Welcome to Dennison in Paris! I am super excited to be sharing this part of my trip with you. This will be the third time that I am in Paris and it is going to be a different one from the previous visits. I can’t wait to explore the areas that I have not been to. Paris is a huge city and I can say that I have still not been to at least half of the city. I also plan to visit a couple of the sites where Emily in Paris was filmed. I am also very fortunate to check out the UNESCO Headquarters this time around. Follow me in checking out Paris and despite my short stay I still managed to cover quite a bit of the city.

Public Transport

Before I head right into sharing about the places and my stay in Paris I would first like to share about the public transport situation in Paris. Paris is a huge city and you will definitely need to use public transport to get around. Driving is definitely not recommended given the high traffic and hefty parking cost. The two main transportation method that tourists will use is probably the bus and trains. There is two main type of trains in Paris. One of them is the metro which has plenty of stops around the city and the other is the RER trains. The RER is something like suburbans trains that connects various points in the city to the suburbs. For example, you can take the RER trains to Chateau de Versailles. When taking the RER trains in the city, the prices is the same as the metro so do see which works better for you.

The bus connects to places that the metro might not be convenient. For example, I took it when travelling from Les Halles to Sacre Coeur. Sometimes the bus might be easier as well since you do not have to walk a long route and climb the stairs of the metro which can be a distance at some stations. Furthermore, it might be nice to check out the sights on the streets while on the bus. Much better for sightseeing. The direction function from Google Maps is super useful and very reliable. When travelling on the bus, just validate the ticket on the machines. For tourists, the best option will be getting the bundle of 10 single tickets for 16.90 Euros. This will be 25% cheaper. The tickets are valid on metro, the RER in zone 1, the Île-de-France region’s bus lines (except Orlybus and Roissybus), the tramways, and the Montmartre funicular.

Dennison in Paris

Strolling around the streets and avenues of Paris is one thing that you have to do when in the city. No plans or any itinerary is needed but simply just wander around, this is by far the best way to see the city and immerse in the culture. This time around I wander around the area of Place de la Bastille, Île Saint-Louis all the way to the Pantheon. It is absolutely gorgeous and I was blessed with great weather. Here are some snippets.

I also enjoyed a leisurely stroll By the Seine River.

I also got a look at Notre Dame which is extremely heartbreaking to see it in this state although thankfully rebuilding is in the process right now. It is still as crowded and popular. Hopefully, it will be completed soon and I will be back to see it in its full glamour.

Shakespeare and Company is a popular bookstore in the heart of Paris and just across from Notre Dame. It is probably made famous by being featured in multiple movies and TV series with the most famous being Before Sunset. The queue was however extremely long and crowded. If you are lucky enough you might even be able to spend a night over here in exchange for helping out a couple of hours in the book store. They have a motto of “Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise.”

Following on I walk to the Pantheon, the 18th-century mausoleum is extremely grand and great for pictures. Check out how spectacular it is. This place looks so amazing and I got plenty of lovely pictures. The area is full of students too given the university nearby. From the Pantheon, it is a short walk to the Emily in Paris filming sites.

The last place that I visited during my short stay in Paris was the Sacre Coeur and Montmartre area. This is one of the must-visit when in town and the Sacre Coeur is extremely impressive. The imposing white basilica sits on top of a hill in this hilly Montmartre neighbourhood. A great way would be to hike up the park in front of the basilica which offers an amazing view of the basilica.

Then check out the basilica before heading to the back of it and exploring the surrounding quaint Montmartre area. Don’t miss out Rue de l’Abreuvoir.

Emily in Paris One Day Tour

Here is to reliving Emily in Paris! This time around when heading back to Paris I am determined to visit the various famous filming sites of Emily in Paris. Starting things off, you can head to the most attractive scene in episode 1, the house of Emily when she first arrived in Paris and where the rental agent flirted with her. The apartment located on the top floor boost amazing views of the surrounding greens. By right, the top floor isn’t that desirable for locals in the past and are usually for maids. You can find the Emily in Paris house just 5 mins away from the Pantheon. It is located at 1 Place de l’Estrapade in the heart of the 5th arrondissement.

Well! Living like a local or like Emily in Paris, there is always a neighbourhood bakery and a neighbourhood bistro where you go do during the weekends or just pass by in the morning to grab a pain while heading to work. That’s right! The bakery La Boulangerie Moderne is a real-life pastry shop just off the house and it is a popular one as well. I can see the crowd out there when I was there. Do relive the scene and get a pain au chocolat when you are here and see if it is that good.

Just next to the bakery, you can find the Gabriel bistro, it is exactly how it looks in the show with the exception of the restaurant name. It is in fact an Italian restaurant called Terra Nera rather than a French bistro.

The next spot that I visited would be the office of Savoir. I am sure you can all recognise this place. The spot is a real-life antique store, Galerie Patrick Fourtin. The art gallery is located in Place de Valois in the 1st arrondissement.

The last spot that I visited would be the pink street in Montmartre. This place was already famous and gorgeous before the TV series and after the broadcast only makes it even more popular. The setting is super pretty and makes it picture-perfect for pictures. I can see why Emily choose it as the placement site for the mattress photoshoot.

UNESCO Headquarters 

By virtue of my good friend Jacinth that works in UNESCO, I got a chance to visit the UNESCO HQ in Paris. This is totally unexpected. While I always have a dream to visit all the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world during my lifetime, visiting the HQ was never on my mind. The UNESCO office has a really nice view of the Eiffel Tower. Here are some pictures of the office which are mainly the public exhibits. This must be a milestone for Seeing The World In Steps!

Eating in Paris

When in Paris, the capital of French gastronomy, you definitely can’t miss out on checking out fine dining restaurants as well as classic bistros. France has the highest number of Michelin Star and Paris is the city with the second most Michelin star restaurant in the world. While I didn’t manage to check out any Michelin Star this time around I did check out a classic bistro. Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond is one of the highly recommended bistros in Paris.

It is located in the 1st Arrondissement and just off Chatelet les Halles. The restaurant have its roots since 1832. They serve up traditional french food every day from noon to midnight. Prices are very affordable. You can check out the menu here.

I got the confit de canard and some red wine which were excellent. The desserts were alright though. Besides bistros, you can also never miss the abundance of pastries and cakes around town. Macarons, Eclairs, there are plenty of items that you have to try. Their creations are amazing. Check out A. Lacroix Pâtissier which is located just off the Seine and Notre Dame. How lovely and chic is this cafe!

The staff here are an absolutely gem and friendly. It is bustling with both locals and tourists. I love the scene here, locals with their dogs, heading in and having some pastries with a cup of coffee. How lovely. I got a coconut passion fruit pastry which was excellent and delicious.

Conclusion

Writing this after coming back to Singapore and having travelled to a ton of other places as well, I can’t believe that the only place that I would like to head back to will be Paris. Somehow, I get to experience a different Paris this time around. Perhaps, it is the lack of crowd or the season but Paris was magical this time around. I love the areas that I have been to and the avenues that I stroll past. Simply having only 36 hours in this city is definitely not enough. Oh well, I still have not managed to head to Chateau de Versailles. The only regret is not being able to meet Emily when I am in Paris. Dennison in Paris or Emily in Paris tour Season 2? Stay tuned!