I remember the first time we went to Paris, we arrived at night and checked into our hotel. They had placed a bottle of champagne in our room and Macarons with a note for Monsour and Madamoiselle Bagby. We opened our patio door with a view of the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkling.
It was pure magic.
From our first trip in 2015 to our most recent trip in May 2022, every visit reminds us how perfect Paris is as a honeymoon destination.
Affectionately termed as the city of love and romance, Paris is a dream come true for honeymooners.
The contemporary fashion and charming boutiques make for easy shopping, the art is so varied there is something for everyone and the food is so good the flavors and textures leave a lasting impression.
And the city has layers of history to start to unravel and you enjoy your time together on a romantic trip.
How Much Does a Honeymoon to Paris Cost?
When we first went to Paris, we thought it was expensive.
Then we went to Paris in May of 2022 and it has become even more expensive since our last visit.
While you can go to Paris on a budget, if you want to have romantic accommodations, see the sights and eat at mid-priced restaurants during your stay, we recommend $3500 + flights for a 5-day trip, more if you are going in the summer.
Best Time Of Year For A Honeymoon in Paris
We recommend Paris for any time of the year, with only a slight hesitation for the winter because of the cold.
Summertime in Paris is an absolute joy but can get quite hot. From June to August, witness the sun-kissed, warm days, and happily wander around. The city tends to get crowded as it is the high season, and not to mention, expensive.
So our top recommendation is to go in the fall or spring. This will combine the pleasant weather combined with low rates and seclusion.
What to Pack For Your Parisian Honeymoon
You will likely be outside a lot during your trip so make sure you bring layers. Maybe a light jacket you can have in the morning, but take-off during the heat of the day.
Do leave some space in your luggage to allow for some shopping in Paris.
Keep a pair of shades, your best-fitting jeans, and a couple of scarves! And don’t forget comfortable walking shoes or sandals.
Where To Stay During Your Honeymoon In Paris
When looking for a place to stay location is important, but with Paris’s metro, getting around is pretty easy. Your budget is probably the biggest determining factor.
Even on a low budget, you should be able to find adequate accommodations, but if you can, a honeymoon is a perfect time to splurge on one of the luxury hotels in Paris.
Maison Breguet
During our latest trip to Pairs, we loved our stay at Maison Breguet. The hotel is located on the Right Bank, in the east of Paris near the Marais district. The metro is close by, which made it very convenient to get around.
They have a bed and breakfast rate which we enjoyed having each morning.
The hotel really felt like home with wonderful staff welcoming us each night after running around during the day.
We also enjoyed a refreshing splash in the pool to cool off on a hot summer day during our stay.
Hotel Le Littre
During our first trip to Paris, we stayed at Hotel Le Littre, Located between Montparnasse & Saint Germain des Prés.
The boutique 4-star family-owned hotel starts around 200€ a night and every stay includes an exceptional breakfast each day as well as several other amenities including a top-of-the-line sauna.
We absolutely loved staying at Hotel Le Littre and found the staff to be top-notch. For an added bonus, the top two floors have a few suites available with a private balcony and a view of the Eiffel Tower.
These rooms are much more expensive but are really worth the splurge if they are within your honeymoon budget.
Things To Do On Your Honeymoon in Paris
Eiffel Tower at night
Going to the Eiffel Tower at night is my #1 vote for romantic things to do during a honeymoon in Paris.
Standing underneath the tower, it is amazing to see the steel beams that seem woven together you feel the sense of the grandeur of the structure. As you go to the top, you can’t help but be a little nervous as the packed elevator with glass windows goes higher and higher. It is a perfect experience to share with someone you love.
By going at night time, you also get to enjoy the tower as it lights up every hour and you avoid the long lines and heat of the day. We went on a September night around 8 and only waited around 20 minutes. Make sure you explore the entire tower, stopping at all 3 stories on the way up or down, taking time to enjoy your date.
Enjoy a Picnic
The beautiful parks of Paris lend themselves perfectly to a picnic.
You can easily grab a baguette, some meats and cheeses, a bottle of wine and chocolates and head to a near park for a relaxing meal.
For an even more unique experience, there are several services that make the date even easier to plan by setting up a romantic picnic for you.
Visit The Louvre
The Louvre is best known for the size of its art collection and as the largest museum in the world and its unique venue, a former palace.
We went to the Louvre on a weekday in the evening and found that there were very small crowds and enjoyed wandering the halls.
I highly recommend going in the evening and traveling off season. Don’t focus on seeing everything during a visit, but on what you are interested in.
I was also truly impressed by the building itself and was sometimes distracted by the ceilings and architecture instead of the art itself. If you plan on going to a few other museums, get the Paris Museum Pass to save some money.
Splurge on a Michelin Restaurant
When in France, there are so many more Michelin restaurants to choose from compared to any city in the US.
Take advantage of it to splurge on a meal for you and your sweetheart. As a former chef, I always try to dine at least once at a Michelin restaurant when I go to a city that has one.
On our latest visit, we had lunch at Contraste and it was one of the best meals we have ever had.
When I try to pick out a Michelin rated restaurant, I look for good locations for a lunch date to find a more affordable option.
I have always been able to find a 3-course lunch menu at less than $50 per person.
Worried about fitting in at a fancy restaurant? If this is your first time, tell the person taking your reservation that this is your first time at a Michelin-rated restaurant and ask any question you may have such as the dress code.
When you get there, do not worry so much about what other people are doing and what is the right thing to do. You may feel like all eyes are on you because there are usually more wait staff than at more casual restaurants.
Seine Sunset River Cruise
Taking a river cruise on the Seine is a great way to see the city and spend time together.
