In today’s interview with a local, Flo Salvetti-Lionne tells us how to enjoy a weekend in Paris, her hometown.
Local’s have all the best insiders tips that you wont find in a guidebook such as the best places to eat or drink. In this interview, we will get all the low down on the best places to visit, the best places to hang out and where to eat and drink on a weekend in Paris.
I’ll hand you over to Flo now for her pearls of wisdom…
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What you can expect from this article...
- 1 An Interview with a Local: How to enjoy a weekend in Paris
- 1.1 Hi Flo, where are you living now?
- 1.2 What is your favourite thing about Paris?
- 1.3 What is your favourite thing to do on a weekend in Paris?
- 1.4 What, in your opinion, is the one thing visitors can’t miss when they spend a weekend in Paris?
- 1.5 Any top tips for things to do on a rainy day in Paris?
- 1.6 Where is the best restaurant in Paris?
- 1.7 Where do you suggest going for a drink in the evening?
- 1.8 Is there one thing not many people know about Paris?
- 2 More things to do in Paris
An Interview with a Local: How to enjoy a weekend in Paris
Hi Flo, where are you living now?
I am living near Paris, France, but I lived in the inner city for 7 years in the 20th arrondissement until last year.
Tell us about yourself
I am a 28 years old journalist and a travel blogger with À l’Ouest rien de nouveau since February 2012. I am from the Paris area and I have always lived there except for one summer in London in 2010, and 6 months in Calgary, Canada in 2014-2015.
I also did two 3-months road-trips in North America, in 2012 and 2015 my favourite trips! I travel with my husband, Rémy, and we very recently had a daughter named Lou. We hope to do some nice trips with her soon!
What is your favourite thing about Paris?
I really love Paris because it’s a very dynamic city with an incredible cultural and historic richness, you cannot be bored in Paris, it’s impossible, you can find whatever you want!
Now that I live in the suburbs I am enjoying the peace and the greenery of my actual city (and cheaper apartments!) yet I still have the big city just 15 minutes away by train – it’s a perfect combination! The only thing missing is the sea nearby!
What is your favourite thing to do on a weekend in Paris?
For a day off, the best thing to do is to picnic in Les Buttes Chaumont, or in le Bois de Vincennes (you can even rent a small boat there).
What, in your opinion, is the one thing visitors can’t miss when they spend a weekend in Paris?
There are plenty of not-to-be-missed things to see for a first visit to Paris (Tour Eiffel, Louvre, Montmartre, Notre-Dame de Paris, even Disneyland!) But if you want to be original you can’t miss “La campagne à Paris.” It’s a little unrecognized charming district (most of Parisians don’t know about it!) in the 20th arrondissement with a few lovely cobblestone streets (rues Irénée-Blanc et Jules-Siegfried) and cute houses, you won’t believe you are in Paris!
Any top tips for things to do on a rainy day in Paris?
On a rainy day, you can visit one of the many museums of the city, for example, le musée du Quai Branly (primitive arts), le musée Carnavalet (history of Paris), or le musée de la Vie Romantique (romantic period). You can also shop in the Galeries Lafayette! Or if you’re more adventurous, you can visit Les Catacombes (underground ossuaries).
Where is the best restaurant in Paris?
One of my favourite restaurants is Jeanne A (42 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud), a small place with convivial big wood tables and very refined cuisine. You can savour one of their specialities, the chicken “pattes Noires” of Challans. And the restaurant has also a delicatessen shop!
Where do you suggest going for a drink in the evening?
For a drink, you can go to Le Pavillon des Canaux (39 Quai de la Loire) where you can drink local beers or some great cocktails. But the real asset of this place, is the unique location, a cute and colourful house which is a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a bar. You can sit in a bedroom or in the kitchen, wherever you want!
Is there one thing not many people know about Paris?
There was a human zoo in Paris back in 1907, in le bois de Vincennes. It was an exhibition to promote colonialism in Madagascar, Indochina, Sudan, Congo, Tunisia and Morocco. Villages and pavilions were built, people lived in there and were observed by visitors! Some of these pavilions can still be seen.
For more things to do in Paris, check out this ‘Things to do in Paris‘ guide or read about day trips from Paris.
Flo keeps a french language blog about her worldwide travels and also blogs about her experiences of pregnancy. In her blog, you can read about her adventures to a variety of places including Hawaii, Vancouvers, Dublin and Bruges! To read more about her trips abroad, see www.alouestriendenouveau.fr
More things to do in Paris
For more inspiration for things to do on a weekend in Paris, here are several more suggestions…
- Visit the world-famous Louvre Museum
- Visit the fancy Versailles Palace in a day trip
- Let your inner child go free at Disney world
- Climb the Eiffel Tower!
- Take a river cruise
- Explore the spooky catacombs!
- Enjoy dinner whilst watching a cabaret show at the famous Moulin Rouge
- Take the hop on hop off bus to see all the big attractions
- Visit Château de Fontainebleau
- Take a tour around Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre
- See all the highlights on a segway tour of Paris
Further Reading about Paris
Read These Articles Next…
- Visiting Barcelona in summer
- Visiting Madrid in winter
- Visiting Seville – an interview with a local.
- Visiting Rome in winter
- Visiting Prague in winter
- Interview with a Local: Berlin
- More Interviews with Locals for worldwide cities…
Please feel free to comment below! I always love hearing from you! Have you been to any of these places? What was your favourite thing about Paris?!
