Valentine’s Day in Paris should be a fail-safe plan for guaranteed romance, but having some insider suggestions can always take it up a notch. Read on to find our carefully-curated suggestions for impressing that special someone, including our most romantic accommodations in the City of Love!
Montmartre – Unforgettable views & charming strolls
If you’re looking for the perfect romantic spot to admire views of Paris, our favorite is from atop the hilly Montmartre neighborhood. Nothing could be more magical on Valentine’s Day than admiring the most romantic city in the world from way up high. And once you’ve absorbed the impressive view, discover all the romance surrounding you in the lovely neighborhood of Montmartre.
Stroll your date past the Wall of Love, a 430 square foot (40 square meter) wall in the Jehan Rictus garden square. Created by calligraphist Frédéric Baron and mural artist Claire Kito in 2000, it’s composed of 612 tiles with the phrase “I love you” in 250 languages. For more romantic suggestions, check out our blog on the top 10 romantic activities in Paris.
A romantic meal at La Maison Rose in Montmartre is sure to impress, as it’s a favorite restaurant among locals. This quaint pastel pink restaurant, nestled at the top of a hilly Montmartre street, is oh-so-charmingly Parisian it looks like a set location straight out of the film Amélie. And did we mention it’s pink?
This one-bedroom vacation rental in Montmartre is located in a classic Haussmannian building on the same road as the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, one of the most iconic landmarks not only of Montmartre, but of Paris in general. Inside, this light-filled modern apartment is the perfect spot to start off your Valentine’s Day trip to Paris. Your date can have an evening drink from a barstool at the countertop overlooking the kitchen while you prepare a romantic dinner for two in your Parisian apartment. Afterwards, take a stroll through this unique section of Paris with its impressionistic, romantic vibe and fusion of 19th-century charm and local street artists.
Opera Garnier – A romantic evening with the arts
If you’re looking for an impressive and entertaining spot to bring your date, try Opera Garnier, one of the most famous venues in all of Europe. Its grand Beaux-Arts decor, with glass chandeliers, sweeping marble staircases, and gilded decorations, makes it one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. You can impress your date with your knowledge of the architecture, the bronze and crystal chandelier, the marbles from all over the world in the Grand Staircase, and the frescoes and mosaics in the Grand Foyer. Catch a performance to start off your night, then head to an equally romantic dinner.
If you’re into the opera and theater arts, why not stay close to the Opera Garnier at this cozy alcove studio in Bourse that’s perfect for a couple? The ground floor loft-style studio is built like a small house attached to a building. This provides the benefits of a view on a quiet courtyard and not having any upstairs neighbors. This property creatively fits all the comforts and conveniences of a larger apartment into a studio. It’s equipped with a full kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, and a skylight to make it airy and bright, a queen-sized bed, a living room plus additional mezzanine area, and even a washing machine. It’s the perfect little love nest, tucked away from the bustle of Paris in a quaint courtyard.
A truly Parisian apartment with Eiffel Tower views
What would win over your beloved more than an apartment in Paris, complete with a view of the Eiffel Tower? Just picture preparing a candlelit dinner for two at this studio apartment in Passy and sitting down to your private view of the Paris icon right from your window! Other luxuries at this gem of an apartment include the marble-lined bathroom and the balcony overlooking the building’s gardens, which come in addition to the unparalleled views of the glittering Eiffel Tower at night. You can count on a romance-filled evening here.
Cabaret – An evening of dining and entertainment
For an unforgettably entertaining night out in Paris, you can’t miss the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, birthplace of the can-can. The interior decor still contains remnants of the romance of fin de siècle France. Another less touristy, uniquely Parisian, and high quality cabaret experience is at The Crazy Horse. Shows include a combination of nude dancers, magic, and variety shows. World famous guest performers here include Dita von Teese, Carmen Electra and Pamela Anderson, so it definitely has international sex appeal.
Dinner and a romantic boat ride on the Seine
Start the evening off right with a romantic private or group cruise along the Seine. The Dinner Cruise Decouverte Valentine’s Day features a special Valentine’s Day menu and live music to entertain you as you experience breathtaking views of Paris.
For a dinner spot your date will never forget, Le Jules Verne—the Michelin star-rated restaurant located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower—is sure to make anyone swoon. Just be sure to check the required dress code; this place is top-notch!
If you’re looking for the perfect apartment close to Paris’s most famous landmarks, this alcove studio in Les Halles is perfectly situated and classically charming. Located next to the Hôtel de Ville and the Georges Pompidou Cultural Center, it’s also within walking distance to the Louvre Museum and the adjoining Royal Tuileries Gardens. With all of these great sites surrounding your apartment, you’re sure to be out a lot. However, features like beautiful wood flooring, a decorative fireplace, and elegant chandeliers will certainly beckon you back home at the end of a long day of touring.
