Our France Travel Guide: Paris, St. Tropez & Antibes & All My Favorite Spots π«π·
France, I already miss you!!! π€ We spent our anniversary trip exploring Paris and the French Riviera which was 100% a bucket list trip that had been on our list for years!
We started in Paris, where we walked everywhere, shopped, ate at dreamy cafΓ©s and spent our afternoons exploring. Then we headed south to St. Tropez for beach clubs, incredible restaurants and some of my favorite shopping of the trip. We finished in Antibes and then Monaco which was such a beautiful way to end our time in France. Our favorites by far though were St. Tropez and Paris and where I would recommend visiting!
My favorite part of the trip- the FOOD. The French butter, the pasta, the Caesar salads. I wanted to put together a guide with all the places we loved, where we stayed, what we ate and everything I’d recommend if you’re planning your own trip to France or dreaming for the future.
Paris, France
Paris was our first stop, and I was so excited to be back exploring the city!
We spent our days walking around, shopping, stopping at cafΓ©s and finding new places to eat. I love visiting a city where you can head out in the morning without a huge plan and somehow end up having the best day but not without walking over 20,000 steps most days.
Where We Stayed in Paris
HΓ΄tel Dame des Arts
We stayed at HΓ΄tel Dame des Arts in the 6th arrondissement, and I loved the location.
We were close to St-Germain-des-PrΓ©s, which ended up being one of our favorite areas to explore. There were so many restaurants, cafΓ©s and shops within walking distance. Our room also had a balcony with beautiful views over the Paris rooftops. Waking up to that view was such a fun way to start the trip. I also loved this hotel because the surrounding area feels really casual and more like a really lovely neighborhood than a huge city but still very close to everything.
Our Favorite Things to Do in Paris
Explore St-Germain-des-PrΓ©s
We spent so much time wandering around this neighborhood. I loved all the cafΓ©s, shops and beautiful streets. It’s also a great area to explore without having every stop planned ahead of time. If you love designer shopping, The YSL store in this area is lovely! We also loved the Ralph Lauren cafe & restaurant in this area.
Visit the Tuileries Garden
We spent an afternoon exploring the Tuileries Garden, and it was one of my favorite parts of Paris. The gardens are beautiful, and I loved being able to walk around and enjoy the city.
Walk Along the Seine
Walking along the Seine is always worth making time for. We wandered along the river, watched the boats and enjoyed seeing Paris from there. SO dreamy!
Rent Bikes and Explore
One thing I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did was biking around Paris! We had so much fun exploring on bikes, and I’d absolutely recommend it if you’re comfortable cycling in a busy city. I wasnβt before this trip but we found it to be the fastest way to get around!
Where We Ate & Drank in Paris
CafΓ© de Flore
Of course, we had to stop at CafΓ© de Flore while exploring St-Germain-des-PrΓ©s. It’s such a recognizable Paris cafΓ©, and I loved getting to experience it during our trip. I know itβs touristy but we loved it!
Les Antiquaires
Another restaurant we visited while exploring Paris. Definitely worth keeping on your list if you’re planning time around the St-Germain area.
Le Saint AndrΓ©
We loved Le Saint AndrΓ© so much that we kept going back! It was close to our hotel, and after walking all day, having a restaurant nearby that we knew we loved was perfect. We had everything from salads to pizza, and it became one of our favorite places to eat during our stay.
Bar Hemingway at The Ritz
We also went for drinks at Bar Hemingway at The Ritz. I loved getting dressed up and visiting such an iconic Paris hotel. This was a fun stop for an evening out. Itβs across from Chanel and where Coco Chanel used to live! So dreamy!
Les Deux Magots β Another iconic Paris cafΓ© in St-Germain-des-PrΓ©s. Such a fun stop for breakfast while exploring the neighborhood.
Girafe β A beautiful lunch spot to add to your Paris restaurant list, especially if you’re planning a day of sightseeing. Stunning views!
Siena β Another dinner spot we visited while in Paris! Loved.
Le Grand CafΓ© β A gorgeous spot for dinner and a fun evening out in Paris.
HΓ΄tel Particulier Montmartre β Such a pretty place to stop for coffee or drinks while exploring Montmartre. I LOVE the Montmartre so much and find it to be really magical.
Explore Montmartre β Again, I love the charming streets, cafΓ©s and beautiful Paris views.
La Galerie Dior β A must for anyone who loves fashion!
