It's been about 6 months since my return from Paris and I can still hardly believe I ever lived there! There's so much about this chapter that I want to make sure I remember, so before any more time passes, I'm sitting down to:
(1) acknowledge the people who made this experience as special as it was,
(2) write out what to know if you're preparing to live in Paris / study at Sciences Po, and
(3) curate a list of recommendations on where to go!
I'm treating this page like a living document so feel free to send questions or more recommendations for me to add so this can be as updated/helpful as possible To read more about my experience, feel free to read my reflection on my first few months abroad here → Thoughts on Paris ◡̈
Posted June 25, 2025 / Last Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Before I go into the depths of the post, I wanted to thank every single person who played a part in my time abroad. From new friends made in Paris to old friends that came to visit, each and every one of you made this time remarkable - and are often mentioned by name throughout this page. I could feel my heart grow even fonder of everyone who made the effort to visit last fall, so I wanted to thank each of you by name (in order of when they visited).
To Nicole, who flew me out to Paris and made my first week incredible. To Jack, who was serendipitously in Paris at the same time as me and introduced me to his cool French friends, making Paris much less lonely while I adjusted to it. To Lyric and Cory, who surprised me and spent their Labor Day weekend in Paris with me - making my birthday that much more special. To Baaqir, who visited me for a collective month while I was in Europe, and made sure to not miss my birthday. He not only made the journey twice, but he stayed for two weeks at a time each time! If that's not love, I don't know what is. To Julia and Colleen - who always make me feel so loved, no matter where we are or what we're doing, and who were able to spend my birthday with me too. Needless to say, my birthday had me overwhelmed with love, which is all anyone can ask for.
To Mel & Kat - I'm so grateful this trip made it out of the group chat, I couldn't have dreamt of a more perfect weekend in the Alps. To Megan D, thank God you visited when you did because it was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. To Mika, I'll always hold the time we spent eating, laughing, and shopping together close to my heart, and I'm so grateful you were able to make it out (even though I never doubted you would). And last but not least, Vicky - I'll cherish our rainy little weekend together forever and ever and ever. The fact that we were abroad together was perfect, and being able to visit each other in our prospective cities made it even more so.
To my friends in Paris - Monica, Ida, Megan S, Sean, Yass, Teo and Margaux - thanks for making me feel so welcome and for helping me find my footing throughout the semester. I look forward to when our paths cross again in the future :)
This section is mostly written for those planning to study abroad, though there are some useful things to skim over (like the map below). If that’s not you and you’re just planning a trip, the “Where to Go” section is more likely where you want to be!
For reference, I lived in a loft in between the 6/14 arrondissement for the first 2 months, then moved to an apartment between the 7/15 arrondissement for the rest of my stay (both indicated by the house icons). Science Po is in the 7th arrondissement, so my commute was always between 15-30 minutes, depending on if I walked or took the metro.
I typically felt safe at night, even when walking alone, but there are a few areas that can be sus, especially if you’re a woman by yourself. The area between the 18th and 19th arrondissements (Gare du Nord) can be very sketchy at night and the only place I’ve heard of people having trouble in. All in all though the city feels very safe.
First, I'll disclose that for my visa process, I did just put down that I was staying at an airbnb for my first two weeks because I still hadn't found housing. It was fine, and worked as a good back-up plan but I did cancel the reservation as soon as I locked an apartment down.
Second, I stayed in two different places throughout my semester abroad. The first was an amazing loft I had to myself, but was short-term because my subleaser was only renting it out for those 6 weeks I was there. The second was an apartment with a Parisian roommate - she saw my posting on a website that I mention below and reached out to me on Instagram.
Third, there were plenty of options for furnished apartments so I wouldn't stress too much about buying furniture - though I did get some storage things and towels for my second place from Ikea and Hema.
Lastly, you'll find some links and resources for finding housing below!
As I continued my search, I was directed to La Carte des Colocs to find a roommate/apartment, which is how I found my second place.
There's so much I wish I knew about registering for classes haha. A general resource worth sharing is this webpage on the Sciences Po website, but below I've written out some other major things I learned that isn't as obvious.
