Parisian Essentials

Everything you need to know about the "City of Love."

Contributed by: Courtney McGuane | We’ve all heard Paris be referred to as the “City of Love.” In movies, books, and even music Paris is romanticized to be much more than just your regular ole’ city. It’s a place where people go to find love, fall in love, or proclaim their love. While my own trip to Paris differed a bit from that path (I went with a friend) I still managed to be just as captivated by all the city has to offer. If you’re taking a trip to Paris anytime soon, here is a list of ten essential things to know.

1. The Food. Croissants. Croissants. Croissants. They are everywhere. Each street is peppered in a multitude of bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants, each boasting their own take on the classic French pastry. Having eaten at least fifty different varieties during my own trip, I can assure you, they are all delicious.

2. Breakfast. Being an American, you hear the stereotypes about yourself while traveling abroad. We work too hard. We drink too much pop. We only eat McDonald’s. One thing I didn’t expect to discover was that what we eat for breakfast is considered strange to the French. The traditional American breakfast of bacon, eggs, and pancakes is looked upon with wide eyes of shock in Paris. Instead, you will receive a hot drink—normally espresso, orange juice and, you guessed it, a croissant.

3. The Eiffel Tower is Great; the Arc De Triomphe is Better. Obviously this is only my opinion, but I have a good reason for it. What do you think of when you think of the Paris skyline? The Eiffel Tower. What can you not see while standing on the Eiffel Tower? (Answer: The Eiffel Tower). The Arc De Triomphe gives you a 360-degree view of the entire city. Fun Fact: the only way to get to the Arc is to travel under the streets of Paris, through a tunnel. Pretty neat.

4. Public Bathrooms are a Myth in Paris. I have since learned this is true for a lot of places in Europe, but it surprised me on my trip to Paris. Most restrooms that are designated for the public cost money to use. While it isn’t much—usually less than one US dollar—it still can come as a shock to a traveler who wasn’t prepared to pay to pee.

5. Je ne parle pas francais. One thing that was really helpful while traveling through Paris was knowing a small, and I’m talking minuscule, amount of French. I knew how to ask for a bathroom, ask for coffee and ask if someone knew how to speak English. Learn the basics, and if you have time, learn more than the basics. Not only will it come in handy, knowing a second language is a great skill to have.

6. Relax. This may seem like a weird suggestion, but it’s something some people struggle with while traveling. It can be stressful trying to navigate hostel or hotel reservations, flights, navigating new cities. One of the greatest parts of Paris was how calm it was. And I know what you’re thinking: a city that size cannot be calm. It is. My friend and I came upon a beautiful park in the city around lunch time. There were men and woman in business suits napping on the grass in the middle of the day, children running around, poets and painters doing their thing. It was very peaceful, so enjoy the peace.

“Croissants. Croissants. Croissants. They are everywhere. Each street is peppered in a multitude of bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants, each boasting their own take on the classic French pastry.”

7. The Louvre is gigantic and you will get lost—Also yes, the Mona Lisa is a lot smaller than everybody thinks she is. But really, I was in the Louvre for six and a half hours and I still didn’t see all of it. If art is your thing, make sure to plan accordingly and give yourself a lot of time to get acquainted with the museum.

8. Do the non-touristy things. Because we were in Paris for a week, we had lots of time to just explore and wander the city. We did all of the touristy things that you’re supposed to do on a trip to Paris but we also sat by the Seine River and drank wine and ate crepes. There’s no one way to explore Paris, so do what sounds most appealing to you.

9. If you go with someone of the opposite sex, everyone will assume you are madly in love. Again, I went with a friend. We had several sketch artists, men selling roses and shop owners tell us what a great couple we were. We are in fact, still not a couple.

10. If you want an American style black coffee, order an Americano. An Americano is two shots of espresso with boiling water, and it is the closest thing you can get to a black coffee in Paris. Also, if you try to order a ‘coffee’ you will get strange looks because in most of Europe coffee is considered an ingredient in a drink, not the drink itself.