Honeymoon in Paris: The Romantic City of Light

Is there anything more romantic than a honeymoon in Paris?  I certainly don’t think so.  I thought fall was the best time to visit Paris, but spring proved to be equally as lovely.  In fact, we found it so lovely that we skipped the London part of our honeymoon to spend a few extra days in Paris before heading to Ireland.  As they say, Paris is always a good idea.  (Valentine’s Day in Paris is a good idea.  Paris in winter is a good idea.  Christmas in Paris is an even better idea.)

But I digress.

Let’s pick up where we left on from our honeymoon in Venice.  We flew Air France – where we had exactly zero checked bag fees. (I’m telling you – the US should get back to this – there’s just something that makes me salty about paying for bags. Just put it in my ticket price and move on. Don’t make me feel like you’re nickel and diming me.) We soon found ourselves at CDG and were ready to start our honeymoon in Paris – a city I have romanticized since the first time I set foot in it in during October 2004.

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for tours and products I love at no additional cost to you.  You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Paris Honeymoon Ideas

Evening Walking Tour of Paris

If you have never been to Paris, start by booking a night walking tour of the city with Marion.  Marion is the AMAZING tour guide we booked through Discover Walks.  We ended up being the ONLY people on the tour – and she was still absolutely incredible.  I feel like a lot of people would have cancelled the tour or phoned it in, but Marion made us feel so welcome in her beautiful city.  Contact her directly through her Facebook page.  You cannot go wrong by exploring Paris as the sun sets.  Marion was incredibly patient as I stopped to take as many photos as I could.  I feel like strolling the banks of the Seine in the early evening is one of the most romantic things to do in Paris.

Learn from our mistake, however.  This tour is one of the last things we did and it should have been the first.  Marion has a million suggestions about things based on your interests and she knows SO MUCH about her city.  She loves to share.  Because we did this tour on what was supposed to be our last night of our honeymoon in Paris, we ended up canceling the London leg of our trip to stay and experience more of the things she suggested.  Take my word for it.  Marion is an amazing guide.

Read: Even more things to do on your honeymoon in Paris

See the Impressionists in the Musee d’Orsay

Buy tickets early, arrive before the museum opens, or get a Paris pass to skip the inevitable lines.  Every time I go to the Musee d’Orsay, I forget about this option and I stand in line for longer than necessary. I absolutely adore the Musee d’Orsay.  I find it to be more manageable than the Louvre and the art evokes more emotion for me.  Every time I go, I feel like I need to say hello Degas’ perfect ballerinas and the Renoir paintings that were in my room when I was a child.  They feel like old friends.  I find the colors used by the Impressionists to be so romantic.  (Did I mention that I love the ballerinas?)

The museum is generally busy and crowded.  If it’s a nice day, steal a kiss with your love on the rooftop courtyard overlooking the Seine.  If it’s a cold day, grab a meal in the cozy cafe with the famous clock window.  (Is there anything more romantic than the cafe at the Musee d’Orsay?  I don’t think there is.)

Watch the Sunset over the Eiffel Tower

We did this from Trocadero the first night we arrived.  We staked out a place on a bench and watched the light change. (Blue hour in Paris is my favorite hour.)  I waited for that magical moment when the tower slowly begins to light up and then someone flicks the switch and it begins to sparkle for 5 minutes.  It may be touristy, but it’s one of my favorite moments.  (The collective gasp when it sparkles makes me smile.)  We went back at 11:00pm on our last night to see it sparkle (it sparkles on the hour – every hour) – and there were still throngs of people on the Trocadero, dancing, selling cheap Eiffel Tower replicas, and appreciating the greatness of the Iron Lady.

Visit Sacre Coeur

Take the funicular on the way up to Sacre Coeur.  You can take the stairs down but the funicular on the way up is the way to go.  I promise and your quads will thank you.  Sacre Coeur a beautiful church in its own right and, on a clear day (our day was hazy), you can see all the beauty that is Paris stretching ahead of you.  Exploring Montmartre is a great way to spend the afternoon, too!  There are numerous grand prix baguette winners around there.  (We also found Smurf ice cream.  The architecture is beautifully picturesque; it was one of my favorite arrondissements to explore on our honeymoon in Paris!

Visit Notre Dame

Head to Notre Dame late in the day and appreciate the stained glass in this beautiful gothic cathedral.  Read the history and marvel at how they managed to build this massive cathedral so long ago.  Thank Victor Hugo for launching the campaign to save it.  Let me know if you ever figure out a way to capture the entire facade in a beautiful way.

Bonus: After you enjoy the cathedral, head over to the (charming) Ile St. Louis, find the original Berthillion AND enjoy Paris’s best ice cream.  (I love the almond!)

Where We Stayed for our Honeymoon in Paris:

Renaissance Arc de Triomphe

We stayed at the Renaissance Arc de Triomphe.  Location, location, location, oh and did I mention location?  This hotel was absolutely perfect for this trip.  It’s near the Arc de Triomphe and the Etoile metro station, so the entire metro is at your fingertips.  It’s easy to get anywhere from here.  There are several restaurants nearby, though we didn’t frequent any of them.   It felt very safe at night.  We took cabs to Bastille (for dinner), St. Germain, and a few other places when we didn’t want to navigate the subways – fares were always reasonable and, even during rush hour, it didn’t take that long to get around.