First and foremost, you will be encouraged to register for 3-4 classes at Sciences Po. Whether you take 3 OR 4 classes affects how many classes you can register for in the Spring. This is something I wish I had investigated further but also that I wish I was advised differently on for a few reasons, the biggest one being that taking 4 classes at Sciences Po is very different from taking 4 classes at Georgetown. A full schedule at Sciences Po is typically 7-8 classes, which means that taking 3-4 classes will make you feel like a part-time student. You will have a lot of free time!! Enjoy it, but plan accordingly because if you're expecting the same kind of rigor as your first year, it's not like that at all (and it's something I personally would have wanted from my abroad experience).
There are other classes you can take and pay for out of pocket to take up more time, though they won't count on your Georgetown transcript. For example, I also took a French class and a painting class, which I thought were totally worth for paying myself. Information on what language classes and arts/sports classes are offered will be emailed to you over the summer, so be sure to stay updated on when registration deadlines for those because that is a separate process!
One thing I missed about Georgetown was how easy it was to make connections with my classmates because we were often in the same classes. I was hoping for something similar at Sciences Po, but it was only after I arrived that I learned about the different policy streams offered. It seems like non-exchange students will take certain classes in order to fulfill the requirements for one of the 11 policy streams. By doing so, you're also in some of the same classes with a specific cohort of people. Not only would this have made building community much easier, but it also would've given the classes I took abroad more cohesion. It was while I was in my Global Inequalities and Sustainability class (which I'd highly recommend, it was a 10/10, incredibly fascinating and hands down my favorite class because of the content and the professor), I realized that the majority of the class was also enrolled in the Comparing Welfare States, their reforms and futures class and that they were all in a group chat for the Social Policy and Social Innovation Policy Stream. Had I known, I would have looked into the different policy streams and used that as guidance for my course enrollment, but I had no idea this was how their policy programs were structured!
Now that you know that, we can get into the logistics of actually registering. Registration is extremely competitive, so make sure you plan out the courses you want well ahead of when registration opens and that you keep in mind the time difference!! Helpful information linked below which explains it better than I could, but just know that it is competitive.
You'll likely be introduced to this during orientation, but getting involved in different clubs is a great way to meet even more people outside of class. I met my closest friend from Sciences Po, Monica, through an exchange student meeting the university held. The different associations on the Paris campus can be found at this link, though this guide is still a work-in-progress. One of the most popular groups is BDE (definitely worth following on Instagram), which puts on a lot of events throughout the year for all the students.
I also joined Model UN, which gave me the opportunity to visit different embassies and attend breakfast with ambassadors/diplomats.
This is easily the hardest segment of the post to write because I personally struggled with having little structure and what felt like little opportunity to make community within school - and that's coming from someone who considers themselves super outgoing and extroverted!!
My advice would be to show yourself some grace, especially because it takes 4-6 months to adjust to a new city and new lifestyle anyway. Take time to build your routine, and really push yourself to reach out to new people, attend random happy hours being put on by the school. I had grappled with joining a run club or taking dance classes, but never did, and that's easily one of my regrets from my time abroad. Everything just seemed so intimidating to me because of the language barrier so putting myself out there was pretty daunting, and that's okay. Even when I did go out with some French friends one night, I remember being quiet and shy (again, not like me at all), because everyone was speaking French and I couldn't keep up. It was a bit existential for me at times but I wouldn't trade it - I learned so much about what is important to me for my own success, well-being, and overall happiness.
I tried my best to embrace my alone time, and to not let that deter me from enjoying things in Paris by myself. This might be uncomfortable for some people, but the more you do it, the more gratifying it is to enjoy your own company - especially when you're in a city with so much art. My solo date at the Louvre is what helped me realize that my favorite way to experience a museum is by myself. I don't typically shy away from solo activities normally, but it does feel different in a foreign city.
In the end, your experience is what you make it! Whether you're able to find people to do things with you or you end up spending some quality time to yourself, there is so much to enjoy in Paris. I sometimes found all the recommendations overwhelming so another concrete piece of advice I'd give you is to just have a bucket list of sorts of things you want to check out, or buy a guide book! I would definitely encourage you to give a follow on Instagram to:
It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the options of what there is to do but ... just decide when you want to do something and don't let anything stop you! It may sound like simple advice but sometimes it did not feel that simple.