We took the cruise that departs from Pont Neuf, but I made that decision based on the departure location and I would recommend the same to you. There are a few different companies that run cruises constantly, just make sure you make the chance to kiss under Pont Marie, the lover’s bridge.
Take a Cooking Class Together
Learn to cook and bake the things Paris is known for. Some of the most popular cooking classes are for learning to cook macarons, baguettes, and crescents.
Go Dancing
Take couples dancing classes or enjoy dancing on the banks of the Seine. In the evenings at Port Saint-Bernard from June until the end of August, people gather and dance at Jardin Tino Rossi.
Paddle Boats at Versaille
Not actually in Paris but close by, you should make a trip to Versailles.
First, tour the property together. Then make your way to the Grand Canal where you can rent paddle boats to complete your date. Before heading back to Paris, enjoy a crepe at Ble Noir.
Have a Spa Day
Take some time to relax for a spa date.
After all the walking around you will be doing to see all the sites, take some time to enjoy a couples massage or other treatments together.
Go For A Night-Time Stroll
Paris is really a beautiful city at night. Just go for a stroll at night to admire the sites lit up in the night.
We always like to walk along the Siene and see the landmarks in the evening.
Visit Notre-Dame
Pay a visit to the medieval Catholic cathedral and be awestruck by its glorious beauty.
Built centuries ago, the renowned church is one of the best examples of French Gothic structures in the world. It is located at the eastern end of the Île de la Cité, one of two remaining natural islands in the Seine within Paris.
While you can not currently visit the interior as it is being restored, you can still see the exterior and see the interior being worked on from the outside.
You can learn more about the restoration progress along the side of the gates outside the cathedral.
Tour Sainte-Chapelle
The Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel housed inside the medieval Palais de la Cité.
Boasting the Gothic splendor of Rayonnant-style, the chapel was once a revered holy site now known for its phenomenal aesthetics and architecture.
Richly embellished, the highlight of the Sainte-Chapelle is the hundreds of stained-glass windows which depict tales from the Old and New Testaments.
Once you have explored the interiors, check out the exteriors and click some pictures. To avoid waiting in long queues, purchase a skip-the-line ticket.
Go by the Conciergerie
Sprawling with its fortresses and arches, the building is right across River Seine. It was formerly a prison where many notable figures including Marie Antoinette spent their last months before being executed.
Today, Conciergerie is now a must-visit landmark in Paris. It does have a bloody history with dingy jail cells but otherwise, its enchanting beauty will deceive you!
It is ironic how it contains both the terror and beauty within itself.
Check Out Montmartre
With an overlook of the breathtaking cityscape, you can take your significant other on a journey through the narrow street of Paris walking through the neighborhoods where Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and many other renowned artists used to have their studios.
Go On A Food Tour
Paris is full of iconic foods. One way to sample them all in one afternoon is with a food tour. We took the tour with Secret Food Tours and were able to try macarons, eclairs, crepes, baguettes, French wine, and a selection of cheeses and meats.
Have Some Macarons
Treat your sweet tooth with some gourmet macarons at Laduree. No one does them better.
Eat Some Crepes
Grabs some Crepes, they are everywhere. We enjoyed crepes from a street vendor late one night. They were the cheapest ones we had and we loved them. We also had crepes at La Crêperie de Josselin and Breizh Café
Day Trips From Paris
After spending a few days in Paris you can venture out a bit to see some of the surrounding cities.
Versaille
Just ten miles from the center of Paris and a 30-minute train ride, Versailles is an easy trip to add to your trip.
The Palace served as a palace for the French monarchy up till the French Revolution. At first, the land had little more than a hunting lodge used by the kind, but later a palace was built surrounded by beautiful gardens, sculptures, and fountains.
Today, the Palace and grounds are open as a museum. You can tour the palace and walk the manicured gardens and even enjoy a boat ride or horseback ride.
I recommend purchasing tickets before going or buying the Paris Pass, which will get you into many of Paris’s museums and attractions and arrive early.
Disneyland Paris
So after you have seen the Eiffel tower and spent some time in the Louvre, consider making your way to Disneyland Paris for a fun day together.
Fontainebleau
Famous for its opulent structures and the Fontainebleau Palace built by French royalty, Fontainebleau is a small town located southeast of Paris.
One of the best ways to get to the classy town is taking a train from the Gare de Lyon.
The journey is only 40 minutes long and brimming with sublime vistas! Once you have reached Fontainebleau, the fresh breeze, immaculate gardens, beautiful lakes, and sculptures will greet you.
There are amazing rock-climbing opportunities, and you two can take a stroll in a picturesque setup bordered by Fontainebleau forest. Hardly ever crowded in the fall, you still need at least a day to explore it completely.
Lille
Hop onto a train in Paris and make a beeline for Lille, the capital of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.
The city has a historical district featuring whimsical brick town-houses, olde-worlde cobbled streets and the Grand Palace dating back to 17th century. If you two would like even a bigger dose of history, visit Palais des BeauxArts, a huge museum featuring works by Monet, Raphael, van Gogh, Donatello and many more!
Have coffee and meals in one of the many cutesy roadside restaurants and catch up. Lille is a wonderful spot for shopaholics so don’t forget to splurge and gift each other some memorabilia.
Reims
The hub of Champagne and wineries, Reims lies at Grand Est region of northeastern France. It houses the famous cathedral where royal coronations took place for almost 10,000 years.
Check out the treasury, villas, fine arts museums and Champagne houses and palaces. If you and your spouse love cars, you must check out the Musée Automobile Reims Champagne which has up to 230 unique cars on display. To visit Reims from Paris, catch a train and be there in 40 minutes!