Paris & the alsace region of france
I came back to this post to update my Paris recommendations, and realized I actually had to rewrite the whole intro. Here’s a short bite of how is started before early 2025: “I have a theory about Paris - you either hate it or you love it to the point of obsession. Sadly, I think I hate it. I’ve been twice, and both times I was underwhelmed.”
And now, returning from a four day stay in Paris, I have to say, I’ve changed my tune. I finally get why people love it so much (and I went on this recent trip in the dead of winter). And while it’s not moving to the top of my list of favorite places, I am ready to finally sing its praises and share some amazing spots.
This guide also spotlights the Alsace wine region of France, which I have visited a few times and love dearly. Perhaps I was meant for the French countryside and not the city, because it was one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. I also spent some time in Strasbourg at the Christmas market last year which fulfilled all my European Christmas expectations. You can read more about all my French adventures below and what I feel are the best cities to visit in France.
ALSACE REGION
STRASBOURG CHRISTMAS MARKET
PARIS
ALSACE
If you like wine, good food, and charming small towns, then the Alsace region is the place for you. Bordered by Germany, the area takes inspiration from both countries. Colmar and Strasbourg are the two major cities, although I recommend staying in one of the small towns for the true charm. The area is known for the Alsatian wines, which include Riesling, Pinot blanc, Pinot Gris, and more.
Where to eat
When in the region, you must try the Alsatian tart. It’s a thin, pizza-like dish topped with creamy cheese, onions, and bacon. They have a wide variety of offerings on the tart, but this is the classic and most delicious one. You’ll also see a lot of signs for choucroute - don’t be deceived and think it says charcuterie, because there is no cheese; it’s actually giant pieces of sausages and other salted, cooked meats served with saeurkraut.
I’ve eaten so many great, classic French dishes during my stays, see my favorites here:
Where to taste the local wines
It’s important to note that wine tastings work a little differently than in the US, but in a good way. Most shops are located separate from the vineyards, and offer unlimited tastings of any of their wines you’d like to try, often with a heavy pour. The assumption is that you’ll end up buying something that you’re tasting (but if not, don’t sweat it). We went to Wolfberger, Cattin, and Ginglinger Paul on the Alsace wine route. Cattin was unique as it had a restaurant and patio, so we paid for a flight of wines, which was affordable and also had incredible views of the region.
What to do (other than eat and drink)
There are endless things to do in the Alsace region and it’s a wine lover’s dream. There is a cluster of small towns that make up the region and each has its own unique charm. Two of the towns actually served as the inspiration for the setting of Beauty and the Beast, but it’s easy to see this inspiration in any of the towns. A few of my favorite towns were Riquewihr, Ribeauville, and Kayersberg.
The first time we went we rented e-bikes and did a self-guided bike ride with Asla Cyclo Tours and biked for miles through the vineyards, which were all in bloom and absolutely stunning. We also stopped along the way for a few wine tastings. The second time we went we opted to take a bus around the towns and vineyards through Kutzig Bus Tours. They come at a limited schedule, but as it was our second time there, we were fine to only make a couple of stops during the day.
For non-wine-related activities, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is on a mountain in the heart of the region and is worth a trip for stunning views. Colmar is extremely cute to visit, with Petite Venice and Marche Couvert market as the highlights. It is very small, but I would say Colmar is one of the best cities to visit in France. We got sandwiches for lunch at the main market. I had a baguette with butter and ham which was amazing. You can also take a little gondola ride through Petite Venice. Strasbourg is the biggest city in the area and the capital of the EU. My favorite things were walking around Petite France, having an alsatian tart (cheese, bacon and onion) at Maison des Tanneurs, and taking a boat tour of the city.
Where to stay in Alsace
We’ve stayed at quite a few spots in the area. For our first, trip, we stayed in Eguisheim at the Hotel St. Hubert, which was charming and in a great spot. The town is small, so we were within walking distance to everything and had a patio that overlooked a vineyard. On our next trip we went to Colmar and stayed at Residence Pierre & Vacances La Petite Venise, which was more of an apartment-style hotel and in a great location to walk to downtown. I really liked the spot and the price was great too. For my trip to the Strasbourg Christmas Markets (more on that below), we stayed at Hôtel Restaurant d'Alsace The Originals Boutique, just outside of the city. The price was great and the hotel was really nice for the price we paid. It’s right next to the train which runs directly downtown, and an all-day pass will only cost you 7 euros.
STRASBOURG CHRISTMAS MARKET
I’ve added a separate section highlighting one of the best reasons to visit this area - the Christmas markets. I went for two nights to visit the Strasbourg Christmas Markets and they did not disappoint. Here are a few tips and pointers if you’re planning a trip to the Christmas markets in Strasbourg. You can find all the annual details also listed on their website here.
