Paris Weekend Itinerary: December Trip
Paris, France · 4 days · Couple · December
Shared by Andrew C.
Tags: romantic, food & wine, culture, family-friendly, long weekend
What We Loved
Wandering Paris with little to do but linger over a meal and drink wine was the perfect way to spend a weekend, and was surprisingly affordable. And coming in early December really surprised us. The shops are beautifully decorated for Christmas, nothing was crowded, and everything was open. L'Avant Comptoir was a highlight meal — so much so that we canceled reservations at a fancier place later and visited its sister counters.
What We'd Do Next Time
We missed out on musee d’orsay because we didn’t book in advance and we didn’t feel like waiting in a line — would reserve a spot next time. Fondue dinner was fun, but would not return.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival & Festive Beginnings
- Arrival in Paris (CDG) — From Cleveland via Chicago on United Airlines
- Marché de Noël aux Tuileries — Enjoyed the festive Christmas market (Photo 1)
- Louvre Museum — Explored art collections (Photo 6)
- L'Avant Comptoir Wine Bar — Tapas and wine for dinner (Photos 2, 3)
Marais Wanderings & Rooftop Views
- Meander Marais neighborhood — Explored the charming streets of Marais
- Food & Wine Tour Stops — Made our own stops for local food and drinks
- E. Dehillerin — Visited the famous kitchenware store (Photo 7)
- Les Enfants du Marché — Had French onion soup at this market eatery (Photo 9)
- Crepe Stand — Enjoyed a sweet crepe (Photo 13)
- Local Bar — Stopped for drinks (Photo 19, Photo 21 could be here)
- Pompidou Eiffel Tower View Bar — Enjoyed drinks with a view of the Eiffel Tower (Photo 11)
- Cheese Fondue Place — Dinner featuring traditional cheese fondue (Photo 12)
Shopping & Classic Parisian Dinner
- Arc de Triomphe — Visited the iconic monument (Photo 14)
- Shopping — Time dedicated to shopping
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann — Explored the grand department store and its Christmas decorations (Photos 5, 15, 16)
- Bistro Paul Bert — A classic French bistro dining experience (Photo 17)
Montmartre & Seafood Farewell
- Explore Montmartre area — Wandered through the artistic neighborhood
- Le mur des je t'aime (The Wall of Love) — Visited the famous Wall of Love (Photo 18)
- Notre Dame Cathedral — Viewed the cathedral from the exterior amidst renovations (Photo 10)
- L'Avant Comptoir de la Mer — Enjoyed fresh oysters and seafood for dinner (Photo 20)
- Departure from Paris (CDG) — Return flight to Cleveland via Chicago