On a completely different, more light-hearted note… I would be remiss to not mention anything at all about Flash Invaders. One of my favorite parts of living in Paris was that every walk I went on was automatically a game because I'd be on the look out for these specific kinds of murals to scan on my phone and win points. That's the whole point.
The best part was that Baaqir also downloaded it, so we'd always be on the lookout for these murals together and see who could find the most first. These art pieces are not exclusive to Paris either – I found one in Versailles and one in New York – but it's where you'll find over 1.5k of these little space alien guys. I'm adding a screenshot of some of ones I found to the right so you have an idea of what to look out for because you'll come across some fake ones, but that's part of the fun.
This is for anyone needing some recs to Paris - including where to find the world's best croissant! These are all my favorite places to eat, drink, work, and shop! I also included some tips for where to explore beyond Paris, like Nice, Annecy, and Disney.
The best croissant on the planet. It is everything a croissant should be. There's a reason it won best butter croissant in 2018 and if I could have it every day I would.
Mamiche is another well-known bakery with delicious pastries. It's also one of the first places I went to with Nicole when we first arrived in Paris. Would also highly recommend!!
Vicky + La Maison croissant
Me + La Maison croissant
Mamiche Order
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I'd been dreaming about this restaurant since the first time I visited Paris, back in 2018. As soon as I knew I'd be in Paris again, I knew I'd be coming back... and I went back many, many times because it's still the best brunch in the world to me. If someone asks me if I'd rather have sweet or savory for breakfast, my answer is always that I have to have both!! Their savoury stack is one I will continue to dream about because it's truly the best combination of flavors you could ask for.
Savoury stack
The restaurant
Brunch moment
With Megan
From my first visit in 2018
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One of Baaqir's personal favorites, this sandwich shop was another food staple I took all my visitors to. Fresh af sandwich.
This steak frites experience immediately became my obsession, and I took everyone I knew there whenever they came to visit. The only food items offered? Bread, walnut salad, and steak frites. This might sound limiting but you know it means they do these three items extremely well. You tell them how you'd like your steak cooked, and they bring out a serving of this perfect steak with fries and delicious sauce. And then, once you're done with your plate, they bring out a SECOND SERVING. Their house red was also one of the most beautiful and delicious bottles of red wine I've ever had. I'm obsessed with everything about this restaurant, but make sure you plan ahead if you want to eat there - they don't take reservations and there's usually a line out the door when they open because they're that popular.
Monica
Baaqir
Mika
Megan
Vicky
My Many Dinner Dates →
This truffle pasta changed my life. It's what they're known for, and I returned to get it 2x after going for a birthday dinner in September. Also worth noting is that there's a speakeasy underneath the restaurant - not a bad place to get a drink before dinner if there happens to be a wait!
Famous for its chocolate mousse and impeccable French cuisine, Julia was thoughtful and gracious enough to make a dinner reservation here for my actual birthday (which was also my first day of class).
Baaqir said it was one of the best duck plates he's ever tried, and my risotto was amazing. The chocolate mousse was the best birthday dessert I could've asked for — but you can't go just for the mousse. They won't seat you for dessert only, so come hungry for lunch or dinner!
You have to get a reservation by either going in person or calling ahead — it's always packed.
The restaurant
Risotto
Me with Baaqir
Me with Julia
Me with Colleen
My Besties
Bday Mousse ✨
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To celebrate our 6 month anniversary, I surprised Baaqir with a dinner cruise on the Seine and it was one of the best surprises I've probably ever pulled off. We collectively ordered a surf and turf and it was all delicious, definitely one of the more elegant dinners we've been to. However, if it wasn't for seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the water, I'd actually recommend doing this tour during the day so you can better appreciate the view of the other landmarks near the Seine!
While you're in France, you HAVE to try raclette. If you don't know what it is, it's essentially a superior version of fondue, because it's a dish made by melting cheese and scraping it onto other foods - usually meat and potatoes.
For another high quality French dining experience, check out Brasserie des Prés. The other plus of going to this brasserie, besides having a reason to enjoy an amazing meal in the Saint-Germaine-Des-Prés neighborhood, is that there's the cutest bar tucked away on the top floor called Groovie. Amazing vibes and amazing drinks!
Build-Your-Own Charcuterie Boards! Found this place when I was looking for a place to meet Julia and we had the cutest little date. You'll get a menu with all the different charcuterie, fromages, and tartinables they offer - or you can order one of their various pre-selected board combinations.