MusΓ©e de l’Orangerie β Another beautiful museum we visited near the Tuileries Garden. I am more of a shop and eat kind of gal than museums, but I love this one.
Shopping in Paris
I obviously made plenty of time for shopping and was so excited to purchase my first Chanel in Paris. We also spent time exploring boutiques around Saint-Germain and popping into stores as we walked through the city. One of my favorite things about shopping while traveling is discovering stores and pieces that I might not find at home. I had my eye on a few bags and was truly blown away by the luxe shopping – there is literally a Chanel store on every single corner!
I also got a blowout at Christophe Nicolas Biot after our 13 hours of travel, which was probably one of my better decisions. Starting the trip with fresh hair made me feel like a new person. Highly recommend!
What I’d Recommend for Paris
If you’re visiting Paris, bring comfortable shoes and leave plenty of time for walking. Also donβt be afraid to hop on the city bikes! We had beautiful early fall weather, including cooler mornings that were perfect for sweaters and jackets.
I’d also recommend staying somewhere central to the neighborhoods you want to explore. We loved being in the 6th because we could walk to so many places and easily hop over to the 1st to shop! I also want to try staying in the 8th.
Don’t forget to make a few restaurant reservations, especially if there are popular spots you really want to visit. Make sure you book in advance if possible!
St. Tropez, France
Oh, St. Tropez. I am OBSESSED. This was the part of our trip I had been looking forward to most! We spent our days at beach clubs, shopping around town, biking to the market and eating the most amazing food.
Then we’d head out for dinner around 9 p.m., and sometimes dinner turned into dancing afterward. I absolutely cannot wait to go back to St. Tropez!
Where We Stayed in St. Tropez
AREV St. Tropez
We stayed at AREV St. Tropez for our anniversary, and they made our arrival so special. When we walked into the room, they had balloons and a personalized anniversary note waiting for us. It was the sweetest surprise!
I loved the hotel grounds, the pool and all the beautiful details throughout the property. They also had bikes available, which we used to explore town. This hotel is located in the most perfect location above town so you can bike or drive to town in just a few minutes, but also feel secluded and peaceful. I think this is one of the most amazing hotels weβve ever stayed at and I would highly recommend it. We had the most wonderful experience with the staff and would recommend 100x over! I also prefer a new and fresh hotel, which is exactly this one.
Our Favorite Beach Clubs in St. Tropez
Le Club 55
We had the BEST day at Le Club 55. The beach, the water, and lunch. I loved everything about it. We actually enjoyed it so much that we talked about coming back the next day.
If you’re planning a St. Tropez trip, I would absolutely put Le Club 55 on your list and look into making reservations ahead of time.
Everyone says to do the late afternoon second lunch reservation if you wanna party, but we did the first one (get the veal milinaise) & then went to the beach for our loungers.
Loulou
Another beautiful spot for lunch and a beach day. I loved having afternoons by the water before heading back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
Our Favorite Restaurants in St. Tropez
I have SO many restaurant recommendations from this part of the trip.
Cherry St. Tropez
12/10. Seriously.
We had one of our favorite dinners here, and the Caesar salad was incredible.
I don’t know what they were putting in the Caesar salads in France, but I ordered them everywhere. The pasta was absolutely insane as well.
If you’re looking for a dinner reservation in St. Tropez, Cherry would be high on my list.
Giardino at HΓ΄tel Byblos
Another incredible dinner! This was one of our favorite meals of the trip, and I loved the atmosphere at Byblos. Drake was right on the vibes of Byblos! I donβt think I would stay here but absolutely add it to your dinner resi list.
We also visited during a regatta, so there were beautiful boats around town during our stay.
Pizzeria Bruno
Our favorite pizza in St. Tropez! We actually went back on our last morning before leaving. It was raining and much cooler than the previous days, and pizza sounded perfect. Just a little hole in the wall spot but SO yummy!
Dior CafΓ©
We went to the Dior CafΓ© for breakfast, and it was such a beautiful stop. The setting is lovely, and I loved getting to spend the morning there with Dylan. For my fashion lovers, itβs a must.
SΓ©nΓ©quier
A favorite coffee stop while exploring the harbor & of course the most well-known restaurant in town! We heard the food wasnβt the best so we just did coffee here!
The Strand at AREV – We had dinner here at our hotel on our first evening in St. Tropez and lots of room service orders- the food is delicious.
HΓ΄tel La Ponche – Stopped by the hotel bar for drinks while exploring St. Tropez.
Palladio at Airelles – Another beautiful dinner spot we visited during our stay.
