This is the perfect plan for your weekend in Paris

Paris is such a city where you can make a hundred lists of hotspots and still think at the end: have I done enough? That's why I've gathered my favorite places for you, but just a little differently. No list of twenty separate restaurants and coffee spots where you then have to create a route yourself, but just: you go on your way and I’ll tell you what to do when.

Because a weekend in Paris doesn't have to be complicated at all. You need good coffee, a bit of vintage, delicious food, a few drinks, and of course a place where you can dance in the evening.

Just take the train

To start: take the train. From the Netherlands, you can easily get to the center of Paris, and I personally find it so much nicer than the hassle with an airport, luggage, and an alarm clock that goes off way too early. And for those who didn't know: you can take much more with the Eurostar than with an average airplane, namely two large suitcases per person and also hand luggage.

Once you arrive, drop your stuff at your hotel or Airbnb and then the weekend begins. No elaborate plan packed with every hour, but a few good addresses that you can just visit one after the other.

First, take a walk along the Seine

If you arrive early, I wouldn't dive straight into a coffee bar. First, walk a bit through the city. My favorite way to start a weekend in Paris is with the Seine, especially around the 6th arrondissement. This place is easily reachable by metro from Gare du Nord and guarantees a beautiful morning walk.

You already know those typical Parisian images: the Seine, the old buildings, people walking with a baguette under their arm, and you thinking that you’ve got the lead role in Emily in Paris .

Just walk around without too much purpose. That might be the best way to spend your first hour in Paris.

Then: coffee at DAARK

After that walk, you definitely deserve coffee . And for that, I would go to DAARK in Le Marais. This is a place that immediately makes me happy. The interior is minimalist and incredibly cool, but it’s mainly about good coffee here. DAARK is located on Rue de Turenne and is still relatively new in Paris.

I would especially recommend sitting down here instead of taking your coffee to go. Paris is not a city to drink everything hastily on the go. Take that fifteen minutes of rest, order something delicious, and pretend you come here every Saturday morning.

Lunch at Café de la Poste

You must be feeling hungry by now. From DAARK, you can then head towards Café de la Poste. This place is located on Rue de Turenne and is exactly the kind of spot where you settle down for an extensive lunch and actually don’t want to leave anymore. This place is also nicely situated in Le Marais.

And really a mega tip; go here for the caesar salad. It is ABNORMAL at Café de la Poste, and ensures a well-filled stomach so you can tackle the rest of the fun day.

On to vintage shopping

Have you even been to Paris if you haven't visited the vintage shops? Certainly not. After lunch, it’s time to test your wallet a bit. Of course, you can go to the big stores, but yes, you have those in the Netherlands too. Boring, therefore. I would go vintage shopping instead.

Since you’re already in Le Marais, definitely start at Maison Francoeur. Type this location into Google Maps and you’ll find it easily. These vintage shops make every fashion heart beat faster and have the most amazing pieces to enrich your wardrobe.

For a slightly lower budget, there are also the BHUMI’s. That’s a chain of vintage shops, and there are plenty in Paris. For your itinerary, I would go to the vintage shop located on Rue de Rivoli (nice and close to Le Marais). This one has a more curated selection than other budget-friendly vintage shops, so you don’t have to sift through a hundred racks before you find something nice. But we’re not done shopping yet.

On to Saint-Ouen

Because if you love vintage and interiors, you really shouldn't skip Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. This is not just any market, but a gigantic area with different markets and hundreds of traders. You’ll find furniture, lamps, art, crockery, vintage clothing, and truly everything you think at home: do I need this? No. Do I want it? Absolutely.

Especially if you love interiors, I would stay here a bit longer. Marché Dauphine is for example a good place to start if you’re looking for vintage furniture, design, and unique interior items. And definitely bring a big bag. Not because you’re necessarily going to buy something, but just for safety.

Delicious dining at Libertino

After a long day of shopping and wandering, you’re probably hungry again. Time to drop the shopping bags and go out for a nice dinner.

My tip: Libertino. This Italian restaurant on Rue de Paradis is the kind of place you want to go to with a group of friends, but where a date wouldn’t be wrong either. Think Italian food, wine, and especially a lot of coziness. The concept and the people who work there are already admirable enough, and you haven’t even tasted your appetizer yet. This place is truly a recommendation if you want to enjoy a hearty meal without laying your entire wallet on the table.

And definitely order several things to share. Because when you’re in Paris and you can choose between one dish and four dishes from the menu, we all know what the answer is.

First, a drink

After dinner, the evening certainly doesn’t have to be over yet. For a drink, I would go to Le Nouvel Institut. This is one of those Parisian bars where you don’t necessarily go to drink a perfectly styled cocktail at a marble bar, but just for a drink, good atmosphere, and an evening that naturally becomes longer than planned.

And bonus: the prices here are much friendlier than at some trendy cocktail bars in Paris (where you almost pay twenty euros for an Amaretto Sour). The bar even calls itself an affordable neighborhood brasserie and has a happy hour that runs all day.

On to Serpent à Plume

And then we come to my favorite part of the evening: Serpent à Plume. If all goes well, you’ve already had the cheaper drinks and don’t necessarily need much more. This place is located at Place des Vosges and is exactly the kind of address you’re glad to know. You walk in and find yourself in a rather unique cocktail bar with an interior that makes your eyes wander in all directions.

But more importantly: you can also catch some jazz here. On Wednesdays, there’s Hot Jazz in the basement starting at 9 PM, and on Sundays, there’s jazz manouche. So if you plan your weekend well, I would definitely keep an evening free for this.

If you can still handle it: dancing at Silencio

But well, you’re in and staying in Paris. So going to bed at midnight? That’s possible, of course, but I would say: be a little crazy. The last stop of the evening for me is Silencio. The club on Rue Montmartre is designed around the world of David Lynch and is one of the more well-known nightclubs in Paris.

So this is no longer the quiet wine from earlier in the evening. Here the music starts and you can dance out the rest of your energy. For twenty euros entrance, you’re in and can enjoy the sultry atmosphere in the trendiest basements of Paris.

And the next morning?

Don’t plan too much. Really not. Just leave that for what it is. Grab a croissant somewhere, drink another coffee, and just walk into another neighborhood. Paris is especially fun when you occasionally deviate from your plan. And if you want an extra local tip: Marché des Enfants Rouges is also a part of Paris that I would definitely recommend stopping by.

My main tip for a weekend in Paris remains: don’t try to see everything. That’s simply impossible. But still, these are the best recommendations if you need some guidance to make a plan. A few good addresses, lots of walking, delicious food, and enough time to spontaneously pop into a terrace.