There's a hidden bar BEHIND the windmill at the Moulin Rouge. To find it, walk past the Moulin Rouge to the left until you see a corridor, which takes you to the main entrance and their sprawling patio / indoor bar.
Once you're inside, there may or may not be a line to the right, which is where you wait to be let upstairs and enjoy a drink outdoors in this iconic setting!
There's a few different locations around the city, you just have to have your own wifi/hotspot. There's one super close to campus too which was really convenient when I needed a quick pick-me-up between classes.
Modern coffee shop with SOME tables set aside for laptops/working. At the location we went to, there were two-three tables set aside for working. At all other tables, they'll ask you to put your laptops away so getting a seat/table for working isn't guaranteed but worth a shot! This is another good matcha option and they offer a few pastries, like the pistachio caramel cookie you see pictured.
Awesome coworking space right by the Montparnasse, introduced to me by my Parisian roommate. They have coffee, food, wifi, outlets, and plenty of space to work. Come hungry because they have a lot of food options - it is a food hall after all!
A Swedish cafe that's great for getting a coffee or pastry and has lots of seating indoors and outdoors for working. It fills up quickly but both times I've been able to get a table outside (not that surprising because I went when it was cold out). A few months later, this specific coffee shop was alluded to in one of my French lessons (shoutout Alliance Francaise) which I thought was serendipitous because it was my Swedish friend Ida - who I met abroad through Bumble - that introduced me to the cafe!
Want to eat Swedish in Paris? It's possible! In the heart of the Marais, the Swedish Cafe is an atypical and quiet place, located at 11 rue Payenne. On the inside, come and taste kanelbullar (traditional Swedish brioche with cinnamon) or meatballs. Be careful, there are only about twenty seats! Outside, on the courtyard side, share a drink or a meal on the terrace. The cafe is close to the Picasso Museum.
Cafe Noir
Food Society
Bonjour Jacob
Cafe Fika
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One of my favorite parts about when Megan came to visit was that every night, we'd try to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle from a different location!! I'll list out where we went (and a few others) below in case you're also interested in appreciating it from different vantage points.
1. Up close
2. Sacré-Cœur
3. Trocadéro
4. Rooftop
5. Bridge
6. Line 6
7. Dinner cruise
8. Waterfront
9. 5th/6th streets
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I never went to the top of the Arc but there are tickets you can get for that underground... somewhere. I honestly don't have tips for how to find it but it's there. That entrance takes you to a pedestrian tunnel that takes you underneath the Arc in order to get to the center because crossing the street through this busy traffic circle would be terrifying/dangerous. Regardless of if you go to the top or not (we didn't), you have to see it. AND it's super close to the Champs-Elysees for some great shopping, including the biggest Sephora I've ever seen.
These gardens will always have my heart. They're beautifully kept year-round, and so peaceful for reading or walking or basking in the sun. I plan to go back - one of my only regrets is not being able to see it in all its springtime glory.
There's a great L'Aduree close by too, which you have to get while you're in Paris (obviously). If you join their rewards program, they'll give you a macaron (or two) for free. I have to say though, I still think about the pistachio chocolate croissant I got from there once. The latte is alright, doesn’t have any caffeine.
Also nearby (but on the other side of L'Aduree) is an amazing artisan gift shop called Marin Montagut. Perfect for an original souvenir because of the beautiful artistry. I don't have any pictures of it but it's worth checking out if you're in the area!
Great shopping and great rooftop view of the city! This is definitely worth seeing just for the interior of the mall!! Gorgeous and ornate, it's home to a myriad of brands from Guerlain to Skims to Free People to Ganni. There's a floor dedicated to just shoes and a floor for kid's toys - which I mention because it's where I bought the cutest macaron jellycat to gift my cousin.
If shopping doesn't appeal to you, there's a FREE rooftop view of Paris!! All you have to do is take the elevator up to the top floor (which is where you'll find souvenir shopping and their cafeteria) and then take a few stairs to get to the roof. Just make sure to go before the rooftop closes!! We missed it once because we didn't realize it closed at 7pm, so I'd double check before heading out there if that's what you're most excited for.
