Truth to be told, after eight months with no international travel, I feel some serious wanderlust. And I am aware there are bigger problems in the world right now, but I can’t help myself. I miss flying, strolling around the new city, visiting museums and falling in love with a new place. Living in Amsterdam made Paris only a three-hours-train-ride-away, and I’d visit it regularly. I called those trips my yearly pilgrimages to Paris. Since we can’t travel right now, I decided to recreate a bit of a French atmosphere in my home. And made a little guide on how to bring Paris to your home for a day.
Bring Paris to your home for a day
Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world. Besides all the fantastic art and beautiful museums, my favourite part was always to explore Paris like a local. From wandering the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, sipping coffee at the terrace of some cute little cafes to sitting at the bank of the Seine River in the evening.
Since my Paris wanderlust got quite serious lately, I wanted to recreate the Paris atmosphere a bit at home. Here are some of my tips on how to bring Paris to your home, too.
⤷ Read more: My five favourite souvenirs from Paris
Morning in Paris
If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.
Ernest Hemingway
# – Start with a French breakfast
Whenever in Paris, I start a day with a French breakfast. Make yourself a nice coffee, get croissant, baguette, some butter and a delicious strawberry jam and bring Paris to your home in that way. I’m sure it will be a great start of your day in Paris at home.
# – Listen to some French music
To put yourself entirely in a French mood, enjoy in some French music. Go with a French classic and listen to songs by Édith Piaf. They’re not only going to bring Paris to your home but will also transform you to some past times. If you’d like to go with something more contemporary, check out some of the Paris YouTube and Spotify playlists.
# – Decorate your home with some French art
France was home to so many talented artists. But we often forget the Paris art scene is still quite big, And there are many contemporary artists still living and working there. Do your research a bit and find some of their art.
⤷ TIP: You can find some art inspired by Paris on a link here. Or look for some ideas here, too.
# – Read a fiction book about Paris
Reading a fun book about Paris will transfer you to the French capital immediately. Some of my recommendations are How to be Parisian wherever you are, The Parisians and A Moveable Feast.
⤷ TIP: If you’d like to check some other titles, take a look out this extensive list of books about Paris.
# – Get the French Vogue
Being one of the world fashion capitals, one of my favourite things about travelling to Paris is enjoying some street fashion, exploring its fantastic vintage shops and shopping malls. However, you can still enjoy in that side of Paris from home. And I don’t mean by online shopping.
Get yourself a French edition of Vogue. If you can’t order the magazine, just enjoy browsing through their website. Trust me, you’ll immediately be transported to the streets of Paris.
Afternoon in Paris
A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.
Thomas Jefferson
# – Visit Paris museums virtually
A big reason for my yearly trip to Paris was to visit some of the fantastic museums and temporary exhibitions organised in them. However, many of those museums did their best and created some great virtual museum visits lately.
You can visit Musée du Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Monet’s Water Lilies at Musée de’l Orangerie virtually on the links here.
⤷ Read more: The best museums in Paris
# – Context Conversations
Context Tours is one of the best companies organising private museum and themed city tours. This year they started with their virtual tours and lectures called Context Conversations, and they are simply amazing. Check out their selection of conversations and pick up some about Paris on a link here.
# – Make some Paris inspired art yourself
Paris is such an inspirational city, and I’m sure you’ll feel like you brought Paris into your home even more if you’ll try and create some art inspired by the French capital yourself. Get some crayons, watercolours or choose any other technique you like, and get inspired by the City of Light.
⤷ Read more: Some ideas to be more artistic & creative at home
# – Browse through some photo galleries
Paris is such a photogenic city, and you can find many beautiful photo galleries online that will make you feel like you’re strolling its streets right away. It’s probably one of the best ways to enjoy in Paris from your home.
# – Enjoy in some Impressionist art
Impressionism is one of the first modern art styles. And one of those established in Paris. Majority of Impressionist painters lived in the French capital. And the city was a motif on many of their paintings.
Take a book about Impressionist art and enjoy in Paris from your home that way. You can also check out some of the fantastic Impressionist paintings from the Orsay museum in Paris on a link here.
⤷ Read more: Impressionists in Paris
# – Make some French sweets
Mmmm… French sweets and pastries, could there be anything better? I loved watching the culinary TV show called ‘Baking good, baking bad‘ about a British chef living in Paris and making some lovely French sweets. Take a look at some episodes and find the best recipes for macarons and tarte tatin. You can bake them in the afternoon so they’ll be ready for your French dinner in the evening.
Evening in Paris
An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.
Friedrich Nietzsche
# – Make French dinner
I remember once coming to Paris on Friday evening with my husband and heading straight to one of the charming local restaurants to have dinner. We got so taken away with the atmosphere that we stayed there far too long and had too much food and wine. But it was so beautiful.
Well, why not finish your Paris inspired day at home with a delicious romantic French dinner? Look for some delicious recipes online, order the ingredients and prepare your Parisian dinner at home.
# – Have a glass of French wine
Is there a French dinner that’s not paired with an excellent wine? I don’t think so. Look for some nice French wine, have it with your dinner and make yourself feel like you’re in one of those cute little, typical restaurants in Paris.
⤷ Read more: Paris Travel Diary – Three Days in Paris
# – Watch a movie set up in Paris
Finish your French day at home with some lovely movie set up in Paris. You can go with a classic such as Moulin Rouge, Amélie or Midnight in Paris. Or you can check out that new TV show Emily in Paris everyone is talking about.
The City of Light could be thousands of kilometres away right now, but that doesn’t stop you from enjoying in Paris from your home. Plan your French day, get books, food ingredients and everything you need for it in advance, and travel to that fantastic city.