Exploring France: 7 Days in Paris & 5 Days in the South of France

I just came back from spending two weeks soaking up the magic of France — 7 days in Paris followed by 5 days in Nice with day trips along the stunning Côte d’Azur, AKA the French Riviera. From classic French cookware stores and the best bakeries in Paris to hidden coffee gems and seaside towns in the south, here’s a complete guide to what I loved, ate, and explored.

Paris — 7 Days of Food, Shops & Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Highlight: Le Marais

Le Marais quickly became my favorite neighborhood in Paris. It’s a perfect blend of historic charm and trendy vibes, with cute streets lined with boutique shops, cozy cafés, and beautiful architecture. Inside Le Marais is Les Archives, a haven for vintage shopping—you can easily spend hours browsing through carefully curated thrift stores and vintage boutiques.

One popular spot here is Sézane, known for their beautiful sweaters and timeless pieces. I even picked up a pair of shoes there that I’m obsessed with. Even if you don’t shop, the store itself is worth a visit.

This neighborhood also has a beautiful park to sit in as well as a museum highlighting French history.

Must-Visit Cookware Stores

If you love cooking (or just beautiful kitchen gear), Paris is a dream. Around the same area, you’ll find several cookware stores within walking distance of each other.

• E. Dehillerin — famous for their copper pots and pans, including the iconic Mauviel brand, like the ones seen in the Ratatouille kitchen. They wrap everything up carefully, so packing is no stress. Definitely do your research before on anything you want because it can be a bit overwhelming inside.

• Mora — another classic store with a huge variety of kitchen tools. They had a lot more tools and even speciality ingredients here for baking like silicone molds, sprinkles, color dyes, etc.
• Sabre — specializes in cutlery, and they offer custom-made knives with designs, colors, and personalization options.

Bakeries & Pastries🥐🥖🍞

Paris is made for bakery hopping, and here are my favorites:

• Boulangerie Utopie — winner of the Best Baguette in Paris 2024 competition, which is a huge deal here. This contest is a big tradition where bakers compete for the title, and winning means your baguette is officially among the best in the city and you get to supply the palace and President with baguettes for the whole year. The baguette was amazing. We ate the entire thing with some butter, cheese, jam, and some deli meats.

• Pain Pain — the almond croissant here is heavenly, and their vanilla éclair is next-level delicious. I went back here twice for both items!
• Mamiche — their plain croissants are flaky perfection, and I loved their baguette chicken sandwich for a casual lunch. I tried a few plain croissants in France and this was by far the best, no comparison truly. Be prepared to wait in line here though!

Restaurants Worth Trying

• Figuig — Traditional Moroccan restaurant. We ordered the couscous, lamb tagine, merguez sausage, and chicken bastilla. The bread was amzing too! Every dish was packed with so much flavor. I can’t wait to come back here.

• Le Bon Georges — their steak and frites in peppercorn sauce was the perfect hearty meal. Best steak and frites we had in Paris. This meal is forever ingrained in my heart. I could swim in that sauce. Make a reservation in advance!

• La Côte ou la Cuisse — This restaurant was my second favorite steak and frites spot in Paris, plus their truffle pasta blew me away. Also their bread was heavenly. Definitely better than waiting in line for the famous spots like Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. I got a same-day reservation here pretty easily, so plan ahead but don’t stress! I feel like this was a hidden gem!

• French Tacos — don’t let the name fool you, French tacos aren’t tacos at all! They’re more like a burrito or wrap where you pick your meats, sauce, and fillings. I got the doner meat version, which comes stuffed with fries and this insane cheese sauce—you can add all kinds of extras too. It’s a cheap-eats late night kind of vibe but so delicous when you want something less fancy. There are spots all over Paris and south of France that have these on the menu.

Coffee Spots in Paris

• Perlant — tucked away on a quiet street near the canal, they serve homemade sourdough pastries and sweets.
• Ruine Coffee — solid espresso and cool atmosphere.
• Belen — tiny and intimate near the Eiffel Tower, baking fresh pastries on site. Wish I discovered this spot sooner becuase it was by our hotel and was so good.
• Bel Horizon Coffee Roasters — had it on our first day right after landing and was amazing.
• Cortado — a must-visit for expertly crafted espresso drinks and a relaxed vibe. More touristy but still cute inside! They also serve this tomato toast that they’re famous for.

