Paris in the Spring

I’ll never forget my first trip to Paris, back in the Spring of 2010.

This was before I started working for The International Kitchen, back when I plotted all my trips by myself. I printed off maps left and right. I studied maps of the metro and learned how to navigate before we even touched down at Charles de Gaulle airport.

And then my husband (then boyfriend) and I arrived, took the train into the city, and my breath was taken away… The very first thing we did after arriving? We stopped at a local boulangerie, bought a baguette, and walked down to the Seine. We soaked it all in, and in that moment, a love affair with this grand, historic city was born.

Visit Paris on our Best of Paris tour.

March was a wonderful time to go. While still a bit on the cooler side, there were hardly any tourists — even on the day we went to Versailles! (That said, I’ve since learned Thursday is one of the least-crowded days to visit the stunning royal chateau). We spent most of our time wandering the streets, finding hidden gems, stopping at a new cafe each day for un café and a baguette — and some people watching, and even more people watching in the many gardens.

See our 6 Sites Not to Miss in Paris.

In early March the gardens weren’t yet in bloom (April is a better time to see the flowers), but the gardens were still wonderful… we spent more than our fair share of time sitting on park benches or chairs — yes places like the Luxembourg garden had chairs! — snacking on a macaron, enjoying the sunshine, and watching as the kids raced boats in the fountain.

Try a Parisian Rendezvous culinary vacation!

Of course a trip to Paris isn’t complete with at least a stop at the Eiffel Tower, and it also makes the perfect place for a picnic. We grabbed a few items from the local market, and enjoyed the awe-inspiring view while we enjoyed our lunch. And if you haven’t already guessed, food was a big part of our trip to Paris — if only I had known about cooking vacations and cooking classes back then! Even though it was just starting to warm up, we enjoyed a few meals al fresco in covered terraces — some restaurants even supplied blankets! (Again, this is March we’re talking about… Spring really comes to life in April!)

Let’s be honest. Paris is a magnificent city any time of year, but with my first visit to Paris being in the Springtime, it holds an extra special place in my heart.

See more travel tips on visiting Paris, including Arriving in Paris, Our Favorite Things to See in Paris, and Paris Neighborhoods.

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