Day 1 - Monte Carlo
We landed in Nice around noon, the end of a long flight and the beginning of our French adventure. As we descended the mountains toward Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the Mediterranean Sea shimmered below, framed by the French Riviera’s colorful towns. We checked in to Hôtel Le Roquebrune, a boutique gem perched above the sea, where we were greeted with complimentary champagne on the terrace before being shown to our charming room. After changing into our summer Riviera style, we headed out to explore Monaco — specifically Monte Carlo.
Lunch at La Note Bleue Beach Club set the tone for the afternoon. We strolled along the Promenade Prince Jacques to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix Circuit and Monaco Casino, eventually arriving at Port Hercule. It’s pure glamour and luxury here, with 5+ story yachts, and the feeling that the world’s elite have come to play here.
Happy hour arrived and we got drinks by the port before dinner at La Môme. We watched the sun dip behind the Grimaldi Castle in the distance as we shared a glorious lobster-tomato-linguniue dish. The moon glistened over the Sea on our drive back, and with a final “bonsoir,” we closed out the day.
Day 2 - Beach Club & Menton
Bonjour to Day 2! We woke to a sun-drenched morning, the perfect invitation for a classic French breakfast on the Terrace, where my obsession for freshly squeezed orange juice began. With the sun urging us toward the sea, we slipped into our suits and set off for Cala Pulpo By Big T, a private beach at Golf Bleu (open in July & August). Just steps from our hotel, the path led us down the mountain and through a tunnel before opening up to the sparkling Mediterranean.
Our beach day was pure perfection – from lounging on the daybeds with frozen lemons and rosé, to swimming in the glistening waters and drifting on a floating raft in the middle of the sea. The scenery from sea-view was incredible: a cliffside full of pastel homes, our hotel perched among them, and the medieval Château de Roquebrune standing above it all. Travel tip: to avoid looking like a tourist on pebble beaches, wear shoes down to the water and leave them at the edge for when you get out!
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- Stairs to Sea
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- Cala Pulpo
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- Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
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- Mediterranean Sea
After a glorious beach day, we returned to our hotel to get ready for our next adventure. We drove east to the Italian border, where the charming town of Menton awaits. Though small, the town is lively with crowded beaches and streets lined with markets and cafés. Known as the Lemon Capital of France, nearly every shop celebrates the fruit with specialties like limoncello, lemon-themed décor, and even lemon perfumes. We shopped and sampled before strolling the seaside and taking in the full views of Menton and Italy. We wandered, shopped, and sampled before strolling along the seaside, taking in sweeping views of Menton’s vibrant facades and the lush Italian coastline beyond.
As dinner approached, we bid au revoir to Menton and bonjour to Lou Lou Pirate, a restaurant built into rocky cliffs on the Cap Martin Peninsula overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It quickly became our favorite dinner of the trip, with unforgettable views, music – inspiring the playlist linked below, food, and entertainment! Over three leisurely hours, we watched the sun set across the open-air deck, savored a sea-salt-crusted Mediterranean sea bass, and were serenaded by a French mariachi band. Keeping the night rolling, we changed into our formal wear and headed to the famed Monte Carlo Casino, where luck was on our side! Two young Americans winning big in Monaco drew a crowd, and before long we had our own cheering section. It was the perfect finale to a day filled with Riviera magic.
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- Italian Border
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- Menton Streets
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- Menton
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- Lou Lou Pirate
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- Monte Carlo Casino
Day 3 - Arrive in Paris
It was time to bid adieu to the French Riviera and head north to the ever-dreamy Paris. After packing up, we drove back to Nice Airport and, just four hours later, touched down in the City of Light. Our stay began at the stunning Hôtel Bowmann in the 8th arrondissement, where our room bloomed in classic Parisian pink – a picture-perfect setting to celebrate our first anniversary just two days away.
Tea time at Cafe Antonia at Hotel Bristol was our first stop to refresh and refuel for the day. In the peaceful courtyard, we sipped on hot tea and champagne, and enjoyed an array of delicate finger sandwiches and pastries. Recharged and eager to explore, we strolled down the Champs-Élysées, pausing at the fabulous DIOR Paris 30 Montaigne before making our way to the Seine River. Crossing the Passerelle Debilly footbridge, we caught our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Fun fact: while Paris removed the iconic “love locks” from the Pont des Arts, they’ve since reappeared on bridges like Passerelle Debilly.
Our evening unfolded at the Jardins du Trocadéro, with dinner waiting just up the steps at Café de l’Homme, a chic, French restaurant with elite views of the Eiffel Tower from its outdoor terrace. Another fun fact: the owner is Coco Eiffel, the architect’s granddaughter. The night was electric – dining to the backdrop of a live DJ, indulging in decadent truffle mac and cheese, and toasting celebratory shots with our waiter. We closed the evening in true Parisian style, gliding through the city streets on a pedicab ride, the Eiffel Tower sparkling behind us.
