Fall in Love with Paris for the First Time

Check into the lovely 4-star hotel, Hotel Recamier, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près (6th Arrondissement). For hundreds of years, Saint-Germain-des-Près was its own little village, and it still feels that way.

We'll meet in the hotel's lobby at around 5pm for a champagne welcome drink and introductions.

Afterwards we will head out for an incredible sightseeing tour of Paris in a vintage citroen 2CV car, the iconic French car.

Dinner tonight will be at Restaurant Georgette, a classic bistro serving modernized farm-to table French cuisine.

After a sleep-in (kick that jet lag to the curb!) and breakfast at the hotel, we’ll walk to the extraordinary Musée d’Orsay, one of the world’s most enticing fine art museums. Its permanent collection houses hundreds of breathtaking original works created by masters of Early Modern and Impressionist art. We’ll focus on the Impressionists with a guided tour to see masterpieces from Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, and Auguste Rodin.

Afterwards, we will head over to lunch at Cafe Campana, which is located at the exit of the gallery.

After lunch, we will head over to meet up with Krystal Kenny, photographer extraordinaire, for a personalized and group photo shoot! Imagine having professional photos to commemorate your first trip to Paris!

After our photo shoot, we’ll take a quick trip to the top of the  Eiffel Tower with our skip-the-line tickets. What first trip to Paris would be complete without a ride to the top of La Tour Eiffel for a birds-eye-view of the city? After a great day, we will take the metro back to the hotel for some rest before dinner.

Dinner tonight is at Le Récamier.

This morning, we’ll visit Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny, about an hour’s drive from Paris. Monet claimed that the legendary garden, planted and tended by the great man himself, was his greatest masterpiece. His home is a museum, a place that turns back the clock. It contains the artwork and artifacts Monet collected over a lifetime. His passion for beautiful things is evident all around. The house also contains the artist's studio-sitting room and an exceptional collection of his Japanese prints. 

After exploring the house and gardens, we’ll stroll to the historic Ancien Hotel de Baudy for lunch. Hotel de Baudy was open in Monet’s day – can you imagine him sitting at the table next to you?

We’ll return to Paris to visit a jewel box of a museum, L’Orangerie, on the edge of the Tuileries Gardens. L’Orangerie designed and built special rooms to exhibit Monet’s famous “Water Lilies.” They are extraordinary. You be the judge: which is better, the gardens themselves or the paintings?

Suitably inspired, we’ll stroll to the famous Ladurée to savor their world-famous macarons over tea.

Tonight, we’ll have a lovely dinner at Mechoui du Prince for some traditional Moroccan cuisine.

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll take a casual walk via Shakespeare and Company and Notre Dame to discover Le Marais, one of Paris’ most delightful areas. We’ll start with a visit to one of Paris’ many outdoor food markets, Marché Baudoyer, to see how Parisiens have shopped for centuries. You’ll marvel at the variety and presentation of the produce, cheese, meat, and fish, and almost anything else you can imagine. (Most Paris apartments are small and have small refrigerators, so a daily visit to a local market is not uncommon).

We’ll continue to The Carnavalet Museum. Opened in 1880, it’s the oldest City of Paris Museum. For over 140 years, the continuously enriched museum collections have told the story of Paris from prehistory to the present. Recently revamped, the museum sparkles.

We’ll have lunch at one of the best crêperies in Paris, the Breizh Cafe. Not only will you find extraordinary crepes at Breizh, but the staff are also committed to the development of organic, local, and sustainable agriculture from their home region of Brittany.

This afternoon, you will have free time to explore the beautiful Marais, home to some of the best shops in Paris. Wander down Rue des Rosiers, stop in at Buly for some perfume, sit for a cafe and a Pastis in Place Ste-Catherine, and stroll through the Place des Vosges. Make your way back to the hotel by taxi or Uber, both of which are plentiful.

Tonight, we’ll have a lovely dinner at Mechoui du Prince for some traditional Moroccan cuisine.

After a big day, dinner is on your own. Order room service or pop out and convene at one of the nearby cafés.

We’ll start our morning with a walking food & tasting tour at Rue Cler,  featuring some of the city's finest cheese, charcuterie, and gourmet produce.

After lunch, we’ll conquer the Louvre, the world's largest and perhaps most famous museum. Our private guide will lead us through the daunting collection, spanning several thousand years of history and culture. We’ll come away with a better appreciation and understanding of the world's greatest masterpieces.

Tonight's dinner will be at Semilla. The menu comprises contemporary, intricate French cuisine with Mediterranean accents.

After breakfast, we will begin our day by visiting the famous Place du Tertre in the very heart of Montmartre. Place du Tertre is world-famous for its painters, cafes and ambiance. We will tour the Musee de Montmartre, created in 1960 in one of the oldest buildings in the Butte, built in the 17th century.

Afterwards, we will stop for lunch at Le Nemours, a fashionable brasserie.

After lunch, we'll explore the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens with guide Amy Kupec Larue, learning about its history and discovering its sculptures and horticultural treasures.

This afternoon is yours to do some last-minute shopping or see any sites you haven’t yet visited. You can’t see all of Paris in a week. You’ll just have to come back again!

Tonight, we'll have a farewell sunset dinner cruise on the Ducasse sur Seine, a spectacular riverboat restaurant along the Seine. La pièce de la resistance is seeing the City of Light illuminate before your very eyes!

Sadly, it's time to say goodbye and head home, but first, we'll enjoy a hearty breakfast together. May this be the first of many trips to Paris and la Belle France.

“America is my country, but Paris is my home,” Gertrude Stein.