HostelPass has this backpacker’s guide to Paris to help you hop from the Eiffel Tower to the cobbled lanes of Montmartre and get some great accomodations while you’re at it.
Paris swings from the romantic to the gritty, the arty to the cool. It’s effortlessly engaging as a city, with culture brimming from its galleries, legends oozing from its ancient churches, and people living life, everywhere. Café hopping, museum sessions, baguette munching – it’s all in a day’s work in this bold and boisterous town. Oh, and you’ll shorten the bucket list with trips to iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur.
This ultimate backpacker’s guide to Paris has you covered when it comes to putting together an itinerary. It offers insights into the top attractions, the must-try foods, and even the coolest hostels that the French capital has up its sleeve.
Paris Travel Tips: Our curated list of things to do
Lovers, art aficionados, gourmands, sightseers, wine drinkers – there are a whole load of travelers who are bound to be impressed by Paris. Just check out what this amazing city has up its sleeve:
See the Eiffel Tower
Most people will opt to empty their pockets of euros in the pursuit of the sweeping panoramas that extend from the tops of the Eiffel Tower. But you’ll be heading to Montmartre next, so it might be better to keep your moolah and enjoy the view of the legendary landmark from the long lawns of the Champ de Mars below. People sell cold beers there, and you can see those wrought-iron girders up close and personal.
Explore boho Montmartre
Montmartre is the place to go if you’re craving a glimpse of the Paris of old; the city of quaint bistros and kitschy cafés on cobbled lanes. It rolls down a steep hill in the 18th arrondissement. At its top, you find the indomitable Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. Around its base are hidden streets and staircases cut into the slopes, lined with Haussmannian tenements and traditional French cottages.
The Louvre
Some say this is the single greatest museum on the planet. It’s easy to see why. Rising with that iconic glass pyramid on the side of the River Seine, this vast exhibition space holds some of humanity’s worthiest treasures. There’s the dainty, brilliant-white Venus de Milo. You’ll encounter colossal winged bulls that once guarded palaces in Mesopotamia. And – of course – there’s the Mona Lisa, da Vinci’s undisputed masterpiece.
Strut your stuff down the Champs-Élysées
Move over Fifth Avenue, the Champs-Élysées has been stretching credit limits since anyone can remember. Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Gucci – all the names have a home here. If you’ve not got the money for new threads and fragrances, maybe just do a little people watching and then move to the Arc de Triomphe for some bonus sightseeing.
Unmissable foods to eat in Paris
Paris isn’t just a food haven, it’s one of the world’s culinary capitals! Don’t worry, though – you won’t have to brave the escargot and the frogs’ legs to enjoy the local cooking…
Croissants – of course!
Crispy and buttery, the croissant is layers of dough made art. Seriously, you could put this one in the Louvre and you’d attract fans of the breakfast snack like it was the pastry version of the Mona Lisa fresh from the patisserie. You can grab a croissant at virtually any corner café in Paris. However, some of the most famous spots to try are La Maison Pichard and historic Stohrer.
Baguettes and cheese
If you’re lucky enough to be traveling through Paris during the drier, warmer months of the year, be sure to make for the sides of the Canal Saint-Martin at Le Bassin de la Villette for a lunchtime picnic. You’ll join loads of students and locals there, munching on fresh baguette breads from the La Fournée bakery, along with French cheeses from a pungent neighborhood fromagerie.
Red wine
With the Loire Valley on one side and the rolling hills of Burgundy on the other, it’s hardly a surprise that Paris is wine central. In fact, the Parisian wine bar is nothing short of an institution in the capital. Elegant and chic, they offer inviting places to while away an afternoon. Check out the likes of La Cave à Michel and Frenchie – Bar à Vins to see what all the fuss is about.
Our Hand-Picked Hostels in Paris
Don’t spoil a stay in the stylish French capital by booking a hostel that doesn’t live up to its expectations. Choose HostelPass for curated dorms and boutique digs that’ll make your Paris trip one to remember. Join our Europe Pass waitlist to be the first to know when its on sale!
If you have anything to add to this ultimate backpacker’s guide to Paris, we’d sure love to hear it in the comments below!