Shopping at the St. Tropez Market
This was one of my FAVORITE mornings. We rode bikes into town and spent time exploring the market.
There were beautiful flowers, clothing, accessories, fresh food and so many things I wanted to bring home. We found the most amazing truffle cheese, meats, lavender for our drawers and gifts for the family. The truffle cheese alone was worth the trip.
I love visiting markets when we travel because you get to discover local products and bring home things that remind you of the trip!!
Shopping Around St. Tropez
The shopping here was SO good. We spent time exploring the boutiques around town, including the designer stores near the harbor.
One of my favorite finds was the SAME pop-up. It was their first pop-up, and I found the cutest dress. The Miu Miu shop in St. Tropez is also a favorite and so adorable. The town has literally every designer store you could imagine which is basically my dream for browsing.
I love finding clothes while traveling because every time I wear them afterward, I of course remember the trip. I tend to mix high and low so Iβll invest in bags or shoes and then clothing I like at a more affordable price point.
What I’d Recommend for St. Tropez
If you’re planning to visit, make your restaurant and beach club reservations early. I’d also recommend spending time exploring the town instead of only visiting the beach clubs. We loved the market, shopping streets, cafΓ©s and harbor.
Bring comfortable shoes because you’ll do plenty of walking. I wore my jelly sandals constantly, and they were perfect for exploring.
And pack a sweater or cardigan! Our last morning was rainy and cool, and I was very happy to have layers.
Antibes, France
After St. Tropez, we headed to Antibes for the final part of our France trip.
I loved getting to explore another part of the French Riviera, especially because Antibes had a different atmosphere from St. Tropez. We spent time exploring Old Town, visiting the beaches and enjoying our hotel.
Where We Stayed in Antibes
Villa MiraΓ© Cap d’Antibes
We stayed at Villa MiraΓ© Cap d’Antibes, and our suite was beautiful.
I loved the cream and blue interiors, the pretty fabrics and all the details throughout the room. They also had flowers and a sweet welcome waiting for us when we arrived. The pool was so gorgeous, and we loved spending time there during our stay.
Amarines at Villa MiraΓ© – Had dinner at the hotel during our stay in Antibes.
Beach Solarium – Spent an afternoon relaxing on the sunbeds and enjoying the Mediterranean views.
Lunch at HΓ΄tel du Cap-Eden-Roc
This was a bucket-list experience for me! We had lunch overlooking the Mediterranean, and the views were absolutely beautiful.
The food was delicious, and I loved finally getting to visit somewhere I’d wanted to see for so long. We also loved the hotel and spa!
If you’re planning to visit HΓ΄tel du Cap-Eden-Roc, I would look into dining reservations ahead of time.
Exploring Old Town Antibes
We spent time wandering around Old Town Antibes, which was one of my favorite things to do here.
I loved exploring the streets, seeing the shops and finding places to stop along the way.
If you’re visiting Antibes, definitely make time to walk around Old Town.
Visiting the Picasso Museum
We also visited the MusΓ©e Picasso at ChΓ’teau Grimaldi. I loved adding a museum or art stop to our trips, and this was a great way to experience another part of Antibes.
The Beaches in Antibes
We also spent time enjoying the beaches and beautiful Mediterranean views.
Antibes was a great place to finish our trip because we could explore during the day and still enjoy time by the water.
My France Travel Tips
After spending time in Paris, St. Tropez and Antibes, there are a few things I’d recommend if you’re planning a similar trip.
Make reservations early. Especially for popular restaurants and beach clubs in St. Tropez. Pack comfortable shoes. We walked everywhere in Paris and spent plenty of time exploring the towns along the French Riviera.
Bring layers. We had beautiful warm weather, but some mornings and evenings were noticeably cooler. Leave room for shopping. Between the boutiques and markets, I came home with more than I packed.
Don’t overplan every day. Some of our favorite memories were afternoons spent exploring, stopping at cafΓ©s and discovering places along the way. Visit more than one destination. I loved getting to experience both Paris and the French Riviera because they were different.
Until Next Time, France π€
I will always remember this trip. From walking around Paris and spending afternoons at cafΓ©s to celebrating our anniversary and enjoying the beautiful coastline in Antibes, I loved every part of it.
But St. Tropez? You have my heart. I’m already dreaming about going back, eating another Caesar salad/ Vodka pasta, shopping at the market and spending the day at Le Club 55.
France, we’ll see you again! π«π·
xo, Tay
