Rainy but lovely mid-May 2026 Paris Trip
Thank you to this sub for so much helpful information planning my trip to Paris. Advice here is spot on for things like taxis and using the Metro, etc. I also learned a lot from the Les Frenchies You Tube channel.
This trip was a college graduation gift for my daughter and my 2 stepdaughters, all aged early to mid twenties. It rained and was chilly for all 6 days, but we layered and had an umbrella on us at all times.
2 of the 3 had never been to Europe and the best part of the trip was seeing them experience Parisian life for the first time. As young Americans, they really got into the language, the Metro, the food, the whole way of life. Their awe in seeing the landmarks was so sweet!
Based on their preferences, I planned an itinerary that contained set tours and experiences, but also scheduled plenty of free time. They absolutely loved the flea market and secondhand stores in Le Marais. They even had to buy an extra suitcase for all their "new" clothes.
We were there for a week and our stops included Gallerie Dior, a guided tour of St. Chappelle and the surrounding area, a guided walking tour of Montmarte, the big Saint Ouen flea market, the Eiffel Tower summit and brunch at Madame Brasserie, a couple of free days spent just wandering and shopping, and a half day guided tour of Versailles. I would highly recommend booking guided tours in advance.
My most important lesson of the trip was about food. On advice from the internet, we went to the restaurant Le Souffle, near Place de Concorde for dinner one night. It was lovely, but I guess I didn't realize what souffle actually is, and that's my fault! The food at Madame Brasserie was amazing! At risk of sounding like a rube, some of the food preparation isn't suited to an American palate, especially to young people hooked on fast food. But that is no shade to the French food. I noticed that you will see the same 4 or 5 dishes on the menu at most places: escargot, onion soup, steak tartare, flank steak, and maybe a salad. One of the tour guides said that locals look for "boullions", a more authentic and cheaper category of restaurant. We went to one near Versailles, and I agree that the food tasted great! I would recommend mapping out restaurants you want to go to in advance. When we tried to find restaurants on the fly, nearly all were full and we had to scramble to find something.
I've been in Europe and the UK during what was once shoulder season, and my conclusion is that there is no more "off season". Maybe it's just middle age talking here, but I became very annoyed and overstimulated walking down the streets while being shoulder to shoulder with all of humanity! Another personal annoyance was the sheer number of people posing like influencers at the Tik-Tok trendy locations. Even my daughters were striking poses like fashion models! I'm seriously out of touch, I guess. 🤷♀️
I can't stress enough how kind the locals were! Between the 4 of us, we could put together 2 sentences of French. People really do all speak English, though, and were very gracious.
I was very concerned about pickpockets and scammers, but being vigilant is key to staying safe. I experienced a few moments when someone looked like they were attempting to try something, such as the taxi scammers at the airport, a potential pickpocket, and the "You're American? Let's get a coffee and chat about it" scam but was able to shut those right down.
Overall, it was a great trip and we really, really enjoyed Paris 🩷 I can't wait to go back someday.