Memories France

17/01/2025

If you’re wondering where to buy gifts when in Paris, we recommend checking out Merci and Fleux, both located in the Marais. These two trendy concept stores offer a vast array of goodies, ranging from home décor to funky clothes, all laid out in quirky boutiques that we could browse for hours.

15/01/2025

Whether it be lined with Paris Plages in the summer, or trees with no leaves in the winter, Canal Saint Martin is exactly where you need to go if you want to feel like a local in Paris. Grab a coffee at one of the many trendy cafés nearby and sit along the water’s edge watching the world go by.

13/01/2025

Paris has over 400 parks and gardens, here we have some of our favourites. Parc Monceau (which is an English-style park), Jardin du Luxembourg (one of the most famous Parisian gardens), and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (which stands out for the miniature Roman temple that rests upon an island in the middle of the lake, as well as its view over Paris).

10/01/2025

Begin by searching for your language on the Wall of I Love You, before taking a stroll up Rue de l’Aubrevoir - possibly the prettiest street in all of Paris. Along this street, stop for lunch at the iconic La Maison Rose. Walk through the quaint streets of Montmartre, stopping to listen to a street musician. Wonder around the Place du Tertre, watching the artists at work. Finally, visit the Sacré Cœur Cathedral, then take a seat on the steps and absorb the incredible view over the city.

If you’re looking to learn some more history about this area of the city, book one of our walking tours - https://memories-france.travel

Here at Memories France we are a team of locals; guides and tourism professionals, with different backgrounds but the same passion: connecting with people from around the world, exchanging with each other in an authentic and human way, and offering the best possible experiences in our city to our vi...

08/01/2025

A walk along the Seine is definitely one of the best ways to see Paris, as you can see many of the sights such as Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, the iconic bouquinistes, the list goes on!

This year from the banks of the river we have watched the seasons changed (with Paris Plages coming and going), we saw the Olympics take over the city, and we watched as Notre-Dame Cathedral came back to life!

06/01/2025

A great way to get to know a city, is by visiting the local markets. There are almost 100 to choose from in Paris, spread across all the arrondissements, and a mixture of both open air and covered markets. Some of the really popular ones include the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the Marché d’Aligre and the Marché de Bastille.

03/01/2025

Throughout 2024 we have witnessed a lot of innovation within the bakery and café culture of Paris, with the creation of treats such as the crookie and the cruffin. We have seen matcha become a staple on many menus and we have also noticed the rise of the American brunch. Despite these new additions, many things remain unchanged, such as the popularity of the traditional French hot chocolate found at the likes of Angelina and Carette, and also, the fact that people continue to flock to visit the cafés once frequented by the literary greats such as Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots.

01/01/2025

What a year 2024 has been for Paris!

With the summer Olympics taking place in the city, the reopening of Notre Dame and many other monumental events, the capital has had quite the year, and our local team has been lucky enough to be here to experience it all!

#2024

30/12/2024

How to spend a day in: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Begin by admiring the beautiful colours in the oldest church in Paris, Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Grab one of the famous hot chocolates from Les Deux Magots, where the literary greats used to spend their free time. Enjoy some shopping at the luxury department store, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, then head next door to get a yummy edible souvenir from La Grande Épicerie. Stop for lunch at Le Procope, the oldest café/restaurant in Paris. Finally, pick an English book from the San Francisco Books Company to take to read in the Jardin du Luxembourg.

27/12/2024

All around Paris you will stumble across these gorgeous covered passages. Here we have Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Véro-Dodat and Passage Jouffroy. They are perfect for doing some shopping and even better now that they are decorated for Christmas!

25/12/2024

How to spend a day in: the Latin Quarter

There’s no better place to start than by Notre-Dame, admiring its beautiful architecture following the reconstruction. Then wander through the quaint, little streets until you stumble upon the Abbey Bookshop, where you can browse for English reads. Head to the Jardin du Luxembourg to enjoy a picnic for lunch, before going to checkout some of the Emily in Paris filming locations - such as her flat! Stop off at the Pantheon (you can even head to the top for a different perspective over the city). Finish off the evening at Jardin de Tino Rossi, where people dance along the river!

If you are keen to learn more about the history of the Latin Quarter, take a look at our walking tour - https://memories-france.travel

23/12/2024

For the book lovers coming to visit Paris, there are plenty of English book shops in the capital city. Here we have the Abbey Bookshop, Librairie Galignani, Smith&Son and the San Francisco Books Co, not to mention the iconic Shakespeare & Company!

20/12/2024

New exhibition at the Grand Palais: Chiharu Shiota ‘The Soul Trembles’.

These impressive installations made of interlacing wool envelop everyday objects, taking you on a dreamlike journey.

On until 19th March 2025.

18/12/2024

How to spend a day in: The Marais

We recommend admiring the views from the rooftop at the Centre Pompidou. Then taking a stroll down the Rue des Rosiers, and stopping to grab some falafel for lunch from Chez Hanna or L’As du Fallafel. Head to the Musée Carnavalet to learn about the history of the city of Paris, before carrying on to the house of Victor Hugo. Enjoy the peace and quiet at the Hôtel de Sully. Finally, finish the day with a picnic at the Place des Vosges!

If you want to learn more about the Marais, book a walking tour with us - https://memories-france.travel

16/12/2024

Let’s discuss the best Parisian cuisine of 2024.

First of all, we have the winner of the best pâtisserie in the world, Ritz Paris Le Comptoir. The best croissant in Paris at Maison Doucet. The best coffee shop in France, which is Terres de Café. The winner of the best baguette in Paris, Boulangerie Utopie. And finally, the best restaurant in Europe, Pavillon Ledoyen.

13/12/2024

Trompe l’Oeil is a highly realistic optical illusion, where a three dimensional space or object is painted onto a two dimensional surface.

Many examples of this artistic technique can be spotted around Paris; such as this glass house, or the shadows of some trees that aren’t really there!

11/12/2024

It’s that time of the year again!

If you’re looking for the best Christmas lights in Paris, you must head to: Rue Saint-Honoré, Place Vendôme, Avenue Montaigne and Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Each year all of the luxury brands battle it out with their incredible Christmas light displays!

09/12/2024

Street art appeared in Paris near the end of the 1960s, at the time of the student revolts - taking inspiration from America. However, it was not until the 80’s that it became more popular and appreciated.

Street art creations are dotted all around the city, with the mosaics of artist Invader being some of the most famous.