Eight Ideas for the Best Romantic Getaway to Paris

Chris always jokes he can never impress me on Valentine’s Day anymore because of the year he took me to Paris, and he might be right. We spent the most amazing three-day weekend in Paris over Valentine’s Day on their first warm and sunny days of that year. The Parisians kept telling us how surprised they were it was warm that weekend! Today I wanted to share my favorite parts of that trip (and a few things from a later trip to Paris), so you can plan your own romantic getaway to Paris.

Cruise on the Siene River
I had to start off with my favorite part of our trip. Chris surprised me with a night cruise on the Seine River, and the only way to describe it is magical. It was amazing to cruise down the river, learning about all the stunning architecture and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Picnic by the Eiffel Tower
It’s so fun to buy a baguette and some meat and cheese at the grocery store and have a picnic by the Eiffel Tower. Of course, you could always grab a crepe from one of the many crepe stands around and have a fun picnic that way!

Take a walking tour to see as much as possible
There is so much to see in Paris, and I think the best way to get a feel for the city is through a walking tour. We absolutely loved the Sandeman’s free walking tour of Paris. Honestly, the next time we go to Paris, I would want to do it again!

Pick a restaurant with a prix fixe menu and have an amazing meal
Paris is full of incredible restaurants, and what is Valentine’s Day without a delicious meal? We had an amazing meal at Le Grand Bistro de Breteuil, which was worth every penny.

Spend a day holding hands while wandering around the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay
Everyone knows about the Louvre, but my favorite museum in Paris is the Musee d’Orsay. All the impressionist art is gorgeous, and the museum is housed in a stunning old train station.

Go shopping
What’s a trip to Paris without shopping? Plus, if you are going there for Valentine’s Day, you can tell your significant other it’s part of your present. The Champs-Élysées is expensive, but it’s definitely worth seeing. You can also stop by the Arc de Triomphe since it’s close by!

Enjoy the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur
I don’t think there is anything more romantic than a stunning view, and Paris is full of them. If you are pressed for time, the two views you have to check out are from the top of the Eiffel Tower and from the Sacre Coeur.

Take a day trip to Versailles or Loire Valley
When I first started blogging, I wrote a post about three great day trips from Paris, and my two favorites on that list are Versailles and the Loire Valley. They are both make easy day trips from Paris. I loved going back in time and seeing the extravagant lifestyles of the French royalty.

Have you been to Paris? What did you think was the most romantic thing to do there?

My Top Five European Travel Moments

If I had to pick my favorite continent to visit, Europe would take the cake.  I have fallen in love with the history, the architecture, and the amazing, magical moments I have experienced. Those moments when I was so in awe, so giddy, so thankful to be alive, to be traveling and experiencing what the world has to offer. It sounds cheesy, but those in love with travel know exactly what I mean. Here are my top five European travel moments so far:

Seeing the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night for the first time: 
We went to Paris for the first time over a Valentine’s Day weekend, and on Valentine’s Day, my hubby surprised me with a night cruise on the Seine River. As we approached the Eiffel Tower, it began to twinkle. I had seen it in photos, but it was nothing like experiencing it myself for the first time. At that moment, I fell in love with Paris. Although I usually prefer to travel to places that I haven’t been, I would visit Paris again and again.

Watching Wicked in London:
I had so many different travel moments in London, but seeing Wicked sticks out in my mind. We decided to go on a whim and had an amazing time. It is now one of my favorite musicals, and seeing it in London made it more special.

Hiking up to the Marseille calanques:

This moment really stood out to me because it was one that I didn’t expect. When we visited Marseille, the calanques weren’t on our list, but we saw an advertisement for them and decided to check them out. I was blown away by their beauty. After our hike, we sat down and admired the view, and I never wanted to leave.

Taking a horse-drawn carriage up to Neuschwanstein Castle with light snow falling:
Our trip to Neuschwanstein Castle went beyond my expectations (and those were fairly high to begin with!). Though the inside of the castle is nothing to write home about, the outside is picturesque. I will never forget taking a horse-drawn carriage, holding a mug of hot chocolate with snow lightly falling as the beautiful castle came into view.

Exploring Prague:
I couldn’t pick one specific moment in Prague because I quickly and completely fell in love with the city. I loved the different styles of architecture throughout the city, the Charles Bridge, St. Vitus cathedral, and so much more. The mixture of Eastern and Western styles was unique and instantly made me feel at home.