Day 4 - Palace of Versailles
August in Paris is when locals escape for holiday, leaving the city quieter than usual. We woke to a calm morning, crossed the street for espresso and croissants, and set off for Versailles. Just thirty minutes later by taxi, we arrived at the gilded gates of the Palace of Versailles – every bit as magnificent as its legend suggests. Tickets to tour the palace itself had sold out (thanks to the influx of tourists replacing Parisians), but we were still able to explore the Gardens.
If the palace is grand, the Gardens are even more so. Our visit began at the Orangerie Parterre, a vision of symmetry and elegance, with its perfectly pruned hedges and sweeping views. From there, we wandered through the Queen’s Grove to the Mirror Pool, where a fountain show danced to classical opera. Continuing on, we strolled through the King’s Garden to the grand Apollo Fountain before pausing for lunch at Marie Antoinette’s Estate. Refueled, we walked the length of the Great Lawn, detouring to Colonnade Grove and Girandole Grove, and ending our journey at the Latona Fountain with the palace rising behind it. In all, we covered nearly three miles on foot—but every step was worth it.
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- Palace of Versailles
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- Orangerie Parterre
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- Queen’s Grove
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- Mirror Pool
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- Apollo Fountain
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- Great Lawn
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- Colonnade Grove
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- Latona Fountain
After Versailles, our plan was to continue the history theme with a visit to the Catacombs—but those tickets, too, were sold out. Instead, we found consolation (and a sugar boost) at Ladurée, which quickly became my favorite Parisian café. I’ll need those macarons on an annual basis.
With a few hours to spare before dinner, we opted for something a little unexpected: a tour of Parc des Princes, home of Paris Saint-Germain. It may not have been on my original list, but with Evan being a huge soccer fan, it was a must—and seeing his excitement made it worthwhile. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it; I’d never toured a professional stadium before, and it was fascinating to walk through the locker rooms, club boxes, and even sit in the coaches’ seats. It also gave us a glimpse of the 17th arrondissement, a part of Paris far less touristy than the city center.
Dinner that evening was at Riviera Fuga, a floating, Mediterranean restaurant on the Seine. Our table sat right above the river with a perfect view of the sun setting over Paris. Over a cozy seafood dinner (and another round of celebratory shots from our waiter), we soaked up the magic of the city. With front-row views of Pont Alexandre III, a glass of red wine in hand, and the glow of Paris all around us, we toasted to a day that couldn’t have been more perfect.
Day 5 - Anniversary
The day we had been waiting for finally arrived – our first anniversary! Having spent our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we promised each other we’d travel somewhere romantic for our first year, and Paris made it feel as if we were honeymooning all over again. We began the morning with a charming breakfast in bed, the sounds of a quiet Parisian morning drifting through our open balcony doors. We exchanged gifts, soaked in the moment, and set off hand in hand for a day of celebration.
We headed to the 1st arrondissement, lattes from Ladurée in hand, and wandered through the Tuileries Gardens toward the Louvre Museum. True to our week’s theme, tickets had sold out – along with those for the nearby Musée de l’Orangerie – but that hardly dampened our mood. Instead, we went early to lunch at LouLou Paris, the elegant sister restaurant to the LouLou we’d fallen in love with on the Riviera. Seated on the terrace within the Tuileries, we lingered over a delightful lunch, complete with views of the Eiffel Tower.
With no museums to rush off to, we took the opportunity to explore – strolling through Place de la Concorde and indulging in a little shopping (because, where better?). Once I found the perfect pair of Miu Miu sunglasses, my Parisian souvenir collection felt complete. We made one last stop at the original Ladurée, our third visit that trip, for macarons and a quiet moment before the evening’s celebrations began.
As dusk approached, we dressed for what would be the most magical night of our trip: a private boat ride along the Seine. For an hour and a half, we cruised past Paris’s most iconic landmarks with champagne in hand, watching the golden light melt into twilight. Our captain dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower, where we made our way up to Le Jules Verne, the two-star Michelin restaurant perched high above the city.
Dinner was unforgettable – an artful display of flavor, color, and presentation, made even more extraordinary by the glittering view of Paris at night. The city truly lived up to its name, La Ville Lumière, the City of Light. We ended the evening at the tower’s lookout, gazing over Paris as a blood-red moon rose on the horizon, a breathtaking finale to a perfect anniversary.
Je t’aime, Paris. We will be back.
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- Lexie & Evan
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- View from Le Jules Verne
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- Blood Moon
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- Paris at Night
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- Eiffel Tower Sparkling
