Of course, the word “itinerary” doesn’t sit too well alongside the word “romantic”, as there is nothing less romantic than sticking rigidly to a plan – except maybe having no plan at all. You can soon find yourselves wandering aimlessly through prostitute filled streets, failing to find somewhere to eat that you can both agree on. This could lead to squabbles, stropping, stomping off and unless you are really good at making up – a ruined holiday.

This article is to give you some inspiration on how to prepare for your trip to ‘gay Paris’ (pronounced Paree – with a throaty ‘r’), in order to ensure you make the most of your limited time there and have a wonderful, stress free and romantic time.

The Plan

Planning your trip is not nerdy and dull, it’s part of the fun. It makes your holiday start a little sooner and builds up the excitement as you begin to imagine what to expect. Importantly, it also gives you the opportunity to select the most important things for you both to see and do, giving you a good starting point from which to base your trip. There are so many options that if you try to decide what you want to do when you get there, you could end up wasting your precious time. By at least agreeing the bare essentials, it will prevent you from trying to cram too many things into your trip, leaving you exhausted. Everything else can just fall into place around your main demands.

Check The Opening Times

If your trip will include museums, galleries, buildings and monuments, make sure you check opening times. The Louvre and the Pompidou Centre are both closed on a Tuesday and Musee D’Orsay is closed on a Monday. It is easy to end up disappointed if you don’t look ahead to see what will be open on the days you are there. You also need to be aware of the time that places shut so you don’t perform a mammoth journey across Paris on the Metro and RER, only to find upon arriving at your destination that it is about to close its doors to the public.

Book Ahead

Another thing to be aware of is that you are probably not going to be the only people in Paris. If your plans include the Opera, a grand cabaret show at Le Lido, or marvelling at the twinkling lights of la Tour Eiffel whilst on a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine, you may consider booking in advance. Otherwise you could find yourself arriving excited only to be turfed back on to the unfamiliar streets to find a last minute alternative. The same goes for any restaurant you decide to eat at. If your planning stage unveils a spectacular, in demand restaurant, such as Le Grand Véfour, with its view of the Palais-Royal, book ahead and you won’t be disappointed.

Know Where You Are

Make sure you have a map. Much of Paris is walkable, but unlike wandering around Venice, you can get yourselves severely on the wrong track if you wander mapless through Paris. If you don’t want to spend the trip with your head buried in a map though, familiarise yourselves with the main Boulevards and monuments before you go. It is useful to know that Paris is connected via these Boulevards by a series of squares, or ‘Places’ and there are regular sign posts which will help you to get your bearings if you have some vague knowledge of the street plan.

The Main Tourist Attractions

You don’t need to look far to find information about the major monuments, buildings and attractions, such as La Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, Arc De Triomphe, Palais-Royal, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre, plus all the museums. Beware the inflated prices around these areas, although they are sometimes worth paying. Some of the restaurants on and around Avenue des Champs-Élysées are significantly more expensive than those in the heart of the less touristic districts, but if you have the Euros, they are definitely worth a try. In the Champs-Élysées gardens at Ledoyen, although you will spend a small fortune, you will be paying for three-star quality dishes in elegant 18th century surroundings.

See Some of the Real Paris

If you have never been to Paris before, seeing the main monuments and visiting the world renowned museums is probably high on the priority list, but it is worth spending some time away from the tourist traps and discovering the real streets of Paris, where the Parisians go. For trendy bars and cafés try Rue Oberkampf and the area around Rue Drouot. Take part in Maurice C’est La Nuit – a French digital radio show that is broadcast live from the not so French sounding ‘La Saint George’s Tavern’. For a genuine Parisian market, try Rue d’Aligre, where you can find amazing Charcuteries, cheese Delicatessens and second hand clothing stalls in a market with a lively atmosphere, housed in a beautiful 19th century building.

Shopping

Paris oozes style and is the fashion capital of the world. The enormous department store – Galeries Lafayette, all of the designer boutiques around St. Germain, plus the larger than life outlets on the Champs-Élysées are irresistible, but usually just for one half of your partnership. They are certainly worth a bit of window shopping, but otherwise unadvisable for a romantic weekend as they are just too good a distraction.

Paris for Artists and Intellectuals

No matter where you are in Paris, you will be able to find some connection to an artist, writer or great thinker. It has a reputation for producing great movements in art, literacy and philosophy and has drawn in exceptional icons from each of these fields. Following in the footsteps of such greats can also feel romantic as you reflect on their contributions at the cafés in which they once sat. Move at a slow pace between Pont Neuf (famously painted by both Monet and Renoir), the Café Guerbois and Café de la Nouvelle-Athènes, where the impressionists regularly gathered, Café de Flore on the Left Bank, where Jean-Paul Sartre wrote his 1944 play, “No Exit” and cimetiere du Père Lachaise, the graveyard that famously houses the resting places of Chopin, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde, to name but a few.

Paris On A Budget

It is fair to say that a break in Paris is not going to be cheap, but if you are on a budget, this again is where your planning comes in handy. On a romantic break it is not necessary to pay for the expensive attractions, simply walk everywhere and take in all the sights along the way. Plan your route so that it takes you past things you want to see. Shop at markets, Charcuteries and Boulangeries-Patisseries; then make your own sandwich and sit in the Jardins des Tuileries to eat, admiring the immense structure of the Louvre, dating back to the 12th Century, with its contrasting contemporary pyramids. You could also compromise on the hotel to allow a bit more spending money while you are there, or indulge in some discount shopping to get a decently priced hotel and make it more affordable. Packages are available that cut costs further. It is worth noting that if you travel on the Eurostar, your ticket entitles you to two for one entry into many of the museums and attractions.

Keeping the Memories

Photographs are a wonderful way of keeping hold of your memories, so be sure to pack a camera and attempt arty shots as well as holiday snaps. Having an album of your trip will allow you to be nostalgic as you relive the memories in the pictures in years to come.

Fin