As the family and I gathered around my kitchen island to plan a group trip to the beaches of Malaga, Spain, I could practically see the thought bubbles popping up over each of our heads. Two of us began discussing the idea of tacking on an early trip to Italy, two others were planning a post-trip excursion to Barcelona, and two of us thought, "Why not? Let’s add Paris to the mix!"  

 

I’m still not sure how Paris had never made its way to my bucket list, but after a four-day glimpse of this enchanting city, I realize it should have been there all along! 

 

Upon arriving at our hotel in the charming Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, my friend and I were greeted with the last words any international traveler wants to hear: "I am so sorry." That’s never a good sign. 

 

An earlier miscommunication had resulted in our reservations being unintentionally canceled. Fortunately, luck was on our side—a solo traveler had just changed her plans, freeing up a tiny guest room for the night, until we could move into our larger room the next day. 

We didn’t mind having to turn sideways and shimmy between the bed and the wall in that first cramped room; we were grateful to have a place to drop our bags and recharge with a quick nap before setting off to explore. 

 

After our much-needed welcome nap, we spent the afternoon immersing ourselves in our adopted neighborhood. Our first stop: La Maison du Chocolat, a small corner shop where we spent an indulgent amount of time taste-testing truffles before carefully curating our own box of 24 chocolates. Next, we settled in at Café Louise, a sidewalk café where we sipped chilled wine and watched the world pass by. 

 

Navigating a neighborhood on foot is a great way to get your bearings. Before the trip, I had learned that Paris is divided into 20 districts, known as arrondissements. Six lie south of the Seine, collectively called the Left Bank, while the remaining 14 sit north of the river on the Right Bank. For first-time visitors like us, the 6th arrondissement (on the Left Bank) was the perfect choice. Our hotel, the Académie Saint-Germain, was ideally situated among renowned restaurants and cafés once frequented by Hemingway, Monet, Picasso, and other literary and artistic icons. 

 

One of the neighborhood highlights was Luxembourg Garden, a sprawling 56-acre park alive with energy, yet somehow calm at the same time. Children played games, families wandered through the rose gardens, couples engaged in quiet chess matches, and people like us simply settled onto benches, enjoying what would be our last day without rain. 

 

One painter in particular caught our attention. He worked with intense focus, then leaned back, half-closing one eye in critical assessment. Suddenly, he threw out his arms and beamed with satisfaction—clearly pleased with his masterpiece. We never saw the final creation, but judging by his reaction, it must have been extraordinary! 

 

With limited time in France, we felt compelled to schedule several must-do activities—some of which required a significant time commitment. While museum visits and a train trip to the Palace of Versailles were unforgettable experiences, they did take up large portions of our itinerary—more than we expected. 

 

Speaking of time management, I’m a classic over-planning traveler. To counteract this, I try to leave open blocks of time for what I call planned spontaneity. For instance, we only made one dinner reservation the entire trip. Most days, we simply ate when hunger struck—grabbing a snack from an obscure hole-in-the-wall crêpe vendor or choosing restaurants like Les Antiquaires which drew us in with its warm glow and lively crowd. 

 

One of my favorite moments was observing the little family seated next to us at dinner. The mother and her four-year-old daughter shared a plate of octopus, while the father savored beef bourguignon. We didn’t understand a word of their conversation—spoken in effortless French, of course—but their sweet interactions made us smile. We were dining among locals, and we loved every moment of it! 

 

Our umbrellas got plenty of use as we walked to the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame—but a little (or even a lot of) rain couldn’t slow us down.  

 

We had considered reserving a table at one of the Eiffel Tower restaurants … until we saw the prices! Instead, we made our one dinner reservation at Francette, a floating restaurant docked on the Seine, directly across from the Eiffel Tower. As we savored a delicious meal, we gazed out the window at the shimmering lights of the city’s most iconic landmark—a mesmerizing view that made the evening, and our entire visit, unforgettable. 

 

In fact, the pièce de résistance of our trip was standing beneath the majestic Eiffel Tower that night, rain falling softly around us, adding to the magic of the moment. Paris, where have you been all my life! 

 

Four days in Paris passed in the blink of an eye, leaving me longing for more. If you’re working on your international bucket list, consider this unforgettable city. I know I can’t wait to return someday for Paris, Part II!