Is there anything better than Paris in the fall? How about Paris in the spring, winter, or summer?
It’s always a good time to be in the City of Light, whether you—like Rihanna, SZA, Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi, or Vogue editors—are there for Paris Fashion Week, planning a trip with your friends, or jetting off for a romantic getaway.
The city looms large in our collective imagination, cemented as a near-mythic site of fantasy and romance thanks to its starring role in the oeuvres of authors (Victor Hugo, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein), artists (Picasso, Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, Degas, van Gogh), and filmmakers (Amélie, Moulin Rouge!, An American in Paris, Breathless, Cléo from 5 to 7, Ratatouille, Funny Face, Zazie dans le Métro… the list goes on). For legendary fashion designers like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Paris has also been an endless muse.
Ask a fashion group chat for Paris recommendations, and the entries will come flooding in. And while most visitors will know the most iconic tourist spots—the Eiffel Tower! The Louvre! Notre Dame!—the spots that encompass the true soul of the city can be a bit harder to find. With that in mind, Vogue asked its editors where they stay, eat, shop, and sightsee across the arrondissements.
Some answers are for the classicists—you can’t go wrong enjoying an evening of soufflé and a night at the ballet. Others are for those seeking alternative activities, from five-Euro dumplings to vintage shops. (Speaking of vintage: we have a whole guide to the city’s best vintage stores here.)
Below, find Vogue’s Paris travel guide.
Where to Stay
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The Cheval Blanc in Paris.Photo: Alexandre Tabast
“The feel is 1930s meets 1970s, cool elegance with a bit of grooviness,” Vogue wrote of the new Cheval Blanc Paris, which opened this September. The five-star hotel, which is owned by LVMH, boasts four restaurants, a Dior spa, and grand suites with stunning views of the Seine. —Elise Taylor, former senior lifestyle writer
Hotel Duc De Saint Simon is the perfect, petit hotel with all the elegant chintz you want tucked in a perfect little courtyard in the 6eme. —Chloe Malle, head of editorial content
By sheer luck and her connections, my friend got us a stay at this ultra-luxurious hotel. You feel like a celebrity as soon as you walk through its doors. The service was impeccable, and the rooms evoke classic French luxury. Some of the rooms have balconies looking onto the Eiffel Tower. What more could you ask for? —Christian Allaire, senior fashion and style writer
On the middle of Avenue Kléber in the 16th arrondissement is the romantic and five-star Hotel Raphael. The interiors are adorned in a mixture of Louis XVI and Belle Epoque decor, creating an all-encompassing aura of grandeur that can only exist in Paris. —Elise Taylor
The former Louvre Post Office now houses Madame Rêve, a hotel that opened in fall 2021. Its 82 rooms offer stunning views over the city, and from the roof (where sunrise yoga sessions take place), you can see the Eiffel Tower. The interior design scheme—a soothing combination of goldenrod yellow, burgundy, and wood—extends into the downstairs restaurant and cocktail bar, where the feeling is cozy even with the chandeliers and high ceilings. The hotel is ideally located near the Louvre and an easy walk into the Marais. For breakfast, pick up pastries a couple of blocks away at Stohrer, a patisserie that’s been around since 1730. —Ella Riley-Adams, former contributor
Martin Brudnizki designed this fashionably maximalist hotel in Le Marais, where each room comes with a tapestry-covered bed, and closets are lined with lobster and paisley print wallpaper. (The indoor pool, with its painted ceiling, is among the most beautiful I’ve seen.) Make sure to book a dinner at Boulabe, which is helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Assaf Granit. —Elise Taylor
The Ritz Paris is one of the most famous hotels in the world—if not the most famous. And with good reason: stepping inside is like stepping inside another, grander era, with its Louis XV furnishings, rare books, canopied beds, and gilded chandeliers. Afternoon tea at Salon Proust is a must, as is a drink at the famed Bar Hemingway. —Elise Taylor
19 Avenue Kléber in the 16th has lived many lives: First, it once belonged to Queen Isabella II of Spain, who resided there after her exile. Then, it became Hotel Majestic, where George Gershwin wrote An American in Paris, before becoming the Ministry of Defense. Its latest journey? Housing the Peninsula Paris, which honors its history-rich atmosphere while embracing modern touches. When I stayed there this summer, I was in awe of the efficient amenities and services—an in-room iPad allows you to submit an array of requests that will be executed within minutes—as well as the romantic lodgings: Every morning, I could open my window to gaze upon a Beau Arts balcony. It’s perfect for the traveler in need of all the modern bells and whistles, but who still wants to indulge in the old-school Paris fantasy. —Elise Taylor
Saint James Paris in the 16th was absolute heaven on earth on a recent visit, which I wrote about here—a perfect calm counterpoint to the rest of the bustling and busy city. And its Michelin-starred restaurant, Bellefuille, shouldn’t be missed (whether you’re staying here or somewhere else in Paris). —Corey Seymour
This hotel, which opened last year, is just a short stroll from the beautiful Boulevard Saint-Germain, in the 6th arrondissement. The quaint, 34-room hotel is perfect for those looking for quiet charm. The stylish, tastefully decorated rooms will have you feeling like you’re visiting a stylish local’s apartment. —Christian Allaire
Tucked behind the Luxembourg Gardens in the heart of St Germain des Pres, this really is a hotel for serious travelers. With Fabrizio Casiraghi’s elegant interiors in sumptuous shades of cream and Diptyque toiletries, I was ready to move in. —Chloe Malle
Where to Eat: The Best Restaurants, Cafés & More
Photo: Getty Images
