Forget the Bucket List: 3 Days of Spontaneous Paris

Paris is within easy reach of Switzerland; it’s only 3 hours by direct train from Basel and 4 hours from Zurich. Most trains from Switzerland arrive in Paris at the centrally located historic Gare-de-Lyon station and that’s also the area where I would recommend staying. We stayed in a quiet street between Gare-de-Lyon and Bastille but still had plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops nearby. The trendy neighborhood Le Marais is also within walking distance and so is the Canal St. Martin where the locals like to hang out.

We didn’t have big plans for this girls weekend, we just wanted to spend time together, stroll around and eat well. We stayed at the Hôtel Marceau Bastille with breakfast included. They offered a small but good breakfast buffet. The hotel was in the perfect location for us to explore the city.

I had been to Paris before and covered the famous sights back then. What I truly appreciated during this trip were the many pretty buildings and the charming bistro and café terraces at every corner. They look too inviting and it would be tempting to spend the entire day just hopping from bistro to bistro eating and drinking your way through the city.

On our first day we strolled around the Marais neighborhood (3rd and 4th Arrondissement), passing by Place des Vosges and through small streets with many cute shops. And of course a café at every corner. There are no famous sights in this area but it provides a real Paris vibe.

On day two it was raining on and off. We decided to walk to the Panthéon and on the way there we paid a quick visit to the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute), designed by well-known French architect Jean Nouvel (access to the rooftop terrace is free). The building refers to a typical element of Arabic architecture with its responsive metallic sunshades on the south façade, allowing for natural light control based on the amount of sunshine.

From there we headed to the Panthéon, another monument in the Quartier Latin. The Panthéon is a Mausoleum in which many great French men are buried, such as Voltaire, Rousseau or Victor Hugo. And after a long time, in 1995 the first woman was allowed to be buried in the Panthéon, Marie Curie, famous chemist and physician who won a Nobel prize. We first climbed the stairs to enjoy the panoramic views over Paris, even though the sky was cloudy. At the moment there’s also an exhibition about the Paralympics and its history in the Pantheon’s main hall.

After the Panthéon visit we headed to the Jardin du Luxembourg. This big park is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. The Jardin du Luxembourg is a great place to stroll through the gardens and linger around the pond – a real oasis of peace. We just crossed the garden quickly as it started to rain heavily again.

On our third day we explored the area around Gare de Lyon. A delightful discovery was the Viaduc des Arts, an old viaduct housing various artistic ateliers, along with the Paris Highline (Coulée Verte) on top. We enjoyed walking along the lush highline, where many Parisians were exercising. Afterwards, we strolled through the neighborhood, discovering charming international restaurants, quaint shops, and the bustling Marché d’Aligré, near Aligré square. The outdoor market is a vibrant hub where local vendors set up stalls to sell fresh produce, fruits, vegetables and flowers. The colorful atmosphere features vendors enthusiastically promoting their goods while shoppers choose the finest ingredients for their meals.

It was a wonderfully relaxed weekend in Paris, free from the pressure of must-see attractions or a bucket list to tick off. We were simply enjoying ourselves and soaking in the Parisian vibe.