There are ten different markets in the city. The biggest and my favorite was the one in the main square under the cathedral. Note that this is also the busiest one, but had the best for both gifts, food, and ambiance.
For a ton of food selection, try the Place Broglie one.
For something quirky and nontraditional, try the Place Grimeissen one.
If you’re staying overnight, go to dinner early or call to make a reservation. Note that a lot of restaurants also close around 10/11 since it’s really a smaller town. We ended up either not getting dinner or being the last ones in for a 9PM seating due to poor planning.
We stayed at Hôtel restaurant d'Alsace The Originals Boutique, which is just outside the city. Prices were much lower, and there was a tram stop right outside of the hotel. For 7 euros we got a one-day pass for three people, so it was cheap and convenient.
The one thing we didn’t get to do was visit some of the smaller markets in surrounding towns - the aforementioned towns in the Alsace region all put on Christmas markets and I’ve heard Colmar and Ribauville are two of the top spots to see.
PARIS
Paris is a massive and magical city and there are about 1,000 different ways to plan a trip there. Whether you like food, books, shopping, sightseeing, or history, there is truly something for everyone here. It’s a big and all spread out, so I recommend deciding what your must dos are and planning around that.
When to visit Paris
Paris is a place that is great to visit year round. I haven’t been in the summer in a very long time, but while the city likely looks its best then, I also think it’s overwhelmingly crowded and can feel stuffy in the heat without AC. I recommend visiting in the spring or fall; the weather is mild, there will be leaves on the trees, and it will still feel bustling. We went in the middle of January and every restaurant was busy, so there really is no slow time to go.
Another thing to note - in France, they don’t do sales on shopping, with the exception of a special time twice a year called the soldes. In January and June, retailers are allowed to discount items, and they drop in price as the soldes season goes on. You can read more about it and the timing here, but I highly recommend going then if you like to shop, and then getting your VAT refund on top of that for some discounts even girl math couldn’t dream of.
Where to stay
Because Paris is so spread out, I recommend staying in an area where there are a few sights you want to see and restaurants you want to try. We stayed right between the 5th and 6th arrondissement at Hotel de Suez, and it was a great hotel and even better location. We also considered the 3rd arrondissement in the trendy Le Marais area.
What to do in Paris
Sacre Cour de Montmartre - A huge church on a hill with an awesome view of the city
Notre Dame - The church is iconic in its own right and has a crypt that is worth seeing
Shopping - The Champs Elysse is nice to walk down, but I would avoid any actual shopping here. We loved shopping at Le Bon Marche and the shops nearby it in the St Germain neighborhood. Le Marais was another great shopping neighborhood - they have lots of good vintage spots and a cute store good for trinkets and clothes called Merci. If the weather is decent and you’re looking for home items and decor, the Saint Ouen Flea Market is another fun spot.
Visit the catacombs - this was a bit creepier than I anticipated, but a very cool part of the city’s history
Take a French food class or tour - we did a French baking experience with tastings through Get Your Guide and loved how unique it was (and how many pastries we took home)
Eiffel Tower - From the exterior, I found it rather underwhelming during the day, but it is awesome to see at night. You can see the ‘sparkle’ show on it every hour on the hour from dark until 1AM. I’d also recommend going inside, as you will get great views of the city.
Go to a cabaret show - the Moulin Rouge is the most well known, but the Crazy Horse and Paradis Latin also put on similar shows.
Place de Vosges + Tuileries Garden are great spots for some green space strolling
Visit a museum - there are so many options for this. I liked Musee de Orsay over the The Louvre for art - The Lourve is great to see from the outside, but inside, the Mona Lisa is perhaps one of the most overhyped tourist spots in the world, with hoards of people surrounding a small 8 x 10 painting.
Take a day trip to Versailles - when have I ever met a palace I didn’t like?
Where to eat and drink in Paris
This is one thing I have to say I have never hated - the French know good food and wine. I must have marked 20+ restaurants on my Google Maps before we went on a recent trip, but actually only made it to 1 or 2 of them, yet every meal I had was great. One thing you will need - reservations. I made most of mine the week before, but even in January it was hard to find a spot the one night we did not make a reservation.
There are a lot of great cafes with outdoor seating, and the ambiance makes most spots decent. A crepe, croque monsieur, and baguette are often easy and delicious finds. But, here are a few real reccs:
Le Corner St Germain for steak frites
Baieta for a Mediterranean, Michelin starred menu
Wine bar and small plates at L'Avant Comptoir du Marché
Pepita for Italian
Breizh Cafe for crepes and galettes
Jazz bar at Cafe Laurent