A petit guide to Paris
A Parisian Adventure Beyond the Classics by a Former Local
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I booked this trip on a bit of a whim. I hadn’t planned on going to Paris, especially since I’d already had two trips to London since returning from my seven-week stint filming Bake Off in Sydney at the end of September. But I wanted to take my eldest on a mum-and-son solo adventure (I’m trying to start a tradition of taking each of my kids on annual mini adventures). The last time I was in Paris was two years ago for a friend’s wedding, and that trip was quite different—I had a three-month-old in tow!
There’s always a bit of push and pull for me when planning a Paris trip. Having lived there for eight years, I’m drawn to revisit my old haunts. Once, I popped into the perfume department at Printemps and saw a couple of ex-colleagues gossiping in the corner, just as if I’d never left. It was over a decade ago that I sold perfume there, but moments like that remind me how deeply connected I still feel to the city. Paris may be changing, but some things move at their own pace, and even a decade since I lived here, certain things remain beautifully the same.
It’s easy to fall into the usual clichés—Eiffel Tower, baguettes, croissants, a stroll over Pont Neuf—but I had an 8 year old to entertain. I leaned on my own experience and did some extra research using Vittles Paris Guide for fresh, offbeat recommendations from a variety of writers, as well as Paris by Mouth, which is excellent resource.
This trip didn’t have any of the romantic mishaps from a Julie Delpy rom-com, but it did come with a few of those memorable encounters that make Paris feel like its own character.
If you’re after a 2 day itinerary that ticks all the boxes—food, culture, a touch of local life, that also works for kids —I’ve put it together below. My biggest tip? Don’t over-schedule and leave plenty of time for spontaneous pastry breaks!
For paid subscribers, if you need specific recommendations for Paris, London, or Stockholm, feel free to DM me—happy to share a few suggestions.