as the symbols of reiki. This meeting has more impact on me than expected, because following his little remarks, I directed my book research and ended up stumbling upon books that had a huge impact on me. Funny how sometimes a simple conversation can have many implications behind it.

Day 3:

The day starts with a little bus trip to the Saint-Michel fountain. We pass by the Champs-Elysées, the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Orangerie, and the Seine on the bus, and S. thinks it’s great to travel by bus (even if it takes 2 times longer). The good news is we’re seated; it would have been less fun standing 😀

In Saint-Michel, we discover with surprise a small market with stalls of organic or handmade products. Everything makes us want it! The souvenir shops don’t disappoint either.

We eat a crêpe and then walk to the Luxembourg Garden. S. has been here before but doesn’t know the Medici Fountain inside the garden, which I’m eager to show her. We watch children play with the boats, and before we’re dying of heat, we walk up Rue Soufflot to take a photo of the Panthéon, pass by the Sorbonne, and take the bus back towards the Pont de l’Alma (under which Princess Diana had her accident).

S. has no idea about the surprise I have in store for her. Seeing a huge crowd in front of the Dior boutique, I show her the place and say, “This is where we’re going.” She’s surprised but very happy. And when we pass by those 20 meters of queue, she’s even happier to see that I already have the tickets for us. It’s the Dior Gallery, the museum dedicated to Christian Dior and the brand.

We don’t hide our joy upon seeing the famous staircase with mini Dior products in all colors. We’re guided to the elevator up to the 3rd floor, where the visit starts. After a room full of info about the brand’s creation, we see haute couture creations each more beautiful than the last. This museum was recommended by my friend M., whose taste I admire, and I understand why she told me we absolutely had to go.

We quickly glimpse the rose garden. The rooms are staged sumptuously. After this visit, we only have one desire: to have a Dior dress, any one 😀 I’m a huge fan of Dior’s current creative director; she manages to bring together the best artisans, use new materials, and ancestral techniques. Dior and Hermès are the only two luxury brands I still follow on Instagram because I think they still have something beautiful to bring to the industry.

Unfortunately, I feel a bit sick and have to go back. S. could have continued the visit by taking a Bateau-Mouche, but she decided to go back too and spend time with me <3

Day 4:

I’m feeling better!! It’s our last day. Simona and I both have to pick up our stuff. She’s going home, and I’m continuing my trip to Chartres. Since we both have light luggage, we decide not to leave it in the lockers like last time.

We treat ourselves to a well-deserved shopping break at Longchamp on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. They don’t just sell bags, but also silk scarves, very pretty. S. wanted to keep a nice souvenir of her stay in Paris and opted for two gorgeous silk scarves, including one with Parisian motifs. We were superbly advised and welcomed. We went upstairs to look at the foldable bags and see the personalization options for this iconic bag.

We then visit the Passerelle Jouffroy where the oldest toy store in Paris is. I’ve already visited it, but it’s only today that I realize they sell empty dollhouses!!!! that we can furnish ourselves. OMG, another passion that could be costly.

Further along, there’s a rare book shop. The books aren’t expensive at all: €10, leather-bound, centuries old. They also have a beautiful collection of Pléiade books, as well as rarer books much more prestigious: like one with plant and flower prints, beautifully hand-colored. This kind of book must be worth thousands of euros because it’s in impeccable condition. I’m drooling in front of the display case, really. It only reinforces my desire for beautiful books. I think back to the beautiful Jules Verne edition seen at the Dior museum and tell myself it would be nice to have one.

We have lunch nearby, again crêpes at La Crème de Paris. I’ve already tried this restaurant, their sweet crêpes are top-notch, but the buckwheat galettes I try for the first time today are a bit dry. Slight disappointment.

On the way, we catch a glimpse of Montmartre which S. knows well.

We quickly stop by the shop Mademoiselle Bio, before heading to Denfert-Rochereau so S. can catch her bus to Orly. As for me, I head back to Montparnasse and take the first train to Chartres.

Our itinerary may seem very light, but we also get together to simply be together and to talk. The sightseeing is the icing on the cake. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip spent with girlfriends and hope we’ll have the chance to explore other cities together.

Part 2: Practical Tips

• The Louvre: €17/person, it’s best to book in advance, but if you book late like we did, wake up early in the morning and you’ll be able to book tickets for the same day
• Galerie Dior: €12/person, it’s best to book the day before to avoid the queue
• Mam Paris: this superb Vietnamese restaurant isn’t open in the evening every day of the week, so check before you go
• Orly Bus: regular departures, near Denfert-Rochereau. Follow the “Orly bus” signs. Tickets can be purchased from the driver.
• We opted for the Navigo Découverte card, but daily passes are more expensive with this card. If you have time, opt for Navigo passes that require an ID card, but they’ll be more cost-effective for visits of 3 days or more.