Fairy tales and Valentine’s desserts
Nothing could be more Cinderella-esque than a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city. Located close to the east pillar of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Caleches provides horse carriage service and city tours that will sweep any woman off her feet. The journey will take you through the streets of Paris, past the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and many more of Paris’s most famous locales. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, you can customize your ride to include champagne, roses, macarons, a chocolate heart, or a fruit basket.
When you think of French sweets, macarons always come to mind. If you’re a creative type who’s into sweets, here’s how to plan a fun, interactive date. La Cuisine Paris offers culinary classes and has a Valentine Chocolates & Macarons Class on Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, February 14, 2017). Try your hand at “making two different types of Valentine’s-themed French Macarons and Chocolates! Everyone goes home with a box of treats perfect to enjoy, either for themselves or others on one of the romantic bridges overlooking the Seine nearby!” You can find their class offerings at La Cuisine Paris.
An evening of French cuisine
Part of the joy of Paris is its food, and if you really want to make an impression, we have a few favorite places to suggest for this special occasion. At the heart of the Gare de Lyon train station are the majestic decor and vintage frescoes of Le Train Bleu restaurant. Stars such as Coco Chanel and Brigitte Bardot were regulars at this historic restaurant, and its grand interior has appeared in many films. The restaurant serves fine French classics along with an extensive wine list and boasts a special Valentine’s Day menu.
La Bourse et La Vie—a name which is a riff on the expression, “Your wallet or your life”—is the new venture of celebrated American chef Daniel Rose. His creative French cuisine inspired a new culinary movement by young Parisian chefs. If you prefer old-school French cooking, Chez la Mère Catherine (founded in 1793) is an institution of traditional French cuisine and the oldest brasserie located at the Place du Tertre.
Sampling some of France’s wonderful cuisine is a must on any trip here, but waking up to the views in your own Parisian apartment and breakfast in bed from your own kitchen has a certain “je ne sais quoi” that just can’t be beaten. This 3-bedroom rental in Luxembourg can fit a whole family or group on a trip to Paris. Its central location between the Panthéon and the Luxembourg Gardens in the 5th Arrondissement makes it the perfect starting point for your Parisian excursions. In this historic heart of the Latin Quarter, you’ll be close to The Sorbonne, one of Europe’s oldest universities. Stop for a coffee at one of the cafes that line the plaza here, or take a leisurely walk with your amour in Luxembourg Gardens. If you’ve got the kids tagging along on your romantic trip, Paris’s National Museum of Natural History is nearby. Check out our list of 10 things to do with kids during winter in Paris for more ideas to wear the kids out and get them off to bed early.
The spacious, light-filled interior, the charm of authentic Parisian features, and the mix with modern appliances give you everything you need for both comfort and convenience. Bask in the sunlight that filters in from three large bay windows in the sunroom, where you’ll also find an elegant decorative fireplace and piano. If you love to cook, you’ll be in heaven in the fully-equipped kitchen, complete with marble-topped cooking island with barstools. Everyone can gather here for breakfast or a drink in the evening. For a formal dinner, there is also an open dining area adjacent to the decorative fireplace. At the end of the day, you’ll look forward to retiring to one of the three bedrooms, all of which face the courtyard. Enjoy a calm, restful space after a long day exploring the city!
Last but not least on your trip to the City of Love; a stop to view the Love Padlocks on the Pont des Arts bridge is just too Valentine-y to skip. Simply write your names on a padlock with a marker, secure the lock to the railing, and throw the key in the river in accordance with tradition. Just note this is now technically banned (although the tradition seems to continue), so proceed at your own risk, or just stop by and take a couples’ selfie in front of it instead.
And for those last-minute Valentine preparations, find a truly hidden gem in Paris for flowers for the special day. Fleurus, on Rue des Archives (between Rue des Francs Bourgeois and Rue des Blancs Manteaux) in Le Marais, is recommended by our French colleagues here at the office. You can plan to grab some traditional cheeses to pair with French wine for a quiet evening in your Parisian apartment—a local favorite cheese stop is Laurent Dubois (97-99 Rue Saint Antoine, 75004 Paris). And of course, Paris is full of great food markets to pick up the perfect ingredients for a home-cooked meal made with love.
So now that you’ve got our cheat-sheet to help you plan the perfect Valentine’s Day in Paris, start planning that unforgettable trip for the one you love. We have so many great furnished apartments to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect love nest for your trip with that special someone. Bisous! XO
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