Paris in the Summer

A quick jaunt to the most romantic city in the world is great at any time of year, but summer offers a special charm for visitors to Paris.

Where to Stay – Edouard 7

This gorgeous luxury hotel in the heart of the Opera district oozes luxury and composed elegant service from the first step through the front door. Hotel Edouard 7’s rooms are silk, cashmere, and velvet, accented with heated towel rods and soaking tubs or steam showers. It’s the perfect soother after strolling the streets and world class museum halls.

Add a little ooh la la by opting for the suite that features a wraparound terrace with a view of the Avenue de l’Opéra, a favorite haunt of Edward VII, King of England. Clefs d’Or concierge service dishes all the inside info to make the most of your visit to the city of lights.

Start the day with an excellent breakfast of pastries, fresh-pressed juices, rich cappuccino, or cafe au lait, as well as charcuterie or cooked to perfection eggs and savories in the hotel lounge. Wander the city or stay in this prime neighborhood to treat yourself at one of the four gourmet chocolatiers on the block or a patisserie so exclusive there’s a velvet rope and boulangerie-bouncer controlling the crowds.

Don’t worry – the fabulous Tuileries Gardens of the Louvre dotted with sculptures, fountains, chess tables, and waterside sun loungers are just a few minutes away, to walk off your indulgences! A bustling collection of cafes, bars, and eateries is also just around the corner, or finish your night with a glass of champagne or signature Lily in Paris tipple with gin, strawberry, lemon, and cucumber. It’s a perfect nightcap served right in the lobby’s glam cocktail bar.

Where to Eat – Bateaux Parisiens

There’s no better way to capture the spirit of this beautiful city than a trip down the Seine at sunset. While the endless parade of monuments and museums serves as a teaser for all Paris has to offer visitors, what’s really memorable are the groups of friends, family members, first date couples, and long-lasting lovers sitting along the banks. Their legs hang over the river as they share wine, snacks, and camaraderie while they watch the barges pass, lingering until the glow of the sunset fades into night.

While there are a number of options for barge tours, Bateaux Parisiens, located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, offers a dinner with wine pairing option that’s a step above. The glass walls provide an endless vista of Paris and people-watching joie de vivre to accent a gourmet feast that kicks off with a glass of Pommery champagne.

This isn’t your typical dinner cruise fare. As foie gras with apricot chutney, thin-crusted tart of escargot and octopus, beef fillet, and crispy polenta with confit vegetables and ratatouille jus are dished out, live music accompanies the memorable meal. Sail from sunset until the stars come out for a tour that’s night and day above the others.

What to Do – Visit the Classics

Notre Dame has reopened for visitors with 10,000-15,000 snapping up timed complimentary tour tickets of the 860-year-old cathedral, every day. Ticket reservations are released three days in advance, so get ready to refresh-refresh-refresh your screen or settle for the standby line. Another special way to experience the famed basilica is to attend one of several masses held each day (which don’t require an entry ticket).

While a trip to the nearby Louvre isn’t a revolutionary suggestion, the current Louvre Couture exhibit breathes a very fashionable fresh breath of air through the endless galleries and rotundas of artwork. It also provides the perfect excuse to have another look at some of the world’s most famous masterpieces.

Timed tickets are required to visit the art museum. To beat the crowds and heat, skip the famed glass pyramid entry, and slip into the underground shopping arcade mall that leads to the same main museum entrance. For those short on time, a handful of key works are highlighted on maps and with numerous signs guiding directly to Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile – directed appropriately at the roped in mass of humanity doing the “subway shuffle” up to the front of the line for their 20 seconds to snap selfies of Leonardo’s lovely.

Where to Day Trip – The Art of Bubbles, a Train Ride Away

Whether on a long weekend or a leisurely escape, there’s always room for champagne. Fortunately, a short 45-minute scenic train ride through the French countryside brings you to Reims, the home of bubbly. With all the great houses lining the streets of the city, it might be hard to choose where to spend your time.

A true standout is Champagne Pommery. A tour includes a whirl through a museum celebrating the fascinating history of Madame Pommery, the matriarch of the 1868 winery and a visionary who’s credited with creating the world’s first brut (1874).

The blanc to blanc might be dry, but the museum is not. it’s peppered with the same irreverent modern art pieces as guests experience on a tour through the 60 crayeres chalkpits turned wine cellars, which extend 18 kilometers at a depth of 90 feet. (Post-tour tastings are enjoyed next to a full-sized upside down elephant.) The art installations are replaced every year, making this a tempting annual pilgrimage.

A visit isn’t complete without lunch at onsite Le Refectoire Vranken-Pommery, whose artful plates (delicate crusted pate croute with pickled legumes, rich beef tartare, and fresh goat cheese with wild herbs from the garden with a vanilla-chocolate profiterole finale) boast the same quality and attention to culinary detail as the cuvées they are served alongside. Don’t miss tasting the Apanage Cuvée, which pairs beautifully with gastronomy delights such as these.

What to Bring – VinGardeValise, Wine Luggage

Who needs cheap souvenirs (you’ll hear the “Light Up Eiffel Tower, One Euro!” calls outside every tourist attraction) when you’re visiting the birthplace of champagne and other sparkling delights. Come prepared with a specially designed piece of luggage that features secure, individual bottle-padded inserts to protect your most valuable reminders of your trip. Then, you can keep the merriment going long after arriving home.

The author received some complimentary accommodations from the businesses mentioned in this article, but as always, we are dedicated to providing you with an unbiased assessment of our experiences.