Formerly a squat, this building is now a well-known artist residency and public art space in Paris, located at 59 rue de Rivoli. Unlike many residencies, 59 Rivoli is open to the public, giving you a unique opportunity to engage with the creative process and observe some amazing, unique pieces from artists around the world - and it's free!
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We stumbled upon a random LV museum by Notre Dame. I don't think it exists anymore but I'll drop pics below anyway because it was a really cool exhibit on the history of LV. I include it only to say that there are a lot of pop ups and limited-time showings so... look out for them!
You could spend days in the Louvre by yourself. My favorite fun fact to share was that:
If you spent just 30 seconds looking at each of the 380,000 objects, it would take about 100 days of continuous viewing (8 hours a day, no breaks).
Things to keep in mind: there are food options in the Louvre, it's just kind of expensive. There's a terrace I found overlooking the pyramids that I spent hours journaling in after buying an espresso and pastry. Amazing place to get lost in but it does cost like 30 euros to enter, so I only went twice - though it's free for full-time students somehow I think? It's worth looking into but not something I qualified for since I was on exchange. There's also an intense shopping mall in the end.
The painting below is now my favorite painting, and it's all thanks to my friend Gaby encouraging me to seek it out. I'm pretty sure it's Baaqir's too based on his reaction 😂
Baaqir and I observing Modern Rome by Giovanni Paolo Panini
An incredible museum, and probably Baaqir's favorite!! Lyric, Cory, Baaqir and I went together, and we were blown away by all the impressionist art, the Van Gogh exhibit, and most notably, the polar bear statue by François Pompon.
Lyric, Cory, Baaqir and I refer to this museum visit often, always affectionally referring to the statue itself as Pompon 🐻❄️
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I have nothing but love for Montmarte!!! There's a lot to see so it’s worth doing some extra research, but below are a few of my favorites, including the Wall of Love, the oldest analog photobooth in Paris, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, and a microbrewery that Baaqir and I stumbled upon.
Wall of Love
Photobooth
Sacré-Cœur
Patoche - Microbrasserie
Patoche - Microbrasserie
Patoche - Microbrasserie
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Rue de Rivoli borders the Marais and is near where you'll find more shopping i.e. Bershka, Mango, H&M, Ikea, Urban Outfitters, etc.
There are also lots of thrift shops around this neighborhood!! If there's one thing I'll encourage you to take advantage of in France, it's their thrifting. While you're near Rivoli, check out all the various Kilo Shop locations and Hippy Market.
Another thrift shop, closer to the Eiffel Tower and off the Motte-Picquet Grenelle metro stop, is Five Vintage!! It's essentially a three-story Goodwill, and where I found a lot of great winter pieces.
Kilo Shop
Hippy Market
Five Vintage
Thrifting in Annecy
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Super easy to get to, only about 45 minutes outside of Paris. Just make sure you get the right RER ticket because if they catch you without one, you will get fined. Baaqir and I learned that the hard way :/
Mel planned the most perfect girls trip for the three of us to see the French Alps. We went from having the perfect time in Paris, enjoying the beauty of Annecy, exploring the cute mountain town of Chamonix, and seeing the marvel that was Mt Blanc. Driving the boat on Lake Annecy was perfect, and taking the time to walk around this charming town was a dream. Nothing could've prepared me for how awe-inspiring reaching the top of Mt Blanc would be, which I learned is the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe. What a weekend!! If you want more details, let me know but I'll have to ask Mel because she was the mastermind behind our itinerary.
I took a day trip to Nice, spent one night in a hostel just because I wanted to explore. If I could have afforded staying longer I definitely would have, but I loved that I was able to give myself a solo beach day in such a beautiful place.
Monica and I went to Disneyland Paris just to say we did!! It was a really fun but cold day - overall super magical because we got blessed with the snow and experienced the park with even more holiday whimsy because of it. It's a really easy metro ride, just a 40-minute ride on the RER-A train to the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station.
During Monica's last week, we took a day trip to Strasbourg because we'd heard so much hype about their Christmas markets and because we wanted to explore outside Paris. Cute small town that we spent the entire day in, but didn't stay overnight. I think we did it right because a day is all you need to see the markets and the other main attractions (in my opinion).
Nice
Nice
Disney
Strasbourg
Strasbourg
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"The people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do."