Paris List – My Itinerary for Paris trip April 2023
HIGHLIGHTS OF PARIS – APRIL 2023 – Debbie Brezinsky
Monday, April 17 Air France Chicago to CDG Paris – travel day
Tuesday, April 18 Arrive in Paris 8:15 a.m. Check-in at Hotel Esprit Saint Germain. Hotel Spa booked to freshen up – 11am – noon. Breakfast starting at 7:00 – 11:00. Maison Thevenin, 6 Rue de Buci, 75006 – pastry. Vedettes du Pont Neuf 1 hr. Seine cruise – 4:45. Le Jacobine at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19 Stephane Nancy – “Charming Paris” City Tour – overview of Paris, driving tour ~10:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm. * below for sites. Le Procope Café at 4 p.m. “Paris by Night” Night Tour – 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ** below for sites.
Thursday, April 20 Flora Goldenberg – Le Marais/Jewish Paris Walking Tour. Place des Vosges, Holocaust Memorial, Synagogue, etc. 9:00–1:00 p.m. Korcarz (Kosher) 29 Rue des Rosiers 75004 – breakfast with Flora. Lunch – Carette. Marcello 8 Rue Mabillon, 75006 7:15 p.m.
Friday, April 21 PhilArty Photography 8:00 – 9:00 Palais Royal photoshoot. Meet Jacqui at 9:30 at Palais Royal. The beautiful Starbucks at 3 Bd. des Capucines. Fragonard Perfume Museum. Palais Garnier self-guided tour. Shopping at Galeries Lafayette, escalators to the top for the spectacular view. Shop Saint Laurent, 53 Av Montaigne. (SA, Charlotte). Brasserie Flottes, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 22 Guided Eiffel Tower Summit access tour 9 a.m. GYG/Qualium. Guide: Pepe. Can reach Pepe through Get Your Guide or ig@parisbypepe. Summit closed due to mechanical issues plus rain/wind. Had a drink at Dome on the 2nd level. Bistrot de la Tour Eiffel – lunch. La Galerie Dior Museum– 4 p.m. Restaurant Le Cinq – *** Michelin splurge at Four Seasons Hotel George V – 9 pm
Sunday, April 23 LV Dream Exhibition 11:00. Pastry stop – LV Café. Chocolaterie for chocolate gifts. Shop – La Samaritaine & Bon Marche. La Maison Rose in Montmartre, dinner – 7:45 pm. Basilique du Sacre Coeur – saw Sunday Mass at 10:00 p.m.
Monday, April 24 Louvre private tour w/ Kotryna Strel?i?nait?; kotryna.str@gmail.com9:30-noon. Meet in front of Louvre’s glass pyramid, the statue of King Louis XIV on a horse. Lunch, Angelina. Ritz Paris ~ Salon Proust tea 4:00 p.m. Shop at Ritz Hotel Gift Shop, Bacha coffee. Les Deux Magots 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25 YSL Musee w/ Gold Exhibition Rooms 11:00 a.m. Lost while walking in Paris yet found the Princess Diana Memorial. Shopped again at Saint Laurent, 53 Av Montaigne. (SA, Charlotte). L’Avenue, lunch. Musee de l’armee Invalides 4:00. La Rotisserie D ’Argent 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26 “Champagne France Day Tour” 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Private driver, Stephane Nancy. Chateau de Boursault tour 9:00 a.m. Epernay City – Moet & Chandon tour. 11:00-12:30 Lunch in Reims, 1:30 Brasserie Excelsior – Reims, 96 place Drouet d’Erion 51100. Reims/Veuve Clicquot tour 3:30 – 5. Hautvillers village/statute. Chez Fernand 13 Rue Guisarde 75006 with Anna & Isabella 7:30 pm
Thursday, April 27 Musee Du Luxembourg 10:30 a.m. Leon Monet exhibition. Meet Jacqui & her daughters – Jardin du Luxembourg, then Pantheon. Le Choupinet (stuffed bears in chairs!) – lunch. Musee d’Orsay, 6 p.m. Manet/Degas exhibition. Café de Flore,10 p.m.
Friday, April 28 Conciergerie, 10:00 a.m. Paris: Capital of Gastronomy exhibition, with Jacqui & daughters. La Crème de Paris– lunch. Petit Palais Museum 2:30 p.m. – Sarah Barnhardt exhibition. Café & gardens behind museum. (The only venue we booked, but skipped). Saint Sulpice– light candles. Shop Maison Mulot, Chapon, for chocolate. Sainte Chapelle Classical Concert ~ 8-9 p.m. Au Pied de Cochon – 10 pm with Jean Paul & Laurie.
Saturday, April 29 “Emily in Paris” tour with Fabien of Airbnb Experiences 10:00 to 12:30/1:00 p.m. 2 Place de la Contrescarpe, 75005. Stopped at Aux Merveilleux de Fred, 1 rue de l’Ancienne 75006, for merveilles & meringues. Bistrot Valois – lunch. Visit Gil & Ness– Bouquinistes on the Seine (sells prints) across from the art Galerie Larock-Granoff, 13 Quai de Conte, with Anna & Isabella. Marco Polo, 1 rue Saint Sulpice 75006 – dinner.
Sunday, April 30 Chateau Versailles – 10:00 a.m. Passport ticket. Angelina, lunch. Monoprix– shop for extra suitcase. Ariodante at Palais Garnier,7 pm – 10:55 pm + 2 inter. Café de la Paix – dinner after opera.
Monday, May 1 Musee Jacquemart-Andre – 10:45. Giovanni-Bellini cross influences exhibition. Le Café Musee Andre Jacquemart – lunch. Mabillon Pharmacy for Nuxe & Caudalie. Le Train Bleu – 7 p.m. May Day holiday!
Tuesday, May 2 Air France CDG Paris to Chicago. We’re home. 
*Charming Paris City Tour – private driver, Stephane Nancy – Drive by: Eiffel Tower (3 close up locations for photo ops), Trocadero, Alexandre III bridge, Bir Hakeim Bridge, Ile de la Cite, Invalides, Palais Garnier, Hotel de Ville, Tuileries gardens, Place des Vosges, Place Vendome, Champs Elysees, the Louvre, D’Orsay, Saint Sulpice, Luxembourg Gardens, Notre Dame, Place de la Concorde, Palais de Elysée, La Madeline Church, Montmartre, Pompidou center and more.
**Paris by Night – private driver, Stephane Nancy – night illuminations throughout Paris. Taking photos of Tour Eiffel sparkling, etc.
About the Contributor
Debbie Brezinsky
Hi, I’m Debbie Brezinsky. I adore sharing my love of Paris with MyFrenchLife.org Magazine members. The only place on earth besides Chicago & St. Louis (home) that captures my wholehearted attention. I never feel I’ve had enough of the beautiful City of Light!
