Best Free Museums in Paris, from Fine Art to City History
When I was a young teaching assistant and a newcomer to Paris, I had to stretch my meager budget as best I could. If I managed not to eat out […]
Trending Now
Featured Articles in Best of Paris
The Louvre/Tuileries District in Paris: What to See & Do Around the Museum?
If you only have a few days to explore Paris or it’s your first trip to the capital, you may want to spend a few hours roaming around the Louvre/Tuileries […]
Paris Boat Tours & Cruises: Are They Worth Your Time?
Most “top attractions” lists for the French capital suggest a boat tour of the Seine or other waterways in Paris. But since these sorts of sightseeing cruises are so commonplace– […]
The 10 Best Places to Visit in Paris on Your First Trip
Here at Paris Unlocked, we tend to focus our coverage on lesser-known corners of the French capital, and encourage readers to look well beyond the obvious, tried-and-true or wildly popular […]
Featured Articles in Food
5 Of The Best Italian Restaurants in Paris: My Picks
When I moved to Paris in the early 2000s, Italian cuisine was certainly not a notable feature or strong point in the local food landscape. I knew of a few […]
Inside Maison Julien, the Bakery Awarded Best Baguette in Paris This Year
It’s an annual tradition that’s certainly not taken lightly. Every year since 1994, a panel of judges gathers in the French capital to select the best baguette in Paris. The […]
Summery Indulgence: 4 Places I Recommend for Ice Cream & Gelato in Paris
A small confession: I’m not someone you can really trust with a pint of ice cream left in the freezer. If it’s there, it’s pretty certain I’ll eat it– and […]
The Best Places for Picnics in Paris, From Parks to Riverbanks
Like they do with pretty much everything else, Parisians make a true art of the spring or summer picnic. It’s not just a quick meal on the grass or a […]
Featured Articles in When to Go
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Paris? (Season-by-Season Tips)
In all the years I’ve covered Paris, the question I’ve been asked more predictably than any other is “When do you recommend I go?” Again and again, I’ve disappointed those […]
10 of the Best Day Trips From Paris by Train: Fantastic Getaways
Some might ask why it would be necessary to plot short excursions away from a city as diverse and interesting as Paris. After all, doesn’t it offer enough beauty, history, […]
Paris in the Summer: What to Do When the City is (Almost) All Yours
There’s something slightly surreal about Paris in the summer months. It’s not only that the days feel impossibly long, then almost seamlessly stretch into (often balmy) evenings. It’s the fact […]
In Focus: Paris’ Palais Royal, a Haven From the Crowds
It may be just a few hundred feet away from the Louvre, the buzzing epicenter of tourism in the French capital. It may house a Michelin-starred restaurant, opulent boutiques, centuries-old […]
Featured Articles in Off the Beaten Path
The Jean-Jacques Henner Museum: A Quietly Stunning Paris Collection
Most tourists never set foot into one of the French capital’s finest single-artist collections, the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum. This is a shame. Not only does it house an arresting permanent […]
Roaming Paris’ Oberkampf Neighborhood, from Nightlife to Street Art
With its eclectic mix of trendy bars, nightclubs and concert halls, the lively Oberkampf neighborhood in Paris is a haven for foodies and partygoers. This hip section of the 11th […]
Best Small Museums in Paris: 10 Quiet Gems You Shouldn’t Overlook
The first time I set foot inside the Louvre Museum, I had already been living in Paris for three or four years. The guests I accompanied were astounded that I’d […]
Seeking Josephine Baker in Paris: A Bit of History & Places to Visit
When most people think of Josephine Baker, they imagine her dancing in some glamorous Paris venue at the height of the jazz age. While this image certainly isn’t wrong, it […]
Featured Articles in History of Paris
In Focus: The Musée Carnavalet, a Free Paris Museum Dedicated to the City’s History
Anyone aiming to better understand the long and complex history of the French capital would do well to pay a visit to the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. The permanent collection […]
These 5 Places in Paris Aren’t Usually Associated With African-American History. They Should Be.
“It’s a great city, Paris, a beautiful city––and––it was very good for me.”– James Baldwin, Another Country (1962) One of the most singular and important American authors of the 20th […]
A Short History of Quarantines in Europe and France
The early spring of 2020 will no doubt take up some space in the history books. It marks a moment that is unprecedented in contemporary life: the first time in […]
The Rebirth of La Samaritaine, an Iconic Parisian Department Store
When news hit in 2005 that one of Paris’ historic department stores was being shuttered, locals reacted with understandable sadness and dismay. After all, since 1869, La Samaritaine– with its […]
Featured Articles in Paris on a Budget
Do You Really Need Travel Insurance for a Trip to Paris & France?
For this first article in a new of practical tips I’ll refer to as “Paris Trip Planning Q&A”, let’s tackle a boring, but entirely necessary, question. Readers have often asked […]
5 Great Museums for Kids in Paris: Family-Friendly Collections
I often get e-mails from parents asking how to keep their young ones stimulated and happy in the French capital. And while it’s a city that can seem about as […]
Paris Airport Taxis: How to Use Them (& Avoid the Bad Ones)
I still remember my first bad taxi ride from Charles de Gaulle Airport. I was returning home from a visit with family in California, lugging around suitcases so heavy I […]
Some of the Best Crepes in Paris: A Few Favorites
Looking for some decent crepes in Paris? You’re not alone. Crepes are one of the world’s great democratic foods. They’re inexpensive, often portable, and remarkably adaptable, ranging from hearty and simple to lofty and gourmet. They’re also just as easily enjoyed by meat eaters as by vegetarians. In short, they make a meal that few would claim to genuinely dislike (including picky kids).