As far as our room, we ended up with a prestige wave room that faced the main street but we didn’t hear any noise.  The room was fairly good size (for Paris). The bathroom was small with one of those half shower things that I manage to leak water all over the floor with. The service was friendly and efficient.  They sent up a nice box of chocolates and a large bottle of water when we arrived as our platinum arrival gift.  We could have had free breakfast, but we opted for the points instead.

The biggest selling point of this hotel was the location – and after seeing the Champs Elysees location – I’m glad we chose this one!  We passed the Renaissance Parc Trocadero – which I was intrigued by, but my husband maintains that the Arc de Triomphe is the most convenient location.

07/2021 Update:  We stayed at the Park Hyatt so many times that I’ve lost count. We’ve definitely spent two romantic Valentine’s Day getaways to Paris here, several days before Christmas in Paris, and for at least 10 days in the summer. I would absolutely spend my honeymoon in Paris there.  It’s an incredible hotel in an even more beautiful location.  You can see all the rooms at the Park Hyatt Paris that we’ve stayed in – swoon!

02/2022 Update: We’ve stayed twice at the Hotel du Louvre. If the Park Hyatt Paris is too expensive, I highly recommend the Hotel du Louvre for a Paris honeymoon. I wish we had stayed there!

07/2023 Update: We’ve stayed at Hotel Dress Code four times in the last year, including two trips with each of our parents. It is a lovely hotel. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option that is located close to the main sights in Paris and near the metro, Hotel Dress Code is perfect.

07/2023 Update: We spent a night in an Eiffel Tower deluxe room at the Hyatt Regency Paris. It was a great stay. We enjoyed breakfast, the Regency Club, and having a drink at Windo Sky Bar. It’s a solid option, especially if you are looking to book a hotel on points in Paris.

More Honeymoon in Paris Tips

Book a Romantic Paris Photoshoot

I’m still obsessing over our photoshoot with L’Amour de Paris.  You absolutely need to book a session to commemorate any trip.  It’s my favorite honeymoon souvenir.

Picnic in Paris

Embrace the Parisian picnic. Head to La Melodie des Fromages for cheese, grab a baguette at the closest boulangier, maybe some olives, and a bit of protein from Davoil before heading to the Champs des Mars, Les Berges, the Luxembourg Gardens, or any other beautiful spot you find.  I bought one of the award-winning baguettes for a euro, picked up some olives and prosciutto, and settled down on a bench for the BEST MEAL of our Paris honeymoon (for less than a couple euro)!  Les Berges near Pont Alexandre III has great people watching late in the day.  If gardens are more your speed, the Tuileries or the Luxembourg gardens provide some of the most beautiful park areas in central Paris.  You cannot go wrong with this idea.

If you’re looking for real meals, make sure you check out my Paris restaurant guide.  We’ve come a long way since our honeymoon in Paris!  😉

Visit the Pantheon

If your husband was mesmerized by the Pantheon in Rome, you might as well take him to the Paris Pantheon.  It’s currently being renovated, so we could not enjoy all aspects of it. The ticket price is a little more steep than its Roman counterpart (i.e. there is a ticket price).  I like the architecture, but I’m not sure you need to spend this much to see another beautiful building – particularly one under construction.

Head to Napoleon’s Complex

Is that a bad joke?  Probably so.  If you are super in to military history, head to the Hotel Les Invalides and Napoleon’s Tomb. If you’re not (but your husband is), head here anyway.  If neither one of you are into history, it’s okay to skip it.  We were disappointed because World War II was a special exhibition and our tickets didn’t cover it, but my husband really enjoyed wandering around the rest of the museum.  Their exhibits are really well done – and I liked seeing the uniforms… it’s amazing how well preserved they are!

Next Stop: Ireland

We flew from Paris Orly to Dublin.  Since our flight was fairly early in the morning, we just grabbed a cab from our hotel.  It takes about 45 minutes in rush hour.

Our honeymoon in Paris proved to be a fantastic experience, though we only got a taste of what the city had to offer.  My husband can’t wait to back to Paris – he fell in love with the architecture, the green spaces, and the beauty of the city.  There is no doubt in my mind that we will be back.  If you are planning your own honeymoon in Paris, I suggest finding a central location and giving yourselves plenty of time to wander.  The beauty of Paris is being outside and enjoying the city.  Schedule one or two sights a day and slow down and enjoy the magic.  And, make sure to get out in the evenings.  There is nowhere more romantic than Paris at night.

For More Paris Planning Inspiration:

Park Hyatt Paris REview // Hotel DU Louvre review // Hotel Dress Code Paris REVIEW // Where to EAt in Paris // WINE AND FOOD TOURS IN PARIS // Foods to try in paris // RITZ ESCOFFIER PASTRY CLASS IN PARIS // Things to Do in Paris // Christmas in Paris // Long Weekend in Paris // Winter in Paris // Honeymoon in Paris // 4 Days in Paris Itinerary // 10 Day Paris Itinerary (Written for GET yOUR GUIDE)