Grocery & Picnic Essentials

• La Grande Épicerie de Paris — a gourmet grocery store perfect for picking up specialty butters and high-end groceries. They vaccuum seal butter for you so you can bring it with you on your flight. Just make sure to check it in at the airport because they can toss it out. Also carve out like an entire hour because the store is HUGE and a bit overwhelming! You can get lost in there! I’d recommend coming here for some ingredients for a picnic and walking over to Jardin du Luxembourg right next door.
• G. Detou — a foodie favorite for baking ingredients and other gourmet essentials. I bought some speciality chocolate here for baking.

For picnics, I loved sitting in Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc Monceau, and Place des Vosges — both gorgeous green spaces where you can soak up the Parisian vibe with some fresh bread and cheese or a pastry.

Things to Do in Paris

• Stroll and shop in Le Marais and within it, Les Archives. So many vintage shops and Parisian brands. We strolled around on Sunday and even stumbled on an antique/flea market.
• Visit the Grand Mosque of Paris, a beautiful architectural gem with serene gardens.
• Spend a lazy afternoon picnic-ing in Jardin du Luxembourg or Jardin Monceau.
• Museums! So many museums throughout the city. I skipped the Louvre because I can’t handle crowds but I checked out the Carnavalet Museum which is free to enter and is focused on the history of Paris as a city and the history of France.
• Walk up the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre for a beautiful aerial view of Paris. The Montmarte neighborhood is so charming and has a more village like feel with the cobblestone roads so make sure to walk around too.
• Sit along the Canal Saint Martin with some snacks or a coffee and soak the sun in.
• Walk along the Seine River! So beautiful right before sunset, did this twice because of how much I loved it.
• Passages Couverts!! These are hidden, glass-roofed arcades from the 19th century tucked between buildings—kind of like secret indoor alleyways filled with old bookstores, antique shops, cafés, and boutiques. They’re a cozy escape from the busy streets and feel like stepping into another time. Some of the prettiest ones are Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, and Passage Jouffroy. Perfect for a quiet stroll, rainy day exploring, or grabbing a coffee in a beautiful setting.

South of France — 5 Days in Nice & Day Trips

Moving on to the south of France! We took a 6 hour train ride from Paris to Nice. We stayed in Nice as our base for five days and took day trips from there to some of the most beautiful towns on the French Riviera. Getting around was a breeze and you can take the train or use Uber or the Bolt app. The crowds on the local train were too insane for us so we just used Uber and Bolt. Here’s a quick travel guide from Nice:

• Villefranche-sur-Mer — 15 minutes by train, a colorful and charming seaside village.
• Èze — about 30 minutes, known for its hilltop views and the exotic garden. You have to visit the garden and stroll through the old town.
• Monaco — 30–40 minutes, luxurious and glamorous. My least favorite because it’s not my vibe but the highlight for me was the Prince’s Collection of Vintage Cars Museum — a must-see if you’re into classic cars like I am.
• Antibes — about 25 minutes, very relaxed with beautiful beaches.
• Cannes — around 35 minutes, perfect for a stroll along the promenade and lots of shopping.
• Menton – right near the Italian border, colorful buildings, quiet charm, and a super relaxed coastal feel. It’s famous for lemons! (about 40 min)

Other Random Things to Do

In Nice, Cours Saleya Market is a daily flower market (except Mondays). On Monday mornings, the space transforms into the largest antique and flea market around, with everything from vintage linens to silverware, jewerly, and unique finds. My favorite thing I got to do in Nice!

Walk or hike up to Colline du Château (Castle Hill) for the most stunning panoramic view of the coastline and rooftops. It’s a bit of a climb, but totally worth it. There’s also a waterfall at the top and lots of shady spots to sit and relax.

Bike along the Promenade des Anglais for the most dreamy ride right next to the water. You can rent a bike from city stations or an app and cruise along the beach, stop for gelato, or just enjoy the breeze.

Wander through Old Town (Vieux Nice) with its colorful buildings, winding streets, and endless gelaterias. It’s the best place to get lost in.