Featured Articles in Shopping in Paris
Wandering Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood (Past and Present)
Put on your Sunday best and head over to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an upscale Parisian neighborhood with centuries-old literary, revolutionary and artistic roots. Situated on the left bank of the Seine River– just […]
Inside L’Officine Universelle Buly, a 19th-Century-Style Paris Apothecary
I’ve always been a bit skeptical of the apothecary trend. It’s generally struck me as a marketing ploy to raise the perceived value or originality of products and crank up […]
Seeking Belle-Epoque Paris in the Grands Boulevards District: My Full Guide
Technically, the tangled arrangement of wide, grandiose streets known as the Grands Boulevards in Paris stretch all the way from the Eglise Madeleine church in the 8th arrondissement (district) to […]
In Review: Fou de Pâtisserie, a Parisian Pastry Shop for the Indecisive
Strolling down Rue des Martyrs, a stretch of Paris’ South Pigalle that packs more gourmet power in a single street than most entire neighborhoods do, I noticed a patisserie that […]
Featured Articles in Paris Culture
In Review: Atelier des Lumières, The First (All)-Digital Art Museum in Paris
When I first heard that an all-digital art museum and cultural space called the Atelier des Lumières would be opening its doors in Paris sometime in 2018, I was more […]
Paris Out of Hand: A Review of the Surrealist Guidebook to the Capital
…& Some Thoughts on the Power of “Imaginary Cities”, in Print & in Dreams The subtitle of the handsomely bound, compact red volume should have tipped me off from […]
Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With One of These.
Since the world was turned upside-down by a minuscule, spike-covered virus, those of us who take joy in travel have had to find creative ways to keep our wanderlust from […]
Exploring the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris, Inside & Out
We don’t wish to disappoint you: this newcomer to the Parisian arts scene doesn’t resemble a giant, patterned couture bag from the popular designer after which it’s named. Maybe you’d say […]
Featured Articles in Stories & Anecdotes
How I Finally Cracked Parisian (and French) Humor
Much ink has been spilled about French people having no “real”sense of humor– at least not beyond a strong penchant for biting political satire, à la Voltaire. As a 2003 […]
An Elegant Paris Building– With a Dark History of Nazi Collaboration
On the Place des Petits Pères in central Paris, a sense of calm abounds these days. The Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church graces the square, and the lush gardens and covered arcades […]
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur: Why is it Paris’ Motto, and What Does it Mean?
If you follow Parisian cultural trends with any regularity, you’ve probably seen locals reference the Latin expression “Fluctuat nec mergitur” as the city’s motto. But what does it mean– and […]
Medieval Paris: A Self-Guided Tour of 5 Intriguing Places
During the 19th century, the Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann gutted much of what had been medieval Paris-– forging the iconic skyline and enormous, grandiose boulevards we now (wrongly) tend to think […]
Featured Articles in Travel Tips
Is Paris Still Safe to Visit in 2020 (And When Can You Travel to France Again?)
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis and following terrorist attacks and occasionally-violent street demonstrations, many people are wondering whether Paris is still safe to visit. A quick look at […]
Major Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Trip to France
As someone who’s written about France and its capital for a good part of their career, my inbox often fills with emails from readers about their forthcoming travels. Sometimes, it’s […]
2019-2020 Strikes in France & Paris: Will Your Travel Plans be Affected?
Starting in early December, 2019, major transportation strikes in France have severely affected trains, Paris metro and bus service, some flights to and from France and Eurostar networks. Grinding much […]
Rainy Day in Paris? These Are Relaxing & Cozy Things to Do
While most people prefer sightseeing against the backdrop of sunny skies and a cool breeze, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the best of the city when it pours. Paris […]
Featured Articles in Hotels & Lodging
In Review: The Hotel Thoumieux & Its Elegant Brasserie
Nestled between the Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, the Hotel Thoumieux is a four-star boutique hotel in an unusually vibrant corner of Paris’ touristy 7th arrondissement. The hotel and adjoining […]
In Review: The Ice Kube Bar in Paris (Gimmick or Intriguing Night Out?)
Featuring Siberian temperatures, surreal bunker-like surroundings that might remind you of Superman’s icy lair, and a jetset-aspiring clientele, the Ice Kube bar at Paris’ Kube Hotel claims to offer a […]
In Review: The Grand Pigalle Hotel in Paris
Situated in South Pigalle, a formerly seedy Parisian district that’s recently been colonized by hipsters, foodies and fashionistas, the Grand Pigalle Hotel has only been open since 2015. Yet […]
The Hotel Gavarni in Paris: An Eco-Friendly Lodging Option?
Located on a peaceful street in the upwardly mobile Paris neighborhood known as Passy, the three-star Hotel Gavarni is a traditional hotel built in 1907 that has been awarded the […]
Featured Articles in Around France
How English Aristocrats Helped Birth Bubbly, & Other Tidbits of Champagne History
There’s something deceptively timeless about raising a toast over a glass of champagne (or some other form of sparkling white wine). It’s easy to imagine that “bubbly” has always been […]
Why Brittany Butter is Salted (& Coveted): A Bit of History
My partner and I almost always have a block of salted Brittany butter in the fridge, and usually there’s a “backup” somewhere in the freezer, too. Why? There’s simply something […]
Voices from Drancy, one of France’s Most Important Holocaust Memorial Sites
In March of 2020, I made a short trip from Paris that was a long time coming. I boarded a train, then a bus, to the quiet town of Drancy, […]
Exploring French Basque Country, on Spain’s Doorstep: A Guide to Hendaye, France
Basque country is one of those fascinating “liminal” spaces that crosses cultural and linguistic borders. Straddling France and Spain, the area is in fact an aggregation of several distinctive regions […]