Or 3 Day Itinerary Depending on how Motivated You Are
Before I dive into the itinerary, I just want to note one of my favorite observations while in Paris was people walking around with a fresh baguette and bottle of wine on their five o’clock commute.
What I thought was a trope is in fact a way of life and once again confirms I was born in the wrong country.
Seven Day Paris Itinerary
Because I’m a lady of leisure, I don’t like to plan ahead. I prefer to walk around and stumble upon activities while traveling.
The main benefit is I don’t have to adhere to hard timelines, but the disadvantage is if there is something I want to do, I risk missing out on tickets.
This is the exact reason I did not get to go to the Catacombs. You’d think I’d learn my lesson by now and plan ahead since this isn’t the first time I missed out on something while traveling, but I have not.
With that said, here is a roundup of all the noteworthy stops we made in Paris that involved absolutely no planning and is a way more fun way to travel than sticking to strict timelines (IMHO).
Which Arrondissement to Stay in Paris
The 15th arrondissement isn’t too touristy. You can easily walk to the Eiffel Tower and get a feel for daily Parisian life. Plus, I felt safe as a solo-female traveler with no sense of direction.
Which Hotel to Stay at in the 15th Arrondissement
Vice Versa Hotel is a Seven deadly sins themed hotel. Friendly staff. Great location. Fun themed rooms.
Admittedly, the hotel is the one thing we did book prior to our visit. However, we only booked it for three nights and left the rest of the trip open. We enjoyed the location and the hotel so much we decided to stay there for the full seven day trip.
9/10 Kitties.
Where to Eat Lunch in the 15th Arrondissement
750g has an organic and biodynamic wine list. Fresh ingredients. Hipster vibes. Easy walk from Vise Versa Hotel.
10/10 Kitties.
Where to Eat Dinner in the 15th Arrondissement
L’insoumise is a small restaurant with fresh ingredients and a fantastic wine list.
Three courses. Excellent Chef. A charismatic waiter who added a table outside so a couple could enjoy their meal on a warm summer evening in the midst of a charming Paris neighborhood.
10/10 Kitties.
Where to Drink & Get Eiffel Tower Views in Paris
Because I’m a professional, I did not write down the name of this bar.
It’s on the rooftop of a hotel, and they had one cocktail served in an egg cup with a nest.
I’ve added multiple photos if you’re into online sleuthing and want to help find out which place this is. If you figure it out, please leave a comment below.
Between the views and the creative cocktail presentations, this place gets a 7/10 Kitties.
Best Cheese & Wine in Paris
Au 243. Get a bottle of wine. Select a minimum of five cheeses. Sit on the sidewalk. Relax. Enjoy.
10/10 Kittles.
Worth the Tourist Hype
The Eiffel Tower is an unavoidable view when walking around Paris. But is it worth the up-close visit?
One word, yes! (In hindsight I could have just said “yes” without the “one word” addition which added two words for a total of three words instead of just the one.)
Go to the first tier (is that what it’s called?) and get yourself a cheeky glass of champagne in a reusable plastic flute.
Views + quintessential French sips in eco-friendlier cups= 7/10 Kitties
Worth a Quick Stop
The Statue of Liberty.
It’s Smaller than America’s which means it’s arguably less impressive (JK JK).
It’s next to an outdoor gym with a bouldering wall, so you can simultaneously get your swole and culture on with Parisian Lady Liberty.
6/10 Kitties.
Best Café in the 15th Arrondissement
The Chat Mallow Café is a cat café that serves coffee and pets. The staff is great. The menu is vast, and the cats are French.
Will they give you the time of day? Will they ignore you? Are they inconvenienced?
The answer is “yes” to all the above.
If you’re lucky, one of the cats will yell from their wheel while you sip on a mocha in the front room. If you abide by their demands and go see them, they may show off their running skills.
You can view those running skills here.
10/10 Kitties.
Where to Get a Craft Beer in Paris
If you need a break from wine and cheese and just want some good ole alcohol-infused, craft, carbonated sips, Brussels Beer Project is the perfect stop.
It isn’t too far from Moulin Rouge and has a chill, low-key vibe. Oh, and they also had a playlist with the Temptations.
I’m a sucker for that.
4/10 Kitties.
Best Rooftop Bar in Paris
Bar À Bulles is the bar above Moulin Rouge.
The black, white, and greenish color scheme with eclectic lamps gives it an artsy vibe. They serve craft cocktails, beer, and wine.
I’m currently living in my espresso martini era which is the middle-aged version of a Red Bull vodka (that era was in my early 20s while living in Savannah GA).
I sipped on my caffeinated martini while gazing at the views of an apartment building’s wall.
There is a rooftop to the rooftop where you can sit by the Iconic Moulin Rouge Windmill (is that technically a redundant sentence since Moulin Rouge means red mill in French?).
Unfortunately for us, the Red Mill was under construction. If you do end up going and sip by the Moulin, please tag @wineformisfits in your photos so I can live vicariously through you.
8/10 Kitties.
Which Paris Show to See
Moulin Rouge is located in the strip club and sex shop district (every city has one). If I regret anything, it was not getting the penis-shaped waffle.
Something to look forward to my next Paris trip.
Moulin Rouge is a Vegas-like show with elaborate, free-the-nip costumes and 1980s-esque music.
Best part is, the show is surprisingly not sexual. Proving once again that nudity does not equate to being sexy.
We love that.
7/10 Kitties.
Where to Stroll in Paris
As someone who shops on Temu and wears vans with holes in them, the fashion district was never on my radar.
Unbeknownst to me, this is where The Arc de Triomphe is located, which was on my radar.
It should be a surprise to no one that the designer storefronts have incredible window displays while Louis Vuitton has a giant silver suitcase building.
It felt like an outdoor museum.
We walked the four miles from our hotel which was a big mistake on a humid summer day.
If you too make this mistake, you can take refuge at the Irish Pub Cottage Elysee. Get yourself a nice cold Carlsberg beer and watch a match.
The area (including a visit to the Elysee) gets 9/10 Kitties.
Where to be Mentally Prepared Before You Visit
The Louvre was not my favorite experience. There’s a lot of people standing in the middle of stairwells, halls, and walkways to take photos. Others were straight up just facetiming their family like a shitty cable access travel show.
While the Mona Lisa was cool to see in person, I saw it from a solid 10 feet away. If you’re into mosh pits, you’ll have no problem getting a closer view.
If you’re into art history, it’s worth the visit. If you’re indifferent about art, then go visit the glass pyramid and have a picnic in the surrounding gardens instead.
Inside the Louvre gets 1/10 Kitties (I clearly am not into art history.)
Outside the Louvre gets 8/10 Kitties (It’s so pretty!)
Where to Go if You’re a Disney Adult
Disneyland Paris is only an hour trek from Vise Versa Hotel. If you’re there for a full week, this is worth a day trip.
Star tours in French, a Wild West version of the Haunted Mansion, and a Ratatouille ride are just a few reasons to visit.
But do be warned, Disney Adult is a very American thing. We saw one other couple there without kids and they were definitely in their early 20s.
The people who were our age all had children and every one of them gave us a look like, “why would you do this to yourself?”
4/10 Kitties if you end up wearing pants to the park during summer.
6/10 Kitties if you properly pack and wear shorts.
Time to Start Planning That Paris Getaway
Now go incorporate these places (or don’t, do you!) into your Paris planning. If you do, take photos, tag @wineformisfits, and feel free to give some other recommendations in the comments below.
Wine For Misfits 
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