Food & Coffee in the South

• Felix (Nice) — had the most incredible truffle fettuccine Alfredo here. It was absolutely to die for, and I’m already planning to recreate it at home.
• La Claque Café (Nice) — a cozy spot for coffee or a sweet afternoon break.
• Le Kawa (Nice) — near the train station, perfect for brunch. I loved the msamman breakfast plate with fried eggs—comfort food at its best.
• Saddle (Cannes) — incredible breakfast sandwiches with plenty of non-pork meat options, which can be rare in France. Great for breakfast or lunch before exploring.

✨ Random Things to Know That No One Tells You ✨

These are all the little things I wish someone had told me before going to France—some small, some essential, but all super helpful:

• They won’t bring you the bill unless you ask.
  French dining culture is relaxed, and once your food arrives, the server leaves you alone. It’s meant to give you space to enjoy your meal without being rushed. But if you’re short on time, ask for the check when your food arrives to avoid waiting later.
• Most restaurants close between lunch and dinner.
  Don’t get caught off guard—many places shut down between 2 PM and 7 PM, and dinner service usually starts around 7 PM or later. If you’re hungry in the afternoon, head to a bakery or café.
• Double-check hours—places are often closed Sundays and Mondays.
  A lot of shops, cafés, and restaurants are closed one or both of those days. Some even close Saturday through Monday. Always check their hours online before you go so you don’t miss out on spots you’ve been excited to try.
• Make restaurant reservations ahead of time.
  Even for casual spots in Paris, tables fill up fast. I had good luck getting same-day reservations, but if it’s a popular place—especially dinner—booking ahead will save you the headache.
• Bring a plug adapter.
  France uses Type C or E plugs, and U.S. chargers won’t work without an adapter. All the hotels had USB ports but they didn’t have universal outlets.
• Use the Bolt app for rides in the South of France.
  It works just like Uber but is usually cheaper. We used it a lot in Nice and for some of the day trips.
• Not everywhere takes Amex.
  A lot of places prefer Visa, and smaller cafés or boutiques sometimes won’t accept American Express at all. Make sure to carry a backup card.

🇫🇷 Q&A: What You Might Want to Know Before Visiting France

Q: What’s the weather like in late May to early June?
A: Truly the dream. Paris had a little bit of everything—some days were breezy and chilly, perfect for a trench coat, and others were warm and sunny enough for a tee and sunglasses. In Nice, it was perfect every single day—warm, bright, and breezy without being too hot or humid. If I could pick an ideal time to go again, this would be it.

Q: Is it safe to travel in France as a hijabi?
A: Yes, I felt safe the whole time. This was my experience as a tourist NOT someone who lives there. Whether in Paris or the South of France, I didn’t experience anything negative or uncomfortable. People were friendly or just minding their own business, and I walked around freely, shopped, dined, and explored without any issues. My favorite thing was nobody ever stared which is the complete opposite for me in America. There are also hijabis everywhere since France has a huge North African population!

Q: Do you need to speak French?
A: Not at all! I barely spoke French beyond the basics like “bonjour,” “merci,” and “s’il vous plaît,” and I got around just fine. Most people in restaurants, cafés, and shops spoke enough English to help, and everyone was super patient. A smile and a friendly tone go a long way. Just always start with bonjour and if after 5pm, say bonsoir. Little gestures in French go a long way!

Q: Is France expensive?
A: It depends on how you travel. Paris definitely has its expensive moments, but you can balance things out with affordable eats—like boulangerie sandwiches, cafés, or even French tacos (which are nothing like actual tacos but sooo good). In the South of France, things felt a bit more affordable overall. My tip? Mix in some splurge meals with more casual bites and you’ll be fine. Less touristy spots, just like anywhere else, will be more affordable.

Q: Did you need a car for Paris or the South of France?
A: Nope! For Paris, they have the best train system that is the easiest to navigate and is literally on every corner. For Nice, not at all! You can use the train, Uber, or the Bolt app. Everything is super close—Cannes and Antibes are about 30 minutes, Monaco and Èze around 20–30 minutes, and Villefranche is literally 10 minutes away. Super easy and scenic train rides too.

Q: Should I make restaurant reservations in advance?
A: 100% yes. Especially in Paris—some restaurants book up quickly even if they’re not fancy. I was able to grab some same-day reservations too, but for spots you really want to visit, it’s better to plan ahead.