Bonjour, and welcome to Paris Discovery Guide!
I'm Susan Vik, the creator and publisher of parisdiscoveryguide.com, a website devoted to helping first-timers to Paris as well as return visitors discover the best things to see, do, and experience in this beautiful and fascinating city.
I've been spending time in Paris ever since I arrived on an unusually cold December morning for what I thought would be a 4-week visit. I was a 20-year old student with a minimalist student budget, and it was my first ever trip as a solo traveler.
Despite the chilly winter weather, I loved the city so much and found so many things to see and do that I stayed until my money ran out almost two months later. As soon as I got home, I immediately began saving up for a return trip.
Top photo: Notre Dame Cathedral, photographed during a boat ride down the Seine River, (c) Paris Discovery Guide®
Paris Discovery Guide is a reader-supported publication. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost for you. Thank you for your support!!!
Why I Love Spending So Much Time in Paris
Since that first visit, I've been back many times and have spent so much time in this fascinating city that I now think of it as my second home.
But I will always remember the absolute magic of being here for the first time and exploring the city on my own.
Over the years, I've explored every part of the city, including all the neighborhoods, all the arrondissements (districts), and many of the surrounding suburbs. Sometimes I think I've walked along every street in Paris, although I'm sure that's not quite true.
Paris is best known for its famous attractions and monuments - Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and a short distance outside of the city, the Palace of Versailles - and I've visited all of them dozens of times.
I've probably taken every Seine River cruise that's offered (and my favorites more than once). I join tours every time I'm here because I always learn so much from the guides who share their passions history, architecture, art, fashion, food, vintage shopping, baking, wine, music, and so much more.
But I also love exploring all of Paris's lesser-known museums and galleries, market streets, beautiful parks and gardens, historical churches, flea markets large and small, the glass-covered passages and arcades where 19th century Parisians once shopped, and the glittering large department stores and charming boutiques of today.
At night, you'll find me enjoying music and concerts in the city's old churches, newer concert halls, and trendier modern venues - or enjoying a leisurely dinner or wine bar, catching a show at a cabaret, taking advantage of late-closing nights at museums and galleries, or watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle from a dinner cruise.
I especially enjoy just walking around the city and exploring the tiny lanes and passages lined with centuries' old buildings, browsing at the city's many street markets, and stopping for a refreshing drink or meal at one of the always-busy neighborhood cafes or brasseries.
And then there are the ongoing events and seasonal delights - gorgeous pink cherry blossoms from February into April, Bastille Day fireworks in July, Paris plages (beaches) along the Seine every summer, festive Christmas markets, and the gigantic New Year's Eve celebration on Champs Elysees with fireworks at the Arc de Triomphe to welcome the New Year.
At this point, I probably know Paris better than Boston, my home city in the U.S.
Why I Started Publishing Paris Discovery Guide
I started Paris Discovery Guide more than a dozen years ago as a way to share travel tips with family and friends who wanted to plan their own trips to Paris.
After visiting Paris as a solo traveler, with my husband, and with our daughters starting when our older one was still in a stroller, I've experienced the city from a lot of different perspectives.
The Paris website started with just a few articles plus lists of fun things to do each month, and then became the travel resource that it is today.
I also publish a similar website about Boston, and until about 10 years ago, I also worked full time as a software engineer. But as both websites grew, they needed my full-time attention and I also began to feel like I never had enough time with my husband and daughters and friends. And I definitely wasn't getting nearly enough sleep!
As much as I enjoyed my tech career, I love creating and publishing travel websites even more. So I quit my job and now divide my time between Paris and Boston, experiencing everything I write about.
How Paris Discovery Guide Will Help You Plan Your Own Fantastic Trip to the City of Light
My goal for Paris Discovery Guide is to share with you all the information you need for planning your trip to Paris, having a fantastic time throughout your visit, and creating wonderful memories, whether you're coming for the first time or know the city well.
PDG includes my best Paris travel advice and insider tips about the best things to see and do, whether you're here for your first visit and want to visit the Eiffel Tower, hop on a Seine River cruise, feel awed by Notre Dame Cathedral, see Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and enjoy a show at Moulin Rouge - or whether you're a return visitor who wants to explore Paris's lesser-known attractions and hidden gems.
To get you started, here are 10 of the most popular articles from Paris Discovery Guide:
- Why Visit Paris? - Need inspiration for planning your trip? You'll find it here!
- Top Paris Attractions - Planning your first trip? Start with these famous attractions and destinations
- Best Places to Stay in Paris - Not sure where to stay in Paris? Find the best neighborhoods and hotel suggestions for your visit based on what you want to do and see
- A Quick Guide to Paris's Arrondissements - Find out how the city is laid out and top attractions for each of its 20 districts
- Eiffel Tower Tickets - Want to avoid wasting hours standing in line? Here's how to do it
- Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum - Find the best ways to visit the Louvre, whether you just want to see Da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting, or see more of the most famous art
- Palace of Versailles - Find the best ways to get there from Paris
- Monet's Giverny - If you're a fan of Monet's incredible Impressionist paintings, don't miss the chance to see his home, gardens, and water lily pond in person
- Christmas in Paris - It's the most magical time of the year!
- Your First Day in Paris - How to make the most of your first day in Paris despite feeling jet lagged and tired from travel
You can also:
- Find us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see our latest Paris photos & updates
- Sign up for our free newsletter, Paris Discoveries, to get planning tips for your visit and
- Ask us a Paris travel question
- Check out what's happening in Paris each month: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Thank you for visiting Paris Discovery Guide - and have a fantastic time in Paris!
Publisher, Paris Discovery Guide®
Fun Things to Do & See in Paris
Need a Paris Hotel or Apartment for Your Visit?
Planning a trip to Paris? Use this hotel map to find hotels and apartments during your travel dates:
Booking.comCheck out the newest Paris hotels
Use our complete hotel guide to find the best places to stay in specific neighborhoods and locations.
