Traveling in Paris this Valentine’s day in pandemic time? Yes, because why not?
There are times when we hesitate to travel because the pandemic is still there. Sometimes we feel it is a mission impossible because many travel restrictions are in place. Take it from me – I don’t think we should wait for five years before freeing ourselves. Above all, we are a responsible traveler.
I know how much you and your partner deserve to be in Paris this year. I can feel how you both work more than the standard 40 hours per week or even more than that. I know you haven’t been anywhere far since the lockdown in 2020. And hey! It’s 2021 and let’s clear our schedules for Paris…but, that is if there is no more pandemic.
Paris DNA has always been built inside and out, wherever you go there will never be a shortage of surprises with your loved ones during Valentine’s Day. And to keep you guided, I always have the best list for you apart from the famous Eiffel Tower; I arranged the most out of my itinerary from dining to walking down in museums that surely suits your to-dos with your partner so that you’ll spend the best of your time there.
1. Visit Romantic Museums
Picasso Museum and the Marais
On a day visit to Paris, I recommend you to mark a list of Museums before going to other places. Spend the day wandering with your partner visiting boutiques, art galleries, and museums. Just like this lovely Musée Picasso in Paris house, you’ll enjoy over 5,000 artworks. It’s the only museum that comprises the original and complete paintings and sculptures of the artist.
Musée de la Vie Romantique
It’s the museum that was dedicated to life during the Romantic period. In this in-house art, you can find the artwork of painter Ary Scheffer and writer George Sand and other contemporaries. For more random experience, you can tour some of its preserved spaces around the corner of the building and discover something by yourself. Of course, I won’t tell.
Musée de l’Orangerie
An old greenhouse turns into an art gallery dedicated to a living artist of late 19th and 20th-century artworks. It’s famous for its water lilies 8-panel painting and also has a library, bookshop, historical archives, gift and coffee shop inside the gallery itself.
Musée Rodin
For first-time visitors, the garden museum was built for wealthy visitors. Ouch! That sounds demeaning but that was 200 years ago. It was totally worth it when you see the entire place. The reason why people gathered in this place is to see Auguste Rodin’s famous “The Gates of Hell” and “The Thinker” sculpture made of three bronze casts.
2. Visit Romantic Parks
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Imagine, it’s a sunny day on Valentine’s Day and you’re walking around with your partner with some other Parisians in the park soaking in sunset rays. If you’re a sporty kind of lover and want to jog around a large expanse of grass then put on your running shoes, run free, and hold your partner’s hand. Aside from the playground and benches, you can walk along the suspension bridge and witness the beautiful waterfall in the Grotto.
Jardin du Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Garden is a perfect place to relax with your partner after a long day roaming around the city. One fine moment to inhale and enjoy a bit of fresh air is the best way to spend your visit to Paris. This place as surrounded by flowers and trees makes the place shady –an ideal ground to play tennis and beekeeping with your partner.
Jardin des Tuileries
This once a private garden but now turned into a public park between Louvre Museum and Place de la Concorde. Sitting or walking and following the trail of French sculptures are a great escape to do in the park. I highly recommend this for couples to enjoy the picturesque view of Parisian buildings as you get away from the city life.
3. Visit Best Chocolate Shops
Chocolate as the official food for lovers becomes inseparable during Valentine’s Day. One of the things I take advantage of every time I visit Paris in February is to get a free pass to visit chocolate factories and mini-makers. Yes, you read it right! On February 14th or the days around it are the best days for chocolate tasting and walk-in directly to neighboring chocolate shops and buy plenty of them. I especially recommend you these chocolate shops I visited:
Debauve & Gallais
Location: 30 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75007 Paris
Open: Mon-Sat from 9:00am to 7:00pm
Jacques Genin
Location: 133 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris
Open: Tues-Sun from 11:00am to 7:00pm
Jean-Charles Rochoux
Location: 16 Rue d’Assas, 75006 Paris
Open: Mon- Sat from 10:30am to 7:30pm
Jean-Paul Hévin
Location: 231 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris
Open: Mon- Sat from 10:00am to 7:30pm
Patrick Roger
Location 108 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
Open: Everyday from 10:30am to 7:30pm
4. Visit Champagne Shops
During your trip here, I beg you to not forget to visit at least one of the plenty of champagne bars in Paris. Your mind will not be at ease if you’re not going to taste the fruit of your travel as France is the champagne capital in the world. From museum to parks, here I arranged the details of some of my favorite champagne tasting bars around the city. Hope you’ll sneak out with your partner and don’t forget to take a picture tossing with the finest champagne selection in the bar.
Le Dokhan’s Bar
117 rue Lauriston, 75116 Paris
+33 (0)1 5365 6699
Le Bar du Plaza Athénée
25 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris
+33 (0)1 5367 6600
Canard & Champagne
57 passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris
+33 (0)9 8183 9569
Le Bar
Four Seasons Hotel George V, 31 avenue George V, 75008 Paris
+33 (0)1 4952 7000
DILETTANTES
22, rue de Savoie, 75006 Paris
+33 (0)1 70 69 98 68
5. Visit Romantic Castles
Whether you’re fond of the medieval style or not, you will surely appreciate visiting the castles! Though this castle I listed below isn’t situated at the foot of France, what I meant is you still need to travel by land a few miles away from the city center. Nevertheless, being able to go to these castles is one of the best experiences you can never exchange in the world especially when you’re with your partner. So to discover more about this true to life princesses and royalist experience, this list is for you.
Château de Breteuil
Location: Château de Breteuil, 78460 Choisel
Open: Everyday from 10 am to 8 pm
Château de Pierrefonds
Location: Rue Viollet le Duc, 60350 Pierrefonds
Open: Everyday from 9:30 am to 6 pm
Palace of Versailles
Location: Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm
Palace of Fontainebleau
Location: Palace of Fontainebleau, 77300 Fontainebleau
Open: From Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 6 pm / Closed every Tuesday